Chapter 414

"Zhang Zhang Sanlang! Fifth Young Master! Are you... going to the school?"

Gao Yunqing said after cupping his hands.

Xu Zaijing and Zaihang nodded in agreement.

Subsequently, Gao Yunqing turned his head to look at the ruins, his tone quite regretful: "I originally had official business, but now... sigh!"

After speaking, he shook his head.

Xu Zaijing exchanged a look with Zaihang upon hearing this: "Could it be that here...?"

Gao Yunqing nodded with regret: "I arrived a step too late."

Xu Zaijing looked at the Imperial City Office clerks who were occasionally digging through the ruins, sighed, and cupped his hands: "Brother Gao, please continue with your work; we will be leaving first."

"Zhang Zhang Sanlang, Fifth Young Master, please go ahead."

After leaving the ruins,

Xu Zaijing looked back once before shaking his head with deep emotion.

Over the years of studying at the Sheng family, he had passed by this place frequently.

In the summer, there would be Bianjing children selling unopened lotus flowers and freshly picked lotus leaves nearby.

Among them, there might even be real or fake twin lotus flowers.

"Young Master, back in the summer, that pair of reckless siblings rushed out from around here, right?"

Qingyun asked beside Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

"The weather is getting colder and colder; I wonder how that pair of siblings is doing."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Qingyun: "What's wrong? Why have you become so sentimental?"

Qingyun scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly: "Young Master, I don't know! I don't know why I'm thinking about these things."

Zaihang, beside them, said: "It's probably because Qingyun's wife is pregnant!"

"When your sister-in-law had a big belly before, I was also letting my imagination run wild all day long!"

Xu Zaijing smiled after hearing this and looked at Qingyun.

When Xu Zaijing went to the northwest before, Qingyun's wife, Hua Qing, was already showing signs of pregnancy when she saw him off at Ansu Gate.

When Qingyun chatted with Xu Zaijing on the road, he also implied that he wouldn't be able to accompany Hua Qing for the birth, but as it turned out, they returned in just a few months.

Qingyun nodded incessantly and said: "Zhang Zhang Sanlang is right!"

After speaking, Qingyun smiled again: "It's also thanks to the Madam and the two Eldest Ladies for their concern in inviting Physician Ren to take her pulse; otherwise, Hua Qing wouldn't have known she was carrying two."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing couldn't help but smile: "Actually, the happiest one is Master."

"I just mentioned it casually, and the old man started getting busy making a small bed for your child."

As the group talked,

They arrived at Jiying Lane.

After entering the courtyard gate,

Xu Zaijing and Zaihang dismounted,

And Qingcao also stepped down from the carriage carrying two book boxes.

Standing still on the ground,

Qingcao, while handing the book boxes to Zaihang's servant, looked at Qingyun beside the carriage and said softly: "Brother Qingyun, don't let Sister-in-law Hua Qing do any needlework. We, Hua Xiang, Yun Xiang, and I, have already made the things that are needed."

Qingyun nodded with eyes full of gratitude: "I know. I'll remind her a few more times when I get back."

"Hmm!"

"Qingcao, hurry up!"

"Oh!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's shout, Qingcao took a few quick steps to catch up.

Stepping over the threshold and entering the school courtyard,

Just like in previous years,

The surroundings of the Sheng family school had already been fitted with wind-blocking and cold-defying partition screens by the servants,

And cotton curtains had been hung at the entrance.

Following her Young Master into the schoolroom,

A wave of heat rushed toward them,

As the underfloor heating had already been stoked to a steaming heat.

In the candlelight,

After putting away her Young Master's book boxes,

Qingcao carried Xu Zaijing's cloak to the wooden platform at the very back and found her own meditation cushion to sit on.

Looking at the Sheng family servant who was yawning, Qingcao said in a crisp voice: "Brother Han Niu."

Han Niu, whose eyes were tearing up from yawning, smiled slightly.

"Brother Han Niu, looking at how tired you are, didn't you sleep well?"

Qingcao said in a low voice.

Changbai's servant, Han Niu, shook his head and said in a low voice: "No, I got up too early today! At the end of the Yin hour (5:00 AM), the Young Master had already finished his meal and arrived at the school."

Qingcao nodded and said: "That is early enough. My Young Master had almost finished his exercise by then."

Hearing this, Han Niu shook his head.

The schoolroom was very warm,

And although Qingcao could doze off in Uncle Yin's wooden house while Xu Zaijing was exercising, and could also doze off in the carriage on the way, Qingcao still felt somewhat sleepy, so she hugged Xu Zaijing's cloak and rested her head on her knees.

Listening to the reading and speaking of the three young masters in the school, which sounded like a lullaby, Qingcao, with her eyes slightly closed, entered a state between sleep and wakefulness.

I don't know how much time passed,

A gust of cold wind came in,

And Qingcao, who was very energetic after dozing for a while, woke up at once.

Seeing Zhi Que and Bu Wei walking to the edge of the wooden platform and cupping their hands in greeting, Qingcao smiled.

After another while,

Qingcao felt her arm being touched, and she hurriedly looked over.

She saw Bu Wei pulling the curtains behind them, and on the partition screen behind the curtains was fixed a fine, translucent gauze, through which a blurry light shone. Qingcao nodded.

So, the few of them hurriedly stood up and rolled up the curtains in the room.

Although the sun had not yet come out,

The morning light still made the schoolroom suddenly bright.

After rolling up the curtains,

Qingcao, together with the others, blew out and moved away the candles on their respective young masters' desks.

The morning sunlight,

Passing through the gaps in the eaves and trees, shone into the school,

And the school was even brighter than before.

The cotton curtain at the entrance fluttered,

And the three young ladies of the Sheng family walked in with their maids.

Because Xu Zaijing and the others were all reading, the three 'Lan's all bowed and didn't speak, sitting directly behind their own desks,

And after helping their respective young ladies set things up, the maids also walked to the wooden platform at the back one after another.

After the few of them greeted each other softly,

Xiao Xiaotao sat beside Qingcao with Xi Que.

Qingcao, who had been in the school for a long time, had warm palms, and Xiao Xiaotao, whose cold cheeks were held by these palms, squinted her eyes comfortably.

After warming Xiao Xiaotao's face, Qingcao handed her hands to Xi Que.

Xi Que, who had carried the book boxes all the way from the inner courtyard's Weiruixuan, smiled as she held Qingcao's warm palms.

Before she could speak,

The cotton curtain at the entrance fluttered again,

And Scholar Zhuang walked in holding a folding fan.

Everyone hurriedly stood up to greet him.

Recently, Scholar Zhuang had been in an excellent mood, and while walking toward the desk, he waved his folding fan and said: "Sit down, everyone!"

"Come, hand in the homework assigned yesterday regarding how to govern the old territories of the returned states!"

After a period of clamor,

Scholar Zhuang looked at a piece of homework in his hand and said: "Changfeng, as your teacher, I see that your homework is somewhat similar to Minister Wang's 'Strategy for Pacifying the Rong'?"

Changfeng, who was named, hurriedly stood up.

Feeling the gazes of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and others around him.

Changfeng: "Scholar, uh, student..."

After a review of the homework,

Everyone took a break,

And Xu Zaijing, Changbai, Gu Tingye, and others, who had been sitting for a long time, slipped out of the school and walked in the courtyard to stretch their muscles and bones.

The servants and maids, who hadn't had a chance to talk while the scholar was teaching, also began to talk.

Qingcao leaned to Xiao Xiaotao's ear and said: "Xiao Xiaotao, why does it seem like your young lady isn't very happy today?"

Looking at Minglan, who wasn't speaking much and was still practicing calligraphy at her desk, Xiao Xiaotao said in a low voice: "Sister Sister Xiaodie's marriage has been decided, and the young lady isn't very happy after hearing about it."

Qingcao's eyes lit up: "Is it the Ni family's young master?"

Xiao Xiaotao nodded.

After the break, the class continued.

At noon,

Mama Cui arrived at the entrance of the school with a smile, followed by maids carrying trays.

Entering the school, after bowing and greeting the scholar, Mama Cui said: "The Old Madam ordered the small kitchen to prepare some nourishing winter dishes."

Scholar Zhuang, who was close by and smelled the fragrance of the food, took advantage of stroking his beard to cover up the act of swallowing his saliva.

Xu Zaijing and the others hurriedly bowed to thank her.

Mama Cui personally served the dishes to everyone,

And when she came to Xu Zaijing's side, Mama Cui squatted down, and while serving the food, she said softly: "Young Master Jing, the Old Madam asked me to tell you to go to Shou'an Hall to drink some tea for digestion when you have time later."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

After the meal,

In the Sheng family's backyard,

There was no north wind, and the afternoon sun made people feel warm.

Xu Zaijing supported the Old Madam's arm and walked slowly near Shou'an Hall.

"So, the Zhu family's young master also performed meritorious service!"

Xu Zaijing, beside her, nodded: "My cousin has to personally go into battle at critical moments. Having blinded the enemy's eyes for so long, both my father and Uncle Cao have praised him highly."

"Great-aunt, why are you asking about this?"

The Old Madam smiled and said: "When I was a child, your great-grandfather often told me about things on the battlefield! Like how one must carefully ponder and review after every battle, clarify the gains and losses of the battle, summarize experience, and take it as a warning..."

"Actually, this kind of pondering and reviewing is also useful in life."

Xu Zaijing, beside her, nodded incessantly.

"Is your Fourth Sister doing well?"

"Great-aunt, she's doing very well. A few days ago, she even asked me for a foal, one that hasn't been born yet."

The Old Madam was stunned, and upon hearing Xu Zaijing explain the coincidence of the due dates of the nephew and the foal, she also laughed: "With such a fate, I have no choice but to give it to her."

"Great-aunt, when do you think Father and Eldest Brother and the others will be able to return?"

The Old Madam pondered while walking, and after a while, she said: "They need to collect military supplies, arrange the whereabouts of the former Bai Gao soldiers, and pacify some sudden chaos, so it's somewhat difficult for them to return before the New Year."

"When your great-grandfather pacified other countries before, he also stayed for a long time. How many months was it?"

Saying this, the Old Madam turned her head to look at Mama Fang behind her.

Mama Fang said: "I remember it was more than four months. Your coming-of-age ceremony and birthday that year were both missed by the Old Marquis."

Hearing this, perhaps recalling interesting events from childhood, the Old Madam smiled with a look of reminiscence in her eyes.

Because when her father Xu Minghua and mother Sun Shi were married, the Old Madam's parents were still alive.

Xu Zaijing had also heard his parents mention a few words over the years at home about how important the Old Madam was in the hearts of his great-grandparents back then.

"Then they are going to miss the Spring Festival again."

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, the Old Madam smiled: "When your father retires after achieving success, there will be plenty of time to accompany you for the holidays."

After strolling for a while longer, Xu Zaijing accompanied the Old Madam back to Shou'an Hall.

Watching Xu Zaijing leave the hall,

The Old Madam, sitting on the Luo Han bed, lifted her leg while saying to Mama Fang beside her: "I hear that this Liu family girl's marriage is quite good!"

Mama Fang walked two steps holding a handkerchief and said: "The Old Madam is right. Although that Ni family young master failed the provincial examination, with his brother-in-law, Xie Zijue Zhu, and the Xu family as protectors, he won't be bad in the future."

Mama Cui, who was organizing tea sets not far away, also smiled and said: "How did that Ni Eldest Da Niangzi take a fancy to Sister Xiaodie!"

Mama Fang, who came to the Old Madam's side, helped the Old Madam fold her legs onto the Luo Han bed, and while tidying the Old Madam's skirt, said: "Sister Xiaodie is both literate and skilled in needlework and embroidery by Wei Xiaoniang's side."

"She is a good girl wherever she is placed!"

Subsequently, Mama Fang placed the divination tortoise and copper coins that the Old Madam used daily on the small table on the Luo Han bed.

The Old Madam herself organized the paper and brush and said: "The Liu family girl has no parents, nor brothers or sisters. She is literate and knows etiquette, so once she enters the Ni family gate, she won't rely on her maiden family to act arrogant."

Mama Cui nodded: "The Old Madam is right! This way, if the Ni family has any trouble, the Ni Eldest Da Niangzi can also put in a word."

"I heard from Mama Liu that this Ni family young master also studies diligently at the Li family school. Although he failed the examination this time, if he gains official rank in the future, he might even be able to obtain a title of honor."

Mama Cui, having finished tidying up for the Old Madam, stood to the side and said.

"Ding-dang, ding-dang."

The Old Madam shook the divination tortoise, looked at the copper coins scattered on the table, and smiled: "When Sister Xiaodie starts going through the motions with the Zhu family, you and Mama Liu beside the Eldest Da Niangzi should accompany the Wei family to show your faces."

"Yes!"

Mama Cui responded with a smile.

Previously, when she took care of Sheng Changzhen in Jin'an Studio, she had stayed for a long time and had a good impression of the diligent and kind-hearted Sister Xiaodie.

"Pick a bolt of good material from my storeroom, and add two hundred strings of cash to put with the Wei family; that will count as our good intentions."

Mama Fang also responded with a smile.

In Yang Zhou, when Hualan was planning for the Yuan family, regardless of farmland, shops, jewelry, or gold, the Old Madam alone prepared eight hundred taels of cash for Hualan.

Later, when she came to Bianjing and married into the Xu family, the Old Madam added quite a bit more, although Hualan didn't use much of it.

Later,

Because of the Jin Buhuan incident, Hualan came to her maiden family to 'seek sponsorship',

Wang Ruofu put up two thousand strings of cash, and the Old Madam put up at least six thousand strings.

After settling the interest afterward, the Old Madam's purse grew quite a bit.

Therefore, although Sister Xiaodie was just a Sheng family maid who received a monthly allowance, the Old Madam still had Mama Fang prepare two hundred strings of cash.

As for the value of the good material in the Old Madam's storeroom, it's hard to say.

Of course, some people might think this money is little, while others might think it is a lot.

The setting sun slanted,

School was out at the Sheng family,

In the Bianjing city preparing for winter,

The streets were still incomparably busy,

With carts and donkeys loaded with all kinds of winter vegetables and grain.

Xu Zaijing returned to Quyuanjie,

The sky was not yet too dark,

And bringing Qingcao back to his courtyard,

Xu Zaijing untied his cloak himself and handed it to Hua Xiang, then gave his scarf to Yun Xiang, and looking at Qingcao, who was putting away the book boxes, said: "Qingcao, before at the Sheng family, you said when you got on the carriage that Sister Xiaodie's marriage had been decided?"

Qingcao: "Hmm, yes, Young Master! It's Ni Eldest Da Niangzi's younger brother. They said that once Xie Zijue Zhu returns, they will officially start setting the date."

Hearing the conversation between Xu Zaijing and Qingcao, Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang both looked over in surprise.

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head: "Ha, so it's him."

"Young Master, I would like..."

Qingcao said hesitantly.

Xu Zaijing waved his hand: "Back in Yang Zhou, Sister Xiaodie did you a favor. You should pick a few more items from my storeroom to send to the Sheng family; consider it my good intentions."

"Yes! Young Master!"

Hua Xiang and Yun Xiang stood to the side and hurriedly tugged at Qingcao's sleeve.

"Young Master! Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang, they also learned needlework and embroidery at the Sheng family's Jin'an Studio for a few months before..." Qingcao murmured.

"You all go!"

"Thank you, Young Master!"

The three little maids all smiled and bowed.

(End of chapter)