Chapter 420: Fifth Brother's reputation and an old friend returns to the capital [Thank you

As the saying goes, it's not cold when it snows, it's cold when the snow melts.

The sky cleared today and the snow melted for a day.

After the sun went down,

the winter night under the blowing north wind was exceptionally cold,

and if hands or ears were exposed to the outside for just a few breaths, they would feel frozen and painful.

At the entrance of the Cheng family's main gate,

under the illumination of the lantern light,

the decorated red silk ribbons and lanterns with 'Xi' characters pasted on them swayed gently in the wind.

Cheng seventh miss's mother, who became a mother-in-law today, walked to the main gate.

She had a fur scarf wrapped around her neck, and despite the cold, she still held Ni Qiqiu's hand.

"It's really cold. Jing Jing Biao Ge Aunt, you should go in quickly!"

Under the lantern light, when Ni Qiqiu spoke, white breath drifted out from between her nose and mouth from time to time.

Seventh miss's mother nodded, white breath drifting from her mouth: "Good! I know! Sister Qiu, I haven't asked you all this time, where is that gold hairpin you always wore before?"

White breath sprayed from Ni Qiqiu's nose, and she whispered: "When the maternal aunt came, she asked for that gold hairpin, saying it was useful."

"It was originally a gift from the maternal aunt."

Seventh miss's mother nodded: "Alright then. Go slowly on the road!"

Ni Qiqiu responded and boarded the carriage.

The carriage walked a few steps, and Ni Qiqiu looked back from the carriage window: "Jing Jing Biao Ge Aunt, go back quickly!"

"Good!"

Watching the carriage go far away,

seventh miss's mother under the lantern sighed a white breath and turned to return to the mansion.

At this time,

there was the sound of a carriage coming from a different direction than Ni Qiqiu's. Seventh miss's mother looked at the lantern with the word 'Cheng' on the carriage and waited at the entrance for a while.

When the Cheng family carriage approached, seventh miss's mother whispered: "Is it our family's young master who is back?"

"Yes, Madam!"

During the time the coachman replied, the carriage stopped.

Two young men a bit older than Xu Zaijing walked out of the carriage.

Before the carriage stool was put down, one of the two young men was about to jump off the carriage.

Seeing this scene, seventh miss's mother hurriedly shouted.

"Slowly, slowly!"

"It's so cold, be careful not to twist your foot!"

After the young man got off the carriage, seventh miss's mother looked at her two sons by the lantern light: "Eighth Brother, Ninth Brother, what's wrong? Why are you both pulling long faces?"

One of the Cheng family young men sprayed white breath from his nose, flicked his sleeve and said: "Hmph! Mother! This Xu Fifth Brother is truly rude!"

"En? What happened to the Xu family young master?"

"Aunt, on this happy day, Xu Fifth Brother and Huang the eldest son actually competed in martial arts during the banquet interval, and without any sense of proportion, kicked the Zhu family's door panel to pieces!"

"Mother, Ninth Brother is right, Xu Fifth Brother also choked Huang the eldest son until he fainted."

"What!!?? Is the person alright?"

The two young men shook their heads.

The three walked toward the courtyard together.

"These two families' young masters, how did they start fighting? And actually choked someone until they fainted." Seventh miss's mother asked suspiciously.

Cheng family's Eighth Brother said: "Mother, you don't think about whose relatives the original Earl of Zhongqin Yuan family were..."

Hearing her son say this, seventh miss's mother gasped in the extremely cold air of the winter night.

Now that the Xu family's second Madam Sheng Hualan had previously discussed marriage with the Yuan family's second son, the Cheng family had also heard of it. After all, the commotion the Yuan family made in Bianjing was big enough,

didn't expect that after going to Yang Zhou, the commotion at the pier was even bigger.

So much so that after the Yuan family returned to the capital, their title was stripped.

"This is too vengeful!"

Seventh miss's mother sighed.

"Mother, these Yuan father and son are now serving the country in the north, and the Huang family young master also just returned a few days ago. Xu Fifth Brother just hasn't had a chance to find fault until now!"

Cheng family's Eighth Brother said.

After speaking,

there was a silence among the three as they walked.

On the way, seventh miss's mother was full of thoughts.

When they were about to walk to the room of Chai Zhengzheng's grandparents, seventh miss's mother shook her head: "No! The Yuan father and son are serving the country in the north, and they are also under Marquis Xu! To find trouble, they still have to wait until the Huang family young master returns to Bianjing?"

"And Xu Fifth Brother hasn't been to the Northwest."

"This... Aunt, maybe it's in the army, Xu Fifth Brother didn't dare to move his hands randomly!"

"Can competing be considered moving hands randomly?"

Hearing this from the elder, the two young men didn't continue.

"When Seventh Miss returns to visit, I'll ask her again."

Xu Zaijing's maternal grandfather's house was outside the West Water Gate,

and the Zhu family's mansion was in the inner city inside the West Water Gate.

Zhu family,

in the courtyard of the backyard,

a maid was carrying a lantern and leading people walking on the veranda.

Main room,

the inner room still had candles lit,

"Mother-in-law, daughter-in-law is back, come to pay respects to you."

"Come in."

Ni Qiqiu entered the warm inner room and smiled at her mother-in-law sitting on the bed.

"Eldest son's wife, come, come sit. My wrist is not very comfortable."

Ni Qiqiu sat over as told, reached out to hold her mother-in-law's wrist and was about to massage it.

But her hand was held by her mother-in-law.

"It's really cold tonight, your hands are cold."

"Yes, melting snow day."

"En."

Xu Zaijing's aunt, Zhu Qinghu's mother, pondered for a moment: "Your maternal aunt talked to me for a long time today. She said that Hu Ge'er has been busy with official business, and in the final analysis, it's for the Xu family, for his uncle."

Ni Qiqiu gave a bitter smile.

"These days you are managing the household affairs, and you are busy with the Liu family girl and your brother's affairs. As a mother-in-law, I really shouldn't add to your trouble."

"Mother-in-law, what are you saying... On the battlefield, swords and arrows have no eyes, I should have continued the bloodline for my husband early."

Madam Xu held Ni Qiqiu's hand and smiled with relief.

"By the way, eldest son's wife, your maternal aunt said she would think of a way for you, do you know what it is?"

Ni Qiqiu shook her head: "Perhaps invite a formidable gynecologist?"

Madam Xu nodded thoughtfully: "It really might be! When your maternal aunt first entered the Xu family gate, she also didn't conceive for a long time. It was the aunt who married into the Sheng family who found a physician for her!"

Quyuanjie,

Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

the room had candles lit,

Xu Zaijing sat in a circular chair beside the table, drinking hangover soup while listening to the three maids in the room whispering.

The three of them chatted about jewelry from time to time, and about Sister Xiaodie's wedding next month from time to time.

"Young Master, when Sister Xiaodie sister gets married, can the three of us go together?" Qingcao took the opportunity of pouring hangover soup for Xu Zaijing and asked with a smile in a low voice.

Xu Zaijing glanced at her and shook his head.

Qingcao lowered her head, feeling depressed: "Oh, understood, Young Master."

Xu Zaijing blew on the soup bowl and said: "When the time comes, we might have to go to the Ni family to help, you can't all go!"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Qingcao raised her head with a smile.

Going to the Sheng family and going to the Ni family, both can see Sister Xiaodie's wedding.

Just as the three maids were about to continue talking, a voice came from the entrance: "Jing Ge'er, the Madam invites you to her courtyard."

"Mama, understood!"

Yunxiang walked to the entrance and replied.

Afterwards,

Xu Zaijing put on his cloak again, took Yunxiang, left the courtyard and walked toward his mother's place.

Yunxiang was wearing a cloak, with cute earmuffs on her head, and her hands in cotton gloves were carrying a lantern.

Walking on the road,

the biting cold wind blew toward them, not only drilling into her neck, but also making Yunxiang's cheeks a bit painful.

This made Yunxiang involuntarily hide beside Xu Zaijing.

As the lantern swayed, Xu Zaijing said:

"By the way, Yunxiang, it's getting colder recently, how are your Qingcao sister's hands and ears?"

"Yo..."

At this time, the master and servant were just passing through a wind gap in the courtyard,

and the cold wind blowing toward them blocked Yunxiang's words back.

After passing the wind gap,

Yunxiang hid her mouth in her scarf and said muffledly: "Young Master, Qingcao sister's hands and ears are still a bit frostbitten, often itchy."

Xu Zaijing said 'En': "What about you two?"

"Young Master, my sister and I are both fine, we grew up in the Marquis's Mansion since we were young and haven't been frostbitten."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Soon, the master and servant turned around the moon gate and entered Madam Sun's courtyard.

Lifting the curtain and entering the room,

feeling the warmth in the room,

Xu Zaijing rubbed his cheeks, which were a bit numb from the few steps of walking.

"Mother, you asked me to come over, what's wrong? Brother, Sister-in-law."

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who took off his cloak and was bowing to his elder brother and two sisters-in-law, Madam Sun, sitting on the Luo Han bed, smiled: "Jing'er, Zaihang just told me! What you did at the Zhu family was very correct!"

"It both preserved the Zhu family's face and protected the Huang family's reputation."

Xu Zaijing smiled and sat down below Zaihang.

Xie Shi, who had a big belly, said: "The two families are fine, but our family's Fifth Brother is going to be talked about as being brave and fierce again! Clearly he did a good deed."

Madam Sun smiled and waved her hand: "Those who should know and can know what kind of person Fifth Brother is, naturally know."

"As for those who have opinions about Fifth Brother just by listening to rumors, I don't take it to heart either."

After speaking, Madam Sun looked at her eldest daughter-in-law's belly again:

"Jing'er, your cousin will return to the capital after the New Year, if he sends you something, just accept it directly."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Mother, rest assured."

Seeing her youngest son nod, Madam Sun looked at Zaihang and Hualan again and said:

"Jing'er, you play well with the Qiao family's Ninth Brother. When your cousin returns, ask the Qiao family to send... forget it, talk about it later."

Xu Zaijing, sitting below, scratched his head: "Mother, why were you in such a hurry to go to Aunt's house this morning?"

"Adults' matters, don't you worry about it."

"Oh~"

Actually, just now after his mother looked at his elder brother and sister-in-law, and mentioned the Qiao family who sold aquatic products, Xu Zaijing already had a guess in his heart.

"Then, Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll go back, I have to get up early tomorrow."

Madam Sun waved her hand.

Xu Zaijing patted Zaihang's hand, and after the brothers exchanged a look, Xu Zaijing stood up and left.

Rong family,

Hui Xue Yuan,

in the bedroom,

the maid Ningxiang, wearing pajamas, was lying in the quilt, with a hand warmer filled with hot water between her hands and feet.

Looking at Rong Feiyan and Seeing Xi Bu whispering in the room, Ningxiang said curiously: "Da Niangzi, what are you talking about?"

Seeing Xi Bu finished speaking and left Rong Feiyan's ear.

"You say the servants of several families around are all spreading it like this?"

Seeing Xi Bu nodded: "Yes, the boy at the gatehouse said so, and our Marquis's Mansion is not far from there..."

The master and servant looked at each other, and Rong Feiyan said slowly: "Xu Fifth Brother is not an impulsive character, and he was attending the wedding banquet of the Earl of Chengping, how could he compete with others?"

"Maybe he drank too much?" Seeing Xi Bu replied.

"Da Niangzi, how is Xu Fifth Brother not an impulsive character? Have you forgotten the matter of the young masters of several families fighting when Zhengzheng young lady came to the capital and held a banquet at the Duke of Qi's mansion?"

Ningxiang in the quilt said.

Seeing Xi Bu turned her head and looked at Ningxiang and shook her head.

"He did this, there must be something that provoked him, otherwise he wouldn't be so reckless."

"When you came, was the light in Brother's courtyard extinguished?"

"When this servant came over, I saw the candles were still lit."

"Go ask."

"Yes, Da Niangzi!"

After a quarter of an hour,

Seeing Xi Bu returned to the room.

At this time, Rong Feiyan had already changed into the quilt.

Ningxiang put on her clothes and stood on the side, seeing Seeing Xi Bu return, she hurriedly said: "How is it?"

Seeing Xi Bu smiled slightly at Ningxiang and said to Rong Feiyan: "Da Niangzi, the maid in the second brother's courtyard conveyed: just see if the Duke of Han and the Duke of Ling's families are there, if they are there, there's definitely nothing good."

"Before, the young masters of these families were toward Tingyi young lady and Zhengzheng young lady, the two..."

"And, the Huang family young master was inquired about recently, and he was engaged to the Han family young lady before!"

Rong Feiyan nodded thoughtfully.

"Then Da Niangzi, this servant will extinguish the light."

"En."

Ningxiang held the candle,

Seeing Xi Bu took off the lampshade on the table and blew out the candle.

After the two personal maids left with the candles, the room fell into darkness.

When the two arrived at the outer room, the light of a lantern approached outside the house.

"Da Niangzi asleep?"

A servant woman's voice came from outside the door.

"Just extinguished the candle, Mama, what's wrong?" Seeing Xi Bu said.

"Seeing Xi Bu, please convey to Da Niangzi, Madam asks her to accompany Pei Erge to the palace to see the Imperial Consort tomorrow."

"Understood! This servant will definitely convey it." Seeing Xi Bu replied.

"Thank you for your trouble."

The light of the lantern went far away outside the door.

Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang returned to the bedroom again.

Rong Feiyan in the bed curtains said: "I heard it."

The next day,

winter morning,

it was freezing cold outside.

Inside the house, Mama Xia, who was looking at the stove, although close to the fire source, also had to cover herself with a quilt.

The incense stick between her fingers had burned to the bottom near her fingers.

It seemed that the scorching pain was unforgettable, or it was the biological clock of waking up every day,

when the incense stick was about to burn her, Mama Xia slowly opened her eyes.

Without moving the incense stick between her fingers, Mama Xia felt the temperature of the incense stick, and closed her eyes again and pricked up her ears to listen.

Hearing the sound of time reporting from afar, Mama Xia got up and lifted the quilt, then moved the incense stick between her fingers away and threw it into the stove.

Poked the charcoal fire in the stove to make it burn vigorously, Mama Xia walked toward the partition where Qingcao and the others were.

As Xu Zaijing was woken up by the maid, his new day had to start with morning exercise again.

Morning exercise ended,

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother went to the Sheng family,

at noon,

Xu Zaijing finished lunch at Shou'an Tang, and was dozing off in the classroom where the floor dragon was burning and it was very warm, with classmates like Gu Tingye and Qi Heng, when Qingyun lifted the two layers of cotton curtains and walked in.

At this time, there were no Sheng family girls in the classroom, and Qingyun, who was married, could enter.

After Qingyun cupped his hands to Qi Heng and the others who were cooled by the cold air on his body, he walked to Xu Zaijing's side and said: "Young Master, just now the Zheng family servant came to convey a letter, saying that the Zheng family's second young master invites a few to a banquet tonight."

Hearing this,

Gu Tingye looked over: "Qingyun, Zheng Xiao, Zheng Pei Erge, is back?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 421 =====