Chapter 425

Ever since Zhao Fang became sensible, he had followed the palace out several times every year when the Jinming Pool was opened, the Emperor went on an inspection tour, or the imperial clan held ancestral sacrifices.

But every time, he was by the side of the Emperor or Empress, surrounded by eunuchs, female officials, and guards.

Like today, coming out to stroll like a son of a Duke or Marquis, it had never happened before.

Looking at the tall Sai Sai Fanlou with novelty, watching the few men pointing and gesturing at him upstairs, when he saw the elder brother of Jing Ge'er, Zhao Fang waved his hand happily.

He Guan,

His palms were a little sweaty,

Looking around very nervously, fearing that someone would assassinate the prince.

Zhao Fang, who finished greeting, turned his head, looked at He Guan, who was a step behind him, and his nervous appearance, and smiled: "Second Brother He, it's fine! Now I am a disciple of the Lu family."

"Yes, yes, what the Prince says is right."

Xu Zaijing on the side smiled and looked around as if it were normal.

In fact, he was using his outstanding eyesight with great concentration to scan the surroundings.

Actually, it was just an ordinary stroll to a restaurant for a son of a Duke or Marquis.

Xu Zaijing also fell half a step behind Zhao Fang. Just after scanning the surroundings, he saw Zhao Fang in front stop for a step, then grabbed his hand, and excitedly pulled him to walk into Sai Sai Fanlou.

He Guan looked at Xu Zaijing, who had more strength than him, being pulled by Zhao Fang to take quick steps, and he also took a few quick steps to follow.

When they were about to reach the cloth curtain at the entrance of Sai Sai Fanlou, Xu Zaijing used a little force to pull Zhao Fang behind him and turned his head to look at Qingyun.

Qingyun understood, walked to the entrance with big strides, blocked in front of the waiter of the restaurant, and pulled the cloth curtain open.

After passing the cloth curtain,

Bypassing the huge screen at the entrance,

The group entered the first floor of Sai Sai Fanlou,

The first floor hall was mostly filled with guests eating Bo Xia Gong,

Amidst the noisy chatter of the guests, there were shouts of waiters serving dishes from time to time, such as "Guest, your rabbit meat is here."

The moist heat rushed towards them, mixed with the fragrance of various dishes, tea, and incense.

Feeling the atmosphere around, Zhao Fang sniffed the various smells in the air hard.

Xu Zaijing still held Zhao Fang's hand and walked towards the stairs leading to the second floor.

On the way,

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile towards Gao Yunqing, who was sitting at a table along the way.

Gao Yunqing, as a capable subordinate of Zhao Meifeng, looked at Zhao Fang and bowed as usual.

But Xu Zaijing, relying on his outstanding eyesight, could still see that Gao Yunqing bowed a bit too many times.

Zhao Fang beside Xu Zaijing looked at Gao Yunqing curiously and said: "Jing Ge'er, who is that? Your friend, let's go get to know him."

Xu Zaijing turned his head and said in a low voice: "A soldier of the Imperial City Department."

"Oh."

Zhao Fang nodded.

Second floor,

The door of the private room near the stairs was opened,

Two women dressed very decently, each bringing a mama and a maid, stepped out.

Now the female steward of the Bai family salt manor, Wei Yuyi, still had a polite smile on her face.

Suddenly feeling something,

Wei Yuyi looked up somewhat puzzled, looking at the second-floor corridor not far from the door, where there was a person looking at her with a full sense of scrutiny.

Feeling the somewhat rude gaze, just as Wei Yuyi was about to glare back, her line of sight was blocked by a thin figure appearing in the middle.

Wei Yuyi curled her lips, withdrew her gaze, and said to the woman beside her with the same smile on her face: "Sister Huan, you go back and think about it again, you also know the quality of the fine salt in our Bai family salt manor."

That Sister Huan nodded, her tone hopeful: "Sister Wei, is there really no... in terms of price?"

Wei Yuyi shook her head, her tone sincere: "Sister Huan, I went to the Marquis's residence and begged the Madam to get this price. If it weren't for your family wanting so much, you could go ask my other guests if there is this price."

That Sister Huan nodded: "I know this."

As the two were talking, they had already arrived near the stairs.

The person who was scrutinizing Wei Yuyi just now had already walked away.

Wei Yuyi, who saw a group of people going upstairs, stood to the side with the 'client' to wait a moment.

Amidst the sound of feet stepping on the stairs,

The first one to go upstairs was the elite and sturdy He Guan,

Behind him was Zhao Fang, who was holding Xu Zaijing's hand, followed by Qingyun and several servants.

Arriving at the second floor, Xu Zaijing scanned habitually and saw Wei Yuyi standing to the side at a glance.

Seeing Xu Zaijing, Wei Yuyi's eyes lit up.

Zhao Fang beside Xu Zaijing let go of his hand after seeing Xu Zaijing's gaze and also looked at Wei Yuyi.

Qingyun at the very back bowed slightly.

"Madam Wei, long time no see, what is this?"

Wei Yuyi pinched her handkerchief and crouched: "Greetings Fifth Young Master! This little woman came here today to have a cup of wine with my sister."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded to that Madam Huan: "Is the Old Madam's health good recently?"

Wei Yuyi crouched again and smiled: "Thank you Fifth Young Master for your concern! The water and soil of Bianjing nourish people, her health is even better than in Chuzhou!"

While speaking, Wei Yuyi also smiled at Zhao Fang, who was full of noble air and was curiously looking at her with bright eyes.

Zhao Fang returned a smile, looked up at Xu Zaijing and said: "Brother Jing, who is this Madam?"

Xu Zaijing lowered his head and smiled: "A relative of my family."

"Relative?" Zhao Fang said curiously and looked at Wei Yuyi again, his eyes much more intimate.

Looking at the dress and momentum of Xu Zaijing's group, they didn't look like ordinary wealthy households in Bianjing.

Upon hearing the word 'relative', Madam Huan on the side looked at Wei Yuyi with hidden surprise in her eyes.

"The biological aunt of my great-aunt's cousin."

"Oh, oh!"

Zhao Fang's eyes turned, and he smiled and bowed to Wei Yuyi.

Seeing this scene, He Guan, who was full of elite aura and somewhat arrogant on the side, hurriedly followed and bowed.

Wei Yuyi crouched again, full of smiles: "Greetings to the little Yamen! Fifth Young Master, may I ask who this little Yamen is?"

"Hehe."

Zhao Fang, who obtained a new title, laughed out loud with joy and looked at Xu Zaijing happily.

Hearing Wei Yuyi's question, Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Fang somewhat embarrassedly.

Zhao Fang understood, smiled and bowed: "Madam Wei, I am Brother Jing's younger brother, and I also came here with Brother Jing today to have a cup of wine."

When Zhao Fang was speaking, He Guan reacted quickly and hurriedly lowered his head, covering the shock in his eyes.

Xu Zaijing pursed his lips and nodded with a smile.

Wei Yuyi nodded.

Xu Zaijing said: "Then Madam Wei, you go ahead, we will go up first."

"Walk slowly, you all."

Wei Yuyi crouched again.

After Xu Zaijing's group left, Wei Yuyi then walked downstairs with Madam Huan.

Walking on the stairs, Madam Huan looked up again.

At the entrance to the backyard on the first floor of Sai Sai Fanlou, both Wei Yuyi put on warm cloaks.

After leaving the warm hall and coming to the shaded courtyard, although it was noon, the backyard was still biting cold.

While waiting for their own carriage to come over, Madam Huan deliberated for a while and said: "Sister Wei, let's settle this business!"

Third floor of Sai Sai Fanlou,

At the door of the private room,

Xu Dalang Zaiduan smiled and welcomed Zhao Fang into the private room.

After Zhao Fang entered,

Zaiduan looked at his younger brother with an anxious face and some confusion in his eyes, and said urgently in a low voice: "Little Five, what is going on? How did the Emp... come?"

Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Fang, who turned his head to wait for him, and said in a low voice: "The Emperor's decree, I only knew after entering the palace."

"Then I... should I tell everyone the Prince's identity?"

"This matter was already said in the palace! The Prince said that if everyone knows his identity, they won't be comfortable eating, so let's tell them after the matter is over."

Zaiduan nodded with full emotion: "I will also explain this consideration of the Emperor and the Prince to them clearly when the time comes."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

Before entering the private room, Xu Zaijing looked outside and nodded to Zhao Meifeng, who was still somewhat thin not far away.

Outside the private room,

Zhao Meifeng watched Xu Zaijing enter the private room and said to his subordinate not far away: "Let the wine be served slower in the private room where the four medical officials are."

The subordinate responded in a low voice.

Inside the private room,

Seeing Xu Zaijing bring people in, everyone in the room bowed and bent over one after another.

Greetings of "Fifth Young Master" and "Jing Ge'er" came one after another.

Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed in return.

Zhao Fang on the side watched with glowing eyes.

Lu Junyi, a disciple of Old Master Zhou Dong, whose temperament was much more mature than before, asked with a smile: "Fifth Young Master, which Duke or Marquis's son is this little brother? He looks imposing and full of noble air!"

Zhao Fang couldn't suppress the corners of his mouth from rising, learned from Xu Zaijing, bowed and smiled: "My surname is Fang, given name Zhao, my family has a kinship with the Marquis of Tuoxi."

"So it's a relative of the Cao family?"

"Then Brother Zhao, how come you are sitting in the Lu family's carriage?" Guo Kui said somewhat puzzled.

"Hehe, the Lu family's younger brother is a guest at my house, originally... it was just that I found it troublesome to harness the carriage, so I directly used his family's carriage."

"Oh, oh!"

"Brother Duan, why don't you introduce him to me?"

Xu Zaijing quickly grabbed his eldest brother's arm, who wanted to bow.

Zaiduan reacted quickly, and the hand that was blocked by his younger brother followed the trend and went behind his back, while the other palm stretched out and said: "Brother Zhao! This is my designated future deputy general, Lu Junyi, whose ancestral home is Daming Prefecture!"

"Brother Zhao, greetings!" Lu Junyi bowed with a smile.

"I know you, you were one of the vanguards before the night raid on the city in the land of Quzhi after Bai Gao! Jing Ge'er praised you to me!" Zhao Fang looked at Lu Junyi and said with bright eyes.

Lu Junyi raised his eyebrows and smiled at Xu Zaijing again, full of the meaning of "thank you brother for praising me in front of others."

Lu Junyi and Xu Zaijing had competed with Jin warriors on the polo field before, so they were naturally familiar.

Zaiduan continued: "In Bai Gao, Junyi newly tamed a snow-white steed, and he was so proud of it!"

Hearing this, Lu Junyi laughed even more heartily, waved his hand and said: "General, what are you talking about! My horse can't compare to Jing Ge'er's few mounts at all, can't compare!"

Everyone nodded one after another; there was no disagreement about this.

"This is Wang Yan, whose ancestral home is Shezhou, he understands the Bai Gao language and uses a good spear technique. Previously, it was he who, together with this Brother Wu Song, this Brother Pang Wanchun, and this Brother Deng Yuanjue, accompanied Li's Chimei to surrender a military division of Bai Gao."

"I know about this! You few are truly courageous."

The four people who were named smiled and bowed: "Brother Zhao, you flatter us, you flatter us!"

"This is Guo Kui, whose home is on the main street outside the West Water Gate."

Guo Kui smiled and bowed: "Greetings, Yamen."

"These two are Fang Ding and Fang Jie."

"Hehe, this Yamen, we are actually from the same family!" The Fang brothers, who looked somewhat similar, said with a smile.

Zhao Fang nodded with a smile.

Zaiduan looked at the Fang brothers somewhat helplessly; this attempt to claim kinship... tsk.

"This is Deng Yuanjue, he is a fellow villager of Wang Yan."

Zhao Fang smiled: "I've heard of you, Jing Ge'er said you have quite a bit of strength."

"Fifth Young Master saying this really makes me ashamed."

Deng Yuanjue bowed with full embarrassment on his face.

After everyone was introduced,

Zhao Fang said: "Brother Duan, Viscount Zhu and Assistant Commander Di and the others haven't returned?"

"Yes."

"Sigh, it's a pity I can't see him."

Xu Zaijing on the side said: "It's fine, Di Jing and Guo Kui's martial arts are comparable, seeing Guo Kui is seeing that fellow Di Jing."

"Fifth Young Master flatters me!" Guo Kui smiled.

"Come, everyone sit down!" Zaiduan greeted with a smile.

Everyone responded one after another,

Zaiduan was pushed by Wu Song and the others to the main seat,

Xu Zaijing made an excuse to take care of his relative's little brother and let Zhao Fang sit above him.

Then,

Inside the private room,

Zhao Fang, who was used to the soft whispers of eunuchs and female officials in the palace,

Watched as the rough men in the army started pushing and laughing to give up their seats.

Zhao Fang, who had never seen such a scene before, couldn't help but laugh while listening to the men's words.

After making a scene for a while,

After everyone sat down,

Dishes like flowing water were brought in by the waiter, and in a short while, the table was filled.

Along with the dishes, there were also jars of good wine.

"Come, fill your own wine!"

Zaiduan, who was sitting in the main seat, said.

When everyone was pouring wine, Xu Zaijing shook his head at Zhao Fang, who was leaning towards his wine jar.

When everyone raised their glasses,

On the side,

Qingyun walked over carrying a food box.

"Young Master, the freshly baked roast duck just sent over."

"Whose is it?" Zhao Fang on the side said.

"Sent over by a great eunuch beside the Emperor, dressed in plain clothes." Qingyun said in an extremely low voice.

Amidst the noise, Qingyun's voice was only heard by Zhao Fang and Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing nodded, and Qingyun opened the food box.

The roast duck inside was roasted until it was shiny and steaming, and next to it were a small knife for cutting duck meat, a pot of wine, and wine cups.

Looking at the steaming flour pancakes under the roast duck, Xu Zaijing looked at Zhao Fang and said: "Has this way of eating spread to the palace?"

Zhao Fang nodded with a smile.

Xu Zaijing turned his head and said to Qingyun: "Serve a few more roast ducks."

"Yes, Young Master."

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes,

The food box sent from the palace was already half empty.

They hadn't drunk much wine before, and everyone was still somewhat cautious.

At this time, after drinking more than ten bowls of wine, the atmosphere at the banquet gradually became enthusiastic.

From time to time, someone would stand up, carry a wine bowl to toast Xu Zaijing, and Xu Zaijing would accept everyone who came.

There were even more people toasting Zaiduan, and Zaiduan drank until his face was somewhat red.

The Fang brothers, who had drunk quite a bit of wine, also walked over. After toasting Zaiduan and Xu Zaijing, they filled their wine bowls again and held them up, saying: "Brother Zhao, we are from the same family, our brothers dare to toast you a cup."

Zhao Fang smacked his lips, looked at Xu Zaijing with full expectation in his eyes, and said in a low voice: "Father... Father said I can drink."

Xu Zaijing glanced at the wine pot and wine cup still in the roast duck food box.

Soon,

The Fang brothers sat back in their chairs with satisfaction.

Others saw this scene and all came over to toast.

The sun slanted to the west,

Wu Song and Lu Junyi, who had drunk quite a bit, were arm-wrestling on a small table with their shirts off,

The blue veins on their thick arms were exposed, and their faces were also red, with sweat from drinking and the room temperature on them.

"Slap!"

Wu Song's arm was pressed onto the table by Lu Junyi.

"Good! Hahahaha."

Everyone made a scene.

Seeing the excitement, Zhao Fang, who was watching from the side, looked at Xu Zaijing with a smile.

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile and patted Wu Song, who was sighing there.

Wu Song turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing and hurriedly stood up to give up his seat.

Xu Zaijing sat down, placed his left elbow on the small table, looked at everyone and said: "Who is coming?"

Guo Kui and Deng Yuanjue looked at each other, and under Guo Kui's signal, Deng Yuanjue moved another chair over.

Then the two sat opposite together,

Behind them, He Guan and Wu Song were queuing up.

Xu Zaijing then placed his right hand on the small table: "Come!"

When the sky was still bright that day,

Zhao Fang had already returned to the palace.

Early the next morning,

Zaiduan looked at Lu Junyi and the others who had stayed at Sai Sai Fanlou for the night and called them together,

"Everyone, there is something I want to say."

(End of chapter)