Chapter 431: Someone with Money [Thank you! Thank you again! Owe 10,000 characters]

Great Zhou Palace,

Outside Daqing Hall,

The Great Morning Assembly of the first day had ended,

The hundred officials were walking out from the hall,

The officials were heading in different directions; some were going to meet their families in the palace, some were going to their offices for duty, and some were returning directly to their homes.

During the Great Morning Assembly,

Zaizuan, who was standing in the back position of the officials, came out very quickly. Zaizuan, wearing a martial official's uniform, waited for a while at the hall door,

And after seeing Gu Tingyu come out, they walked toward the palace together.

Glancing at the direction of the hundred officials walking out of the palace, Zaizuan said to Gu Tingyu: "Eldest Brother, what are the envoys of Northern Liao and the Jin Kingdom talking about so close together? They won't fight, will they?"

Gu Tingyu also glanced and said: "The envoys of the two countries are discussing the exchange of prisoners. Previously, the Northern Liao envoy even entrusted our Ministry of Rites officials to act as intermediaries."

"Ah?"

Zaizuan's eyes were full of confusion: "Wouldn't it be more convenient for them to talk at the border of the two countries?"

Gu Tingyu shook his head: "The two countries are currently at war, and the exchange of prisoners is not for all prisoners, but only for the noble children of Northern Liao."

Zaizuan nodded.

"What are you two talking about?"

Zhang Fangyan, the eldest son of the Duke of Ying, who was walking behind the two, spoke up.

Zaizuan explained.

The three of them walked toward the palace together while talking.

The palace gate south of Daqing Hall was called Daqing Gate,

And outside Daqing Gate was the Xuande Gate, the south gate of the palace city; the two palace gates were on a straight line.

Before Daqing Gate,

"Sheng Brother! Stay your steps, wait for me."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong looked back and stopped with a smile, saying: "Liu Brother, what is it?"

The official behind Sheng Hong walked a few steps quickly, came to Sheng Hong's side, looked around, and said: "Sheng Brother, are you free after the morning assembly? Shall we go to Pan Lou for a drink?"

"Liu Brother, we are of the same year; if you have something to say, just say it. Why do we need to go to Pan Lou for a drink?"

Hearing Sheng Hong's words, Lord Liu smiled slightly, reached out to make a gesture of invitation, and said: "Can't we have a drink just because we are of the same year?"

Sheng Hong smiled: "Of course we can, then I will be the host!"

Lord Liu waved his hand, and they walked out together.

After leaving the palace,

When the two were walking toward the carriage, Lord Liu said in a low voice beside Sheng Hong: "Sheng Brother, at the morning assembly today, why did I see that Lord Shen's expression was not very good? Lord Shen has been an official for so many years; it is rare to see him looking so worried."

Sheng Hong looked around like a thief and said in a low voice: "Listening to Minister Li, it is that Shen Ge'er has been suffering from a cold since the twelfth lunar month, and he has invited several medical officials in the capital, but he still hasn't recovered!"

"He has been bedridden for more than half a month!"

"Hiss!"

Lord Liu gasped: "No wonder! It is indeed dangerous to catch a cold in this winter."

Sheng Hong nodded: "Previously, there was news that Shen Ge'er was going to get married before the New Year, but because of this, it was also postponed."

Lord Liu thought for a moment: "Is it General Zheng Jun's daughter?"

"Yes!"

Sheng Hong replied.

"By the way, is your eldest daughter following you into the palace now?" Lord Liu asked with a smile.

Sheng Hong couldn't stop the smile on his face and waved his hand: "She is in the palace with her mother-in-law."

"Sigh! If I had personally gone to Yang Zhou to find Sheng Brother back then, perhaps such a good girl would have married into my family."

Lord Liu said somewhat regretfully.

The two talked until they left the palace,

And because neither of them had to be on duty at their offices today and had nothing to do at home, they drank at Pan Lou until the afternoon.

Pan Lou, second floor,

In the private room,

Beside the dinner table,

Lord Liu was obviously a bit drunk at this time. He held up his wine glass with tears in his eyes and said: "Previously, when the Qiu family had an accident, those who called me brother stayed far away, and I was on the verge of losing my official position."

"If, if it weren't for you, Sheng Brother, acting righteously, now I... Come, Sheng Brother, let's have another cup!"

Sheng Hong's eyes were still clear at this time: "What are you saying, Liu Brother? I only exerted a small effort; the Huangfu family was the main one! And we are of the same year; we should look after each other!"

Actually, according to Sheng Hong's own thoughts, after the Prince of Yan accident, the Liu family, who had a very good relationship with the Qiu family, the Prince of Yan's retainers, should also have been like others, keeping a respectful distance from the Liu family.

However, after discussing it with the Old Madam and listening to the Old Madam's general analysis, he decided to continue to be on good terms with this contemporary of his.

The Liu family had been officials for generations and also had many in-laws in the Great Zhou.

The current Emperor and Empress had a son,

Officials in the court didn't need to stand in line for any prince of the clan. The Liu family had a good relationship with the Qiu family, but it was far from being implicated.

Moreover, the Liu family also had relatives with the Huangfu family, so even if they were implicated, there would be people in the court to help speak for them.

The sun slanted west,

Sheng Hong and Lord Liu left Pan Lou together,

At the entrance of Pan Lou,

Lord Liu, who was somewhat drunk, was supported by his own servant and Xiao Er Min Ge'er from Pan Lou. He looked at Sheng Hong with drunken eyes and said: "Sheng Brother, if there is a chance, let's take another look at that big Gao sword of yours!"

"Easy to say! Liu Brother, the wind is cold in the afternoon, you'd better get in the carriage quickly!"

Sheng Hong, who was full of alcohol, said.

Watching the Liu family's carriage leave, Sheng Hong stepped on the carriage stool and got into the carriage with Dongrong's support.

Arriving at Jiying Lane,

When Sheng Hong went to Shou'an Hall, he happened to see the servants of Shou'an Hall putting some gifts into storage.

Amidst the maidservant's announcement,

Sheng Hong took off his warm cloak outside Shou'an Hall, then lowered his head and walked through the cotton curtain into the inner room. Looking at the Old Madam who still had a smile on her face, Sheng Hong said: "Mother, your son has returned!"

The Old Madam nodded with a smile: "Hong'er, sit!"

Sheng Hong hurriedly nodded and sat down.

"Was the Great Morning Assembly lively today?"

Hearing the Old Madam's words, Sheng Hong smiled and said: "Replying to Mother, it was very lively! The Emperor was happy at the Great Morning Assembly today and rewarded many people!"

The Old Madam nodded with a smile.

"By the way, Mother, when your son entered Shou'an Hall, I happened to see the servants organizing gifts. Did a guest come to the house?"

"Yes, the descendants of the old acquaintances from the manor I brought with me when I married joined the army and made contributions in the west for your cousin, and they came to our house to pay New Year's greetings today."

Sheng Hong nodded: "I heard Mother mention it before. Those descendants don't seem to be very old! Your son helped evaluate merits and rewards before, and I have seen several who made great contributions in the battle reports."

"They are not old, the future is promising!"

After the Old Madam finished speaking, she looked at Sheng Hong, whose eyes were turning as he thought about things, and continued: "The elders of those children mostly know the old people in the courtyard like Mama Fang, so I let them stay and talk with the old people in the courtyard, and they left in the afternoon."

Sheng Hong hurriedly nodded; the Old Madam seemed to be able to see through what he was thinking at a glance.

"Father, drink some tea!"

Minglan walked over with a cup of hot tea from Mama Cui, who was making tea.

Sheng Hong smiled at Minglan: "Good child."

After Minglan went to the side, Sheng Hong talked with the Old Madam about the postponement of the wedding dates for the children of the Shen and Zheng families.

"Postponing this marriage, I don't know if it's the intention of the Zheng family or the Shen family."

The Old Madam sighed after listening.

If it was the Zheng family, then they cherished this girl in their hearts.

If it was the Shen family, it could also be seen that the Shen family's family style was very good, thinking of other families' girls everywhere, for fear of harming other families' girls by becoming widows.

After half of the tea in the teacup was drunk, Sheng Hong, having nothing to say, took his leave from Shou'an Hall.

After leaving the courtyard of Shou'an Hall, he thought about it at the intersection, seemingly remembering Minglan who had served tea earlier.

Sheng Hong didn't go to Weiruixuan but walked toward Jin'an Study.

Jin'an Study,

"Young Madam, this servant saw the Master coming this way at the courtyard gate!"

The little maidservant Qiujiang shouted softly at the door of the room.

Wei Shuyi stood up in surprise,

And when she walked to the door of the room, she happened to see Sheng Hong walking into the courtyard with a smile.

"Master!"

Wei Shuyi bowed with a smile.

Sheng Hong nodded with a smile: "Where is Chen'er?"

Wei Shuyi: "Replying to the Master, he is copying calligraphy."

Sheng Hong heard this, looked at the direction of the sun, and said: "The sun is about to set, the darkness hurts the eyes!"

As he spoke, he entered the room with Wei Shuyi.

"Father!"

Inside the room, Sheng Changchen, wearing simple cotton-padded clothes, bowed with a smile and a naive appearance.

Sheng Hong looked at Changchen's smile and the dimples on his cheeks that were very similar to his own, and felt that his mood instantly became even better.

This youngest son of his was not like his biological mother Wei Shi, who was not prone to smiling; every time Sheng Hong came to Jin'an Study, he could see his smiling youngest son.

"Chen'er, I heard from your Young Madam that you were copying calligraphy just now?"

Sheng Hong asked with a smile while taking off his cloak for Wei Shuyi.

Sheng Changchen nodded: "Yes, Father, Young Madam said Father's calligraphy is extremely good, and I can only be like Father if I copy and work hard!"

Hearing this, Sheng Hong smiled and looked at Wei Shuyi, who was putting away the cloak, and said: "Your Young Madam's calligraphy is also very good!"

"Master, you flatter me!"

At this moment,

Xiaodie walked over with a teacup, and Sheng Hong, who hadn't drunk much water in Shou'an Hall, took it into his hand.

Holding the teacup in one hand, Sheng Hong reached out his other hand toward Sheng Changchen: "Chen'er, come, let Father see how you copied it!"

Sheng Changchen nodded and walked to the window with Sheng Hong.

The table by the window was quite bright,

And stacks of paper were placed on it.

Sheng Hong put the teacup on the table and looked at the results of his youngest son's copying with both hands, sheet by sheet.

After looking at two sheets, Sheng Hong was stunned, looking at the back of the draft paper.

"This, this back of the draft paper, why are there words too? Chen'er, how did you copy it?"

After asking, Sheng Hong understood it himself; by offsetting the front and back sides when copying, he could write a few more words in the blank spaces.

"Father, Young Madam said that although our family is wealthy, we should still be frugal if we can." Sheng Changchen said in a crisp voice.

Looking at the appearance of the draft paper,

Sheng Hong thought of the scene of him practicing calligraphy when he was a child.

At that time, the concubine of his father, the Tanhua Lang, hadn't died and was still in charge of the household, and he and his biological mother, Spring Young Madam, lived a very hard life.

When he had paper to practice calligraphy, he would write on both sides just like Sheng Changchen.

Sheng Hong, who already had the effect of alcohol, had many scenes from his childhood flash through his heart, which made him quite emotional while his eye sockets felt a bit hot.

"Good child!"

Looking at the immature and regular handwriting on the draft paper, Sheng Hong said while holding back his nose from feeling sour.

Wei Shuyi, who had put away the cloak, walked over.

Sheng Hong looked at Wei Shuyi with a smile and said: "Shuyi, you have taught Chen'er very well."

Wei Shuyi looked at her son, who was young and didn't know how to hide the pride in his eyes, and said: "It's that Chen'er has a good father, and he is just following his example."

Hearing this, Sheng Hong smiled even more happily.

Sheng Hong had long forgotten what he looked like as a child.

But the old Sheng family servants who had seen him as a child, including Mama Fang beside his legal mother, all said in their daily conversations that Sheng Changchen looked like him.

When Sheng Hong compared himself in the mirror, he found that except for his eyes, which were like Wei Shuyi's, the rest of his youngest son really looked very much like him.

Wei Shuyi looked at Sheng Hong and then at Changchen.

Everything she said just now was the truth, because she would never tell Changchen about Sheng Hong's shortcomings such as loving face and being mean;

She would only tell Changchen about Sheng Hong's strengths such as good calligraphy, caution, and being an honest official.

Caution and honesty were things Changchen couldn't see in the back courtyard,

But good calligraphy was something Changchen could see clearly.

Therefore, Changchen somewhat admired Sheng Hong, this father of his.

Seeing Sheng Hong rubbing his forehead again, Wei Shuyi whispered: "Master, why don't you rest here with this concubine for a while."

As she spoke, Wei Shuyi looked at the recliner placed in the room.

Sheng Hong, who was in a good mood, thought about it, and the figure of Lin Qinshuang flashed through his heart.

But looking at the expectation in Sheng Changchen's eyes, Sheng Hong still nodded.

"You have been busy from morning until now, why don't this concubine give you a massage, Master?"

Wei Shuyi continued.

Sheng Hong was stunned: "Shuyi, you know how to massage?"

Wei Shuyi smiled: "Before, when Xiaodie went to the Zhu family, she asked First Madam Ni for advice while chatting, and after she came back, she told this concubine."

"Oh! So that's how it is!"

Sheng Hong said and lay down on the recliner.

"This concubine let Xiaodie massage me and felt it was very comfortable, so I also learned a little."

Wei Shuyi took the embroidery stool from Qiujiang and placed it beside the recliner.

After Sheng Hong finished stretching on the recliner, she placed her fingers on Sheng Hong's head.

Before,

Whether it was Wang Ruofu or Lin Qinshuang, they would both massage Sheng Hong.

The difference in their craftsmanship wasn't big, but the feeling of chatting while massaging was worlds apart.

Sheng Hong could naturally feel the difference in the women's fingers.

"Shuyi, are your fingertips calloused?"

Sheng Hong asked with his eyes closed.

"This concubine only knows some needlework; if I put it down, it's not so easy to pick it up again."

Wei Shuyi replied.

Thinking of the exquisite fan covers, handkerchiefs, and other items Wei Shuyi embroidered for him, and how envious his colleagues were when they saw them, Sheng Hong smiled: "You should always take a rest."

"If the Wei family relatives saw and touched these callouses, they would think you were suffering in my house!"

Wei Shuyi smiled and didn't speak.

Feeling the comfortable sensation that was different from the past, Sheng Hong whispered: "Shuyi, your craftsmanship is indeed extraordinary... Hah!"

Sheng Hong breathed out comfortably.

"It's that First Madam Ni taught well; listening to Xiaodie, First Madam Ni's lineage has a very deep origin!"

When Wei Shuyi spoke, she glanced at her son not far away.

Wei Shuyi's embroidery could also be sold for a very good price in the shops of Bianjing.

Another reason she couldn't stop doing embroidery was that she wanted to save money for her children.

No one could say for sure what would happen after Minglan and Changchen grew up!

Having money in hand could always help Minglan and Changchen a little.

When Wei Shuyi went to serve in Shou'an Hall,

She had heard the Old Madam and the Xu family's eldest daughter say that for a woman in the back courtyard, one was to have money in hand, and the other was to have loyal people by her side.

With these two things, life wouldn't be too difficult.

Lin Qinshuang had also stayed by the Old Madam's side for a considerable time and was a loyal practitioner of this sentence from the Old Madam: having the assets given by Sheng Hong was having money, and having a managing mama like Zhou Xueniang was having people.

Having already kept the New Year's vigil,

And having drunk wine,

Sheng Hong was massaged comfortably and soon fell asleep.

After dark, and after eating the food sent by the kitchen, Sheng Hong slept in Jin'an Study.

Two hours later,

The starry sky in the middle of the night was dotted with stars,

The whole of Bianjing had quieted down, with dogs barking from time to time.

At this time,

A carriage with a not-slow speed stopped at the entrance of the Sheng family, and someone quickly got off the carriage and knocked on the Sheng family's main gate.

Shou'an Hall,

In the warm bedroom,

The Old Madam, who was light-sleeping, sat up in bed: "Sister Suqin, Sister Suqin! What's the movement outside?"

Mama Fang walked over with a candlestick: "Old Madam, it's the Master who is having someone harness the carriage! It's a relative of the Kang family who sent someone to invite the Master over!"

"The Kang family? What happened to the Kang family?" The Old Madam frowned and asked.

Mama Fang hesitated: "Old Madam, the Kang family people said that a human life was lost! The Kang family's aunt beat to death a maidservant in the Kang family's Jin Ge'er's room, saying she seduced Jin Ge'er!"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 432 =====