Chapter 438

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month,

end of the Si hour (11:00 AM)

Quyuanjie

Marquis Yongyi's mansion

The dazzling sunlight shone into Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

and the grape trellis in the courtyard blocked some of the sunlight, casting shadows of branches in all directions on the stone floor.

In the main room through the grape trellis,

the light from outside shone through the thin window paper, making the room very bright.

The heated floor, which was still burning, meant that Qingcao, Yunxiang, and Huaxiang, who were doing needlework near the window in the room, did not need to wear very thick clothing.

In the room, beautiful fish were swimming carefree in a very clean fish tank, occasionally creating ripples on the water surface.

"Huaxiang, go and see if the Young Master's tea needs a refill."

Hearing Yunxiang's words, Huaxiang nodded, put down the silver-white brocade cloak in her hand, and pushed open the door to the study on tiptoe.

Xu Zaijing in the study looked up at Huaxiang at the door: "There is still tea, no need to come over."

"Yes, Young Master."

Huaxiang bowed behind the door and retreated, closed the door, walked back to Qingcao and Yunxiang, shook her head, sat down again, and picked up the brocade cloak.

After embroidering a few stitches, Huaxiang looked at Yunxiang to the side: "Sister, how many characters do you have left?"

The light-colored brocade cloak in the hands of her sister Yunxiang was exactly the same style as Huaxiang's; she unfolded it and looked: "Two left."

Her younger sister Huaxiang nodded and looked at Qingcao: "Sister Qingcao, what about you?"

Qingcao smiled: "I also have two left."

As she spoke, Qingcao unfolded the green brocade cloak in her hand, on which the sentence "Green grass sleeps warmly, the yellow calf is fat" was embroidered with silver-white silk thread.

On the silver-white cloaks of Yunxiang and Huaxiang, the sentence "Clouds think of clothes, flowers think of looks, the spring breeze brushes the railing, the dew is thick" was embroidered with green silk thread.

When the three maidservants were about to finish embroidering the remaining two characters,

and had successively cut the embroidery thread with scissors,

Xu Zaijing opened the study door and walked out, holding a teacup that had been drunk dry.

He glanced at the three maidservants who were appreciating the unfolded cloaks in the room, filled his teacup himself, and prepared to return to the study.

Just as he took a step, Xu Zaijing stopped, turned his head to look at the cloaks in the hands of the three maidservants, and said: "Why don't these characters look like this Young Master's handwriting? They look a bit like Uncle Sheng's!"

Hearing this, the three maidservants pursed their lips and smiled at Xu Zaijing's appearance.

"Young Master, this was written by Minglan Xiao Niang when we asked her two days ago. Isn't it beautiful?"

Xu Zaijing looked carefully and nodded: "Not bad, it is indeed better looking than what this Young Master writes!"

Yunxiang, who was beside Qingcao, bowed and smiled: "Young Master, your handwriting is also excellent! But the brushwork is too sharp, and this lowly servant is afraid that we cannot suppress such good handwriting."

The corners of Xu Zaijing's mouth rose slightly, a barely perceptible smile appeared on his face, he pointed his index finger at Yunxiang in the air, and then stepped back into the study.

After Xu Zaijing's figure disappeared at the door,

Huaxiang and Qingcao looked at each other: "Sister, you are still the one who can talk!"

"Three young ladies, Little Brother Qingyun is back and says he has something to report."

A Xu family mama said at the door in a moderate voice.

"Understood, thank you, Mama."

Qingcao stood up and shouted outside.

As she spoke, Qingcao nodded to Yunxiang and Huaxiang, indicating that she was going to find Qingyun, then draped the newly made cloak over her forearm and walked toward the outer room.

Arriving at the outer room,

the temperature dropped significantly,

and Qingcao hurriedly put on the cloak, walked through the grape trellis in the courtyard, and walked toward the courtyard gate.

"Brother Qingyun!"

Qingcao looked at Qingyun, who was dressed decently and wearing fur ear muffs, and shouted with a smile.

"Sister Seeing Hua Qing is so far along in her pregnancy, and she still made new clothes for Brother Qingyun? It looks really good!"

Hearing Qingcao's words, Qingyun touched the clothes on his body with a look of happiness, then said seriously: "Sister Qingcao, report to the Young Master that Little Brother Shen is still not feeling well, so there is no chance to attend the banquet on the Lantern Festival."

Qingcao put away her smile and nodded solemnly: "Understood, Brother Qingyun."

Qingyun nodded: "Good, then I'll go get busy."

Qingcao nodded and walked through the grape trellis again to return to the room.

Xu Zaijing, who was reading in the study, listened to Qingcao's words, nodded, and said: "Qingcao, find time to tell Qingyun that next time he has something, he can come directly to the courtyard to report; I am not married yet."

"Yes, Young Master."

The Zheng hour (2:00 PM)

This was the time when the sun was at its strongest,

and in the Xu family's racecourse,

Xu Zaijing was taking a walk riding his first mount,

a horse that was younger than Xu Zaijing, but it was already fourteen years old and was already in the late prime of its life.

There were too many fine steeds in the Xu family stables, so it was rarely ridden by Xu Zaijing anymore.

Its master, Xu Zaijing's Madam, was not even a shadow yet, and this horse already had grandchildren.

When Xu Zaijing was riding this horse around the racecourse, the strong stallion, the little Li horse, would occasionally neigh in the fence, quite intent on competing for favor.

After running two laps,

Qingyun's figure appeared beside the wooden house at the edge of the field,

and Xu Zaijing urged the horse to run a few steps faster to come to the side of the wooden house, dismounted, patted the neck of the panting horse, and looked at Qingyun: "What's wrong?"

"Young Master, the personal guards beside the Eldest Young Master said that Brother Yu Huguang has returned to the capital!"

Xu Zaijing was stunned: "Arriving in Bianjing at this time, does that mean he set off before the New Year?"

Qingyun nodded.

"Do you know why he was in such a hurry?" Xu Zaijing asked.

"Young Master, I haven't really asked about that!"

Xu Zaijing raised his chin.

Qingyun understood, bowed, and turned to leave to investigate the news.

An hour later,

Xu Zaijing was in the stables looking at the offspring of the little Li horse and the Dragon horse, which was also the little filly that was about to be sent to the Huyan family.

It hadn't been born long, but this little horse already showed a divine and handsome appearance.

"Young Master, I asked at the Yu family and found out! The old medical officer of the Yu family had been feeling unwell since before the New Year, so the Yu family sent a fast horse to send a letter to Brother Yu, asking him to return to Bianjing."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Speaking of which, Xu Zaijing had also met the old medical officer Yu.

Back then, outside the Shenbao Temple, after Xu Zaijing blocked the sweeping flagpole, this old medical officer was one of the three healers who examined Xu Zaijing's injuries at the time.

"Did you ask if the Yu family needs any medicinal herbs?"

Qingyun shook his head: "The Yu family has been medical officers for years and has many medicinal herbs at home. When I asked, the Yu family steward said thank you for our family's kindness, but they probably don't need any."

Xu Zaijing touched the little horse's chin and walked out of the stable, pondered for a moment, and said: "Ask Qingcao to take a top-quality Jin Kingdom treasure ginseng from the warehouse, and you escort it over; consider it a token of our heart."

"Yes, Young Master."

Although it was early spring,

it was still full of chill by the time the lamps were lit.

The medical officer Yu family,

the old medical officer Yu, who used to have a ruddy complexion and a crane-like appearance, now had dark circles under his eyes and was lying on the bed in the bedroom.

Bright candles were lit on the table in the outer room,

and Yu Huguang, with a look of exhaustion on his face, was sitting in a chair beside the table.

Beside him were three Yu family stewards holding wooden boxes; the materials of the wooden boxes were valuable, and one could tell at a glance that they contained good things.

Yu Huguang reached out, and a steward handed the wooden box to him.

But when the wooden box was opened in Yu Huguang's hand, Yu Huguang checked it by the candlelight and just shook his head.

After checking several wooden boxes,

when Yu Huguang reached out again, there was no feeling of a wooden box being handed to him.

Yu Huguang turned his head to look: "Gone?"

The Yu family steward nodded with an ugly expression: "Young Master, these are the ginsengs sent by other families as well as all the treasures our family has collected."

Yu Huguang sighed uncomfortably, closed his eyes for a while, and said: "I will go ask other families."

As he spoke, he stood up,

perhaps because he stood up too quickly and had been traveling for days,

Yu Huguang, who had stood up, swayed,

and the candles on the table shook along with him.

The three Yu family stewards hurriedly stepped forward to support him, and one of them said:

"Young Master, our family's ginseng is already top-quality; the old master needs a top-grade treasure ginseng that can save a life, so where are you going to ask..."

"And who would give or sell it if they really had it!"

"I know, but I have to try!"

Yu Huguang calmed down for a while, thought of the high-ranking officials his grandfather had helped, and seemed to have a target in his heart: "Go, prepare the horses! I'm going to the Kang Prince's mansion!"

The steward supporting Yu Huguang said with some indignation in his tone:

"Young Master! Previously, the old master sent me to the Kang Prince's mansion to beg for just a ginseng whisker to save a life! But..."

As he spoke, the steward seemed to have thought of something and was about to speak.

But after looking toward the old medical officer's bedroom, he slapped his thigh heavily, both angry and depressed: "Sigh!"

Hearing this, Yu Huguang's brows furrowed even tighter.

Whether it was the fatigue of the journey or the heartache for his grandfather, Yu Huguang's eyes were a bit turbid; he was restless, and his tone was full of discomfort: "I will go ask again!"

As he spoke, he was about to walk outside.

In the Yu family courtyard,

a servant carrying a lantern walked in front of Qingyun and talked:

"After the Young Master arrived home, he didn't even drink a sip of water before going to the old master's room to take his pulse, and now he is checking the family's collection to prescribe medicine for the old master."

"With the Young Master back, we feel we have something to rely on."

Qingyun, holding a wooden box about as wide as his waist, nodded: "Previously in Bianjing, there were relatives and friends who were cured by Brother Yu! Later, when I arrived under the Marquis's command, I saw Brother Yu's medical skills even more; many comrades were able to survive thanks to him!"

The Yu family servant nodded, his eyes full of pride.

"Young Master, Little Brother Qingyun from the side of the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi is here!"

Hearing the servant's voice, Yu Huguang, who was standing by the table, was stunned.

"Please come in!"

A moment after Yu Huguang finished speaking,

Qingyun walked in holding the wooden box.

Seeing the wooden box in Qingyun's hand, the three stewards beside Yu Huguang looked at each other and sighed softly.

The Yu family had been medical officers for many years, and the medicinal herbs collected in the family might be better than those of some ordinary nobles; this thing sent by the Xu family...

"Brother Yu, this is a token of my Young Master's heart."

When Qingyun placed the wooden box on the table, he looked at the several ginsengs placed in the wooden box under the candlelight with some surprise.

"The Young Master said, if you need any help, just speak up, and he will definitely help if he can!"

Yu Huguang patted Qingyun's arm and nodded heavily, squeezed a smile on his face, and nodded: "Fifth Young Master has a heart; Qingyun, go back and thank him for me."

"Brother Yu, rest assured, I will definitely convey it! Then, I will take my leave!"

Yu Huguang turned his head and looked at the steward in the house: "See him out!"

The steward bowed and agreed.

After Qingyun left the room,

Yu Huguang sat back in the chair and looked at the only wooden box on the table that hadn't been opened yet.

When the steward to the side opened his mouth to speak, Yu Huguang had already gently opened the wooden box.

"Hiss! This..."

The steward looked at the treasure ginseng revealed in the wooden box under the candlelight and gasped involuntarily.

Yu Huguang scanned the treasure ginseng up and down; although there was fatigue on his face, his eyes were no longer turbid as before, but bright with hope.

"Go! Prepare the medicine!"

The next day,

the fifteenth day of the first lunar month,

the Lantern Festival,

on the streets of Bianjing, there were many lanterns of various shapes, either placed or hung, that had not yet been lit.

On the open space outside the Xuande Gate, which was the liveliest place for the Lantern Festival,

although the lanterns had not yet been lit, there were still many Bianjing commoners and wealthy households playing nearby, looking at the lanterns in front of the imperial city that were even more complex and gorgeous than in previous years.

The beginning of the Wu hour (around 11:00 AM)

On the top floor of a restaurant with the best view for watching lanterns,

Wei Fangzhi was plucking the pipa in her arms, and the soothing and pleasant pipa music flowed slowly in the private room.

The noble ladies of Bianjing sat around the heater, talking from time to time with the friends they knew beside them.

Chai Zhengzheng sat in the main seat,

smiling from time to time at a certain noble daughter who was looking at her, and sometimes raising her glass to toast and drink a mouthful of fruit wine.

The maidservant Miss Yun Mu walked slowly to Chai Zhengzheng's side, squatted down, and whispered a few words in Chai Zhengzheng's ear.

Chai Zhengzheng looked toward the entrance of the private room and happened to see the nearsighted Fifth Young Lady of the Li family bringing in a girl whose eyes were still a bit red.

Behind them followed their respective personal maidservants.

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and whispered: "Please ask the Shen family young lady to sit beside me, next to Tingyi."

"Yes, Young Lady."

When Miss Yun Mu went to invite the person,

Chai Zhengzheng whispered a few words to Tingyi,

and when the Fifth Young Lady of the Li family brought the Shen family young lady over, Tingyi spoke to her with great care.

After the Shen family young lady sat down, many eyes looked over.

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and introduced loudly: "Everyone, sitting on my side is the Shen family young lady, whose father is the Great Minister Shen."

Although her eyes were red and her attire was not quite in line with the styles newly popular in Bianjing, one could tell at a glance that this Shen family young lady had been strictly educated in the boudoir.

After hearing Chai Zhengzheng's introduction, the etiquette of the Shen family young lady's response after standing up was very appropriate.

After the Shen family young lady sat back in her seat, she eased her mood, and as Tingyi and the Fifth Young Lady of the Li family spoke to her from time to time, her words gradually increased.

While talking to her peers beside her, the Shen family young lady curiously looked at a noble lady sitting opposite her, whose eyes looking at her were a bit different from others.

This noble lady was dressed very dignifiedly, but her expression was a bit sad.

Seeing the Shen family young lady look over, the noble lady even squeezed out a smile and nodded at her.

After chatting for a while,

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Zheng Ni to the side and said: "Sisters, let's go to the side hall to eat."

After speaking, she glanced at Gu Tingyi.

Tingyi nodded to indicate she had received it, leaned into the Shen family young lady's ear and said: "Sister Hezhen, let's walk slower and tell me about the scenery in the south of Great Zhou."

Shen Hezhen pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and nodded.

Soon,

everyone stood up and left,

and Gu Tingyi nodded to Zheng Ni, who also stayed behind, then walked a few steps faster to leave Shen Hezhen behind, while Zheng Ni brought her maidservants over.

Watching Gu Tingyi bring the maidservants to separate the two of them from the "main force" in front, the maidservant beside Shen Hezhen said with some vigilance: "This young lady, what are you doing?"

As she spoke, she also glanced at the sturdy maidservant beside Zheng Ni.

The Zheng family were military generals, and there was never a shortage of maidservants who knew martial arts in the family.

The maidservant behind Zheng Ni bowed and said: "Young Lady, don't misunderstand, we are from the Zheng family, this is our young lady."

Hearing this,

Shen Hezhen looked at Zheng Ni in surprise: "You are the sister from the Zheng family... the one who is betrothed to my brother..."

Zheng Ni nodded and looked at the Shen family young lady: "How are you and Rui?"

Shen Hezhen felt her eyes heat up, shook her head, and said with a crying tone: "Brother is not well. Although Father invited many imperial physicians, the Old Medical Officer Yu, who is the best at treating diseases of the internal organs in the capital, fell ill in bed..."

When Zheng Ni heard this, there were also tears in her eyes; at this time last year, she and Shen Herui went to see the lanterns together, but this year at this time...

Just as Zheng Ni was about to comfort Shen Hezhen, a Shen family maidservant ran up quickly, walked to Shen Hezhen's side, and panted: "Young Lady, news from home says that Old Medical Officer Yu has woken up!"

In the imperial palace,

Zhao Fang glanced at the eunuch who was being executed with a caning in front of the palace, and turned to Qingyun beside him: "What is going on over there?"

Qingyun lowered his head: "Replying to Your Highness, it is a eunuch in the palace who concealed his own improper storage of medicinal herbs and is being punished by the Great Eunuch beside His Majesty!"

Zhao Fang looked at Qingyun in confusion: "What medicinal herbs?"

"It was the extra treasure ginseng that His Majesty specifically allocated after learning that Old Medical Officer Yu had fallen ill, but it was infested with insects and lost its medicinal effect! It almost caused the old medical officer to be seriously ill and unable to be treated; if it weren't for Minister Shen begging before His Majesty, His Majesty wouldn't have known about this!"

Zhao Fang nodded after listening to Qingyun: "How does Father intend to punish that eunuch?"

"His Majesty said he is to be given ten spine canings."

After Qingyun finished speaking, he felt the atmosphere around him tighten...

Then Qingyun heard Zhao Fang flick his sleeves: "Such dereliction of duty in such a critical place, if Father and Mother... phew phew phew!"

After Zhao Fang exhaled, he walked quickly toward where the Emperor was.

After seeing the Emperor, Zhao Fang bowed directly: "Father! As for that derelict eunuch, this child thinks it would be better to beat him to death to serve as a warning to others!"

(End of chapter)