Chapter 445: Rong Xian: Jing Ge'er, If My Sister...【Gratitude! Bow again!】

Early the next morning,

still in the first lunar month,

Rong family,

Huixue Garden,

although the floor heating in the room was not extinguished, the temperature in the early morning was really too low, making the room still somewhat cold.

Inside the exquisite embroidered bed curtains,

the hair on the pale green silk medicine pillow embroidered with gold thread lotus flowers looked very black and thick,

and the hair tied into a loose bun had loosened a lot after a night, with a few strands scattered on the pillow.

The cyan brocade quilt was covered up to the position of the cheeks and the bridge of the nose,

and it seemed to feel a bit suffocating,

so the beautiful nose and somewhat dry lips were exposed from under the brocade quilt.

The eyeballs moved under the eyelids,

and then...

the smooth-colored brocade quilt was pushed up and wiggled on the bed.

"Whoosh."

Someone snored like a kitten and continued to sleep on the bed. 【4

I do not know how much time had passed,

The noble young lady lying on the embroidered pillow opened her eyes,

Her still-dazed eyes looked around,

Looking at the bed curtains, which were much brighter than on ordinary days,

Rong Feiyan closed her eyes again to clear her head.

After a while,

"Seeing Xi Bu!"

"Da Niangzi! You are awake?"

The sounds of a maid speaking and walking came from outside the bed curtains.

With a soft thud,

A copper basin filled with hot water was set aside.

The bed curtains were pulled open from the outside, and the view before Rong Feiyan became even brighter.

"What time is it? Have I slept past the hour? Why didn't you wake me?"

Rong Feiyan lay under the warm silk quilt, pressed her chin against the quilt at her neck, and then pursed her dry lips.

Seeing Xi Bu, by the bedside, attentively gathered one side of the bed curtains and placed them on the jade curtain hook, smiling as she said: "Da Niangzi, you have not slept past the hour; it is just past two quarters after the Mao hour (6:30 AM)! It snowed this morning, and the light reflecting off it makes our room bright."

Upon seeing Rong Feiyan's appearance on the pillow clearly, Seeing Xi Bu's smile froze on her face, and she immediately turned back and shouted:

"Ningxiang! Quick! Quickly bring the Da Niangzi a cup of winter osmanthus honey water!"

"The Da Niangzi's lips are all dry!"

"Understood, coming right away!" the maid Ningxiang in the outer room hurriedly replied.

Seeing Xi Bu added, her face showing some heartache:

"Da Niangzi, your lips are so dry! It is because this servant slept too soundly!"

Rong Feiyan stretched her hand out from under the quilt, touched her own lips, and seeing Seeing Xi Bu's pained expression, she curved her eyes and smiled to comfort her: "I didn't feel thirsty at night, so naturally, I wouldn't have called you."

Seeing Xi Bu looked at Rong Feiyan's smiling face and frowned: "Da Niangzi, you are still smiling!"

"The honey water is here!"

Ningxiang held a teacup in one hand and stirred it with a spoon in the other.

"Da Niangzi, I specifically used hot water to dissolve it and then added cold water; the temperature is just right!"

Seeing Xi Bu gathered the other side of the bed curtains and, looking at Rong Feiyan, who was retreating into the quilt, shook her head: "Da Niangzi! Drink some honey water first!"

Rong Feiyan thought for a moment on the bed, then finally reached an arm out from under the quilt, clad in a long-sleeved, light-cyan, ink-bamboo-embroidered undergarment.

After Seeing Xi Bu pulled Rong Feiyan up, she sat on the edge of the bed and turned to take the teacup containing the honey water from Ningxiang's hand.

Rong Feiyan also took the opportunity to stretch.

"Da Niangzi, moisten your lips first."

As she spoke, Seeing Xi Bu brought the spoon to Rong Feiyan's lips.

After tasting a spoonful, Rong Feiyan's eyes brightened, and she said: "This honey water is mixed well; I will do it myself!"

Ningxiang smiled slightly.

After finishing, Rong Feiyan handed the teacup out.

Watching Seeing Xi Bu, who had taken the teacup, turn to hand it to Ningxiang, Rong Feiyan lay straight back.

"Eh?"

Rong Feiyan was startled.

Her back did not touch the exquisite mattress on the bed, but was blocked squarely by Seeing Xi Bu's left arm.

Looking at Seeing Xi Bu's helpless expression, Rong Feiyan pursed her lips, which were now much more moist, and then took the opportunity to stretch her arms upward, pretending to stretch, and asked in confusion:

"Seeing Xi Bu, I was just stretching!"

Seeing Xi Bu, feeling the heavy weight that had just been on her left arm, raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

"What is it? Ningxiang, what do you mean by covering your mouth and laughing!? Hmm?"

"Da Niangzi, I am not laughing; I am—I wanted to sneeze! Achoo!"

Ningxiang took the opportunity to turn and cover her mouth.

"Da Niangzi, I am going to put the teacup away."

Saying this, she ran off carrying the teacup.

Once groomed and dressed properly,

Although she saw her every day,

Seeing Xi Bu still couldn't help but raise the corners of her mouth in a smile as she looked at her Da Niangzi's beautiful face with closed eyes in the bronze mirror.

"Da Niangzi..."

Rong Feiyan opened her eyes: "Is it done?"

Seeing Xi Bu nodded with a smile.

Ningxiang, standing to the side, walked over with a cloak. Looking at Rong Feiyan standing up, she smiled and said: "Da Niangzi, they say that one who stays near vermilion gets stained red, and one who stays near ink gets stained black. Since we two are so close to you, can we also become more beautiful?"

Seeing Xi Bu pursed her lips and smiled from the side: "Ningxiang, only you know how to talk!"

Being complimented always makes one feel pleasant.

Rong Feiyan also smiled and let Ningxiang help her put on the cloak.

While putting on the cloak, Rong Feiyan's smile deepened as she looked at a lantern hanging at the doorway.

That was the lantern she had received during the Lantern Festival.

The three master and servants walked out of the room,

The air outside was even colder,

After opening the door, Rong Feiyan looked at the silver-clad Huixue Courtyard outside, took a deep breath, and then exhaled a puff of white mist.

Walking in the Rong family courtyard,

From time to time, passing Rong family maids and matrons would step aside and bow to Rong Feiyan.

Upon arriving at the courtyard of the Rong family's Eldest Madam,

Rong Feiyan used her chopsticks to pick up some breakfast from the table and looked at the empty embroidered stool beside the table: "Mother, Brother is not on duty today; is he still sleeping in?"

The Eldest Madam Rong chewed her breakfast and waved the chopsticks in her hand: "Your brother is not sleeping in, slurp, slurp..."

As she spoke, the Eldest Madam Rong drank a mouthful of hot porridge from the edge of the bowl,

Rong Feiyan wore an expression of disbelief,

"Hoo!"

After swallowing the hot porridge, the Eldest Madam Rong exhaled a puff of hot air and continued: "Today is the full-month celebration for the youngest son of the Huyan family's fifth branch; he went to drink!"

Rong Feiyan frowned: "Ah? Mother! You believe Brother when he says that? How can one go to drink so early?"

"He said it was the Xu family's Fifth Young Master who invited him! Hmph! This Xu family boy really knows how to get close!" As she spoke, she glanced at Rong Feiyan.

"Mother, did our family not receive an invitation?"

"Hmm..."

"No!"

The Eldest Madam Rong thought for a moment and said affirmatively.

Rong Feiyan turned back and said to Seeing Xi Bu behind her: "Go to the gatehouse and ask."

Seeing Xi Bu nodded and walked quickly toward the outside.

Arriving at the Rong family's main gate, the diligent and clever servant who had previously been rewarded with a handkerchief by a matron in the mansion spotted Seeing Xi Bu at a glance.

"Sister Seeing Xi Bu, why have you come to the outer courtyard!"

The servant asked with a smile.

Steward Luo of the gatehouse looked at the servant's clever appearance and shook his head helplessly.

Seeing Xi Bu nodded at the servant with a smile, bowed to the gatehouse steward on the side, and said: "Steward Luo, is there an invitation from the Huyan family here at the gatehouse?"

Steward Luo thought for a moment and nodded: "There is, but the Eldest Madam said that invitations from families other than those of nobility or high officials are strictly forbidden from being sent to the inner courtyard, and the Huyan family has been... so..."

Steward Luo was a distant relative of the Eldest Madam Rong's maiden family; he was able to be a gatekeeper in the Marquis's mansion because he was obedient. Whatever the Eldest Madam Rong said, he did, never asking about anything else.

"Slap!"

The Eldest Madam Rong looked at the invitation in Seeing Xi Bu's hand and slapped her chopsticks onto the breakfast table: "This Luo fellow is truly! He almost delayed my important matter! Someone, bring me my jewelry, change my clothes!"

"Mother! Don't be busy!"

Rong Feiyan said while sitting on the embroidered stool.

"Mother, now that the Huyan family has been stripped of their title, you are the Eldest Madam of a Marquis's mansion; it is not appropriate for you to go personally!"

"Then won't that offend people! Yan'er, before, when your brother caused trouble and offended the Young Duke Qi, our family was..."

"Let the family steward send a generous gift; otherwise... shall I go?"

"Good, good, good! You have been taught by your sister since you were small, and your thoughts are thorough; you go!"

The Eldest Madam Rong sat back on the embroidered stool and beckoned: "Bring another steamer of plum buns."

Rong Feiyan nodded with a smile, and after the servant brought a steamer of buns, she also ate one.

At the Si hour (around 10:00 AM),

The sunlight was somewhat dazzling,

East of Quyuanjie,

At the street corner,

The ground where the snow was melting was very slippery,

And snow water was dripping from the eaves of the surrounding civilian houses and shops.

Rong Xian, dressed in a large green silk robe, stood with his horse and servants, waving at the Xu family group walking from not far away.

Zaiduan, who was riding at the very front of the group, saw Rong Xian, cupped his hands with a smile, and turned his head: "Little Five, it is the Rong family boy; you two have always been close, go and say a few words."

"Understood!"

Zaiduan shook his head with a smile.

Without seeing Xu Zaijing make any movement, the brown Long Ju he was sitting on walked toward Rong Xian.

Qingyun followed behind Xu Zaijing on horseback.

Watching the Long Ju's long, slender legs, where one step equaled one and a half steps of his own mount, Rong Xian swallowed helplessly.

Zaizhang, who was following behind Zaiduan, also politely cupped his hands toward Rong Xian.

Rong Xian hurriedly returned the gesture.

By this time, Xu Zaijing had already reached Rong Xian.

The Xu family's carriages and horses walked forward on the side,

As the carriages passed, the curtain on the carriage was lifted,

Xu Xingdai grabbed the curtain with his small hand, his curious little face revealed. Just as he glanced at Rong Xian, the curtain was pulled shut by Xu Xingdai.

This left Rong Xian, who was smiling and greeting Xu Xingdai, with his hand suspended in mid-air and his smile frozen on his face.

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Xian's appearance, glanced back, and smiled: "That is my eldest nephew."

Rong Xian's smile continued, and he sighed: "He looks clever."

"Sniff, sniff!"

Watching Xu Zaijing's nose twitch as he looked at him, Rong Xian touched the corner of his eye and then scanned himself uncomfortably.

"Brother Jing, what is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Qingyun's nose twitched slightly, and he hurriedly pursed his lips tightly and gritted his teeth, not letting his smile appear on his face. Seeing he couldn't hold it, he pulled the scarf around his neck upward.

Xu Zaijing looked at the somewhat blue circles under Rong Xian's eyes, took a deep breath, and said earnestly: "Brother Xian, you often stay up late on duty in the palace; you still need to take more care of your health."

Rong Xian blinked, straightened his somewhat sore and weak waist on the horse's back, and nodded very solemnly: "Brother, I will rem—Eh?!!!"

Rong Xian's eyes widened as he pointed with his finger at a lively little horse tied behind the Xu family carriage, looking at Xu Zaijing in disbelief: "This... it... I, Brother Jing!"

Although Rong Xian only said three words,

Xu Zaijing understood his meaning and said helplessly: "Brother Xian, this is a gift for my nephew; you wouldn't snatch something from a child still in swaddling clothes, would you?"

Rong Xian stared straight at the little horse, his expression changing repeatedly: "Who said I wouldn't..."

He turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing, speaking incoherently: "Brother Jing, if my sister... I, this..."

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Xian somewhat awkwardly, as if waiting for him to finish his sentence.

And Qingyun behind him widened his eyes and stopped laughing, while the Rong family servants all stood still in unison.

Rong Xian didn't finish his sentence, gritted his teeth, gave himself a light slap, and said with difficulty: "I don't have that thought!"

Qingyun breathed a sigh of relief.

Xu Zaijing was just about to say something,

When Rong Xian pointed at the Xu family's carriages and horses and said: "Brother Jing, Eldest Brother is looking at us; let's talk as we walk."

Saying this, he took the lead and rode toward the Xu family group.

Xu Zaijing moved his reins slightly, and the Long Ju followed.

"I didn't ask earlier, Brother Xian, why were you waiting for me here?"

Rong Xian turned his head and waved at the servants behind him.

The Rong family servants hurriedly slowed their horses and retreated to the back.

Rong Xian sighed with a seemingly profound air: "Brother Jing, do you still remember that polo match we played?"

Xu Zaijing had played many polo matches, and his face froze: "Uh... I..."

Rong Xian didn't look at Xu Zaijing, but quickly struck his left palm with his right fist and sighed heavily: "Sigh! Brother Jing, you must remember! Although we lost that polo match, it was a glorious defeat, and I, Rong Xian, keep it in my heart!"

Once Xu Zaijing heard this, he knew Rong Xian was talking about the time after Xu Zaijing returned to the capital from Yang Zhou, when Rong Xian's polo skills were so poor that he caused a blunder on the polo field for Liang Han and asked him for help...

Hmm... Rong Xian couldn't be helped, the time he even scored an own goal!

After all, Xu Zaijing really lost very, very few polo matches.

"So much time has passed since that match, but I have never played such a thrilling and exciting polo match that showcased my skills again; my skills seem to have been sealed!"

Vaguely hearing Rong Xian's words like "thrilling and exciting," "showcased my skills," and "sealed," Qingyun once again pursed his lips tightly.

"Now I understand, it was because that match had good teammates! Good teammates like Brother Jiong... I..."

"So, Brother Xian, you want to go to the Huyan family with me!"

Rong Xian nodded heavily: "Yes! But my family didn't receive an invitation from the Huyan family, so I lied and said I was invited by you, Brother Jing, so for the sake of brotherhood, Brother Jing..."

As he spoke, Rong Xian extended his fist.

Xu Zaijing pursed his lips and nodded, bumping fists with Rong Xian.

Rong Xian's eyes were full of joy as he looked at Xu Zaiduan in front: "By the way, Brother Jing, I heard earlier that the Western Army wasn't setting off until after the Lantern Festival? Why is Eldest Brother Xu..."

Xu Zaijing looked at the beaming Rong Xian and smiled: "His Majesty's grace, allowing soldiers with family matters to return to the Northwest a bit later."

Rong Xian cupped his hands toward the palace in the north: "His Majesty is benevolent!"

The group chatted and laughed as they passed through streets and alleys,

When passing a brothel by the roadside,

A servant was wiping the gate tower with sleepy eyes,

Seeing the knight in large green robes, the servant woke up instantly,

And after seeing clearly that it was Rong Xian, he immediately bowed and bent his waist flatteringly, about to say something.

"Slap!"

The horse whip in Rong Xian's hand swung out.

This action and sound startled the servant, and after his face felt hot and painful, he hurriedly covered his cheek.

The tip of the whip left a bloodstain the length of a fingernail on the servant's face.

After hitting the person, Rong Xian said nothing and continued walking on his own.

Xu Zaijing glanced at it and said nothing.

The servant behind Rong Xian lightly tapped his horse's belly and walked a few steps faster, throwing a silver ingot the size of half a fist in front of the servant.

"Have some sense next time!"

The servant caught the silver reflexively,

He looked up blankly at the group walking away, and after a dozen breaths, he looked down at the silver ingot in his arms again,

And after touching the scar on his face, the servant struggled for a moment before shouting to the group walking away: "Young Master, next time you want to hit someone, remember to call me!"

(End of chapter)