Chapter 454: Thieves Do Not Visit the Door of Five Daughters [Thank you

At the beginning of the Shen hour (after three o'clock in the afternoon)

Great Zhou Imperial Palace

The Emperor walked into the Empress's palace with his hands behind his back, followed by the Grand Eunuch and the female official.

The Empress, who was waiting on the side, bowed to the Emperor: "Your Majesty, have the arrangements for the Qingming sacrifice been made?"

Saying this, she took the teacup from the female official beside her and handed it to the Emperor.

The Emperor nodded, took the teacup, drank a mouthful of tea soup, and said: "I heard that the Chai family entered the palace?"

"Yes, Madam Chai told this concubine that Jing Ge'er went to the Chai family, and she thought that the things Zhengzheng Miss encountered before were not right, so she entered the palace to talk about it."

"What did she say?"

The Empress looked at the Emperor holding the teacup and said in a low voice: "Madam Chai said she hopes Your Majesty can send someone to investigate the incident of the Gao family father and son gathering the flock."

Zhao Meifeng sending Gao Yunqing to inform Xu Zaijing, the Emperor was naturally clear about it.

Listening to the Empress's words, the Emperor looked at the young man bowing in the hall, waved his hand with a kind smile:

"Madam Chai suspects that the Gao family leaked Zhengzheng's whereabouts?"

"Madam Chai has this suspicion and also said that the woman who caused the Gao family father and son to have such a scandal had an unknown origin, and it's hard to say where she was sent from!"

After the Empress finished speaking, she looked at the stunned Emperor and didn't continue.

After a while, the Emperor sneered: "Heh... their Gao family daughter married so far away... In this way, the Gao family should be investigated."

"Someone! Send a letter to Dengzhou and have the Imperial City Department investigate it."

"Yes."

Looking at the Grand Eunuch who turned to pass the order,

The Emperor still sat on the chair without moving,

Years of being husband and wife let the Empress know that the Emperor was thinking at this time, so the Empress didn't disturb the Emperor too much, just lightly placed the refilled teacup beside the Emperor's hand.

The breathing of the eunuchs and female officials serving in the hall also slowed down,

After being quiet for a good while,

The Emperor let out a deep breath: "I remember, Official Chen Xian of the Ministry of Revenue said before about the support money for Northern Liao temples."

The Empress nodded: "Minister Chen did say that. Northern Liao worships Buddha, and some large Buddhist temples can cast their own support coins, and these coins can circulate within Northern Liao."

A sneer appeared on the Emperor's lips: "It seems that the Imperial City Department's speculation is correct. The gold and silver that Prince Yan hid away, the source is not just the people's fat and ointment."

"Speaking of which, some ministers in the court advised me a few days ago that we should attack Northern Liao. I think what they said today is not unreasonable."

Hearing the Emperor's words, the Empress had some doubts: "Your Majesty, now that Bai Gao is settled, it is really not good to start a war again."

The Emperor nodded.

In the evening,

Bianjing,

Zhu residence,

Ni Qiqiu, who returned from her maiden family in Xiaoya Lane, brought her maidservant into the inner courtyard,

Looking at her mother-in-law walking in the courtyard, Ni Qiqiu walked over with a smile: "Mother-in-law, this daughter-in-law is back."

Xu Zaijing's aunt, Zhu Xu Shi, smiled: "How is the arrangement at home?"

"With the help of the Sun family relatives, it's almost arranged."

Zhu Xu Shi nodded: "That's good, Qiu'er, come with me, write a letter to the old home in Xiangzhou!"

Ni Qiqiu hurriedly walked over and supported her mother-in-law into the room.

The maidservant helped spread the letter paper on the table, Ni Qiqiu ground the ink very skillfully, and while grinding the ink, she said: "Mother-in-law, what is the matter?"

Zhu Xu Shi said: "Just now your cousin-in-law from the Hou Fu came, saying that the Hou Fu's manor needs some strong men who know martial arts."

Looking at Ni Qiqiu's expression, Zhu Xu Shi continued: "There are things in the manor that need to be guarded day and night, and the strong men have to work during the day, so there must be trusted people to take turns on duty."

"Daughter-in-law understands."

Saying this, Ni Qiqiu picked up the brush and wrote.

"Make it clear in the letter that the Hou Fu and our family will send silver to Zhu Family Fortress, and then hire people in the fortress to do the farm work."

"Yes."

On this day in late second month,

The one hundred and fifth day from the winter solstice last year,

It was the Cold Food Festival,

Many fifteen-year-old girls in the capital hold their capping ceremony on this day.

Therefore, Sun Shi was busy all morning today with her two daughters-in-law and servants, preparing the clothes to wear and the gifts to send for the capping ceremony today.

At the gate of Marquis Yongyi Fu,

In the position where lanterns were usually hung,

Today, two slender willow branches were fixed,

And a string of swallow-shaped steamed cakes embedded with red dates, steamed yesterday, hung from the drooping willow branches.

The Hou Fu's cook was very skillful, the red dates were embedded in the dough, revealing a small point, and the red dates revealed after steaming were like the eyes of swallows.

The morning breeze blew,

And the willow branches stringing these cakes swayed gently in the wind.

"Ta ta ta"

There was the sound of horse hooves coming from the side gate of the Hou Fu,

After a while,

A majestic and heroic black horse walked out from the gate,

The young man on the horse looked at the willow branches at the door and said to Xu Xu Zaizhang beside him: "Brother, I didn't notice it when I came back yesterday, the Zituo swallows at our door are truly lifelike."

Xu Xu Zaizhang, who followed out, smiled.

Xu Zaijing drove his horse forward a few steps, came to not far from the willow branches, and looked at them carefully.

Before he could look for a few moments, Xu Zaijing hurriedly pulled the reins of the little black horse and shouted: "Go, go, you can't eat this thing, this is to commemorate the ancient Jie Zituo!"

"Hee-hee~"

The little black horse, which opened its mouth but didn't eat the flour food, snorted after being pulled aside by its owner.

Xu Zaijing and his party left Quyuan Street,

After turning onto the main street and walking for a while,

Riding to the big bridge on the Bianjing Canal,

Xu Zaijing rode on the horse, looking at the boats competing in the canal, which had become busy again, and smiled slightly.

After getting off the big bridge,

The piece of land that was burned to ruins by the fire had now been rebuilt with new houses, surrounded by bamboo scaffolding, and he didn't know what it was used for.

Walking all the way,

Whether it was shops or households by the roadside, many had the Zituo swallows hanging on their doors.

The craftsmanship of the mistresses or cooks of each family was different, and the shapes of the flour-made Zituo swallows were also strange.

When they were about to reach Jiying Lane,

The sky was already bright,

By the roadside, there was a shop hanging a flag with 'Wang Family Paper Horse',

At the door of the shop were placed pavilions and residences made of folded paper, which looked very exquisite. Although it was morning, people still bought them from time to time.

After all, it would be Qingming Festival in two days, and the prices of things in this paper horse shop would change on that day.

Arriving at the school,

After greeting Changbai, who was reading in the room,

Xu Zaijing and his brother also took their seats and began a day of study.

The sun rose,

The seats of the three Lans in the school were still empty.

Scholar Zhuang hadn't come yet,

Qi Heng looked at Minglan's seat, turned his head and said to Changfeng: "Feng Ge'er, why didn't the three Sheng family sisters come today?"

Changfeng yawned, supported his body with both hands behind him, looked at Gu Tingye and Xu Xu Zaizhang who were also looking at him, and said: "Today, a cousin's sister is having her capping ceremony, they all went to watch the ceremony."

Everyone nodded,

At this time,

Footsteps came, and Scholar Zhuang walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back and holding a folding fan.

After the Scholar took his seat, he lectured the crowd on articles for more than an hour,

At the beginning of the Si hour (after ten o'clock in the morning)

When the crowd went to the Sheng family courtyard outside the school to relax and walk around,

They happened to see Sheng Hong, who had finished the morning court, walking in the courtyard with Sheng Wei in his official uniform. Sheng Hong's expression was a bit heavy, and Sheng Wei's face was also not very good.

"Wei Big Brother, Sun Ge'er also has the scholar title, but after I examined him, why did I feel..."

Xu Zaijing's keen hearing allowed him to vaguely hear what Sheng Hong said to Sheng Wei.

Seeing the crowd walking around,

Sheng Hong and Sheng Wei both nodded with a smile to Xu Zaijing and the others who were saluting.

Subsequently,

The crowd returned to the school,

When they continued class, Scholar Zhuang was invited out by Sheng Hong.

Xu Zaijing and the others in the school looked out curiously. They couldn't hear clearly what was being said, only seeing Sheng Hong accompanying with a smile and speaking in a low voice, while Scholar Zhuang nodded with a smile.

Finally, they vaguely heard Scholar Zhuang say loudly: "Since Official Sheng said that the child needs guidance, this old man will naturally be duty-bound if I have leisure."

Sheng Hong bowed.

Xingguo Lane,

Duke Ying Fu,

Today, quite a few noble carriages were parked at the Zhang family gate,

The courtyard was even more full of fragrant clothes and flashing hairpins,

Duke Ying's wife looked at her youngest daughter standing in the middle of the crowd with full gratification,

Beside Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi was a girl of about the same age, one of the daughters of the Duke Lian, Lu Fu Ma.

Old Madam of Duke Lian stood beside Duke Ying's wife at this time,

The two Duke wives had a very good relationship. Back then, when Lu Zezong was recognized as an adopted brother, it was Duke Ying's wife who was invited by Duke Lian's Old Madam to be the mediator.

Today, the daughters of both families were to have their capping ceremony,

To facilitate the madams of various families in the capital, it was set at the Zhang family to hold this capping ceremony together.

The person who added the hairpin to the Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi today was none other than the First Madam of General Zheng Jun, who was virtuous, serious, and good at managing the household.

The assistant who held the tray with the hairpin was Gu Tingyi, the legitimate daughter of Ningyuan Marquis.

The person who added the hairpin to the Lu family girl was the Empress's adopted daughter, Princess Pingning, the First Madam of Duke Qi.

The assistant was the Empress's niece, a noble girl of the Cao family who had attended Anmei's wedding before.

Xu Hou's wife Sun Shi, with her two daughters-in-law, looked at the noble girls in the field with a full face of smiles together with the madams around her.

Talking to Bai Shi and First Madam Wu from time to time.

First Madam Wu covered her mouth with her hand, but said in a voice that everyone around could hear: "Tsk tsk, the main guest chosen for this capping ceremony is good, really good! There will definitely be countless good days in the future!"

Hearing this,

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi looked at the First Madam Zheng in front of her with a red face.

Gu Tingyi on the side also laughed.

The health of the two elders of the Zheng family was not good,

First Madam Zheng, as the eldest sister-in-law of Zheng Xiao, served her parents-in-law and raised and educated Zheng Xiao single-handedly,

Which girl would marry into the Zheng family, it could be said that she was a sister-in-law to First Madam Zheng, but it could also be seen as a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship.

And First Madam Zheng was famous for being virtuous, upright, and not making things difficult for others. With First Madam Zheng there, whoever became her sister-in-law could almost live a comfortable life as a hands-off shopkeeper.

Princess Pingning was the First Madam of the Duke Fu,

Managing Duke Qi so that he didn't even have a concubine,

After marriage, she also gave birth to a son in one go,

Without concubines causing trouble, life was also comfortable,

Sun Shi nodded in agreement with a smile: "First Madam is right!"

The good friends of Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi in the capital, such as Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan, and Li family's Fifth Da Niangzi, who came to watch the ceremony, also laughed one after another.

Hearing the laughter,

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi glared at them with slight shame.

Her eyes were full of 'You will have this day sooner or later, just wait' expression.

When looking at the noble girls around, Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi would also smile at Xu Hou's wife Sun Shi from time to time, and after smiling, she would look at Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan.

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng holding her handkerchief in front of her and waving it slightly to beg for mercy, and Rong Feiyan lowering her head and not daring to look at her, Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi proudly raised her eyebrows slightly.

The capping ceremony ended in a burst of laughter,

The madams around began to return to their seats to taste tea,

And Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi, before Chai Zhengzheng walked far, walked over wearing her new hairpin: "Zhengzheng, the Jinming Pool will be opened in a few days, let's go together then!"

Chai Zhengzheng was about to speak, but saw the Lu family's mama walking quickly toward Duke Lian's Old Madam.

Subsequently,

This mama whispered a few words in the Old Madam's ear.

The Old Madam then went to Duke Ying's wife.

Listening to the discussion of the madams around,

The three noble girls knew that the princess who married into the third branch of the Lu family and became pregnant last year was feeling a bit unwell today and might give birth today.

The madams were also discussing in low voices,

Mostly discussing whether the princess would give birth to girls as she did the previous six times,

You know, in Great Zhou, there is a saying 'Thieves do not visit the door of five daughters',

It means that thieves in Great Zhou don't visit households with five daughters,

It's really because marrying off daughters is too expensive...