Chapter 498: Honey-floating crispy flower [Thanks! Bow! Owe 41k]

"Those two fierce Jin Kingdom knights rushed toward me!"

"Brother Gu Er, and then?"

"Changfeng, don't be impatient, let me drink some water first!"

After the "um um" sound of water in his mouth came,

Gu Tingye's voice sounded again: "I saw that I had already lured two Jin Kingdom knights over, and without a word, I passed the polo ball to Jing Ge'er! Ha! You didn't see Jing Ge'er's ball skills yesterday, that was truly shocking to everyone!"

Watching Qi Heng and Changfeng's anxious appearance, Gu Tingye deliberately put on an aftertaste and yearning look and stopped talking.

"Brother Gu Er, how was Brother Xu Fifth shocking to everyone, hurry up and tell us!"

Changfeng urged again.

Gu Tingye glanced at Xu Zaijing, who had the corners of his mouth raised, and continued:

"Hey! If I don't say that my pass was comfortable! After Jing Ge'er received the ball, he didn't let the polo ball land, and directly galloped toward the Jin Kingdom goal while bouncing the polo ball! He ran for more than ten zhang continuously. You didn't see the cheers of everyone inside and outside the polo field at that time, that was truly..."

"Ah? Brother Gu Er, didn't the Jin Kingdom knights go to block?" Changfeng asked urgently.

Gu Tingye waved his hand:

"How could they not! There was even someone who wanted to use his mount to hit Fifth Young Master!"

"After Jing Ge'er reined in his horse and dodged it, he just started bouncing the ball with his polo club from the middle of the polo field and ran straight to the Jin Kingdom goal!"

"Seeing this scene, in an instant, another Jin Kingdom knight disregarded his horse's strength and surrounded Jing Ge'er!"

"What a pity!" Gu Tingye slapped his knee and shook his head.

Watching Qi Heng and Changfeng's expressions, Gu Tingye smiled at the corners of his mouth: "What a pity! The Jin Kingdom knight didn't think there was someone like me on the field!"

"At that time, I raised my polo club and shouted loudly, Jing Ge'er, pass it to me!!! This Jin Kingdom knight was shocked by my shout, and it also relieved Jing Ge'er, so Jing Ge'er passed the ball he was bouncing in the air with one club."

"I just tapped it lightly like this, and the ball went in! Thus, the two-goal lead locked the victory!"

After Gu Tingye finished speaking,

everyone in the school nodded one after another,

"Alas, I can't see Brother Xu Fifth's ball skills with my own eyes!" Changfeng said dejectedly.

Qi Heng shook his head lightly with regret.

Changbai, who was sitting in the front without turning his head, smiled, the brush he was holding near the inkstone didn't move, then he lifted his wrist and continued to write on the paper.

Minglan, who was sitting at the very back, turned her head and looked at Xu Zaijing with full admiration.

Minglan liked playing polo,

and she practiced polo diligently when she went to the manor with her grandmother.

Borrowing Gu Tingye's description, her mind was full of intense replays of yesterday's polo match.

"Cha cha!"

The sound of walking came from outside the school.

Seeing Mo Lan, who was sitting at the desk near the entrance, turned her head to look at the moon gate and hurriedly whispered: "The scholar is coming."

Once these words were spoken,

"Subject reads the holy policy..."

"Subject replies..."

There was immediately the sound of reading in the school.

Not long after,

Zhuang Scholar walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back and holding a folding fan. Before he could sit on the Luo Han chair, Zhuang Scholar said: "It's been half an hour since the class started, Changfeng and Second Young Master, did you just start reading the first sentence of the previous examination's policy questions?"

Changfeng: "Uh..."

Gu Tingye: "Student..."

Zhuang Scholar sat on the Luo Han chair, held the fan with one hand, waved it, and said: "I heard about yesterday's polo match, you two played well! You didn't get beaten black and blue at your own doorstep."

Gu Tingye nodded with a smile, turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing, and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Scholar."

"Mm! Yesterday playing polo, did you feel that Northern Liao or Jin Kingdom was harder to play against? Fifth Young Master~"

Xu Zaijing stood up and cupped his hands: "Replying to Scholar, Jin Kingdom was harder to play against! Although their polo skills are not as good as Northern Liao's, the Jin Kingdom knights have a tenacious style, will not give up easily, and are very difficult to deal with."

"Northern Liao's ball skills are not bad, but... after being shocked by the student's preemptive strike, they were somewhat afraid to compete with the student."

Zhuang Scholar nodded: "Mm, Fifth Young Master is very good! Being able to observe and summarize the opponent while competing is rare! Playing polo to strengthen the body is also good, but you must not delay the serious business of the imperial examination."

"Yes! Thank you for your teaching, Scholar!"

Listening to the question and answer between the scholar and Xu Zaijing, and the scholar's praise for Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye pursed his lips with an expression of "actually I also know these."

Zhuang Scholar behind the desk waved his hand, signaled Xu Zaijing to sit down, and said: "Good! You have also read the articles of the previous session's top scholar! Changbai, you speak about your insights first."

After more than half an hour,

during the break,

Zhuang Scholar was drinking tea behind the desk,

Zaizhang and Changbai went out together to relieve themselves.

Xu Zaijing stood behind the desk, took the warm tea handed over by Yunxiang, drank it, and then took a piece of pastry and stuffed it into his mouth.

Xu Zaijing drank tea while looking at Minglan's personal maid, Xiaotao, not far away.

"Xiaotao, what's wrong with you?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's question, Xiaotao, who was holding a small food box, hurriedly shook her head: "Fifth Young Master, nothing, nothing?"

After finishing, Xu Zaijing saw Xiaotao swallow her saliva.

Xu Zaijing smiled, looked at the remaining five pieces of pastry in Yunxiang's hand, took another piece himself, and said to Yunxiang: "You guys share the rest."

"Yes, Young Master."

Qi Heng, who was sitting on the side, heard Xu Zaijing's voice,

thought for a moment, and gestured to Buwei with his chin: "Share it."

"Yes! Thank you, Young Master!"

Xu Zaijing continued to drink tea,

and by the wooden platform at the back of the school, Yunxiang broke the pastry, kept a small corner for herself, and distributed the rest.

Gu Tingye's personal maid, Qiuniang, held the pastry with her own handkerchief and whispered: "Sister Yunxiang, what do the Empress and the Imperial Prince look like?"

Hearing Qiuniang's voice,

Hanniou and other servants, Xique and other maids, all looked at Qiuniang in surprise.

"Sister Qiuniang, why would you ask Sister Yunxiang this question?" Hanniou whispered.

Buwei on the side looked at the expressions of Xu Zaijing, Qi Heng, and Yunxiang, which hadn't changed, and said: "Brother Hanniou, I heard that Sister Qingcao and the three of them kowtowed to the Empress and the Imperial Prince face to face yesterday."

Once Buwei said this,

the crowd near the wooden platform revealed surprise one after another.

"Sister Yunxiang, really?" Xiaotao asked with her eyes wide and shining, with pastry crumbs on the corners of her mouth.

"I... when I went, my heart was panicking, I don't remember..."

Yunxiang said, looking at Xu Zaijing, who had a smile on his mouth, for help.

At this time,

Changbai and Zaizhang walked back together.

Xu Zaijing's gaze, however, looked at the school entrance,

where

Liu Mama was leading Cairuan, bringing four maids carrying food boxes inside.

After bowing at the entrance, Liu Mama smiled: "Scholar, today the courtyard received some new pastries, so the Old Madam and Madam ordered this slave to send them for everyone to taste."

The scholar nodded with a smile.

Madam Li sat between Xie Shi and Hualan, and beside Hualan was Wang Ruofu.

Behind them stood the five Lans—Shu, Mo, Pin, Ru, Ming—and the personal mamas of several people.

Xie Shi held her handkerchief and leaned into Madam Li's ear, whispering: "The one sitting under Viscount Zhu is surnamed Di, who has made repeated meritorious service in the Western Army, and I heard from my father-in-law that he is already favored by the Emperor."

"The one below is surnamed Feng..."

"The one talking to Jing Ge'er is the grandson of Old Physician Yu, and he has a very good relationship with Jing Ge'er."

Hearing this,

Wang Ruofu, whose attitude had always been very casual, looked outside, pursed her lips slightly, and shook her head, thinking: "He is a bit old," for example, Rulan's big one.

Madam Li leaned over to look at the person outside the screen, looked without turning her head, and whispered slightly: "Studying medicine?"

Xie Shi smiled and looked at Hualan, saying: "Correct! His medical skills are quite exquisite."

Looking at Madam Li, who was nodding unconsciously, Hualan turned her head to look at Shulan with a smile and said: "Aunt, this one is different from the others, whether it works or not remains to be seen."

"Yes, yes!" Madam Li replied.

Subsequently, Hualan raised her chin toward Cuichan.

Cuichan went around, walked outside the screen, and whispered two sentences to Mama Zhu.

Mama Zhu whispered to Sun Shi again.

After talking for a while,

Zaizhang and Zhu Qinghu accompanied Di Jing, Feng Dabao, and others toward the banquet.

Xu Zaijing was left in the main hall.

"Jing'er, the matter of Physician Yu having no engagement, did you find out clearly?"

When Sun Shi was speaking, Wang Ruofu and Madam Li walked out accompanied by Xie Shi and Hualan, looking at Xu Zaijing with concern.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Mother, don't worry, I found out about this very clearly!"

Sun Shi nodded: "Then after the banquet, when he comes to bid farewell... let Shu Jie'er stand beside me? That way the two children can also see each other!"

As she spoke, Sun Shi looked at Madam Li and Wang Ruofu for consultation.

Wang Ruofu smiled, and Madam Li nodded repeatedly.

Xu Zaijing looked at the few Lans who walked out from beside the screen and smiled.

"Jing'er, this matter..."

Xu Zaijing cupped his hands: "Whether it succeeds or not, I will definitely ask clearly."

"Good!"

Wei hour, last quarter (3:00 PM)

Marquis Prefecture front courtyard,

the guests were enjoying themselves,

and the few who didn't dare to drink too much wine at the banquet looked at each other,

Di Jing raised his glass and said: "Sanlang, Fifth Young Master, Head Zhu, it's getting late, why don't we finish this glass of wine and go to bid farewell?"

Zhu Qinghu nodded: "That's fine! After drinking, let's go and say a word."

Subsequently, everyone toasted, the maids of the Marquis Prefecture served sobering tea soup, and maids went to the backyard to report this to Sun Shi.

After everyone drank the sobering soup, they walked straight toward the main hall.

"Brother Yu, stay, I have a matter to ask for advice."

Hearing this, Zaizhang led the crowd out, while Yu Huguang was left at the very back.

"Fifth Young Master, what is it?"

"Brother Yu, there is an elder of a relative's family, who is the Sheng family of Jiying Lane, the aunt of the Sheng Hong Sheng official who works in the Ministry of Rites. Now the old lady is old and often... Brother Yu, when you have time, I would like to invite you to take her pulse."

"A small matter."

"Come, Brother Yu, let's have another drink."

After drinking the wine, the two walked slowly toward the main hall.

When they arrived nearby, they saw that Zhu Qinghu and the others had already walked out.

"Brother, you take Cousin and the others over first, we will come later."

Xu Zaijing said.

After hearing Zaizhang reply, Xu Zaijing reached out: "Brother Yu, please."

Yu Huguang nodded with a smile and walked into the main hall with Xu Zaijing.

"Today, thank you Madam for the hospitality..."

Yu Huguang stood firm in the hall, bowed, cupped his hands, and looked up to speak, his gaze involuntarily seeing Sheng Shulan, who was standing beside Sun Shi with a girl's hair bun.

"Today's hospitality."

Yu Huguang hurriedly lowered his head and finished speaking.

Sun Shi turned her head to look at Shulan and instructed:

"Guang Ge'er is too polite! It's cool in the afternoon, and you have drunk wine, don't ride too fast on the way back!"

"Yes, yes!"

In the afternoon sun,

Xu Zaijing and Yu Huguang walked through the doors and corridors in the courtyard, walking toward the horse racing field,

Yu Huguang turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Young Master, why do you keep looking at me?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile: "Nothing."

Yu Huguang nodded, opened his mouth to speak, but looking at Xu Zaijing, who turned his head to look straight ahead, he finally didn't speak.

Arriving at the horse racing field,

there were not many horses left near the fence,

and someone was walking out of the carriage that had just stopped.

Walking to the near place,

Xu Zaijing said to Flower Clear and Mama Dan, who had gotten off the carriage: "How is it?"

Mama Dan and Flower Clear bowed to Xu Zaijing with a smile, looked at each other, and said: "Replying to Young Master, that mama has three sons and one daughter, one is a captain under the Duke of Zhongjing, and two manage big manors of the Duke's mansion in the suburbs of the capital."

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Not bad!"

Mama Dan nodded and whispered: "The Du family mama's daughter has taken a fancy to... Xunshu, that boy."

Xu Zaijing was stunned: "No, I think Alan is more handsome, why..."

Mama Dan turned her head to look at Alan and shook her head, saying: "That silly boy is too honest! After going to the Du family, he was like a gourd with its mouth sawed off, not saying a word."

"That girl of theirs thought Alan had someone else in his heart, so she didn't choose him."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing nodded: "This is really..." After looking at Yu Huguang, he continued: "Really a pity!"

"Who says it isn't!"

Mama Dan patted her clothes and said regretfully.

"Then Young Master, shall we go and report to the Madam?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Go."

Yu Huguang on the side walked toward his mount.

Xu Zaijing walked over to help him tie the saddle,

the saddle was tied,

Yu Huguang untied the reins on the fence and prepared to get on the horse,

when Xu Zaijing couldn't hold back and was about to speak, Yu Huguang, who was standing on the other side of the horse, said: "Fifth Young Master, the girl standing beside the Madam today, she is...?"

Xu Zaijing's mouth couldn't help but rise: "Oh! That sister is a relative of the Sheng family! It's the granddaughter of the old lady I mentioned just now, whom I want to invite Brother Yu to take the pulse for."

"Oh!" Yu Huguang nodded, thinking of the conversation he had just heard, gritted his teeth and said: "I wonder if she is married?"

Watching Xu Zaijing nod with a straight face,

Yu Huguang's eyes widened, and he said somewhat lost: "Oh..."

Yu Huguang had already left.

Xu family backyard,

in the main hall,

"Fifth Young Master is back!"

The small maid at the entrance reported.

Madam Li, who was drinking tea absent-mindedly, immediately turned her head to look at the entrance.

Seeing this scene, Wang Ruofu, who was leisurely eating melon seeds, pursed her lips imperceptibly.

Shulan looked at her mother with some embarrassment, then looked outside with some hesitation in her eyes.

Lifting the curtain,

Xu Zaijing walked in with his head lowered and cupped his hands: "Mother, Aunt!"

Seeing Xu Zaijing's movement,

the few Lans standing on the side and the personal maids and mamas all bowed to Xu Zaijing in return.

"Jing'er, how is it?" Sun Shi asked.

Xu Zaijing looked at Shulan with a smile, sat on the chair, picked up the teacup, and said: "Mother, Brother Yu said he wants to go and take the pulse for the Sheng family's Great Old Madam quickly!"

After finishing, Xu Zaijing, who had spoken a bit too much, lowered his head and drank tea.

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, everyone in the hall looked at each other, and the hall suddenly went quiet.

Madam Li held her handkerchief and whispered: "This is..."

Shulan lowered her head.

Feeling the silence around, Xu Zaijing, who hadn't finished drinking his tea, raised his head and looked around suspiciously.

Minglan on the side turned her eyes, borrowed the familiarity from the school, and said crisply: "Jing Cousin, do you mean that the big brother is anxious and wants to see the elder?"

As soon as Minglan finished speaking, Rulan pulled her sleeve, and after Minglan looked over, she hurriedly shook her head to signal her not to speak.

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing put down the teacup and nodded repeatedly with a smile: "Sixth Sister hit the nail on the head!"

The atmosphere in the hall relaxed.

Sun Shi apologized and nodded to Wang Ruofu and Madam Li, then frowned at Xu Zaijing and said: "Next time, speak more directly and clearly!"

"Yes, Mother!"

Xu Zaijing stood up and cupped his hands with a smile.

Sun Shi shook her head helplessly: "Sit down!"