Chapter 504: Blue Sea, Long Clouds Darken the Snowy Mountains [Many Thanks

West Hua Gate,

just outside the palace gates,

Princess Princess Pingning lifted the corners of her mouth slightly, nodding with a standard smile and impeccable demeanor.

The object of Princess Princess Pingning's nodding was Rong Rong Feiyan, who followed behind Lord and Lady Fu Chang, bowed to her in farewell, and then took her leave.

Afterwards, smiling and nodding in greeting to other familiar official wives and noble ladies in the capital, Princess Princess Pingning's smile gradually faded, her lips pressing downward.

Glancing back once, Princess Princess Pingning slowly came to a halt to wait for the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi.

At this moment, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi's laughter arrived: "Haha! Brother Sha, take your time; we shall converse again when we have the opportunity!"

"By then, you must bring your esteemed nephew along."

"Certainly, certainly!"

Having finished speaking, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi walked over to Princess Princess Pingning's side and said with a smile, "Let us go."

As they stepped forward, turning his head to observe Princess Princess Pingning's expression, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi asked, "What is this? You look so unhappy? Is it because I was speaking with the Marquis of Marquis Zhongshan?"

Princess Princess Pingning cast a sidelong glance at the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi, raised her eyebrows slightly, and whispered, "The Sha family has no outstanding younger generation in this era; what old times does Your Grace have to reminisce about with them? And you want to take Heng'er along? Do you wish for Heng'er to learn from their family's habit of causing trouble all day long?"

"How can you say such a thing! The Sha children have not..."

Having spoken only half the sentence, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi did not continue: the chaos that nearly caused a great disaster outside the Shenbao Temple back then was caused by the Sha family's children.

"Very well, very well; when the time comes, I will attend the banquet alone and not bring Heng'er."

"Mm!"

"Just now, watching from behind, I saw you chatting happily with Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou; what were you discussing?"

Princess Princess Pingning shook her head with some disdain: "Tsk! Nothing!"

Looking at the Rong family ahead, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi beside her smiled and whispered, "I think Miss Rong Feiyan of the Rong family is a good one! In terms of appearance and temperament, she resembles Consort Rong somewhat; if she and our Heng'er..."

"What are you talking about!?"

Princess Princess Pingning stopped in her tracks, glanced around, and glared at the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi:

"Form a marriage alliance with the Rong family? What assistance can the Rong family provide Heng'er in the future? Not a single person in that entire family holds any real standing!"

"You know perfectly well how Consort Rong entered the palace!"

The Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi withdrew his smile.

Consort Rong's ancestors were bricklayers; similarly to today's grand celebration, Consort Rong was selected to join the troupe presenting dances, and among hundreds of dancing girls, she was chosen by the Emperor at a single glance.

Only then did the Rong family soar to greatness.

After pondering for a while, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi said, "Actually, that Consort Rong has enjoyed the Sage's favor for so many years..."

Seeing Princess Princess Pingning walking briskly ahead and ignoring him, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi shook his head and hurried to catch up.

After walking a few steps, seeing Princess Princess Pingning smiling brightly while conversing with a certain official's wife, the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi bowed with clasped fists to the high official in purple robes who deliberately slowed his pace to fall two steps behind beside that lady, saying, "Brother Hai, it has been long since we last met; in Taiyuan Prefecture..."

Where the Rong family's carriages and horses were stationed,

Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou turned her head to look, then asked the young attendant guarding the carriage, "Where is your Young Master?"

The Rong family attendants looked at one another, and one of them replied, "Replying to Da Da Niangzi, the Young Master has gone with the sons of several Hou Fu families to watch at the southern gate of the Imperial City."

Hearing this, Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou shook her head helplessly: "He is already betrothed, yet he still behaves so immaturely!"

After speaking,

as Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou boarded the carriage, she smiled and said to Rong Rong Feiyan, "Yan'er, I noticed Her Highness the Princess wore a face full of smiles; most likely, she is quite satisfied with you..."

"Mother, I think we should forget it! Her Highness the Princess, that was merely a polite smile."

"Moreover, Her Highness has always been proud and arrogant, looking down on everyone; her birth is also extremely noble; how could she allow the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye to become involved with our family!"

The two entered the carriage,

and Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou glared at Rong Rong Feiyan, saying, "What kind of talk is this? Your elder sister is a favored consort, and your elder brother is about to marry the legitimate daughter of a Xiao Xiao Gongye; it is evident that our Rong family's status is also about to rise."

"Then, what assistance can our family offer the Qi family?"

"How... I..." Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou was momentarily speechless.

Princess Princess Pingning is the Empress's adopted daughter, so her status was already incomparably noble.

The Qi family has long ceased developing in the direction of military generals; Qi Heng is devoted to his studies to seek success in the imperial examinations, so his future principal wife must inevitably be someone who can provide him with assistance in the official court.

As for the Rong family...

Just as Lady Fu Lady Fu Changhou was about to speak again, following the direction where Rong Rong Feiyan lifted the carriage curtain to look aside, she saw Princess Princess Pingning conversing with the couple from the Hai family, a family with five members serving as Hanlin academicians.

"Giddyup!"

"Yoho~"

On the street some distance from where the carriages and horses were parked, someone loudly urged their horse on, galloping toward the south.

From time to time, other riders caught up, making the scene quite lively for a moment.

Lifting the carriage curtain to watch the crowd riding away into the distance, Rong Rong Feiyan secretly sighed in her heart.

The Imperial City,

south of Xuande Gate,

"Whoa~"

Xu Xu Zaijing, Gu Gu Tingye, and others reined in their horses, looking at the commoners of Bianjing crowding beside the Imperial Street.

The reason the commoners of Bianjing were gathered along the Imperial Street

was that the three or four hundred beautiful girls who had performed dances inside the hall earlier were now riding their horses along the Imperial Street.

On ordinary days, the Imperial Street could only be traversed when the Emperor traveled,

but today being the Emperor's birthday, these girls who came to congratulate the Emperor on his longevity also had the opportunity to gallop freely on the wide Imperial Street.

The horses' hooves were swift as the wind, and their dance garments were bright and light,

and this bout of galloping greatly displayed the grace and bearing of these young ladies.

From time to time, dissolute young nobles of Bianjing loitering on the sidelines whistled at the girls or held up fruits and jewelry in their hands, hoping to attract their attention.

Xu Xu Zaijing, sitting astride a small black foal nearby, wore a look of surprise, for he had spotted that among them was a girl dressed as a man!

Truth be told, she looked quite handsome.

Gu Gu Tingye focused intently on the four most outstanding girls, stroking his chin as he asked curiously, "Speaking of which, how come I never saw those four girls at Mother Cui Ruan's small banquet!"

Liang Han, who had already untied his pouch from his waist, replied, "They are girls raised directly by the Yuxian Yuxian Zhengdian brothels; they are not of Mother Cui Ruan's faction."

"Oh!"

Gu Gu Tingye nodded, spotting an exceptionally beautiful girl riding over; he touched the jade pendant at his waist, intending to toss it over as a reward.

But after pulling off a glass pendant of mediocre quality, Gu Gu Tingye took one look at it, paused in bewilderment as if struck by a thought, rubbed it a few times, then lowered his head to fasten the glass pendant back on.

The moment Gu Gu Tingye raised his head, he saw an object flying straight from the girl riding on the Imperial Street toward Xu Xu Zaijing beside him.

Gu Gu Tingye fixed his gaze and realized it was the floral crown from the head of the very girl he had just intended to throw his jade pendant at.

At this moment, although the exceptionally beautiful girl on the Imperial Street no longer wore her floral crown, her face appeared even clearer and more lovely.

"Ooh~"

The commoners watching from the sidelines instantly erupted in cheers at this sight.

Yet before the crowd could even react,

the floral crown in Xu Xu Zaijing's hand spun and flew straight back toward the girl on horseback.

"Slap~"

The girl on horseback looked at the floral crown in her arms, somewhat caught off guard.

"Hey! Jing, no! You shouldn't give it back to me!"

"Exactly!"

"How could you be like this!"

"What does throwing it back accomplish?"

Gu Gu Tingye, Rong Rong Xian, and Liang Han beside him lamented with great regret.

Xu Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at both sides, asking in confusion, "Is there... is there some special meaning to this?"

"Since she has already left, naturally there is no special meaning!"

Liang Han said regretfully as he watched the girl spur her horse away.

Rong Rong Xian patted Xu Xu Zaijing on the shoulder, his tone equally regretful:

"Brother Jing, in years past during grand events like this, if a girl throws her floral crown or some other object at you, it means she has taken a liking to you!"

"Such a beautiful girl; even taking her as a concubine would be wonderful!"

Xu Xu Zaijing spread his hands.

It seemed that, having learned a lesson from the girl who had just thrown her floral crown, no other girls dared approach the vicinity of Xu Xu Zaijing and his companions.

After watching by the roadside for a while longer, the group dispersed.

Liang Han and Rong Rong Xian, seemingly having learned the whereabouts of some exceptionally beautiful girl, departed laughing and chattering, looking less like companions heading home together.

On the journey back from the palace to their residence,

inside the spacious carriage of the Hai family,

where the master and mistress of the Hai household sat together,

Lady Hai lifted the carriage curtain to glance backward and said to the side, "Have Miss Yun's carriage follow closer!"

"Yes, Da Da Niangzi!"

A serving woman nearby assented and walked toward the rear.

Moments later, the sound of a coachman whipping his horses to accelerate came from behind.

Withdrawing her gaze from outside the carriage and looking at Master Hai, who was lightly stroking his beard, Lady Hai asked, "Husband, what are you thinking about?"

Master Hai lowered his hand from his beard, patted his thighs twice, and said with some uncertainty, "Regarding the words exchanged just now between the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi and Her Ladyship the Princess, I feel there was some hidden meaning."

Lady Hai pursed her lips: "Of course there was hidden meaning! Just how old is our Sister Yun?"

"Hmm? Could it be that the Qi family wishes to form a marriage alliance with us?"

Lady Hai nodded affirmatively: "Correct! Her Ladyship the Princess hinted at this intention both explicitly and implicitly."

"Hiss!"

Master Hai began to ponder, nodding as he thought: "This Young Master Qi Heng is said to study diligently; seeing him today, he indeed seems quite fine! Moreover, he now bears characters bestowed by His Majesty, so future imperial favor is surely guaranteed."

Lady Hai snorted: "Hmph!"

Master Hai stopped nodding, turned his head to look at his wife, and asked, "What is it? You seem rather dissatisfied with this matter?"

Lady Hai slightly pursed her lips:

"Satisfied? What is there for me to be satisfied about regarding marriage into the Xiao Xiao Gongye's mansion?"

"With Princess Princess Pingning's arrogant temperament, and Qi Heng being an only son treasured beyond measure!"

"If Her Ladyship the Princess truly becomes a mother-in-law, wherever she points east, would Qi Heng dare go west? What good days could a daughter-in-law married into that family possibly have? Hmph!"

Master Hai, recalling how the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi had barely spoken a word earlier, nodded repeatedly: "Wife, you are right; Her Ladyship the Princess's character is indeed somewhat domineering."

"Next time the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Qi brings this up with me, I shall subtly refuse!"

Lady Hai nodded: "Speaking of which, I actually think the youngest son of the Xu family is quite nice!"

Master Hai looked over in surprise: "Earlier, Wife, you did not say so!"

Lady Hai waved her handkerchief: "Thoughts are not set in stone; it is simply that today the conversation led here! Upon reflection, whether a Da Da Niangzi or a Lady makes a good mother-in-law depends entirely on whether there is a path already trodden!"

Seeing her husband's puzzled expression, Lady Hai continued, "You must look at families with elder sons and see how the elder brother's wife fares; only then will you know what kind of mother-in-law awaits!"

"Husband, then what about the former loyal and diligent Earl Yuan's family? That Lady Yuan treats her eldest son's wife extremely well."

"Cough, those two share a cousin relationship through their maternal aunts; it is not the same!"

The master of the Hai family smiled and nodded slightly.

"Husband, look, the Xie family, the Sheng family, and Lady Sun share no blood relation, do they? Very well, very well, let us not speak of the Sheng family; let us just speak of the Miss from the Xie family who married into the Xu household!"

"At the several Fragrant Robe Elegant Gatherings I attended, I observed that this Eldest Young Lady Xie possessed a demeanor that was dignified and relaxed, not at all resembling someone who had been mistreated or scolded."

"As for that Second Young Lady, née Sheng, she wears a smile on her face all day long, and the clarity in her eyes surpasses that of a young girl, proving her life is comfortable and content."

"So, the Eldest Young Lady has taken a fancy to that youngest son of the Xu family?" the master of the Hai family asked softly.

The Eldest Young Lady of the Hai family shook her head, lifted her chin, and said, "If that Xu boy had not become a provincial graduate, he might not have even caught my eye!"

"What a pity!"

The Eldest Young Lady of the Hai family sighed.

Seeing her husband's bewildered expression, the Eldest Young Lady of the Hai family continued, "It is a pity that there are quite many families wishing to form a marriage alliance with the Xu family! As for our Yun'er..."

The master of the Hai family stroked his beard: "That child risked his life to save Sister Yun; why are you still being so picky and choosy about him?"

The Eldest Young Lady of the Hai family looked somewhat embarrassed: "I..."

The master of the Hai family smiled and said:

"Marquis Xu has achieved remarkable merits, and the Xu family holds a promising future! The two children have met more than once; later, you should find an opportunity to ask Sister Yun!"

"If the two children truly share mutual affection, I will swallow my pride and pay a visit to the Xu family myself!"

The Eldest Young Lady of the Hai family slapped her husband firmly: "My Sister Yun has been raised in the inner quarters; what mutual affection are you speaking of?"

The master of the Hai family bowed repeatedly with clasped hands: "Yes, yes, yes, what the Eldest Young Lady says is correct!"

In the carriage behind,

Hai Lady Chaoyun leaned against one side of the compartment, reading a collection of poems by the light streaming through the window.

Beside her, the maid Miss Zhu Zhu Jian was carefully removing the pearls stuck to Hai Lady Chaoyun's cheeks that were causing some discomfort,

and after placing the final pearl into the small wooden box held by Baoxiu,

Miss Zhu Zhu Jian glanced at the content of the poetry collection in Hai Lady Chaoyun's hand, then, while dampening the handkerchief in her grasp with water from a flask, asked, "Miss, why have you suddenly started reading frontier poems by several great poets such as Wang Jiangning (Wang Changling), the Saint of Seven-Character Quatrains?"

Hai Lady Chaoyun closed the poetry collection, gazed at the bustling streets of Jingcheng, and said softly, "I wonder what kind of scenery 'the long clouds over Qinghai darken the snow-capped mountains' truly depicts!"

Hearing their Miss's words, Baoxiu and Miss Zhu Zhu Jian exchanged a puzzled glance.

"It is nothing; I merely heard a piece of music at the palace today and suddenly felt like reading these frontier poems."

A few days later,

the joyous atmosphere of the Emperor's birthday gradually dissipated.

The entire city of Jingcheng returned to operating as usual.

Xu Xu Zaijing continued to rise early to practice martial arts, study classics, and massage his horse.

On this day,

within the Imperial City Bureau,

"Flap, flap, flap~"

A homing pigeon landed near the coop.

It was immediately seized by a clerk-soldier of the Imperial City Bureau, who extracted the paper scroll from its leg.

Inside the hall,

"Director, a secret report from the south."

Hearing the clerk-soldier's voice, Zhao Zhao Meifeng, who was leaning back in his chair behind the desk with his eyes slightly closed, extended his hand.

During the recent days of the Emperor's birthday celebration in the main hall, these managers and clerk-soldiers of the Imperial City Bureau had not dared to relax for a single moment, and they were utterly exhausted.

After rubbing his face, Zhao Zhao Meifeng carefully unrolled the paper scroll, and upon clearly reading the few characters upon it, his eyes suddenly widened in shock!

Very soon,

this paper scroll appeared in the Emperor's hands,

"Bai Gao ironware has appeared in the Jing region?"

"Are the ironworkers of Bai Gao not exclusively located within the Ministry of Works and the Chai family? How could they appear in the Jing region?"

Hearing Your Majesty's inquiry, Zhao Zhao Zilong and Zhao Zhao Meifeng exchanged a glance, after which Zhao Zhao Zilong bowed with clasped hands and replied, "Replying to Your Majesty, all those who have arrived in the capital come from these two places!"

"Zhao Meifeng, does this mean that the ones who have appeared are not the craftsmen who arrived in the capital?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

After pondering for a moment, the Emperor said, "Go, summon Xu Xu Zaijing and He Guan to see Us!"

(End of Chapter)