Chapter 514: How could it be delayed [Thanks! Bow again! 45k owed]

Before long,

Xu Zaijing, having changed his clothes, stood before Madam Sun.

Looking at her younger son,

Madam Sun tilted her head and glanced at Mama Zhu, who was standing to the side: "Why do I think Jing'er looks even better in this outfit than before?"

Listening to her mother's words,

Xu Zaijing looked down at his clothes with some embarrassment, then looked at Qingcao: "Really?"

Qingcao, who had a great rapport with Xu Zaijing, nodded repeatedly.

Mama Zhu, who was beside Madam Sun, smiled: "Madam, the Fifth Young Master was born well; his brows and eyes are like yours, and he is tall and fair, so naturally, he looks good in anything."

Madam Sun smiled, waved her hand, and said: "Forget it, change back to the previous one."

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly: "Yes, Mother."

A moment later,

Xu Zaijing changed his clothes with the help of Huaxiang and Yunxiang.

After Xu Zaijing walked out again,

Madam Sun stepped forward, carefully straightened the clothes on her younger son's chest and shoulders, and said: "The jade belt at your waist should also be looser!"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Mother, if it's too loose, it won't show off your son's narrow waist and broad shoulders."

Seeing his mother frown, Xu Zaijing hurriedly took a breath and loosened a buckle on the jade belt.

"That's better. It's a bit chilly in the morning, remember to put on a cloak!"

Xu Zaijing bowed in a mock-serious manner: "Yes, Mother."

"Go!"

Madam Sun looked at her younger son and smiled helplessly.

At the Mao hour (6:00 AM),

The sun had not yet risen,

The sky was dim, and places without lamps or candles were still in pitch darkness.

In Nanjian Tang Lane,

The inside and outside of the Rong residence were bustling with noise,

And the lit lanterns illuminated the busy figures coming and going, wearing red silk belts.

The other courtyards were fine,

But the kitchen was especially busy,

From time to time, a large cloud of white steam surged out from the kitchen house.

Afterward, maids walked out carrying large winnowing baskets of steamed buns.

In the kitchen courtyard,

A woman dressed as a palace female official said loudly: "It's early, everyone eat more; we don't know when the next meal will be!"

"Yes, Mama!"

The maids, who were holding soup bowls and taking steamed buns from the baskets, replied in unison.

Watching everyone eating, the palace mama nodded and prepared to eat as well.

When she turned her head, she saw a figure at the door and said in surprise: "Miss Feiyan, why are you here?"

Rong Feiyan bowed with her maids: "Greetings, Mama Gong."

Mama Gong hurriedly supported her.

"Mama Gong, I came mainly to see if food has been prepared for the Dou family's maids."

Rong Feiyan said with a smile.

Mama Gong smiled approvingly: "Miss Feiyan is thoughtful! Don't worry, Da Niangzi; the food for the Dou family maids who came to set up the bridal chamber yesterday has already been prepared."

As she spoke, Mama Gong shouted toward the kitchen.

When the maid brought over the tray with the food, Mama Gong continued to smile: "Then, Da Niangzi, please send it over?"

Rong Feiyan nodded with a smile: "Good!"

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan took the tray herself and walked toward the door with her maids.

When they reached the door,

A maid walked in, bowed to Rong Feiyan and Mama Gong, and said: "Mama, as you ordered, the groomsmen have all arrived."

"Good, I'll go take a look!"

Mama Gong nodded.

After leaving the kitchen courtyard,

Ningxiang carried a lantern and followed beside Rong Feiyan, saying: "Da Niangzi, why did you insist on sending food to the Dou family maids this morning? Is there some reason for it?"

Rong Feiyan nodded and looked at Seeing Xi Bu, who was holding steamed buns to the side, with a smile.

Seeing Xi Bu smiled: "Ningxiang, this kind of action is firstly for the sake of harmony between the sister-in-law and the bride, and secondly, so the Da Niangzi will have a good reputation for being considerate. Right, Da Niangzi?"

"Hmm!"

After humming, Rong Feiyan looked toward the brightly lit outer courtyard.

Rong Xian was the younger brother of a favored imperial consort,

so naturally, he wouldn't invite only Xu Zaijing as a groomsman for his wedding.

The main groomsman today was Lord Minister Pei Yuanchen from the Duke of Xin's family.

This lord was not only a confidant of the Emperor but also Rong Xian's superior in the Imperial Guard, and coming from the Duke of Xin's residence, his status was noble, making him very suitable.

The others were peers like Liang Han, Wei Faqi, and Lu Zhang Sanlang, similar to Xu Zaijing.

Rong Xian and Xu Zaijing's relationship improved after they were beaten during a competition with youths from the former Bai Gao and Northern Liao a few years ago, and Xu Zaijing beat them back.

Before that, Rong Xian had always played with a group of playboys like Han Chengyun from the Duke of Han's family, and their relationship was so close they were almost like brothers.

At the Rong family's main gate,

After Xu Zaijing dismounted, he straightened his clothes.

Seeing Xu Zaijing, the Rong family gatekeeper hurriedly walked over, bowed, and said: "Fifth Young Master, you've come. Please, inside!"

"How many groomsmen have arrived?"

"Replying to the Fifth Young Master, Lord Pei has already arrived!"

Xu Zaijing nodded. Today, he only brought Qingyun to the Rong residence; the three maids were all left at home.

Entering the front hall,

Seeing the robust middle-aged man sitting in a chair drinking tea, Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed: "Greetings, Uncle Pei."

Minister Pei Yuanchen looked toward the door, and after recognizing it was Xu Zaijing, he looked at Xu Zaijing's figure, nodded approvingly, and smiled: "So it's the Fifth Young Master, come, sit!"

Xu Zaijing sat down below Minister Pei Yuanchen as instructed.

Afterward,

Minister Pei Yuanchen tilted his head and looked at Xu Zaijing's hair bun, saying: "It looks like the Fifth Young Master has bathed?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Yes, Uncle, I sweated a bit after exercising this morning, so I rinsed off."

Minister Pei Yuanchen continued to look at Xu Zaijing's naturally straight waist and energetic expression; the approval in his eyes grew even stronger, and he said: "Rare!"

"Thank you for the praise, Uncle."

Soon, the maids served soup and tea.

While the two were talking,

The others arrived one after another.

First was Lu Zhang Sanlang, whose steps were light and whose eye sockets were bruised, then Wei Faqi, whose face was a bit pale, and finally Liang Han, who was yawning.

After a round of 'Uncle' and 'Lord Pei' greetings,

Minister Pei Yuanchen lost the smile he had when talking to Xu Zaijing just now and said plainly: "Zhang Sanlang, didn't Brother Yun from the Han family come?"

Lu Zhang Sanlang, who was just taking the soup tea from the maid, hurriedly placed the teacup on the table and said: "Uncle, Brother Er did invite Brother Yun, but Brother Yun caught a cold two days ago, so he didn't come."

Minister Pei Yuanchen nodded.

Liang Han, who was sitting beside Xu Zaijing, was just about to speak when the figures of the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang and Rong Xian appeared at the door leading from the hall to the backyard.

"I have truly troubled Brother Pei and all the nephews today." The Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang said with a smile.

"Marquis Rong is too polite." Minister Pei Yuanchen bowed.

Xu Zaijing and the others hurriedly stood up and bowed.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's spirit, the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang nodded with a smile.

The two elders were talking,

and Rong Xian, who had clearly trimmed his hair and shaved his beard, walked up to Xu Zaijing and the others.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was half a head taller than him, Rong Xian curled his lips in 'jealousy'.

Listening to the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang and Minister Pei Yuanchen discussing what time to send the 'urge-to-dress' gifts,

Rong Xian said to Xu Zaijing: "Brother Jing, you didn't even delay your morning exercise today?"

Liang Han and the others in the hall looked at Xu Zaijing in surprise.

Xu Zaijing was puzzled: "Do I need to delay it?"

Rong Xian: "I..."

"Marquis, Mama Gong from the palace has arrived."

Minister Pei Yuanchen and the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang hurriedly stood up, and the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang said: "Hurry and invite her in."

Afterward,

Mama Gong walked in with a smile, accompanied by a palace female official carrying a tray.

After bowing, Mama Gong looked at the several groomsmen in the hall and nodded: "You are all dressed very appropriately; it was this servant who worried too much."

As she spoke, Mama Gong gestured backward, and the accompanying female official walked over with a tray, on which was a basket of bright flowers.

"These are fresh flowers cultivated in the palace; before leaving the palace, the Imperial Consort specifically entrusted them to this servant, saying to let this servant pick a suitable one for each of the groomsmen to wear."

Minister Pei Yuanchen bowed with a smile: "Then, I trouble you, Mama."

Xu Zaijing and the others also bowed and repeated the phrase.

Although, except for Xu Zaijing, the other youths were a bit tired,

but people rely on clothes and horses on saddles; wearing good clothes and then wearing flowers,

made them, who were already young, look very much like dashing young men.

By the time the east turned white,

Xu Zaijing and the others had already finished breakfast in the main hall and had been drinking refreshing soup tea for a while.

"Ahem!"

Minister Pei Yuanchen cleared his throat and said: "In a moment, Zhang Sanlang and Brother Qi, you two lead the way, and take the Rong family youths to send a round of 'urge-to-dress' gifts to the Dou family first."

"Yes, Uncle!"

Minister Pei Yuanchen nodded and continued: "After they return, Fifth Young Master and Brother Han, don't wait, go directly."

"Yes, Uncle."

Xu Zaijing bowed and said.

At Hui Xue Courtyard,

Rong Feiyan stood at the moon gate in formal attire, looking out.

Before long,

Seeing Xi Bu walked over quickly.

"How is it?"

"Replying to the Da Niangzi, the first round of 'urge-to-dress' gifts is being sent by the two young masters of the Lu and Wei families, and the second round is by the two young masters of the Xu and Liang families."

Rong Feiyan nodded: "Did they wear the flowers sent by my sister?"

"They all wore them; Mama Gong personally selected the colors."

"When this servant came, Mama Gong also told me to ask the Da Niangzi to take another look at the layout of the backyard; after the Chen hour (9:00 AM), guests will be arriving..."

Rong Feiyan looked at the second gate leading to the front courtyard not far away and sighed with some frustration.

Seeing Xi Bu looked at her young lady, looked around, and seeing no outsiders, whispered: "Da Niangzi, when the young master and the Dou family young lady bow to each other this afternoon, we will naturally be able to see people."

"Hmm, let's go, let's go see if there's anything else that needs to be checked and filled in."

At the Chen hour,

Rong Feiyan, having changed her clothes, stood at the second gate, with her mother, who was full of smiles, in front of her.

"Madam, you've come!"

"Congratulations to the Madam!" Madam Yuan, the Countess of Shoushan, bowed with a smile with her daughter.

"Congratulations, congratulations! Oh my, it's been a while, and Meng-jie'er has grown even more outstanding."

"Madam flatters me."

The Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang's Madam smiled: "No, I'm telling the truth! Yan'er, hurry and take your Meng'er sister inside to play."

"Yes, Mother! Meng'er sister, please this way."

Just as the two were about to enter the inner courtyard,

A maid with an anxious look walked in quickly. After glancing at the Marquis of Marquis Fu Chang's Madam, the maid walked directly toward Rong Feiyan.

Seeing the maid's expression, Rong Feiyan nodded to Huang Qingmeng with a smile: "Trouble you, sister, to go inside with my maid."

"Good, sister, you go ahead and get busy."

After Rong Feiyan nodded again, she walked toward the maid.

"What's wrong?" Rong Feiyan asked.

The maid leaned over and whispered: "Da Niangzi, just now when the servant in the outer courtyard was pouring out the slop, he accidentally fell and knocked over the bucket! Two groomsmen happened to be passing by..."

"What? Did it dirty the groomsmen's clothes!?" Rong Feiyan asked anxiously.

"No, Da Niangzi! Han Wulang Young Master of the Xu family was quick-witted and used his cloak to block the splashing dirty water, but a few drops still fell on the 'urge-to-dress' gifts in the carriage."

For the sake of looking good and eye-catching, the 'urge-to-dress' gifts were all loaded on flatbed carriages.

Rong Feiyan frowned even tighter and said: "How much was dirtied?"

"Two shoulder drapes."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good, that's good! Go ask the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family to wait a moment! I'll have someone solve it."

"Yes, Da Niangzi."

Watching the maid walk away quickly, Rong Feiyan walked to her mother, who was still chatting, whispered a few words, and then walked quickly toward a courtyard.

Finding the prepared bright red shoulder drapes from the room, Rong Feiyan took them and was about to walk out of the room.

"Da Niangzi! You..."

Rong Feiyan looked at Seeing Xi Bu: "What's wrong?"

Seeing Rong Feiyan's expression, Seeing Xi Bu knew that persuading her might not be of much use, so Seeing Xi Bu picked up a bundle and said: "Da Niangzi, use this to wrap it."

In the outer courtyard,

The ground was a mess,

Just now, the Rong family servant who had accidentally knocked over the slop bucket and was kneeling on the ground begging for mercy in fear, now had his trouser legs, hands, and forehead covered in stains.

But he couldn't care about that; he was using a cloth to quickly wipe the stains on the carriage.

Liang Han was riding his horse to the side, curiously gesturing with his hands, his movements looking like he was reenacting someone's move.

Xu Zaijing stood beside his little chestnut horse,

"Tsk."

Looking at his own cloak, which was covered in stains and draped over the saddle, he let out a 'tsk' of heartache, then crouched down and used a towel to wipe the dirty fur on the little chestnut horse's hind hoof.

It wasn't that the Rong family servant didn't want to help, but the little chestnut horse's hind hoof really couldn't be approached by anyone who wasn't familiar with it; getting too close would likely result in a kick.

Hearing this 'tsk',

Rong Xian, who was to the side, fiercely raised his hand, about to give the servant a blow.

"Brother Xian! It's a day of great joy, don't be so impulsive." Xu Zaijing, who was crouching, said: "It's just a cloak, after all!"

Rong Xian's hand stopped in mid-air, and he pointed hatefully at his servant: "You're lucky today that the Fifth Young Master was the one delivering this round! He has good skills and used his cloak to block the slop; otherwise, if the items had been dirtied, you'd be lucky to be alive today!"

Looking at the pale-faced servant who was still wiping the carriage, Xu Zaijing shook his head at Rong Xian.

Soon,

Both the little chestnut horse and the carriage became clean.

The Rong family servants began to busy themselves with cleaning up the dirty water and trash on the ground, and after sweeping, they even sprinkled a layer of sawdust.

"Brother."

Hearing this voice, Rong Xian turned his head in surprise and looked at Rong Feiyan, who was walking over with a bundle: "Sister, why are you here?"

Rong Feiyan said: "The honored guests have started entering the courtyard, and the maids are all busy, so I came over."

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan looked at the appearance of the surroundings and then at the folded cloak of Xu Zaijing.

Afterward, Rong Feiyan hurriedly handed the bundle in her hand to Rong Xian.

After Xu Zaijing took it from Rong Xian's hand, he untied the red silk ribbon that was binding the whole piece of brocade in the carriage, placed the shoulder drapes on it, and then tied it up again.

When Xu Zaijing was busy with this,

Rong Feiyan pulled Rong Xian's sleeve, and after her brother looked over, Rong Feiyan glanced at Rong Xian and then turned her gaze to the cloak on Xu Zaijing's horse's back.

A moment later, watching Rong Xian take the cloak from the saddle into his own hands, Xu Zaijing said: "Brother Xian, don't worry about the cloak; I'll take it back and have my maids wash it."

Rong Xian held the cloak in his hand and shook his head with a smile: "That's not the way! Fifth Young Master, I'm getting married today, listen to me, okay?"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Fine!"

After speaking, Xu Zaijing nimbly mounted his horse, nodded to Rong Feiyan behind Rong Xian, and said to Liang Han: "Brother Six, let's go!"

After leaving the Rong family's main gate,

Carrying the 'urge-to-dress' gifts and walking in Nanjian Tang Lane,

The wind made the flowers worn on the heads of Xu Zaijing and Liang Han tremble gently.

Exquisite carriages passed by from time to time on the road, and beside the carriages, there were mostly young men riding fine horses.

Liang Han nodded in greeting to a family he knew, tilted his head, and said to Xu Zaijing beside him: "Brother Jing, how did you manage that move just now? Your reaction was too fast. It was truly watertight! How did you practice it?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "I just felt hot just now and happened to be untying my cloak."

"Oh!" Liang Han nodded: "By the way, did Brother Ye go to the Dou family for the feast?"

"Hmm! The Dou family matriarch's maiden home is the Yang family, a scholarly family; isn't Brother Ye's aunt a daughter-in-law of the Yang family?"

Liang Han thought for a moment, then looked at Xu Zaijing in confusion: "Brother Jing, how do you know more than I do?"

"Brother Six, my eldest sister is a daughter-in-law of the Gu family; how could I not know?"

Liang Han patted his forehead: "Right, right!"

After walking a few steps, Liang Han and Xu Zaijing bowed again to a carriage, which had the Chai family's sign hanging on it.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 515 =====