Chapter 516: Bad boy [Thanks! Bow again! 45k owed]

Rong family,

The wedding procession had already gone far away,

At the main gate,

The guests who had been watching the excitement had also returned to the courtyard with laughter.

Leaving Nanjian Tang Lane,

It was the same route Xu Zaijing and the others had taken to deliver the 'urge-to-dress' gifts in the morning.

On the north-south Ma Er Market Street,

In the long wedding procession,

Servants were holding red-bottomed, gold-lacquered signs tied with silk red flowers, such as 'Dou-Rong Marriage' and 'Perfect Match', walking at the very front,

Behind them were musicians playing festive music,

And behind them was the groom, Rong Xian, riding the chestnut horse led by A Lan.

Xu Zaijing had two chestnut horses, one deep brown and one snow-white.

The one led by A Lan was the snow-white one.

Rong Xian was wearing bright red wedding clothes, and he, who was already handsome, had a natural air of handsomeness against the backdrop of the wedding clothes and the fine horse.

Behind Rong Xian were the groomsmen like Xu Zaijing,

And behind them were exquisite carriages tied with red silk ribbons, full of festive joy, and a long procession of servants carrying various gifts.

Rong Xian was on the back of the chestnut horse,

Feeling the high field of vision and the stable and gentle pace of the chestnut horse under his buttocks, he turned his head and smiled:

"Brother Jing, so this is what it feels like to ride a chestnut horse?"

"It's too comfortable."

Liang Han, who was behind, licked his lips in envy and said: "Brother Xian, what's the feeling? Your horse is also a fine horse, what's the difference?"

"It's different, it's different! The gap is huge."

Rong Xian said, continuing to ride with a look of enjoyment.

Xu Zaijing's chestnut horse was the top-tier fine horse of the Great Zhou at this time, and with the careful training of horse servants like A Lan and Xun Shu, this riding experience was naturally incomparable to ordinary fine horses.

"If I could ride it often in the future, what a good day that would be!"

Listening to Rong Xian's words with his eyes closed, Liang Han asked curiously: "Brother Jing, is riding a chestnut horse really that comfortable?"

"Hmm, hmm."

Looking at Liang Han's expression, Xu Zaijing said: "Brother Six, come to my house to try it when you have time?"

Liang Han looked at Rong Xian in front and said: "Brother Jing, why don't we... when we go back this afternoon..."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Good."

Along the way,

The chestnut horse's neat, clean, and oily white fur shone with a bright luster in the sun.

The mane, which was prone to being messy, was also braided neatly, which was very pleasing to the eye.

The chestnut horse's bridle was inlaid with gold and jade,

And the horse's forehead was also wearing a silk red flower,

Setting off the chestnut horse's crystal-clear eyes.

The chest strap decoration on the horse's neck was hung with golden bells wrapped in red tassels.

In the middle of the chestnut horse was a gleaming golden saddle and mudguard, and behind it was the golden crupper (the leather strap from the saddle to the horse's buttocks),

Highlighting the horse's healthy, beautiful, and agile body.

This was like a beautifully dressed peerless beauty among horses,

Attracting countless gazes from passersby along the way.

At this moment,

In front of the Rong family's wedding procession, they encountered a procession coming from the opposite direction, which was also going to welcome the bride.

Perhaps it was the groom of one of the families that Xu Zaijing and Liang Han saw holding a wedding when they delivered the 'urge-to-dress' gifts in the morning.

The two wedding processions crossed each other,

The groom on the opposite side looked at his own mount, then looked at Rong Xian with envy, and said: "This brother's horse is truly spirited."

Rong Xian bowed with a smile: "Haha! Thank you, thank you!"

It wasn't just the groom,

Many people in the opposite procession were looking at the chestnut horse in surprise.

After looking at the chestnut horse, they were attracted by the little chestnut horse in the groomsmen's procession.

During the time they crossed, the volume of the festive music in the opposite procession became much lower, while the festive music in the Rong family's procession became even more high-pitched.

Entering Xianning Ward,

When Xu Zaijing and Liang Han passed by the Yuan family's gate again,

Perhaps because they heard the festive music,

At the Yuan family's gate, a woman with a neat hair bun was standing at the gate with a three or four-year-old little girl.

This little girl was about the same age as the little girls Xu Zaijing saw at the Dou family in the morning, exactly at an innocent and lively age.

The spirited horse attracted not only men, but even the little girl at the gate looked at the chestnut horse with love, then looked up and said something to the woman with a smile.

The street was not far from the gate, and Xu Zaijing recognized the woman at the gate at a glance; it was Zhu Manniang, the 'frail and unable to take care of herself' woman who was Gu Tingye's ill-fated connection in the original story.

Looking at Xu Zaijing riding on the back of the little chestnut horse, Zhu Manniang also recognized that this was the person who had saved her life in Yang Zhou, and she hurriedly bowed.

Xu Zaijing nodded in greeting.

Liang Han, who was to the side, thought Zhu Manniang was bowing to the wedding procession. He smiled and whispered: "Brother Jing, that is the favored concubine of the Yuan family's second young master."

"I heard that in order to report the news to the former Earl of Zhongqin, she jumped into the ice-cold water while pregnant, which damaged her foundation, and later..."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked over in confusion: "Later what?"

"Damaged her foundation, she can't have children anymore."

Xu Zaijing nodded and continued to look at the two people at the gate.

The clothes Zhu Manniang was wearing were not luxurious, but they were silk, and there was a jade hairpin on her head.

The little girl also had a silver longevity lock on her chest; it seemed they were living quite well.

At this moment,

Minister Pei Yuanchen said to the side: "Musicians, take a rest, and play again when we reach the entrance of Anzhou Street."

The musicians hurriedly agreed,

The festive music gradually disappeared, and the musicians began to shake off the condensed water droplets in their respective instruments while walking.

"Are the red envelopes and pouches for rewards prepared?"

Riding on his horse, Minister Pei Yuanchen asked the groomsmen like Xu Zaijing to the side.

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Qingyun, Diao Che, and several others who were following behind:

"Don't worry, Uncle, they are all wrapped in the bundle."

Minister Pei Yuanchen nodded: "Hmm."

After walking for a while,

When they were almost at the Dou family,

The festive music began to play; the previous rest had worked, and the sound was very high-pitched.

When they arrived at the main gate of the Duke of Fu,

Many people were already standing in front of the main gate.

At the very front were the Dou family and relative youths responsible for blocking the gate, and behind them were many girls and maids watching the excitement, filling the Dou family's main gate.

Around them were many neighborhood residents who had followed all the way to watch the excitement.

The procession slowed down and stopped,

Rong Xian and Xu Zaijing and the others dismounted.

Looking at Rong Xian and the groomsmen walking over,

Several Dou family youths who had been welcoming guests at the gate bowed one after another, then revealed the nine large bowls filled with wine on the table behind them.

Minister Pei Yuanchen stood to the side and pretended to be serious: "Nephew, this... the Dou family is a bit excessive, haha!"

The Dou family youth, who had entertained Xu Zaijing in the morning and chatted about the Bai Gao war, bowed and smiled:

"Uncle, please forgive me, the brothers should know that our ancestor wrote the book 'Wine Manual'."

"My family also has some achievements in the art of brewing! It's hard to justify not drinking wine when marrying our family's daughter."

After the Dou family youth finished speaking,

Gu Tingye, who was behind them, said loudly: "Yes! Well said! Should drink!"

The surrounding onlookers and neighbors also echoed.

Liang Han, who was standing behind Rong Xian, smiled: "Brother Er, you're not married yet... be careful that others will block you like this in the future."

"I..."

Hearing this, Gu Tingye hesitated.

"My business is for the future; Rong Xian must drink this now!"

Rong Xian looked at Minister Pei Yuanchen to the side, and Minister Pei Yuanchen smiled bitterly: "Other families are easy to talk to, but the Dou family ancestor's learning is indeed profound, and their brewing skills are second to none in our Great Zhou; it's indeed hard to justify not drinking."

Smelling the wine aroma and looking at the crystal-clear wine in the bowls, Wei Faqi whispered: "I'm afraid this is the best wine the Dou family has."

Lu Sanlang licked his lips behind him and whispered: "It would be a waste not to drink this wine."

Liang Han smacked his lips and whispered: "Such a big bowl, I'm afraid we'll fall down at the Dou family before the wedding is over, and that would be a disgrace."

Hearing Liang Han's words, Rong Xian's eyes lit up, and he bowed to the Dou family: "Brother, it's not that we are unwilling to drink, it's just that we are afraid of getting drunk and falling down at the Dou family, causing trouble for others."

"My family has plenty of guest rooms; they are all prepared today. If you really get drunk, just stay at my house."

"Uh..."

Rong Xian was speechless for a moment.

Xu Zaijing bowed to the side and said:

"Several brothers, everyone in Bianjing knows that the Dou family's wine is good! But after drinking a few mouthfuls, the wine will rise..."

"First, I'm afraid of comparing literature, and the literary thoughts won't flow; second, I'm afraid of comparing martial arts, and we don't have a sense of proportion in our hands! Why don't we put this wine at the end?"

Minister Pei Yuanchen nodded and said: "Right, what the Fifth Young Master said is not bad; it's indeed inappropriate to drink at the very beginning, how about we put this wine at the end?"

The Dou family members looked at each other,

Gu Tingye, who was to the side, said: "What the Fifth Young Master said makes sense; if he gets drunk, it's really..."

"Good, then let's compare literature first; please let Brother Xian recite a 'urge-to-dress' poem..."

The poems were naturally prepared, and Rong Xian had memorized them himself.

Therefore, he passed this hurdle quite easily.

After reciting three 'urge-to-dress' poems, Rong Xian still had a smile on his face, bowed, and said: "Brother, what is the martial hurdle, please bring it up."

As he spoke, Rong Xian also looked at Xu Zaijing with a smile and raised his eyebrows.

The Dou family youth smiled and shouted toward the main gate: "Bring up the martial hurdle!"

As soon as the words fell,

The crowd at the Dou family's main gate hurriedly scattered, and not far inside the gate stood two small, surprisingly small arrow targets, only the size of a palm.

Another maid walked over with a tray,

The tray was covered with red silk, on which were placed a bow and three arrows.

The Dou family youth reached out and said: "Brother Er, please."

Rong Xian showed a smile and turned his head: "Jing..."

"Eh! This cannot be done by someone else! Brother Er must do it himself." The Dou family youth said again.

Looking at the distance of nearly twenty steps from the gate to inside the gate, Rong Xian: "Ah? This..."

"Hahahaha..."

Looking at Rong Xian's surprised appearance, the people around laughed instantly.

"Oh, what's wrong with the groom?"

Xu Zaijing stood behind Rong Xian and smiled: "I won't shoot the arrow, but it's fine to help the groom try it!"

"Fine, naturally it's fine." The Dou family members smiled.

Xu Zaijing walked forward, twisted the feathered arrow with the arrowhead removed and wrapped in red silk, placed the feathered arrow on it, gently pulled the bow, and then put the things back on the tray.

Then Xu Zaijing walked to Rong Xian's side and whispered: "Go ahead, I'll help you from the side."

Wei Faqi, who was to the side, frowned: "How to help like this?"

Lu Sanlang thought for a moment, stood behind Wei Faqi, and said: "Just help hand-in-hand like this!"

While the two were talking, Rong Xian had already nocked the arrow, and Xu Zaijing stood to the side, looking at Rong Xian, saying while looking: "Pull it open a bit more... lower, lower, take a deep breath, hold your breath, steady, release."

"Pop."

The arrow target inside the gate fell to the sound.

The musicians in the wedding procession hurriedly played festive music.

The second arrow was the same.

Gu Tingye and his cousin Yang Chenmin exchanged a look, and Yang Chenmin said: "This works too? Brother Ye, can you do this?"

Gu Tingye touched his nose: "Naturally I can!"

While the Dou family members were busy arranging the postponed 'wine table',

Xu Zaijing pulled Liang Han and the other two groomsmen together and whispered.

After whispering,

The Dou family also rearranged the wine table,

Xu Zaijing walked to Minister Pei Yuanchen's side and said: "Uncle, in a moment you..."

After speaking,

Xu Zaijing and the four groomsmen walked toward the wine table.

Minister Pei Yuanchen beckoned to Qingyun and the others, who were holding bundles and preparing to scatter wedding money.

Before Xu Zaijing reached the table, Liang Han grabbed him and said: "Brother Jing, I'd better go drink it!"

Lu Sanlang, who was to the side, said: "Liang Han, you have no idea about your own drinking capacity, I'd better do it!"

"I'll do it!" Xu Zaijing said.

"How about we each drink a bowl first?" Wei Faqi interjected.

Looking at the eyes of the other three, Wei Faqi swallowed his saliva: "I'll go first."

As he spoke, Wei Faqi walked forward,

Liang Han grabbed him: "Hey, I said it first!"

While the two were talking, they started pulling at each other, and Xu Zaijing hurriedly stepped forward to break up the fight: "What are you two doing...!"

The four of them walked toward the wine table while pulling at each other,

The Dou family members looked at the pulling of the Rong family groomsmen in surprise,

Thinking that a conflict had arisen, and just as they wanted to step forward to stop it, Xu Zaijing had already approached the wine table.

Then,

The wine table was lifted up by Xu Zaijing with one hand,

Xu Zaijing's hand was very steady, and only a little wine spilled from the bowls on the table.

"I said, I'll do it!"

In the surprised eyes of the people at the door, Xu Zaijing shouted back, while also giving Minister Pei Yuanchen, who was behind him, a wink.

Liang Han jumped and said: "Brother Jing, I'll drink it!"

Lu Sanlang and Wei Faqi also shouted 'I'll do it' twice.

Dou family youth: "Hey, hey, what are you doing..."

Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing's movements and said: "He... he... Fifth Young Master, he's going to play..."

Before he finished speaking,

Minister Pei Yuanchen outside had already grabbed a handful of copper coins and red envelopes from the bundle Qingyun had opened, and threw them out handful by handful.

"Grab the wedding money!"

In the wedding procession standing to the side, Diao Che and other servants also hurriedly scattered wedding money.

Money fell like rain,

The Dou family's main gate was instantly in chaos.

Xu Zaijing, who was at the very front, shouted: "Be careful, be careful, don't let the fine wine splash on you."

"Run quickly~ if you get stained with wine, the smell will be hard to get rid of!"

"Ah~"

"Ya~"

The girls and maids at the main gate were afraid of dirtying their clothes, so they hurriedly ran to the side, either laughing or screaming.

Thus,

Rong Xian, who was following behind, rushed into the Dou family courtyard quickly under the cover of Liang Han and the others.

Watching Xu Zaijing, who remained at the very back, place the wine table steadily in the courtyard, the Dou family youth who chased from outside the gate smiled helplessly:

"Brother Jing, you... you are truly cunning!"

Xu Zaijing bowed with a smile and said: "Brother, please forgive me, drinking a bowl of the Dou family's fine wine, I'm afraid none of us would be able to stand and go back, so we had to resort to this desperate measure."

The little girls who had run to the side while screaming just now stood on tiptoe, looking at the wine bowls on the table that hadn't spilled much, and looked at Xu Zaijing in surprise.

Some girls even poked the wine bowls with their fingers to see if they were stuck on.

When Xu Zaijing looked at them,

This group of little girls glared, hurriedly took their maids, and ran toward the courtyard.

The little girls had infinite energy,

And ran back to the inner courtyard without slowing down.

The gate was only that small,

And the ladies and young wives attending the wedding banquet couldn't go to the main gate to watch the excitement.

Seeing the little girls run back, a madam smiled:

"Luo'er, how is it? Did the Rong family's wedding procession drink wine?"

"Did a few faint?"

"Huashang, how many arrows did the Rong family's young master use?"

The Rong and Dou families were marrying, and in fact, even if Rong Xian hadn't hit the target with three arrows and asked for more feathered arrows, the Dou family would have given them.

The little girl called Huashang held up four fingers, thought for a moment, then pressed down two, and said:

"Grandmother, big brother Fifth Xu..."

"Lifted the table..."

The little girls raised their hands, imitated Xu Zaijing's action of lifting the table, and started chattering.

Firstly, the little girls were cute, and secondly, Xu Zaijing was indeed being a rascal,

And the madams in the backyard laughed one after another.

Pingmei and Tingyi stood together, looking at the surrounding gazes, and smiled: "This younger brother of mine, truly..."

"Truly intelligent and cunning, exceptionally clever." The Dou family's second madam replied.

This Madam Tao, who was from the Jinyang Marquis's residence, was not being close to Pingmei for no reason.

You know, the current Marquis of Jinyang was the younger brother of Lu Zezong's grandmother, and the Jinyang Marquis's youngest daughter was married to the Zhang family of the Duke of Ying.

Lu Zezong was considered this second madam's cousin.

In the Dou family's outer courtyard main hall,

Xu Zaijing and Liang Han and the others stood outside the room,

Watching Rong Xian and the Dou family young lady bow to the Duke of Fu together,

Then,

Amidst the festive music, Rong Xian led the Dou family young lady out of the main gate and onto the exquisite carriage.

The Dou family youths scattered quite a few red envelopes and silver money, and the Rong family carriage then started moving.

Following the wedding procession,

There were also seven or eight carriages loaded with jars of fine wine tied with 'happiness' characters.

When the wedding procession returned to Nanjian Tang Lane,

Xu Zaijing and Liang Han looked at the carriage parked at the main gate, which was of very high status and extremely luxurious, and the two exchanged a look, then Liang Han said: "Brother Jing, I think, is it possible that Imperial Consort Rong has come."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 517 =====