Chapter 519

Looking again at Xingqing Prefecture, which had recovered after more than a year,

although there were many traces of the earthquake, most were rebuilt houses,

Gu Tingyu patted the parapet and said: "Let's go, let's go down and take a look."

As he spoke, he exhaled white mist.

As they walked down the city wall, the soldiers who saw Gu Tingyu along the way bowed one after another.

After descending the city tower,

one could see that Gu Tingyu was not only accompanied by one aide, but also followed by seven or eight personal guards from the Marquis's residence, leading warhorses and carrying swords and bows, looking very elite.

The long-term attendant Youqing was also wearing a pair of earmuffs, leading two mounts.

The morning was cold,

and there weren't many pedestrians on the street.

This Chai family shop was a three-story restaurant in the front with a courtyard in the back.

The Chai family shop assistant saw Gu Tingyu's party walking this way and hurriedly went into the courtyard to report.

When the party reached the main gate of the Chai family shop,

the Chai family manager was already standing there, bowing and smiling at Gu Tingyu among the party: "Greetings, Lord Gu, sorry to have kept you waiting."

Gu Tingyu smiled and bowed in return: "Manager, you've worked hard. Was the journey smooth?"

The Chai family manager said: "We encountered snowy weather when passing through Yanzhou, the roads were difficult, and we were delayed for two days."

"Lord Gu, please come inside! The things brought from the capital are on the carriages."

Gu Tingyu nodded and led the people into the courtyard.

"These five carts are seeds loaded at the Marquis Yongyi's manor, and these five carts are various items loaded at the Liang family workshop."

The manager introduced them while untying the sacks, revealing the things inside.

Gu Tingyu reached out and grabbed the seeds in the sack, handed the seeds in his hand to the aide behind him, and then looked at the cold-weather items like earmuffs, his face full of smiles.

And the Chai family manager continued to lead the way forward.

Gu Tingyu stood by the carriage and asked in confusion: "How come, there's more?"

The manager smiled: "There are two more carts received by the Ministry of Works in the second half of the year, new agricultural and industrial tools contributed from all over Great Zhou."

Gu Tingyu walked over with great interest upon hearing this.

Looking at the various wooden or iron things on the carriage, the Chai family manager held a wooden box and said: "The uses of these things are all in this wooden box."

Gu Tingyu asked in confusion: "This is... who asked the manager to bring it?"

The Chai family manager lowered his eyes and said: "When handing over outside the city, that manager said it was entrusted by the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family."

Gu Tingyu looked straight at the Chai family manager in front of him: "Han Wulang Young Master didn't send a letter to say so."

Hearing this, the Chai family manager was slightly stunned: "Oh? Hiss, that's strange."

"It's fine, I'll just send a letter to ask."

The Chai family manager nodded repeatedly and said: "Is Lord Gu returning to Dingzhou now?"

"Yes."

"Alright."

Afterward, the manager waved his hand, and the shop assistants began to harness the carriages.

When the courtyard was busy,

a Gu family personal guard walked over, bowed, and said: "Young Master, there is an official surnamed Hong outside who wants to come in, claiming to be the Transport Commissioner of Xingzhou."

Gu Tingyu thought for a moment and hurriedly said: "Please, invite him in!"

Before long,

Official Hong, Sheng Hong's superior in Yang Zhou, who hadn't been promoted because his daughter had recklessly climbed into a carriage, damaging his official reputation, walked in quickly.

Before he even got close, Official Hong exhaled white mist and bowed: "Lord Gu, a pleasure to meet you!"

Gu Tingyu also went up to meet him, smiling and bowing: "Official Hong, a pleasure to meet you. Why did you come in such cold weather!"

Official Hong looked at Gu Tingyu and said with emotion: "I had heard of Lord Gu's good name in Bianjing, passing the examination among the sons of nobility after years of hard study! Hearing of you is not as good as meeting you. Seeing you today, you are indeed a man of talent!"

Gu Tingyu smiled and bowed: "Official Hong, you flatter me."

Afterward, Gu Tingyu continued: "Official, I have received letters from Uncle Sheng, Xu Hou, my father, and my maternal grandfather of the Bai family in Yang Zhou! If you don't mind, you can just call me Dalang."

Hearing Gu Tingyu's words, Official Hong looked slightly embarrassed, but his eyes were more moved as he said: "Bai Bai Laoyezi Bai, he... also sent a letter?"

Gu Tingyu nodded: "Maternal Bai Bai Laoyezi Bai said in his letter that he and you were close friends, and you often took care of the Bai family when you were in Yang Zhou. After you were promoted, he often missed the times when you two exchanged poetry. Who would have thought..."

As he spoke, a look of regret appeared on Gu Tingyu's face.

Hearing 'promoted', Official Hong smiled and shook his head, with a self-deprecating tone, and bowed: "It was my own doing! Dalang, thank the Bai Bai Laoyezi for his concern on my behalf."

Gu Tingyu nodded: "Uncle, don't worry!"

Afterward, Gu Tingyu reached out and said: "The morning is cold, let's drink some hot wine in the restaurant to warm up."

Official Hong: "Please!"

"Go, bring the charcoal brazier to the private room." The Chai family manager hurriedly ordered.

When the two were walking toward the restaurant,

a junior officer in armor walked in holding a horse whip.

Seeing the person, Gu Tingyu and the other stopped.

Walking quickly to the front, the junior officer knelt on one knee, smiled, and bowed: "I am Fang Ding, former personal guard of Xu Hou, greetings to the son-in-law!"

Gu Tingyu hurriedly stepped forward, supporting Fang Ding's hands, and said: "Quickly get up, what are you doing!"

Fang Ding was supported up by Gu Tingyu and smiled: "When you came to Xingqing Prefecture, I didn't see you. Hearing you were here, I came to take a look."

"Come to think of it! I remember my brother-in-law once told me that you are the kid who tried to claim kinship!"

Hearing this, Fang Ding scratched his helmet with his whip with some pride and embarrassment: "Hehe, that's me."

"What's there to see about me? Since you are my father-in-law's personal guard, why are you here today?" Gu Tingyu asked in confusion.

"I am here entrusted by the Crown Prince under the order of the imperial court to select and train soldiers." Fang Ding said after nodding to Official Hong.

Gu Tingyu: "Cavalry?"

Fang Ding smiled and shook his head: "Infantry! I learned some things from the generals of the former Bai Gao under the Marquis before, so I was sent here."

Gu Tingyu said: "These former Bai Gao infantry are very famous for mountain warfare."

Fang Ding raised his eyebrows: "The son-in-law is right, but they have to be elite! Unfortunately, I came a bit late, and several powerful ones were selected and taken away. I heard they went to the south."

Gu Tingyu nodded and reached out: "Let's go, come into the building with us."

After some refusal, seeing Gu Tingyu's firm attitude, Fang Ding had no choice but to follow.

In the private room,

Fang Ding sat on the outermost side very consciously, serving dishes and pouring wine.

At the wine table,

Official Hong, who had drunk a few cups of wine, said with emotion: "I thought that in the Northwest, being unfamiliar with the place, I might be tied up, but I didn't expect..."

There were many garrison troops near Xingqing Prefecture, and as Transport Commissioner, Official Hong had many complicated matters, but he had letters from several families, and the Cao family and Xu family also had a good relationship, so his work was unexpectedly convenient and smooth.

Gu Tingyu raised his cup, glanced at Fang Ding who also raised his cup, and said to Official Hong: "His Majesty has great ambitions in his heart. If we can pacify and benefit the common people here, we will have our share of the credit when the time comes."

"Dalang is right."

The meal didn't last long before they dispersed.

Gu Tingyu took the carriages and, under the escort of the cavalry sent by the Cao family, was seen off by Official Hong as he left the city to return to Dingzhou.

Time flowed,

it was already late in the tenth lunar month,

before the Minor Snow solar term.

This day, the weather was gloomy,

at the start of the Shen hour (after 4:00 PM).

Jiying Lane, Sheng residence,

there was no sun, and it was afternoon, so the temperature dropped sharply.

Candles were lit on the tables of Xu Zaijing and the others.

Scholar Zhuang stood before the open window with his hands behind his back, holding a folding fan, and the cold wind blowing in stirred his beard.

Looking at the white mist exhaled by Scholar Zhuang against the cold wind,

Changbai stood up and bowed: "Scholar, the wind is cold in the afternoon, you must take more care of your health."

Scholar Zhuang turned his head with a smile and said: "Changbai is thoughtful."

Another gust of cold wind blew in, carrying four or five snowflakes the size of dates, which quickly turned into water droplets after falling on the floor.

"Ah! It's snowing!"

Rulan said, leaning forward with some excitement.

Afterward, Scholar Zhuang looked at everyone in the school and, after smelling the cold wind full of the scent of snow, closed the window and said:

"You've been having classes for more than ten days in a row! Today the snow makes the roads difficult to travel, so you should disperse first."

"Tomorrow, a day off!"

Hearing this, several cheers came from the school.

Afterward, everyone stood up and responded.

Draping on his cloak and putting on his earmuffs, Scholar Zhuang was the first to walk out of the school.

Maids and servants like Huaxiang and Qiuniang hurriedly stepped forward to tidy up the desks.

And Xu Zaijing, Changbai, and the others draped on their cloaks at the first opportunity and walked to the school entrance, preparing to go out.

Xu Zaijing's position was toward the back, so he naturally walked to the back.

Therefore, seeing Rulan running over without draping on a cloak, he said with a straight face: "Fifth Younger Sister, go drape on your clothes, be careful of catching a cold."

"Oh!" Rulan walked toward Xique somewhat reluctantly.

Minglan, who was following Rulan, also walked away sheepishly without continuing forward.

During the time they were speaking, Gu Tingye's voice had already come from outside the cotton curtain: "Wow, this snow is so heavy!"

When Xu Zaijing lifted the curtain to go out, Seeing Mo Lan happened to be walking toward the position where the scholar had just been standing, where one could see the snow scenery without being too cold.

Outside the school,

in Xu Zaijing's field of vision, in the gray sky, heavy snow fell like sifted flour.

In the time it took for the scholar to open the window and everyone to go out, there were already many 'white spots' outside, although the snow falling on the ground was melting, turning the ground a dark color.

But clearly, the speed of melting couldn't keep up with the speed of the falling snow.

Huaxiang, Buwei, and the others had already walked out carrying book boxes.

"Young Master?"

Listening to Huaxiang's call, Zaihang looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Little Five, take the carriage today."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

As they were talking, everyone stood for a while longer, and before they started walking, they saw Cui Mama coming over in the courtyard holding an oil-paper umbrella, with several maids carrying things and holding umbrellas.

After bowing to Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others, Cui Mama said: "The Old Madam at home asked me to send paper umbrellas and bamboo hats to you young masters! This snow is heavy and windy, so you young masters can use these paper umbrellas and bamboo hats to block the wind and snow on the way. The carriage drivers can also use them on the road."

"Many thanks, Great Aunt."

"Many thanks, Old Madam."

Xu Zaijing and the others hurriedly bowed and said.

Looking at the snow alone, it was naturally a beautiful scene.

But walking in the snow was somewhat uncomfortable, as the wind would blow snowflakes onto one's face and into one's neck.

After a long time, the melted snow felt like being splashed with water, cold and bone-chilling, very uncomfortable.

At the stable,

Qingyun had already removed the saddle and bridle from the little chestnut horse.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and his companion walking over wearing bamboo hats and holding umbrellas, Qingyun smiled: "Young Master, we have to borrow these bamboo hats."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Huaxiang stepped onto the horse stool first and entered the carriage, then handed out her cloak: "Young Master, drape this on the horse."

Outside the carriage, Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, who was putting on a bamboo hat, smiled at each other.

On the road,

because there was a hot water tank in the carriage, it wasn't too cold inside.

After Xu Zaijing untied his wide cloak and covered his legs with it, he put the extra one on Huaxiang.

Huaxiang smiled and wrapped it around herself, buried her nose in the cloak and sniffed, saying:

"Young Master, although this cloak was put aside after being sent back, when I was holding the cloak in the school today, I could actually smell a fragrance."

Xu Zaijing lifted the curtain with one hand, looked at the snow scenery outside the carriage, and nodded: "Hmm, the incense you used to scent it is not bad, it smells comfortable."

Huaxiang looked at Xu Zaijing: "Young Master, after this cloak was sent back, we saw it was plain and tidy, so we didn't scent it."

"Not scented? Was it the Rong family?"

Huaxiang pursed her lips and nodded.

Xu Zaijing let down the carriage curtain, brought the cloak to his nose and sniffed it too, and after thinking for a moment, said: "Hmm, it's about the same as the incense on Brother Xian."

Returning to Quyuanjie,

the sky had already turned completely dark,

and the two lanterns at the main gate of the Xu residence had already been lit.

Because of the wind and snow, the old acquaintances of the Marquis's residence had packed up their stalls early, but there was a carriage at the main gate preparing to slow down and stop there.

The flatbed carriage was full of things, and the oilcloth covering it had accumulated quite a bit of snow.

Beside the carriage were three knights wearing bamboo hats and straw rain capes.

Seeing this scene, Qingyun hurriedly leaned against the carriage side and turned his head: "Young Master, it seems there are guests at the gate."

Xu Zaijing lifted the carriage curtain to look outside, passed the moving horse head of the carriage, and saw the few people at the gate of the Marquis's residence.

After getting off the carriage,

Xu Zaijing walked toward the courtyard with Zhao Meifeng while tying his cloak.

"Woo~"

The main gate was a wind tunnel,

and the north wind blew fiercely, snowflakes hitting his face, making it hard for him to catch his breath.

"Fifth Young Master, I thought you would return to the residence later, so I wanted to wait for you at the gate."

Facing the northwest wind, Zhao Meifeng turned his head to avoid the north wind and said.

Xu Zaijing pulled his cloak to his mouth to block the wind and said: "Isn't it snowing, so the school dispersed early."

As they were talking,

the two walked near the horse racing track,

and looking at Huaxiang who had gotten off the carriage, Xu Zaijing said: "Don't go back to our courtyard, go tell Mother first that I won't be going over for dinner tonight."

"Yes, Young Master. Should the kitchen send some wine and food to the gatehouse, and also here for Master Yin?"

"Sensible."

Listening to Xu Zaijing's praise, Huaxiang bowed with a smile and was about to walk toward the inner courtyard.

"Come back!"

Huaxiang stopped, and a warm cloak was draped over her, which still had a trace of the Rong family's incense scent.

"Go."

On the other side, the little chestnut horse, whose head had been whitened by snow, was still tied with Huaxiang's cloak and led into the stable where a fire brazier was lit by Alan.

It goes without saying how well the little chestnut horse was served.

In Master Yin's wooden house,

Zhao Meifeng had already sat down in front of the fire stove to warm himself.

The two Imperial City Division soldiers who followed behind each made two trips to bring in several heavy boxes.

After Gao Yunqing placed the last box, he bowed and left with his men.

When Qingyun wanted to follow, Zhao Meifeng said: "Qingyun, you wait a moment."

After Zhao Meifeng finished speaking, Xu Zaijing looked curiously at the boxes in the wooden house and said: "Brother Zhao, what's this? Who asked you to send gifts?"

Zhao Meifeng glanced at Xu Zaijing and said: "That box is a thank-you gift from the Senior Brother for you. You helped a lot with the previous matters, and he hasn't expressed anything."

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "I can't accept this. Great Zhou being able to recover Bai Gao is the greatest thank-you gift! Without Brother Taifeng, Father wouldn't have achieved merit so easily."

Zhao Meifeng nodded in appreciation and said: "Don't be in a hurry to refuse. There is also a congratulatory gift for Qingyun's child, you can't not accept this, right!"

Xu Zaijing glanced at Qingyun and didn't refute.

Afterward, Zhao Meifeng glanced at Xu Zaijing, exhaled, and said: "There is also, the Senior Brother also prepared things for that girl Xiaotao, you..."

Xu Zaijing frowned and said: "Brother Zhao, this, how can I send this?"

Zhao Meifeng patted Xu Zaijing on the shoulder: "I believe you, you must have a way."

Xu Zaijing: "Then I'll get her out of servitude?"

"Think of another way, the Senior Brother said not to let the little girl leave the Sheng family first!"

Xu Zaijing scratched his head, thought for a while, and his eyes lit up: "Alright! I'll try first."

(End of chapter)