Chapter 546

After 2:00 PM (Wei hour)

Huixian Restaurant,

Inside the second-floor private room,

Qingcao walked around the table to Xiaotao's side, whispered a few words in her ear, and after Xiaotao's eyes lit up, she smiled and nodded repeatedly.

Afterwards, Qingcao and the other three maidservants of Xu Zaijing toasted everyone, reassured them to continue their merrymaking, and walked out with Xiaotao.

There were a few small tables in front of the screen,

where everyone's winter coats were placed.

Qingcao, Xiaotao, and the other four were talking while busy putting on their cloaks and scarves.

Looking at Qingyun, who had followed and was also preparing to put on his clothes, they said: "Brother Qingyun, you go continue playing with Buwei and the others! The four of us will take the carriage together; it'll be fine!"

Qingyun looked at the three maidservants, whose fair cheeks were slightly flushed from the wine, making them look even more bright-eyed and white-toothed, and shook his head with a smile:

"Letting you go by yourselves? That's impossible!"

"In this Bianjing, power and wealth are everywhere. If some blind person takes a fancy to you beauties and does something stupid, I'm afraid the Young Master would kill someone."

Yunxiang, who was dressed, said somewhat embarrassedly: "Brother Qingyun, how could we be beauties!"

Xiaotao, wearing a rabbit fur scarf, shook her head and said: "Sister Yunxiang, you are; you look just like fairies!"

Qingcao shyly cupped Xiaotao's chubby face with her hands and said: "Only you know how to talk!"

After Huaxiang smoothed Xiaotao's scarf, she said: "Brother Qingyun, Bianjing doesn't have that many bold thieves, right? This is under the feet of the Son of Heaven!"

Qingyun finished dressing, hung the waist saber he carried with him on his belt, and said: "Sister Huaxiang, the most terrifying things in Bianjing city are not thieves! How much ability can thieves have? Let's go!"

Hearing this, Yunxiang and the others exchanged a puzzled look and followed Qingyun outside.

After leaving the private room,

Everyone went down the stairs,

and on the first floor, a storyteller hired by the restaurant was telling a story.

"Then I saw that Fifth Young Master Xu draw his precious bow from the saddle..."

Hearing the storyteller say this,

Qingcao, Yunxiang, and the others couldn't help but glance toward the speaker.

At this time, Huixian Restaurant

was even livelier than when everyone arrived in the morning.

Quite a few tables of guests were already seated around the first-floor hall.

From time to time, guests dressed in luxury, wearing brocade and satin, were led by the tea and wine steward toward the inside of the building.

Qingcao and the other three maidservants were naturally beautiful, and being set off by the excellent fabric of their clothes, they looked even more like flowers.

As they walked on the stairs,

the guests sitting around the first-floor hall, upon seeing Qingyun and the others, either whispered to their companions, called the waiter over to inquire, or stared blankly with puzzled eyes.

Huixian Restaurant occupied a fairly large area,

and after going down the stairs, they were still some distance from the main entrance.

On the way,

although guests occasionally glanced at them a few times,

most people, upon seeing the sturdy Qingyun beside them, dismissed their thoughts and continued walking inside.

But at this moment,

several playboy young masters from wealthy families, dressed in bright clothes, wearing rare winter flowers in their hair, and accompanied by maidservants and servants, entered the restaurant.

Upon seeing Yunxiang and Huaxiang behind Qingyun, these playboy young masters exchanged surprised glances, their eyes full of astonishment and admiration.

Although they saw Qingyun, they relied on their family background and still approached them.

"A few ladies, please stay!"

Someone shouted.

When Qingyun stopped, those playboy young masters surrounded them with their maidservants and servants.

Qingyun had accompanied his Young Master to exercise early every day since he was a child, so he was tall, sturdy, and strong, and having accompanied Xu Zaijing through life and death several times, he naturally possessed a unique temperament.

Therefore, after these playboy young masters approached, Qingyun, who was holding the hilt of his saber, just glanced at them, and someone among them exclaimed: "What a sturdy warrior!"

"Greetings, warrior. May I ask which mansion's noble you serve?"

Among the playboy young masters wearing flowers, one held a precious folding fan and asked with a bow.

Now that they were closer, the beauty of Qingcao, Yunxiang, and Huaxiang was even clearer to them.

One playboy couldn't help but ask urgently: "And who are these three ladies to you?"

While asking, his gaze kept scanning the three of them.

Xiaotao shrank beside Qingcao, poking her head out to look at the people around.

Frowning at the gazes of the playboy young masters,

"A few gentlemen, please show some self-respect."

Qingyun said loudly, and just as he was about to continue,

one of the playboy young masters bowed and continued: "Warrior, we mean no harm..."

Another playboy said: "What self-respect? Looking at their age, these three ladies are probably your sisters, right? I am..."

Qingyun interrupted him directly, looked at the restaurant manager who was walking over quickly with an anxious expression, and said: "We are from the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion. Gentlemen, please show some self-respect."

As soon as these words were spoken,

the surrounding playboy young masters were all stunned.

"Self..."

"Marquis of Yongyi's mansion..."

"The Xu family?"

"This..."

"Gulp." Someone swallowed.

After Qingyun finished speaking, the restaurant manager who walked over bowed repeatedly and said: "Young Master Yin, please forgive me, please forgive me. It was this small shop's negligence."

Just as the manager finished speaking, the playboy young masters, their eyes somewhat panicked, also bowed repeatedly:

"Forgive us~"

"Young Master Yin, please forgive us. We really... really had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai."

Apologizing and making amends, they hurriedly cleared the way.

Qingyun nodded, relied on his height to glance over the surrounding playboy young masters toward a certain table nearby, and then, accompanied by the apologetic restaurant manager and playboy young masters, led Qingcao and the others toward the outside of the restaurant.

The sounds of apology had already disappeared at the main entrance.

Nearby,

at the table Qingyun had just glanced at, four sturdy men with sinister eyes, possessing the aura of strongmen from outside the capital, were sitting there.

"That pair of little sluts are truly beautiful. If I could snatch them for some fun, I'd be happy even if I died immediately!"

Someone said, licking his lips.

"Big Brother, what did that kid mean by looking at us before he left?" One of them asked while looking toward the main entrance.

The man called Big Brother took a deep breath, held his wine bowl, and said: "That was a warning to us."

"Warning us?"

Just as he was about to continue, a waiter from Huixian Restaurant approached and smiled: "Guests, is there anything you need?"

The man called Big Brother smiled and said: "Little brother, we just arrived in Bianjing and don't know which mansion that Young Master Yin who just left belongs to?"

"Hey, guest, you've asked the right person! That Young Master Yin is the personal attendant of the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion!"

Hearing this, the four exchanged glances.

Seeing the four men's appearance, the waiter continued: "The four of you just arrived in Bianjing and don't know! This Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion is extraordinary! Do you four know the fierce general Bu Zhoutianhuan of Bai Gao?"

The four shook their heads in confusion.

"Ah? You don't even know this person... Then... what about the Jin Yangshan stronghold in Yanzhou?" The waiter asked tentatively.

The four continued to shake their heads.

Seeing this, the waiter sighed and said: "Then you four guests must not know how dangerous the Keyi Gate fortress is either."

The four nodded.

After pondering for a moment, the waiter said:

"A few days ago, there was trouble in the northern stronghold of Beizhou, and soldiers claiming to be Maitreya Buddha's disciples caused chaos. You four guests should know about that, right?"

The four exchanged glances, and the man called Big Brother nodded and said: "We come from Bozhou, so naturally we know about this! I heard they gathered..."

"Slap!"

The waiter clapped his hands and said: "Guest! The leader of the thieves in Beizhou city was personally dealt with by this Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion!"

"This Young Master Yin you four asked about is the one who followed the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion into the dragon's den and the tiger's lair!"

"I heard that in Beizhou city, this young master and Fifth Young Master Xu, along with the Second Young Master of the Ningyuan Marquis's mansion, went in and out three times, and just the thieves they slaughtered numbered over six hundred..."

The four at the table looked at each other, and the Big Brother said: "Little brother, this... is a bit exaggerated, right?"

"Hi, guest, you just arrived in Bianjing, so naturally you feel it's exaggerated!"

"There is a storyteller nearby telling stories about the Fifth Young Master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion; if you listen, you'll know if I'm exaggerating."

The waiter bowed to accept the tip and left.

The four then pricked up their ears to listen to the sound not far away.

When they heard the passage: "Bah! You little brat, dare you take a slash from this general! No sooner said than done, the shield-bearing elite soldiers in front of this fierce general actually...",

the three at the table cast their gazes toward the one holding the wine bowl.

"Big Brother, could your older brother be this fierce general holding the long-handled broadsword?" A companion whispered.

That "Big Brother" hesitated, pondered for a moment, shook his head, and said: "The one holding the long sword is the Buddha General beside the Buddha disciple; my brother... is the shield-bearing fierce soldier in front of the Buddha General."

At this time, the storyteller not far away said with cadence:

"Bah! You little brat, dare you take a slash from this general! No sooner said than done, the shield-bearing elite soldiers in front of this fierce general actually..."

On the second floor,

Zhao Taifeng and Gao Yunqing, who had left the private room, were also walking downstairs.

While scanning, they saw the four people gathered on the first floor.

Outside the building,

the afternoon sun was very bright,

causing Qingcao, Xiaotao, and Yunxiang to raise their hands to shade their eyes one after another.

After waiting at the entrance for a while, they all boarded the carriage, entered the inner city along the main street, and walked toward the west.

Watching the departing carriage and horses,

the playboy young masters at the entrance of the restaurant exchanged glances, and someone said: "I heard from the young master of the Tan family of the Duke of Anguo, who often comes here, that Fifth Young Master Xu has a notoriously explosive temper. If we are so rude, won't we offend him?"

A playboy on the side said: "We... this... we didn't know it was his family's maidservant! Usually, noble young masters like Liang Han and Rong Xian, who are on good terms with Fifth Young Master Xu, all have fun around Pan Tower..."

"Should we ask the young master of the Tan family to mediate?"

"Are you stupid! Fifth Young Master Xu and the young master of the Tan family have always been at odds. Mediate? I think that's looking for a beating!"

"Courtesy costs nothing; let's send someone to the Xu family to send some things later!"

"Not bad, not bad! Spend money to avoid disaster."

The sun slanted west,

just about to set behind the mountain.

Quyuan Street,

Marquis of Yongyi's mansion racecourse,

Xu Zaijing, wearing old clothes, and two pregnant horses were taking a leisurely stroll.

The horses were already familiar with Xu Zaijing and did not need bridles or reins.

Taking a corn cob out of his bosom, Xu Zaijing rubbed it gently and brought his hand to the mouth of the Long Ju.

The pregnant Long Ju habitually brought its mouth into Xu Zaijing's palm,

and after licking it several times and finding no food in its mouth, it looked at Xu Zaijing in front of it, puzzled.

Xu Zaijing rubbed the corn again and brought it to the Long Ju's mouth. After trying and still finding nothing, the Long Ju stared at Xu Zaijing with its large horse eyes.

Seeing Xu Zaijing trying to hold back his laughter, the Long Ju stepped forward and nudged Xu Zaijing several times with its horse head.

"Alright, alright, I'll give it to you, I'll give it to you!"

Being nudged, Xu Zaijing said, rubbing off a handful of corn kernels and handing them to the Long Ju's mouth.

After the Long Ju finished eating, he gave a mouthful to the imperial-gifted Li Ju as well.

When they were about to reach Uncle Yin's wooden house,

Qingyun drove a carriage from the direction of the main gate.

Soon,

Qingcao, Yunxiang, and Huaxiang got off the carriage.

"Young Master!" The three maidservants smiled and bowed.

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile and said: "Hua Qing, who returned this afternoon, said you went elsewhere early. Where did you go?"

The three maidservants smiled, and Qingcao said: "Replying to Young Master, we went to see Sister Xiaodie."

The Yunxiang sisters walked up smiling and gestured: "Young Master, Sister Xiaodie's belly is so big now, so we went to see her and brought some useful things."

"Mm, it seems they didn't teach you embroidery skills in vain."

"Hehe."

"Alright, go ahead!" Xu Zaijing waved his hand.

After Yunxiang and Huaxiang walked a few steps,

Qingcao stood beside Xu Zaijing, touched the Long Ju's head, and smiled: "Young Master, which younger sister from the Madam's courtyard came today?"

"That girl who changed her name to Yunjin."

"Oh, oh!" Qingcao nodded a few times: "Did Sister-in-law Hua Qing pack any delicacies from Huixian Restaurant for Young Master?"

"Mm, she brought them; she didn't forget your Young Master's business. She should be rewarded!"

"Thank you, Young Master!" Qingcao smiled and bowed.

Qingyun, who was on the side, dismounted and said: "Young Master, today we saw two Viscounts of the Li family outside Huixian Restaurant..."

After Qingyun finished speaking, Xu Zaijing smiled and said: "Then it seems we'll probably have to prepare congratulatory gifts."

The sun set,

and the winter sky darkened quickly.

Xu Zaijing was on holiday at home,

and as soon as it got dark, he took his maidservants to his mother's courtyard.

Xu Zaijing lifted the curtain and entered the room.

Under the bright yellow candlelight,

Qingcao, who took Xu Zaijing's cloak, walked quickly to Cuichan's side while holding the clothes. While folding the clothes for Xu Zaijing, she whispered to Cuichan: "Sister-in-law Cuichan, let me tell you..."

Yunxiang and Huaxiang, who followed, nodded repeatedly on the side, confirming the news Qingcao told.

Sun Shi sat on the Arhat bed drinking a beverage, looked at the few young maidservants whispering not far away, and gave a wink to her personal maid, Mother Dan.

Mother Dan then approached quietly and occasionally interjected a few words in a low voice.

"Jing'er."

"Jing'er?"

"Ah?" Xu Zaijing, who seemed to be daydreaming, was stunned. He turned his head to look at Sun Shi, who was calling him, and said: "Mother, what's wrong?"

"What are you thinking about? I had to call you twice before you woke up?"

"Nothing." Saying this, Xu Zaijing rubbed his ears and looked with some regret at Qingcao, who was whispering gossip not far away.

"The invitation from the Feng family of the Duke of Cheng has been sent over; they invite our family to visit tomorrow." Sun Shi said with a smile.

"Oh!"

Sun Shi rolled her eyes at him and said: "Oh what!"

"There are no festivals in this twelfth lunar month, and the Duke of Cheng's mansion has wide social connections in Bianjing. The invitation also says that many noble families in Bianjing will go, so we can take the opportunity to have a banquet and have some fun."

"Clean yourself up properly tomorrow; don't lose etiquette in front of the Madams! Also, the Duke of Ling, the Duke of Korea, the Marquis of Zhennan, and other families will go too! When you get to the Feng family, don't cause trouble for me, otherwise..."

"Yes, Mother!" Xu Zaijing stood up and bowed solemnly, appearing serious.

Xie Shi and Hualan on the side both laughed at this.

"Sit down!" Sun Shi smiled.

Afterwards, Xie Shi on the side looked at Sun Shi and said: "Mother-in-law, the one marrying into the second branch of the Marquis of Zhennan, what rank is he in the first branch of the Feng family?"

Sun Shi thought for a moment and said: "Hiss, now that you ask, let me think..."

At this time,

a young maidservant outside the door lifted the curtain and entered. After bowing, she said: "Madam, there are families from Chunmingfang outside the mansion who have sent apologies, saying they hope the Fifth Young Master will not hold a grudge against them."

"Jing'er, what did you do again?" Sun Shi looked at her youngest son who hadn't left the house all day.

Xu Zaijing, sitting in the chair, shook his head with a face full of question marks: "Mother, I... I am wronged!"

(End of chapter)