Chapter 559: Xu Zaijing, do you just ponder this all day? [Bow]

That night,

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

snowflakes fell rustlingly outside the palace.

In the palace,

under the bright yellow candlelight,

the Emperor sat in the chair behind the imperial desk, holding a brush.

He wrote a few characters of approval on a memorial, and when he reached out to the side again, he reached into empty air.

"Hmm?"

The Grand Eunuch to the side bowed and said: "Your Majesty, there are only so many memorials, there are no others."

"Hmm!"

Putting down the brush, the Emperor leaned back in the chair and moved his somewhat sore neck.

The Emperor took the drink offered by the Grand Eunuch, took a sip, and said:

"By the way, this afternoon, I heard you say that the Duke of Lian's mansion presented several large items to the palace?"

The Grand Eunuch bowed: "Replying to Your Majesty, yes!"

"Hmm! What are they for?"

The Grand Eunuch smiled and said: "Replying to Your Majesty, it is said that the Duke of Lian's mansion, entrusted by the Xu family's Fifth Young Master, cast something in the workshop. Speaking of it, it can be considered a somewhat large... iron mold."

Before the Emperor could continue to ask what it was for, the Grand Eunuch continued: "It is a mold for shaping snow lions. Sending it into the palace is also in the hope that the noble people in the palace can have some fun."

"Hmm? A mold for shaping snow lions?"

"Yes!"

As the Grand Eunuch spoke, he began to gesture beside the Emperor.

"Have you seen the finished product?"

"Replying to Your Majesty, the snow is currently too small and thin, so there has been no finished product yet."

After listening, the Emperor smiled and nodded, saying: "Tonight, let Fang'er sleep at the Empress's place."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

Matriarch's courtyard,

Xu Zaijing had just finished talking to his mother and was about to stand up to leave when a maid lifted the curtain and walked in.

After bowing to the few people in the hall, she said: "Madam, a message came from the main gate saying that our relative, the Duke of Lian's Lu family, sent a steward to deliver something."

Sun Shi stood up and said: "In this heavy snow, and it's night, what are they delivering so urgently?"

The maid glanced at Xu Zaijing and said: "Replying to Madam, it is said to be something the Fifth Young Master entrusted the Lu family to make."

Hearing this, Sun Shi turned to look at Xu Zaijing: "Jing'er?"

Xu Zaijing stood up with a smile: "Mother, you will know what it is tomorrow."

Sun Shi shook her head helplessly and said to the maid: "Seal another three taels of silver for the relative's steward, just as a token of appreciation for their hard work."

"Yes, Madam."

Xu Zaijing smiled from the side and said: "Mother, why don't I pay this token of appreciation?"

Sun Shi waved her hand: "Your mother doesn't lack these few coins."

The next day,

after a night of wind and snow,

the accumulated snow covered the entire Bianjing city in a shallow layer.

At the hour of Mao (after 6:00 AM),

the sky was still dark.

At this hour in the past,

commoners would be entering and leaving the city, vendors would be getting up early to set up stalls and shout, and the watchmen reporting the time would be active, making Bianjing quite lively inside and out.

But this morning after the snow,

all kinds of activity were much reduced, and there was quite a sense of absolute silence.

Sometimes the sound of time-telling shouts would come, but the sound seemed to have been absorbed by the fallen snow, far from being as clear and audible as on a sunny day.

Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

on one side of the outer courtyard,

in the spacious horse racing track,

the snow that had been deep enough to cover the ankles last night had now been piled into several large snow heaps.

Around these several large snow heaps were neat snow marks, which one could tell at a glance had been piled up by people using horizontally placed shields.

Judging by the distance of the snow marks and the scale of the snow heaps, it should have taken at least three strong men to push them with all their might.

But on the rows of snow marks, there were only one person's footprints.

And these rows of footprints were also gradually disappearing under the large broom Lan was using to sweep the snow.

The places where the snow was piled were all near the pond at the edge of the field, and most of the snow behind would be pushed into the frozen pond, to be used as pond water after it melted later.

At the edge of the horse racing track,

the lit lantern hanging on the eaves of the wooden house swayed in the morning wind.

"Creeeak!"

The door of the wooden house was opened.

Xu Zaijing's master, Yin Bo, wearing thick winter clothes and ear muffs, walked out, limping.

"Ha!!??"

As a result, just as he stepped out of the house, Yin Bo was startled by the thing that came into view not far from the door, which was as tall as his shoulders.

After seeing clearly that it was something piled up with snow,

Yin Bo shook his head with helplessness in his single eye: "These children, really!"

Inner courtyard,

at the entrance of Eldest Brother Zaizhang's courtyard,

on the path leading to Matriarch Sun Shi's courtyard, several lit lanterns were being carried and moved around.

"Thump"

"Thump"

Several heavy objects were carefully placed on the ground.

Qingyun stood in front of a hollow, dark object that was half a person tall after being closed, and said in a low voice.

"Young Master, hold it steady!"

"Good, then I'll tie it up."

After tying it up,

"Swish, swish! Swish, swish!"

The sound of a large bamboo broom sweeping snow rang out in the corridor.

By the light of those few lit lanterns, one could vaguely see the accumulated snow on the corridor being swept together in large patches, and in no time, it was piled into several snow heaps half a person tall.

Subsequently,

Xu Zaijing stepped into the hollow object after it was tied up, and as Qingyun poured snow inside, he stepped on it to pack it tight.

After the dark hollow object was filled halfway with packed snow, Xu Zaijing jumped out and stood to the side, beginning to use the arm shield in his hand to press the snow tight with force.

"Qingyun, give me another dustpan of white snow."

"Yes."

"Plop, plop, plop."

The sound of the snow heap being patted rang out, and in no time, the snow poured in was patted even tighter.

"Come, Qingyun, come over and cap it!"

Xu Zaijing, standing in front of the dark object, called out.

"Yes, Young Master!"

After a flurry of activity,

Xu Zaijing tightened the 'cap' with force and said: "Alright, take it apart."

The rope used to tie it tight was a slipknot,

and Xu Zaijing and the others quickly and carefully took apart the dark mold.

"Wow!"

Although they had already seen the 'finished product' once at the horse racing track,

Qingcao, Yunxiang, and Huaxiang still let out a low exclamation of surprise.

"Qingcao, the shovel."

"Young Master!" Qingcao handed over the small shovel.

While shoveling on the snow heap, Xu Zaijing added: "Yunxiang, bring the lantern over here a bit."

"Yes, Young Master."

Yunxiang, wearing a cloak, moved two steps behind Xu Zaijing.

After a flurry of activity,

"Huaxiang, you come over too."

"Yes!"

Huaxiang, who was standing beside Qingyun holding a lantern for lighting, walked over quickly.

After a long while,

Qingcao looked up at the gradually brightening sky, leaned over the top of the lantern shade, puffed out her cheeks, and took a breath:

"Hoo!"

Very frugally, she blew out the candle in the lantern.

Yunxiang and Huaxiang also blew out their candles with the same action as Qingcao.

Xu Zaijing, feeling the light dim, tilted his head to look, then smiled.

Subsequently,

the five of them were busy again just like before.

By the dim morning light, Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at the several snow sculpture 'works' that he and Qingyun had completed, and nodded with satisfaction.

Qingcao stood to the side and said with a smile: "Young Master, when the two Matriarchs and the young masters and young ladies come out and see this, I don't know how surprised and happy they will be!"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "That's exactly what I wanted!"

Qingyun, standing to the side, smiled and shook the snow off his gloves, exhaling white vapor as he said: "Young Master, looking at how thick the clouds are, it might still be an overcast day today."

Xu Zaijing looked up and nodded with a smile.

At this moment,

the courtyard gate of Zaizhang's courtyard was opened, and Hualan's personal nanny, Cuichan, curiously poked her head out.

By the brighter morning light, looking at the snow lions molded by the mold on the corridor at the entrance, Cuichan's eyes widened all of a sudden.

This 'mold' was cast by Xu Zaijing, entrusted to the Duke of Lian.

As the sworn brother of Lu Zezong, relying on the Lu family's influence in the Ministry of Works, the craftsmen found to cast this iron mold after receiving Xu Zaijing's entrustment were all master-level craftsmen.

The snow lions molded with this mold were naturally lifelike and full of power, looking very exquisite at a glance.

At Marquis Yongyi's mansion, the ones Xu Zaijing molded this morning were only shoulder-high.

And the mold sent into the palace was even larger, about one and a half people tall.

"Fifth Young Master, you... when did you get such good snow sculpture skills?" Cuichan exclaimed in surprise.

Hearing this, Qingcao and the other two maids, who were standing beside Xu Zaijing with cheeks frozen red, had their eyes curved into smiles.

Behind Cuichan, the old woman on night duty rubbed her sore eyes and said:

"Heavens! This is too beautiful! This slave has lived for so many years and has never seen such beautiful snow lions!"

Cuichan nodded and smiled: "I'll go tell..." As she said this, she was about to turn and walk away.

"Hey! Cuichan!" Xu Zaijing called out.

"Ah? Fifth Young Master, what's wrong?" Cuichan stopped and asked suspiciously.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "If you tell your elder brother and sister-in-law and the others, the surprise will be halved. It's better to wait for them to get up and see for themselves!"

Cuichan's eyes turned, and she seemed to imagine the surprised expressions of Hualan and Zaizhang when they saw the snow sculptures. A smile appeared on her face, and she bowed: "Yes, Fifth Young Master! This slave will listen to you."

Xu Zaijing nodded and reiterated: "Hmm, then it's agreed, you are not allowed to tell them in advance."

Cuichan smiled and retreated behind the door, nodding: "Yes, Fifth Young Master, this slave won't say anything."

"Close the door!"

Xu Zaijing waved his hand.

After saying this,

Xu Zaijing glanced at the 'works' at the entrance of his mother Sun Shi's courtyard, patted the snow off his gloves, looked at Qingyun, Qingcao, and the others, and said: "Let's go, let's go back and change clothes to warm up."

Xu family Matriarch's courtyard, main room,

in the bedroom,

Marquis Yongyi Xu Minghua had already gotten up early to attend the morning court,

and with the overcast sky, the light in the bedroom was not bright, but there was no need to light candles.

After taking a nap and washing her face to wake up, Sun Shi sat on the embroidery stool in front of the dressing table.

Sun Shi looked up at Cui Cui Mama Zhu, who was helping her tie her hair with a smile, and said with a smile: "Little Zhu, what's wrong with you today? You seem to be in such a good mood?" As she said this, Sun Shi smoothed her temples in the bronze mirror.

Cui Cui Mama Zhu shook her head with a smile: "Madam, it's nothing."

Sun Shi looked at Cui Cui Mama Zhu suspiciously, smiled, and didn't continue to ask.

Xu family Eldest Brother's courtyard,

Xu Zaijing's sister-in-law Xie Shi had already finished washing and dressing and stood up from in front of the mirror.

"Madam, this slave will have someone open the courtyard gate," said the steward nanny who had come with the Xie family.

"Hmm."

The steward nanny went to give the order.

Xie Shi, after nodding, walked to the side of the bed and looked with a smile at Xu Xingdai, who was curled up in the quilt: "Dai'er, get up."

Xu Xingdai, who was awakened, curled up further into the quilt and said groggily: "Mother... child wants to sleep a while longer."

The young lady Xu Qingyi also woke up, looked at Xie Shi to the side, and called out softly: "Mother."

Xie Shi smiled and was about to speak,

"Oh my~" outside the house, the exclamation of an old woman came.

Xu Xingdai, curled up in the quilt, and his younger sister blinked suspiciously.

"Dai'er, your little uncle has already finished practicing martial arts! Didn't you say before that you wanted to be as powerful as your little uncle?"

After Xie Shi finished speaking,

Xu Xingdai looked at his younger sister, who was looking at him, nodded, and sat up from the quilt.

After a while,

Xie Shi's personal nanny also lifted the cotton curtain and walked in.

"What happened outside?" Xie Shi asked.

"Replying to Madam... there are several more exquisite snow lions outside the courtyard."

"Hmm? Exquisite snow lions?"

"Yes."

Bianjing had a custom of molding snow lions after snow.

And the steward nanny beside Xie Shi had also stayed in Bianjing for a long time and could be considered knowledgeable. If she could say the word "exquisite," the snow sculptures at the entrance must not be too bad.

"Who piled up the snow lions?"

"This, this slave doesn't know."

Xie Shi nodded and said: "Watch Dai Ge'er get dressed, I'll go take a look."

"Yes, Madam."

Subsequently, Xie Shi put on her cloak and went out of the main room, exhaling white vapor, walked along the path swept clean by the old woman to the entrance, and when she went out to look, her eyes were full of surprise.

After a while,

Xie Shi returned to the main room,

and Xu Xingdai, who was wearing quite a few clothes on the bed, asked curiously: "Mother, are they really as exquisite and beautiful as the nanny said?"

Xie Shi nodded with a smile: "They are too beautiful, I don't know what powerful snow lion molding master the family invited."

Hearing this,

Xu Xingdai accelerated getting dressed himself and said: "Since Mother and Cui Cui Mama say so, I'll go take a look."

Zaizhang's courtyard,

Zaizhang, wearing a cloak, walked out of the courtyard with a smile, holding his son Xu Xingzhong,

listening to Hualan and Cuichan talking beside him as he walked.

"Cuichan, it's okay, I asked you, you didn't say it voluntarily, so it doesn't count as breaking your word."

Cuichan nodded with some gloom and said: "Madam, I don't think I was laughing much, how did you know something was going on outside the courtyard?"

Hualan smiled: "Because before dawn this morning, I heard the sound of sweeping snow on the corridor outside the courtyard."

"Oh!"

As they were talking,

Zaizhang and the others walked out of the courtyard together.

"Whoa!"

Looking at the snow sculptures that came into view, Zaizhang walked quickly a few steps and looked at them closely.

Hualan, beside Zaizhang, also widened her eyes in amazement, tilted her head to look at Cuichan, and said: "Husband, when did Little Five get such good snow sculpture skills?"

Zaizhang touched the snow lion and said uncertainly: "Maybe he learned it from Yin Bo..."

Hearing this,

Cuichan pursed her lips and smiled.

"Wow! Little Uncle is so amazing!!!"

Not far away,

Xu Xingdai, who had just come out, exclaimed in admiration.

While shouting, Xu Xingdai happily finished looking at one and then ran to look at another.

Subsequently,

Zaizhang and his wife and Xie Shi walked toward Sun Shi's courtyard together.

Looking at the exquisite and identically shaped snow lions along the way,

Hualan, holding Xu Xingdai's little hand, said to Xie Shi: "Sister-in-law, I see these snow lions, they don't look like they were carved..."

Xie Shi nodded with a smile: "Right, it looks like they were pressed out using some kind of mold."

Just as they arrived at the entrance of Sun Shi's courtyard,

before they even went in,

they saw Sun Shi standing in front of a snow lion in the courtyard, saying: "Jing'er, how old are you, and you're still pondering these things all day."

Xu Zaijing stood with his hands on his hips, looking proudly at his work, and said: "Mother, just tell me if they look good or not!"

Hearing the conversation,

Zaizhang and Hualan, the sisters-in-law at the entrance, laughed one after another.

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

Imperial Prince Zhao Fang slept at the Empress's place yesterday.

Early in the morning,

while having breakfast with his father, mother, and younger sister,

the Grand Eunuch beside the Emperor walked in with a smile and whispered a few words to the Emperor.

The Empress, sitting to the side, looked curiously at the smiling Emperor and said: "Your Majesty, what is this today?"

The Emperor smiled and said: "Nothing, after we finish eating, I will let you see a wonder."

After finishing breakfast,

the Emperor dressed neatly, took the Empress and his children, and walked out of the palace.

Looking at the nine huge and exquisite snow lions on the flat ground in front of the palace, the Emperor, seeing them for the first time, also had a look of surprise on his face.

"Wow, Father! How spectacular! How did there come to be so many snow lions in one night? And the carving is so lifelike!" Zhao Fang asked in surprise.

The Empress also cast a questioning look at the Emperor.

The Emperor exhaled white vapor, stroked his beard proudly, and said: "Fang'er, you have to think about this yourself."

Zhao Fang nodded and began to observe.

After a while, listening to Zhao Fang's guesses, the Emperor nodded with a smile: "Not bad, Fang'er thought correctly! These things were made using the mold that the Xu family's Fifth Young Master entrusted the Lu family to present to the palace."

Zhao Fang, who was already smiling, had an even brighter smile on his face.

The Empress nodded with a smile: "This child is thoughtful. Your Majesty, why not call Watching Watching Rong Fei over to take a look together."

Zhao Fang nodded repeatedly with a smile.

"Cough!"

The Emperor's smile stalled, and he said: "The Empress is thoughtful, but Watching Watching Rong Fei... there... has some."

The Empress nodded with a smile. Zhao Fang glanced at his mother's expression, then shook his head gently at the Emperor who was looking at him, with the meaning of "Father, your situation is not good."

Nanjiangtang Lane,

Rong family,

Huixue Courtyard,

in the hall,

on the table were spices that the master had not yet finished blending.

Not far in front of the table, Rong Feiyan stood with her arms outstretched, and in front of her fair, slender fingers, the five nails were clean, pink, and jade-like.

Under Seeing Xi Bu's service, her fair palms passed through the sleeves of her dark brocade cloak.

Reaching out to take the hand warmer handed over by Ningxiang, Rong Feiyan asked suspiciously: "Seeing Xi Bu, didn't my brother just make a snow lion? Why must he have me go out to see it?"

Seeing Xi Bu stood in front of Rong Feiyan, lowered her head to help Rong Feiyan tie the flower-shaped jade buckle on her cloak, and said: "Da Niangzi, you will know once you go out and see."

Ningxiang, to the side, turned around, took the earrings, walked over, nodded with a smile, and said: "Yes, Da Niangzi! I heard that the Young Master was very busy with the servants after he finished his shift!"

Rong Feiyan listened to her personal maid's words, tilted her head to avoid Ningxiang's hand, and said: "Don't wear these at home."

"Yes."

Seeing Xi Bu raised her head in front of Rong Feiyan,

looking at her own young lady, whose eyebrows were like ink paintings and skin like congealed fat, set off by the dark cloak in front of her. Although she was used to seeing it, Seeing Xi Bu was still slightly stunned.

Seeing Xi Bu smiled, lowered her head to help Rong Feiyan smooth her cloak, and said: "Da Niangzi, the Young Master also said that the tool he used to make the snow lion was borrowed from the Lu family! And this thing was entrusted by the Xu family's Fifth Young Master to be cast."

"Hmm? It was entrusted by Xu Fifth Young Master?" Rong Feiyan asked in surprise.

"Yes! The Young Master also said that there are huge snow lions in the palace! And today, besides the Xu family and the Lu family, our family is the only one that has such beautiful snow lions!"

Rong Feiyan blinked her eyes and said with great curiosity: "Let's go, let's go take a look quickly."

After walking a few steps,

Rong Feiyan stopped at the door again,

looked at the suspicious personal maid behind her, and hesitated: "Should we bring the things we used to decorate the snow lions in previous years?"

Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang looked at each other. Before they could say anything, Rong Feiyan sighed and said: "Forget it, let's go take a look first! If sister-in-law also brings those things to decorate the snow lions, that wouldn't be good."

Passing through doors and corridors,

they arrived in front of the main hall of the Rong family's backyard.

At this time, the Duke and Duchess of Hou Fu Chang and Rong Xian and his wife were all there.

Rong Feiyan looked at the snow lion in front of the hall that was slightly shorter than a person, and a flash of surprise passed through her eyes.

After bowing and greeting her parents and brother and sister-in-law, Rong Feiyan looked at the snow lion that was being decorated with colored ropes and copper bells by Rong Xian, and said softly: "Brother, such a beautiful snow lion is what should be decorated with colored ropes and copper bells."

Looking at Dou Shi's suspicious look to the side, Rong Feiyan said with a smile at the corner of her mouth: "Sister-in-law, you don't know, brother also molded a snow lion before..."

Ignoring Rong Xian's frowning glare, Rong Feiyan continued: "As a result, after Mother returned home, she looked at the snow lion in the courtyard and said to brother, 'Xian'er, everyone else has lions, why did you mold a donkey?'"

Upon hearing this,

Dou Shi covered her mouth and laughed.

Rong Xian, not far away, waved his hand: "Sister, stop talking nonsense! What Mother said back then was clearly 'why did you mold a dog'!"

Dou Shi said in a soft voice: "Husband, there's no difference between a donkey and a dog, right!"

Rong Xian shook his head: "My lady, you are wrong! A dog and a lion are still somewhat similar, what does a donkey count as!"

Everyone in the courtyard laughed again.

As he spoke, Rong Xian walked to Rong Feiyan's side and said with great emotion: "Ah, the object that Fifth Young Master brought out has saved my life! Tsk! Look how neat and beautiful this snow lion is!"

Rong Feiyan, who had been standing for a while, had her fair cheeks slightly flushed from the cold. After thinking for a while, she said: "Brother, I..."

"You want to pile one up in your courtyard too, right? A small matter!" Rong Xian waved his hand and continued: "Didn't your sister-in-law say just now that you are going to the Duke of Ying's mansion today? When you come back, this snow lion will definitely be piled up for you."

"Thank you, brother!" Rong Feiyan bowed with a smile.

At this moment,

a Rong family maid walked in from the entrance and bowed:

"Marquis, outside the door is a steward from the Zhu family of the Earl of Chengping, saying that Earl Zhu went to the Duke of Lian's mansion for a banquet and took a fancy to the snow lion molded by the Lu family."

"Knowing that the object is at our house, Earl Zhu specially sent someone to wait, and he also wants to mold one at the Zhu house later."

The Zhu family of the Earl of Chengping had their residence in Guangfu Lane, not far from Huihe Lane. The eldest son by a concubine worked in the Ministry of Works and married the eldest daughter of the Cheng family, the maternal grandfather of Chai Zhengzheng. Xu Zaijing had also attended the wedding banquet with Zaizhang.

The Duke of Hou Fu Chang nodded and said: "Alright, I know, please ask the Zhu family steward to wait and drink a few bowls of hot tea."

"Yes!"

Seeing someone waiting, the Rong family's strong women hurriedly moved the object to Huixue Courtyard and molded a snow lion.

The sky was still overcast,

and the view was gray and hazy, unable to see very far.

East of the Imperial City,

the roofs of the houses inside and outside the courtyards of various families were also covered with a layer of white snow.

Not far from the moat,

in front of the Chai family's main gate,

like other families nearby, the snow at the entrance had been swept very clean by the gatekeeper steward and servants.

What was different from other families was that besides the stone lions on both sides of the entrance, there were also several snow lions with exquisite shapes, decorated with colored ropes and copper bells.

Passersby at the Chai family entrance,

whether walking, sitting in a sedan chair, or riding in a carriage or on horseback,

whether they saw it themselves or were reminded by others, everyone who saw the 'scenery' at the Chai family entrance couldn't help but look sideways a few more times.

Regardless of whether they had a friendship or not,

passersby would either stop, stop their sedan chairs, or stop their carriages and horses.

From time to time, servants and stewards would go up to ask the Chai family gatekeeper, who was dressed decently and wearing ear muffs, asking which master in Bianjing carved these snow lions.

After this snowy day, many noble families in the area were going to entertain relatives and friends, and having such a snow lion could add a lot of interest.

The Chai family gatekeeper would naturally answer with a smile.

Inside the Chai family courtyard,

except for places like roofs and flower beds that were difficult to clean, the snow elsewhere had mostly been swept clean.

In the front and back courtyards, one could see a snow lion, large or small, from time to time.

Backyard,

the snow lion in the courtyard of Chai Jin and Chai Bo had been draped with leather armor with golden patterns that they used when practicing martial arts. At a glance, it quite had the meaning of a "war lion."

And Chai Zhengzheng's Qiusheng Garden,

the snow lion in the courtyard had colored ropes and copper bells draped around its neck, and one foot was stepping on a red embroidered ball, looking much more normal.

The place where the snow lion stepped on the embroidered ball was a space reserved by the mold, and it was stepping on a real embroidered ball.

Inside the outer room,

the maid Zhiteng was busy directing the little maids to put the gifts and clothes to be taken to the Zhang family today into boxes and baskets.

In front of the dressing table in the inner room,

Miss Yun Mu stood in front of Chai Zhengzheng, carefully applying glue to Chai Zhengzheng's brow.

After carefully sticking on a flower-shaped forehead ornament, Fuyi, to the side, took a look and nodded: "Da Niangzi, you look really beautiful with this forehead ornament!"

Chai Zhengzheng, looking in the mirror, smiled, and Miss Yun Mu smiled: "Only you, this girl, know how to say nice things."

Fuyi covered her mouth and smiled.

Chai Zhengzheng withdrew her gaze from the mirror, looked toward the outside of the house, and said: "I didn't expect that Eldest Brother's engagement with the Lu family sister would have such benefits!"

Miss Yun Mu nodded with a smile and said: "Da Niangzi, the Lu family is thinking of our family! They sent the objects over early this morning after the snow."

Chai Zhengzheng stood up, letting Fuyi measure her clothes, and said: "I wonder if the Zhang family has these objects for molding snow lions."

Miss Yun Mu thought for a while and said: "Isn't it said that only the palace, the Lu family, and the Xu family have them? I think the Zhang family shouldn't have them! Da Niangzi, how did you think the Xu family young master thought of making such an object?"

Hearing this,

Chai Zhengzheng's expression became visibly very happy and pleasant, and her tone was slightly proud as she said:

"The snow clips that you all loved so much when you were playing snowball fights in the winter before, Sister Tingyi said they were made by him. This one today is just a bit bigger and has a different pattern."

"By the way, since the Zhang family might not have them, let's take a set of molds over."

The two personal maids in the room nodded with a smile.

Suddenly,

Miss Yun Mu was startled and said: "Da Niangzi, the Xu family young master is also going to the Zhang family today, will he also bring a mold?"

Chai Zhengzheng was also startled, hesitated for a moment, and said: "Take it, it's just one more carriage."

At the hour of Si (after 9:00 AM),

Xingguo Lane,

Marquis Ningyuan's mansion,

at the entrance of the inner courtyard main hall,

Bai Shi was holding Yan Jie'er with a smile, Pingmei was holding Bai Shi's arm with a smile, and Gu Tingyi was holding his nephew's hand, holding Bai Shi's other arm.

The group looked together at Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and their respective servants who were busy in the courtyard.

After Xu Zaijing pressed the top mold tight with force, he looked at his nephew/niece not far away and smiled: "Shi Ge'er, Yan Jie'er, watch closely!"

In no time,

Gu Shixing let go of Gu Tingyi's hand, ran quickly to Xu Zaijing, ignored the cold snow stains on Xu Zaijing, hugged Xu Zaijing's leg, and shouted: "Little Uncle, you are really amazing!"

Xu Zaijing smiled and picked up his nephew: "That goes without saying!"

"I like Little Uncle the most!"

"Hmm, my nephew is indeed smart."

"Hehe..."

Bai Shi and Pingmei to the side looked helplessly at the uncle and nephew who were flattering each other.

"Little Uncle, how many snow lions does Xu Xingdai have?" Gu Shixing continued to ask.

Xu Zaijing thought for a while: "Five!"

Gu Shixing widened his eyes: "Ah? So many? I only have one..."

As they were talking,

Xu Zaijing turned to look at Gu Tingye and said: "Er Lang, I see the snow lion you piled, why don't you tear it down and redo it for your nephew..."

Gu Tingye looked at the snow heap not far away that looked like nothing and nodded.

Half an hour later,

Xu Zaijing, who was going to attend a banquet at the Duke of Ying's mansion and stopped by the Gu family to see Pingmei, changed his clothes and boots in Gu Tingye's courtyard.

Subsequently,

the two of them and Zheng Xiao walked toward the Duke of Ying's Zhang family.

After entering the main gate,

they saw Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi standing beside the Duchess of Ying, waiting at the second gate with several younger members of the Zhang family.

When she saw Zheng Xiao beside Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye,

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi stood on tiptoe happily and waved at the three of them.

Walking to the second gate,

the three of them bowed and cupped their hands in greeting.

The Duchess of Ying looked at the three with a full smile and said: "Come, children, enter the courtyard."

As she spoke, she led the group through the second gate and walked toward the inner courtyard.

After walking a few steps,

a "snow lion" appeared in front of the group in the inner courtyard.

Looking at the appearance of the snow lion,

after holding it in for a while, "Pfft~" Gu Tingye couldn't help but laugh.

Xu Zaijing had also been clenching his teeth just now, not letting himself laugh. Hearing Gu Tingye's laughter, he pressed his lips together firmly.

The Duchess of Ying, walking in front, looked back.

Xu Zaijing hurriedly lowered his head and cupped his hands, holding back his laughter: "Madam... forgive me."

The Duchess of Ying glanced at the "snow lion," looked at Zheng Xiao with helplessness in her eyes, and said: "Xiao Ge'er, what do you think?"

Zheng Xiao pursed his lips and took a deep breath: "Madam, everything else is fine, it's just that the lion's head is a bit sloppy."

"Pfft~"

Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing, who looked up again, couldn't help but laugh and hurriedly cupped their hands to apologize again.

Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi looked at Xu Zaijing and the others, especially Zheng Xiao, then tilted her head to look at her own "work," lowered her head with embarrassment on her face, and waved her hand at her personal maid.

Therefore,

later, when the young ladies of the Chai, Gu, Rong, Yu, and other families came to the Zhang family, they could no longer see Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi's "outstanding work."

And when Chai Zhengzheng entered the Zhang family, looking all the way, the Zhang family didn't have any unique snow lions. Knowing that Xu Zaijing hadn't brought anything, a look of joy appeared on her face. Then she began to talk to her friends about the "sharp weapon for molding snow lions" she had brought.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 560 =====