Chapter 562: The note in the purse [Thanks! Bow again! Owed 40K]

Inside the house,

beside the banquet,

seeing Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye enter, Zheng Xiao stood up to greet them.

Glancing at Gu Tingye and then at Xu Zaijing, Zheng Xiao looked at Xu Zaijing's hair suspiciously and reached out:

"Jing Ge'er, how come you have these snowflakes on your head after just changing clothes?"

Xu Zaijing reached up and brushed his hair, saying: "Why, are there still some?"

Gu Tingye leaned over to look and nodded with a smile.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing tilted his head slightly, letting Zheng Xiao pat his hair, and looking at the snowflakes that were about to melt as they fell, he smiled helplessly.

"Did you two have a snowball fight?" Looking at Zheng Xiao's suspicious look, Gu Tingye shook his head and said: "No! It's just that Fifth Young Master and I passed the garden entrance just now and met a few young ladies who were enjoying the snow in the garden."

"Speaking of which, they are all noble young ladies, but they were all acting like crazy girls throwing snowballs at us. If it weren't for Fifth Young Master stopping me..."

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "Ye Ge'er, even if I didn't stop you, what could you have done? They and their maids all had snow clips, what did we have?"

Gu Tingye pondered for a moment and nodded: "Fifth Young Master is right."

The three of them sat down again.

Lu Zezong, sitting at the table, exchanged a few low words with his little friends and said: "Sworn Brother, Shou Ge'er said they also have snow clips in their room, if the two brothers need..."

Xu Zaijing smiled and touched Lu Zezong's little head: "No need!"

Looking at the expressions of the three Zhang family juniors, Gu Tingye said: "Why do you three look a bit disappointed?"

Zheng Xiao, sitting to the side, tilted his head and waved at the maid standing to the side to signal for the main course, turned his head and smiled: "Fifth Young Lady and Shou Ge'er and the others play around, relying on being older, they have always been ruthless in snowball fights, so they have suffered quite a bit."

Xu Zaijing and the other three, looking at the laughing group, had some embarrassment on their faces and lowered their heads.

"Young Master."

Qingcao took a bowl of dumplings from the Zhang family maid and placed it in front of Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing ate a few with a spoon and said: "Shou Ge'er, you all are also blessed without knowing it!"

The three Zhang family juniors looked at each other, and the oldest, Shou Ge'er, nodded and said: "Xu Xu Wu Ge is right, I and others were born in the Duke's mansion..."

Xu Zaijing hurriedly waved his hand with a smile: "Eh! That's not what I meant!"

Looking at the suspicious group at the table, Xu Zaijing looked at the Zhang family juniors and continued: "I mean, there are people who think about it day and night... thinking about being bullied by your little aunt like you all."

"Pfft."

Gu Tingye, holding a dumpling, pursed his lips and laughed.

Lu Zezong, Zhang Shou, and the other little ones were startled, then looked at Zheng Xiao, who was nodding repeatedly.

Zheng Xiao looked at Xu Zaijing helplessly. Before he could speak, Xu Zaijing added: "Eh! Second Brother Zheng, I didn't name any names!"

"You kid, just eat your dumplings!"

"Yes!"

In the afternoon,

after everyone was full of wine and food, they said goodbye to the Duke and Duchess of Ying and left.

The noble young ladies who came to visit the Zhang family also said goodbye one after another.

At this time,

the snow that had stopped was falling again.

When leaving the Zhang family, Lu Zezong didn't take the carriage but crawled into Xu Zaijing's cloak and rode the dragon horse with his sworn brother.

Because the homes of Zheng Xiao and Gu Tingye's siblings were nearby,

the routes home for the Lu, Chai, and Rong families were all first north and then east, which was very convenient.

So besides the Lu family, there were also the Chai and Rong family carriages beside Xu Zaijing.

After Xu Zaijing and the group of carriages left Xingguo Lane in the light snow,

in a carriage,

the Lu family's Second Young Lady lifted the carriage curtain, looked at Xu Zaijing, who was riding a horse in the snow, and said: "Xu Xu Wu Ge, let Zong Ge'er get into the carriage."

Inside the cloak Xu Zaijing was wearing, Lu Zezong only opened a gap to look out and said: "Sister, I'll ride for a while longer!"

"Zong Ge'er, what did you say at the Zhang family gate?"

"Sister, just ride for a while longer, I'll get in the carriage after passing the Imperial Street!"

The carriage was quiet for a while, and the Lu family's Second Young Lady said: "Alright! Don't break your word again!"

"Thank you, sister."

The Lu family's Second Young Lady smiled at Xu Zaijing, nodded in greeting, and lowered the carriage curtain.

After a while,

Xu Zaijing rode his horse past the wide Imperial Street running north and south.

Looking north from the roadside,

one could see the Xuande Gate in the hazy snow in the distance, the palace walls had turned black,

and one could also see the flags inserted on the palace walls fluttering in the north wind.

The top of the tall city gate tower had turned white, and even the beasts on the eaves were mostly covered by the accumulated snow.

Wind, snow, and the Imperial City always had a different kind of charm.

Lu Zezong had already gotten into the carriage.

After lifting the carriage curtain, he waved at Xu Zaijing and said: "Sworn Brother, I'm leaving first."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Come to the house early before the New Year."

"Yes!"

The Lu family carriage drove past

The wheels pressed into the accumulated snow, and the usual rumbling sound was much quieter.

Xu Zaijing remained mounted by the side of the road.

The Chai family carriage that was passing by came to a stop.

Chai Zhengzheng, with a floral forehead ornament pasted between her brows, lifted the carriage curtain. Looking at Xu Zaijing, who still sat with his back straight in the wind and snow, she smiled apologetically and said, "Xu Wu Ge Xu, I didn't mean to throw that snowball."

"Hmph."

From inside the Chai family carriage, the sound of Chai Zhengzheng's personal maid stifling a laugh drifted out.

Xu Zaijing, wearing a fur hat, smiled and nodded, saying, "Mm! Miss Zhengzheng, your strength is quite something... those two snowballs."

Upon hearing this,

Chai Zhengzheng was taken aback. She looked at Xu Zaijing with great embarrassment, lowered her head, and said, "Next time, I..."

"You still want a next time?"

Xu Zaijing laughed.

"Mm!" Chai Zhengzheng nodded, but as her thoughts shifted, she hurriedly shook her head: "No, I mean..."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's bright eyes filled with a smile, Chai Zhengzheng felt a panic in her heart and said, "I didn't mean anything else."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "Understood."

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng nodded, looked at Xu Zaijing, and said, "Then, Xu Wu Ge Xu, I shall take my leave first."

"Very well."

Chai Zhengzheng took one more look at Xu Zaijing as he spoke, smiled at Qingcao, who was lifting the curtain of the Xu family carriage nearby, and then let down the carriage window curtain in her hand.

The carriage moved a few steps,

and the snowy weather made the carriage interior somewhat dim.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the three personal maids in the carriage and said, "When I threw the snowball at the Duke of Ying's mansion, did I use a lot of force?"

The three maids nodded in unison. Miss Yun Mu said, "Miss, looking at the way the snowball shattered on the Xu family young master's head, you certainly didn't hold back."

Chai Zhengzheng nodded, patted her leg with a hint of frustration, and said, "It's all Tingyi sister's fault! She was the one who started it."

The three maids in the carriage smiled and exchanged glances, but did not reply.

Following behind the Chai family carriage,

the Rong family carriage also stopped in front of Xu Zaijing.

The maid Miss Yun Mu lifted the carriage window curtain, smiled at Xu Zaijing, and then Rong Feiyan's fair and delicate face appeared at the window.

It was snowing at this time,

the Chai family carriage had already moved a few steps away,

there were no other carriages traveling in the same direction behind the Rong family,

and there was hardly anyone else beside the Imperial Street.

In such an environment, ignoring the personal maids of the two, there was actually a sense of tranquility.

Whether it was because of this environment, or the fruit wine she had drunk at the Duke of Ying's mansion that gave her courage,

Rong Feiyan sat in the carriage, staring straight at Xu Zaijing in the wind and snow without saying a word.

The two looked at each other for a moment.

The maid Seeing Xi Bu frowned as she watched her mistress's behavior, feeling anxious, and wanted to lower the carriage curtain.

At this moment,

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Feiyan and smiled: "Miss Feiyan, you aren't also here to apologize for throwing a snowball, are you?"

Upon hearing this,

Seeing Xi Bu did not lower the curtain.

A hint of shyness appeared in Rong Feiyan's eyes, and her entire demeanor changed slightly, as if she had become a bit more sober. She looked at Xu Zaijing outside the carriage, shook her head, and said, "You should stop riding your horse; be careful not to catch a cold."

Xu Zaijing shook his clothes and said, "It's fine, this cloak of mine is excellent; I don't fear the wind and snow."

Rong Feiyan suppressed her shyness, lowered her eyes, nodded gently, and said, "That's true, this cloak was bestowed by the Empress; naturally, it is very good."

The air grew slightly quiet, and Xu Zaijing said, "Is your sister-in-law, Madam Dou, doing well?"

"Mm, she is! That apparatus for molding snow lions was quite ingenious; it was excellent!"

"Many thanks for the praise, Miss Feiyan."

After speaking, Rong Feiyan pursed her lips and said, "I wish you a safe journey, Xu Wu Ge Xu."

Xu Zaijing looked at the direction of the wine flags fluttering in the wind in front of the restaurant not far away and smiled: "I'll take your kind words, Miss Feiyan; it looks like today will certainly be a smooth journey."

Hearing this reply, which was different from usual, Rong Feiyan was startled.

She looked up at Xu Zaijing in surprise. After seeing the direction the wine flags were fluttering beside him, Rong Feiyan pursed her lips, smiled, nodded, and said goodbye.

The maid Seeing Xi Bu lowered the curtain with lingering fear and whispered urgently, "Miss, what just happened to you?"

Rong Feiyan, sitting in the center, took a few deep breaths, shook her head, and said, "It's nothing!"

Seeing Xi Bu looked at the blush on Rong Feiyan's fair cheeks and exchanged a helpless glance with Ningxiang beside her.

Seeing the maids' expressions,

Rong Feiyan only then felt that her earlobes and cheeks were burning.

Immediately, she cupped her face with both hands, feeling the heat, and said, "Just now, just now when I was talking to him..."

Seeing Xi Bu smiled and shook her head: "Don't worry, Miss, you only started blushing after you lowered the curtain."

Rong Feiyan breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good, that's good."

A moment later,

Rong Feiyan, recalling the conversation, said, "Oh my! What kind of nonsense was I spouting just now!"

Ningxiang smiled and said, "Miss, it's too late to say that now."

Rong Feiyan frowned, covered her face with her hands in shame and annoyance, and said, "I will never go to any gathering where he is present again; it's just too embarrassing!"

"Yes, Miss!" Seeing Xi Bu replied with a smile.

On the way back to Quyuanjie,

"Young Master!"

Qingyun's voice came from behind.

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look.

Seeing Qingyun riding a horse behind him, wearing a bamboo hat and a coir raincoat, he said, "Didn't you go to Yichun Lane to pick up the peach wood charms and New Year pictures? Why are you coming from the direction of Xingguo Lane?"

"Whoa~"

Qingyun slowed his horse beside Xu Zaijing, walked in front of him, and turned back to say, "Young Master, I was worried about you, so I hurried over."

As the horse caught up, Xu Zaijing finally saw Qingyun on horseback; his figure under the coir raincoat looked somewhat bulky.

"Qingyun, are you wearing armor? What's going on?"

Qingyun nodded, vigilantly looking around, and said, "Young Master, after I returned to the Marquis's mansion from Yichun Lane, while I was tidying up the peach wood charms and other things, I found this."

As he spoke,

Qingyun handed over a pouch.

Xu Zaijing reached out from under his cloak, took it, and pulled a note from the pouch.

Looking at the four words "Caution is paramount" written in elegant handwriting on the note, Xu Zaijing narrowed his eyes slightly and put the note back into the pouch.

"Where did you get this pouch?"

Xu Zaijing asked, looking at the embroidery on the pouch.

Qingyun shook his head: "I'm not sure."

"Have you told the Imperial City Guard?"

"Young Master, I have, but I only said that someone had given a warning; I didn't give the pouch to the Imperial City Guard soldiers. I also told my uncle, and he just told me to come find you."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

That evening,

at the Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

in the wooden house beside the horse racing track,

the lanterns under the eaves swayed gently, making the snow lion beside the wooden house flicker in and out of the light.

Inside the wooden house,

the stove was burning fiercely,

and on the table under the candlelight beside the stove, there was no wine or food.

Zhao Meifeng gently placed the note on the table, looked at Xu Zaijing beside him, and said, "Jingge, this is what I thought of after seeing this object."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Brother Zhao, according to what you say, the identity of the person who warned me..."

Zhao Meifeng waved his hand: "Jingge, Qingyun was the one who found the pouch! Whether it was really a warning for you is still open to question."

Xu Zaijing was startled and said, "Brother Zhao, are you saying that someone might have been warning Qingyun?"

Qingyun looked at Zhao Meifeng in confusion: "For me?"

Zhao Taifeng nodded.

Xu Zaijing looked at the note thoughtfully, then looked at Qingyun beside him, and lowered his head.

"Jingge, well, can you think of anything?"

Zhao Meifeng asked.

Xu Zaijing did not look up at Zhao Meifeng, stared at the note, and shook his head: "Let me think."

Zhao Meifeng looked at Qingyun: "Qingyun, before you entered the Marquis's mansion, did you have any close acquaintances?"

"If we follow this line, we might be able to find something out."

Qingyun frowned and looked at Xu Zaijing without speaking.

Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing, who was bowing his head and not looking at him, and Qingyun, who was silent, and said, "Jingge, why, is there some hidden reason?"

Xu Zaijing then looked up at Zhao Meifeng and said, "Mm, if I think about it from Qingyun's perspective, I have mostly guessed some things, but..."

"Brother Zhao, wait a moment."

After speaking, Xu Zaijing stood up, opened the door, and walked out.

On the way from the wooden house to the stables, the accumulated snow had already been swept to the side.

Xu Zaijing followed the path into the cold stables.

Under the lantern light, looking at Alan and Xunshu, who were feeding the horses high-quality feed, Xu Zaijing waved his hand and said:

"Alan, Xunshu, you two go out for a moment."

"Yes, Young Master!"

The two put down their things, bowed with their hands on their chests, and left the stables.

Xu Zaijing took a deep breath and walked toward one of the stalls in the stable.

Inside the stall,

Xu Zaijing's master, Uncle Yin, was gently stroking the belly of the Li horse. Hearing the sound of footsteps, he turned his head to look at Xu Zaijing, who had appeared at the wooden railing of the stall.

Uncle Yin sighed with a look of deep sorrow in his single eye.

(End of Chapter)