Chapter 584: Don't leave if you have the guts

Hearing Chai Zhengzheng's voice, Rong Feiyan, whose eyes didn't know where to rest, took the opportunity to look at Xu Zaijing.

In the Xuande Gate tower, many imperial candles were lit, and the bright candlelight illuminated Xu Zaijing's handsome, jade-like face very clearly.

That year before, which was the year the envoys from Northern Liao and Bai Gao presented the "Praise of the Young Brave" to the Great Zhou Emperor, and Xu Zaijing taught the youths of the two countries a lesson.

Rong Feiyan and Xu Zaijing were not familiar.

After all, Bianjing was the capital of Great Zhou under the Emperor's feet, and there were more than a hundred noble young masters who could enter the palace to pay New Year greetings among the noble families and wealthy clans in the city; Rong Feiyan wouldn't know them all.

Ever since Rong Feiyan became sensible, her sister had already been a favored concubine; by the time Rong Feiyan started following her mother to attend various banquets of high-ranking families in the capital and enter the palace for New Year greetings, she had learned more or less from others that she was very beautiful.

At banquets and gatherings, many peers who saw her, whether male or female, would involuntarily look at her a few more times.

But to say Rong Feiyan had no impression of Xu Zaijing before that year would also be wrong.

Because after entering the palace for New Year greetings that year, Rong Feiyan had asked her mother and brother sideways what kind of person Xu Zaijing was.

That year, the scandal of the Yuan family of the Zhongqin Earl's Mansion spread all over Bianjing, and the Rong family's Daniangzi and brother Rong Xian were busy inquiring about the Yuan family's gossip.

Brother Rong Xian answered Rong Feiyan's sideways inquiry very casually:

"That kid Jingge? Sister, have you forgotten? When you were little, we entered the palace to celebrate the Emperor's birthday, wasn't there a child riding a horse and shooting arrows? That's him!"

"Not to mention how amazing this kid is; when he wasn't even big, he could perform horse archery for the Emperor..."

Listening to her brother's answer, a blurry figure wearing two long pheasant feathers on his head flashed through Rong Feiyan's mind.

Although her sister was a favored concubine, the Rong family was not a high-ranking family with a long history; the family had no talent or foundation, and their ancestors were even stonemasons.

Therefore, when Rong Feiyan followed her mother to attend various gatherings in the capital, many families would smile at the Rong family in front of them, but behind their backs, they were full of arrangements for the Rong family.

Added to the fact that before, Rong Xian relied on his favored concubine sister and offended the deep-rooted Qi Guo Gong Prefecture and Xiangyang Marquis Prefecture, for a long time, Rong Feiyan would be alone when attending various poetry gatherings and elegant collections, with no friends.

Especially since Rong Feiyan was born beautiful, she naturally encountered times when she treated a certain young lady as a friend with sincerity, only to learn from elsewhere that this young lady turned around and was full of disdain for her background.

After experiencing this a few times, Rong Feiyan became taciturn, unsmiling, and lost interest in those incense-scented elegant collections, polo matches, and pitch-pot games.

The time Xu Zaijing taught the Northern Liao youth who was rude to her was one of the few moments in those years when she felt friendly, warm, and protected by others.

Thus, Rong Feiyan began to feel curious about Xu Zaijing and began to pay attention to news about him.

Some say that if you keep thinking about something, there will be an echo.

Rong Feiyan had thoughts in her heart and inquired with care, so news of Xu Zaijing naturally began to reach Rong Feiyan's ears constantly.

Later, when Rong Feiyan knew Xu Zaijing would attend a certain elegant gathering, or polo match,

these polo matches and elegant gatherings suddenly didn't seem so boring to Rong Feiyan! They began to become interesting and always filled her with anticipation.

Every time she could see that person from afar or near, it would always make Rong Feiyan happy for a long time.

If she could lock eyes with that person, Rong Feiyan's heart would race like a little deer; she wanted to lock eyes with him longer, but she was also afraid to lock eyes with him longer.

Over the years,

Rong Feiyan discovered that starting from Xu family's Sister Anmei, the noble ladies she befriended in the capital gradually increased.

Whether it was that birds of a feather flock together, or Rong Feiyan gradually grew up, or something else.

In short, the arrangements, squeezes, and cold words she encountered before had lessened a lot in the elegant gatherings she attended in recent years.

Even if someone said something unpleasant, there would always be noble ladies who would speak up and stand on her side.

Moreover, as she grew older, Rong Feiyan discovered that her appearance and posture were becoming more and more extraordinary; many young masters from noble families and official families in the capital would light up when they saw her and couldn't move their eyes away in a rude manner.

Those people would recite poetry and discuss high-sounding topics like peacocks spreading their tails, and she didn't even want to listen.

On one side, she had heard many dirty things about high-ranking families in the capital from her mother, sister, and brother.

On the other side, the news Rong Feiyan inquired about Xu Zaijing herself made Xu Zaijing already have a filter and halo in Rong Feiyan's heart.

Xu Zaijing only had nine points of appearance, but in Rong Feiyan's eyes, he looked like twelve points, and in her heart, no one could compare to him.

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng, who was talking generously on the other side of Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan sighed with some annoyance in her heart.

"Xu Wu Ge Xu, did you accompany His Highness out of the palace today?"

Chai Zhengzheng continued.

Rong Feiyan leaned forward slightly to look at Chai Zhengzheng, who was speaking, and took the opportunity to look at Xu Zaijing's side profile.

After her brain understood what Chai Zhengzheng was talking about, her eyes widened, and she looked at Xu Zaijing and Chai Zhengzheng in surprise.

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Yes! Young Lady Zhengzheng, did you see His Highness at the teahouse?"

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and said: "Yes!"

Rong Feiyan said softly on the other side: "Today, at the teahouse? Why didn't I see Xu Wu Ge Xu?"

Chai Zhengzheng explained a few words with a smile.

While explaining, Chai Zhengzheng was looking at Rong Feiyan, which forced Xu Zaijing to sit straight against the back of the chair, puffing out his chest and pulling in his stomach, so as not to block the view between the two young ladies.

Chai Zhengzheng, who had finished speaking, looked at Xu Zaijing with a smile and asked: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, we've finished talking, you can breathe a sigh of relief."

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Chai Zhengzheng, who was smiling like a flower, and said: "Good!"

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing took a deep breath.

Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing's actions, her eyes curved slightly, and her eyes turned as she said: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, we only heard hearsay about what happened in the Bai Gao country and Beizhou before."

"The Emperor, the Empress, and His Highness haven't arrived yet, can you tell us about it?"

Hearing Rong Feiyan's question, Chai Zhengzheng on the other side said: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, I want to know too."

Xu Zaijing first looked at Rong Feiyan, then turned his head to look at Chai Zhengzheng, pondered for a moment, and said: "Two young ladies, whether it's Bai Gao or Beizhou, they are all matters on the battlefield."

Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan looked straight at Xu Zaijing with righteous indignation and nodded repeatedly.

"And matters on the battlefield involve death and human tragedy; on a good day like the Lantern Festival, discussing these... is somewhat inappropriate."

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan had an anxious look in her eyes and hurriedly said: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, I... I shouldn't have asked."

Chai Zhengzheng's face changed, her smile disappeared, and her expression became gloomy; she had been attacked before, and the nanny and maid by her side had met with misfortune; in the Jin Yang mountain stronghold, she had also witnessed the bloody cruelty of a small battlefield with her own eyes.

Looking at the appearance of the two young ladies beside him, Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and said: "It's not good to talk too much about battlefield matters; I think Young Lady Zhengzheng is more familiar with the northern scenery near Beizhou than I am."

Chai Zhengzheng collected her mood and nodded at Xu Zaijing.

"During those days in Bai Gao, I did see a lot of scenery that Bianjing doesn't have..."

Listening to the few sentences of northwestern scenery Xu Zaijing described casually, Chai Zhengzheng had a picture in her heart of Xu Zaijing wearing armor, riding a horse, and holding a flag running in the sunset yellow sand.

After all, Chai Zhengzheng had seen all three of these appearances of Xu Zaijing.

Rong Feiyan didn't think much in her heart, just stared blankly at Xu Zaijing who was talking; when Xu Zaijing looked over, she would smile foolishly and continue to watch.

After talking for a while,

"The Emperor has arrived~"

The high-pitched shout of the Grand Eunuch came.

Xu Zaijing stopped talking and stood up with Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan.

Soon, the female officials, eunuchs, and Imperial Guard soldiers holding canopies, palm fans, and other items lined up and went up to the flower tower on the side of the Xuande Gate tower, passed through the corridor connecting the flower tower and the Xuande Gate tower, and walked toward where Xu Zaijing was.

Behind the crowd, the Emperor brought the Empress and Zhao Fang, followed by high-ranking civil and military officials, stepped on the stairs, and arrived at the side of the Xuande Gate tower.

Looking at the many young men and women of suitable age standing in front of their chairs along the corridor, the Emperor said with a smile full of affirmation: "Empress, tonight's arrangement is truly thoughtful!"

The Empress smiled: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for the praise! On the Lantern Festival, young men and women of suitable age can take this opportunity to see each other and form a good marriage, which is also a beautiful thing! Speaking of which, this method was suggested to me by Fang'er."

The Emperor nodded: "Haha, Fang'er is not young anymore! I think, Empress, it's time to pick a day and summon a few more young ladies into the palace to take a look."

The Empress looked at her son Zhao Fang beside her and smiled: "I will obey the decree."

The Emperor meant that he could start choosing a consort for Zhao Fang.

As the Emperor's only son and the future Emperor of Great Zhou, Zhao Fang's primary consort would be the future Empress.

And hearing this, Zhao Fang scanned the noble young ladies along the way, with a look of anticipation in his eyes.

The family of three talked, and the Emperor nodded from time to time to the low-ranking noble officials who were allowed to come here to view the lanterns and bowed to salute; soon they passed through the corridor and arrived near the Xuande Gate tower.

"This junior greets the Emperor, the Empress, and His Highness!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was bowing and cupping his hands on the steps below the dragon throne, the Empress and Zhao Fang both nodded with a smile.

The Emperor scanned Xu Zaijing up and down, paused on the cloak Xu Zaijing was wearing, looked at Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan on both sides of Xu Zaijing, snorted lightly, and walked toward the dragon throne.

Zhao Fang, who followed the Emperor, looked at Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan beside Xu Zaijing, nodded in approval, and then smiled and gave Xu Zaijing a thumbs up.

Seeing Zhao Fang's appearance, Xu Zaijing could only bow deeper.

When the Emperor's family walked toward the dragon throne, the high-ranking civil and military officials following the Emperor began to take their seats one after another.

Not far behind the Emperor, the Marquis of Xiangyang and the Marquis of Yongyi, two marquises with a large age gap, walked side by side; the Marquis of Xiangyang said while walking: "Xu Hou, although your physical condition is still a bit different from mine, it must be good, otherwise you wouldn't..."

The Marquis of Xiangyang raised his eyebrows and said: "... right~"

Xu Minghua nodded somewhat awkwardly.

"Yo, Xu Hou, your youngest son's position is truly blessed!"

Hearing this, Xu Minghua looked forward, looked at his youngest son standing between two young ladies of extraordinary appearance, Xu Minghua was stunned for a moment, and said: "This..."

"But, if I were to say, this position is not arranged well, why put the Chai family's young lady in front of Jingge!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang said, and together with several Grand Ministers, sat in the few positions in front of Xu Zaijing.

Afterward, several noble ladies also arrived at the Xuande Gate tower one after another to take their seats.

Princess Pingning, as the Emperor's foster daughter, sat with Madam Chai; she scanned behind the several marquises and Grand Ministers opposite, and smiled: "Zhengzheng is there!"

Madam Chai hurriedly stood up slightly and looked over there; looking at Chai Zhengzheng sitting beside Xu Zaijing, Madam Chai smiled.

"Is that the Xu family's Jingge beside Zhengzheng?"

"Yes!"

With the entry of the Emperor and everyone, Xu Zaijing and the two noble ladies found it inconvenient to continue talking.

After everyone was seated,

the red lantern representing the Emperor's arrival at the Xuande Gate tower lit up.

On the square in front of the Xuande Gate, the noisy sounds soon grew louder.

Several lanterns and colorful lights with mechanisms turned on their mechanisms after seeing the lantern of the Emperor's arrival, attracting the commoners watching to make a sound like a mountain calling.

Beside the Xuande Gate tower, near the corridor leading to the flower towers on both sides, Gu Tingye looked cautiously at Hai Chaoyun beside him; when Hai Chaoyun looked over generously, Gu Tingye hurriedly smiled and said: "Is the Minister Hai's health good?"

Although she had heard Gu Tingye ask several times, Hai Chaoyun still nodded with a smile: "Father's health is very good! Is Yu Brother going smoothly in Xingqing Prefecture?"

"Brother wrote, smoothly, very smoothly."

"Mm." Hai Chaoyun nodded.

Gu Tingye also nodded awkwardly and looked elsewhere.

Scanning around, Gu Tingye saw that near the direction of the Xuande Gate tower, Qi Heng was smiling and talking to Yu Yanran, and his mood suddenly became bad.

"I heard you like poetry?"

On the other side of Hai Chaoyun, a young man from a certain family asked with a smile.

Hai Chaoyun smiled and didn't speak.

"In the past two days, I accidentally got two lines of poetry, please appreciate them, young lady..."

"I don't know what color you like?"

"My family has an industry in Taiyuan Prefecture..."

Gu Tingye, who was already in a bad mood, heard the conversation beside him, turned his head, glared, and said: "I say, can you stop being noisy?"

"I'm talking my own words, what does it have to do with you?"

"I'm good! If you have the guts, don't leave after viewing the lanterns, I'll let you see if it has anything to do with me!"

Gu Tingyu's teacher was the head of the Hai family, and the Daniangzi was the elder sister of Xu Zaijing who had saved Hai Chaoyun.

Gu Er Lang, as Gu Tingyu's younger brother, could also be said to have some relationship with the Hai family.

Therefore, Gu Tingye standing up for Hai Chaoyun couldn't be considered abrupt.

Hai Chaoyun, who understood this, shook her head at Gu Tingye and said: "Thank you, Erlang, for speaking up for justice; today is the Lantern Festival, it's better not to get angry."

Gu Tingye glared at the man and nodded.

Hai Chaoyun, with a clear mind, looked at the position of Qi Heng and Yu Yanran not far away.

At this time,

"Long live the Saint! Ten thousand blessings to the Imperial Heir!"

The sound of the commoners like a mountain calling came from the Xuande Gate square, attracting everyone to lean out through the windows of the corridor and look out.

Following this, there were good things that the Emperor kept bestowing from the Xuande Gate tower.

Various rewards would be put into bamboo baskets, slid down along the cables connected from the Xuande Gate tower to the bottom of the building, and then sent to the place of reward by the Imperial Guard.

At the Xuande Gate tower,

the Grand Eunuch said loudly: "The Emperor has a decree, everyone can stand up on their own and view the lanterns outside the building."

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

After thanking the grace,

the Marquis of Xiangyang, Princess Pingning, and others who came almost every year had no interest in standing up to view the lanterns and mostly sat and talked with the Emperor and Empress.

Xu Zaijing, who came for the first time, stood up curiously and walked out.

Rong Feiyan and Chai Zhengzheng exchanged a look, then both stood up and followed...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 585 =====