Chapter 586: A different kind of prayer [Deep thanks! Another deep thanks! 46k chapters owed]

Outside the Xuande Gate tower,

a row of palace lanterns hung high under the heavy eaves; in the lantern light, between the pillars, shadows flickered.

Xu Zaijing stood by the railing, and the cold air he smelled was mixed with the fragrance after the candles burned.

It was also Xu Zaijing's first time on the Xuande Gate tower, looking at the square outside the building from a bird's-eye view.

In the square, there were huge lantern mountains,

various uniquely shaped lanterns,

and colorful lanterns that the Bianjing commoners were carrying or wearing on their heads.

Against the reflection of these lights, the sky became increasingly dark like ink, and the not-so-bright stars were a bit invisible.

When the Bianjing commoners walked to stroll around the lanterns, countless lanterns were like a wide galaxy slowly flowing on the square.

Between the flow of this galaxy, there were huge sounds of talking and shouting, and the sound of shouting "Long live" came.

"It's really beautiful," Chai Zhengzheng stood beside Xu Zaijing and said softly.

"Mm."

Xu Zaijing and Rong Feiyan, who were on both sides of Chai Zhengzheng, both said "Mm" in unison.

This made Rong Feiyan have a trace of surprise and secret joy in her heart.

A moment later,

listening to the voices of other young masters and young ladies near the railing, Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing's side profile and asked: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, what are you looking at?"

Xu Zaijing looked into the distance, pointed far away to the edge of the square, the restaurant with lanterns lit, and said: "Looking at that restaurant, tonight Brother Liang Liu and his classmates from the study might be there."

"Oh."

Rong Feiyan nodded.

There was nothing to say; under the huge noisy sounds under the gate tower, the area around the three of them became increasingly quiet.

"Chirp~"

"Bang~"

Under the Xuande Gate tower, fireworks shot into the night sky and exploded.

In Chai Zhengzheng's eyes, the flash of the fireworks instantly illuminated Xu Zaijing's clear eyes; looking at Xu Zaijing who turned his head to look at her, Chai Zhengzheng's heart was in chaos, and she asked without thinking:

"Is... is Madam Sun's health okay recently?"

Listening to Chai Zhengzheng's question, Rong Feiyan widened her eyes in surprise.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Thank you, Young Lady Zhengzheng, for your concern, her health is very good."

Chai Zhengzheng cursed herself twice in her heart and smiled: "Uh, that's good, that's good."

"Whoosh~"

A night breeze with a bit of chill blew by, blowing the hairpins on Xu Zaijing's temples to tremble a few times, and also blowing the scent of the incense on Xu Zaijing to the vicinity of Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan.

"Xu Wu Ge Xu, the incense you use tonight is very unique, the dragon brain is used just right."

Rong Feiyan turned her head and looked at Xu Zaijing.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was standing to the side, also nodded, her gaze attracted by the trembling hairpins.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Thank you, Young Lady Feiyan, for the praise, it was randomly mixed by the maid in the house."

"Xu Wu Ge Xu, is the flower hairpin on your head a fresh flower?" Chai Zhengzheng asked curiously.

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile, reached out from the cloak, took off the hairpin, handed it to Chai Zhengzheng, and said: "It's not a fresh flower, it's an artificial flower."

"Ah?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the quality of the hairpin in Xu Zaijing's hand and issued a question in surprise, then took the hairpin from Xu Zaijing's hand.

"I saw a nanny who was very good at making artificial flowers at Daxiangguo Temple before, so I recommended her to the Lian Guo Gong Prefecture; this artificial flower is the work of that nanny."

"Oh!"

Chai Zhengzheng didn't think about anything else and carefully examined the thing in her hand by the candlelight.

After examining it for a while, Chai Zhengzheng handed the artificial flower to Rong Feiyan on the side.

"This flower is worthy of the word 'artificial'! I just don't know what the quality is like when looking at it during the day."

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing with a look of seeking opinion.

"It's also very similar," Xu Zaijing replied.

At this time,

a female official from the palace walked over with a tray, on which were hand warmers with cloth covers.

Xu Zaijing, Chai Zhengzheng, and Rong Feiyan each took a hand warmer in their hands.

Afterward, Rong Feiyan held the hand warmer in one hand and handed the artificial flower in her hand to Chai Zhengzheng.

When Chai Zhengzheng was about to return the artificial flower to Xu Zaijing, a eunuch walked over, bowed, and said: "Fifth Young Master, the Emperor asks you to go over."

"Good."

Xu Zaijing hurriedly nodded.

After glancing at the artificial flower held by Chai Zhengzheng, Xu Zaijing turned and walked toward the inside of the gate tower.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing's back, then looked down at the artificial flower in her hand, raised it uselessly toward Xu Zaijing, meaning "Your artificial flower hasn't been taken back."

Inside the gate tower,

Xu Zaijing arrived in front of the dragon throne, bowed, and cupped his hands: "This junior greets the Emperor."

"Rise!"

The Emperor said indifferently.

Looking at Xu Zaijing who stood up, the Emperor continued: "Did you receive any gifts today, kid?"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked at the Emperor in surprise.

The Empress looked at Xu Zaijing's appearance and smiled: "Jingge, just say it as it is."

Xu Zaijing cupped his hands and replied: "Back to the Emperor, Empress, this junior has not received any gifts today."

The Emperor nodded lightly: "That's good! While the lantern festival hasn't dispersed, go to Daxiangguo Temple for me now!"

Although he didn't understand what the Emperor meant, Xu Zaijing still cupped his hands: "This junior obeys the decree."

"Mm!"

After speaking, the Emperor waved his hand, and the eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao came to Xu Zaijing and reached out his hand: "Fifth Young Master, please this way."

Outside the gate tower, by the railing,

Chai Zhengzheng looked back at Xu Zaijing who was leaving with Eunuch Huai Bao, then turned her head to look at Rong Feiyan beside her, shook her head helplessly and said: "It seems I can only find another opportunity to return it to Xu Wu Ge Xu."

As she spoke, Chai Zhengzheng also raised the artificial flower in her hand.

Rong Feiyan's eyes turned; although she very much wanted to help Chai Zhengzheng return this flower, she didn't speak in the end, just nodded.

In the corridor connecting the flower tower and the Xuande Gate tower,

seeing Xu Zaijing walking over with the eunuch, Qi Heng asked suspiciously: "Jingge, what are you...?"

"I have something to do."

"Oh!"

Continuing to walk forward, Gu Tingye hurriedly raised his chin with a smile to greet him, while Hai Chaoyun beside him stood up and bowed to Xu Zaijing with a smile.

After nodding to Hai Chaoyun, Xu Zaijing looked suspiciously at the young man with unfriendly eyes on the other side of Hai Chaoyun.

After Xu Zaijing passed, the sound of "Is this person kicked out?" vaguely sounded.

Xu Zaijing looked back and only saw the back of the head of the unfriendly young man.

After going down the flower tower, under the guidance of the eunuch, Xu Zaijing arrived at the palace gate.

After leaving the palace gate, Xu Zaijing rode his little horse and ran toward Daxiangguo Temple in the south, bypassing the Imperial Street with the most crowds, together with the eunuch and Imperial Guard soldiers sent by the Emperor.

On the way,

there were many lanterns hanging on both sides of the bustling main street, illuminating the street.

Even the dim alleys on the side of the street had many lanterns lit at this time.

The sound of hooves was constant,

the group arrived near Daxiangguo Temple.

"Whoa~"

The little horse stopped at the entrance of Daxiangguo Temple, and Xu Zaijing dismounted.

At this time, the biggest and most beautiful lanterns in Bianjing were all on the huge square in front of the Xuande Gate, and there were not many commoners and tourists near Daxiangguo Temple; when they saw Xu Zaijing's group, some people pointed at them.

Listening to the silk and bamboo music inside Daxiangguo Temple, Xu Zaijing looked at the eunuch who dismounted to the side and said: "Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao, what are we...?"

Eunuch Huai Bao smiled: "Jingge, just follow me and the others inside."

Xu Zaijing nodded, followed Eunuch Huai Bao, and walked toward the inside of Daxiangguo Temple.

Along the way, Xu Zaijing discovered that Daxiangguo Temple was busy decorating.

The group stopped in front of a main hall; Xu Zaijing saw many long-shaped lanterns hanging in the corridors on both sides of the main hall, and with his outstanding eyesight, Xu Zaijing could see that these long lanterns were wooden plaques with hollowed-out characters.

The candlelight behind the wooden plaques shone through the hollowed-out parts, allowing people to see the poetry on them.

"Jingge, the decoration of Daxiangguo Temple at this time is being handled by the young master of the Han family of the Marquis of Zhennan Prefecture; the mother of this young master is the Emperor's younger sister. Wait a moment, I'll go find the Han family young master and say a few words."

Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao said.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Afterward, Eunuch Huai Bao entered the main hall.

Soon,

Eunuch Huai Bao appeared at the entrance of the main hall accompanied by a man and a woman in luxurious clothes.

This man and woman in luxurious clothes looked at the jade-like Xu Zaijing outside the hall and said to Eunuch Huai Bao: "Minister, this... is he the fertility prescription the mother mentioned?"

Eunuch Huai Bao nodded with a smile: "What Qing Yun Ge said is correct, the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family is the prescription in the Princess's mouth."

Han Jiyun, who was from the second branch of the Marquis of Zhennan Prefecture, exchanged a look with the young lady beside him and said: "Then, Minister, how do we pray for a son?"

Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao nodded to Xu Zaijing outside the hall with a smile and said softly to Han Jiyun: "Are the things the Emperor asked Qing Yun Ge to prepare ready?"

"Yes! Mother ordered me to bring three carts of rare treasures picked from the warehouse."

Eunuch Huai Bao smiled and said: "That's good! Later, Jingge will enter the hall to pray for the Emperor, the Empress, the Imperial Prince, and several masters; afterward, Qing Yun Ge only needs to use the excuse that it was bestowed by the Emperor and send the things to Jingge."

Han Chengyun looked at his wife and said softly: "It's that simple?"

Eunuch Huai Bao nodded with a smile: "Not bad!"

"Good! Just follow what the Emperor and Mother said."

After Han Chengyun finished speaking, Eunuch Huai Bao walked toward Xu Zaijing outside.

After Xu Zaijing finished praying for the Emperor's family in the hall, Han Chengyun brought his wife over and said: "Thank you, Jingge, for praying for the Emperor, the Empress, and the Imperial Prince; later there will be rewards from the Emperor and thank-you gifts from our couple, please accept them, Jingge."

Xu Zaijing looked at Han Jiyun with a smile and said: "These are all the duties of a subject, they are not worthy of rewards and thank-you gifts from you two."

Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao on the side hurriedly said: "Jingge, you should accept it! This was specifically instructed by the Emperor."

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and said: "Then this junior can only obey the decree."

Hearing this, Han Jiyun and his wife were relieved.

The journey plus praying in the hall took a lot of time; if they returned to the Xuande Gate tower, the lantern festival would likely be coming to an end.

So Xu Zaijing didn't return to the Xuande Gate but took the three carts of "rewards" and returned directly to the Marquis's Mansion on Quyuanjie.

At the entrance of Daxiangguo Temple, looking at the departing Xu Zaijing's group of carriages and horses, Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao said to Han Chengyun beside him: "Qing Yun Ge, I won't say much about the couple's intimacy after returning to the mansion."

"Yes! Please ask Eunuch Eunuch Huai Bao to thank the Emperor and the Empress for this junior."

Han Chengyun said somewhat cautiously.

Eunuch Huai Bao waved his hand with a smile and said: "Eh, it's better for Qing Yun Ge and Daniangzi to go to the palace personally and thank the Emperor and Empress after there is good news."

"Yes, yes, the eunuch is right!"

That night,

many good things entered Xu Zaijing's private treasury again.

East side of the palace,

Chai family,

Qiusheng Garden,

In the bedroom.

Candles were lit on the table; beside the bright yellow candlelight, Chai Zhengzheng, who had changed into pajamas, sat by the table.

Chai Zhengzheng held the flower branch of the artificial flower with both hands, examined it carefully for a while, and then turned it gently.

While turning the flower branch, Chai Zhengzheng also had a look of memory in her eyes.

"Young Lady, it's late, time to sleep."

Miss Yun Mu's voice came.

"Mm, I know."

Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath, stood up, and walked toward the bed holding the artificial flower.

After walking a few steps, Chai Zhengzheng stopped; after thinking for a moment, Chai Zhengzheng turned and walked toward the armor puppet on the side.

Standing in front of the puppet for a while, Chai Zhengzheng reached out and pinned this artificial flower to the side of the helmet.

After looking at it, Chai Zhengzheng nodded with satisfaction and walked toward the bed again.

Nanjiangtang Lane, not far from the Chai family,

Rong family, Huixue Garden,

Rong Feiyan sat in front of the dressing table with her eyes closed; the maid Seeing Xi Bu stood behind her, combing Rong Feiyan's loose hair.

Thinking in her mind about the scene of giving the artificial flower to Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan sighed heavily: "Sigh!"

"If only I could have been slower in giving it to Zhengzheng..." Rong Feiyan thought to herself.

Ningxiang, who was holding a copper basin of hot water, happened to come to Rong Feiyan's side; hearing the sigh, she said: "Young Lady, what's wrong? Are you tired?"

"Mm."

Rong Feiyan nodded.

"Where is the Young Lady tired? Tell me, and I'll massage you." Ningxiang placed the copper basin by the bed and said with a smile.

"Good." After Rong Feiyan finished speaking, she continued: "By the way, send someone to the third branch of the Lian Guo Gong Lu family tomorrow to inquire and ask those sisters if they have any good artificial flowers."

"Yes, Young Lady."

The next day,

the sky was not yet bright,

Xu Zaijing, who had finished exercising, didn't go to wash his face and bathe, but together with his family, sent Marquis Yongyi Xu Minghua and a group of personal soldiers to the main gate.

"Zhang'er, Jing'er, take care of your mother with your sisters-in-law at home."

Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang bowed and cupped their hands: "Yes, Father."

Xu Minghua, who was on horseback, looked at Sun Shi and the others standing at the gate and said: "Mm! It's cold in the morning, all go back."

After speaking,

Xu Minghua tapped the horse's belly lightly and led the personal soldiers toward the street corner.

When the personal soldiers followed Xu Minghua, Hua Rong in the crowd bowed to Xu Zaijing.

And Chu Zhan, who was riding at the end of the team, also waved to Xu Zaijing, Qingyun, and others like Hearing Shu Bo and Seeing Hua Qing, which counted as a farewell.

Chu Zhan was not old and didn't study, so he had to join the army early to gain experience, so that he could have a good future.

After eating in his mother's courtyard, Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang rode out of the Marquis Yongyi's Mansion and rushed toward Jiying Lane.

On the way to Jiying Lane, they could still see lanterns lit from time to time.

Besides lanterns, they would also meet noble young masters of the capital playing all night from time to time.

Arriving at Jiying Lane,

entering the courtyard from the Sheng family's main gate with lanterns lit,

when Xu Zaijing lifted the cotton curtain of the study, Changbai, just like before the year, had a candle lit on the table and was studying hard.