Chapter 590

"Wei Xiaoniang, are the paintings of this Longmian Jushi very valuable?"

Zhou Xueniang asked in a tone full of seeking instruction.

Lin Qinshuang shook her head and said: "They are not very valuable, a painting could only be sold for four or five strings of cash before, but I heard recently that he is a tutor for the young master in the Duke of Qi's mansion, so the price has risen a bit."

"Oh, this servant thought it would be dozens of strings of cash."

Lin Qinshuang scanned Zhou Xueniang and said: "Why does your tone sound like you are looking down on it?"

"Hmph! When others move their brushes and ink in their spare time, it's your monthly allowance! For a high-ranking young master like the fifth young master of the Xu family, the price for seeking a painting must be even higher. And you still look down on it?"

"This servant, this servant does not dare."

Zhou Xueniang hurriedly lowered her head to admit her mistake, then turned her head to look at the hanging painting and said: "Wei Xiaoniang, there is also an inscription on it."

Lin Qinshuang nodded, looked at the upper right corner of the hanging painting, and read: "Walking, walking, do not lose the old road.?"

"Wei Xiaoniang, which poem is this sentence from?" Zhou Xueniang asked.

Lin Qinshuang thought for a while, shook her head and said: "I can't figure it out for a moment, when Mo'er comes back, let her see it herself, she knows many poems."

"Wei Xiaoniang is right."

Taking a brush out of the wooden box, Lin Qinshuang examined it while saying: "Just these, are there any more?"

"Replying to Wei Xiaoniang, there are two small wooden boxes, I don't know what's inside."

"Open them and see."

A moment later, Zhou Xueniang said with some disappointment: "Wei Xiaoniang, it looks like chess pieces."

"Hmm?"

Putting down the brush, Lin Qinshuang looked at the black and white chess pieces in the two small wooden boxes and reached out to pick one up.

"Wei Xiaoniang, what material is this?"

After rubbing it for a while, Lin Qinshuang was stunned, and said with a look of reminiscence in her eyes: "It's rhinoceros horn."

"Wei Xiaoniang, you are truly amazing, you could tell just by touching it."

Lin Qinshuang waved her hand, shook her head and said: "When I was a young girl in the Lin family, my father had a set of chess pieces like this, he treasured them like anything."

Hearing this, Zhou Xueniang knew that her flattery had hit a sore spot, and hurriedly lowered her head: "This servant spoke too much."

Lin Qinshuang put the chess pieces back into the small wooden box and said: "Sending a capping gift is like sending hundreds of strings of cash, if my Mo'er enters such a family, she will live a good life."

Wei Wei Xiaoniang's courtyard, Jin'an Studio,

"Wei Xiaoniang, we are back."

The voice of Jiu'er, Liu Mama's own daughter, came from outside the room.

Soon, the cloth curtain at the door was lifted, and Jiu'er walked in with the little maid Qiujiang.

"Warm water is on the table, drink it yourself if you are thirsty."

Wei Shuyi, who was sitting behind the table with her head down writing, said without raising her head.

"Hey!"

After drinking the water, Jiu'er stood to the side and said: "Wei Xiaoniang, today's capping ceremony for the fourth young lady was truly grand! This servant saw the eldest young lady's demeanor in the hall, it was even better than before."

Wei Shuyi stopped her brush, raised her head and smiled at Jiu'er, who was speaking, and said: "How could the Madam of the Hou Fu not have demeanor?"

Jiu'er nodded repeatedly: "Wei Xiaoniang, I noticed that even Sister Cuichan, who is by the eldest young lady's side, is a bit different!"

Wei Shuyi lowered her head and continued writing, saying: "Cuichan is by the eldest young lady's side, and she is in contact with the managing mothers of high-ranking and wealthy families in the capital during tea parties and flower viewing, so she naturally has to change."

"Wei Xiaoniang is right."

"Wei Xiaoniang, what do you think it will be like when my fifth young lady and sixth young lady have their capping ceremonies?"

Wei Shuyi stopped her brush, thought for a while, and said: "Yingchang Prefecture is not like Runzhou, it is much closer to Bianjing. At that time, the Wang family relatives will definitely come! Maybe even Old Madam Wang will come. It will naturally be grand and lively!"

After a look of reminiscence in her eyes, Wei Shuyi continued: "I still remember when the eldest young lady had her capping ceremony, Old Madam Wang was the main guest, and Aunt Feng was the attendant."

Jiu'er thought about the grandeur of that day and nodded with a smile: "Wei Xiaoniang is right, it will definitely be like that then! Hmph! What is so luxurious about Linqi Pavilion today? On that day, we must suppress Linqi Pavilion and let them know what a legitimate daughter is and what grandeur is!"

"Hmm. Jiu'er, what you said is correct."

After speaking,

Wei Shuyi lowered her head and sighed softly.

Although Minglan was raised by the Old Madam, the Old Madam was old after all and did not like liveliness and noise.

When Minglan has her capping ceremony, the Old Madam might invite a few old friends from the capital, and the Xu family might send valuable gifts out of respect for the Old Madam's status as an aunt, but the rest would just be like that.

Even Wei Shuyi's own younger sister, Wei Yuyi, who doted on Minglan, could only be an attendant.

It can be considered to have both good and bad.

At that time, the housekeeping power in Wei Shuyi's hands would definitely have to be handed over.

Thinking of these things, Wei Shuyi took a deep breath and continued writing in the account book.

In the afternoon,

The guests were happy and bid farewell to the Sheng family one after another.

Linqi Pavilion,

"The fourth young lady is back."

The voice of the little maid outside the door sounded.

"Mother! Daughter is back!"

Mo Lan walked into the room with her maid.

Lin Qinshuang looked at Mo Lan, who was wearing a brand-new jade hairpin and Huasheng, and smiled with joy in her eyes: "Mo'er, come, let mother take a look."

When Mo Lan walked up to her, Lin Qinshuang looked her up and down and said: "Good! Really good!"

"Mother, I heard from Yunzai that the gifts from the young masters in the school were all sent to you?"

"Hmm! Your father is considerate of me."

"Where are they?"

Mo Lan passed Lin Qinshuang and scanned the hall.

"They are in the side room! Come."

Subsequently, Mo Lan began to admire her gifts.

"Mo'er, look, this hanging painting uses good materials and is well-mounted!"

Hearing Lin Qinshuang's voice, Mo Lan, who was carefully examining the gift sent by Qi Heng, raised her head.

"Mother, this orchid painting is also good, is it?"

"Sent by Xu family's Jingge'er, there is also a poem on the side."

Thinking of Xu Zaijing's appearance and the relationship where they hadn't spoken many words, Mo Lan walked to the wall and looked at the hanging painting.

"Where is this poem from?" Lin Qinshuang asked.

"Walking, walking, do not lose the old road." After Mo Lan silently recited it a few times thoughtfully, she said: "Mother, the original text of this poem is 'Walking, walking, lost the old road', which is a sentence from the poem by Mr. Wuliu that Mr. Zhuang likes."

"Oh! No wonder I couldn't remember it, it turns out an extra word was added." Lin Qinshuang said.

Mo Lan said with confusion in her eyes: "Mother, adding a word changes the meaning of this poem, it has quite a bit of a warning meaning. Strange, what do I have to be warned about?"

Lin Qinshuang thought for a while on the side and said: "Mo'er, mother thinks, this is just a trick by a boy who wants to attract your attention!"

Mo Lan looked at Lin Qinshuang hesitantly: "Mother, what are you saying?"

Lin Qinshuang flicked her handkerchief: "Didn't you say before that you were afraid of Xu family's Jingge'er and didn't dare to talk to him much? Maybe it's those sluts outside who are throwing themselves at a young master like Xu Zaijing! He saw in school that you, Mo'er, were ignoring him, so he"

"Is, is that so?" Mo Lan was a bit uncertain.

Zhou Xueniang on the side said affirmatively: "Miss! It must be like this! The more you ignore them, the more enthusiastic these boys become. Our Sheng family might produce another Madam of the Hou Fu."

Mo Lan shook her head: "Who wants to pay attention to him! I only like Brother Yuanruo! Look at these things Brother Yuanruo sent, one look and you can tell they were carefully prepared."

"Achoo!"

Xu Zaijing, who was returning home on horseback, sneezed.

"Who is speaking ill of me?" Xu Zaijing said to himself.

Huaxiang, who was in the carriage behind, lifted the curtain, and the face she revealed was full of concern. After her eyes rolled, Huaxiang shrank back into the carriage.

In the evening, under the supervision of Sun Shi, Xu Zaijing drank a bowl of bitter herbal medicine.

The next day was the Cold Food Festival.

The Zitui swallows made yesterday had now been hung under the lintels of every household.

Two days after the Cold Food Festival was Qingming, and the Jinming Pool would be opened wide on the first day of the third lunar month, so Mr. Zhuang simply let the students have a few days off.

On the day of Qingming,

The cavalry of the Forbidden Army, as before, ran from the city to the outside of the city in four directions in teams of one hundred, with clear flags and shining armor, the military was magnificent, and from time to time it attracted the attention and cheers of passersby.

East of the outer city,

Outside the New Song Gate,

"Milk cakes, Zhang family milk cakes~"

The peddler's hawking was mixed with other sounds, and it didn't sound very loud.

"Make way! Make way quickly!"

Following the shouting of the cavalry in front,

"Deng deng~"

One hundred cavalrymen ran out of the city.

Seeing this group of cavalry, many peddlers looked at some noble young masters who were standing by their horses.

As the long line of cavalry galloped past, some noble young masters looked at the peddlers and said: "Why are you looking at us like that? We also came here to see if there is any excitement to watch."

Last year, the famous Hou Fu young master Xu Zaijing in the capital was chased from the New Song Gate to the Ansu Gate, which was a great excitement.

Although many commoners and passersby claimed that they did indeed see the fifth young master of the Xu family catch the arrows shot at him with his bare hands.

But many young and arrogant noble youths thought this was nonsense and a rumor.

This year at Qingming, it was impossible for the situation of that day to reappear here, after all, Zhang Shipan didn't even have the opportunity to enter the cavalry team this year.

Coming here, what if they could run into Xu Zaijing who was out playing!

Then they could say hello! Or they could use heavy gifts or heavy prizes to invite this person to compete with them, and make a name for themselves in Bianjing.

Obviously, this group of noble youths was not well-informed, but if they knew Liang Liu, Qiao Jiu, and others, they would also know that Xu Zaijing was detained at home today.

The reason was that today Zhang Shipan had to accompany the palace attendants to sacrifice and sweep the tomb of the late Imperial Consort Zhang.

For Zhang Shipan's safety, Xu Zaijing was ordered by the Emperor to be detained at home.

As for the Empress rewarding many good things later, that is a story for another time.

The first day of the third lunar month,

The weather was sunny,

The wind was clear and the air was harmonious,

Jinming Pool in the west of the city was opened wide.

On the road from Quyuan Street to Jinming Pool, Xu Zaijing rode his little black horse, and Zaihang accompanied him beside the Xu family carriage.

Because the wife of the Marquis of Yongyi, Sun Shi, was pregnant, there were only Xie Shi, Hualan, and the maids and mothers in the several carriages of the Xu family.

As they approached the Shuntian Gate, the flow of people on the road became increasingly crowded.

On the road,

"Cousin, cousin, look over there quickly!" In a carriage, a young lady pointed not far away through the thin gauze on the carriage window.

After the voice of another young lady sounded, there was a "wow" of exclamation.

In their own carriage, with no outsiders around, this young lady was quite relaxed.

The reason for the exclamation was that not far away, there was a noble youth with a handsome face and a tall stature, riding a magnificent black horse, with a red flower in his hair, wearing a silver-white spring shirt, a jade belt around his waist, and light-colored boots on his feet.

Holding the reins with one hand, his posture rose and fell with the horse, naturally possessing a calm and steady temperament.

"Cousin, whose young master is he?"

The young lady in the carriage asked in confusion.

The young lady who was called cousin after the exclamation looked at the sign on the carriage and said: "Xu family! Look at that big black horse, it should be the fifth young master of the Marquis of Yongyi's mansion."

"Ah? Hou Fu? How is it the Hou Fu, this family status is too high."

As they were talking,

The carriage continued to move forward.

When they arrived at Shuntian Gate,

The street became increasingly congested.

In front of the city gate,

"Our carriage team is large, please let the noble mansion go first."

Listening to the clear voice outside the carriage and looking at the magnificent black horse nearby, the cousins in the carriage looked at each other shyly.

"Then many thanks to the young master!"

Following the words of their own manager, the carriage moved again.

The young lady in the carriage also lifted the curtain and nodded to Xu Zaijing, who was giving way, with a smile.

Putting down the curtain, the carriage entered the somewhat dark city gate tunnel.

It became dark inside the carriage too.

"Such a good young master, I don't know which young lady will be lucky in the future!"

"He is a scholar at a young age, I heard he also has military merit, and he is gentle and polite, the young masters in the storybooks are no more than this."

The voices of the two young ladies talking in low voices came vaguely, and Xu Zaijing, who followed them into the tunnel, had a slightly embarrassed expression.

Out of the tunnel,

The sunlight was a bit dazzling,

Xu Zaijing reached out his hand to his brow to shade the sunlight.

After leaving the New Zheng Gate and crossing the Longhe River, the Xu family group soon arrived outside Jinming Pool.

When queuing to enter the pool garden,

Xu Zaijing rode on his horse, relying on his high position, scanned the surroundings, turned his head and said to Zaihang: "Brother, today looks different from the past, why are there so many carriages with flowers in their hair?"

Zaihang smiled and said: "Little Five, think about it yourself."

Xu Zaijing looked at the carriages with flowers in their hair, and after a moment of thought, he gently patted his forehead and said: "Yes, yes, yes, mother said before that the Empress wanted to choose a consort for His Highness."

Zaihang nodded with a smile.

Of course,

These young ladies from aristocratic families came to Jinming Pool, and their goal was not necessarily to be the Crown Princess.

After all, as the only son of the current Emperor, Zhao Fang's consort would be the future Empress, and the candidates had to be selected and drafted by the Zongzheng Department and the Ministry of Rites together.

They came to Jinming Pool, and a large part of it was that their families hoped they could replicate the "road to success" of Imperial Consort Zhang and Imperial Consort Rong.

This year at the entrance of Jinming Pool, it seemed that they had learned from previous lessons, there was no reason to block the road, and the speed of entering the pool garden was much faster.

Amidst a noisy sound, the Xu family carriage team soon entered the Jinming Pool garden.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's tall mount, the little soldier standing beside Rong Xian hurriedly said: "Young Master, Young Master, the fifth young master of the Xu family is here!"

Rong Xian, who was turning his head to look back, chasing a carriage with flowers in its hair with his eyes, hurriedly tidied up his expression and turned back to look at the entrance.

After tidying up his big red cloak, Rong Xian smiled and waved at Xu Zaijing.

The Xu family carriage went to the tent by the pool, and Xu Zaijing and Zaihang rode their horses to Rong Xian.

"Xiange'er, long time no see."

Xu Zaijing said with a smile and a bow.

Rong Xian returned the bow: "Seen Third Brother Xu, Jingge'er."

"Xiange'er, what were you looking at just now?" Xu Zaijing said again.

Rong Xian's expression was stunned, and he said: "Uh, I was, I was looking at that carriage, the carriage was shaking a bit when it was moving, is there a problem with the axle?"

"Oh! Xiange'er is thoughtful."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said.

"Has Madam Dou come to the pool garden?" Zaihang asked with a smile.

"She has a big belly, so I didn't let her come." Rong Xian replied.

After asking a little about the situation of Gu Tingye, Qi Heng, and others they were familiar with, the Xu Zaijing brothers bid farewell and left.

Rong Xian rode on the horse's back, looked at Xu Zaijing's back, and hatefully slapped the little soldier beside him: "Why didn't you report to this young master earlier! I almost"

"Yes, yes, this subordinate was wrong!"

When Xu Zaijing and his elder brother dismounted behind their own tent and entered the tent, they heard Xie Shi's voice coming from inside:

"Most of the noble ladies who have arrived in the capital are not far away! My maiden family's main branch has many in-laws in the south, and they sent word that there are still many noble ladies from aristocratic families on the way."

"Madam is right! Mother said that in our Hejian Prefecture, there are also many young ladies from aristocratic families rushing to Bianjing."

Listening to the conversation, Xu Zaijing bypassed the tent curtain and entered the tent.

Looking at Gu Tingyi, Chai Zhengzheng, and Rong Feiyan sitting in the tent, in beautiful spring shirts with flower decorations on their brows, Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed: "Sister Tingyi, Miss Zhengzheng, Miss Feiyan, greetings!"

Zaihang smiled: "Greetings, sisters."

The young ladies hurriedly stood up with a smile and bowed.

Looking at the young ladies in the tent, Xu Zaijing and Zaihang looked at each other and said: "Tingyi, has Madam Bai come?"

Gu Tingyi nodded with a smile.

"Then, let's go and pay our respects to the elders first, sisters, please sit." Xu Zaijing said with a smile and a bow.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing and his elder brother returned the same way and walked behind the tent.

"Little Five, these sisters came fast enough." Zaihang smiled.

"Hmm." Xu Zaijing replied with an unnatural expression.

When Xu Zaijing and the other arrived at the Gu family's tent, they happened to see Gu Tingye, Changfeng, and Qiao Jiulang standing outside the tent, looking at the carriages that went to each family's tent from time to time.

Seeing Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye hurriedly waved and said: "Jingge'er, your eyesight is good, come and help me take a look!"

(End of chapter)