Chapter 591: It will be livelier when we enter the palace later. [Thanks! Bow again!]

Seeing Xu Zaijing walking over, Gu Tingye, who was standing on a platform behind his own tent, pointed to a tent some distance away and said:

"Jing-ge'er, how does that young lady behind the tent over there, who is kicking a shuttlecock with the maid, look?"

When Gu Tingye spoke, Changfeng and Qiao Jiulang both looked at Xu Zaijing with eyes full of hope, nodding repeatedly.

Xu Zaijing raised his head slightly, smiled at the three of them on the waist-high platform, and said, "Yuan Erlang, if you three want to see clearly, why don't you just walk over there yourselves?"

Watching Xu Zaijing, who didn't even turn his head and walked directly along the aisle between the two families' tents toward the front entrance of the tent,

"Thump."

Qiao Jiulang jumped off the platform, grabbed Xu Zaijing, and said with a flattering expression, "Jing-ge'er, we don't have any friendship with that family. Walking over there so directly might be a bit improper and rude to the beauty."

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile, applied a little force with both hands to restrain Qiao Jiulang, and then used his knee to nudge Qiao Jiulang's backside.

Qiao Jiulang staggered forward uncontrollably, while Xu Zaijing continued walking toward the Gu family's tent.

"Hey, Jing-ge'er, don't go!"

Watching Xu Zaijing's back, Gu Tingye shouted helplessly.

"Wait until I pay my respects to the elders, I'll be right back."

Xu Zaijing said without looking back.

After Xu Zaijing's figure disappeared behind the tent curtain, Qiao Jiulang said suspiciously, "Ye-ge'er, what move did Fifth Young Master use to restrain me just now? It was too fast; I hadn't even reacted yet!"

"It's a move commonly used by scouts to capture prisoners," Gu Tingye replied.

"Oh! Ye-ge'er, do you know it? Teach me when you have time!"

"Easy!" Gu Tingye continued to poke his head out to look at the tent not far away.

Changfeng, who was to the side, said, "Gu Er-gege, is Jing-ge'er's eyesight really as sharp as you say?"

"Of course. Last year, when I went to Beizhou with Jing-ge'er, from where we were to the west side of the pond, Jing-ge'er could see clearly what was under the talons of a falcon."

"Ah? Seeing that far?"

Passing through the aisle between the two families' tents,

Xu Zaijing walked to the side of the Gu family's tent entrance.

With no tent blocking his view, Xu Zaijing could gaze out at Jinming Pond under the sunlight.

The wide surface of Jinming Pond, under the blowing spring breeze, rippled with sparkling light.

The willow branches on the bank, sprouting green buds, also swayed gently with the spring breeze, full of the vibrant atmosphere of spring.

From the distant Water-Facing Hall, the sounds of the imperial clan and officials talking could still be heard.

Near the even more distant Lingxing Gate, although the sound of the musicians playing was soft, it could still be vaguely heard.

"Little Five, come in."

Walking in front of Xu Zaijing, Zaihang, who was stepping onto the stairs, turned his head and said.

"Oh."

When entering the Gu family's tent, Qingxia and Qingzhi, who were standing at the tent entrance, both smiled and bowed to the two Xu brothers.

Looking at everyone inside the tent, Xu Zaijing followed his elder brother in bowing and cupping his hands to offer greetings.

"Good, good, good, children, sit down quickly!"

Madam Bai looked at the two Xu brothers with a smile and said.

After Xu Zaijing sat down, Madam Chai, who was sitting at the head of the table above Pingmei, smiled and said, "Jing-ge'er, are you going to enter the competition today to help the Xiong family's young master win that peony jade carving?"

Xu Zaijing bowed slightly in his seat and said to Madam Chai, "Replying to Madam, the Xiong family has some kinship with the family of the late Earl of Huixian, the Tian family. Since there are soldiers from the Huyi Navy helping today, this junior does not need to enter the competition."

"Oh! So that's how it is!"

Madam Chai nodded and said.

"When you came over, did you see Tingyi and the others?" Madam Bai asked Zaihang with a smile.

Zaihang nodded: "Replying to Madam, I saw them. When we arrived, several young ladies were talking with the eldest sister-in-law."

Listening to the conversation between the two, Madam Chai looked with satisfaction at Xu Zaijing, who was elegant and handsome, and even while sitting, naturally held his chest out and head high.

After Zaihang finished speaking, Xu Zaijing looked at Madam Chai and smiled: "Madam, is Brother Jin entering the competition today?"

Madam Chai nodded and smiled: "Yes! He is certainly entering! No matter what, he must win a peony jade carving for the Lu family's young lady."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Oh! Are there any veteran water soldiers?"

"Yes! Madam Wu had the Liang family's Sixth Young Master send a team of men, saying they were also former soldiers of the Huyi Navy, and their strength is extraordinary."

"Oh! Then this junior can rest assured."

Zaihang, sitting at the head of the table above Xu Zaijing, watched Madam Chai's satisfied gaze at his younger brother, smiled, picked up the drink offered by Qingzhi, and lowered his head to drink.

At this moment,

Gu Tingye's servant, Zhique, walked out from behind the screen behind Madam Bai. First, he bowed and cupped his hands to everyone in the tent, and then said: "Madam, the Second Young Master says he has some questions about his studies and would like to ask Jing-ge'er for advice."

Hearing this, Mother Chang curled her lips imperceptibly.

Madam Bai raised her eyebrows slightly, her eyes showing some helplessness.

"It seems Ye-ge'er is truly eager to learn!" Madam Chai sighed with a smile.

Madam Bai smiled slightly and said, "Jing-ge'er, since Yuan Erlang is looking for you, you should go over."

Xu Zaijing stood up and agreed.

Zaihang also stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Madam, elder sister, I also have an appointment with a friend, so I will take my leave as well."

"Go ahead."

Madam Bai nodded with a smile.

Turning sideways to watch the two younger brothers walk toward the tent entrance, Pingmei had just turned around when her gaze met Madam Chai's.

Pingmei hurriedly smiled.

Madam Chai nodded in return and smiled: "Looking at Jing-ge'er's build, he is very similar to you, Ping-jie'er, both are tall and straight."

"Thank you for the compliment, Madam."

As the eldest young lady of the Xu family, Pingmei was famously tall. Standing with the madams and titled ladies in the capital, she would be noticed at a glance.

"Madam Sun has five children. I see that only Jing-ge'er and Ping-er have a build like yours; Zaiduan and the others are different from you two," Madam Bai said with a smile.

Pingmei nodded: "Mother is right! I just don't know if the one in my mother's womb is a boy or a girl, and who they will look like in the future!"

Hearing this, Madam Chai said with certainty: "I have been to the Xu family. Just looking at Madam Sun's figure, I knew it was a boy."

Madam Bai nodded with a smile: "That's right. When I was pregnant with Ye-ge'er, I was about the same as Sister Sun; it was a boy!"

At this moment,

A decently dressed elderly woman arrived at the entrance of the Gu family's tent and said a few words. After speaking, she also looked admiringly at Xu Zaijing, who was walking not far away.

Soon, Qingxia walked over, bowed, and said: "Madam, outside the tent is the elderly woman from the Jiang family of Suzhou. Her clan has had some dealings with the Bai family's grandfather. Having arrived in the capital recently, she has come specifically to pay a visit."

Madam Bai nodded with a smile and said, "Please invite her in."

Pingmei looked at Madam Chai, who had a thoughtful expression, and whispered a reminder: "Madam, the Jiang family's ancestral home is in Wujiang. Their ancestors produced a top scholar who reached the rank of..."

"Oh! I remember now," Madam Chai smiled.

When Madam Chai spoke, the elderly woman from the Chai family behind her looked at Pingmei with eyes full of approval.

Just now, when Qingxia spoke, the Chai family's elderly woman hadn't remembered who it was for a moment and hadn't been able to remind Madam Chai in time.

After the Jiang family's elderly woman entered the tent, through some conversation, everyone learned that the Jiang family had also received news that the Imperial Prince Zhao Fang was choosing a consort, and had specifically sent their legitimate daughter to Bianjing from thousands of miles away.

"If the Jiang family's young lady is free today, she can also come to our tent to find Tingyi for some fun."

"Thank you, Madam."

After the Jiang family's elderly woman finished speaking, she raised her eyes to look at Madam Bai and continued: "Madam, this servant has a somewhat rude question. I don't know if I should ask it or not."

"Please speak, elderly woman."

Madam Bai smiled.

After pondering for a moment, the Jiang family's elderly woman smiled embarrassedly and said: "Madam, which family does the young master who just left the Marquis's tent belong to? This servant finds him truly elegant and handsome."

Hearing this, Pingmei and the two maids behind her couldn't help but raise the corners of their mouths.

Although Madam Chai was smiling, there was no warmth in her eyes, only some unclear expression.

Madam Bai and Mother Chang to the side looked at each other and smiled, saying: "Oh! That is the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family from the Marquis Yongyi's mansion."

"I wonder how old this Fifth Young Master is, and if he is betrothed?" the Jiang family's elderly woman continued to ask with a smile.

Madam Bai smiled: "He is at the age of twenty, not yet betrothed, and is currently studying; he is a provincial graduate."

The Jiang family's elderly woman's eyes lit up, she nodded repeatedly with satisfaction, looked at Pingmei uncertainly, and said: "Madam, I heard that the eldest young lady of the Marquis Ningyuan's mansion is from the Marquis Yongyi's mansion. Is it this eldest young lady?"

Pingmei nodded with a smile.

"Madam, please forgive me, but our family's two legitimate young ladies have both arrived in the capital! If there is free time, perhaps..." the Jiang family's elderly woman smiled.

"Easy! Easy! I also have to ask my mother about this matter," Pingmei replied with a smile.

"Thank you, Madam, thank you, Eldest Da Niangzi!" the Jiang family's elderly woman bowed and said.

The Chai family's elderly woman, standing behind Madam Chai, looked at her own mistress's expression, bowed, and whispered: "Madam, set your heart at ease! There are many discerning people in the world. Doesn't this just prove that the young lady didn't misjudge the person!"

The Jiang family's elderly woman smiled: "Then, this servant will take her leave first."

"Mother Chang, see her out."

"Yes, Madam."

Watching the Jiang family's elderly woman leave the tent, Madam Chai took a deep breath, looked at Madam Bai and Pingmei with a smile, and said: "Sigh, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me! I really hope that Jing-ge'er, this child, could be like a young lady from a great family, never stepping out of the gate."

Madam Bai nodded with a smile.

Pingmei stood up somewhat embarrassedly, bowed with a smile, and said: "Madam, I represent my mother here to thank you for your favor."

Madam Chai nodded with a smile and said: "Pingmei, sit down quickly! Sigh! I am truly hoping from the bottom of my heart that the metropolitan examination comes sooner."

Inside the tent, while several madams and titled ladies were talking,

Xu Zaijing had already arrived behind the Gu family's tent.

Standing on the platform, looking at the young lady kicking the shuttlecock behind a certain tent some distance away, Xu Zaijing said: "Hmm!"

Gu Tingye and the others, who were crowding around Xu Zaijing and craning their necks toward that side, looked at Xu Zaijing suspiciously and said: "Jing-ge'er, what does your 'hmm' mean?"

"Yuan Erlang has good taste!"

"Is she a good-looking one?" Gu Tingye asked curiously.

Without waiting for Xu Zaijing to answer, Gu Tingye continued: "Jiulang, Changfeng, why don't you go over and see for yourselves."

Watching Changfeng and Qiao Jiulang's moved expressions, Xu Zaijing said: "Go ahead! If Sixth Young Master turns against you later, don't blame me."

"Why would Han-ge'er turn against us?" Changfeng asked suspiciously.

Qiao Jiulang: "That's right, Jing-ge'er, why?"

Gu Tingye to the side thought for a moment and then said uncertainly: "Jing-ge'er, you wouldn't be saying that young lady is the one we were previously..."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

"Ah? Why isn't she by Sixth Young Master's side, but behind the tent over there?" Qiao Jiulang asked suspiciously.

Changfeng said to the side: "Maybe she is accompanying a young lady from a great family who has come to the capital?"

"That's most likely it," Qiao Jiulang nodded and said.

Water-Facing Hall,

A colorful canopy was set up in front of the hall, and under the canopy sat the nobles and officials of the court.

Inside the main hall,

Only the Emperor's family was sitting.

The Emperor sat on the dragon throne behind the imperial desk, and the Empress sat to the side.

"This subject's wife takes her leave."

"This young lady takes her leave."

Watching the official family members leading their daughters out of the main hall, the Empress turned to look at Zhao Fang and smiled: "Fang'er, how do you feel?"

Zhao Fang shook his head slightly, feeling a bit bored.

The Emperor and Empress looked at each other helplessly.

The head eunuch standing to the side understood and continued to shout: "Proclaim, the family of the Earl of Huixian, the Tian family, to enter the hall!"

Soon,

A woman in gorgeous clothes led a young lady with a beautiful face to walk into the hall. After standing still, she bowed and said:

"This subject's wife has seen His Majesty, the Empress, and His Highness."

"This young lady has seen..."

Looking at the official family members standing not far away, a rare smile appeared on the corner of Zhao Fang's mouth.

Seeing their son's expression, the Emperor and Empress also felt much joy in their hearts.

The Emperor and Empress asked two questions, and the Tian family's young lady in the hall answered quite appropriately.

After the Emperor and Empress finished asking, the Empress turned her head to look at Zhao Fang and said: "Fang'er, do you want to ask a few questions?"

Zhao Fang nodded and said: "I wonder, Miss Tian, what hobbies do you have at home?"

Hearing Zhao Fang's voice,

The Countess of Huixian looked at her own daughter with eyes full of excitement.

The Tian family's noble daughter took a deep breath and said in a somewhat affected voice: "Replying to His Highness, this young lady at home mostly studies things like burning incense, flower arranging, hanging paintings, and tea art."

"Besides that, do you have any other hobbies?"

"Cuju, pitch-pot, chess, backgammon, polo, and hammer-ball, this young lady also knows a little."

"Are there any others?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

After thinking for a while, the Tian family's noble daughter shook her head with an affected voice: "Replying to His Highness, no more."

A look of slight disappointment appeared in Zhao Fang's eyes, and he said:

"Do you read books?"

"My family has hired a female teacher, and I have read the 'Admonitions for Women' and the 'Analects for Women'."

Zhao Fang nodded: "For the various performances in the pond today, Commander Tian has put in much effort."

"My father, it is his duty," the Tian family's noble daughter replied.

Watching Zhao Fang, who had finished speaking, shake his head slightly,

The Empress sighed and smiled: "Countess of Huixian, you have worked hard."

Seeing this situation, the Countess of Huixian tactfully bowed and said: "Your Majesty, you are too kind! This subject's wife takes her leave."

The Tian family's noble daughter was also a bit stunned, and after her mother finished speaking, she also spoke to take her leave, feeling somewhat at a loss.

In the hall,

The Emperor first looked at the Empress. When the Empress noticed his gaze and looked back, the Emperor glanced at Zhao Fang again.

The Empress understood what the Emperor meant in his eyes, which was, "What kind of 'Four Consorts' does Fang'er actually want to choose?"

The so-called 'Four Consorts' are the four ranks of 'Noble, Virtuous, Decent, and Worthy' below the Crown Princess.

After Zhao Fang succeeds to the throne, these four will be the Noble Consort, Virtuous Consort, Decent Consort, and Worthy Consort below the Empress.

The Empress shook her head slightly, indicating that she also didn't know, and nodded to the head eunuch.

"Proclaim, the family of the Minister of Personnel, Lord Li, to enter the hall."

The head eunuch shouted loudly.

After a while,

The nearsighted Fifth Da Niangzi of the Li family, in gorgeous clothes, followed behind her mother, walking into the hall with her head lowered.

After bowing and offering greetings like the Tian family.

The Empress said in a light tone: "Rise."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, the Empress, and His Highness," the mother and daughter bowed and thanked.

"How is Lord Li's health these two days?" the Emperor asked softly.

"Replying to Your Majesty, my father-in-law has taken the prescription prescribed by the imperial physician, and his health has improved quite a bit," the Li family's daughter-in-law said with her head lowered.

"Good! In this spring season of alternating cold and heat, Minister Li must take good care of his health."

"Yes, Your Majesty! This subject's wife will certainly convey this," the Li family's daughter-in-law replied.

After speaking, the Emperor looked at Zhao Fang, signaling him to take over.

"I wonder, Miss Li, what hobbies do you have at home?"

Han Wulang Da Niangzi of the Li family squinted slightly, looked at the Emperor's family in front, and said crisply: "Replying, replying to His Highness, this young lady at home just loves to read some miscell..."

"Cough." The Li family's daughter-in-law coughed lightly.

"Just loves to read books," the Fifth Da Niangzi of the Li family said.

Zhao Fang smiled and continued: "Anything else?"

Han Wulang Da Niangzi of the Li family's answer was similar to the Tian family's young lady's, which was burning incense, flower arranging, hanging paintings, tea art, cuju, pitch-pot, chess, backgammon,

"... polo, hammer-ball. Later, when I, this young lady, participated in a literary gathering, Miss Feiyan of the Rong family recommended soft-bow archery, and this young lady often practices it."

"Haha! With your nearsightedness, how do you practice soft-bow archery?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

"Replying to His Highness, this young lady practices by feeling."

"How is the effect?"

"Out of ten arrows, I can hit eight or nine."

"Oh?"

"Hmm! If Your Highness doesn't believe me, this young lady can demonstrate."

"Haha! Looking at you like this, I feel that what you said is the truth."

The mother of the Fifth Da Niangzi of the Li family knew that her daughter was nearsighted and was just here to make up the numbers, holding no hope at all.

But, watching her daughter talking to Zhao Fang to the side, an unbelievable thought surfaced.

"Then what do you think of my appearance?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

Han Wulang Da Niangzi of the Li family raised her head, squinted, and looked: "This young lady dares not comment on His Highness's appearance, but His Highness's voice is very pleasant to hear."

"Hahahaha." Zhao Fang's laughter rang out in the hall.

Seeing their son happy, the Empress smiled and looked at the Emperor.

"Humph! This boy really knows how to pick people."

After the Emperor finished speaking, the head eunuch to the side hurriedly said: "Eldest Da Niangzi of the Li family, please take the Fifth Da Niangzi to sit to the side with the female official."

"Yes! Yes!" The Li family's daughter-in-law hurriedly agreed.

Han Wulang Da Niangzi of the Li family bowed to the Emperor and Empress with standard movements.

Several more noble daughters from high-ranking noble families in the capital entered the hall.

But there were none like the Fifth Da Niangzi of the Li family anymore.

"Proclaim, the Eldest Da Niangzi and noble daughter of the Yao family of the Duke of Qian, to enter the hall~"

Following the head eunuch's proclamation,

The daughter-in-law of the Duke of Qian's family led her daughter to walk into the hall.

After bowing, offering greetings, and talking together,

It was Zhao Fang's turn to ask questions again.

Zhao Fang looked at the Ninth Da Niangzi of the Yao family, whose temperament was somewhat similar to the Fifth Da Niangzi of the Duke of Ying's family, and asked questions similar to the previous ones.

The Ninth Da Niangzi of the Yao family's answer was also similar.

"I heard that previously you sent your younger brother, Yao the Fourteenth, to inquire about the hobbies of Xu family's Jing-ge'er?"

As soon as these words were spoken,

The Yao family's daughter-in-law looked somewhat panicked, but the Ninth Da Niangzi of the Yao family nodded and said: "Replying to His Highness, yes! The sisters who are on good terms with this young lady mostly want to know the hobbies of such a good young man as Xu family's Jing-ge'er."

"It's just that my younger brother is a bit clever, so he managed to find out a little."

"Hmm, you are quite honest. You just said that you also like soft-bow archery?"

"Replying to His Highness, yes."

"Good."

After the Ninth Da Niangzi of the Yao family was taken to sit next to the Fifth Da Niangzi of the Li family.

The Emperor looked at Zhao Fang suspiciously and said: "Fang'er, why do I see that you are particularly fond of young ladies who like soft-bow archery?"

The Empress nodded in agreement and looked at Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang looked at his parents somewhat embarrassedly and said: "Later, later, when they become consorts, they can..."

Before Zhao Fang finished speaking, the Emperor frowned and said sternly:

"Absurd!"

"Fang'er, are you trying to let your consorts compete with you in archery for fun?"

Listening to the Emperor's words, the Empress also looked at Zhao Fang seriously.

Zhao Fang waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Father, Mother, no, it's not like that."

"Then speak!" the Emperor frowned and said.

"Your son... is for the sake of my consorts to have some common hobbies with Jing-ge'er's future eldest young lady, so that it can be livelier when they enter the palace to talk, isn't it..."

"You! You, just for this?"

"Hmm!" Zhao Fang nodded heavily.

"Pfft~"

Hearing this, the Emperor pursed his lips and chuckled boredly, a thought surfacing in his heart: 'I shouldn't have asked.'

"You really know how to think for him! You've thought quite far ahead, already 'eldest young lady'. Humph!"

The Empress beside the Emperor also looked at her son helplessly.

The Empress never expected that her son's standard for choosing a consort would actually be this.

"Your Majesty, don't say that. These two young ladies Fang'er chose, I see, whether it's family background, character, appearance, or conversation, are quite good," the Empress smiled.

"Hmm." The slightly jealous Emperor nodded while pursing his lips.

By the side of Jinming Pond,

Shen Congxing, Duan Chengqian, and several others, who were from Yuzhou and had returned to the capital with Xiong Yan from Guangnan West Circuit, stood beside the Xiong family's tent.

Seeing several noble young ladies walking over with maids and elderly women from not far away, they hurriedly turned sideways and walked toward the pond.

After the noble young ladies entered the tent of the Viscount Xie family, Shen Congxing and the others turned around and continued to watch Jinming Pond not far away.

"Everyone says Jinming Pond is lively; today we can finally see it," Shen Congxing said with a smile.

"Shen Dage, when the Emperor had his previous birthday, you accompanied the Lord to the capital, didn't you see the liveliness of this Jinming Pond?"

"No, it only opens for a little over a month. By the time I arrived, the garden was already closed," Shen Congxing said, continuing to look at the pond surface:

"Old Geng, I heard from my brother-in-law that there is an extremely powerful master on Pan Tower Main Street. After the young Earl finishes his business here, we will go and ask for advice. We must extinguish the prestige of that gang of former Bai Gao foot soldiers."

"Good! That gang of foot soldiers has real skills," one of the people in the crowd nodded and said.

"Shen Dage, look, someone is coming," another sturdy young man pointed to a group of noble young men with servants and followers.

"Old Shen, worthy of being the dandy young masters of Bianjing, this group looks quite different in momentum," Geng Jiechuan, who was called Old Geng, said in a low voice.

"Hmm," Shen Congxing continued: "Looking at them coming toward us, they might be friends of the young Earl."

Xu Zaijing looked at Shen Congxing, whose face was very familiar at the entrance of the Xiong family's tent, and said somewhat suspiciously: "You... how come you are here?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing speak, Little Duan beside Shen Congxing looked at Xu Zaijing with an unconvinced expression and said: "Why, you..."

After Little Duan was tugged on the sleeve by Old Geng, he turned his head to look at Old Geng. Geng Jiechuan said in a low voice: "Shut up! I see this group of young masters is not easy to provoke, especially the one in the lead, his momentum is not quite right!"

"How old is he, what's not right about him?" Little Duan said in a low voice.

Shen Congxing, however, bowed and cupped his hands, asking respectfully: "May I ask which young master is before me?"

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 592 =====