Chapter 600

When Chai Zhengzheng came to Bianjing to enter the palace, she had met Imperial Consort Rong a few times.

Although they were both women, after meeting Imperial Consort Rong, Chai Zhengzheng was still attracted by her appearance and couldn't help but take a few extra looks.

Chai Zhengzheng was very familiar with Rong Feiyan, having met her countless times at various tea parties, flower appreciation gatherings, and elegant clothing salons.

When looking closely, one would discover that Rong Feiyan's appearance not only possessed the advantages of her older sister, Imperial Consort Rong, but Rong Feiyan's skin was fairer and her features were even more exquisite.

After all, the two sisters grew up in different environments; Imperial Consort Rong grew up in the marketplace, while Rong Feiyan grew up in a marquis's household.

In Chai Zhengzheng's memory, the only people whose skin tone could rival Rong Feiyan's, besides herself, was that Sheng family's Sixth Younger Sister, Minglan, who was very skilled at pitch-pot.

Chai Zhengzheng was naturally beautiful from a young age, with an extremely lovely appearance, and there would be relatives and family members of old acquaintances who would be so stunned when they saw Chai Zhengzheng that they couldn't take their eyes off her.

When Madam Chai looked at her own daughter, the most frequent sincere remark she made was, "How does my daughter get more beautiful the more I look at her!"

Before coming to Bianjing, when Chai Zhengzheng looked in the mirror, she would often see her personal maid, Qingxue, staring blankly at her reflection.

Afterwards,

Chai Zhengzheng went through hardships to enter Bianjing,

And began to come into contact with the noble ladies and official families of Bianjing at the Duke Qi's mansion.

It's no wonder they say Bianjing is the most prosperous place in the Great Zhou.

Among the noble ladies Chai Zhengzheng had met that day alone, there were several whose beauty was not inferior to hers.

If one had to say who was the most dazzling, the most eye-catching, and the one who made people notice her at a glance, it was Rong Feiyan.

Later, Chai Zhengzheng drank tea and appreciated incense with the noble ladies of Bianjing, and heard from others that if a certain polo match or poetry gathering in Bianjing could invite Rong Feiyan, then invitations to that polo match or poetry gathering would be hard to come by!

While this was certainly due to Imperial Consort Rong being favored, it was more so because of Rong Feiyan's appearance.

Chai Zhengzheng had been in the capital for more than two years.

These two years were exactly when she was growing up; she had become taller, her figure was slender, and her appearance was becoming even more beautiful.

Of course, Rong Feiyan was also changing!

If Rong Feiyan had previously been a flower that attracted attention before it had even fully bloomed, then in these two years, she had begun to slightly reveal her own brilliance.

In the words of the Gu family's Tingyi sister, she and Rong Feiyan were like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with their own strengths.

So, who was Rong Feiyan's sweetheart?

Chai Zhengzheng knew without thinking that it was the Xu family's Fifth Young Master beside her.

A few years ago, Xu Zaijing's deeds of overpowering the youths of two nations in wrestling and archery before the Emperor in the palace had spread almost throughout the Great Zhou.

Chai Zhengzheng had heard the account from the Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi; if someone said Xu Zaijing had no intention of venting anger for Rong Feiyan, she absolutely would not believe it.

If Xu Zaijing were a scholar from a humble background, or a young captain in the military with no roots, it would be easier to talk about.

In terms of prospects, the Chai family had the Duke Qi's mansion and the Xiangyang Marquis's mansion, and the Rong family had suffered setbacks in front of these two families.

In terms of family wealth, the Chai family was like a mountain of gold and a sea of silver; looking across the Great Zhou, there were truly few who could compare.

But, unfortunately, Xu Zaijing was neither of those things.

His status was that of a legitimate son of a marquis's household, he was skilled in both civil and military arts, and he was favored in the hearts of the current and future Emperors; even without the help of an in-law family, his future was still limitless.

Although in terms of marriage, it was the parents' command and the matchmaker's words,

But as for who Xu Zaijing's future wife would be, besides considering the royal family's thoughts, it basically all depended on Xu Zaijing's own preferences.

Having seen Rong Feiyan's beauty, Chai Zhengzheng felt somewhat insecure in her own heart.

"Miss Zhengzheng?"

The voice ringing in her ear made Chai Zhengzheng wake up with a start.

"Ah? Xu Wu Ge Xu, what's wrong?"

Chai Zhengzheng asked.

Chai Jin, on the side, looked at Chai Zhengzheng in confusion and said, "Younger sister, Jing-ge'er has called you several times; what are you thinking about?"

"No, I'm not thinking about anything..."

Chai Zhengzheng stood up and responded, bowed to Sun Shi, Xie Shi, and Hualan, then took her maid and followed the footsteps of Chai Jin and the other three.

Chai Bo, on the side, stroked the neck of the pony and smiled, "Younger sister, how many rare books did you collect in that Sibaozhai that you can actually remember them?"

Chai Zhengzheng glared and said, "How could I not remember them?"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "I wonder what book Miss Zhengzheng is talking about?"

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and said, "Xu Wu Ge Xu, it's a book called 'Nanyue Guangji', which mostly talks about the customs and scenery of the south. Have you ever read it?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head.

"Then when I get home, I'll have someone send you a newly rubbed copy."

"Thank you for your trouble."

When Xu Zaijing and the others went to the horse racing track,

In the main hall of the Xu family where guests were entertained,

Madam Chai sat on a Luo Han chair, took a sip of warm tea, looked at Xie Shi who was speaking, and smiled, "Not bad! Although Miss Zhi of the Cao family is of a suitable age, she is the niece of the Empress, so naturally, she cannot enter the palace."

Sun Shi nodded and said, "Then besides the Cao family, who else can the Crown Princess come from? The Zhang family's Fifth Da Niangzi of the Duke of England? She is a childhood sweetheart with the Second Young Master Zheng; His Majesty and the Empress will not break up a pair of lovebirds."

Madam Chai nodded repeatedly and said, "In my opinion, the Crown Princess might be chosen from the Gao family's young ladies."

Hualan asked with a confused expression, "The Gao family? Is it the Gao family from Laizhou? Isn't it said..."

Hualan did not continue.

Sun Shi and her eldest daughter-in-law exchanged a glance, their eyes full of understanding.

Xie Shi explained, "Hualan, Madam Chai is not talking about the Laizhou Gao family, but the founding general Gao family, whose ancestral home is Bozhou. Currently, the head of the Gao family is the Magistrate of Xiongzhou, and the Madam is the Empress's younger sister."

Hualan nodded, "Oh! So the Empress is the aunt of the Gao family's young lady?"

Madam Chai smiled and nodded.

Sun Shi looked at Madam Chai and said, "Then what do you think of the Zhending Han family?"

Madam Chai nodded, "The Great Minister Han has been an official in the court for many years and has a distinguished reputation; it wouldn't be strange for an Empress to come from there."

After finishing, Madam Chai glanced at the Xu family's mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the hall.

Currently, the Imperial Prince Zhao Fang is choosing a Crown Princess, and some families are pondering which family's young lady it might be, in order to get close, build relationships, and plan for the future in advance.

And the best way to get close and build relationships is through marriage.

Suddenly,

Madam Chai looked at Sun Shi with a flash of inspiration.

After Sun Shi noticed Madam Chai's gaze, she looked back with some confusion and said, "Younger Sister Cheng, what's wrong?"

Madam Chai weighed her words and said, "Elder Sister Sun, has the Empress said what kind of in-law family she wants Jing-ge'er to find? Will it be with..."

"Will it be a marriage alliance with the future Empress's family?" Madam Chai did not say this sentence.

Sun Shi understood Madam Chai's meaning, smiled, and shook her head, "The Empress summoned me into the palace before, but she didn't say that."

"The Empress only said that she treats Jing'er like a nephew, and asked me not to consider his marriage too early, so as not to delay his studies and imperial examinations."

When Madam Chai heard this, a smile appeared on her face.

A marriage alliance with the future Empress's family is not the only choice for the Xu family; there are also many young men in the Cao family.

"The Empress is right; an official position obtained through hereditary privilege and a Jinshi degree obtained through the imperial examination are different in status in the officialdom!"

"Then my Zhengzheng will just be raised for two more years."

Madam Chai said with a smile.

These words, which were almost explicitly stated, made Xie Shi and Hualan look at each other in surprise.

This time it was Sun Shi's turn to hold Madam Chai's hand; Sun Shi said with some embarrassment on her face, "I say, Younger Sister Cheng, you..."

Madam Chai covered Sun Shi's hand with her other hand, patted it, and smiled, "Elder Sister Sun, my daughter is willing to wait, and I can't force her! Besides, I'm not in a hurry, and I'm more willing to wait."

"Good food is worth waiting for!"

Sun Shi nodded solemnly and said, "Younger Sister Cheng, since you've said so, I can't keep putting on airs..."

Madam Chai patted Sun Shi's hand again and shook her head, "Elder Sister Sun, listen to me!"

"There is no reason to say that because Jing-ge'er saved people and did a favor, I, as a mother, should use 'my daughter is willing to wait' to force you, Elder Sister Sun, and Jing-ge'er! To make you say what the future will be, and that Jing-ge'er must do this or that."

"I feel that this is unfair to Jing-ge'er."

"How about this, let's wait until Jing-ge'er passes the metropolitan examination and see what his intentions are, and then we'll talk about the future. What do you think?"

Sun Shi patted Madam Chai's hand and said in a deep voice, "Younger Sister is right!"

Looking at Sun Shi's expression, Madam Chai smiled and nodded.

After seeing off Madam Chai and the others,

When Sun Shi was walking back, she looked at Xie Shi and Hualan beside her and said, "What Madam Chai said in the hall this afternoon regarding Miss Chai, we must not talk about it outside; it concerns the reputation of a young lady."

"Yes, Mother-in-law."

Xie Shi and Hualan responded.

After entering the hall,

Sun Shi glanced at her youngest son and said to Xie Shi, "Daughter-in-law of the eldest son, Rui-jie'er is getting married in two days, and the Marquis cannot return; you must apologize to your parents on my behalf."

"Mother, my father and mother know what's going on, they won't mind."

"That still must be said."

"Yes."

"Hualan, there are many happy events this month; you should help your sister-in-law more and remind her."

"Yes, Mother."

"Jing'er, there are many things this month; you and your brother should also ask for leave from Scholar Zhuang."

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head: "Quyuan Street is not like the area near the Imperial Palace."

Chai Zhengzheng, realizing she had made a slip of the tongue, hurriedly tried to make amends: "Xu Wu Ge Xu... I heard from my mother that the residence bestowed by the Emperor is in a very good location, and the layout of the running water and pond inside is quite good."

Xu Zaijing thought of the residence he had visited before and nodded: "Miss Zhengzheng's words are very true."

Looking again at Xu Zaijing's profile, thinking of the armor in her house, Chai Zhengzheng said with some hesitation: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, actually your..."

Listening to Chai Zhengzheng's hesitant words, Xu Zaijing asked in confusion: "My... what?"

Chai Zhengzheng pursed her lips and said: "Nothing! Xu Wu Ge Xu, that residence of yours is truly good."

"Thank you for the compliment, Miss Zhengzheng."

As the two talked, they soon left the passage.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the spacious horse racing track and the trees with tender green leaves near the edge of the track, and her mood seemed to become even better.

Looking at the two lush trees near the pond at the edge of the track, Chai Zhengzheng said: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, last time I came, the scenery around here was still bleak in winter!"

"Time only knows how to urge people to grow old! In the blink of an eye, the trees have turned green." Chai Zhengzheng sighed with a smile.

After thinking for a while, Xu Zaijing shook his head: "This poem is a bit inappropriate."

Chai Zhengzheng: "Hmm?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "At such a flowery age, Miss Zhengzheng, how can you say the word 'old'."

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing and smiled: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, is it the word 'old' (lao), or 'Laozi' (the philosopher)?"

Hearing these words come out of the mouth of a noble lady from a high-ranking family like Chai Zhengzheng, Xu Zaijing was slightly stunned.