Chapter 623

The candlelight flickered,

Mother Chang shook her head slightly and said hesitantly: "Madam, with such heartless parents, will Miss Yu be implicated in the future when she marries into our family..."

Da Niangzi Bai looked at Gu Tingye and said: "Ye'er, what do you think?"

Gu Tingye looked down at the ground without speaking.

Da Niangzi Bai and Mother Chang looked at each other and said: "Ye'er, you are the legal son of the Hou Fu; if this marriage doesn't work, we will find another one! If you are unwilling in your heart, even if I have to offend the Empress, I will enter the palace..."

Gu Tingye raised his head, looked at Da Niangzi Bai, and said: "Mother!"

When Da Niangzi Bai looked at him, Gu Tingye shook his head and said solemnly: "I am a man; if the marriage doesn't work, I will naturally find another one. However, if our family does this, how will Miss Yanran discuss marriage in the future?"

Da Niangzi Bai waved her hand: "Ye'er, the Yu family is a scholarly family of officials; if it doesn't work with our family, it won't be hard to find another!"

Gu Tingye said urgently: "Mother, I have taken a fancy to Miss Yanran!"

"Your son has military merit, and I will take the imperial examination to enter the government later; I am not some official by inheritance! If the Yu family has any trouble in the future, I will block it in front of her."

Looking at her second son, who had the appearance of an adult and had responsibility and commitment, Da Niangzi Bai smiled, her eyes full of praise, and was about to praise Gu Tingye.

Gu Tingye continued: "Besides, Jinggeer's sworn brother is the young Duke Lu! That Little Yu official works in the Ministry of Works; if he dares to do anything in the future, I will ask Jinggeer to find connections to fix him!"

Looking at Mother Chang, who wanted to speak but stopped, Gu Tingye waved his hand: "Mother Chang, don't worry! That Yu second son is even easier to talk to; I can press him there with one hand!"

The smile on Da Niangzi Bai's face disappeared, she took a deep breath to adjust her mood, and said: "Hmm, since you think so, Ye'er, I will go to the Yu family a few more times!"

Gu Tingye nodded with a smile: "Hmm!"

"Hurry back and rest; you have to get up early for school tomorrow." Da Niangzi Bai said.

"Yes, Mother."

After Gu Tingye left the room, Mother Chang supported Da Niangzi Bai and walked toward the bedroom.

Arriving at the bedside, Da Niangzi Bai sat on the edge of the bed, pondered for a moment, and said softly: "Ye'er is becoming more and more like the Marquis."

Mother Chang nodded: "Madam is right!"

Saying this, Mother Chang helped Da Niangzi Bai put her legs on the bed.

Looking at Da Niangzi Bai's expression, Mother Chang said gently: "Madam, you have been in the Gu family for more than twenty years! I have seen it clearly from the side; the Marquis is a long-lasting person, and he still misses the late Da Niangzi Qin, but now most of his heart is on you."

Da Niangzi Bai nodded, lay on the pillow, and continued: "Hmm, Ye'er has taken a fancy to Miss Yanran, I think he won't change easily. After such a thing happened, I don't know if she has any personal maids she can trust."

Mother Chang lowered half of the bed curtain and said: "Why don't you let Sister Yi go to the Yu family to ask and see more."

Da Niangzi Bai closed her eyes and said: "That's right! Sister Yi goes to the Yu family, who is managing the shops near Guangfu Ward?"

"Da Niangzi Wei."

"Hmm, tell her to pay more attention to the maids and old women of the Yu family, and take the opportunity to inquire more."

"Yes."

Saying this, Mother Chang lowered the other half of the bed curtain.

The next day,

Morning,

Quyuanjie,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

At this time, the sky was much brighter than in winter.

In the wide horse-running field in the courtyard, there was a layer of thin mist floating in the air.

The lanterns in front of the wooden house by the field had been extinguished, but one could still see the clear and fresh hoof prints not far away.

Old Yin was sitting on a bench in front of the wooden house with Alan and Xunshu, picking up a feathered arrow from a stack beside him from time to time, checking it, and then putting the good ones aside and the damaged ones aside.

One side of the horse-running field led directly to the main gate, and at this time, carriages and horses were driving out of the gate.

"Ah oh~"

Qingyun, who was riding a horse and covering his mouth to yawn, looked at the several men standing by their horses not far from the Xu family gate and hurriedly cupped his hands to greet them.

In front of Qingyun,

Xu Zaijing smiled and cupped his hands to return the salute: "Brother Gao, it's been a while; you look a bit thin."

Gao Yunqing, with a tired face, smiled and returned the salute: "Fifth young master, I have been on official business outside the capital these days, often sleeping in the open, but fortunately, I have gained a lot."

When Gao Yunqing was speaking, the faces of the several Imperial City Division soldiers standing behind him were also full of smiles.

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile: "Then this hard work, we didn't suffer in vain."

"Hahaha, Fifth young master is right." Gao Yunqing laughed.

"Are Brother Zhao and the others well?" Xu Zaijing continued.

"Good! Very good."

Xu Zaijing nodded repeatedly.

Before, Xu Zaijing returned to the capital from Beizhou and made a scene at the Northern Liao embassy, helping the Imperial City Division catch two fish of different sizes.

So, when the Northern Liao embassy hadn't returned to the Northern Liao territory,

Many spies of the Northern Liao intelligence agency, the Liushou Mansion, and the Zhuangfo Terrace within the Great Zhou territory had already been arrested by the Imperial City Division.

In the days after the New Year,

In places Xu Zaijing couldn't see, the Imperial City Division, which had been stifled for more than ten years, had fruitful results and vented its anger.

Many Imperial City Division soldiers who participated in the arrest would be promoted based on their merits when rewards were given this year.

The soldiers who could follow Gao Yunqing were naturally valued by Zhao Meifeng, and they naturally knew more or less that the reason they could make contributions was still this young master before them.

"Brother Gao, let's talk as we walk."

Xu Zaijing smiled and reached out.

"Okay."

Everyone turned their horses and walked toward the entrance of Quyuanjie.

Xu Zaijing and Gao Yunqing were in front of the carriage, and Qingyun and others were behind the carriage.

Before walking out of Quyuanjie, Xu Zaijing had generally explained the matter.

Gao Yunqing nodded: "Fifth young master, this is a small matter, and I will give you an answer in a day or two."

Xu Zaijing cupped his hands with a smile: "Sorry to trouble Brother Gao for this trip; it concerns the inner family, please cover it up a bit."

A smile appeared on Gao Yunqing's face, and he said: "During this period, there are many affairs in the division! By the Emperor's decree..."

Gao Yunqing bowed to the sky and continued: "Many new soldiers have been recruited. One of them is surnamed Li, and he has a relationship with the old constable in the Kaifeng Prefecture, and was sent to my hands to be an apprentice."

"This person has a clear background and works efficiently; the matter of investigating the background of the Yu family's maids and old women, I think he is just right."

Xu Zaijing nodded thoughtfully: "Since Brother Gao says so, then it must be correct."

Out of Quyuanjie,

The time was still early,

There were not many pedestrians on the street.

"Brother Gao, how is the situation in the north now?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Gao Yunqing smiled: "The eyes and ears of Northern Liao in our Great Zhou have been mostly arrested, and Northern Liao is blind. Now they are naturally nervously stationing troops at the border, fearing that we will attack."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

Gao Yunqing added: "By the way, maybe the news hasn't spread yet! I heard from the soldiers in the northwest that a brave person surnamed Hua has emerged among the scouts of the Xu Marquis's cavalry!"

Xu Zaijing's eyes lit up and he smiled: "Oh? Can be called brave by the Imperial City Division soldiers, is there any outstanding battle merit?"

Gao Yunqing nodded repeatedly, obviously very admiring, and said: "It is said that he and his robe-mate went out to investigate the enemy situation in the Northern Liao territory, and unfortunately encountered a cavalry troop of Northern Liao."

"As soon as they came up, the robe-mate was shot in the shoulder! This man let the robe-mate leave first, and he himself dragged that cavalry troop."

Xu Zaijing: "And then?"

Gao Yunqing laughed: "Later, this man not only returned safe and sound, but also dragged back more than ten horses carrying the enemy's corpses."

"It is said that this man's archery is outstanding; when the injured robe-mate looked back, he found that the man surnamed Hua was simply a divine archer, and the arrows were not only shot fast, but also nailed into people's heads without missing."

"At first, they were chased, but later it was this man surnamed Hua chasing people."

"Fifth young master, I have been to the Hou Fu several times, have I seen this good man surnamed Hua?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile: "At that time, Brother Gao, you were outside the capital, so you shouldn't have seen him."

Gao Yunqing patted the saddle in front of him, and said with regret in his tone: "Pity, pity!"

Then his eyes lit up, and he said: "This good man, Fifth young master, are you familiar with him?"

"I am familiar, we have exchanged archery skills together."

"Good, good, good! When this good man returns, Fifth young master, you must tell me."

"Rest assured." Xu Zaijing smiled.

The two said a few more words before parting.

At the beginning of the Chen hour (7:30 AM),

The morning light was bright,

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family,

The people in the school who had studied for an hour, after Official Zhuang spoke, stood up one after another, either moving their bodies or preparing to drink water and tea.

Xu Zaijing stood up and twisted his waist.

"Young master."

Yunxiang held two pieces of pastry with paper and handed them to Xu Zaijing.

"Hmm." Xu Zaijing nodded, took them, and started eating.

Yunxiang went to the wooden platform and took Xu Zaijing's large porcelain cup with a handle.

When Xu Zaijing was drinking water, he noticed Minglan's gaze from the corner of his eye.

When he put down the porcelain cup and looked at Minglan, he found Minglan lowering her head and continuing to drink the drink in small sips.

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and understood in his heart: It must be that Minglan heard about Yanran's matter from the Old Madam yesterday afternoon and was worried.

Afterward, Xu Zaijing whispered two words to Yunxiang and continued to say in a low voice: "Talk more about this matter with Xique, Xiaotao, and the others."

Yunxiang hurriedly blinked to indicate she received it.

Seeing this, Xu Zaijing nodded with full appreciation.

Therefore,

During the break in the morning again,

After listening to Xiaotao whisper a few words in her ear, Minglan's expression relaxed a lot.

In the blink of an eye,

A day had passed,

Since the polo match, everyone had been in class for ten days.

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others were easy to say, after all, they were young, and they didn't feel anything about getting up early every day.

But Official Zhuang's age was there, so he announced that there would be a two-day break tomorrow!

The next day,

At the beginning of the Chen hour (8:00 AM)

Quyuanjie,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Xu Zaijing's courtyard in the backyard.

In the morning light,

"Chirp, chirp."

There were unknown birds chirping with a melodious and moving sound.

In the courtyard, the lush and green grape trellis was full of clusters of small green particles, which were the grape trees blooming.

Under the grape trellis, in the large fish tank that had been wiped oily and shiny, the fish were swimming happily inside.

There was a cat wearing a gold bell walking toward the fish tank with silent steps.

Before it got close, it was picked up by a pair of white and delicate hands.

"Still dare to come to our courtyard, aren't you afraid the young master will fix you?" The girl poked the cat's furry head with her finger, and the crisp sound of speaking came.

There were other blooming flowers and trees planted in the courtyard,

Bees were buzzing and flapping their wings from time to time, landing in the flower stamens to collect honey.

Through the flower branches, one could see that the window of Xu Zaijing's study with light gauze was open.

From the courtyard, one could see Xu Zaijing's side silhouette writing intently behind the desk.

Not far outside the study, two beautiful twin maids were working together to lift the clothes-drying rack out of the room.

At this time,

A steward mother dressed decently entered the courtyard from the moon gate.

"Oh, where is Mother Xia? How can you let them move this?" The steward mother who entered the door laughed.

"Greetings, Mother Zhu! Mother Xia is behind us!" Yunxiang and her sister bowed and smiled.

As soon as the words fell, Mother Xia, holding a large wooden basin for laundry, also walked out of the room.

"Young master, Mother Zhu is here." Qingcao, holding the cat, turned her head and shouted toward the study.

After shouting,

Qingcao looked at the woman following Mother Zhu with some curiosity.

"Coming."

Xu Zaijing's voice came.

Qingcao, Yunxiang, and Huaxiang looked at each other, then hurriedly followed Mother Zhu's footsteps and walked into the room.

In the main hall of the main house,

"Greetings, Fifth young master."

Mother Zhu, who entered the room, bowed with a smile.

Xu Zaijing nodded and returned the salute with a smile,

Mother Zhu didn't wait for Xu Zaijing to ask, and continued: "Before, Fifth young master said that you wanted to find a female master who can dance with a sword in the courtyard, so the Liang family sent this girl over."

Xu Zaijing looked at the girl who was about the same age as Qingcao, following Mother Zhu, and asked with confusion: "This, is a female master who can dance with a sword?"

Then he smiled: "Since she was sent, I think she is a capable person."

Mother Zhu laughed: "Fifth young master is right, this girl started dancing with a sword at the age of ten, and she is quite famous in the capital! The Huangfu family often invites this one to appreciate precious swords!"

Xu Zaijing nodded, looked at the maids at the door, and said: "Come, I have found a master for you three, start learning."

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, the girl who had been following Mother Zhu, lowering her head and eyes and not looking around, looked back with some surprise.

This girl had always thought it was a noble person in the Hou Fu who wanted to see her dance with a sword.

It didn't matter if she looked back; what came into the girl's eyes were the tall swords lined up beside her.

The girl's eyes widened even more.

After looking carefully for two more times, the girl looked at Xu Zaijing with her mouth agape.

"She is a knowledgeable and powerful one! You three are lucky." Xu Zaijing smiled at Qingcao and the others.

"Fifth young master, then the little one will take her leave first." Mother Zhu said.

Xu Zaijing stood up: "Mother Zhu, walk slowly."

"Fifth young master, don't see me off." Mother Zhu laughed.

Xu Zaijing looked at the appearance of that 'female master' in the room and smiled: "Qingcao, you three first accompany... what is the girl's surname?"

That woman bowed and said in a slightly hoarse voice: "Returning to young master, the little one's surname is Gong,"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Accompany this Miss Gong to wipe the swords."

"Yes, young master."

After speaking, Xu Zaijing returned to the study and continued writing.

At the end of the Si hour (11:00 AM)

Xu Zaijing, who was standing by the window looking out to relax his eyes, saw Mother Dan enter the courtyard with a smile.

Under the green shade in the courtyard, Qingcao, Yunxiang, and the others were practicing basic skills with a wooden stick each.

Mother Dan smiled when she saw this, then looked at Xu Zaijing standing by the window and bowed, saying: "Fifth young master, the eldest young lady is back."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing smiled: "Eldest sister is back?"

Saying this, he walked out.

Coming to the courtyard, looking at the Qingcao three who wanted to follow him with bitter faces, he said: "You continue practicing."

"Ah?" Yunxiang's expression turned bitter.

Watching Xu Zaijing's departing back, Huaxiang wiped the sweat from her forehead and said: "If I had known, I wouldn't have told the young master that I wanted to learn sword dancing."

Backyard main hall,

"Fifth young master is here."

Following the maid's announcement,

Xu Zaijing lifted the bamboo curtain with a face full of joy and walked in.

"Little Uncle!"

Gu Shixing pounced on Xu Zaijing's leg with a face full of joy.

"Good nephew!"

Xu Zaijing hugged him and threw him into the air.

After hugging Gu Shixing, who fell down with a smile, Xu Zaijing smiled: "Eldest sister!"

"Little Uncle!" Xu Xingdai also hugged Xu Zaijing's leg, not wanting to be outdone.

Xu Zaijing hugged his nephew with one hand and lifted his nephew's clothes from the back with the other, using a little force, and Xu Xingdai flew into the air and was hugged by Xu Zaijing with one hand.

After playing with his nephew for a while, the children were hugged away to play elsewhere by their personal mothers.

Looking at Qingzhi standing beside Pingmei, Xu Zaijing smiled: "Qingzhi, go to my courtyard and find Qingcao, tell them to stop practicing first! Then go to the horse-running field together to see the horses."

Hearing this, everyone in the room laughed. That boy Alan was taking care of the horses in the horse-running field.

Qingzhi looked at Pingmei.

Seeing Pingmei nod, she bowed to everyone with embarrassment and walked out.

"Eldest sister, why do you have time to come back today?"

Xu Zaijing sat on the chair and smiled.

Pingmei looked at her mother, sister-in-law, and younger brothers with a smile and said: "Naturally, there is something!"

Hualan, sitting on the side, said with some admiration: "Little Five, it's about Miss Yanran of the Yu family."

Xu Zaijing turned his eyes; he hadn't received news about the Yu family's servants today.

"Miss Yanran?"

"Yes!" Pingmei nodded.

"What happened to her?" Xu Zaijing asked.

Pingmei signaled Hualan to speak, and Hualan nodded: "Didn't the physician say before that Miss Yanran was frightened?"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Hualan said with some emotion: "Today, Miss Tingyi went to visit the Yu family and only after seeing Yanran did she know that Yanran actually caught the culprit herself last night!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's confused look,

Pingmei took over the conversation: "Listening to Tingyi, Yanran has been waking up frequently at night these days, and would hear strange noises and see black shadows."

"After telling Old Official Yu and the old lady, they invited monks and Daoists, but a thorough investigation didn't yield any results."

Xu Zaijing nodded, looking like he was listening intently.

Pingmei continued: "Then, last night, Yanran actually gathered her courage and hid in the darkness of the courtyard outside the house in the middle of the night when the lights were out."

Xu Zaijing: "Ah? Outside the house in the middle of the night, and in the darkness?"

Pingmei nodded heavily to indicate affirmation, and continued: "In the middle of the night, Yanran personally caught the personal maid who was playing the ghost."

Xu Zaijing frowned: "Was it the ghost played by Yanran's personal maid?"

Pingmei: "Yes! When she was pounced on from behind by Yanran, the maid was scared to death, and before Old Official Yu could interrogate her, she confessed everything."

Xu Zaijing shook his head helplessly with a smile: "No, eldest sister, I have seen Miss Yanran a few times, she might be scared even by loud speaking... Sure enough, you can't judge a book by its cover. Amazing!"

Pingmei looked at Sun Shi and said with melancholy: "Mother-in-law knew about this, and she was also surprised and very admiring!"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "I think Da Niangzi Bai is going to look at this future daughter-in-law with new eyes!"

(End of chapter)