Chapter 628: Whether legitimate or concubine-born, and changes in Lu Long [Bowing in thanks

In the afternoon,

East of the palace city,

At the main gate of the Chai family,

"Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter..."

Amidst the sound of hooves shod with horseshoes, a person and a horse stopped in the open space in front of the gate.

Seeing the newcomer, the Chai family's gatekeeper servant hurriedly stepped forward and took the horse's reins with a smile.

The steward behind the gatekeeper servant also walked a few steps, cupped his hands at the newcomer with a smile, and said: "Young Master is here, please come in."

After entering the courtyard,

Arriving at the main hall of the front courtyard,

"Young Master, please sit for a moment; we have already sent someone to the inner courtyard to pass the word, and someone will be here in a moment."

"I wouldn't dare; this humble one will just stand. Thank you for your trouble, Steward." The newcomer bowed and said.

"This... this won't do!" The gatekeeper steward looked troubled and beckoned to the maid standing to the side: "Go, bring an embroidered stool over."

"Yes, Steward."

After the maid agreed, she went behind the screen to the side, brought out an embroidered stool, and placed it beside the newcomer.

"Young Master, please sit!"

"Many thanks, Steward! You go ahead and get busy; no need to worry about this humble one."

"Alright! Young Master, please wait a moment."

After the Chai family gatekeeper cupped his hands with a smile, he left the hall.

The newcomer in the hall, however, remained standing, eyes lowered, looking at the ground, without sitting down.

Half a stick of incense later,

Footsteps came from behind the screen facing the main gate of the hall.

A moment later, a well-dressed maid, hands folded over her abdomen, walked out from behind the screen with a smile on her lips.

"Young Master Buwei is here, why are you standing! Please sit!"

"I have seen Sister Miss Yun Mu." Buwei cupped his hands in a salute with a smile and continued: "As for sitting, I'll pass."

Miss Yun Mu shook her head with a smile, gestured with her hand, and said: "Young Master, you are a capable person by the side of the Little Xiao Xiao Gongye Qi; how can you not sit?"

As she spoke, Miss Yun Mu took a few more steps forward.

Seeing Miss Yun Mu's manner, Buwei nodded and smiled: "Many thanks for your kindness, Sister! I am used to standing."

Hearing this, Miss Yun Mu nodded helplessly.

Buwei tilted his head to look around, then whispered: "The Young Master sent this humble one over, saying that today, the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family is wearing that colorful silk thread on his wrist."

A smile surged onto Miss Yun Mu's face: "Good! Many thanks to the Little Xiao Xiao Gongye and Young Master Buwei for today."

As she spoke, Miss Yun Mu took a purse out of her sleeve.

Looking at Buwei, who wanted to speak and refuse, Miss Yun Mu added: "Young Master, you won't sit, and if you don't accept the item either, that would be too distant."

Buwei looked embarrassed and said: "In that case, this humble one will respectfully obey."

Miss Yun Mu smiled: "That's more like it!"

Buwei took the purse, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes, and then said: "The Little Xiao Xiao Gongye is still waiting for this humble one to report back, so I will take my leave first! Sister, please stay."

Miss Yun Mu nodded: "Hm! Young Master, go slowly."

As she spoke, Miss Yun Mu and Buwei left the hall together.

While watching Buwei walk toward the main gate, Miss Yun Mu saw a woman dressed as a steward walking toward this side with a hurried expression.

Qiusheng Garden,

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Miss Yun Mu in confusion: "Hurried expression?"

"Yes, Young Lady," Miss Yun Mu said.

Ziting, who was standing to the side, said: "Could it be that something happened at one of our shops?"

Chai Zhengzheng's eyes rolled a few times, and she stood up: "Let's go, let's go see Mother."

Taking the maid, she went out through the moon gate, walked through the veranda, and arrived at Madam Chai's courtyard.

Looking at the Chai family steward nanny standing solemnly at the courtyard gate, Chai Zhengzheng stopped and stood at the gate, saying: "Please trouble the nanny to pass the word."

The steward nanny standing solemnly bowed in a salute: "Young Lady, please wait a moment." After speaking, she turned and walked into the courtyard.

After a while,

The steward nanny gestured with her hand: "Young Lady, Madam says you may enter."

After Chai Zhengzheng nodded, she looked at the three people, including Miss Yun Mu, following behind her.

Miss Yun Mu and the others understood and stood beside the nanny at the gate, meaning they wouldn't follow inside.

Seeing this, Chai Zhengzheng stepped into the courtyard.

Entering the room,

Chai Zhengzheng saw the steward nanny with the "hurried expression" Miss Yun Mu had spoken of.

"Mother, what is going on today?"

Madam Chai beckoned to Chai Zhengzheng: "Come over and sit first."

Then she turned her head to look at the steward nanny: "Do not spread this matter before the imperial court announces it."

"Yes, Madam."

"Go."

Watching the Chai family steward nanny walking out of the room, Chai Zhengzheng's expression became increasingly curious.

Madam Chai blinked at the empty space, took a deep breath, her eyes full of deliberation.

Chai Zhengzheng didn't disturb her mother's thinking, just waited quietly to the side.

Looking at Madam Chai's solemn expression, Chai Zhengzheng's heart was also beating a bit fast.

'Could it be about Xu Wu Ge Xu?'

'Could it be that there's some wind about his marriage?'

'Who could it be?'

Before Chai Zhengzheng could let her imagination run wild,

"Cough."

Madam Chai coughed lightly.

"Mother?"

Madam Chai smiled at Chai Zhengzheng: "It has nothing to do with the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family."

Chai Zhengzheng's eyes lit up: "Oh..."

Looking at Madam Chai's eyes, Chai Zhengzheng immediately lowered her head and added: "Even if it were related to him, it has nothing to do with your daughter."

Madam Chai chuckled and curled her lips: "It's our family's shop in Northern Liao that sent back some news."

Chai Zhengzheng raised her head quickly: "Northern Liao?"

Madam Chai nodded slowly: "I have already sent someone to notify your father just now; by rights, the palace should know about this a day or two earlier than our family."

Before Chai Zhengzheng could ask, Madam Chai continued: "It is said that a few days ago, the Lu Long Zhao family in the east of Northern Liao had a conflict and bloody fight with the Mongol tribes helping Northern Liao, resulting in many deaths and injuries."

Chai Zhengzheng was full of surprise: "Ah? The Lu Long Zhao family and the Mongol tribes?"

Madam Chai nodded heavily.

Chai Zhengzheng thought while saying softly: "The Lu Long Zhao family... it seems that among the Northern Liao envoys who came to the capital before, there were disciples of the Lu Long Zhao family, right?"

"Your daughter still remembers that they were quite good at polo, although not as good as Xu Wu Ge Xu..."

Seeing Madam Chai's gaze, Chai Zhengzheng hurriedly added: "Mother! Speaking of which, this Lu Long Zhao family in Northern Liao has a status equivalent to the Xiao Xiao Gongye of England Zhang family, the Marquis of Tuoxi Cao family, and the Marquis of Ningyuan Gu family in our court."

After finishing, Chai Zhengzheng shook her head in incomprehension: "This, how could they have a bloody conflict with the Mongol tribes?"

Madam Chai said: "Zheng'er, I am also somewhat confused and curious about what you said."

"By the way, Buwei, the servant by Yuanruo's side, came to the house this afternoon?" Madam Chai changed the subject: "Did that person wear the colorful silk thread?"

Chai Zhengzheng bit her lip with shifting eyes and nodded: "Hm."

"That's good."

Quyuan Street,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Matriarch's courtyard,

"The urgent report received by the palace last night, and at noon today, they ordered the Cao family's young master to tell our family," Zaizhang said from the side.

Xu Zaijing sat in a chair, nodded slowly with a serious expression, and asked with some confusion: "These Mongol tribes and the Lu Long Zhao family, I haven't heard of any enmity; how could they have a bloody conflict?"

Sun Shi supported her large belly, shook her head, and said: "There must be a reason for it! The court still needs time to distinguish whether this matter is a bitter-meat trick; let's just wait for the news."

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother looked at each other and nodded in unison.

"Both of you brothers have eaten outside; just eat something casual later and go back to your own courtyards," Sun Shi added.

After dinner,

Xu Zaijing returned to his courtyard,

Qingcao and the other two maids had been practicing sword dancing for two days and were now looking quite wilted.

Seeing Xu Zaijing return, when the three of them saluted, their voices were much lower than usual.

While undressing, Xu Zaijing glanced at the maid to the side and smiled: "Qingcao, you seem to be in a good mood today."

After Qingcao wrinkled her nose at Xu Zaijing, she hugged Xu Zaijing's coat, turned around, and walked outside with quick steps.

Xu Zaijing looked at Yunxiang on the other side and said: "What happened to Qingcao today?"

Yunxiang looked at her younger sister with a smile and said: "Young Master, Sister Qingcao received a letter from home today."

"Oh? What did the letter say?" Xu Zaijing was full of interest.

"It said that Sister Qingcao's younger brother is about to start discussing marriage, and the other party is the daughter of a Juren scholar," Yunxiang smiled.

Xu Zaijing was startled: "How old is Qingcao's younger brother this year?"

"Young Master, I heard Sister Qingcao say he is fourteen this year," Huaxiang said.

Xu Zaijing nodded and said softly: "In the blink of an eye, Qingcao has been in the mansion for almost ten years. A Juren scholar's family, that's not bad!"

After washing his hands and cheeks, Xu Zaijing took the towel Yunxiang handed over and wiped his face.

Suddenly, Xu Zaijing stopped his movement and said: "Is that Juren scholar's daughter legitimate or concubine-born?"

Yunxiang shook her head: "Young Master, this servant doesn't know either; the letter didn't seem to say."

"Hm!"

Xu Zaijing nodded.

The next day,

In the early morning,

Because it was the first few days of the fifth lunar month,

So when Xu Zaijing got up early to exercise, there was no moon in the night sky, only stars.

It was still early,

Inside and outside the Xu mansion, it was quiet, with only unknown insects in the summer occasionally chirping a few times.

"Click."

"Clatter."

The gatekeeper nanny opened the copper lock on the wooden door leading to the outer courtyard.

Xu Zaijing, wearing a thin cloak, went out of the courtyard with Qingcao, who was carrying a lantern, and walked to the path leading to the racecourse.

Feeling Qingcao's gaze looking at him from time to time, Xu Zaijing turned his head and said while walking: "What's wrong? If you have something to say, just say it."

Qingcao pursed her lips, looked at Xu Zaijing again, and said: "Young Master, this servant wants, wants..."

"Want to open the warehouse and take some things to send back to your hometown?" Xu Zaijing helped Qingcao say.

"Hm!"

Qingcao nodded.

Xu Zaijing and Qingcao looked at each other and nodded: "Good! Go home this afternoon and pick them out in the warehouse yourself."

"Thank you, Young Master," Qingcao smiled.

"Hmph! Your face changes quite fast." Xu Zaijing turned his head and walked forward with long strides.

"Young Master, wait for me! I, I'm not angry with you anymore!"

"Hm?" Xu Zaijing stood still and looked back with a frown.

Qingcao stood behind Xu Zaijing and hurriedly made up for it: "Uh... this servant said the wrong thing; I shouldn't have been angry with you, it was all this servant's fault!"

"That's more like it."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing turned around and continued to walk toward the racecourse.

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family,

In the past, Changbai, who sat behind the desk at this time, was standing at the gate of the school courtyard today, looking toward the main gate of the Sheng family with some anxiety.

Standing to the side was also a person walking back and forth, who was none other than Gu Tingye with his hands behind his back.

"I say, Second Young Master, you came so early; is the news you brought true?" Changbai asked.

Gu Tingye craned his neck to look at the main gate and said: "Changbai, how could news from the palace be fake? Jing Ge'er is here!"

Changbai hurriedly looked over.

Watching Xu Zaijing, who had dismounted, the two hurriedly walked over.

"Jing Ge'er, didn't your brother-in-law come with you?" Changbai said.

"My elder brother left a little later; he should be here soon," Xu Zaijing said.

While Xu Zaijing was speaking, Qingcao, who was by his side, also got off the carriage and bowed to Changbai and Gu Tingye.

"Oh! Jing Ge'er, Second Young Master said..." After Changbai finished speaking.

Xu Zaijing nodded: "I know about this matter too; let's talk as we walk."

In the school,

The servants and maids of the three had already gone to the back.

Xu Zaijing first asked Gu Tingye a few questions about the Marquis of Ningyuan, Gu Yankai.

Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jing Ge'er, although my father is often in the north and has some understanding of the situation in Northern Liao, I haven't heard my father mention any enmity or hidden reasons between these two parties."

"However, just like us young masters from noble families, even if there is enmity, unless it is a blood feud, we wouldn't have a bloody conflict to the point of many deaths and injuries."

Xu Zaijing and Changbai looked at each other and said: "Second Young Master is right!"

After the school was quiet for a while, Xu Zaijing added with some uncertainty: "Could it be that the Lu Long Zhao family offended some taboos of the Mongol tribes that could not be touched? That's why there was a conflict?"

Changbai thought for a moment and nodded repeatedly.

Gu Tingye said: "Jing Ge'er, you don't say, maybe it really is like that!"

Although Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye were legitimate sons of Marquis mansions, their elders were not in the capital, and the news they could hear was only because the palace had sent someone to briefly say a few words.

Perhaps Cao Yi and He Guan, who went to deliver letters to the two families, didn't know the situation very well either.

Unless they were summoned into the palace by the Emperor and told about it in person, it was possible they wouldn't know.

After a while,

Qi Heng brought Buwei into the school.

Looking at the three gazes looking over, Qi Heng blinked: "Second Uncle, two elder brothers, do you know too?"

Gu Tingye nodded repeatedly with some impatience and asked: "Yuanruo, do you know why the Lu Long Zhao family and the Mongol tribes conflicted?"

Qi Heng shook his head: "Second Uncle, I thought you knew!"

Northeast of Bianjing,

In the sea more than 1,500 li away from Bianjing,

Several warships had their sails fully spread,

Sailing in a line in the sea,

On the sturdy mast in the middle with a sail hanging,

"Swish, swish..."

A large flag with the character "Zhou" was flapping in the wind.

Under the large flag, there was also a smaller flag embroidered with the two characters "Huyan."

Below the mast, there was a chair fixed to the top of the cabin, and a naval general wearing armor was sitting on it.

"Chirp!"

"Bang!"

On the mast of the leading warship for lookout, a firework rose out of thin air and exploded in the sky.

Hearing this movement, the naval general sitting in the chair stood up.

"Chirp!"

"Bang!"

Another cannon shot rang out.

The naval general stood up and said solemnly: "Beat the drums!"

"Dong, dong, dong!"

The war drum on the side of the chair was beaten.

The brave naval soldiers on the warship began to get busy in an orderly manner.

Sharp crossbow arrows, like short spears, were placed on the drawn eight-ox crossbows; on the arrow shafts, thick fireworks were tied, and there was a long fuse on the fireworks toward the arrowhead.

Two hours later.

On the warship with the "Huyan" flag, the brave naval soldiers were cleaning up the crossbow arrows that had been nailed into the hull.

On the Great Zhou warship in the distance, the stripped corpses of the enemy army were being thrown into the sea by the soldiers.

Near the warships, there were two Northern Liao warships that had been set on fire and were slowly sinking; the places where the thick crossbow arrows were nailed were exactly where the fire started.

What was surprising was that surrounded by several Great Zhou warships, there was also a warship flying a white flag, with the shape of a Northern Liao warship.

On this surrendered Northern Liao warship, some people were in fine armor but were in a sorry state; the helmet didn't know where it had gone, and the hair above the forehead was scattered messily.

The subordinates beside this person also had pale lips and many injuries. Behind them, more than a dozen women and children walked out of the cabin.

Looking at the naval general on the Great Zhou warship, the Northern Liao junior officer in fine armor knelt on the deck and cupped his hands: "Guilty army junior officer Zhao Weigan, bringing family members to see the Lord."

Huyan Jiong's father, Anmei's father-in-law Huyan Hai, waved his hand at the subordinates beside him.

Soon,

Naval soldiers boarded the ship and controlled the group of people.

After another long while,

Zhao Weigan, who had been stripped of his armor and tied up with five flowers, was escorted to Huyan Hai by four brave naval soldiers.

After interrogating a few sentences,

Listening to Zhao Weigan's answer, Huyan Hai's eyes narrowed sharply.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 629 =====