Chapter 63: The Zheng Family and the Rare Treasure

“Why didn’t the patrol troops arrive even after a cup of tea?” Zheng He asked again.

Qingyun, standing beside him, looked puzzled.

“Forgive me, my lord—I was there. Your young master brought down those five men in less than five breaths.”

“Huh?” Zheng Xiao froze.

The others were equally astonished.

“Jing-ge, I don’t believe it. Let’s spar, shall we?” Zheng Jiang was among the group closest in age to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing said, “Why not you all come at once?”

Zheng Xiao smiled. “Jing-ge, we train daily. Let us beat Jiang-ge first, then we’ll talk.”

Xu Zaijing wanted to show off before them, so he didn’t refuse.

He took off his outer robe, revealing the fitted attire beneath, suited for combat.

“Jing-ge, you came prepared.”

“Of course. Do you think I didn’t know what you were up to? Come on.”

“Alright.” Zheng Jiang also shed his clothes. Though young, his muscles were well-developed.

Standing beside Xu Zaijing, Zheng Xiao, acting as referee, shouted: “Begin!”

“Thud.”

Zheng Jiang lay stunned on the ground.

Zheng Jun, seated on a chair nearby, sat upright and called out to the training ground:

“You all go together.”

Before he finished speaking, Zheng family’s young men shed their clothes and rushed onto the training ground.

Ten breaths later,

all the brothers lay sprawled on the ground.

Xu Zaijing reached out to help Zheng Xiao up, but Zheng Xiao grinned mischievously and pulled hard, trying to knock Xu Zaijing down.

“Huh?”

Zheng Xiao’s face filled with confusion—Xu Zaijing didn’t budge.

“Huh?”

Zheng Xiao was lifted straight up by Xu Zaijing, powerless to resist.

The scene from the Xie household replayed: several surrounded Xu Zaijing, patting, pinching, and squeezing him.

Zheng Da’s lady arrived at the edge of the training ground and watched the young men inside. “Jing-ge is truly formidable.”

This lady came from a scholarly family, devoted to supporting her husband and guiding her younger brothers; the old general and his wife relied heavily on their eldest daughter-in-law.

“Madam speaks truly. Too bad we have no eligible girl in the Zheng household—otherwise, we’d have secured this match long ago. A fine alliance.”

“What nonsense are you speaking? I heard the Xu family still has two daughters and a son unmarried! Why would you even consider the youngest fifth son?”

After their laughter, Zheng Xiao said, “I won’t challenge you to archery—you’ve already impressed His Majesty at the imperial birthday banquet. My father praised you several times.”

Zheng Hai, the eldest among them, said, “How about we challenge Jing-ge to flying axes? I’m quite skilled with them.”

Qingcao, standing nearby, watched with eager anticipation—she had seen her young master’s flying axes before.

Zheng Xiao beside her said, “With Jing-ge’s strength, do you really think he can’t handle flying axes?”

“Alright, Uncle’s right.”

As they chatted, a servant approached Zheng Da’s lady and whispered something. She gave orders:

“No matter. These are all noble families’ children. Let them come to the training ground.”

Shortly after, Xu Zaijing’s sharp eyes caught a group of three leading a long line of servants and maids walking down the corridor toward the training ground.

“Greetings, General.”

“No need for military titles at home.”

“Greetings, Elder Brother.”

“Fifth Sister, Zheng Xiao is on the training ground, sparring with Xu’s fifth son, Jing-ge.”

“Ah? The one from the Pingmei sister’s household, the one the Empress praised?”

“Exactly.”

On the training ground, Xu Zaijing lifted his chin slightly behind Zheng Xiao. Zheng Xiao turned and smiled.

He quickly walked over to the three, bowed deeply.

“Greetings, Third Brother, Fourth Brother, Fifth Sister.”

“Xiao-ge, is that the Xu family’s Jing-ge?”

“Yes. I just sparred with him and lost by a hair. Let me introduce you.”

Zheng Xiao led the three onto the training ground. The other Zheng youths greeted them warmly—they were already acquainted.

“Jing-ge, this is Third Son Zhang Fangsong, Fourth Son Zhang Fangling, and Fifth Daughter of the Duke household.”

He didn’t say their names.

Xu Zaijing bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Elder Brothers, Fifth Daughter, may you have a peaceful spring.”

The two Duke sons returned the bow; Zhang’s fifth daughter dipped slightly in reply.

The eldest, Zhang Fangsong, said, “What a coincidence—Jing-ge is here too. My fourth brother and I just acquired a rare item, and came to show it to the younger ones at Zheng’s.”

Xu Zaijing asked curiously:

“What rare item is it?”

Something rare enough to impress a Duke’s son must be uncommon indeed.

Zhang Fangsong waved toward the corridor. A man stepped forward, his arm bearing a raptor.

Xu Zaijing’s keen eyes instantly recognized it as a bird of prey.

“Eagle?”

Zhang Fangsong shook his head. “Not an eagle. A falcon.”

Zhang Fangling added, “This is a fierce bird from beyond Northern Liao, presented to His Majesty by northern tribes, then gifted to my father. They call this falcon Haidongqing.”

Xu Zaijing was astonished—he’d only seen falcons like this on screens in his past life.

Only the finest falcons were called Haidongqing.

Zheng Xiao and the Zheng youths also looked on with curiosity.

Zhang Fangling, enjoying the admiration of the noble youths, continued: “But some officials familiar with Northern Liao say this Haidongqing’s feathers are mottled—not top quality.”

Looking at the magnificent bird, Zheng Hai said, “Goodness, this one’s already stunning. Is there something better?”

“Yes. This one’s mottled. There are pure white ones, like jade—those are top quality. The finest are black.” Zhang Fangsong said.

Nearby, the Duke household’s legitimate daughter, the Fifth Daughter, took a piece of meat from a servant’s leather pouch and handed it to the attendant.

The magnificent Haidongqing pecked a few times and swallowed it.

“In a few days, youths from the capital are going hunting outside the city. If Jing-ge has time, join us.”

Xu Zaijing said, “Will your Haidongqing go too? I’d like to see it hunt.”

“Of course.”

“Then I’ll go too.”

“Good. Once we set the date, I’ll send a formal invitation to your household.”

As they spoke, they walked toward the corridor, watching the Haidongqing.

Zheng Da’s lady had already dispatched servants to prepare the meal.

Before dinner, Xu Zaijing visited the Zheng household’s kennel.

The dogs here were specially fed and trained by servants; when Zheng family members joined the army, they took along handlers skilled in dog training.

Xu Zaijing felt no envy—he knew the Xu household already had a pair of dogs being raised by his Master.

They seemed well cared for.

Before entering the main hall, everyone tidied up. Several Zheng youths changed clothes. Xu Zaijing hadn’t touched the ground—his clothes remained clean.

At the banquet table, General Zheng Jun was seated. Hearing them speak of the Haidongqing, he said: “When you reach the northern frontiers, you’ll see plenty of Haidongqing. The skilled can even shoot one down.”

Zheng Xiao: “Brother, you’ve often spoken of Northern Liao’s Haidongqing, but I’ve never heard anyone could shoot one down.”

“When Gu Hou was young, he served on our northern frontier. He once shot one down,” Zheng Jun said.

Xu Zaijing was deeply surprised.

Gu Yan Kai—the man who coughed constantly in dramas and was driven to spitting blood—was once this formidable?

Zhang Fangsong beside him said, “Elder Brother, the Haidongqing flies extremely fast. How did Gu Hou manage to shoot it down?”

Zheng Jun replied, “That’s something you’ll have to figure out yourselves. I only heard the story.”

After the meal, Xu Zaijing prepared to return home.

At that moment, the Duke household’s Fifth Daughter approached Xu Zaijing, dipped slightly, and said:

“Big Brother Jing, may I visit your home to meet Pingmei Sister? Mother says Pingmei Sister is a fine girl and wants me to spend more time with her.”

Xu Zaijing: “Of course. Whenever you’re free, just come. My sister is always at home.”

The girl smiled, thanked him, and turned to find her brothers.

Nearby, Zheng Xiao watched the distant Duke Fifth Daughter, then walked up to Xu Zaijing and said:

“Jing-ge, I’m coming too.”

If there are typos, please kindly point them out.

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(End of chapter)