Chapter 641: Go There Now and Meet the Auspicious Sign [Many Thanks

In the afternoon,

in Jiying Lane,

at the Sheng family's Shou'an Hall.

By the bright windows sat several pots of green plants that repelled insects.

Beside them, the Old Lady sat comfortably in a chair, leaning against the backrest, her eyes slightly closed as she slowly waved the fan in her hand.

The cool breeze stirred by the fan dispersed the wisps of blue smoke drifting over from the incense burner nearby.

"Old Lady, the herbal drink is ready."

Mama Fang's voice came, laden with a smile.

After letting out a long sigh, the Old Lady opened her eyes; smelling the delicate fragrance rising from the tea cup Mama Fang held, a smile touched the Old Lady's lips.

As the Old Lady took the tea cup, Mama Fang skillfully took the round fan from the Old Lady's hand.

Then, while the Old Lady held the tea cup and sipped her drink, Mama Fang slowly began to wave the round fan.

She had barely taken two sips of the drink

when "Mama Cui has arrived."

Cui, standing at the doorway, announced with a smile.

After taking another sip of her drink, the Old Lady set the tea cup on the small table beside her and looked at Mama Cui, who was entering the room with a smile on her face.

"Cui Ruan, why have you come at this hour?" the Old Lady asked with a laugh.

"You seem to be in good spirits," Mama Fang chimed in with a smile.

Mama Cui wiped her sweat with her handkerchief, exchanged a glance with Mama Fang, then bowed to the Old Lady and said with a laugh, "Old Lady, today when I went out to make purchases, I happened to hear some amusing talk."

"Oh?"

The Old Lady stopped leaning against the chair back and sat up straight, full of interest; reaching out to take the fan, she said, "Sister Suqin, let her have some water first."

"Yes!" Mama Fang hurriedly replied.

Fanning herself, the Old Lady waited until Mama Cui had drunk some water, then urged, "Tell us quickly."

Mama Cui set the tea cup on the table and said with a laugh, "Old Lady, it concerns Jing-ge'er of the Hou Fu! No one knows how the rumor started, but they say that giving good gifts to Jing-ge'er of the Hou Fu will ensure one bears a son."

"Ah?" The Old Lady looked at Mama Cui with utter incomprehension: "How could such a thing spread? Jing-ge'er is still just a child; what connection is there between giving him gifts and bearing a son?"

Mama Fang beside her nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Mama Cui laughed and said, "Old Lady, at first I thought the same, but then—"

"But then what?"

"But then, the female steward I was chatting with gave several examples, and I found myself almost believing it," Mama Cui said in an uncertain tone.

"What examples?" the Old Lady pressed.

Blinking, Mama Cui said, "They spoke of Marquis Xiangyang Marquis Lu, the Imperial Son-in-Law... and also mentioned the family of Viscount Xie."

Hearing this, the Old Lady exchanged a glance with Mama Fang beside her and said, "That doesn't sound like much! Perhaps it was merely coincidence."

"I thought so too! Yet, that is exactly how it is being spread among the common folk!" Mama Cui said with a laugh.

The Old Lady smiled and shook her head, then lifted the tea cup from the small table and took a sip, her eyes full of contemplation.

After pondering for a moment, the smile on the Old Lady's face gradually faded, her expression becoming increasingly grave.

Seeing the Old Lady's expression, Mama Fang and Mama Cui exchanged a puzzled glance.

"Old Lady, what is the matter?" Mama Fang asked softly.

The Old Lady took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Have Jing-ge'er come to see me shortly."

"Yes."

In the afternoon, after classes ended,

in the Sheng family's rear courtyard,

Minglan, accompanied by Xiao Xiao Xiaotao, was walking along the path to Shou'an Hall.

Glancing back at Xu Xu Zaijing behind her, Minglan pressed her lips together with a smile, then quickened her pace and ran toward Shou'an Hall.

"Han Wulang Young Master has arrived."

At the young maid's announcement, Xu Xu Zaijing lowered his head, passed through the door curtain, and entered the main hall.

"Great-aunt, you summoned me?" Xu Xu Zaijing asked with a smile.

As he spoke, Xu Xu Zaijing saw that Minglan had already entered the inner room, and Mama Fang had even closed the folding doors.

After smiling at Xu Xu Zaijing, the Old Lady beckoned, "Jing-ge'er, come, sit here."

Once Xu Xu Zaijing was seated, the Old Lady said with earnest concern, "Jing-ge'er, are you aware of the matters being discussed among the common folk outside?"

"Great-aunt, do you mean those affairs about people sending gifts to your grand-nephew?"

The Old Lady nodded.

Xu Xu Zaijing said, "I have heard some of it! Early this morning, someone even tried to send your grand-nephew several gold and silver objects."

"Did you accept them?" the Old Lady asked.

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded: "I accepted them, but your grand-nephew immediately had Brother Qingyun deliver them to the Juyang Orphanage."

"Mm! Well done. At least it puts people's minds at ease," the Old Lady said affirmatively.

"Then, as for these rumors, are they true or false?" the Old Lady asked again.

Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Your grand-nephew is not certain either, but feels it is more likely mere coincidence."

The Old Lady nodded and said, "Does the Imperial Court know of this matter?"

Xu Xu Zaijing pressed his lips together and said, "They do."

Looking at Xu Xu Zaijing, the Old Lady said in a sincere tone:

"Then, Jing-ge'er, what are your thoughts on this?"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew thinks it's quite good, but he feels somewhat uneasy in his heart."

The Old Lady nodded: "Being uneasy is exactly right!"

Looking at her grand-nephew who was gazing at her, the Old Lady continued:

"With such matters, one should not fear they won't come true! One should fear that they will! If they come true too often, it forms a trend!"

"Once a trend is formed, since mouths grow on other people, one never knows how others will spread word of this matter!"

Hearing these words, Xu Xu Zaijing's expression also turned serious.

The Old Lady said, "One misstep in this, and it will be exploited by those with ulterior motives! Not only will it delay your future prospects, but it will also cause the Imperial Family to harbor resentment toward your father; this latter point is the most crucial!"

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded repeatedly, saying, "Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew understands. Father is leading heavy troops in the north, where the stakes are enormous! Your grandson was being somewhat presumptuous!"

After pondering in silence for a moment, Xu Xu Zaijing said, "Great-grand-aunt, since that is the case, your grandson has formed some ideas."

The Old Lady's tightly furrowed brows relaxed slightly; she said indifferently, "Speak and let this old woman hear; having lived so many extra years, perhaps I can offer you some counsel."

Xu Xu Zaijing took a deep breath and did not speak immediately.

The Old Lady was not impatient, merely watching Xu Xu Zaijing quietly.

"Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew is thinking we should first observe the situation! If the matter spreads too wildly, then we should set up a few tents on Quyuanjie; first, invite the Imperial Hospital's Golden-Robe Physicians dispatched by Your Majesty, especially those specializing in gynecology, to provide free consultations there."

"Second, commission the bookshops to print some promotional materials on knowledge that ought to be popularized."

Seeing the Old Lady shake her head slightly, Xu Xu Zaijing asked in confusion, "Great-grand-aunt, do you think this method is not good?"

The Old Lady looked at Xu Xu Zaijing and said, "Jing-ge'er, I can see you are a kind-hearted child; from the very beginning, you've been thinking of relieving others' difficulties."

Xu Xu Zaijing scratched his head in embarrassment.

The Old Lady took a deep breath and said, "However, court struggles are as treacherous as shifting clouds and mist! With such matters, one careless move could jeopardize the Xu family's future prospects and destiny!"

"What you should be thinking about now is not how to relieve others' difficulties, but how to extricate the Xu family from potential crises in the future."

"Those intelligent enough to consider your position and understand your circumstances will naturally act with discretion and will have their own methods to resolve matters."

"As for those who only think of themselves and not of you—hmph, why should you bother giving them a second thought?"

Xu Xu Zaijing's expression also turned serious.

A profound silence filled the Shou'an Hall.

After the silence had lasted for quite a while, looking at the pondering Xu Xu Zaijing, the Old Lady continued, "Jing-ge'er, now, what do you think should be done?"

Xu Xu Zaijing looked at the Old Lady and said, "Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew believes we should deliberately tarnish our own reputation!"

A hint of amusement appeared in the Old Lady's eyes as she said, "Oh? How would you tarnish your own reputation?"

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Xu Zaijing said, "We must let everyone know that I promoted these matters solely out of greed for wealth, that I am in fact a swindler! Ideally, someone will believe me, lose their entire fortune, and still achieve no result! Let it cause an uproar throughout Bianjing City!"

"When others see there is no effect, they naturally will not believe it anymore. It simply becomes a contest of whose 'voice' is louder."

The Old Lady looked at Xu Xu Zaijing with gratification and said, "It is a good method. But Jing-ge'er, your own reputation will be..."

Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Great-grand-aunt, those things do not matter. What Father and my elder brother exchanged with their lives on the battlefield cannot be jeopardized because of me."

"I will find an opportunity; in two days, I will take my token and enter the palace to brief Her Majesty the Empress."

The Old Lady shook her head with a solemn expression, saying, "No, Jing-ge'er, do not wait two days..."

Before the Old Lady could finish her sentence,

"Whoosh!"

With a face full of smiles, Xu Xu Zaijing stood up swiftly and elegantly, bowed, and clasped his hands, saying, "Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew will go right now!"

The Old Lady smiled and nodded.

"Great-grand-aunt, your grand-nephew takes his leave."

"Go."

Watching Xu Xu Zaijing's figure disappear at the entrance of the main hall, the Old Lady wiped the smile from her face and looked at Mama Fang with confusion, saying, "Sister Suqin, tell me, what was that child Jing-ge'er smiling about just now?"

Mama Fang shook her head in bewilderment, saying, "Old Lady, I didn't understand it either."

On the way out of the Sheng residence, Xu Xu Zaijing shook his head with a smile on his face.

If his own great-grand-aunt had spoken so solemnly to him, saying 'Go right now!', it would always give Xu Xu Zaijing the illusion that he had become Sheng Hong and Wang Ruo Fu.

At dusk,

in the Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

within Consort Rong's sleeping quarters,

Consort Rong sat on a chair with furrowed brows.

The personal lady-in-waiting beside her said softly, "Your Ladyship, please do not overthink it!"

"Thump!"

Consort Rong clenched her fist and pounded the table, saying angrily, "That woman from the Dou family, regardless of being a Duchess, how can she lack even this much sense? She opens her mouth wide and blurts out everything!"

"Doesn't she consider how much trouble doing so might cause for that young man of the Xu family!"

Having spoken, Consort Rong stood up and said softly, "We must find a way to make amends!"

At that moment,

"His Majesty arrives."

The voice of a high-ranking palace eunuch came from outside the hall.

Consort Rong exchanged a surprised glance with her personal lady-in-waiting, quickly took several deep breaths to adjust her expression, and then walked toward the door.

"Your Majesty, why have you come?" Consort Rong asked in a gentle voice.

The Emperor waved his hand, saying, "Just now, the Empress and I spoke a few words to that boy from the Xu family; the Empress still had a few instructions for him! I was too lazy to look at that brat for even two more moments, so I came to my beloved consort's place."

Consort Rong smiled and nodded, saying, "Your Majesty, they are all relatives from my maiden family..."

Before Consort Rong could finish, the Emperor waved his hand again, saying, "It's all settled now! At the Empress's place, that rascal begged a sheet of paper from me with the four characters 'Absolutely No Such Matter' written on it, saying he intends to have it framed and hung before his family's main gate."

Consort Rong froze for a moment; while reaching out to undo the robes of the Emperor, who had spread his arms, she laughed, "Well, that young man of the Xu family is indeed interesting."

The Emperor allowed Consort Rong to change his clothes for him, closed his eyes slightly, and said, "Hmph! I don't know who gave them a hint, but they entered the palace quite quickly; I thought I would have to wait a month or so!"

Consort Rong's eyes darted, a flash of sudden understanding crossing her face, before she asked in a puzzled tone, "Your Majesty, this servant observes that you... you do not care?"

Having finished changing, the Emperor flicked his sleeves and declared loudly, "What is there for me to care about? You know very well about certain matters involving the Fang family!"

Only then did Consort Rong realize, exclaiming, "Your Majesty is wise! When the Xu family's young master was young, he established unparalleled merit within the palace! Previously, he rushed to the old lands of Bai Gao and Beizhou! Even if he possesses various supernatural abilities, they are merely auspicious omens for our Great Zhou!"

"Hmph!" The Emperor lifted his chin arrogantly, gazing at the ceiling of the great hall, and said, "My auspicious omen!"

Consort Rong hurriedly smiled and said, "Yes, yes, yes, this servant misspoke; it is the auspicious omen of Your Majesty and the Crown Prince!"

The Emperor smiled and nodded, saying, "I feel quite well today, beloved consort; let us retire for the night."

The sun rose and the moon set,

Time flew swiftly,

In the blink of an eye,

The days reached the latter part of the eighth month.

Liqiu had passed many days ago, and several autumn rains during this period had made the weather much colder.

Over the course of several tens of days,

Xu Xu Zaijing, the Xu family's Fifth Young Master who was previously renowned throughout the capital, saw his public reputation undergo a complete reversal in recent days.

Near Pan Lou,

Within Mother Cui Ruan's small courtyard,

A young girl holding a pipa spoke in a crisp voice: "It is said that Liang Liu Lang of the Yongchang Marquis family, who previously held a joyful banquet at Pan Lou, got into a fight with Zhang Zhang Sanlang of the Jinyang Marquis Tao family inside a private room at Pan Lou, right in front of many courtesan musicians."

"Ah? Why did this happen?" several beautiful girls nearby asked.

"I heard the reason was that Tao Zhang Sanlang set a trap to deceive Liang Liu Lang; apparently, quite a few tables and chairs were smashed!"

"Xu Family's Fifth Young Master had such a good reputation before; who would have thought he would also cheat people out of money."

In a room nearby,

A remarkably beautiful girl stood by the window, listening to the conversation in the courtyard; she curled her lip slightly and whispered, "A bunch of fools!"

"Li Shishi, what are you talking about?" Mother Cui Ruan's voice came.

Li Li Shishi hurriedly turned around, smiled, and performed a formal bow, saying, "Mother Cui Ruan, this slave did not say anything."

Mother Cui Ruan shook her head and said gently, "See through it but do not speak it aloud; only by feigning ignorance while remaining sharp can one go far! Previously, were you not always asking where your admired Wei Yang Xingshou was?"

Hearing these words, Miss Li Shishi looked up.

"Nowadays, Wei Yang Xingshou is with the Chai family; in a few years, he will become a commoner..."

On this day,

At the end of the Yin hour (before 5:00 AM),

Xu Xu Zaijing rose early to attend school just as he did every day,

The morning sky seemed somewhat darker than it had been during the summer.

After leaving Quyuanjie,

One could occasionally see commoners rising early to go to work on the streets.

"Young Master, look." Brother Qingyun pointed with his chin toward a carriage by the roadside; besides the coachman, a female servant also stood beside the carriage.

The carriage faced away from Xu Xu Zaijing and his group, so the carriage door where servants entered and exited was not visible.

Xu Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "It looks somewhat familiar."

While speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing continued to guide his horse forward.

"Clip-clop."

The crisp sound of horse hooves rang out on the street.

The carriage curtain slowly lifted, and a young woman poked her head out to glance outside; upon seeing the large black horse Xu Xu Zaijing was riding, she raised her eyes to look at the person in the saddle.

As the distance closed and she clearly saw that the person was Xu Xu Zaijing, the woman smiled and nodded in greeting.

Xu Xu Zaijing also smiled and nodded slightly.

Very quickly,

Xu Xu Zaijing and his party overtook the roadside woman's carriage.

Inside the dim carriage, the young woman lifted the curtain just a crack.

Gazing at Xu Xu Zaijing's retreating back, the young woman supported herself with one hand on the carriage wall and protected her lower abdomen with the other, slowly kneeling inside the carriage.

Separated by the carriage curtain, the woman sincerely kowtowed once toward Xu Xu Zaijing's back.

A new day began just like this.

(End of Chapter)