Chapter 646: Knowing the Foundation [Thanks! Thanks again! 37k words owed]

The Marquis Xiangyang, who was just about to unfold the scroll, frowned and waved his hand, saying with a slightly reprimanding tone:

"Tsk! You kid are a father yourself, how are you so lacking in awareness?"

"Don't you see this old man is talking to Cousin Jing?"

"Uh, what Marquis Gu says is right, it was this kid's rudeness," Rong Xian hurriedly bowed and cupped his hands to say.

Scanning Rong Xian up and down, the Marquis Xiangyang nodded and said, "Mm! Pay attention in the future."

Rong Xian hurriedly acknowledged.

After finishing, the Marquis Xiangyang changed his face as if flipping a book, a smile appeared on his face, and he turned to look at Xu Zaijing, saying, "Hehe! Fifth Young Master, how is this piece of calligraphy of mine?"

While speaking, the Marquis Xiangyang unfolded the scroll in his hand.

The Marquis Xiangyang came from a long-standing noble background and had studied under famous teachers when he was young, practicing calligraphy diligently.

In recent years, there had been few wars in the imperial court, and the Marquis Xiangyang also practiced calligraphy frequently in his spare time; the characters he wrote could be called good-looking.

"Good calligraphy!" Xu Zaijing praised with a smile.

"How is it good?" the Marquis Xiangyang tested him.

Xu Zaijing examined it carefully.

Rong Xian, who was to the side, also stood beside Xu Zaijing, pretending to understand, and looked at it a few times.

A moment later,

Xu Zaijing nodded and praised, "Old Marquis's calligraphy has a square and upright skeleton, the horizontal strokes are gentle and moist, and the short strokes are steep and upright."

Hearing this, Rong Xian's eyes were full of agreement, and he nodded repeatedly, looking like he understood calligraphy very well.

The Marquis Xiangyang, while stroking his beard under his jaw with one hand, pressed the corners of his mouth down hard: "Haha, Fifth Young Master, you understand calligraphy!"

"But..." Xu Zaijing hesitated.

As soon as these words were spoken,

Rong Xian immediately stopped nodding, instead frowning as he looked at the calligraphy before him, and curled his lips.

The Marquis Xiangyang's hand stroking his beard paused, and he said, "Mm? Fifth Young Master, is there a problem with my calligraphy?"

Xu Zaijing nodded slightly, walked forward a few steps, came before this piece of calligraphy, traced it with his finger twice, shook his head, and said, "Old Marquis, this kid sees that your first character seems to be a habit of your writing, and there seems to be a faint sense of melancholy."

Rong Xian tilted his head to look at Xu Zaijing, his eyes full of the expression, "He can even see this? He really is cultured!"

He looked back at the calligraphy in front of him, shook his head with a blank look in his eyes, and the expression of "Why can't I see it" was already overflowing.

"The subsequent characters, however, have an increasingly relaxed and clear composition!"

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, he looked at the Marquis Xiangyang and said, "Old Marquis, this is just this kid's clumsy opinion; you can just listen to it."

"Good! Good! It seems I didn't send this piece of calligraphy, which I spent so much effort writing, to the wrong person!" While speaking, the Marquis Xiangyang rolled up the scroll and handed it to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing took it with a smile and said, "Old Marquis, regarding some of this kid's remarks..."

Marquis Xiangyang: "Mm? What?"

Xu Zaijing: "You are getting on in years, so you should pay more attention to your health."

The Marquis Xiangyang turned and walked out, saying as he walked, "This old man has his own sense of proportion. That Rong family kid doesn't need to pay silver either; this old man has already given it."

The manservant following behind the Marquis Xiangyang closed the door with Qingyun outside after they went out.

"Cousin Jing, how did you see these things? Teach your brother a bit." Rong Xian said with a look of seeking advice.

Xu Zaijing walked toward his seat and said, "Cousin Xian, this requires one's own contemplation."

"Contemplation?" Rong Xian scratched his head in some difficulty.

In the corridor leading outside, several lanterns were hung on the ceiling along the way for illumination.

Mama Ruan led the way with a smile.

The Marquis Xiangyang glanced sideways at the manservant following behind him to the side. At this moment, the manservant was somewhat distracted, his gaze scanning around the courtyard.

"What's wrong?" the Marquis Xiangyang asked sternly.

The manservant immediately withdrew his gaze and lowered his head, saying, "Returning to Marquis, no, nothing..."

"Mm? Don't make this Marquis ask a second time."

The manservant bowed deeply, cupped his hands, and said, "Returning to Marquis, it's, it's that when I came to pass the message, I saw the young maid beside Mama Ruan, and she was truly beautiful, so I thought about taking another look! I..."

The Marquis Xiangyang waved his hand and said, "Mm, I know! Mama Ruan, how much silver is needed to redeem the young maid beside you tonight?"

Mama Ruan, who was walking in front, looked surprised: "Ah? Marquis, what are you doing?"

"Since the manservant beside me likes her, I'll just buy her back," the Marquis Xiangyang said with an indifferent expression.

The manservant looked at the Marquis Xiangyang in a daze; he just wanted to take another look!

In fact, the manservant wouldn't even dare to dream of doing such a thing.

"Uh, Marquis, listen to what this servant has to say," Mama Ruan said, walking to the Marquis Xiangyang's side and whispering, "That young maid is the most outstanding among the daughters I've newly trained. I heard that today, Fifth Young Master Xu..."

"When he went to the private room, this girl even wanted to compare herself with the maid from the Marquis Xiangyang's mansion, but ended up being subdued by a single glance from that young lady."

Hearing this, the Marquis Xiangyang nodded with some pride and some pity.

The manservant to the side listened, seemingly relieved, his eyes full of the expression "So that's how it is."

"When this young man came to pass the message, my daughter happened not to be wearing a veil, so..."

Mama Ruan explained a few more sentences, looking at the Marquis Xiangyang's expression from time to time while speaking.

When she saw a curious look appear on the Marquis Xiangyang's face, a sigh of lament flashed through Mama Ruan's eyes.

"Marquis, how about, I have my daughter come over?"

"Mm!" After the Marquis Xiangyang nodded, he looked at the manservant beside him and said, "Don't even think about such an outstanding girl."

"What the Marquis says is right," the manservant cupped his hands and said.

After the Marquis Xiangyang nodded, Mama Ruan walked quickly to a room and said a few words.

Soon, the young lady Shishi, who had appeared beside Mama Ruan earlier, walked out of the room wearing a veil, holding a rolled-up book in both hands.

"Daughter, this is the Marquis Xiangyang; take off your veil." Mama Ruan said.

Surprise flashed through the young lady Shishi's eyes, and she hurriedly took off her veil as instructed.

The eyes of the manservant beside the Marquis Xiangyang immediately went straight.

The Marquis Xiangyang's eyes were also full of amazement; he nodded in appreciation and said, "Mama Ruan's words are not false; she is indeed extremely outstanding and has a good appearance! It's a pity..."

Hearing this, the young lady Shishi looked at Mama Ruan in some incomprehension.

There was also some confusion in Mama Ruan's eyes.

And the Marquis Xiangyang shook his head, tilted his head, and said to the manservant beside him, "You must know that in the future, young noblemen in the capital won't be able to see the appearance of Mama Ruan's daughter without a few thousand guan."

"You've taken a big advantage! Keep today's matter in your stomach from now on; if there's any wind of it later, don't blame this Marquis for being ruthless."

"Yes, Marquis! This servant will keep it in mind," the manservant said sincerely.

Watching the back of the Marquis Xiangyang walking out, Mama Ruan waved her hand to let her "daughter" go into the room, then hurriedly chased after him.

"Marquis, the 'pity' you mentioned just now, is there anything about my daughter that needs improvement?"

"Mama Ruan is overthinking; this old man just sees that your daughter's body is somewhat thin and not good for childbearing."

"Uh..." Mama Ruan was speechless for a moment.

In the private room,

"Cousin Jing, come, let me toast you another cup!"

Rong Xian raised his cup and said.

Xu Zaijing touched his cup with a smile, then drank it all in one gulp.

After eating a bite of food, Rong Xian said, "Cousin Jing, have you heard about the Nong people in the south and Prince Yong?"

Xu Zaijing nodded: "I just got the news this afternoon."

"Sigh!"

Looking at the sighing Rong Xian, Xu Zaijing asked in confusion, "What's wrong with this?"

Rong Xian shook his head and said, "When I was on duty in the palace today, the Imperial Consort had someone pass a message, saying..."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's listening expression, Rong Xian said, "Now that there is trouble in the south, she asked the Emperor on my behalf... I might have to go to the south to share the Emperor's worries!"

"Cousin Xian, we don't know how the situation in the south will develop yet. Imperial Consort Rong, how... is it because of the situation?" Xu Zaijing replied.

Rong Xian nodded: "Cousin Jing, it's just as you thought. The situation in the south is far more critical than what you've heard."

"Are Viscount Xie and the Xiong family's young master alright?" Xu Zaijing frowned and asked.

"I haven't heard of anything happening! But the Imperial City Guard has already received a secret report; it seems the Nong people have promised some benefits, and the Jiaozhi Kingdom is also stirring." After Rong Xian finished speaking, he poured and drank a cup by himself.

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Xian and said, "How long has your daughter been born? There's also one in the courtyard with a big belly; how could Imperial Consort Rong bear to let you go to the south?"

"My sister is pregnant, and seeing those young masters brought to the south by the Kang'an Earl Xiong family, nothing major happened, so..."

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Being at peace and fighting a war are completely different. Cousin Xian, are you really going?"

"The Emperor has already nodded; if I don't go, it would be defying an imperial decree," Rong Xian said, looking slightly depressed.

Xu Zaijing sighed lightly and said, "When are you departing? Which high-ranking official in the court has the Emperor appointed to preside over the overall situation?"

"At the latest by the end of the month; it will likely be Grand Minister Shen presiding over this matter."

Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "Imperial Consort Rong has good intentions."

Rong Xian hummed.

Xu Zaijing said, "Cousin Xian, we've known each other for some years. Let me say a few more words; don't find me long-winded."

Rong Xian shook his head: "Cousin Jing, what are you saying! Back then at Sai Sai Fanlou, if it weren't for you, Gu Er, and Zheng Er appearing, I don't know how much longer I would have been humiliated. Whatever you say, I imagine it's for my own good."

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Cousin Xian, you are a relative of the imperial family and have a resume in the palace guard. In the army in the south, your military rank won't be low! I imagine there will definitely be a large banner of the Rong family in the military formation."

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, a look of emotion and yearning appeared in Rong Xian's eyes.

After being humiliated at Sai Sai Fanlou a few years ago, Rong Xian had the idea of striving to join the army, but unfortunately, he couldn't even leave Xiangzhou.

"Charging into battle is for the fierce soldiers in the army, and selecting generals also has people from the Xie and Xiong families," Xu Zaijing continued.

Rong Xian listened while pouring a cup of wine for Xu Zaijing.

"If you really have the opportunity to lead soldiers, Cousin Xian, do you know how to establish authority?"

Rong Xian nodded and said, "I know! Kill to establish authority."

"Kill whom?" Xu Zaijing asked further.

Rong Xian put down the wine pot and said, "Cousin Jing, is there a distinction in whom to kill?"

"Not bad! When commanding an army, if a descendant of a noble family with a prestigious status violates military law, do you kill or not?" Xu Zaijing asked.

"That depends on the person, their family background, and my friendship with them! If the family background is good and the friendship is good, I naturally can't..."

As Rong Xian was speaking, he looked at Xu Zaijing's eyes, his voice gradually lowered, and he said hesitantly, "Cousin Jing, the person you're talking about killing, it wouldn't be these, would it?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Cousin Xian, what I just said is, those who have committed a capital offense under military law."

"But, isn't that too heartless? If you really kill someone, we see each other all the time in the capital..."

Xu Zaijing ignored Rong Xian, picked up the wine cup on the table, drank a mouthful by himself, then picked up his chopsticks to eat a few bites of food, saying, "This dish is not bad!"

"No, Cousin Jing, I'm asking for your advice; why are you drinking!"

Xu Zaijing pursed his lips and said, "Cousin Xian, you've been in the palace guard for quite a while; haven't you learned any military law? You have to ask me this; I think you'd better not go."

Rong Xian scratched his face with some embarrassment and said, "When they were teaching these things, I, I was on the night shift, so I didn't listen much."

Xu Zaijing shook his head in disbelief: "You'd better not go, lest something happens and you become the one used by others to establish authority!"

"Military strategy says, 'Kill one to shock the three armies.' Establishing authority in the army has always been better the more prestigious the status. With your status as a relative of the imperial family and the heir to a Marquis's mansion, if you commit a crime... Tsk, beheading to sacrifice the flag is most appropriate!"

"Gulp."

Listening to the words Xu Zaijing said lightly, Rong Xian swallowed his saliva and touched his own neck.

"Cousin Jing, when you were in the Northwest, did you see it?"

"Mm."

"Cousin Jing, then, then what should I do?" Rong Xian hurriedly asked.

"Find an experienced veteran who is familiar with all the tricks in the army, is shrewd and capable, keep him by your side, settle his family well, and listen more to advice."

After Xu Zaijing finished speaking, Rong Xian's eyes lit up.

"Clap!"

Rong Xian slapped the table and said, "That's right! Why didn't I think of that! If I had known, I wouldn't have let Hua Rong go under Marquis Xu's command."

Xu Zaijing raised an eyebrow and continued, "When selecting people, explore and consider from multiple sides; I imagine Imperial Consort Rong will consider it for you, Cousin Xian."

"Cousin Jing, do you have any candidates you recommend?"

Xu Zaijing's eyes turned, and he leaned over to whisper a few words in Rong Xian's ear.

The next day,

Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

In the Empress's hall,

Looking at Imperial Consort Rong sitting to the side, the Empress nodded with a smile: "Sister's words make sense! Since you have this intention, then just summon the person into the palace."

Imperial Consort Rong hurriedly stood up and bowed with a smile: "Thank you, Empress."

"Sit down quickly! You are a person with a child; you must be very careful."

"Yes."

After the two talked for a while, Imperial Consort Rong took her leave.

Watching the back of Imperial Consort Rong,

The Empress, sitting in her chair, reached out and took the hot drink handed over by her personal female official, saying softly, "Imperial Consort Rong is truly smart. I hadn't said anything yet, and she actually asked on her own initiative to let the Rong family's second young master leave the palace guard."

The personal female official to the side said, "These days, Imperial Consort Rong has not only not been arrogant because of her pregnancy, but has instead become someone who asks and requests everything; she looks increasingly observant of the rules."

The Empress drank a shallow sip of the hot drink and said, "By the way, the idea Imperial Consort Rong mentioned, was it given to Rong Xian by Xu family's Cousin Jing?"

"Yes, it was in Mama Ruan's small courtyard. That Captain surnamed Shen is the brother-in-law of the Yuzhou imperial clan member Zhao Zongquan; he is currently beside the Kang'an Earl Xiong family's young master. His wife is surnamed Zou, and she is living on Quyuan Street with her younger brother and sister."

The Empress nodded: "She is someone whose background is known! On the Double Ninth Festival, summon the Shen family and the Zou family to go to Huayang Mountain to climb high with me."

"Yes, Empress."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 647 =====