Chapter 651: Do You Still Remember Me [Thanks! Thanks again! 38k words owed]

Shou'an Hall,

bedroom,

candlelight flickered behind the semi-transparent screen,

the Old Madam sat on the bed, looking at Mama Fang, who was bringing over the medicine bowl, with furrowed brows.

When Mama Fang walked to the side of the bed and stood still, the smell of the soothing soup medicine drifted over.

The Old Madam took a deep breath, as if having made some kind of resolution, picked up the medicine bowl on the tray and brought it to her mouth.

Without drinking a single mouthful, just smelling the scent, the Old Madam immediately furrowed her brows and moved the soup bowl away.

"Suqin, why do I smell that today's medicine has such a strong scent?"

Mama Fang said helplessly: "Old Madam, long pain is worse than short pain; just endure it, drink it in one gulp and we'll be done with it!"

"Did you put too much medicine when you were boiling it? With such a strong scent, wouldn't it be very bitter!" The Old Madam looked at the soup bowl and said.

"Sigh! Old Madam, this medicine is boiled by Cuiwei every day, and it uses the medicine bag grabbed by the physician; it won't be too much!" Mama Fang persuaded.

"Clack."

The Old Madam put the medicine bowl back on the tray Mama Fang was holding, poked her head out to look outside the screen, and said: "Has Ru'an returned?"

Mama Fang laughed lightly, turned her head, and shouted outside: "Has Mama Cui returned?"

As soon as the words fell,

Mama Cui's figure appeared beside the screen. After looking at the Old Madam, Mama Cui said: "Old Madam, I saw clearly outside just now; the Master has returned to Linqi Pavilion again."

Hearing this, the Old Madam shook her head and said: "The Da Niangzi is just reprimanding Changfeng and Seeing Mo Lan, yet this Linqi Pavilion has to find a way to get back at her. It's truly... but today they actually didn't make a big scene, which is rare."

Mama Fang looked at Minglan's room and said: "Listening to the Sixth Young Lady's account, I imagine it's because the Eldest Young Lady instructed them on the way home."

The Old Madam nodded: "Hua'er is the daughter-in-law of the Marquis's mansion; in the past, she had to welcome and send off guests! Although she has her sister-in-law to support her in front, it's not a good thing for her younger sisters to be laughed at and become talk."

"Old Madam is right!" Mama Cui said.

Mama Fang looked at the medicine bowl on the tray and said: "Old Madam, drinking this medicine after it gets cold won't be good for your body!"

Hearing this, the Old Madam looked at Mama Fang with some resentment.

Mama Fang remained unmoved and handed the tray she was holding toward the Old Madam.

After hesitating for a moment, the Old Madam finally picked up the medicine bowl and drank the soup medicine inside in one gulp.

After drinking, the Old Madam's whole face was bitter and wrinkled.

Mama Cui on the side hurriedly took the medicine bowl from the Old Madam's hand, and Mama Fang handed over the warm water for rinsing the mouth.

After rinsing her mouth and recovering for quite a while, the Old Madam's brows finally relaxed.

Subsequently, Mama Cui carried everything out.

Mama Fang served the Old Madam to lie down on the bed.

"I don't know how many of the four good horses sent by Jing Ge'er will be able to be put to use," the Old Madam said while leaning against the pillow.

"I imagine the Sixth Young Lady and Pinlan young lady like playing polo, so they will definitely ride them many times!" Mama Fang smiled.

The Old Madam nodded with a smile, closed her eyes, and said: "It's getting colder and colder in the morning and evening; instruct Ming'er's mother to have the wind-proof and cold-resistant partitions of the school installed earlier."

"Yes, Old Madam."

Mama Fang replied while tucking the quilt for the Old Madam.

After tucking it in, Mama Fang stood up straight and raised her head, wanting to continue speaking, but found that the Old Madam was already snoring slightly.

Seeing this, Mama Fang smiled, lowered the bed curtain, and walked out.

After the Double Ninth Festival in the ninth month, there were no more festivals.

Xu Zaijing returned to his school life of two points and one line from Quyuan Street to Jingying Lane.

Ten-odd days later, on this day,

during the noon break,

Qi Heng, while drinking the warm water offered by Buwei, turned his head and said to Changfeng: "Feng Ge'er, the three younger sisters haven't come to school for five or six days; did something happen?"

Changfeng looked at Xu Zaijing beside him and said with a smile: "Hehe, Little Xiao Xiao Gongye, isn't it because of those four horses Xu Wu Ge Xu sent!"

Seeing Xu Zaijing look over, Changfeng continued: "Grandmother said the weather recently isn't too cold, so she took the four younger sisters to the manor outside the city to relax and enjoy the autumn."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

Qi Heng looked confused: "Four younger sisters?"

Looking at Qi Heng's appearance, Changfeng was stunned and hurriedly explained: "There's also Pinlan young lady from the Eldest Uncle's family, four people in total."

"Oh!" Qi Heng suddenly realized and nodded with a smile.

Looking at Qi Heng, who was handing the teacup to Buwei, Changfeng continued: "Little Xiao Xiao Gongye, not to mention the four younger sisters, ever since I got a good horse that day, I've also been feeling stifled day by day."

Qi Heng looked confused: "Feng Ge'er, what are you stifled about?"

"Naturally, I want to gallop on a horse! Otherwise, it would be a waste of such a good horse!" Changfeng replied.

Gu Tingye, who heard the conversation, turned his body with great interest, glanced at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Jing Ge'er, how about we go riding outside the city together on the Cold Clothes Festival in a few days?"

Xu Zaijing said without raising his head: "Yuan Erlang, on the Cold Clothes Festival, many commoners in the city have to go out of the city to worship and burn offerings for the dead; I imagine there will be no shortage of pedestrians on the road outside the city! Can you ride happily if you go?"

"Hiss, that's true!" Gu Tingye scratched his head.

"Then let's find time to go to the polo field to play!" Changfeng said.

Xu Zaijing tilted his head to look at Changfeng and said: "If you want to run happily, you might as well go to Maotuo Ridge in the Northwest direction; I imagine it's very spacious there."

Changfeng blinked and hesitated: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, isn't that too far."

Xu Zaijing raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

At this time,

footsteps came from outside the room.

Everyone looked outside and saw Mama Liu coming to the room with a smile, accompanied by a young maid.

After bowing in a salute to everyone, Mama Liu smiled: "Young masters, today is the Frost Descent solar term; the Old Madam and the Da Niangzi specifically instructed the kitchen to stew some nourishing mutton medicinal diet."

Xu Zaijing and the others hurriedly stood up to thank them.

After the meal,

the afternoon passed leisurely,

and I don't know if it was psychological or truly effective, but when Xu Zaijing finished school and returned home, he still felt a warm feeling on his body.

At this time of year, the sunset was much earlier than before.

When Xu Zaijing returned to Quyuan Street, the sun had already set behind the mountain.

Outside Master Yin's wooden house, Xu Zaijing unloaded the saddle from his mount.

When chatting with his master, Xu Zaijing learned that the wife of Yuzhou Regiment Commander Zhao Zongquan, Madam Shen, had actually received the title of a Grade 9 Ru-ren today.

"Firecrackers were set off on the street for a while, and Madam Xie also went over," Master Yin said.

"So, Madam Zou's husband Shen Congxing has been promoted?" Xu Zaijing smiled.

Master Yin nodded: "Right! They say it was instructed by the Empress; that Master Shen will follow beside the Rong family's second young master from now on."

Xu Zaijing smiled.

After chatting with his master for a few more sentences, Xu Zaijing went to his mother Madam Sun's courtyard.

Before the Double Ninth Festival, the reply letter from Marquis Yongyi Xu Minghua had already been sent home.

The letter also decided on the name of the Xu family's sixth daughter: Xu Ningmei.

Mother Madam Sun originally wanted the little daughter to be called Lemei, and was somewhat unhappy when she saw Xu Marquis's letter.

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing said a few good words at the time, saying "The 'Ning' character of the sixth daughter can form Pingning and Anning with the names of her eldest sister and fourth sister."

Hearing this, Madam Sun nodded with a smile.

Seeing Xu Zaijing enter the courtyard, the maid Yunjin standing at the entrance bowed in a salute with a smile, then hurriedly turned and entered the room to pass the message in a low voice.

Because Madam Sun was still in her month of confinement, a thick cloth curtain was hung at the entrance.

Xu Zaijing lifted the cloth curtain and entered the room. After bypassing the screen, he saw Mama Zhu holding the child.

"Mama Zhu, is the sixth daughter obedient today?" Xu Zaijing asked with a smile.

Mama Zhu nodded: "Obedient, about the same as you when you were little, Fifth Young Master."

Xu Zaijing smiled and took the swaddling clothes, looked at the little sister sleeping soundly inside, and smiled: "Wait until she's older, then I'll know if there's much difference."

Mama Zhu smiled: "You don't remember things from when you were little, Fifth Young Master; how would you know if there's much difference?"

"Isn't there you here." Xu Zaijing replied with a smile.

Hearing this, Mama Zhu smiled helplessly and shook her head.

Xu Zaijing was indeed someone she had watched grow up from childhood.

Subsequently, Xu Zaijing said two sentences to his mother Madam Sun and returned to his own courtyard.

In Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

the three maids who had been practicing sword dancing for half a year had already graduated and passed the time of crying about bitterness and tiredness.

Every day after Xu Zaijing left for school in the morning, the maids remaining in the courtyard would habitually practice sword dancing for three quarters of an hour.

Not to mention anything else, over these days, the spirit and energy of the three maids had improved quite a bit.

The next day,

in the morning,

the sun had not yet risen,

a crescent moon hung in the ink-colored sky, and there were several twinkling stars beside it.

The sky was dim.

Although there were already pedestrians on the streets of Bianjing, it was still quiet.

The loud shouts of the night watchman reporting the time rang out in the streets and alleys from time to time.

Xu Zaijing wore a large cloak and rode his horse on the street. The morning breeze coming toward him already carried a hint of chill.

"Rustle, rustle."

Perhaps it was not yet the beginning of winter, and the chill was not enough. Relying on his excellent hearing, Xu Zaijing could still hear the low chirping of insects by the roadside.

After crossing the bridge over the canal,

after walking for a while,

"Squeak! Squeak! Squeak!"

A rhythmic sound appeared in front.

Xu Zaijing was no stranger to this sound; it was the sound made by someone carrying a shoulder pole with heavy objects on both ends while walking.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's group approaching,

the passerby carrying the shoulder pole hurriedly avoided to the side of the road.

There was a military patrol post by the roadside, and a lantern was still lit under the eaves at this time.

A patrol soldier came out to greet them and pulled the passerby carrying the shoulder pole to the side.

Walking near the military patrol post, in the light of the lantern, Xu Zaijing saw clearly the things carried on the shoulder pole of the passerby.

"Whoa!"

Xu Zaijing reined in his horse.

Seeing this, the patrol soldier blocked the passerby to the side and cupped his hands with a smile: "Greetings, Fifth Young Master, you are?"

Xu Zaijing sat on the horse, looked at the bamboo baskets on both ends of the shoulder pole, and asked: "Are these persimmons in the basket?"

The patrol soldier hurriedly said: "Returning to Fifth Young Master, they are freshly picked persimmons! The skin is thin and the flesh is sweet, not astringent at all! For the past two days, two baskets have been brought into the city, and they are sold out before noon, and he goes home!"

When the patrol soldier was speaking, the passerby behind him nodded repeatedly, picked up two persimmons from the very top, and said: "Right, right! Would the young master like to taste one?"

Qingyun beside Xu Zaijing flipped off his horse and walked toward the bamboo baskets.

"Do you know him?" Xu Zaijing asked with a smile again.

The patrol soldier bowed his head and said: "Returning to Fifth Young Master, I don't know him, but I ate a few of his persimmons yesterday."

"Haha, no wonder." Xu Zaijing smiled.

Qingyun took the persimmons from the passerby's hand, squeezed them, tore off a piece of fruit peel, tasted it, looked at Xu Zaijing, and nodded: "Young Master, the taste is very good! Not astringent at all."

Hearing this, the passerby under the lantern nodded hurriedly.

While they were talking, Qingcao, who was behind them, poked her head out of the carriage, her eyes bleary with sleep.

"How much for a basket?"

Xu Zaijing asked.

"Ah? A basket? I haven't counted them," the passerby said hesitantly.

Qingyun smiled: "Then how much silver did you make yesterday?"

"Over four hundred wen; everyone knows my family's persimmons are sweet."

"Here, take the silver."

As he spoke, Qingyun placed a small piece of silver into the passerby's hand.

Just as the passerby was about to lift the silver in his hand to examine it by the light of the lantern, a patrol soldier pressed his hand down and whispered: "This is the young master of the Marquis's mansion; he certainly won't be shorting you any silver!"

Before the passerby could speak, the patrol soldier continued: "If it really is short, I'll compensate you myself!"

Once these words were spoken, the passerby nodded repeatedly and stopped moving.

Qingyun lifted one basket of persimmons onto the carriage with one hand, and seeing this, the patrol soldier and the passerby wanted to help carry the other basket away.

Xu Zaijing smiled: "No need to carry this basket; there's too much to eat anyway. Distribute it to the nearby military patrol station later."

"Thank you, Fifth Young Master!" The patrol soldier hurriedly cupped his hands.

Xu Zaijing nodded, lightly tapped the horse's belly, and led his men away from the spot.

After Xu Zaijing had gone far away,

The passerby leaned over and whispered: "Soldier, how about I take this basket and continue selling it? You take seven parts of the silver, and I'll take three."

The patrol soldier looked at the basket of persimmons in front of him, hesitated for a moment, and then shook his head: "Forget it! I don't care about that little bit of tribute from you. If someone else finds out I did this, I might just lose this uniform!"

Jiying Lane,

The Sheng family,

Front courtyard,

As Xu Zaijing dismounted and prepared to go to the school with Qingcao, Qingyun, who had been talking to the Sheng family's gatekeeper behind them, walked over.

"Were the persimmons distributed?" Xu Zaijing asked.

Qingyun nodded: "Young Master, they were! The gatekeeper also said the Old Madam returned yesterday."

"Oh?" Xu Zaijing blinked and said: "We aren't holding the full-month banquet until the day after tomorrow; why did Great-Aunt return yesterday?"

"Perhaps the Old Madam didn't want to be too rushed, so that there would be more time for everything."

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, reached out his hand, and said to Qingcao: "Take a few, and send the rest to the backyard."

"Yes, Young Master." Qingcao replied and handed the book box in her hand to Xu Zaijing.

After Xu Zaijing took it, Qingcao untied her cloak, preparing to use it as a bundle to carry the persimmons over together.

Xu Zaijing shook his head when he saw this, and after Qingcao counted on her fingers to figure it out and put the persimmons she wanted to pick out into the cloak,

Xu Zaijing reached out his hand, holding the book box in one hand and Qingcao's cloak in the other, and walked toward the school courtyard with Qingcao.

The sky was bright,

Sheng family backyard, Jin'an Studio,

Wei Shuyi, who was acting as the temporary housekeeper, was sitting behind the table balancing the accounts.

"Little Niang, this servant has returned." The voice of the maid Qiujiang came from outside the room.

Liu Mama, who was standing by the table, smiled: "Little Niang, what did Qiujiang go off to do so early in the morning?"

Wei Shuyi smiled and said: "The Old Madam at Shou'an Hall called for someone to go over."

Liu Mama nodded.

Soon,

The maid Qiujiang walked in carrying a bamboo basket.

"This is? Persimmons?" Liu Mama asked.

"Yes, Liu Mama, they were just distributed by Shou'an Hall; the First Madam and Lin Wei Xiaoniang both have some too!" Qiujiang replied with a smile.

"Didn't the Old Madam distribute persimmons once when she returned to the mansion yesterday evening? Why distribute them again?" Liu Mama asked in confusion.

"Replying to Liu Mama, Cui Mama said this morning's batch was sent in by the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family from the school!"

"Oh!" Liu Mama nodded with a smile.

Wei Shuyi looked up and said: "Qiujiang, go wash a few; let's also taste the flavor of these persimmons."

"Yes, Little Niang!" Qiujiang smiled.

A while later,

Wei Shuyi, Liu Mama, and Qiujiang were each eating a persimmon.

"Hmm! Although these persimmons are a bit smaller, the taste is about the same as the ones the Old Madam gave." Liu Mama said.

Wei Shuyi and Qiujiang nodded repeatedly.

After finishing the persimmons and washing her hands, Liu Mama smiled: "Little Niang, if there's nothing else, I'll go to the First Madam's place!"

Wei Shuyi said: "Liu Mama, wait a moment. Qiujiang, go fetch the Hangzhou silk with the begonia and butterfly pattern that I embroidered."

Qiujiang went to do as she was told, and soon walked over carrying a cloth bundle three feet long and as thick as an adult's thigh.

Liu Mama looked confused: "Little Niang, this is?"

Wei Shuyi smiled: "I imagine the First Madam will be going to the Marquis Yongyi's mansion in two days; this is a set of light gauze bed curtains I embroidered in my spare time."

Liu Mama took the cloth bundle, opened it, took a look, and said in surprise: "Oh! Little Niang, is this the good material that Miss Xiaodie sent over before?"

Wei Shuyi nodded: "Yes!"

"Little Niang has put in much effort!" Liu Mama said sincerely: "I will take this to the First Madam right now and let her see it."

"I'll trouble you, Liu Mama!"

"Little Niang, you speak too solemnly!"

Weiruixuan,

Outer room,

Liu Mama and Caihuan each grabbed one side and displayed the bed curtains from the cloth bundle in their entirety.

Looking at the item before her, Wang Ruofu sighed with a smile: "This begonia and butterfly pattern is embroidered truly well, and the material is good too!"

Liu Mama and Caihuan nodded in agreement.

Liu Mama said: "First Madam, this Hangzhou silk is not easy to buy; I don't know how Miss Xiaodie managed to get it."

Wang Ruofu held a handkerchief in one hand and touched the material with the other, smiling: "With a sister-in-law who is a First Madam in a Xie Zijue's family, and a brother-in-law who is a nephew of the Marquis's mansion, what material can't be bought?"

Caihuan said: "First Madam, with these curtains, do we still need to prepare a congratulatory gift?"

Hearing this, Liu Mama shook her head slightly, and Wang Ruofu turned her head to look at Caihuan: "This is a congratulatory gift given by Wei Wei Xiaoniang; am I, the First Madam, going to snatch something from a concubine?"

Caihuan pursed her lips, lowered her head, and said: "First Madam, it was this servant who thought wrongly."

Wang Ruofu gave a hum, sat back in her chair, held her teacup, and continued: "This Hangzhou silk is a good thing! But, how much cloth can be used to make these curtains? And what is its value?"

Caihuan hurriedly shook her head: "First Madam, this servant does not know."

"It looks like it's only worth forty or fifty strings of cash; if I send it to the Marquis's mansion, who am I embarrassing?" Wang Ruofu pouted.

Caihuan lowered her head: "The First Madam is right; this servant was inconsiderate."

Liu Mama said from the side: "First Madam, actually, Wei Wei Xiaoniang's embroidery on this also has some significance! With this embroidery, the value is more than just that."

Wang Ruofu was stunned, looked at the bed curtains again, and nodded: "Hmm! Liu Mama, what you say makes sense."

"Although I didn't intend to use Wei Wei Xiaoniang's gift, this item can be included in our family's congratulatory gifts, and it will be acceptable; it won't be considered losing face."

"When Madam Sun sees it and thinks it was sent by our family, Hualan will also have face."

"Keep it!"

Liu Mama hurriedly smiled and agreed.

Afternoon,

Time to leave school,

School courtyard,

Xu Zaijing caught up with Scholar Zhuang and said a few words.

Scholar Zhuang nodded after listening: "Understood, don't come back too late."

"Yes, Scholar."

Taking Qingcao out of the courtyard,

When they arrived near the stables, they discovered that their carriage had an extra basket of large, red, and sweet persimmons, which were much better than what Xu Zaijing had bought in the morning.

These were brought back by the Old Madam from the manor outside the city.

It had been a manor for many years, the persimmon trees inside were tended by specialists, and coupled with the good fruit trees, the fruit produced was naturally different.

On the road back to Quyuanjie,

"Pop, pop."

Xu Zaijing tapped the carriage wall with his horse whip.

"Hmm? Young Master, what's wrong?" Qingcao lifted the carriage curtain and said toward the outside.

"Although these persimmons are delicious, eating too many is not a good thing." Xu Zaijing said, looking at Qingcao, who had orange-red fruit pulp on her mouth.

Qingcao frowned, straightened her face, and said seriously: "Young Master, don't worry! This servant knows this; I definitely won't eat too many persimmons!"

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly and nodded: "Good to know."

"Hmm." Qingcao nodded heavily.

After putting down the carriage curtain, the inside of the carriage became much darker.

By the light coming through the carriage window, Qingcao looked at the half-eaten persimmon in her hand, licked her lips, and whispered: "It's so sweet, and there's so much left! If I don't eat it, wouldn't that be a waste?"

The next day,

Early morning,

The moon and stars were still hanging in the ink-colored sky.

Bianjing outer city,

Southwest Guangli Gate,

Xu Zaijing stopped his horse at the city gate; not far away was the canal that entered the city after merging with the Dragon Protection River.

Lanterns were lit on the cargo ships on the canal, and they slowly sailed into Bianjing city amidst the boatmen's chants.

Behind Xu Zaijing, in addition to the carriage Yunxiang was sitting in, another carriage was following.

In that other carriage,

Lady Shen, the wife of Zhao Zongquan, the Yuzhou Training Commissioner, lifted the carriage curtain, looked at Xu Zaijing not far away, and whispered: "Sister-in-law, I thought we got up early enough, but I didn't expect this young master to be even earlier than us."

Lady Zou, who now had a title and could be called Madam Zou, nodded: "This Fifth Young Master has always gotten up early; I heard it's been like this for many years."

Lady Shen nodded with full approval: "It's truly rare."

Madam Zou said again: "When Ce'ying gets married, I don't know if his uncle, the official, will be able to come back."

"The journey there and back is too far! It's better to prioritize state affairs!" Lady Shen said in a deep voice.

"Hmm. I don't know how much of these dried fish and such will still be edible when they are brought to the south." Madam Zou said.

Just as Lady Shen was about to speak, the sound of carriage wheels and horse hooves came from the gate tunnel not far away.

The two ladies hurriedly got off the carriage and stood by the side of the carriage.

Xu Zaijing rode his horse to the side of the road and dismounted.

Soon,

Rong Xian, riding a horse, appeared in Xu Zaijing's field of vision.

Arriving nearby,

Rong Xian dismounted, looked at Xu Zaijing in front of him, and said: "Jingge'er, I didn't see you at the inner city gate, and I thought you weren't coming to see me off!"

"Inner city?" Xu Zaijing asked in surprise.

Rong Xian nodded: "The few who are on good terms with me in the capital all saw me off at the inner city Chongming Gate!"

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly and said: "Fine! I thought the southwest city gate you mentioned was this one! That is Madam Zou of the Shen family; she has some things to be sent to the south..."

Rong Xian nodded: "A small matter; go, help Madam Zou move the things onto the carriage, tie them up, and cover them."

"Yes, Young Master!" The servants and guards replied and went to do so.

While the two were talking,

A carriage stopped not far away,

Rong Feiyan, wearing a cloak, stepped down with her maid using a footstool.

Arriving near Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan bowed: "Greetings, Xu Wu Ge Xu."

Seeing Xi Bu and Ningxiang followed and bowed.

Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Feiyan and nodded with a smile: "Greetings, Miss Feiyan."

After finishing, Xu Zaijing looked at Rong Xian and said: "The Marquis and his wife didn't come?"

Rong Xian waved his hand and said: "My mother was crying terribly at the inner city gate, and I found it too noisy, so I didn't let her follow."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Are the things I sent before all packed?"

Rong Xian patted his chest and said: "Jingge'er, don't worry, they are all packed."

"Good! Xian'ge'er, I'll repeat it again: being uncomfortable is better than losing your life!"

"I understand!"

"Hmm, when you get to the south, give my regards to Xie Zijue Xie, Brother Xiong, and the others for me."

"Don't worry, I will definitely pass them on."

While the two were talking,

Among the people Rong Xian was taking to the south, it seemed that those living in the outer city were also talking.

When the east turned pale, Rong Xian flipped onto his horse, waved to Xu Zaijing and the others, and led the sizable team toward the south.

Because Rong Feiyan was by Rong Xian's side while they were talking, when Rong Xian looked back while riding, he saw that although Xu Zaijing and Rong Feiyan were separated by a small distance, they were almost standing side by side.

Although Rong Feiyan was tall, her eyebrows were only level with Xu Zaijing's shoulders.

Looking at his sister waving at him, Rong Xian also waved his hand.

Turning back to look at the road ahead in the morning light, Rong Xian muttered to himself: "I hope when I return, there will be good news for you two! Damn it, I don't know if my next child will be a boy or a girl."

Watching Rong Xian and his party gradually go far away,

Many relatives who came to see them off returned to the city one after another.

At this time,

The sky was bright,

And the number of commoners and pedestrians on the road was gradually increasing.

From time to time, people cast glances this way, some looking at the people, some looking at the horses.

Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing beside her in the morning light and said in a crisp voice: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, are you going back to the Marquis's mansion later?"

Looking at the young lady in front of him, Xu Zaijing smiled: "I only asked for leave for the morning; I still have to go to the school."

"Hmm!"

Rong Feiyan nodded, her eyes not knowing where to look, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.

There was silence between the two for a moment.

Suddenly,

"Pfft~"

A sound came from behind the two.

Rong Feiyan turned her head to look, and it was the little horse behind Qingyun snorting.

Seeing Rong Feiyan turn her head to look, the little horse's head moved up and down incessantly, as if it were greeting her.

After Rong Feiyan turned her head to look at Xu Zaijing, she walked toward the little horse.

Qingyun, who was in front of the little horse, hurriedly stepped aside.

Arriving nearby, looking at the tall, handsome horse, Rong Feiyan touched the little horse's bridle and smiled: "Do you still remember me?"

The little horse's oily, smooth head moved forward, nudged Rong Feiyan's palm, and the furry feeling made Rong Feiyan laugh involuntarily.

"Then I'll take it that you still remember me."

Rong Feiyan said with a smile as bright as a flower.

(End of chapter)