Chapter 652

Turning back to look at Xu Zaijing, Rong Feiyan, who was standing in front of the little horse, smiled and said: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, then I'll return to the city first!"

"Go slowly." Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

Watching Rong Feiyan leave from in front of them, Yunxiang and Qingyun hurriedly lowered their heads and bowed slightly.

The two maids following Rong Feiyan smiled, nodded in return, and caught up with their young lady.

After walking more than ten steps,

Rong Feiyan stepped on the footstool and got into the carriage,

Standing in front of the carriage, Rong Feiyan didn't go directly into the carriage, but turned back to look at Xu Zaijing.

In the morning light,

The light-colored, luxurious cloak on Rong Feiyan's body faintly shimmered, and together with the bun made of her dark hair, it set off the young lady's fair skin and picturesque features even more.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was a bit stunned not far away, Rong Feiyan smiled slightly, waved her hand, and stooped into the carriage.

Yunxiang looked at the Rong family maid who followed into the carriage, thought of Rong Feiyan's grace just now, and touched her slightly cool cheeks with a bit of emotion.

Soon,

The sound of the coachman driving the horses rang out, and amidst the sound of carriage wheels, the Rong family carriage drove into the gate tunnel.

Xu Zaijing walked to the little horse, flipped onto his horse, looked at the Rong family carriage again, and then drove his horse toward Jiying Lane.

Passing through Guangli Gate and entering the city,

Xu Zaijing had rarely come to this southwest corner of the outer city.

Walking along the canal that entered the city, Xu Zaijing looked around at the surrounding scenery with a bit of curiosity.

Suddenly,

Xu Zaijing's gaze froze as he looked toward the side of the road not far ahead.

Qingyun was a beat slower than Xu Zaijing and also looked toward the side of the road.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and Qingyun looking over, the middle-aged man on the side of the road who was watching the group hurriedly cupped his hands, bowed, and looked up at the group.

Qingyun frowned, looked further ahead in confusion, and after thinking for a moment, a look of sudden realization appeared in his eyes.

"Young Master, looking at this place, it's not far from Laoya Lane; that man seems to be a client (tenant) of my mother-in-law's family."

Qingyun turned to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

After Hua Qing and Qingyun got married, they took his biological mother to Quyuanjie; Qingyun had renovated the house in the nearby Laoya Lane and rented it out.

When Xu Zaijing's group walked nearby.

Before Qingyun could speak after cupping his hands, he confirmed it was his own tenant just by hearing the middle-aged man's form of address.

After some pleasantries, Qingyun politely declined the tenant's invitation to go over and see the house, and then spurred his horse to catch up with Xu Zaijing in front.

After crossing two more bridges over the canal, the scenery that came into view made Xu Zaijing feel a bit familiar.

The reason was that they had already arrived near the capital's main store, Qingfeng Tower; Xu Zaijing had been to this restaurant several times.

At this time, the sun was just rising,

Not yet leaping out of the horizon,

Only certain high places in the city could be hit by the sunlight.

Two streets away from Jiying Lane,

In a brothel on the side of the road,

Gu Tingyang, who had been fooling around there for the whole night, walked out with a pair of dark circles under his eyes, rubbing his waist with one hand and holding the maid's shoulder with the other.

After stretching under the colorful building at the entrance of the brothel, Gu Tingyang looked around.

After his gaze shifted from a maid of some family who was out shopping on the street, Gu Tingyang heard the sound of horse hooves and looked toward the south.

Then,

Gu Tingyang's gaze froze suddenly, and after rubbing his eyes in surprise, he looked over there again.

After seeing who it was clearly, whether it was because he had been too active last night or something else, Gu Tingyang suddenly felt his knees go weak.

The Gu family maid following behind him stepped forward with quick eyes and steady hands to support him, which prevented Gu Tingyang from collapsing to the ground.

Before the maid could speak, Gu Tingyang said urgently: "Go, go back, hurry back!"

"Ah? Oh!" The maid was stunned and hurriedly used force to half-support and half-drag Gu Tingyang back into the brothel.

"Young Master, what exactly happened?" The maid looked outside and asked in confusion.

Gu Tingyang didn't answer, but muttered to himself with a panicked look in his eyes: "This shouldn't be! This jinx Xu Zaijing should be studying with Gu Tingye of the main branch at this time! How could he appear here?"

"Xu... Fifth Young Master of the Xu family?" The Gu family maid said sheepishly.

"Hiss! He isn't coming to find trouble with me, is he? I've rarely gone near Pan Tower to avoid him!"

"That thief bird is bullying people too much; does he really think I'm afraid of him?!"

Listening to Gu Tingyang's muttering with a murderous look, the maid on the side was somewhat surprised by his master's attitude.

But the maid, who knew Xu Zaijing's skill level, touched his own stomach that had been punched by Qingyun before, and was about to advise him a few words.

"Go! Avoid his edge first; let's go to the backyard and hide!"

"Yes, Young Master!"

Hearing this, the maid hurriedly used force to support Gu Tingyang and walked toward the back of the building.

Xu Zaijing rode his horse past the brothel entrance, glanced at it, and continued walking forward.

"Young Master, just now I seemed to see someone appear under this colorful building; he looked at us and then retreated." Qingyun withdrew his gaze from the brothel and said.

"Hmm, don't worry about it." Xu Zaijing said lightly.

Arriving at the Sheng family,

Xu Zaijing took Yunxiang and walked toward the school courtyard.

Just as he stepped over the threshold,

He saw a young lady walking in front, followed by a maid.

Perhaps she heard the sound of footsteps,

The Sheng family young lady in front looked back,

Looking at Xu Zaijing and Yunxiang, Rulan stopped, her face full of surprise, and in the surprise, there was also a trace of joy.

Standing in place waiting for Xu Zaijing to walk over, Rulan pursed her lips, turned her head, and asked tentatively: "Xu Wu Ge Xu, did you... also oversleep today?"

Hearing this, Yunxiang hurriedly pursed her lips tightly, while Xique's face showed some embarrassment.

"Hmm."

Looking at Xu Zaijing nodding, Rulan's eyes were full of joy, and she hurriedly followed Xu Zaijing toward the school.

"Scholar, the student has returned."

Xu Zaijing said at the school entrance, cupping his hands.

"Scholar, the student has also arrived." Rulan echoed behind Xu Zaijing.

Scholar Zhuang, who was sitting behind the table, took a deep breath, looked at Rulan, who was hiding beside Xu Zaijing, shook his head slightly, and said: "Come in, both of you."

"Yes, Scholar."

After half an hour of class, the scholar announced a short break.

Gu Tingye turned back to look at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jingge'er, has Rong Xian left the capital?"

"Hmm." Xu Zaijing nodded.

Changfeng on the side looked surprised: "Jingge'er, I heard before that the dandies in the capital were all betting on when the Rong family young master would 'get sick'?"

Qi Heng turned back, waved his hand at Buwei, who was holding the teacup, signaling him not to come over, and asked in confusion: "Changfeng, why are they betting on Rong Xian getting sick?"

Gu Tingye smiled: "Yuanruo, does this even need to be asked? If Rong Xian gets sick, he won't have to go to the poisonous miasma land in the south, right?"

Qi Heng was stunned and nodded at Gu Tingye: "So that's it! I didn't expect Rong Xian to have such ambition."

Gu Tingye and Xu Zaijing looked at each other and shook their heads: "Yuanruo, wait until Rong Xian reaches the south to praise him! It's not impossible to get sick on the road!"

In the corner, Minglan, who was wearing a five-colored head rope mixed with gold thread, held the teacup with both hands, listening to the conversation of the few, her eyes looking around from time to time.

Xiao Tao, who was squatting on the side, whispered: "Da Niangzi, listening to this, Fifth Young Master Xu went to see off the Second Young Master of the Rong family today."

Minglan nodded.

Sun rise and sun set,

It was afternoon.

When school was over, Xu Zaijing and the others walked out of the courtyard together.

"Sister Yunxiang, please wait for me." Xique's voice came from behind.

Yunxiang looked at Xu Zaijing, and seeing her young master wave his hand, she smiled and stood in place.

Xu Zaijing continued talking with his classmates and walked out.

On the road back to Quyuanjie.

"Ding, ding."

Xu Zaijing knocked on the carriage.

"Young Master?" Yunxiang lifted the carriage curtain.

"What did that girl Xique want with you?" Xu Zaijing asked.

Yunxiang pursed her lips, looking embarrassed, and said: "Young Master, Xique... she wanted to ask when you would oversleep again..."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing rubbed his forehead helplessly.

Yunxiang: "And also..."

Xu Zaijing was stunned: "There's more?"

Yunxiang nodded: "Hmm! Because you sent those horses, the Old Madam said that not returning a gift is impolite, so she wanted the three or four young ladies to think about what would be good to return to our house."

"So, Xique asked you directly?" Xu Zaijing smiled.

"Hmm, the maids beside Da Niangzi Seeing Mo Lan and Da Niangzi Minglan were also listening on the side." Yunxiang said.

"What did you say?"

"This servant said I would go back to the mansion and ask you, Young Master."

"Smart." Xu Zaijing praised.

Yunxiang's eyes curved into smiles upon hearing this.

Quyuanjie,

Marquis Yongyi's mansion,

Yunxiang followed behind Xu Zaijing and walked into the courtyard together.

"Young Master, when we go to the Sheng family, how should this servant answer the three young ladies?"

Xu Zaijing waved his hand: "Anything is fine."

"Ah? Young Master, you've been thinking about this the whole way, and this is all you thought of?" Yunxiang looked up at Xu Zaijing.

"Hmm! Nothing handmade, only things that can be bought."

"Yes, Young Master."

Xu Zaijing actually wanted knee pads on the road.

But he was afraid that if he asked for them too early, there would be no "good omen," and that wouldn't be good.

The next day,

When Xu Zaijing was exercising in the horse racing field,

The inner and outer courtyards of the Marquis's mansion were busy early in the morning, unlike other days.

After Xu Zaijing finished exercising, he didn't go to the Sheng family but stayed at home to help.

The reason was that today the Xu family was holding a full-month banquet for the Sixth Da Niangzi.

Xu Minghua and Xu Zaiduan, who should have been welcoming guests at the front gate today, were thousands of miles away.

Zaizhang and Xu Zaijing had to fill this position.

In the Marquis's mansion,

The horses that usually wandered in the horse racing field were all put into the stables today.

After the hour of Chen (8:00 AM),

Outside the Marquis's mansion,

The carriages of guests appeared at the entrance of Quyuanjie.

Looking at the carriage turning in, Zaizhang narrowed his eyes and said: "Little Five, whose is it? Is Eldest Sister here?"

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Our maternal grandfather's family."

"Oh!"

Soon,

A long carriage procession entered Quyuanjie, and there were many Sun family sons riding horses beside the carriages.

When the first carriage arrived at the front gate of the Marquis's mansion, the carriage curtain was lifted to the side by the Mama beside the carriage.

Looking at the two old people in the carriage, Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang hurriedly bowed deeply and cupped their hands, then smiled: "Grandfather, Grandmother!"

The two silver-haired old people in the carriage smiled kindly, and Old Madam Sun looked at the two grandsons with joy in her eyes, saying: "Good children, you will have to work hard today."

Zaizhang waved his hand with a smile: "Grandmother, it's nothing! It's easier than sitting in school!"

Hearing this, Old Madam Sun glared at Zaizhang helplessly, then looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Jing'er, since your brother says so, you come into the courtyard with me later and let him handle things here by himself."

Xu Zaijing chuckled and said: "Grandmother, if we really do that, Mother will be angry."

The Sun family's old master patted his wife's hand and said: "Alright, let's not delay the children's work! Let's go into the courtyard."

The latter sentence was said to the Sun family's coachman.

Xu Zaijing and his elder brother cupped their hands and smiled, watching the carriage enter the Marquis's mansion.

Following them were the Sun family's aunts and cousins-in-law.

Just like before, the ones riding horses outside the carriages were the older cousins, while the younger ones were all sitting in the carriages with their respective mothers.

The older cousins outside dismounted, sensibly cupped their hands and spoke with Xu Zaijing and the other, and then entered the gate.

The children in the carriages clung to the carriage windows, chirping and calling "Uncle," "Cousin Uncle."

Carriage after carriage of children passed by, making Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang's cheeks stiff from smiling.

Watching the children enter the mansion gate again,

Zaizhang looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "Little Five, have you recognized all the nephews and nieces?"

Xu Zaijing wiped the non-existent sweat from his forehead, thought about the children who had appeared in his field of vision just now, and shook his head: "The difficulty is a bit high."

After talking for a while,

The carriage of the Liang family of the Marquis Yongchang mansion drove over, and Liang Han, wearing new clothes, accompanied them on horseback.

Madam Wu lifted the carriage curtain, said a few words, and entered the mansion gate, while Liang Han threw the reins to the maid to lead the carriage, stood beside Xu Zaijing, and smiled: "Jingge'er, I'll go in with you later."

Xu Zaijing didn't stand on ceremony and nodded with a smile.

Before long,

The carriage of the Marquis Ningyuan mansion arrived at the front gate; when the carriage curtain was lifted, Gu Shixing in Madam Bai's arms shouted excitedly, "Third Uncle, Little Uncle," wanting to get off the carriage to play, but was directly "suppressed" by his mother, Pingmei.

Gu Tingye, like Liang Han, spoke on the side after dismounting.

Following the Gu family carriage was the carriage of the Duke Qi mansion; Princess Pingning just smiled at the two Xu brothers and went straight in.

After some conversation, Qi Heng knew that the "male guests" were all at the gate, so he sat beside Liang Han and talked together.

While Qi Heng was talking, he looked at the passing carriages from time to time, as if he were looking for something.

The First Madam of the Viscount Xie family, who were in-laws of the Xu family, came today with her youngest daughter who had married into the Xiong family; like Princess Pingning, she just lifted the carriage curtain and smiled at Xu Zaijing and the other.

Behind, Fourth Sister Anmei and her mother-in-law, Madam Pan, also entered the mansion, and Xu Zaijing's aunt, who had married into the Zhu family, also brought her daughter-in-law Ni Qiqiu and Xiaodie to the Xu family in two separate carriages.

As the sun rose higher,

There were more and more carriages on Quyuanjie.

The titled ladies of several high-ranking official and noble families also entered the Xu family one after another.

Lu Zezong had already stood behind Xu Zaijing by this time, cupping his hands and bowing to greet people from time to time following Xu Zaijing.

Liang Han, who was standing on the side of the street looking at the entrance of the street, smiled and said: "The Rong family carriage is here!"

Gu Tingye asked in confusion behind Xu Zaijing: "Fifth Young Master, when you saw people off yesterday, did you see Miss Feiyan?"

"What do you think?" Xu Zaijing said.

Gu Tingye scratched his cheek and smiled.

Liang Han also hurriedly walked to Xu Zaijing's side.

Soon,

The Rong family carriage drove nearby,

Madam Rong lifted the carriage curtain and looked at Qi Heng and the others with a puzzled expression; seeing Xu Zaijing and the others cupping their hands and bowing, she just nodded.

Beside Madam Rong, Rong Feiyan's beautiful face was revealed; looking at the somewhat stunned expressions of Liang Han and Lu Zezong, and Xu Zaijing who was looking over, Rong Feiyan smiled slightly.

Watching the Rong family carriage enter the Marquis's mansion, Lu Zezong tugged at Xu Zaijing and said: "Adoptive Brother, I see Sister Feiyan looking at you."

"Brother Zong, you saw wrong; she is looking at me!" Liang Han said without turning his head.

"Oh, the Second Young Master of the Chai family is accompanying them today," Zaizhang said on the side.

Everyone hurriedly looked toward the street.

Beside a luxurious and valuable carriage, Chai Bo was waving at them on horseback.

The carriage arrived at the gate,

Behind the carriage curtain, Madam Chai looked kindly at everyone who was bowing and greeting at the gate.

Chai Zhengzheng in the carriage was also smiling at first, but after seeing Xu Zaijing's somewhat dry lips because of talking, the worry in her eyes flashed by.

"Madam, Cousin," Qi Heng cupped his hands and smiled beside the carriage.

Chai Zhengzheng and her mother nodded with a smile, and Madam Chai said: "Yuanruo, when are you going in?"

Qi Heng was stunned, looked at Chai Bo, and smiled: "Madam, I still have to wait a while."

"Hmm." Madam Chai smiled and put down the carriage curtain.

Not far away,

In the second carriage,

Rulan lifted the carriage curtain, grinned, and said: "Mother, look! It's the Chai family's carriage! It's so big, so luxurious!"

Wang Ruofu looked at Rulan helplessly: "Ru'er, when you are out, how can you be so reckless? Sit properly!"

"Oh!"

After Rulan looked outside again, she sat properly like a lady.

"When greeting the young masters at the gate, remember to smile without showing your teeth!"

"I know, Mother!"

(End of chapter)