Chapter 655: Katydids [Many thanks! Bowing again! 36k words owed]

Xu Xu Zaijing handed the teacup in his hand to Hua Xiang, looked at Hearing Rulan, and smiled:

"Fifth Sister, are you giving this thing to me?"

Hearing Rulan pressed her lips together, looked away, nodded, and hummed an affirmation.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and reached his hand toward the cricket cage held by Magpie.

Catching sight of this movement from the corner of her eye, Hearing Rulan's eyebrows knitted slightly, yet she still controlled herself not to look at the cricket cage.

After holding the cricket cage in his palm and examining it for a moment, Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Hiss, this object is truly exquisite."

Gu Gu Tingye, standing nearby, leaned over: "Oh, the cage body has double-layered sound holes! The four sides of the cage are carved with the 'Melons and Vines Continuously' pattern! The silver threads outlining the lid are beautiful!"

"A fine treasure! Fifth Sister, you are actually willing to part with it," Gu Gu Tingye said, raising his thumb in praise.

While Gu Gu Tingye was describing it, Hearing Rulan's gaze had already fixed on the cricket cage in Xu Xu Zaijing's hand.

After hearing the praise, Hearing Rulan forced out a faint, fake smile; her eyes darted about as if she wanted to say something.

Qi Heng, Sheng Changbai, and the others sitting in front heard the conversation between the two and all turned their heads to look over.

Sheng Changbai glanced at the object in Xu Xu Zaijing's hand, his eyes full of surprise; he shook his head with a smile on his lips.

Sheng Changfeng, beside Xu Xu Zaijing, also looked at Hearing Rulan with some surprise.

Magpie looked up at the rather tall Xu Xu Zaijing, curtsied, and said, "Young Master Fifth, there is something inside the cage."

"Oh?"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled, lifted the cage lid, and discovered that inside the cage was actually a jade carving of a cricket.

"Fifth Sister has put thought into this," Xu Xu Zaijing said, looking at Hearing Rulan, smiling, and nodding.

Taking a deep breath, Hearing Rulan pressed her lips and said, "Jing Jing Biao Ge Jing, do you... do you like it? If you don't like—"

Before Hearing Rulan could finish speaking, Xu Xu Zaijing directly stated, "I like it!"

"Ah?"

"This thing given by Fifth Sister carries such a good meaning; how could I not like it?" Xu Xu Zaijing asked with a smile.

There was some incomprehension in Hearing Rulan's eyes, and she smiled with a hint of difficulty.

Qi Heng, sitting nearby, lightly tapped the table and said, "Fifth Sister, the 'Book of Songs,' section 'Zhou Nan,' has a verse: 'Zhongsi's wings, numerous they fly; fitting are your descendants, flourishing they thrive.' This cricket precisely symbolizes a flourishing family!"

Seeing Mo Lan, sitting in her own seat, looked at Hearing Rulan's bewildered expression and curled her lips in full disdain.

Gu Gu Tingye smiled and said, "Fifth Sister, the meaning of these few lines is: the crickets spread their wings, gathering in flocks to fly low; your descendants are many and more, your family is truly prosperous."

Qi Heng nodded and said, "The next part is: 'Zhongsi's wings, buzzing they sound...'"

Having spoken only two sentences, Qi Heng saw the glance Xu Xu Zaijing swept over, then looked again at Hearing Rulan, whose eyes once more revealed confusion, so he did not continue speaking.

"Fitting are your descendants, endless they multiply," Seeing Mo Lan softly recited two lines from the side.

Hearing Rulan, who was nodding, heard these two lines, immediately pressed her lips, turned her head back, and angrily glared at Seeing Mo Lan, who had picked up the conversation.

Seeing Mo Lan looked at Qi Heng, who was likewise looking at her; suppressing the urge to roll her eyes at Hearing Rulan, she smiled at Qi Heng.

Hearing Rulan then turned back, looked at Xu Xu Zaijing, and said, "Jing Jing Biao Ge Jing, is it true? Crickets actually have such an auspicious meaning?"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "It is true! I like it very much; thank you, Fifth Sister."

Hearing Rulan smiled, took another look at the cricket cage in Xu Xu Zaijing's hand, then walked back to her seat with a smile on her lips.

Once Hearing Rulan had walked away,

Minglan, sitting behind Hearing Rulan, glanced at Scholar Zhuang, who was sitting in front with his eyes closed taking a short rest, then stood up and walked toward Xu Xu Zaijing.

On the wooden platform, Xiao Xiao Xiaotao also hurriedly took a porcelain bottle the size of a palm from the small bamboo basket beside her, picked up a folded piece of leather, stood up, and followed.

"Jing Jing Biao Ge Jing, this is the oil salve and deerskin I specially bought!" Minglan said with a smile after curtsying.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled, reached out to take them, pulled the stopper from the porcelain bottle and sniffed, then his eyes immediately brightened; he then took the folded leather and said, "This deerskin is very good, suitable for wiping the blade surface!"

"The deerskin is easy to come by, but this bottle of oil salve for wiping weapons is not easy to buy. Sixth Sister has also put thought into this."

Minglan smiled somewhat shyly and said, "I am unworthy of Jing Jing Biao Ge Jing's praise; the thing inside this porcelain bottle was actually exchanged by me and Fifth Sister of the Zhang family."

Gu Gu Tingye, standing nearby, blinked his eyes, suddenly realized, and said, "No wonder; I was saying, how could Sixth Sister, a young lady, have the connections to obtain such a good thing."

While Minglan was speaking, Qi Heng naturally looked over; seeing Minglan's smile, Qi Heng unconsciously began to smile as well.

After Minglan curtsied and returned to her seat, Seeing Mo Lan also walked over with a smile; what she gave Xu Xu Zaijing was a wooden box made of meticulous materials with exquisite carving, inside which lay a rather precious insect-repelling incense.

"I also like Fourth Sister's gift very much," Xu Xu Zaijing said with a polite smile.

Hearing these words,

Sheng Changfeng, his face full of smiles, said, "Sister, how was it? Didn't I say this idea was good?"

Seeing Mo Lan also smiled.

At this moment,

Scholar Zhuang sat up from the Arhat chair he was using.

Seeing this, everyone promptly returned to their own seats, preparing to continue the lesson.

Time flowed on,

and it reached the beginning of the tenth month.

The first day of this month was the Cold Clothes Festival, a day when the hundred officials in the capital were granted leave.

At this season, the weather had already begun to turn cold, and the palace would bestow winter clothing for warding off the cold upon the hundred officials in the capital.

Common people inside and outside Bianjing would also mostly go out of the city today to sweep graves, burning cold-warding spirit clothes, hats, shoes, boots, and other things before the graves for their deceased relatives and elders.

Originally at Bai Gao's residence in Xingqing Prefecture,

in Dingzhou City,

located over two thousand li away from Bianjing,

within the rear courtyard of the prefectural government office,

outside the room,

Gu Gu Tingyu, the heir of Marquis Lady Ningyuan, stood before a table, facing southeast; raising a cup of wine with both hands, he bowed from afar and then poured it onto the ground before him.

Lord Hong, standing nearby, performed the same actions as Gu Gu Tingyu.

After the two had completed their offerings,

and once it was finished,

while the young attendants cleared away the table, wine cups, and other items, Gu Gu Tingyu and Lord Hong were already walking back toward their quarters.

Looking northward, Lord Hong spoke with a worried expression: "I heard it has already snowed over in Wuyuan County; I wonder if the coal we shipped has arrived yet."

Gu Gu Tingyu also glanced north and said, "It should have arrived! The Chai family's coal guild and merchant house have traveled this road many times before."

Lord Hong nodded, then looked at Gu Gu Tingyu and said, "By the way, I heard the Hou Fu Chang's second son is getting married this month; surely the heir intends to return?"

Gu Gu Tingyu shook his head: "I will not return! The former Bai Gao territories have only recently been recovered; if I go back now, my heart would never be at ease. I must first put my jurisdiction in order, so as not to betray the high regard Your Majesty and the court have shown me."

Lord Hong looked at Gu Gu Tingyu with admiration and said, "It seems the Chai family has sent quite a large amount of black gold coal to Bianjing this year."

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded and said, "Perhaps because the coal sent last year proved useful to the various households in the capital, they ordered more this year."

"That is likely so," Lord Hong replied.

"Given that you have been gathering grain, fodder, and fuel these past days to supply the northeastern front, I imagine your annual evaluation, my lord, will surely be graded as first class."

With a deep sigh, Lord Hong clasped his hands and said, "For this matter, I must thank the heir and the others for your steadfast assistance; otherwise, how could I have accomplished it so easily?"

"After a few more years of assessment, my lord, do you intend to be promoted back to the capital, or will you remain in Xingqing Prefecture?"

Lord Hong glanced at Gu Gu Tingyu, pondered for a moment, then said with firm resolve: "Naturally, I will remain in Xingqing Prefecture."

A smile rose upon Gu Gu Tingyu's face.

At that moment,

Gu Gu Tingyu's personal attendant, Youqing, approached holding a bamboo tube; clasping his hands, he reported, "My lord, six sturdy men are at the prefectural gate; their leader holds the seal of Marquis Marquis Yongyi's Hou Fu and claims to bear a letter from Bianjing."

Gu Gu Tingyu took the bamboo tube, removed the stopper, and drew out a letter; merely glancing at the cover, a smile appeared on his face.

Opening the letter and scanning it briefly, Gu Gu Tingyu immediately said, "Quickly, invite these brave men inside."

Before long,

the party of six arrived in the courtyard.

The leader bowed deeply with clasped hands and said, "This humble officer, Pan Chen, pays his respects to Lord Gu."

Having spoken, he turned slightly aside and added, "Respects to Lord Hong as well."

"Hiss, this brave warrior, how do you know this official?" Lord Hong asked Pan Chen in puzzlement, glancing at Gu Gu Tingyu.

"This humble officer once saw Lord Hong in the capital," Pan Chen replied with a smile.

"Oh!"

"Let us go inside and speak," Gu Gu Tingyu said with a laugh.

Once inside the room, tea was served.

After some conversation, Gu Gu Tingyu finally learned that Pan Chen, who served in the Imperial City Bureau and had earned merit during the affairs in Beizhou, was a close subordinate of Hearing Zhao Zhao Meifeng, and had come to Xingqing Prefecture to further expand the Bureau's strength.

"I brought many capable men this time; most have already dispersed to various locations to serve as the court's eyes and ears! Many of them defected to our dynasty several years ago and are former subordinates of Bai Gao generals, selected after careful screening," Pan Chen said with a smile.

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded and said, "That is excellent! I wonder how long Brother Pan intends to stay here?"

Pan Chen smiled and replied, "Once the situation expands further, reaching about sixty or seventy percent of the level achieved in those years by the Jin Chuihuan Bureau, this humble officer will be able to return to the capital."

After talking a while longer, Lord Hong took his leave and departed.

Gu Gu Tingyu and Pan Chen escorted the guests to the gate, then turned back toward the rear courtyard.

Pan Chen then told Gu Gu Tingyu about how Xu Xu Zaijing's reputation had deteriorated in the capital last month, listening to which, Gu Gu Tingyu could only shake his head with a smile.

"My lord, the young master Zhao in the Bureau mentioned that you have good relations with the manager of the local Chai family coal guild?" Pan Chen asked further.

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded: "Yes! Shall I introduce you?"

"This humble officer precisely intends that! But it must be under the guise of a merchant," Pan Chen replied with clasped hands and a smile.

"Is there some matter at hand?"

Pan Chen glanced at the questioning Gu Gu Tingyu, thought for a moment, and said, "Replying to my lord: high-quality black gold coal has appeared in the four circuits of Huainan and Jiangnan, and in considerable quantities. Intelligence reports indicate that nobles from the former Bai Gao, currently in the capital, have sent people back to Xingqing Prefecture."

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded slightly: "Did you not investigate this in the capital?"

"We did investigate; the Bureau deduces that the problem originated at the black gold coal mines themselves."

Hearing this, Gu Gu Tingyu pondered for a moment, then sighed: "They truly cannot rest. As for those so-called Bai Gao nobles' envoys, did you deliberately allow them to return?"

Pan Chen merely smiled.

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded and continued, "By the way, I heard something has occurred in Guangnan West Circuit; when you came from the capital, did you hear any new news?"

"Replying to my lord, the standoff continues! There is news that Yuan Yuan Erlang of the Rong family, Lady Fu Fu Chang Hou's second son, may be heading south; however, when this humble officer departed, Yuan Yuan Erlang had not yet set out," Pan Chen said.

"Hmm! Have you visited the Keyi Sect Fortress in the north?"

"I have! I called upon several noble officers within the fortress; upon seeing that this humble officer carried Han Han Wulang's letter of introduction, they treated me with great warmth. Among them, a commander surnamed Gu shares a very close relationship with Han Han Wulang."

"Guo Kui?"

"Yes."

"That is good then. In the future, should you need any assistance, just speak the word."

As the two conversed, they approached the caravan of carriages Pan Chen had brought.

Pointing to several of them, Pan Chen said, "Before I came, Han Han Wulang gave a few instructions, so this humble officer purchased ginger paste and several cartloads of winter vegetables along the way, reserved for my lord to survive the winter."

Gu Gu Tingyu nodded with a smile and said, "This is too much; keep half, and take the rest with you."

In the afternoon,

in Bianjing,

the sun had already set behind Luoshan,

and the moon hung low in the western sky.

The temperature was slightly cool,

Xu Xu Zaijing, draped in a cloak and riding horseback, led Brother Qingyun and the three maids traveling in the carriage along the road from Quyuan Street to Pan Lou Main Street.

Although dusk was approaching, the road remained bustling and noisy.

Many flatbed carts laden with goods traveled down the street, pulling to the side to make way amidst the shouts of the cart drivers.

When encountering carts that yielded to them, Xu Xu Zaijing and Brother Qingyun would mostly nod in acknowledgment.

Along the way, the cargo most frequently loaded onto these carts was seasonal vegetables emitting a plant-like scent.

These vegetables, freshly picked from the estate farms, were usually delivered directly to certain courtyards and stored in cellars reserved for vegetables, to be consumed during winter.

Once Xu Xu Zaijing turned onto Pan Lou Main Street, the number of carts transporting vegetables decreased significantly.

Instead, there were many more noble young men of the capital, dressed in fresh clothes and riding spirited horses, just like Xu Xu Zaijing.

Arriving familiarly and effortlessly beneath Pan Lou,

the young attendant standing at the entrance to welcome guests smiled, clasped his hands, and walked over, saying, "Greetings, Han Han Wulang! Young Master Gu is already waiting for you in the private room upstairs."

After dismounting, Xu Xu Zaijing handed the reins to Brother Qingyun, nodded with a smile to the Pan Lou attendant, then turned to look back.

Only after seeing Seeing Qingcao and the other three maids disembark from the carriage did he stride toward the entrance.

"Besides Yuan Yuan Erlang and myself, has anyone else arrived?"

"Young Master Qi has also arrived."

"Mm."

Outside the building, it was still somewhat chilly,

but upon entering,

a wave of warm air greeted them immediately.

Smelling the aroma of food in the air, Seeing Qingcao and the sisters Yun Xiang and Hua Xiang beside her exchanged a glance before involuntarily swallowing their saliva.

The reason was none other than that Pan Lou had already begun serving the Bo Xia Gong dish; the three maids had tasted it many times before and missed it dearly.

Since Bianjing already observed the custom of the Warm Stove Gathering today, the interior could be described as completely packed.

The wooden stage usually set up in the first-floor hall on ordinary days had been pushed aside today, and the cleared space was occupied by several tables set for Bo Xia Gong.

Amidst the clamor of lively noise and the rising steam, Xu Xu Zaijing led the maids up the stairs, soon reaching the third floor of Pan Lou.

"Han Han Wulang has arrived."

Zhi Que, standing at the doorway, announced this into the private room before opening the door.

"Han Han Wulang, you have finally arrived."

Gu Gu Tingye's joyful voice came from within the private room.

Xu Xu Zaijing stepped inside and said, "Yuan Yuan Erlang, I am merely serving as your groomsman in a few days; is there any need for such enthusiasm, inviting us here for a meal?"

Qi Heng's young attendant, Bu Wei, standing beside the entrance screen, hurriedly bowed upon seeing Xu Xu Zaijing.

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, then walked around the screen.

Gu Gu Tingye stepped forward, slung an arm over Xu Xu Zaijing's shoulder, and laughed, "What nonsense, Jing-ge'er! Did I invite you here for my wedding matters? For you to serve as my groomsman is only right!"

Xu Xu Zaijing smiled helplessly: "Then what is it for?"

"Hehe! You will know in a moment!" Gu Gu Tingye laughed.

Before long,

Liang Han and the others also arrived in the private room,

yet the door to the private room remained open,

and just as everyone had settled and the hungry Xu Xu Zaijing was about to urge for the dishes to be served, a noisy chatter came from outside the room.

"They are here!" Gu Gu Tingye shouted after exchanging glances with Qi Heng, Liang Han, and the others around him.

"Let's go, Jing-ge'er, let's go out and look." Saying this, Gu Gu Tingye pulled Xu Xu Zaijing outward.

A few steps brought them to the corridor at the entrance of the third floor,

where Xu Xu Zaijing, Gu Gu Tingye, and the others leaned against the railing to look down,

seeing Mama Cui Ruan leading several Misses carrying musical instruments, preparing to ascend from the first-floor hall.

"There, Jing-ge'er, the one behind Mama Cui Ruan is Miss Li Shishi!"

"Han Han Wulang, judging only by the face above the veil, is she beautiful or not?! This is your first time seeing her, right!"

Liang Han and Gu Gu Tingye spoke excitedly, one sentence after another.

Xu Xu Zaijing: "Uh."

(End of Chapter)