Chapter 670

Mama Liu, panting, stood beside Wang Ruofu. When she looked around, she saw Xu Zaijing and the others not far away at a glance.

After being swayed by the crowd behind her, Mama Liu nodded to Xu Zaijing in greeting.

After Wang Ruofu finished praying silently with her eyes closed, and bowed with her hands together, Mama Liu hurriedly pointed to Xu Zaijing and the others.

Wang Ruofu looked over, first smiled and nodded, then scanned the noble young ladies beside Xu Zaijing and the others.

After waving her handkerchief at Xu Zaijing and the others, Wang Ruofu followed behind Mama Liu and Caihuan, walking outward with the Sheng family's servants and retainers.

"Brother Xu Wu, do you, Yuanruo, and Liang Liu Lang want to pray?" Chai Zhengzheng, who was behind Xu Zaijing, spoke up.

Xu Zaijing looked back and found that the noble young ladies had all finished praying by this time.

"We must, we must!" Qi Heng smiled.

The group also closed their eyes and prayed silently in front of the Ao Mountain for a while.

After a moment,

"Let's go!" Seeing that everyone had opened their eyes, Xu Zaijing smiled.

As Xu Zaijing and the others left, the space they vacated was immediately occupied by passersby.

Leaving the area around the Ao Mountain lantern, the crowding of the crowd dropped a level, and the guards and retainers no longer needed to surround them arm-in-arm.

After strolling around the Imperial City for a while, the group walked toward the place where their carriages and horses were parked.

On the way, they could occasionally hear Zhang Wu Niang asking others what they were praying for, and the answer they got was always "It won't be effective if I say it out loud."

When Xu Zaijing and the others went to the Imperial Street and in front of the Xuande Gate to view the lanterns, the carriages and horses of each family did not stop in their original places, but went north along the sparsely populated streets.

After the group left the most congested Xuande Gate, they walked a short distance and saw the carriages and horses of each family hanging lanterns.

They stood and talked for a while.

"Cousin, Brother Jing and I have to get up early tomorrow for school, so we will go back first," Qi Heng stood near Chai Zhengzheng and smiled.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing and nodded with a smile: "Hmm, safe travels to you all."

"Brother Xu Wu, Yuanruo, safe travels," Zhang Wu Niang smiled and bowed.

Rong Feiyan, who was beside her, also followed with a squat.

"Many thanks to you sisters," Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed with cupped hands. Qi Heng also bowed beside him.

Xu Zaijing walked a few steps toward his own horse and stopped in front of the Gu family's carriage. Mama Cui, who was beside the carriage, looked at Xu Zaijing with a slightly questioning look and whispered: "Fifth Young Master, the Third Da Niangzi has this old woman here, so you don't need to worry."

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile. After looking at Gu Tingyi and Huang Qingyue, he continued to walk to the side.

Alan, who was talking to Qingzhi near the Gu family's carriage, saw Qingyun beckoning and hurriedly followed.

The next day,

"Clang! The hour of Mao has arrived! The weather is cold and dry, beware of fire and candles! Clang! The hour of Mao has arrived..."

Near Yingxiang Lane,

The night watchman on the street carried a lantern and reported the time loudly along the street.

The early morning was quiet, and the watchman's voice could travel very far.

"Come, take this; buy a few bowls of hot porridge to drink when it gets light."

"Many thanks, young master."

After a burst of conversation,

With the sound of horseshoes stepping on the street, the figures of Xu Zaijing's carriages and horses appeared not far from the Sheng family's main gate.

"Greetings, Fifth Young Master, Brother Qingyun."

The Sheng family's night-duty attendant smiled and bowed with cupped hands.

After the carriages and horses entered the Sheng family,

Qingyun watched Xu Zaijing and Huaxiang walk toward the school, then smiled and said to the Sheng family attendant: "It's a bit cold today; I'll go buy a bowl of mutton soup in a while. Do you two want some?"

The Sheng family attendants naturally smiled and agreed.

Afterwards, a burst of conversation came again: "Brother Qingyun, I heard there is an Alan in the mansion who is very good at gambling?" "Brother Qingyun, after the gambling ban is lifted in the future, can you let Brother Alan accompany us to go shopping?"

In the backyard of the Sheng family,

In Jin'an Studio,

The shouting of the timekeeper outside the courtyard drifted in vaguely.

In the outer room of the main house, which was still warm because the stove was burning, candles were lit today, unlike other days.

In the bright yellow candlelight, the maid Qiujiang yawned and put the four treasures of the study into the book box on the table.

Not far from the table, Sheng Changmei, who was "infected" by Qiujiang's yawn, also couldn't help but open his mouth and yawn.

Wei Shuyi squatted in front of Changmei and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles on Sheng Changmei's winter clothes.

After finishing, Wei Shuyi scanned Changmei from top to bottom, nodded with satisfaction, and then smiled and instructed: "Mei'er, when you get to school, be sweeter with your mouth and call people more often. Do you remember?"

Changmei nodded and said: "Little Niang, I remember!"

Looking at the door, Changmei said again: "Little Niang, can't I wait for Sixth Sister and then go over together?"

Wei Shuyi shook her head gently, touched her son's little face, and said: "Mei'er, you are a man, you should get up early and arrive at school early. You can't compare yourself to your sisters."

"Oh!" After Changmei nodded, he looked at the somewhat large book box on the table and then at the door.

Wei Shuyi stood up and was about to tell Qiujiang to take people away when the light of a lantern shone on the door leaf.

"Little Niang, I am Danju from the Old Madam's side. The Old Madam gave the order herself, commanding me to accompany the Seventh Young Master to school."

Listening to the voice outside the door, Qiujiang hurriedly took a few steps forward, opened the door, and smiled: "Sister Danju."

Danju, who was carrying a lantern and wearing earmuffs outside the door, smiled and bowed to the people in the room: "Greetings, Little Niang, Seventh Young Master."

Wei Shuyi smiled and nodded at Danju, then said: "This servant thanks the Old Madam for her concern! Miss Danju, come into the room and warm up."

"Grandson thanks Grandmother for her concern," Sheng Changmei also bowed with cupped hands like a little adult.

After Danju returned the salute, a figure appeared from beside Danju; it was Minglan with a face full of smiles.

"Little Niang."

Minglan called Wei Shuyi affectionately, stepped into the room, and hugged Wei Shuyi's waist.

Feeling the cold air Minglan brought in, Wei Shuyi smiled and touched Minglan's cheek, saying: "Ming'er, why did you get up so early too?"

"Grandmother said that since it is my younger brother's first day of school, I, as an older sister, cannot be absent," Minglan smiled.

Wei Shuyi smiled, nodded, and said: "Good! Go quickly!"

Minglan looked at Wei Shuyi again, smiled, took Changmei's little hand, and said: "Let's go!"

As she spoke, the four of them walked toward the outside of the courtyard together.

Wei Shuyi did not carry a lantern. After sending Minglan and Changmei to the courtyard gate, she watched the sister and brother disappear around the corner.

Standing at the door for a while longer, Wei Shuyi looked up at the round jade plate that was about to set in the west and took a deep breath; the air was cold and clear.

"Little Niang, let's go back!" Qiujiang, who was beside her, said.

"Hmm!"

Returning to the main house,

Qiujiang behind her closed the door again and said: "Little Niang, do you want to nap for a while longer?"

Wei Shuyi shook her head: "Go, bring the account books and tallies and everything else over. I will sort through them one more time and send them to the Da Niangzi today."

The little maid Qiujiang blinked: "Little Niang, there is still more than a month until the Fifth Da Niangzi's coming-of-age ceremony; why do you need to..."

Before she finished speaking, Wei Shuyi shook her head and said: "It's not early! If I hand over the power of managing the household early, I can also relax."

"Yes."

On the way,

Minglan, feeling that Changmei was missing something, looked at him in confusion and said: "Little brother, at this time, Pei Erge, Brother Xu Wu, and Brother Gu Er should already be in school."

"In the future, you must take those three as your role models!"

"I know, Sixth Sister," Changmei nodded.

"Hmm!"

As they spoke, the sister and brother arrived at the school courtyard.

Lifting the cotton curtain still hanging at the door, Changmei looked inside with some nervousness.

Looking at the two candles lit in the school, Minglan said softly: "It looks like Brother Gu Er hasn't arrived yet."

After finishing, Minglan hurriedly bowed to Changbai and Xu Zaijing, who were looking at the door: "Greetings, Pei Erge, Brother Xu Wu."

Changmei bowed with cupped hands like a little adult: "Greetings, two older brothers."

Changbai nodded with a smile: "..."

Xu Zaijing, who was sitting in the back, raised his head and smiled: "Seventh Young Master, actually you are still young, you don't need to get up so early! Be careful, if you sleep too little, you won't grow tall."

"Ah?" Changmei exclaimed in surprise.

Changbai in front turned his head and frowned: "Fifth Young Master, this... I have gotten up very early since I was a child, and I haven't seen myself grow short?"

Xu Zaijing smiled: "Maybe if you slept enough, Changbai, you could be even taller!"

"Brother Jing, you..." Changbai shook his head helplessly.

After Xu Zaijing scanned Changmei again, he beckoned to Huaxiang. After Huaxiang walked over, Xu Zaijing whispered a few words and continued reading.

Tilting his head to look at Minglan, Changmei walked to Zaihang's desk, where an extra desk had been placed today.

When Danju took out the four treasures of the study from the book box, Huaxiang walked over holding a hand warmer in one hand and a long wooden box in the other. She squatted down and smiled: "Seventh Young Master, this is what my young master sent you."

Looking at the hand warmer with an exquisite silk cover and the writing brush in the wooden box, Changmei looked at his second brother, Changbai.

"Accept it," Changbai nodded.

"Yes, Pei Erge! Many thanks, Brother Xu Wu." The latter sentence was said by Changmei as he stood up and bowed to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing, who was reading, smiled: "Seventh Young Master is too polite."

Not long after Changmei sat down, Gu Tingyi, Zaihang, and others entered the school one after another.

Looking at the two extra candles lit, the two were naturally surprised again.

Gu Tingyi smiled: "Whoa, I didn't feel it on weekdays, but seeing Seventh Young Master today, I realized that time really passes quickly. I remember when we returned to the capital from Yang Zhou, Seventh Young Master, you were still a little baby lying in swaddling clothes."

"Greetings, Eldest Brother-in-law, greetings, Brother Gu Er," Changmei stood up and bowed.

Zaihang waved his hand with a smile and signaled: "Seventh Young Master, sit down quickly; we don't need to be so polite among ourselves. This is the brush washer your eldest sister asked me to bring you."

Changmei was stunned, then hurriedly smiled: "Thank you, Eldest Sister, thank you, Brother-in-law."

Not long after the few sat down,

Qi Heng walked hurriedly through the cotton curtain held by Buwei and entered the school.

He first looked at the position of Scholar Zhuang. Seeing that Scholar Zhuang was not there, he breathed a sigh of relief.

Afterwards, he looked at Minglan's seat. Qi Heng's eyes lit up, and he bowed to the others with a smile: "Greetings, brothers, Second Uncle, Sixth Sister! Long time no see."

"Yuanruo, we just saw each other last night," Xu Zaijing said with a smile without raising his head.

"Ah? Brother Jing is right," Qi Heng said hurriedly.

When Qi Heng walked toward his desk, Gu Tingyi said: "Yuanruo, didn't you notice that the school is a bit different today?"

"Different?" Qi Heng was stunned. After looking around, he looked in front of Zaihang and said in surprise: "This is... Seventh Young Master is here?"

As he spoke, Qi Heng turned his head and looked at Minglan, who was behind him to the side: "Sixth Sister, is it Seventh Young Master?"

Minglan nodded: "Yes, Little Xiao Xiao Gongye."

"Sheng family's Seventh Young Master Changmei, greetings, Little Xiao Xiao Gongye," Changmei stood up again and bowed.

"Sit, sit!" Qi Heng smiled from ear to ear and said again: "Seventh Young Master, my courtesy name is Yuanruo. In the future, Seventh Young Master, you can just call me by my courtesy name!"

"Yes, Changmei greets Brother Yuanruo."

"Good, good!" Qi Heng nodded with a smile. After looking at Minglan again, he sat on the stool behind the desk.

Looking at Buwei, who was tidying up the book box on the side, Qi Heng said: "Send that writing brush of mine that hasn't been opened yet to Seventh Young Master. Consider it my little token."

Buwei agreed. After walking over for a while, Changbai's voice sounded: "Seventh Young Master, today is your first time coming to school; you should accept everything everyone has sent you."

"Yes, Pei Erge."

After a moment,

Scholar Zhuang's figure appeared in the school.

Looking at Changmei in the front, Scholar Zhuang nodded with a smile: "Seventh Young Master is here."

Changmei stood up to greet him, and Scholar Zhuang smiled: "Good child, sit down."

Hearing this, and looking at Scholar Zhuang's rare gentle expression, Gu Tingyi looked back at Xu Zaijing.

Scholar Zhuang in front looked at the appearance of the few people in the school and didn't say much.

In fact, he was already overjoyed in his heart, because after Scholar Zhuang's observation and examination, he found that Changmei was young and smart, had a steady temperament, wrote well, and was also self-disciplined and hardworking.

Who wouldn't like such a good seedling?

"Whoosh."

The cotton curtain was lifted. Changfeng, panting, looked at Scholar Zhuang and bowed with an awkward expression.

Just as he was about to speak, he saw Scholar Zhuang, who was in a great mood, wave his hand and say: "Brother Feng, go over."

"Ah? Yes, yes, Scholar."

The sun rose in the east,

The sky brightened a lot,

The candles in the school were blown out one after another.

At this time,

Seeing Mo Lan and Rulan arrived late.

"Scholar," the two Lans bowed and said in unison.

Scholar Zhuang nodded, said "Hmm," waved his hand, and said: "Everyone, rest for a moment."

After the group agreed, they all stood up to drink water and move around.

When Xique helped Rulan take things out of the book box, Rulan walked to Changmei's desk and smiled: "Little Seven, you're here!"

"Fifth Sister," Changmei stood up and said.

"Sit, sit, sit, why are you being so polite with your sister!" After saying this with a smile, Rulan looked at Scholar Zhuang and said in a low voice: "Little Seven, in the future, if you get hit on the palm by Scholar Zhuang, don't cry."

"Ah?" Changmei was stunned.

Changbai and Zaihang, who were standing nearby, looked at Scholar Zhuang's expression and exchanged smiles.

Nowadays, rather than worrying about others, Rulan should worry about herself.

Before the two could speak, Scholar Zhuang not far away said: "Fifth Da Niangzi, come here."

Rulan's expression froze, and she turned around and shuffled over: "Scholar..."

"Hmm! Fifth Da Niangzi, go and copy the 'Seventeen Histories' once and hand it to me tomorrow."

Lowering her head and not daring to look at Scholar Zhuang's expression, Rulan bowed and said sullenly: "Yes, Scholar."

Watching her sister's honest appearance, Changbai and Zaihang both laughed.

The two knew at a glance that Scholar Zhuang was letting Rulan stay away from Changmei.

After the group rested for a while, the scholar continued to lecture.

At the same time,

In Shou'an Hall,

In the courtyard,

Wang Ruofu looked a little excitedly at Wei Shuyi, who was standing beside her holding account books, tallies, and other items.

"Old Madam, the Da Niangzi and Wei Little Niang have come to pay their respects to you," Mama Cui's announcement sounded from inside the room.

After a moment,

Mama Cui smiled and lifted the cotton curtain, saying: "Da Niangzi, Little Niang, come in quickly!"

Hearing this, Wang Ruofu's hand holding the hand warmer trembled. After taking a deep breath, she walked toward the inside of Shou'an Hall.

After Wang Ruofu bowed, she smiled: "Greetings, Mother. Mother, I hope you are well. Daughter-in-law has come to pay her respects."

Wei Shuyi on the side followed with a bow.

"Sit, Da Niangzi! Ruan, move a stool for Wei Little Niang," the Old Madam smiled.

"Thank you, Mother."

"Thank you, Old Madam."

Wang Ruofu and Wei Shuyi thanked her.

After the two sat down, the Old Madam said: "Da Niangzi, today before Hong'er went to court, he specifically entrusted me to preside over this matter, so..."

After pondering for a moment, the Old Madam said: "Starting from today, Wei Little Niang will hand over the Sheng family's management power and return it to the Da Niangzi."

"All accounts have been checked by Mama Cui and Mama Liu, and there are no problems at all, right?" When saying the last two words, the Old Madam looked at Mama Cui and Mama Liu.

"Yes, Old Madam," the two mamas nodded and said.

"Mama Cui, this daughter-in-law trusts you," Wang Ruofu nodded with a smile.

"Hmm. But Da Niangzi, now that you have the power to manage the household, you must remember how you lost this power. Don't forget the pain once the wound is healed," the Old Madam said.

"Yes, yes, yes, daughter-in-law remembers, remembers. In the future, I will definitely not be like before!" Wang Ruofu said hurriedly.

"Good!" The Old Madam nodded and waved her hand.

Wei Shuyi stood up and handed the account books, tallies, and other items she had been holding to Mama Liu.

After school in the afternoon,

Quyuan Street,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Xu Zaijing rode his horse to the vicinity of the racecourse.

After dismounting, Xu Zaijing was preparing to remove the saddle from the horse.

Suddenly,

Xu Zaijing's gaze froze as he looked at Alan, who had walked out of the wooden house on the side.

"What happened here?"

Looking at Alan, who had a layer of white cotton cloth wrapped around his head, Qingyun asked.

Under the cotton cloth, there was also a dark patch, which seemed to be medicinal ointment for treating injuries.

"Did you get into a fight?" Xu Zaijing also asked.

Alan twitched the corner of his eye. Looking at the concerned Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, he bowed and shook his head: "Young Master, Brother Qingyun, no, it's just this morning... Uncle Yin, why don't you say it?"

Uncle Yin, who was limping, walked over holding something.

He opened his palm in front of Xu Zaijing and Qingyun, and only saw a few pieces of silver lying on a piece of cloth in Uncle Yin's hand.

"This morning, these few pieces of silver were thrown in straight and hard by someone. Alan wasn't paying attention for a moment and was hit on the forehead," Uncle Yin said with a hoarse voice.

Qingyun picked up the silver to look at it and said: "This silver looks like it has good purity!" After glancing at Xu Zaijing, Qingyun said: "Young Master, could it be that this kid Alan is always 'stocking up' through gambling and has been envied by someone, so they threw silver to mock him?"

Alan on the side lowered his head in shame.

Uncle Yin glared at Qingyun and said hoarsely with disgust: "You use real silver to mock someone out of envy? Are you complaining that he doesn't earn enough?"

After finishing, Uncle Yin looked at Xu Zaijing and said: "I think it looks like they have a request, but I don't know when they threw it while you were at home, Fifth Young Master."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing scratched his head and said: "I think it's better to find the Kaifeng Prefecture and order the yamen runners and patrol guards to patrol our street a few more times."

(End of chapter)