Chapter 673: A younger brother

In the latter part of the first lunar month,

the capital took down its lanterns.

Within a few days, the massive lanterns in front of the Xuande Gate were dismantled into various wooden or metal components and vanished without a trace; one would have to wait until next year to see them again.

The lanterns in the streets and alleys throughout the city were also taken down.

Although there were fewer lanterns, the number of carriages and pedestrians on the streets increased.

Early in the morning,

from Quyuan Street to Jiying Lane, Xu Zaijing saw several carriages adorned with silk flowers along the way.

Whenever she heard the rumbling of carriage wheels, Yun Xiang, sitting inside, would lift the curtain to take a few glances outside, her gaze often sweeping over the silk flowers decorating the carriages.

Upon arriving at the Sheng residence,

Yun Xiang followed behind Xu Zaijing, carrying the book box, as they walked toward the school courtyard.

"Young Master, I've noticed there are quite a lot of carriages on the road these past two days."

"It must be the noble young ladies from the various households in the capital going out of the city to welcome spring."

Glancing at her Young Master, Yun Xiang said, "Young Master, it's still quite cold! Why are the noble young ladies in such a hurry to welcome spring?"

Sniffing the coal smoke from the heated floor in the air, Yun Xiang continued, "There's nothing much to see at this time anyway!"

Xu Zaijing turned his head to look at Yun Xiang, who was gazing at him, and smiled, "Little girl, do you really think the noble young ladies in the capital can go out every day like you?"

Yun Xiang's eyes rolled, and an embarrassed smile appeared on her face, "Of course not."

"Exactly! Those noble young ladies have been cooped up in their boudoirs all winter; they were only able to go out for a stroll and relax during the Lantern Festival a few days ago."

"Now that the lanterns are down, they can go out of the city to play. If it were you, wouldn't you be anxious to go out and play?"

Listening to Xu Zaijing's words, Yun Xiang pursed her lips, "Young Master, it was my mistake."

Xu Zaijing nodded, "Mm! Actually, at this time, there are already quite a few plum blossoms blooming in the various gardens inside and outside the capital; there is indeed some scenery to see."

Yun Xiang nodded repeatedly, "Then Young Master, is there some saying behind what Uncle Yin called 'walking away a hundred illnesses' when going out of the city to welcome spring?"

Stepping over the threshold,

and walking into the school courtyard,

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and said, "At this time, the weather isn't very cold. The young ladies have been cooped up all winter, so going out to walk, stretch their limbs, bask in the sun, and see the spring scenery of sprouting plants is good for their physical and mental health."

"Moreover, gathering together to taste tea, burn incense, chat, and discuss things has an even better effect on their well-being."

"Young Master, you know so much!" Yun Xiang smiled.

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head, lifting the cotton curtain to enter the schoolroom.

In truth, there was little entertainment in this ancient era. Men like Xu Zaijing could go out to play and socialize.

Noble young ladies from top-tier aristocratic and official families, such as Chai Zhengzheng and Gu Tingyi, also had many opportunities for elegant gatherings like warming-stove parties and incense-tasting parties.

As for those noble young ladies who were neither at the top nor the bottom, and had money and leisure but nothing to do, most were stuck indoors embroidering, practicing calligraphy, or at most playing pitch-pot or leaf cards.

Being cooped up in a courtyard for an entire winter could sometimes easily make people depressed.

Going out of the city to welcome spring at this time was beneficial for both body and mind.

In the schoolroom,

they studied in the morning,

and at noon, the classmates in the schoolroom would often exchange news about court affairs.

Because the Duke of Qi and Sheng Hong were both in the capital and frequently attended court sessions, the sons of their households heard more news.

Therefore, Xu Zaijing, Zaihang, and Gu Tingye mostly listened, while Qi Heng and Changbai spoke more.

"Father said that the negotiations between the two nations are nearing an end. I imagine it won't be long before the remaining parts of Fengzhou from the previous dynasty will all belong to our dynasty," Qi Heng said with a smile.

"I imagine it certainly wasn't easy to make Northern Liao spit out this piece of land!" Gu Tingye said.

Zaihang, in front, nodded in agreement, "Yuan Erlang is right. The land occupied by Northern Liao happens to be the essential passage for Western Region merchants entering Northern Liao! Northern Liao even set up an official trade market there, and the revenue is quite substantial."

"I imagine it must be Xu Hou who is sending troops to garrison it, right?" Gu Tingye added.

Seeing Qi Heng nod, Changfeng also nodded in agreement, saying, "Big Brother Xu is right there in Jiuyuan, so naturally, it would be Xu Hou sending troops."

After Qi Heng nodded a few times, he looked at Xu Zaijing, who was shaking his head, and asked in confusion, "Brother Jing, is that not the case?"

Looking around, Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "I guess it will be General Cao, the Marquis of Tuoxi, who sends troops."

Changbai, in front, nodded in approval.

Before this battle with Northern Liao, the horse trade from the various Mongol tribes to the south had gone through the Marquis Yongyi Xu family, and following the court's regulations, the Xu family had also profited handsomely.

Now that Northern Liao was spitting out a big piece of fat meat, the Xu family naturally wouldn't be insatiably greedy.

The Cao family was the maternal grandfather's family of the Imperial Prince Zhao Fang, so they should occupy this share, and no one in the court would say anything more about it.

Gu Tingye also nodded and continued, "It's a pity that no matter how they negotiate, Northern Liao just isn't willing to hand over Datong Prefecture."

Xu Zaijing shook his head and smiled, "Yuan Erlang, Datong Prefecture is Northern Liao's Western Capital! The people of Northern Liao aren't fools; how could they hand over such a vital location just because of the outcome of one battle?"

Gu Tingye chuckled, "Thinking about it is fine, isn't it!"

Hearing this, the people in the schoolroom also chuckled one after another.

As for Changmu, who was at the very front, he had been looking up and listening to everyone's chat from the beginning.

Only when everyone stopped talking about major court affairs did he lower his head and continue writing.

Just like that,

the people in the schoolroom studied in the morning and afternoon, discussed court affairs at noon, and sometimes asked Scholar Zhuang for advice on court matters.

During class, the scholar would also use court affairs to test everyone.

Days passed one by one, and soon the first lunar month was over.

On this day in the middle of the second lunar month,

in the morning,

the sun was just rising,

in the Jin'an Studio in the Sheng family's backyard,

Wei Shuyi was concentrating on embroidery by the bright window.

Beside her, the maid Qiu Jiang carried a kettle of boiled water and poured the scalding hot water into a hand warmer.

After a "whoosh" sound, Qiu Jiang put the silk cover back on the hand warmer, held it, and walked to Wei Shuyi's side, "Little Niang, the water has just been changed, please warm your hands."

Wei Shuyi took the hand warmer and turned her head to smile at Qiu Jiang.

"Mama Liu is here," a little maid called out from outside the door.

The mistress and servant hurriedly stood up and walked toward the door.

After welcoming Mama Liu, who was carrying a small bundle, into the room, Wei Shuyi smiled, "Qiu Jiang, serve tea."

Mama Liu smiled and waved her hand, "Little Niang, don't go to any trouble! I'll just say a few words and go back to the side of the First Madam! Qiu Jiang, stop being busy."

Wei Shuyi said, "Mama Liu, how can that be!"

Mama Liu smiled and handed the small bundle to Wei Shuyi, saying, "The eldest young lady heard that the seventh young master is about to take the county examination, so she specifically found a piece of wolf skin in the Marquis's storehouse and had someone make a seat cushion."

"The eldest young lady said that it's very cold early and late in the second month, and the seventh young master is still young, so he mustn't get frozen."

Watching Wei Shuyi untie the bundle, Mama Liu added, "The eldest young lady originally wanted to send a pair of knee pads, but after hearing from our First Madam that the Old Madam had someone make a mink knee pad for the seventh young master, she changed it to a seat cushion."

Wei Shuyi stroked the small but exquisite fur item, her eyes full of gratitude, and said, "I thank the eldest young lady on behalf of the seventh young master!"

Mama Liu smiled, "They are all siblings of the same family, connected like branches and leaves. If the seventh young master has success, the eldest young lady, as his elder sister, will also have glory, won't she!"

Wei Shuyi nodded repeatedly.

"Then Little Niang, please continue with your work, I will take my leave."

"I will see you out."

After seeing her off and returning to the room, Wei Shuyi picked up the seat cushion again to look at it.

Qiujiang, who was standing to the side, said, "Da Niangzi, this fur is truly excellent. Look at how glossy and smooth it is; it is truly worthy of being selected from the Hou Fu's storehouse."

"Indeed!" As she spoke, Wei Shuyi handed the seat cushion out and said, "Put it away, give it to Mu'er in the evening."

The next day,

Xu Zaijing came to the Sheng residence as usual.

When he entered the schoolroom, he found only Changbai inside.

"Eh? Where is the seventh young master?" Xu Zaijing asked while untying his cloak.

Changbai, in front of the candlelight, didn't even look up and said, "He went to the scholar's place!"

"At this hour, what is he doing there?"

Changbai looked up at Xu Zaijing, "The scholar said the seventh young master is still young and needs to simulate the county examination from beginning to end, to prevent him from panicking in the examination hall in a few days and losing a good opportunity."

Xu Zaijing smiled, "The scholar is truly thoughtful. Changbai, when you took the county examination, did you do this?"

Changbai didn't speak, but just sized Xu Zaijing up, his eyes full of the expression, 'Does this even need to be asked?'

Subsequently,

whenever someone entered the schoolroom, Changbai would repeat the explanation he had just given, his expression quite helpless.

When it was bright, the sound of a gong announcing the time could be heard from the courtyard where Scholar Zhuang was.

Xu Zaijing and the others had all come up through the examinations, so they naturally understood that the sound of the gong meant the examination had begun.

During the morning 'recess',

the people in the schoolroom didn't stay in the room but gathered at the gate of Scholar Zhuang's courtyard, looking inside.

Xu Zaijing rested one hand on Gu Tingye's shoulder and the other on Qi Heng's, saying with quite a bit of envy in his tone, "Is this the treatment for a good seedling?"

At this moment,

"Cough, cough."

Scholar Zhuang's coughing sound rang out.

Everyone left the gate one after another and returned to the schoolroom.

After school in the afternoon,

when Xu Zaijing and the others left the schoolroom, Sheng Changmu, carrying a large book box, also happened to come out of the scholar's courtyard.

Looking at the clean and calm-looking child, it seemed this day had been very easy.

Two days later,

the county examination was tomorrow,

in the evening,

Sheng residence, Linqi Pavilion,

under the warm yellow candlelight, Sheng Hong was sitting at the table drinking and eating.

Lin Qinshuang stood by, occasionally picking up some of Sheng Hong's favorite dishes for him.

"Shuang'er, sit down and eat with me," Sheng Hong said, putting down his wine cup.

Lin Qinshuang tucked her loose hair behind her ears and smiled, "Honglang, Shuang'er isn't hungry, just let Shuang'er serve you."

Sheng Hong glanced at Lin Qinshuang, nodded helplessly, and smiled, "Alright."

After pouring wine for Sheng Hong, Lin Qinshuang said with a look of reflected glory, "Honglang, I often hear Changfeng praising his younger brother Mu'er, complaining that he isn't as smart as his brother and didn't bring glory to the Sheng family early enough."

After Sheng Hong waved his hand, he said earnestly, "Feng'er is already a Juren at such a young age; that's already quite good!"

Lin Qinshuang nodded, "Honglang is right. I heard that Mu'er is taking the county examination tomorrow, and I am happy from the bottom of my heart. Such a good child as Mu'er, as long as he embarks on the path of the imperial examinations, he will surely bring glory to the Sheng family's lintel in the future."

"I imagine Wei family sister will also have more smiles on her face. But although I have the heart, there is nothing I can do to help."

"So I personally made a few pastries. Whether Mu'er eats them or not is one thing, I just hope he takes them for good luck."

Looking at Lin Qinshuang's expression, Sheng Hong smiled with relief, "Shuang'er, you have a heart! I will personally send them over early tomorrow morning."

Lin Qinshuang nodded repeatedly, "Mm! I thank Honglang."

As she spoke, Lin Qinshuang continued to serve Sheng Hong his meal, another display of affection between husband and concubine.

The next day,

early in the morning,

Sheng Hong, followed by Seeing Mo Lan, left Linqi Pavilion with Dong Rong, who was holding the porcelain plate of pastries, and walked toward Jin'an Studio.

Entering the courtyard and the room,

looking around in the candlelight, Sheng Hong nodded and smiled at Changmu, then asked in confusion, "Shuyi, where is Mu'er's book box? Qinshuang knew Mu'er was taking the county examination today, so she personally made pastries."

When Wei Shuyi heard this, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes, then a smile appeared on her face, "Thank you, Lin sister, please ask the Master to convey my gratitude on my behalf, but..."

"Mm, what's wrong? Shuyi, just say what you have to say."

"Replying to the Master, I have no experience in sending someone to the examination, so Mu'er's book box was taken to Shou'an Hall by the Old Madam," Wei Shuyi said, lowering her head.

"Oh! So that's how it is. Mother is always prudent." After finishing, Sheng Hong raised the porcelain plate in his hand and said, "Then let's go to Shou'an Hall first."

In Shou'an Hall,

Mama Fang smiled and said, "Master, the Old Madam had me prepare everything for Mu'er, and I counted it three times before putting it into the book box."

"The pastries are placed at the very bottom. In this pitch-black darkness, if we rummage them out and put them back in, I'm afraid... it's not appropriate."

Wang Ruofu, sitting to the side, raised the corners of her mouth upon hearing this.

Sheng Hong nodded.

The Old Madam to the side was full of smiles as she exhorted Changmu, and in the gaps of her speech, she looked up and said, "Hong'er, Mama Fang is right. Actually, even Mu'er's birth mother, Wei Little Niang, didn't put anything in the book box; we can just accept the Lin family's good intentions."

"Mother is right," Sheng Hong said with a fawning smile.

"The time is about right, you should send Mu'er off," the Old Madam said kindly.

Before everyone could bow and agree, the Old Madam continued, "Right! When Feng'er took the county examination, his birth mother, Lin Little Niang, followed him. Our family cannot treat one differently from the other; let Mu'er's Little Niang follow him too."

"Yes, yes, yes! Let the Wei family woman follow, she can just take my carriage," Wang Ruofu smiled, "You three girls sit together."

Wei Shuyi, hearing this, looked at Sheng Hong, and only after seeing Sheng Hong nod with a smile did she bow and agree.

After everyone left Shou'an Hall, Mama Fang, who was supporting the Old Madam back to the Luo Han chair, said, "Old Madam, I saw that Wei Little Niang looked at the Master just now. If the Master hadn't let her go, would she really not have gone?"

The Old Madam waved her hand in a very good mood, "Mu'er is taking the county examination at such a young age; Hong'er wouldn't not give Mu'er face."

"Bo'er is already smart enough, and he is diligent; he passed the county examination when he was in Yang Zhou."

"How old is Mu'er? Not only does he copy calligraphy copybooks well, but his scholarship is even praised by Scholar Zhuang."

Mama Cui to the side smiled, "That is also because the Old Madam taught him well."

The Old Madam frowned and smiled, "If Minglan were going to take the county examination at this time, then I could say that. Mu'er is mostly watched by his Little Niang; what does this achievement have to do with me?"

After laughing, the Old Madam's smile lessened slightly as she looked toward the direction of the Buddha hall, where the spirit tablet of the Old Madam's son who died young was enshrined.

Before Mama Fang and Mama Cui could notice the strangeness in the Old Madam's mood, the Old Madam withdrew her gaze and smiled, taking a deep breath.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 674 =====