Chapter 689

When Zhao Fang was being punished in the palace,

On the way back to Quyuanjie,

Xu Zaijing was riding his horse, looking at Zhao Meifeng beside him with worried eyes.

After exchanging a glance with Xu Zaijing, Zhao Meifeng smiled: "Fifth Young Master, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Brother Zhao, has the office been very busy lately? You look so haggard with such heavy bags under your eyes."

Zhao Meifeng touched his cheek and nodded: "Now that Master is getting older, I have to handle many things in the office."

Looking at Xu Zaijing, Zhao Meifeng sighed: "Staying in the capital for a long time has made that group of people from the Gao family truly unaware of the importance of things! They actually dared to promise privately to take His Highness out of the palace!"

"Thank heavens, no great disaster was caused, otherwise I don't know how many people would have died."

"Brother Zhao is right." While speaking, Xu Zaijing's gaze was vigilantly patrolling the street.

"If Gao Yunqing hadn't discovered that monk with the unusual expression nearby, I believe many people would have thought you were making a mountain out of a molehill, Fifth Young Master," Zhao Meifeng said.

Xu Zaijing's gaze kept scanning, and he nodded: "Making a mountain out of a molehill is a thousand times better than something happening to His Highness! Brother Zhao, the office has also caught many big fish among the Northern Liao spies; can the monk's identity be identified?"

"Let's try!" As he spoke, Zhao Meifeng turned his head and stared at Xu Zaijing.

Noticing the gaze, Xu Zaijing smiled: "Brother Zhao, why are you looking at me like that?"

"Fifth Young Master, after you saw His Highness this morning, you immediately had the windows closed; did you think of something?"

"Hmm." Xu Zaijing nodded and continued: "Brother Zhao, downstairs at Sai Sai Fanlou, there was a moment when I felt a bit uneasy."

"After discovering His Highness was in the building, the first thing I thought of was to block the line of sight of potential enemies so they wouldn't know the situation inside the private room."

Zhao Meifeng smiled: "This can also be considered Jingge's experience as a scout on the battlefield before."

"Brother Zhao is right."

Zhao Meifeng breathed a sigh of relief and said in an unfriendly tone: "At that time, the position His Highness was sitting in was right in the middle of the private room! There was only a screen separating him from the back and the windows. Thinking back on it now, my hands and feet are sweating."

As he spoke, Zhao Meifeng stretched out his hand to let Xu Zaijing see his palm.

Seeing this, Xu Zaijing nodded slightly; he understood the reason for Zhao Meifeng's lingering fear: as a secret service chief, Zhao Meifeng knew too well how one should act at such a time.

"But if the Gao family's mouth wasn't tight, or if you hadn't gone to Sai Sai Fanlou today, Fifth Young Master, I reckon that if we had just waited another hour, around noon, something would definitely have happened to His Highness."

"Hmm, Brother Zhao is right. I think the real killing move might not have been at Sai Sai Fanlou. Sai Sai Fanlou is indoors, with walls, doors, and windows blocking the view, so many methods couldn't be used."

Looking at Zhao Meifeng's appreciative gaze, Xu Zaijing continued: "Once outside, the guards Gao Jing brought weren't many to begin with, and with them stretched thin..."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "By the way, after this incident, it looks like you and your colleagues will be busy in the days to come."

Zhao Meifeng beside him smiled helplessly: "Fifth Young Master, it's not just our office! The Kaifeng Prefecture, the Divine Guard Army, and the Dragon Guard Army won't be much more relaxed."

Xu Zaijing, looking at the bustling street scene, said: "Brother Zhao, it looks like the spies in the capital are like leeks, cut down one crop after another."

"Hehe, Fifth Young Master is right! Actually, in major cities like Northern Liao's Western Capital and Southern Capital, our Great Zhou's spies are the same!"

"The difference is that thanks to you, Fifth Young Master, the sharpest blade Northern Liao had for dealing with spies is now in the Imperial City Guard's prison."

"Brother Zhao is too kind; it was just a coincidence that day."

While talking,

The group turned a corner and arrived at Quyuanjie.

In front of the mansion gate,

Beside the stone lions,

Xu Zaijing, Zhao Meifeng, and the others dismounted together.

Seeing the group, the Xu family's gatekeeper steward hurriedly stepped forward and bowed.

After Xu Zaijing nodded in acknowledgment, he walked into the gate side by side with Zhao Meifeng while talking.

"Fifth Young Master, what do you mean by that? The Sixteen Prefectures of Qin Yan Yun are the ancestral lands of the previous dynasty, mostly inhabited by Han people; how could they help the tyrant and attack our dynasty's royal army?" Zhao Meifeng looked at Xu Zaijing with confusion in his eyes.

"Brother Zhao, the Sixteen Prefectures of Qin Yan Yun have been incorporated into Northern Liao's territory for many years; is there no such possibility?" Xu Zaijing asked rhetorically.

Looking at Zhao Meifeng, who had an expression of disagreement and was shaking his head, Xu Zaijing continued: "Brother Zhao, you should know that Northern Liao and our dynasty have different tax systems for the common people, right?"

"Naturally, I know."

"Then which is heavier?"

Zhao Meifeng pondered for a moment: "Speaking of which, our dynasty's is heavier, but Northern Liao's military and corvée labor are heavy; after comparing the two, our dynasty is still more lenient."

After finishing, Zhao Meifeng looked at the smiling Xu Zaijing and said: "Why, Fifth Young Master, do you disagree with what I said?"

"No, Brother Zhao, I agree with your statement. But, would the ordinary people under Northern Liao's rule calculate this as carefully as you do?" Xu Zaijing asked rhetorically.

Looking at the frowning Zhao Meifeng, Xu Zaijing said: "Perhaps what I, a person in Bianjing, say isn't accurate; why doesn't Brother Zhao send someone to the borders of the two countries to ask more?"

Zhao Meifeng's eyes kept moving, clearly thinking rapidly.

After walking two more steps, Zhao Meifeng stopped and frowned: "Fifth Young Master, the office has always assumed that once our dynasty attacks, the Han people in the Qin Yan Yun region will naturally welcome the royal army with food and drink; you saying it like this..."

"No, I must go back immediately." As he spoke, Zhao Meifeng was about to turn and leave.

Looking at Xu Zaijing, who was holding his sleeve, Zhao Meifeng said: "Fifth Young Master, let go quickly."

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said: "Brother Zhao, the matter I mentioned won't have a conclusion as quickly as overnight."

Zhao Meifeng was stunned for a moment, and Xu Zaijing continued: "Moreover, our dynasty is now strong and prosperous, with the momentum of recovering the ancestral lands of Bai Gao, and we recently won a great victory over Northern Liao in Fengzhou! It's been a long time, let's have a chat, brothers!"

Zhao Meifeng: "Fifth Young Master, you..."

Xu Zaijing continued: "By the way, Brother Zhao, could you help me sort out the relationships and conflicts between the major families in Northern Liao's Yan region, the Northern Liao royal clan, and the various Mongol tribes?"

Hearing this, Zhao Meifeng showed a smile on his face and said helplessly: "Fine, I'll grant your wish today."

Understanding the grudges and conflicts of Northern Liao naturally allows one to provoke and catalyze them, making Northern Liao fight among themselves until they are destroyed.

While Xu Zaijing and Zhao Meifeng were reminiscing, officials from the Imperial City Guard still came from time to time to report the situation.

Unfortunately,

Today is the Dragon Boat Festival,

The common people and scholars in the capital are mostly holding banquets at home, and the frequent movement of people has added great difficulty to the Imperial City Guard's investigation.

Except for catching a few wandering bandits in the temples of the outer city due to the martial law imposed by the imperial guards, there has been no other progress.

After the Dragon Boat Festival,

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family,

Morning break time,

Xiaotao walked over holding a cup of tea; after Minglan took it sideways, she took advantage of the break in drinking tea to glance at Xu Zaijing's wrist.

Seeing the exquisite hundred-knot thread still tied around Xu Zaijing's wrist, Minglan smiled, withdrew her gaze, and began to focus on drinking tea.

Changfeng, beside Minglan, pulled the clothes of Qi Heng in front of him with great interest and said: "Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, you and Jingge were both at Sai Sai Fanlou yesterday, right?"

"There is a rumor in the capital that the Shishi girl under Mother Ruan is beautiful and peerless, with such poetic talent that even the Imperial Prince went there by name?"

Qi Heng and Xu Zaijing exchanged a glance and said: "Is that what they are saying outside?"

"Yes! In the afternoon, our family's servants and maids heard about it," Changfeng nodded and continued: "Young Xiao Xiao Gongye, did you and Jingge see that Shishi girl? Is she really that beautiful?"

Listening to the conversation on the side, Rulan curled her lips with some disdain.

Qi Heng shook his head, looked at Changfeng, who was full of expectation, and said: "I didn't see her."

Changfeng nodded with some regret, exchanged a glance with Gu Tingye, and said: "That's a pity!"

Xu Zaijing, who was on the side, looked at the expressions of Changfeng and Gu Tingye that said 'I'll go take a look when I have time' and shook his head helplessly.

Gu Tingye hadn't married yet and had seen that Shishi girl, but she was wearing a veil at the time.

After resting for a while, Scholar Zhuang continued the class.

Before the lunch break, a Sheng family servant walked in with an envelope, bowed, and said: "Scholar, a letter received at the gate, saying it is for you from Prefect Gu of Kaifeng."

"Hmm!"

Watching the scholar nod, the servant hurriedly presented the letter.

After opening the envelope and reading it at a glance, a smile appeared on Scholar Zhuang's face.

Immediately, Scholar Zhuang handed the letter to Changbai and smiled: "Changbai, you and your classmates pass it around and take a look."

Seeing Changbai smile after reading the letter, curiosity appeared on the faces of Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the others behind him.

Therefore, after Zaizhang and Changzhen finished reading it together and handed it to Gu Tingye, Xu Zaijing leaned forward to look, and Qi Heng and Changfeng also crowded over.

"Yo, this scoundrel Rong Xian actually performed a meritorious service," Gu Tingye said with a smile while reading.

After reading, Gu Tingye didn't continue to smile but said with some envy: "This scoundrel Rong Xian has good luck."

Changfeng, who also finished reading, took the letter, scanned it, and handed it to Minglan on his left; Changfeng looked at Gu Tingye and said: "Second Brother Gu, this should be called heaven's protection!"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing also smiled.

Actually, it's no wonder Gu Tingye is envious; Rong Xian's luck is truly good.

The reason is that the court gazette said that in a battle between the Great Zhou soldiers and the Nong and Jiaozhi people in the middle of last month, the weather changed suddenly with strong winds.

Amidst thunder and lightning, hailstones the size of eggs rained down toward the enemy's direction...

In just a dozen breaths, the Nong and Jiaozhi people were injured in countless numbers.

The Great Zhou soldiers only had strong winds and rain, and apart from a few people injured by the wind and rain, there were no other losses.

The Great Zhou army took advantage of the situation to pursue after the hail passed and captured countless enemies.

The court gazette also said that after this battle, many surrounding barbarian tribes learned of this, regarded the Great Zhou army as heavenly soldiers, and took the initiative to surrender.

Of course, the greatest credit for this battle goes to Viscount Xie, as he led the main force of the imperial guards.

There is also the name of Xiong Yan, Earl of Kang'an, on the merit list.

Afternoon,

When everyone finished school, the sun was still hanging in the west.

After shouting 'Thank you, Scholar, for your teachings', everyone left the school one after another.

After leaving the courtyard and walking toward the stables, Qi Heng pulled Xu Zaijing's sleeve, and the two fell behind.

Seeing no one around, Xu Zaijing lowered his voice and asked suspiciously: "Yuanruo, what's wrong?"

"Jingge, how did yesterday's matter turn into His Highness going there by name?"

"Isn't this using the royal reputation to promote that Shishi girl? How dare Mother Ruan do this?"

"And there is no mention of the Gao family in the rumors."

Qi Heng asked a few urgent questions in a low voice like a string of firecrackers.

Xu Zaijing looked at Gu Tingye and Zaizhang in front and said in a low voice: "I think it might be that His Highness or the Empress wants to protect the Gao family's reputation. Stories like this are rare even in fiction, so the common people are naturally happy to talk about them."

Qi Heng was stunned for a moment, then nodded: "Jingge, you are right! If the ministers knew that the Gao family had acted so recklessly and put the Imperial Heir in danger, the memorials would probably be like snowflakes."

"What about Mother Ruan and Sai Sai Fanlou?" Qi Heng asked again.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said in a low voice: "Yuanruo, you'll have to figure that out for yourself."

Mid-fifth month,

Yin hour (after 4:00 AM),

The night sky was like ink,

The full moon hung in the western sky,

Under the moonlight,

Around the Xu family's horse racing track, insects hidden nearby chirped from time to time, making the racing track even quieter.

The bright yellow lantern light shone in front of the wooden house, and scattered flying insects flew around the light, bumping into the lanterns from time to time.

Seeming to notice the footsteps, the insects near the passage suddenly became quiet.

After the footsteps went far away, the insects continued to chirp.

Now Qingyun, Alan, and Xun Shu are all married, only Uncle Yin lives in the wooden house permanently, while Alan and Xun Shu take turns on duty living in the wooden house.

At this time, the morning dew is quite heavy; after putting on armor and exercising, Xu Zaijing, his person, and his horse would be covered with a lot of dust after being dampened by the dew.

After exercising, when Xu Zaijing went to take a shower, his armor usually had to be carefully wiped and maintained by Alan or Xun Shu before it could be put back.

On the way to the Sheng family,

The morning temperature was pleasant, and there were many more pedestrians and commoners on the street than before.

When Xu Zaijing entered the school, there was no need to light candles; he could read by the morning light.

Looking at Changzhen, who was yawning and reading, looking naive and cute, the corners of Xu Zaijing's mouth would always rise unconsciously.

Morning exercise, school, returning home.

Between the two points and one line, day after day, the weather became hotter and hotter.

The sound of cicadas began to become dense, chirping from morning till night, making people feel annoyed.

In the Sheng family school, the most popular things became various fruits like watermelons soaked in well water.

The Sheng family did use ice cubes to chill fruits.

But after Changfeng ate chilled fruits one day and changed clothes more than ten times in one afternoon, he stopped using ice and only used well water.

By the sixth month,

The weather was even hotter,

The things offered by the common people in the capital in front of the Cui Fujun Temple had to be cleared away after a day or two, otherwise, they would spoil and go bad.

This day,

Guangfu Lane,

In the courtyard rented by Chai Zhengzheng,

Cool breezes blew under the dense, emerald-green tree shade, and the cool stream water drawn from the royal garden flowed in the small stream in the courtyard, bringing a lot of coolness.

The pavilion on the small stream was also under the tree shade, with thin gauze hanging around it, and insect-repelling incense and beautiful pipa music drifted together.

Around the pavilion,

Female attendants holding fruit plates walked toward this side along the veranda from time to time.

In the pavilion,

With ice chests filled with ice cubes placed at the four corners, plus the tree shade and cool water, the noble ladies sitting inside only needed to gently shake their round fans to feel the cool breeze hitting their faces.

"This courtyard is truly good; my family can't even find such a good pavilion," Tingyi, who was wearing a married woman's hairstyle, said with a smile while shaking her round fan.

Han Wulang Young Lady of the Zhang family, holding a corner of ripe watermelon, smiled and said: "Then go ask Fifth Brother Xu if he's selling it, and just buy it."

Chai Zhengzheng seemed not to hear her friend mention someone, but looked at Rong Feiyan beside her with eyes full of concern and said: "Miss Feiyan, your complexion is not looking good; are you feeling unwell?"

Rong Feiyan, whose face was slightly sallow, smiled, shook her head, and said: "No, it's just some summer fatigue. Having been cooped up at home for so long, I finally waited for an invitation, so I had to come no matter what."

"Consort Rong has already finished her confinement; have you gone into the palace to visit her?" Chai Zhengzheng said.

Hearing this, Rong Feiyan had a different look on her face, looked at Chai Zhengzheng, nodded, and said: "Hmm, I went to see her; my sister and the little prince are both very well."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled: "Hmm! It's fine when it's cold; just light the floor heating and wear thicker clothes, but this heat is hard to endure."

Rong Feiyan looked at Chai Zhengzheng, who was smiling like a flower, pursed her lips, suppressed the question she wanted to ask, and changed it to: "Zhengzheng, do you have any secret for not suffering from summer fatigue?"

(End of chapter)