Chapter 691: Wind, cold, and Zhengzheng fulfilling the agreement [Thanks

Late in the sixth month,

It had been more than ten days since the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye Lu of the Xiao Xiao Gongye of Lian's family made the hand-cranked rotating fan.

The dog days of summer had also reached the middle stage.

If one were to walk outdoors after the Weishi hour (after one o'clock in the afternoon), the air one breathed would have a dry and scorching feeling.

If clothes were wet, one only needed to walk in the sun for a moment, and they would soon be dried.

Under such scorching sunlight, the previously cool nights also began to become so hot that people tossed and turned and couldn't sleep.

While Xu Zaijing was exercising in his own courtyard, the officials of the Great Zhou who were attending the morning court were also walking toward the palace at this time.

When they arrived at the palace gate and lined up, the sultry and windless weather made most of the officials have to tuck their tablets into their waists, take off their official hats, and take out handkerchiefs to wipe the sweat from their foreheads.

Sheng Hong, who was wearing a scarlet official robe, was the same. In the gap between wiping sweat, Sheng Hong said to the colleague beside him: "This weather is too hot."

"Yes! It will be better when we enter the hall in a moment. There will be ice cubes placed in the hall, which will definitely be cooler than outside."

Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly: "That's true!"

As he spoke, Sheng Hong put his official hat on properly.

Then he waited quietly.

Soon,

The shouts of the eunuchs at the palace gate came, and the officials outside the hall filed into the hall one after another.

Sheng Hong, who entered the hall, noticed that the light was a bit wrong and looked around, only to find that the candle stands that were usually lit were covered with lamp shades today.

In the dim light, there were vaguely things more than one person tall with a metallic luster standing around the palace.

Besides Sheng Hong seeing them, other court officials also saw this object. The Emperor had not yet arrived, so everyone couldn't help but discuss it in low voices.

"Minister Sheng, do you recognize that new thing?" a colleague asked in a low voice.

Although Sheng Hong had a look of slight realization in his eyes, he still shook his head: "I don't recognize it, and I don't know what it is."

The colleague in the candlelight nodded and said again: "I don't know if His Highness will come to listen to the government today."

"He should come." Sheng Hong smiled.

"His Majesty has arrived!"

Following the eunuch's shout, the buzzing discussion disappeared instantly.

After bowing and paying respects, the Emperor said with a smile: "My beloved ministers, I suppose you have also seen the object in the hall today. This is a rotating fan newly presented by the Ministry of Works. You can try it today to see if it can cool off the heat."

Zhao Fang, who was standing beside the Emperor and kept poking his head out, also turned his gaze to the side of the hall.

The tall and strong Imperial Guards of the palace, in groups of two, pushed a turntable similar to the one used to lift the thousand-jin gate of the city, and began to turn it with force.

The Ministry of Works and the various government offices in the palace were not lacking in clever and experienced craftsmen.

Now that there was money invested by the high-ranking families in the capital, and the principle of the gear turntable, the rotating fan used in this morning court was naturally exceptionally exquisite under the production that spared no cost.

This rotating fan seemed to have absorbed the experience of the palace; it blew cool air, which was obviously because ice cubes had been placed, and there was also the scent of flowers in the cool breeze.

Feeling the cool breeze blowing toward them, the heat on the officials seemed to be blown away instantly.

The lanterns in the hall were also affected, and the candlelight inside the lamp shades flickered slightly a few times.

Several high-ranking officials in purple robes with gray hair and beards, whose positions were close to the rotating fan, were also blown by this cool breeze until they narrowed their eyes, and their beards swayed endlessly with the cool breeze.

After enjoying it for a moment, a Grand Minister bowed and said in a loud voice: "This old minister bows and thanks Your Majesty for your benevolence to all the ministers."

As he spoke, the Grand Minister knelt on the ground.

Other ministers saw this and agreed one after another.

This morning,

Jingying Lane,

Sheng family schoolhouse courtyard,

The sun was scorching, the sunlight was intense,

The cicadas on the trees outside the courtyard seemed to be annoyed by the sun, and their chirping was continuous.

Inside the courtyard, the cicada chirping was almost non-existent, the reason being that Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye personally climbed the trees and "killed the summer cicadas on the branches one by one."

Inside the house,

The rotating fan, which had already been "updated" in style, was not being shaken by anyone and was standing quietly in the corner.

The desk behind the three orchids was empty. Minglan and Rulan had gone to the villa outside the city, and Seeing Mo Lan had suffered heatstroke and didn't come either.

Xu Zaijing, wearing a light-colored thin shirt, sat behind the desk, with a wet towel draped around his neck, listening to Scholar Zhuang's lecture on the upper seat while fanning himself.

When a dry and scorching breeze blew from outside the house, Xu Zaijing would feel a burst of coolness where he draped the towel or where he was sweating.

"Alright! Everyone rest for a moment, eat some melon and drink some water to cool off."

"Yes, Scholar!"

After everyone acknowledged, Qi Heng fanned himself with the folding fan in his hand while habitually looking at Minglan's position a few times.

Looking at the empty seat, Qi Heng sighed with some regret.

The young servants and maids of Xu Zaijing and the others stepped forward one after another to take the handkerchiefs of their young masters and walked to the side to soak them in a bucket of cool well water.

Subsequently, fruits like watermelon and muskmelon that had been soaked in the water were brought out, cut open, and handed to everyone.

Scholar Zhuang on the upper seat held a slice of watermelon in his hand, looked at the appearance of the students, waved his hand and said: "This teacher is going to cool off under the bamboo forest outside; you all do as you please."

Hearing this, everyone acknowledged.

After Scholar Zhuang left the room, Gu Tingye immediately waved his hand at his personal attendant, Zhi Que.

Zhi Que hurriedly ran to the side of the rotating fan, gripped the handle, and began to shake it.

Everyone gathered in front of the rotating fan, feeling the cool breeze, and most of them sighed with relief.

Xu Zaijing looked down at Changmei, who was too short beside him and could only feel the cool breeze on the top of his head, so he reached out and lifted him into mid-air.

Buwei, who was observant, hurriedly moved Seeing Mo Lan's stool over and placed it under Changmei's feet.

Looking down at Changmei, whose feet were not touching the stool, Xu Zaijing said helplessly: "Buwei, go and move Minglan's stool over."

Buwei acknowledged, and soon the stool was changed.

Seeing this, Changmei smiled embarrassedly at Xu Zaijing and stood on the stool to enjoy the blowing wind.

Two days later,

Taking advantage of the coolness of the morning, the Old Madam took the two orchids and returned to the Sheng family from the villa outside the city.

Sishi hour (after ten o'clock in the morning),

The sunlight outside was already a bit scorching.

Back courtyard,

Shou'an Hall,

The Old Madam sat on the Arhat chair, holding a cooling drink in her hand, looking at Sheng Hong on the lower seat with a confused expression, and said: "Hong'er, did you stop the rotating fan in the schoolhouse?"

Fang Mama, who was fanning the Old Madam, also looked over with some surprise.

Sheng Hong, who was preparing to drink the beverage, hurriedly stopped his movements, nodded with a nasal sound, and said: "Yes, Mother."

Looking at the Old Madam's questioning gaze, Sheng Hong put down the teacup and said: "Mother, His Majesty is benevolent. Some time ago, he arranged a few rotating fans in the hall of the morning court. You know about that, right?"

The Old Madam nodded.

Sheng Hong continued: "The craftsmen of the Ministry of Works are also brilliant; they actually thought of inserting copper pipes into ice cubes and then blowing them with wind. It made the hall very cool."

"Then why did you stop the one in the schoolhouse, Hong'er?" the Old Madam asked in confusion.

Sheng Hong shook his head: "Mother, you don't know. Perhaps because they were too close to the rotating fan, the wind blown was a bit too cold. After a few days, several ministers actually caught a cold."

"A cold?"

Sheng Hong nodded: "Yes, Mother, a cold!"

After finishing, Sheng Hong also rubbed his nose uncomfortably.

The Old Madam pondered for a moment and said: "This is because the Grand Ministers were a bit too greedy for coolness. It is so cool in the hall, but it is hot in the government offices outside. With one cold and one hot, those who are older will definitely feel uncomfortable."

"Mother is right, so now the main hall of the morning court no longer uses ice cubes, only well water! Scholar Zhuang and the Grand Ministers are of similar age, so that's why I stopped the rotating fan in the schoolhouse."

"Hmm, in such summer days, I also like to stay in a cool room, but you also have to ask Scholar Zhuang for his opinion! Those who know will say you care about Scholar Zhuang's health, but those who don't will think our family is stingy with ice cubes," the Old Madam said.

Sheng Hong was stunned, nodded and said: "Mother is right, son was inconsiderate."

The Old Madam smiled: "Hmm, Hong'er, you also have to pay more attention to yourself."

"Yes, Mother." Sheng Hong stood up and said.

Looking up at the nodding Old Madam, Sheng Hong said again: "Then, son will go to the study first."

"Go."

On the other side,

In Weiruixuan,

Wang Ruofu fanned herself with a round fan, pursed her lips, frowned at her daughter Rulan, and said: "Ru'er, how long have you been with your grandmother outside the city? How did you get tanned like this!"

Liu Mama on the side looked at Rulan, whose skin color had darkened quite a bit, her eyes full of worry, and at the same time looked at Xique on the side with some reproach.

Feeling Liu Mama's gaze of "How did you look after the Fifth Da Niangzi", Xique, whose skin color had also been tanned, lowered her head embarrassedly.

Rulan scratched her cheek embarrassedly, rolled her eyes, and said: "Mother, didn't I have to practice polo with Sixth Younger Sister! Polo can't be practiced indoors, so we could only go to the wheat field at the villa. With the sun so big outside, how could I not get tanned?!"

"Really?" Wang Ruofu looked at Rulan and asked.

"It's naturally true, how could daughter lie to you!" Rulan said righteously.

Hearing this, Liu Mama sighed helplessly.

"Then you practiced polo in the wheat field?"

"Yes!" Rulan nodded.

Wang Ruofu poked Rulan's forehead hatefully and said: "Do you really think your mother hasn't been to the villa?"

Rulan was stunned: "Ah?"

"I grew up beside your great-uncle since I was a child, and I've played all over the villa! At this time, the villa is harvesting summer grain, and the wheat field is occupied. Where would you have a place to practice polo?"

Rulan was speechless. After recalling Minglan's actions at the villa, she changed her words: "Uh... daughter was riding a horse, pulling a stone roller to help harvest grain!"

Wang Ruofu glanced at Rulan: "Hmph! Wasn't it catching crickets under the sun?"

Hearing this, Rulan frowned and looked at Xique.

Xique continued to lower her head, not giving Rulan any eye contact.

"Don't look, I guessed it." Wang Ruofu said, then sighed again: "You just stay in the room for a few days! Tanned so black, how can you compare with the maids in Lin Qige?"

Wang Ruofu continued: "If the Young Xiao Xiao Gongye sees you, it would be strange if he didn't dislike you."

Rulan, who wanted to talk back, heard this, pursed her lips helplessly, and nodded.

After glancing at Rulan again, Wang Ruofu turned and walked toward the outer room.

Liu Mama gave Xique a look of "take good care of the Fifth Da Niangzi" and hurriedly followed.

After Wang Ruofu left the room, she fanned herself with the round fan and said: "They are all young girls. Ming Yatou's complexion hasn't changed much, but Ru'er is good, tanned like that!"

"Madam, the Fifth Da Niangzi is at the age of being innocent and lively." Looking at Wang Ruofu with a smile, Liu Mama continued: "Back then, when you were this age, didn't you also climb trees to catch birds and go into the river to catch fish? The Fifth Da Niangzi is about the same as you!"

Hearing this, Wang Ruofu looked at the empty space outside, her eyes full of memories, and said softly: "It was still carefree back then! Uncle and Wei Wei Yima loved me, and there weren't those rules after returning to the Wang family."

Liu Mama smiled.

"What is the Wei family doing recently?" Wang Ruofu asked.

"Replying to the Madam, Wei Xiaoniang has been embroidering things recently, saying that Ming Yatou's aunt is pregnant, so she is making things in advance."

"Yo!" Wang Ruofu was a bit surprised and said: "Minglan's aunt is pregnant quite late."

"Who says it isn't!" Liu Mama said: "Hearing that the Wei aunt is pregnant, the head of the family even gave a red envelope, letting the Wei aunt rest at home!"

Wang Ruofu frowned and said: "Hiss, then doesn't that mean there is no regular allowance?"

"Wei Xiaoniang says the regular allowance is still issued!"

"This head of the family is benevolent enough." Wang Ruofu said while fanning herself.

Before Liu Mama could answer, Wang Ruofu looked outside and said: "Go, have someone send some more ice cubes to the schoolhouse. In this weather, Bo'er might get heat rash again!"

"Sigh!" Liu Mama hurriedly acknowledged.

In the evening,

The sun that scorched the earth set, and the temperature dropped slightly.

After the sky darkened,

The lights in Bianjing City lit up. It was cool at night, and the area near the main shops and brothels was much livelier than during the day.

East of the palace city,

Beside the moat, the lanterns on the palace wall were reflected on the river surface.

To the north of this place is Donghuamen Street, to the south is Pan Lou not far away, and on the east side is the lively Jiu Cao Men Street.

The lively noise came vaguely from three directions, making this place even more quiet and comfortable.

Chai family back courtyard,

Qiusheng Garden,

Bright lanterns hung under the top of the veranda, and maids passed by under the veranda from time to time.

The grass and trees outside the veranda were in darkness, and insects were chirping.

Courtyard main room,

Looking from the outside, the doors and windows were brightened by the candles inside the room.

In the cool room,

A breeze was slowly blowing the thin curtains,

Chai Zhengzheng sat behind the table, looking at Wei Fangzhi, who was standing not far away, by the candlelight.

After looking down at the account book in her hand again, Chai Zhengzheng said softly: "Fangniang, do you remember how long you have been in my courtyard?"

Wei Fangzhi, who was not holding a pipa and was only wearing summer clothes, raised her head, looked at Chai Zhengzheng behind the table, and said: "Replying to the Miss, it has been about three years."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled, nodded, and said: "Not bad! For so long, the silver for your redemption, I have looked at it these two days, it is already enough, and there are five thousand strings of cash left over."

Before Wei Fangzhi could speak, Chai Zhengzheng continued: "This business was done quite well."

Wei Fangzhi nodded.

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Yun Mu on the side. Yun Mu understood, turned around, and brought the prepared wooden box over from the side.

"Since Fangniang you have achieved it, then I must also achieve it. Inside is everything for you to restore your status as a commoner. Take a look." Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

Yun Mu glanced at Chai Zhengzheng, walked to Wei Fangzhi, and smiled as she handed the wooden box in her hand to Wei Fangzhi.

Wei Fangzhi, who was not nervous even when performing the pipa before the Emperor in the palace, was breathing rapidly at this time.

She reached out and touched the exquisite wooden box, and Wei Fangzhi raised her head to look at Chai Zhengzheng.

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng's smiling and signaling eyes, Wei Fangzhi then took the wooden box, lowered her head, and slowly knelt on the ground, saying in a deep voice: "Fangniang bows and thanks the Miss for her great kindness."

Wei Fangzhi had grown up in the Jiaofang since she was a child and had seen many of the encounters of the women in the workshop.

Predecessors as brilliant as her would have their best destination be marrying a merchant after they grew old and their looks faded.

Like Head Courtesan Yang Luoyou, who destroyed her own face to gain a little freedom, if it weren't for the previous opportunity of the Viscount Zhu family and the Marquis Yongyi's mansion, it's hard to say how miserable her days would be.

She was just a commodity, and after her last value was squeezed out by the Jiaofang brothel, she was thrown aside like garbage.

Wei Fangzhi knew that with her own ability, if she were in a brothel, she could at least be popular for another five or six years, and the value the brothel could squeeze out was far more than these tens of thousands of strings of cash.

This also meant that the difficulty of removing her lowly status was unimaginable, and it wasn't something just anyone could do.

And these things were not something that tens of thousands of strings of cash could buy.

Bowing and thanking was not an exaggeration at all.

Chai Zhengzheng behind the table looked at Wei Fangzhi, who had become increasingly beautiful over the past three years, and smiled: "Get up."

Yun Mu on the side smiled and reached out to help Wei Fangzhi up from the ground.

Looking at the tearful Wei Fangzhi, Chai Zhengzheng smiled: "You will still live in the shop under my name in the future, why are you acting like it's a life-and-death separation? Stop crying."

"Yes, Miss." Wei Fangzhi took a deep breath and smiled at Chai Zhengzheng with tears in her eyes.

"Go."

Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

Subsequently, watching Wei Fangzhi's departing back, Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath with some emotion, perhaps sighing at the passage of time.

Then, not knowing what she thought of, Chai Zhengzheng glanced toward the bedroom, and a smile appeared on the corner of her mouth again.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 692 =====