Chapter 701: Surname Shu, Not Hua [Many thanks! Bowing again! 36k words owed]

In the study,

"Young Master, this small one has returned."

Qi Heng, who was sitting behind the table writing, heard the movement, looked up at Buwei who was speaking, and said, "Have the items been bought back?"

"Replying to Young Master, they have been bought!" Buwei placed the wooden box in his hand on the table and smiled: "This small one went to Sibao Zhai to buy them."

Qi Heng, who lowered his head to continue writing, said "Hmm."

Buwei continued: "The manager of that Sibao Zhai recognizes this small one; he only charged two hundred and some taels for the six brushes, and the gold ingot you gave this small one was not used up."

Saying this, Buwei also placed the remaining gold on the table.

Qi Heng said without raising his head: "Put the gold away, and bring the writing brushes for me to see."

"Yes."

After Buwei said "Yes," he opened the wooden box and brought one of the brushes to Qi Heng.

Qi Heng took the writing brush, examined it carefully for a while, touched the brush head with his finger, and smiled: "Indeed exquisite."

Buwei said: "Young Master, shall I open this writing brush for you to use?"

Qi Heng hesitated for a moment, then smiled and nodded: "Open it."

"Aye!"

Buwei said, took the writing brush from Qi Heng's hand, turned his head, and shouted: "Li Chong, bring a bowl of warm water."

The servant Li Chong, who was standing at the study door, hurriedly said "Yes."

Buwei used two fingers to rub the brush head with moderate force and said: "Young Master, this small one also met the Sheng family young ladies at the entrance of Sibao Zhai today."

"What?" Qi Heng raised his head abruptly.

Placing the writing brush on the inkstone, Qi Heng had a look of regret and annoyance in his eyes and said: "You met the Sheng family young ladies? Did Sixth Younger Sister go out?"

Buwei shook his head: "It was not Sheng Sixth Da Niangzi, but Sheng Fourth Da Niangzi; it seems she was accompanying the daughter of the Sheng family's First Branch to go shopping."

Qi Heng was stunned, the look of annoyance immediately dissipated, he smiled and picked up the writing brush, saying: "Oh, I thought I had missed her."

Buwei, who was unfolding the brush head, shook the writing brush, looked at Qi Heng, and said softly: "Young Master, are you fond of..."

Before he could finish, Qi Heng glared at Buwei: "Shut up."

Buwei hurriedly pursed his lips.

At the same time,

The servant Li Chong walked in carrying a porcelain bowl.

"Put it here," Buwei smiled.

After Li Chong put down the porcelain bowl and said goodbye to leave the room, Buwei tested the water temperature and then immersed the brush head into the water.

Buwei held the writing brush so the brush head would not touch the bottom of the bowl and said: "Young Master, on the way back to the mansion, this small one stopped by our silk shop to take a look; I heard the manager say that the Sheng family also went to the shop to buy fabric."

"I heard that our mansion has used blue-green brocade, so they also bought a few bolts to take back."

Qi Heng stopped the writing brush and looked at Buwei thoughtfully.

Not knowing what he thought of, Qi Heng said with a smile on the corners of his mouth: "By the way, I remember Mother had someone use this color fabric to make me a few sets of clothes, right?"

Buwei thought for a moment and nodded: "Yes, Young Master."

"Hmm, have them ready! When the school opens on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month next year, I will wear those sets."

"Yes."

Saying this, Buwei rinsed the writing brush in the porcelain bowl, lifted it out of the water, and squeezed the water out of the brush head with moderate force.

After immersing it in water again, Buwei then dipped the writing brush in ink and handed it to Qi Heng.

In the latter part of the twelfth lunar month,

The usually quiet Yichun Lane became lively just like in previous years.

From morning until night,

There were smartly dressed servants, little servants, mamas, and maids lining up in the lane, and the line stretched all the way to the main street.

This morning,

At the entrance of Yichun Lane,

Mama Xiang Ji'an walked out of the carriage parked on the side of the road with a little maid.

While looking around,

She saw a woman carrying a pipa and wearing a veil in the lane, walking out with a girl carrying a drum.

Mama Xiang looked at the two approaching, leaned back slightly, and thus avoided the drum the girl was carrying.

"Hey, hey! How are you walking? Don't you look at the road?" the little maid frowned and shouted.

Seeing that her apprentice almost brushed against someone, the woman holding the pipa hurriedly stopped and bowed: "Apologies to the two ladies."

The girl carrying the drum stood still and also smiled apologetically at Mama Xiang and the other.

Mama Xiang smiled while holding her handkerchief and said: "It's fine; please be careful in the future."

"Aye! Aye! Truly sorry," the woman wearing the veil nodded and said.

"Hmm." Mama Xiang waved her handkerchief and continued to look around.

Seeing this, the two carrying musical instruments nodded again and left this place.

After those two walked for a while,

A mama dressed as smartly as Mama Xiang, holding a handkerchief, walked toward this side with little servants and maids behind her.

Seeing Xiang Ji'an, this mama smiled: "Yo! Mama Xiang, why are you here again?"

"Oh! So it's Sister Lei! It's just that the door gods, hanging paintings, and wealth-bringing donkeys purchased earlier did not satisfy the Madam; as servants, we can only come again. What are you here for?"

"Who says it isn't so!" The mama called Mama Lei slapped her thigh and continued: "My master has juniors in the courtyard, and the Madam ordered me to come and buy a few more lanterns."

"Oh, oh!" Mama Xiang nodded with a smile: "Then you go in first; I still have to wait for a while."

"Alright, alright." Mama Lei waved her hand with a smile and walked into the lane.

After the person walked far away, the little maid beside Mama Xiang said: "Mama, who was that just now?"

Mama Xiang said: "South of Chunming Lane, the managing mama of the Xie Zijue Li family."

"Xie Zijue Li family? Is it the one that got married a few days ago?" the little maid asked in confusion.

"Right! That day it was the younger brother who got married! This mama is the one who came over accompanying Madam Zhou from the elder brother's house; Madam Zhou's maternal family is the Zhou family of the Marquis of Jiangyin."

Mama Xiang continued: "I have met this person several times at the silk shop before, and after coming and going, I got to know her."

"Oh!" the little maid nodded.

Mama Xiang took out a string of copper coins and said: "Go to the street and take a look; buy some snacks for the young lady."

"Yes," the little maid smiled and took the copper coins.

Watching the little maid's departing back, Mama Xiang looked around again.

Suddenly,

Mama Xiang's gaze froze as she looked at a group of people riding horses from not far away.

In this group, three knights had children sitting in front of them, two boys and one girl.

After a while, watching the group park their carriages and horses and walk toward the lane, Mama Xiang smiled at the sturdiest young man among them.

Seeing Mama Xiang, the young man turned his head and said: "Alan, Xunshu, you take people in to see what the situation is."

While speaking, he even handed the child he was holding to Alan.

Alan looked at Mama Xiang and nodded: "Alright, Brother Qingyun."

After the Xu family group entered, Mama Xiang looked at the boy Qingyun handed over and said: "Little brother, that is the child of the Yin family, right?"

Qingyun shook his head: "No, that is my brother-in-law; his surname is Shu, not Yin."

"... Uh." After thinking for a moment, thinking of the boy and girl with similar faces that the two men behind Qingyun were holding just now, Mama Xiang then said: "So those two are the Yin family's son and daughter! No wonder they don't look alike..."

"Don't look like whom?" Qingyun frowned and asked.

Mama Xiang smiled awkwardly and said: "Little brother, why be so aggressive? This servant just wanted to... look at the son and daughter."

Qingyun pursed his lips and nodded: "Hmm. If Mama Xiang has nothing else, I will go over."

Saying this, Qingyun was about to step away.

Mama Xiang pulled Qingyun's sleeve and said: "Little brother, wait a moment."

Qingyun stopped, looked at Mama Xiang beckoning him to lower his head, thought for a moment, and then bowed his head and leaned over.

Mama Xiang only said a few words, and Qingyun's eyes narrowed.

In the afternoon,

Quyuan Street,

Marquis Yongyi's Mansion,

Several people stood by the horse racing track,

Xu Zaijing, who was standing among them, looked up intently at the Gyrfalcon flying toward him in the sky, and on his outstretched forearm, he was wearing a thick leather glove that wrapped around his palm.

"Flap, flap, flap—"

Amidst the rapid flapping of wings, the magnificent Gyrfalcon brought a gust of wind and landed on the leather glove on Xu Zaijing's forearm.

"Wow!" The three maids, including Qingcao, all clapped and cheered.

"Truly beautiful," Xu Zaijing smiled.

He was speaking of the Gyrfalcon's landing action, and also of its demeanor.

Saying this, Xu Zaijing threw out a fresh strip of meat as a reward for this landing.

After rewarding it, Xu Zaijing moved his forearm, and the falconer prepared at the side hurriedly raised his arm and leaned over.

The Gyrfalcon cleverly jumped from Xu Zaijing's arm and leaped onto the falconer's arm.

Looking at the magnificent Gyrfalcon, Xu Zaijing said: "After the New Year, let it go to the northern front line to take a look; perhaps it can also perform meritorious service."

The falconer bowed and said yes.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, and prepared to take off the long, thick leather glove; the three maids saw this and hurriedly came to help.

At this moment,

A sound came,

It was Qingyun and the others who had already collected the items for the New Year and parked the carriage at the second gate.

When the servants of the Marquis mansion began to move things at the second gate, Qingyun also came to Xu Zaijing's side.

Looking at the look in Qingyun's eyes as he dismounted, Xu Zaijing said: "Qingcao, you three play here for a while; Qingyun, come over, I have something to ask you."

"Yes, Young Master."

Everyone bowed and said.

After walking a few dozen steps, Xu Zaijing turned his head and looked at Qingyun: "What is it?"

Qingyun pursed his lips and said: "Young Master, when I went to Yichun Lane today, I met Mama Xiang from beside Madam Qin; she..."

Looking at the hesitant Qingyun, Xu Zaijing rubbed his hands and asked in confusion: "Qingyun, why do you always meet her at this time?"

Qingyun shook his head: "It doesn't look like a chance meeting; she must have been waiting there! Perhaps, going to Yichun Lane at this time is only natural, or she wanted to see Sister Su and the other."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Hmm! What happened to Mama Xiang?"

"She said that after the New Year, Prince Yong, Prince Jing, and Prince Tan, the three princes, will enter the capital to attend the Imperial Prince's wedding, and we must be extra careful when the time comes," Qingyun said, looking at Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing pondered for a moment and nodded: "Qingyun, do you know who put the note in the pouch last time?"

Qingyun nodded: "Young Master, I have thought about it; it might be this person."

Xu Zaijing said: "Hmm. This Mama Xiang and the people behind her have never warned us without a reason."

"However, this time Mama Xiang was a bit too flamboyant, actually talking to you in public."

Listening to his Young Master's question, Qingyun scratched his head, looked at Xu Zaijing, and said: "Mama Xiang has a reason; now that Madam Qin is pregnant, she said that giving me a gift is giving you a gift, Young Master, and it can also bless her to give birth to a boy."

"Ah?" Xu Zaijing was surprised, and at the same time, he turned his head and looked at his master's wooden house: "This..."

Qingyun nodded helplessly and took out a heavy pouch from his sleeve.

Watching Qingyun open the pouch, Xu Zaijing glanced inside and said: "Ho, there is quite a lot of gold here! Keep it yourself; as for the matter... don't tell Master."

Qingyun, who took back the pouch, nodded and said yes.

"Then, Young Master, when the three princes enter the capital next year, what should we do?" Qingyun asked.

Xu Zaijing took a deep breath and smiled: "Let it be. If people don't offend me, I won't offend them."

Qingyun nodded heavily, and not knowing what he thought of, said: "Young Master, two days ago, that kid Feixing came to see Qingcao; when I was talking to him, I heard how he makes jewelry, and I was somewhat inspired."

"Hmm? Tell me."

"It's just that with this warning, I am preparing to make a folding shield, connected by mechanisms in the middle, with iron plates on the outside, wooden boards in the middle, and nailed with compressed cotton on the inside."

Looking at Xu Zaijing's confused eyes, Qingyun didn't ask, but directly said: "Usually, it hangs under the saddle cloth, and you can't tell if you don't look closely."

After listening, Xu Zaijing looked at the saddle cloth placed beside the stable and nodded: "Go ahead and make it; for the silver, just ask Qingcao; it is always good for us to have an extra bit of precaution."

"Yes, Young Master."

In the afternoon,

Jiying Lane,

Sheng family,

Blue smoke from burning anthracite rose from the chimney on the roof.

Shou'an Hall,

The room was very warm,

The Old Madam sat on the Arhat chair holding a hand warmer, looking at Rulan who was talking together with Wang Ruofu beside her.

"I heard it was over ninety taels! Isn't this cheating people! Without a second word, I took Pulan younger sister to the side to buy something else!"

After Rulan finished speaking, she looked at the surprised Minglan and continued: "Sixth Younger Sister, over ninety taels, isn't that very expensive?"

Minglan nodded repeatedly.

Wang Ruofu frowned and said: "What material was it made of? Did you ask before saying it was expensive?"

Rulan described it a few times.

After listening, Wang Ruofu nodded and said: "You remember it quite clearly! Your uncle has a few writing brushes made with such materials; I heard from your aunt that they are treasured like nothing else, so I imagine they didn't cheat you."

"Oh..." Rulan pursed her lips and nodded.

At this moment,

Mama Cui lifted the cotton curtain and walked in.

She bowed to everyone in the room and said: "Old Madam, a letter sent from the front gate."

Wang Ruofu saw this, stood up, and said: "Mother, the time is about right, so this daughter-in-law will go back first."

The Old Madam nodded with a smile: "Ruan, go and see her off."

"Yes, Old Madam."

Mama Cui responded and handed the envelope to Mama Fang.

The Old Madam looked at Minglan again, and Minglan smiled and said: "Grandmother, I am going to do embroidery."

"Hmm."

Saying this, the Old Madam took the envelope and checked it.

Just by looking at the handwriting, a smile appeared on the Old Madam's face.

She raised her head and looked at Mama Fang, and the Old Madam said: "Suqin, it is a letter from Little Kong."

Mama Fang smiled: "Old Madam, only you would call her Kong Mama like that."

The Old Madam smiled and opened the envelope, proudly saying: "No matter how she changes, in my heart, she is still that little younger sister."

"You are right!" Mama Fang echoed.

Unfolding the letter paper, the Old Madam took a deep breath and squinted to read it.

After reading just a few lines, the Old Madam began to laugh chidingly, shaking her head while laughing.

"This Little Kong, truly..."

"Old Madam, what is it?" Mama Fang asked.

The Old Madam smiled: "Little Kong said her work in Xijing is about to end, and she wants me to help her find one in the capital! Where am I supposed to find one for her? Does she need me to find one?"

Mama Fang smiled: "You don't need to find one; just spread the news that Kong Mama is returning to the capital, and it will certainly keep Kong Mama busy."

The Old Madam nodded with a smile, pointed to the letter paper, and continued: "And here, she is actually asking about that child Jingge'er for the high-ranking families in Xijing."

"Yo!" Mama Fang was slightly surprised and said: "Has the reputation of our Xu family's son spread all the way to Xijing?"

The Old Madam nodded somewhat proudly and said: "Looking at the families in the letter, their wealth and family background are quite extraordinary."

After finishing, the Old Madam shook her head again and said: "Forget it, I'd better not add trouble to my niece-in-law."

Hearing this, Mama Fang also laughed.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 702 =====