Chapter 713: Qingcao

The next day,

The Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

The Empress's Palace,

"Father, Mother, I'm going to take a nap now."

"Mm, go ahead."

After lunch, the Emperor sat leisurely in his chair, sipping tea, smiling as he watched Zhao Fang walk out the door.

Once Zhao Fang's figure vanished beyond the threshold,

the Emperor turned to the Empress with curiosity and said, "What's gotten into Fang'er today? He's been smiling nonstop since lunch."

The Empress smiled faintly, saying, "Yesterday, after Fang'er received the hundred-thread cords from Tao Tao and the others, he begged me to grant two to Xu Wu'er. I agreed."

The Emperor nodded with a smile: "Because of that? The boy has thoughtfulness—have the Wensiyuan craft a few and send them over."

"Fang'er says the Wensiyuan's work has too much artisan's stiffness," the Empress shook her head.

"Huh? What?" The Emperor set his teacup down sharply, frowning. "This boy's just talking nonsense! The Wensiyuan's artisans are masters—how could their work have stiffness?"

The Emperor frowned again: "Then why is Fang'er so cheerful today?"

The Empress smiled: "He asked me again to invite several noble ladies from prominent families in the capital to weave him a few hundred-thread cords and send them into the palace."

The Emperor drew a deep breath, frowning: "These are all unmarried noble ladies—have them weave cords for that Xu boy? This is sheer nonsense! You should have stopped him, not just spoil him!"

The Empress rose and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty is right, but I only informed the Chai and Rong families—no envoys were sent to any other noble houses."

"Rong…" The Emperor choked on his breath, stood up, and helped the Empress back into her chair. "Cough—why didn't you say so earlier!"

Over the past few years, whenever the Emperor visited Consort Rong, she subtly spoke well of the Xu family.

Consort Rong Feiyan was also close in age to Xu Zaijing, and after a moment's thought, the Emperor understood her intentions.

Yet Zhao Fang was the Emperor's only son since ascending the throne—his love and regard for him ran deep in his bones, and the Empress was Zhao Fang's own mother.

Moreover, Zhao Fang had firmly declared he wanted Xu Zaijing to marry two—while the Empress regarded Xu Zaijing as a nephew. Without the Empress's consent, the Emperor could not directly arrange the marriage.

Last year, the Emperor had acted on a whim, wanting to elevate and favor the nephew of his former favorite, the late Consort Zhang.

The result? First, he furiously shot arrows at Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye; then, the northern stronghold of Beizhou nearly collapsed—had it not been for Xu Zaijing, nearly ten million strings of military funds and supplies would have been burned to ashes.

Consort Rong and the late Consort Zhang shared certain similarities; this incident left the Empress with lingering resentment.

If Zhao Fang's sudden whim to send Xu Zaijing hundred-thread cords had led the Empress to notify only the Chai family, the Emperor would have had no grounds to complain.

But by also notifying the Rong family, the Empress demonstrated open-minded fairness—the marriage's success would depend entirely on how each family performed.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Chai and Rong families have sent gifts into the palace," an eunuch reported from outside.

The Empress glanced at the Emperor and smiled: "Mm! Both families moved quickly! Your Majesty, shall we send them straight to Fang'er?"

The Emperor paused, then turned to the senior eunuch beside him: "Recently, in Xu Hou's army, there's a captain due for commendation—what was his name again?"

"Your Majesty, that captain's surname is Hua, name Rong."

"Yes, yes—that's him! Xu Wu'er recommended him, so reward him with some gifts, and send them together with Fang'er's."

The senior eunuch hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Nanjiangtang Alley,

the Rong household,

Huixue Courtyard,

the central door of the main hall stood wide open, inside which stood a translucent screen, over a man's height.

A well-dressed old maid with gold ornaments bowed slightly outside the screen,

while inside,

the maid Ningsheng held a thin, light fabric in both hands beside Rong Feiyan and said, "Miss, what do you think of this bolt?"

A nearby maid stepped forward and unfolded the fabric slightly.

Rong Feiyan glanced at it a few times and nodded: "Good. Take one bolt of this."

Ningsheng replied, "Yes," and carried the fabric toward the screen.

As she prepared to bring another bolt, Rong Feiyan waved her off.

Ningsheng quickly turned and told the old maid outside: "That's all we need today!"

"Thank you, Miss! Your patronage means the world to my shop!"

"You're too kind, Madam! Ningsheng, see her out."

"Yes, Miss."

Soon,

the old maid and the screen vanished beyond the doorway.

When Ningsheng returned, she entered the room holding two silk scarves.

At a glance, she noticed Rong Feiyan was no longer in the hall.

After stepping aside a few paces, Ningsheng glimpsed through the beaded curtain her mistress sitting at a side table, chin propped on one hand, lost in thought.

Ningsheng opened her mouth to speak, but saw Xi Bu approaching with a large-handled teacup, shaking her head.

Ningsheng fell silent, stepped closer, and helped Xi Bu lift the beaded curtain into the side room.

The clinking of the beads made Rong Feiyan turn her head.

Ningsheng held up the scarves and smiled: "Miss, before she left, the shopkeeper forced these on me—said they're new arrivals, and asked us to take a look."

Rong Feiyan reached out and took them.

Xi Bu, having set down the teacup, sneered: "That shopkeeper's clever, isn't she? Who knows what she's telling other households!"

"Just saying 'our family bought two scarves'—she'll turn it into a tale that sells ten times more!"

Rong Feiyan glanced at Xi Bu and smiled: "Would she really?"

Ningsheng hurriedly said: "Miss, of course she would! I've heard that whenever noble ladies in the capital hear we bought something, they rush to buy it too."

Xi Bu glared at Ningsheng: "If you know that, why take her stuff?"

Ningsheng looked at Rong Feiyan's smile: "I—I just thought the goods were nice. Why refuse free things?"

Rong Feiyan shook her head with a smile: "If you like them, wear them when you go out."

"Thank you, Miss!" Ningsheng bowed quickly with a grin.

Xi Bu accepted the scarf from Rong Feiyan, glanced at it, then blushed and nodded repeatedly.

"Miss, what were you thinking about just now? Are you thinking about the hundred-thread cords?" Ningsheng asked, touching the scarves in her arms.

Rong Feiyan raised an eyebrow; her smile faded slowly. After a deep breath, she said nothing.

"Miss, your handcraft for weaving hundred-thread cords is so fine—you'll surely be chosen by the Prince," Ningsheng urged.

"But other noble ladies also have skilled needlemistresses—none of them will be inferior," Rong Feiyan replied.

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan lifted her porcelain cup and sipped her drink.

"Pfft."

Seeing Rong Feiyan, holding the handled porcelain cup with one hand and drinking in a slightly unrefined manner, Xi Bu burst out laughing.

Sensing Xi Bu's gaze, Rong Feiyan looked down at the cup—so similar to Xu Zaijing's—and scolded: "Xi Bu, what are you laughing at?"

Xi Bu quickly shook her head, grinning: "Miss, I didn't—I didn't laugh!"

"Tap." The porcelain cup was set on the table.

Rong Feiyan stood, playfully pinching Xi Bu's cheek: "You're still lying!"

Xi Bu, holding the scarves, covered her face and begged: "Miss, I won't say it anymore! It's just—"

Rong Feiyan paused: "Just what?"

"Just—even if we send our cords to the Xu household, we'll never know if they got them! Why torture yourself over it?" Xi Bu blurted out.

Seeing Rong Feiyan freeze, Xi Bu continued: "Besides, Miss, we've sent things to Xu Wu'er before."

Rong Feiyan sat back down, looking away: "I—I never sent him anything."

Xi Bu and Ningsheng bit back laughter, exchanging knowing glances—when Xu Zaijing went to Baigao, their mistress had anonymously sent him gifts.

Rong Feiyan tilted her head; beneath a strand of glossy black hair, her delicate ear curved softly, its lobe round and smooth, leading down to a pale, slender neck.

Watching her mistress's profile, lashes fluttering, Ningsheng shook her head, snapping out of her daze: "Miss, there's actually a way to know if the cords reached the Xu household."

Rong Feiyan's ear twitched cutely.

"Tell me."

Rong Feiyan appeared to be gazing at a painting nearby.

Xi Bu said: "Miss, Ningsheng means—ask the Young Master. He's always been close to Xu Wu'er."

The scene they expected—Rong Feiyan leaping up in delight—never came.

Instead, Rong Feiyan covered her face with both hands, muffled and frustrated: "Forget it! I don't want to know!"

First hour of You (5 p. m.),

the sun slanted westward,

daylight still bright,

Quyuanjie,

Yongyi Marquis's Mansion,

the imperial eunuch delivering the rewards had already left.

Before the private treasury gate in the rear courtyard, Yunxiang and Huaxiang stood with maids, each holding or carrying numerous items—the rewards for Xu Zaijing's "commendable recommendation."

Xu Zaijing's courtyard,

the study,

Qingcao stood to the side, holding a tray on which rested two finely crafted brocade pouches.

Xu Zaijing, having washed his hands and arms, stood before Qingcao, wiping his hands and wrists with a silk cloth.

After drying them,

Xu Zaijing sat in the chair behind the desk and extended his hand. "Come."

Qingcao smiled, placed the tray on the table, picked up one pouch, untied it, took out the five-colored silk cord inside, and carefully tied it around Xu Zaijing's wrist.

Seeing the cord's exquisite materials, its colors like clouds and rosy dawn, with gold thread and gems woven into it, Qingcao couldn't help but sigh: "Wow, Young Master, this cord is so beautiful! It must be worth a fortune!"

Xu Zaijing smiled, holding his wrist up to his eyes. "Things from the palace aren't cheap."

Qingcao nodded. "You're right, Young Master."

Close enough now, Xu Zaijing caught a faint scent of incense emanating from the cord.

'Probably some insect-repelling fragrance,' Xu Zaijing thought to himself.

The other cord was made of equally superior material, with fine golden threads woven into the characters 'Fu Shou Kang Ning.'

"Young Master, this one is even more intricately woven, and the characters carry auspicious meaning—it's even more valuable," Qingcao said after tying it on, holding his wrist.

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile.

Then, to Xu Zaijing's surprise, Qingcao brought the last cord she'd tied to her nose, sniffed it, and asked, "Young Master, since both are palace gifts, shouldn't the incense be the same?"

"Why do I smell a difference between the two?"

Xu Zaijing pulled his arm back, sniffed, and nodded. "You're right. Maybe different artisans wove them?"

Qingcao nodded, then picked up the tray and walked out.

"Click."

A soft sound—the study door closed.

Xu Zaijing turned his wrists, gazing at the cords on them, and raised an eyebrow in resignation.

After glancing at the sky outside the window, Xu Zaijing dragged the chair to the window, ready to pick up a book.

"Click."

The study door opened again.

Xu Zaijing turned to see Qingcao standing at the doorway, her expression unusual. "What's wrong?"

As he spoke, his gaze dropped to the two brocade pouches in her hands.

Qingcao shut the door behind her and hurried toward Xu Zaijing.

After glancing out the window beside him, she swiftly revealed two slips of paper from her palm: "Young Master, look. Just now, when I was washing and putting things away, I found these."

Xu Zaijing picked up the slips with a frown. One glance, and his eyes widened sharply.

The reason was simple: each slip bore a single character—one read "Rong," the other "Chai."

"Y-Young Master, what… what does this mean?" Qingcao whispered, stammering. "Could it be the Rong and Chai families' daughters who wove these?"

Xu Zaijing rubbed his forehead in resignation, saying nothing.

"Young Master, these are palace gifts—who put these slips inside?" Qingcao scratched her head, bewildered.

Xu Zaijing slipped the slips between the pages of his book. "Who else could it be?"

Xu Zaijing recognized Zhao Fang's handwriting.

As he spoke, an image formed in his mind: Zhao Fang, eager, writing on the slips, then grinning mischievously as he slipped them into the pouches.

Qingcao's eyes darted, and she guessed the truth—after all, the gifts bore Zhao Fang's name. She hesitated, whispering: "Young Master… what does His Highness mean by this?"

Xu Zaijing closed his book, gazing outside with a thoughtful expression. "Perhaps… the Crown Princess has already been chosen, and His Highness is urging me to find a wife?"

Qingcao looked at Xu Zaijing. "Young Master, is that really it? Marriage is a matter for Lady Sun to handle, isn't it? And higher still—Empress regards you as family; she might take interest too."

Xu Zaijing glanced at the cords on his wrists, then turned to Qingcao.

Qingcao, who had served Xu Zaijing for years, shared a quiet understanding with him.

Reading his glance, she pursed her lips, uneasy. "I think both noble ladies are wonderful! If only you… you could marry them both, that'd be perfect!"

Xu Zaijing rolled up his book and lightly tapped her hairpin. "You dream too big. Both are daughters of great houses—how could you possibly marry them both?"

Qingcao touched her tapped hairpin, eyes wide. "Young Master, you haven't even asked—how do you know it's impossible?"

"Smack!"

This time, Xu Zaijing used more force.

"Ow!"

Qingcao clutched her stinging head, gazing at him with a plaintive look.

(End of Chapter)