Chapter 726: Take Them All Down [Thank You! Again! 41k Chapters Owed]

Autumn is coming soon; I wonder how much longer this heat will last.

We must wait until the dog days are over.

The two ladies and the elder daughters spoke as they walked around the screen toward the back, their voices fading gradually.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing across the room and smiled: “Xu Wu, don’t stand—sit down.”

Xu Zaijing smiled and sat back in his chair.

Chai Zhengzheng turned to Yunmu behind her and said: “Yunmu, go with Qingcao and fetch Xu Wu’s gift.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Yunmu smiled, bowed to Xu Zaijing, then walked toward the door.

Soon,

the curtain at the door rustled, and Yunmu and Qingcao stepped into the room together.

The hall fell quiet, save for the faint sound of flowing water and murmured voices from behind the screen.

Earlier, when Sun Lady and her mother were present, Chai Zhengzheng had been able to look at Xu Zaijing openly; now, after meeting his gaze, she grew uneasy, unsure where to place her eyes.

After glancing around nervously for a moment, she looked at Xu Zaijing again.

His gaze met hers—calm and kind.

Chai Zhengzheng forced herself not to look away, smiling at his face.

Xu Zaijing returned the smile with a calm nod.

Though Xu Zaijing appeared composed, two little figures inside his mind were arguing.

“Talk about the Golden Sheep Mountain Banditry from years ago?”

“Clearly inappropriate.”

“Talk about ladies’ clothes and makeup?”

“That’s a bit too forward!”

“What about noble families’ sons and daughters?”

“Also untimely.”

Thus,

an awkward silence began to spread through the hall.

The two maids behind Chai Zhengzheng slowly lost their smiles, watching the two silent figures in the hall with confusion.

Xu Zaijing: “Lately—”

Chai Zhengzheng: “Your household—”

They spoke two words in unison, then both fell silent upon realizing the other had spoken.

Xu Zaijing gestured with his hand: “Miss Zhengzheng, you go first.”

“You’re our guest, Xu Wu—you should speak first,” Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

“Very well. How have the shopkeepers been lately?” Xu Zaijing nodded.

Chai Zhengzheng instantly understood—he meant the clerks from the Chai family shops who had helped deliver news during the Beizhou affair.

Chai Zhengzheng smiled: “Xu Wu, those shopkeepers received imperial rewards and our family’s thanks—they’re doing very well now.”

Xu Zaijing nodded with relief: “We were fortunate to have their help back then; otherwise—”

“It was merely our duty,” Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

“What were you about to say just now?”

Chai Zhengzheng smiled shyly: “Xu Wu, when will the foal be sent to the Gu household? I heard the news—I wanted to go with Tingyi to see it right away.”

Xu Zaijing paused, then smiled: “In the next day or two.”

“Mm,” Chai Zhengzheng nodded, smiling.

Silence settled again in the room.

Fortunately, footsteps sounded outside.

Qingcao entered with the long wooden box, accompanied by Yunmu, pulling back the curtain.

Chai Zhengzheng rose curiously, eyes fixed on what Qingcao carried.

Qingcao did not stop at Xu Zaijing’s side—she placed the box directly on the table beside Chai Zhengzheng.

“Thank you,” Chai Zhengzheng smiled.

“Miss, you flatter me,” Qingcao hurried to bow.

Yunmu stepped forward to open the box, but Chai Zhengzheng shook her head, glanced at Xu Zaijing, then opened it with eager eyes.

Inside the long wooden box, silk lined the base; ten golden arrowheads and slender, elegant arrows were arranged in alternating layers.

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Xu Zaijing, then at Qingcao, uncertainly: “Are these… made by the Arrow Yard?”

Qingcao bowed and replied: “Only the arrowheads are from the Arrow Yard; the rest were crafted by our young master himself.”

“The fletching is from the tail feathers of our family’s falcons—trimmed by his own hands.”

At these words, Chai Zhengzheng’s eyes brightened sharply.

Behind her, Fuyi and Ziteng leaned forward to peer into the box.

“Miss, look—each golden arrowhead is shaped differently!” Fuyi said.

Chai Zhengzheng nodded, looking at Xu Zaijing: “Xu Wu, why are the arrowheads all different?”

Since she began practicing with the soft bow, she had only used the most common arrowheads—she’d never seen others.

Xu Zaijing rose from his chair and walked to the space cleared by Qingcao and Yunmu, smiling: “Miss Zhengzheng, this one, shaped like a chisel, is called the Cunjin Chaozi arrow—it’s used on the battlefield to pierce armor.”

“This one with barbs is called the Tiegu Lichui arrow—it’s nearly impossible to pull out once it strikes.”

“.”

“And this last one is the Mingling Feihao arrow—that is—”

Before Xu Zaijing finished, Chai Zhengzheng smiled: “It’s the military signal arrow.”

Xu Zaijing nodded, smiling: “Exactly!”

Chai Zhengzheng took one arrow from the box—the type she usually used—and weighed it in her hand. She looked at Xu Zaijing in surprise: “Xu Wu, this arrowhead feels heavier than usual.”

Looking at the golden tip, she realized: “Is this arrowhead made of gold?”

Xu Zaijing shook his head: “Mixed with some copper and silver.”

“Ah!” Chai Zhengzheng nodded, smiling: “Thank you, Xu Wu, for this gift.”

Xu Zaijing smiled: “Miss Zhengzheng, you’re too kind.”

Chai Zhengzheng shook her head, smiling, and said no more.

At that moment,

the voices of the women behind the screen drew nearer.

Moments later,

Lady Chai and Sun Shi returned to the hall.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and Chai Zhengzheng both smiling, Lady Chai exchanged a glance with Sun Shi.

Then,

though Lady Chai insisted they stay, Sun Shi and the others left before noon, returning to Quyuanjie.

On the fifth day of the seventh month,

autumn had arrived, but the Qixi Festival had not.

In the morning,

Nanjiangtang Alley,

Rong family,

outside the main chamber of Huixue Courtyard,

a table in the cool room held many freshly picked flowers.

The maids Xibù and Ningxiang stood beside the table, trimming the blooms while glancing worriedly at their mistress seated behind.

The two maids exchanged glances; Xibù pursed her lips: “Miss, it was only said that Sun Lady went to the Chai household—there’s been no news yet. Don’t overthink it.”

Rong Feiyan lifted her head, forcing a faint smile: “What’s there to overthink?”

She reached out, picked a flower, and placed it into the bamboo basket before her.

Looking at the basket now full of flowers, Rong Feiyan waved her hand listlessly.

Xibù and Ningxiang picked up the basket and walked to the side.

After placing the basket down,

Ningxiang muttered irritably: “Lady Yi is ridiculous—she knew Sun Lady went to the Chai household; why did she have to come tell us?”

Xibù glanced back at Rong Feiyan, lost in thought, and whispered: “Enough—saying more won’t help. Think of a way to cheer her up!”

Ningxiang looked troubled: “How? We all know why she’s upset!”

“Squeak!”

Rong Feiyan suddenly rose from her chair, which slid backward.

Xibù and Ningxiang exchanged a look and hurried over.

“Miss, what’s wrong?” Xibù asked anxiously.

Rong Feiyan stared at the strong bow and arrows hanging on the wall, breathed heavily, then pointed: “Go—take it down.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Xibù hurried over and removed the strong bow and quiver Rong Feiyan had won at the Zhou family’s archery stall.

Looking at the wall, where the long-hanging bow had left a faint impression from too-frequent wiping, Xi Bu glanced at Rong Feiyan and muttered bitterly, “These little maids cleaning around here—so careless, they’ve ruined the wall!”

Holding the bow and quiver, Xi Bu asked, “Miss, where should I put these?”

Rong Feiyan looked down at the fresh flowers on the table and said, “The storage room.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Xi Bu bowed and turned to leave, when Rong Feiyan said, “Wait.”

Xi Bu stopped and looked at Rong Feiyan.

Rong Feiyan paused, then pointed to a paper kite on the other side and said, “Take that too.”

Ning Xiang hurried forward, stood on a stool, and plucked down the kite, then looked at Rong Feiyan.

Rong Feiyan pressed her lips together and said, “Come to the inner chamber.”

She walked toward the inner chamber.

The two maids quickly followed.

Rong Feiyan reached the table beside the bed and stared at the colorful darts in the basket. After thinking, she picked them up.

Ning Xiang, holding the kite, hurried over and extended her hand.

Rong Feiyan looked at the colorful darts in her hand, hesitated a moment, then placed them into Ning Xiang’s palm.

After taking them, Ning Xiang glanced around at the cotton dolls and other trinkets in the room and said, “Miss, should I take these too?”

Before she finished, Ning Xiang felt a nudge on her back. She turned and saw Xi Bu, holding the bow, shaking her head at her.

“Leave them for now,” Rong Feiyan said.

“Yes, Miss. Then we’ll go put these away first.”

“Mm.”

Rong Feiyan walked toward the outer chamber.

When Xi Bu and Ning Xiang returned from outside the courtyard, they found their mistress sitting dazed on a chair, staring blankly at the sky beyond the window.

“Miss, we’re back,” Xi Bu said softly.

“Mm. Take my soft bow and those arrows too—put them in the storage room,” Rong Feiyan whispered.

Hearing this, Ning Xiang glanced at Xi Bu, her eyes full of unspoken reproach: *Why didn’t you let us take them together earlier?*

Xi Bu glared at Ning Xiang.

Ning Xiang hurriedly said, “Yes, Miss.”

After removing the delicate soft bow and quiver, Ning Xiang glanced at Xi Bu and turned to leave.

Once Ning Xiang had left the room, Xi Bu stepped beside Rong Feiyan and whispered, “Miss, are you putting everything away?”

“Mm. Keeping them in the room serves no purpose.”

“Miss, we’re only going to accompany Lady Sun and the two young ladies to the Chai household—just because of Xu Wu—the Fifth Son of the Xu Marquis—”

Rong Feiyan shook her head. “It’s this hot. Lady Xu is heavily pregnant. If there’s no urgent reason, why would she go to the Chai household herself?”

“Mm,” Xi Bu murmured, but said nothing further.

Rong Feiyan sighed softly. “I suppose in a few days, the things I gave him will end up like these—locked away in storage, gathering dust, or thrown out… maybe even burned.”

“Miss, there are plenty of fine young men in Bianjing. Don’t fixate on him alone!” Xi Bu urged.

“Mm,” Rong Feiyan nodded, pressing her lips. “Without those things, maybe I’ll forget him soon.”

Xi Bu shook her head. “Miss, tomorrow I’ll go to Jiyin Alley or Quyuanjie and find out why Lady Xu is going to the Chai household.”

Rong Feiyan took a deep breath, thought a moment, then said, “Fine. But don’t tell me the bad news.”

“Yes,” Xi Bu replied, beginning to clear the flower petals from the table.

A moment later,

Ning Xiang returned to the outer door of the main chamber, holding a finely crafted invitation.

She took a deep breath, adjusted her expression, forced a smile onto her face, then stepped inside and said, “Miss, the Ningyuan Marquis’s daughter, Gu Tingyi, sent an invitation. She says the Yongyi Marquis’s household will send a young colt to the Gu family before the Qixi Festival, and she’s inviting you to join them.”

Hearing this,

Xi Bu, who had been clearing flower petals from the table, smiled and looked at Rong Feiyan.

“Who else is going?”

“Miss, it says Lady Zhang Wu of the Duke of Ying’s household, Miss Yu the First, Lady Er of the Shoushan Marquis’s family, and Miss Zhengzheng of the Chai household…”

Xi Bu, beside the table, frowned and shot Ning Xiang a sharp, reproachful look.

Rong Feiyan stared at the petals on the table and said listlessly, “Never mind. Tell them my sister-in-law’s confinement is near—I, as a younger sister, shouldn’t be running about. Decline the invitation.”

“Yes, Miss.”

Ning Xiang bowed and turned to leave.

At that moment,

“Sister! Sister?”

“I’m coming into the courtyard!”

Rong Xian’s voice came from outside.

Xi Bu quickly set the bamboo basket of flower petals aside and hurried to the door, lifting the bamboo curtain with a smile. “Young Master, you’ve come.”

“Huh? Xi Bu, if your master’s here, why isn’t your mistress coming out to greet him?” Rong Xian feigned annoyance. “I went out of my way to bring her something.”

Xi Bu smiled and whispered, “Young Master, the Miss is in low spirits.”

As she spoke, Xi Bu took the items from a woman behind Rong Xian, who wore a married woman’s hairpin, and said with a smile, “Thank you, Little Lady!”

“It’s my duty,” the woman behind Rong Xian replied with a smile.

Entering the room, Rong Xian said, “Sister, the palace’s Mohele, the floating water toys, and the grain boards—all exquisite gifts! Your sister specifically told me to bring them back for you.”

Rong Feiyan looked at the woman behind Rong Xian, rose abruptly with anger in her eyes, and said, “Brother, Little Lady Shen is pregnant—why are you making her carry these things?”

Rong Xian waved his hand dismissively. “I told her to rest!”

“But she’s your sister-in-law’s maid—she only listens to her. I told her, she wouldn’t listen! Your sister-in-law said her pregnancy isn’t far along, so she insisted she come along.”

Hearing this, Xi Bu, who was holding the items, breathed sharply and frowned.

Seeing Rong Feiyan’s expression, Xi Bu stepped aside to put the items down.

Rong Feiyan gestured to Little Lady Shen. “Little Lady Shen, you’re pregnant—sit down.”

Rong Xian, watching the uneasy concubine, said, “My sister said so—do as she says.”

Then, glancing around curiously, Rong Xian said, “Sister, I feel something’s different about your room today.”

After a moment’s thought, he exclaimed, “There’s much less on the walls!”

“Brother, once you’ve delivered the gifts, go home,” Rong Feiyan said, walking toward the door as if dismissing him.

“You… fine,” Rong Xian stood, and with his concubine, headed out.

Before leaving, he turned back to look at his sister and the empty walls.

Seeing Rong Xian to the moon gate of the courtyard,

Ning Xiang returned just then.

As Xi Bu walked back with Rong Feiyan, she whispered, “Miss, Lady Sun is truly unreasonable—making a concubine who’s pregnant come deliver things to you!”

Ning Xiang asked, puzzled, “Xi Bu-sister, what’s wrong with that?”

Xi Bu glared. “What’s wrong? If Little Lady Shen has an accident on the way, with all those maids and old women watching—what do you think people will say?”

Ning Xiang finally understood, hesitatingly said, “Xi Bu-sister, you mean… people might think it’s because she was bringing things to our Miss that…”

“Mm,” Xi Bu nodded.

“This…” Ning Xiang’s face flushed with anger.

Rong Feiyan lifted her chin. “Tell the old women at the gate—no more visits from Little Lady Shen to my courtyard.”

As she spoke,

The three returned to the room.

Before noon, a maid rushed into the courtyard.

“Miss!”

Rong Feiyan quickly stepped out.

After hearing two sentences, she hurried toward Rong Xian’s courtyard.

In the evening,

News spread:

The Heir of Fuchang Marquis, Rong Xian, welcomed a precious daughter—mother and child both safe.

In the Great Zhou Imperial Palace,

Rong Consort’s sleeping quarters,

Hearing the news, Rong Consort sighed wearily. “How could this happen… it shouldn’t have…”

(End of Chapter)