Chapter 744: No Need for Favors—Be Prepared! [Thank You! Again, Thank You!]

Dusk,

the sky was dark,

the north wind howled,

the earlier snow pellets had turned to snowflakes.

Quyuanjie,

Yongyi Marquis Mansion,

the wooden roof beside the riding ground had turned white, and the chimney, invisible from above, belched thick blue smoke.

The lanterns under the eaves were gone, replaced by a heavy iron lamp standing not far from the door.

The iron lamp was cast from solid iron, its base so heavy that even with the strong north wind, it did not budge.

Transparent paper was fixed to all four sides of the lamp chamber, and the warm yellow candlelight illuminated the surrounding area.

Snowflakes invisible in the night now took shape within the lamp’s glow, falling steadily.

“Click.”

The wooden door opened,

the candlelight inside casting a glow on the ground before it,

“Though it’s nearly the Lesser Snow solar term, it’s still not too cold up north—based on the situation over there, your father and brothers won’t be returning.”

“Master is right. I’ve read historical records: Northern Liao has attacked Baigaohebei in winter before.”

“Exactly!”

A moment later, Xu Zaijing stood at the door after speaking with Yin Bo, waving his hand: “Master, stay inside and don’t come out.”

Yin Bo inside nodded.

Xu Zaijing stepped out of the house; behind him, Qingcao bowed to Yin Bo inside, closed the door, and hurried after him.

Seeing the white expanse outside, the master and servant realized the snow on the ground was soft, with melted snowwater beneath—each step left a footprint that quickly turned black.

Xu Zaijing’s courtyard,

“Master has returned!”

Qingcao, passing under the grape arbor, called out beside Xu Zaijing,

a moment later,

the main house door opened; Yunxiang and Huaxiang pulled back the cotton curtain, each holding a dusting brush, stepping to the porch to smile and bow: “Master.”

“Mm.”

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Entering the house,

shutting out the wind and snow,

Yunxiang quickly took the cloak Xu Zaijing had removed and carefully brushed off the snow with her brush.

Xu Zaijing went straight to the study.

Qingcao set down the book chest, looked at Huaxiang beside her, and smiled: “Huaxiang, I’ll handle this myself—go bring Master a warm drink.”

“Yes, sister.”

Huaxiang responded and left.

Qingcao stepped forward to hold open Xu Zaijing’s cloak so Yunxiang could brush off the snow.

Xu Zaijing’s cloak was large; when spread, it engulfed Qingcao entirely.

“Qingcao sister.”

Yunxiang leaned over from the side, looking at Qingcao behind the cloak: “This noon, the gatekeeper brought a letter to our courtyard—for you.”

“Huh? For me?”

“Mm. Seems it came from your hometown.”

In the study,

Xu Zaijing held a small dish, standing beside a spotlessly clean fish tank, lost in thought, occasionally tossing in pinches of fish food.

He had read in the records: Northern Liao’s winter military campaigns were an event over forty years ago, when they tried to exploit internal chaos in Baigao to seize territory—initially victorious, then defeated.

This year, his father and brothers aren’t returning to the capital—could it mean they’ll launch troops against Northern Liao?

After thinking for a while,

“Master, drink this warm brew to warm yourself, and change your cotton boots,” Huaxiang said with a smile.

“Alright.”

As Xu Zaijing changed his boots,

outside the study,

Qingcao, having put away everything, held a letter in hand, standing by the lantern and reading it by candlelight.

After reading a while, her brow furrowed.

She folded the letter, thought for a moment, then walked toward the study.

“Master.”

Seeing Qingcao enter with the letter, Xu Zaijing stood up in his new boots and smiled: “What’s up?”

As he spoke, Huaxiang carried out the damp, worn cotton boots and shut the study door behind her.

Qingcao nodded hesitantly: “Master, your servant—”

Watching her, Xu Zaijing smiled: “Hmm? Say it.”

Qingcao bit her lip, voice heavy with worry: “My elder brother and sister-in-law wrote that my younger brother’s wedding has fallen apart—he ran away in anger last month and hasn’t been heard from since.”

Xu Zaijing’s smile vanished; he frowned: “Fallen apart? I recall during the Dragon Boat Festival, you said they’d arranged a match with a scholar’s daughter.”

Qingcao lowered her head: “They say after the festival, the girl eloped with someone.”

“Eloped? Qingcao, are you planning to return home to search for him?” Xu Zaijing asked.

Qingcao shook her head: “No, Master. My brother and sister-in-law wrote that someone saw my younger brother join a supply convoy coming to the capital—he’s likely come to Bianjing to find me. They asked me to keep an eye out.”

Xu Zaijing nodded: “That’s easy.”

After a moment’s thought, he said: “Tomorrow, I’ll ask a skilled painter from Kaifeng Prefecture to draw a portrait of your brother and post it at several city gates—have the soldiers watch closely.”

Hearing this, Qingcao lowered her head.

Seeing her expression, Xu Zaijing’s eyes flickered, then he said softly: “Qingcao… you don’t remember what your younger brother looks like now?”

Qingcao nodded: “Yes, Master.”

“What’s his name? How old is he? Any distinguishing features? Do you recall?”

“I remember—he’s named Yuan Feixing, fourteen this year. As for features… I don’t know.”

“Scars, moles, warts—nothing?”

Qingcao shook her head, slightly anxious: “Master, my younger brother has none of those.”

“Mm! At least you know his name and that he joined a convoy—finding him won’t be too hard.” He turned toward the study door: “Qingcao, don’t panic—panicking won’t help.”

“Yes, Master.”

The next day,

morning,

the snow had stopped.

When he went out for morning exercise,

Yunxiang, who should have accompanied him, was absent—replaced by Qingcao.

“Crunch, crunch.”

The melted snow from last night had frozen again overnight; stepping on it made loud noises.

Walking toward the riding ground, Qingcao, holding the lantern, glanced at Xu Zaijing: “Master, helping me with this will cost you favors and silver. Perhaps I should use the items in the storage room—”

Xu Zaijing exhaled a puff of white mist, smiling at Qingcao: “This small matter won’t cost your master any favors—only a little silver.”

“Oh.” Qingcao nodded.

After walking a while, they reached the path leading straight to the riding ground.

“But, Qingcao—” Xu Zaijing didn’t continue.

“Master, what is it?” Qingcao looked at him by the lantern’s light, puzzled.

After a moment’s thought, Xu Zaijing exhaled mist and said: “From Wushang County to Bianjing is nearly two thousand li—especially in this cold season. You must prepare yourself.”

“Ah? Pre—” Seeing Xu Zaijing’s gaze, Qingcao understood at once.

“Crack.”

The lantern light flickered,

Qingcao, lost in thought, slipped on the ice—had Xu Zaijing not reacted swiftly, she would have fallen.

“Thank you, Master!” Qingcao gripped his arm.

Xu Zaijing shook his head: “Minor thing. But did you understand what I just said?”

In the lantern’s glow, Qingcao slowly exhaled white mist and nodded: “Master, I understand—I’ll make my plans.”

“Mm.”

Saying this,

master and servant continued toward the riding ground.

Winter brought no events,

and after the snow,

In Bianjing, whether wealthy or common, households often take advantage of this weather to visit relatives and gather for feasts.

Just after the hour of Si (after 9 a.m.)

The weather was clear.

“Yee!”

At the coachman’s cry,

several carriages came to a smooth stop before a mansion’s gate.

“We’ve arrived.”

Inside the warm carriage, Lady Chai held a hand warmer in one hand and smiled.

As she spoke, she lifted the carriage curtain beside her.

Once the footstool was placed outside the carriage,

Lady Chai stepped out with her daughter and daughter-in-law.

Supported by the maids and attendants beside the carriage, Chai Zhengzheng looked up at the mansion’s gate—the plaque bore the characters “Cheng Mansion.”

This was Zhengzheng’s maternal grandparents’ home.

Under the welcome of her aunt-in-law, cousins, and other relatives, Zhengzheng entered the Cheng courtyard with her mother and sister-in-law.

On the way to the inner courtyard,

Zhengzheng’s eldest aunt-in-law laughed to Lady Chai: “Sister, what a coincidence—after we heard you were coming, the invitations from Qiuniang and the others arrived too.”

Lady Chai smiled: “Oh? They’ve come?”

The Cheng family’s eldest daughter-in-law nodded: “They arrived right at Chen Shi, saying they’d come for breakfast.”

“Then your cousins are truly frugal—no doubt your mother-in-law will praise them,” Zhengzheng laughed.

“Hahaha, if your sisters hear you say that, they’ll tear your mouth open,” said Zhengzheng’s second aunt-in-law.

Zhengzheng’s sister-in-law beside her also laughed.

Laughing and chatting, they reached the back courtyard,

and before entering the room, saw several women and young ladies standing at the door, smiling.

Led into the warm room, after greetings, the younger women gathered in one chamber, the middle-aged in another, each group sharing private talk.

Among the younger women,

Maids and attendants stood respectfully around.

The room, heated by underfloor warming, was cozy; Zhengzheng had already taken off her cloak and wore only her usual attire.

Standing before the bed, Zhengzheng smiled warmly at a boy just over a year old: “Hao Ge’er, come, call Auntie.”

The boy looked at Zhengzheng but said nothing, hiding deeper into his mother’s arms.

Seeing this, Zhengzheng turned to her cousin: “Seventh Sister, can Hao Ge’er speak yet?”

“He only calls Grandmother, Mother, and Father—nothing else,” Cheng Qiuniang laughed.

This Cheng Qiuniang had married the eldest illegitimate son of the Marquis of Chengping Zhu family; their home was in Guangfu Alley. Xu Zaijing and his elder brother had attended the wedding.

On that wedding day, Huang Qingyue of the Shoushan Marquis family was secretly sabotaged and nearly made a great fool of himself.

“If you won’t call Auntie, can I hold you then?” Zhengzheng smiled at the boy.

Seeing Zhengzheng’s expression, the boy’s dark eyes flickered, then he left his mother’s arms and reached out to her.

Seeing this,

Zhengzheng’s smile brightened, and she quickly scooped the child into her arms.

The little nephew’s face was soft and smooth, still fragrant with milk, making Zhengzheng nuzzle his cheek.

This gesture made Hao Ge’er laugh.

“You’re such a sweet child!” Zhengzheng hugged him and laughed.

After laughter and play, the young women sighed over the passage of time.

Years ago, when Zhengzheng first came to Bianjing, all her cousins were still unmarried girls when they met at the Cheng home.

Now most were married, even mothers.

At noon,

the younger children had been taken by their nurses to sleep.

Everyone settled at two tables set up beside the screen.

The tables held various dishes, including the winter favorite, Bo Xia Gong.

Merely smelling the rich broth’s aroma made mouths water.

Among family and friends, several bottles of light wine were placed on the table, and no one followed the rigid rule of silence during meals—everyone talked and ate, the air lively.

After noon,

as the hall buzzed with merriment,

A Cheng family attendant lifted the cotton curtain and entered the room,

whispered two words to the Cheng family’s eldest daughter-in-law, who then rose in surprise.

“What’s wrong, sister-in-law?” asked Lady Chai, still smiling.

Others at the table turned to look at the Cheng daughter-in-law.

“My husband sent more rabbit meat and fine wine back,” said the Cheng daughter-in-law.

“Is Big Brother trying to get us drunk?” Lady Chai laughed.

The Cheng daughter-in-law shook her head: “They’re from the Liang family of Yongchang Marquis House.”

Hearing this, the guests’ smiles faded slightly; one of Zhengzheng’s aunt-in-laws murmured: “Why send gifts out of the blue? Could something be amiss?”

Zhengzheng and her few cousins fell silent, straining to listen to the conversation beyond the screen.

“Right, likely something’s up,” said Zhengzheng’s sister-in-law from her mother’s side; Lady Chai added: “But the gifts aren’t particularly valuable—so the matter must be minor.”

Everyone nodded.

Another Cheng attendant was sent out to inquire the reason, and the feast resumed.

At Shen Shi, two shi (after 3:30 p.m.)

The sun slanted westward,

on the way home,

inside the Chai family carriage,

Zhengzheng, having drunk a few cups of wine, rubbed her hand warmer with both hands, her cheeks flushed pink, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Lady Chai and her elder sister-in-law: “Mother, sister-in-law, did Aunt-in-law find out what the Liang family wants?”

Earlier that afternoon, Zhengzheng and her cousins had left the table and gone elsewhere, unaware of the details.

Lady Chai exhaled softly, a hint of wine in her breath, and nodded: “Yes. The Liang family has a favor to ask of your uncle.”

“What favor?”

“Seems they want someone watched,” said Zhengzheng’s elder sister-in-law, Lu Shi.

“A Liang family relative?” Zhengzheng asked uncertainly.

“We don’t know,” Lady Chai shook her head.

Since it was a minor matter, Zhengzheng did not press further.

Several days later,

late October,

that day,

an auspicious day,

consecutive sunny days had melted most of the snow in the capital,

and it was the wedding day of Gu Tingye, the second legitimate son of the Ningyuan Marquis House.

Inside and outside the Gu residence, red lanterns and decorations hung everywhere, festive and bright.

People bustled through the courtyard, busy and lively.

Zhengzheng and her sister-in-law Lu Shi walked beside Lady Chai, accompanied by maids and attendants, bowing and exchanging greetings as they moved slowly, stopping and proceeding, until they reached the reception hall in the inner courtyard.

After waiting in the hall awhile, Zhengzheng left Lady Chai to join her friends, laughing and chatting.

The personal maids standing nearby occasionally leaned forward slightly, whispering gossip from the capital.

Watching her young mistress converse, Yunmu heard Rong Feiyan’s maid Xibù speak, then suddenly froze and turned: “Sister Xibù, what did you just say?”

Xibù smiled: “Sister Yunmu, Qingzhi, the maid by Xu Da’s wife, says the matter the Liang family’s Sixth Young Master hired someone to handle was actually entrusted by Xu Wu.”

(End of Chapter)