Chapter 763: Fishing? Hah! I Don

During the banquet,

Gu Tingye said with evident surprise: “The horse trade with the northwest and Mongol tribes hasn’t stopped yet?”

Huang Qingyue nodded with a smile.

Seeing this,

Gu Tingye turned to Xu Zaijing beside him: “Wu Lang, are you aware of this?”

Xu Zaijing, his lips glistening with grease, set down the roasted lamb: “Of course I know.”

“But aren’t Northern Liao and us at war? Why are the Mongols still selling horses?”

Xu Zaijing took the cloth offered by Qingcao and wiped his mouth: “Northern Liao is at war with our dynasty—what does that have to do with the Mongol tribes? If the Mongol tribes don’t sell their horses, can they magically turn into tea, silk, and lacquerware?”

“Besides, even if the Mongols stopped selling horses, our northwest pastures still have plenty of horses.”

Gu Tingye nodded, then his eyes flickered: “Then if our northwest pastures have good horses, why sell Mongol horses at all? Wouldn’t that drive prices down?”

Xu Zaijing smiled and raised an eyebrow.

Seeing Xu Zaijing’s expression, everyone at the table burst into laughter.

The price for Mongol horses was slashed nearly in half.

But when these horses were sold within the Great Zhou, the price dropped—only slightly.

Between buying low and selling high, the court’s revenue surged; the Yongyi Marquis’s household merely skimmed a little off the top—and still reaped enormous profits.

After sipping tea, Xu Zaijing turned to Huang Qingyue: “Yue Ge, you’ve been training cavalry up north these past days—what’s the difference between the northwest pastures’ horses and the Mongol horses?”

Everyone at the table turned to Huang Qingyue.

After meeting their gazes, Huang Qingyue said: “Northwest horses are tall and robust, excellent for short bursts and charges, ideal for fully armored cavalry. Mongol horses have endurance, cover long distances, withstand cold, and are easy to raise—they’re excellent too!”

Gu Tingye asked: “If two sides rode these two types of horses, which would have the upper hand?”

Glancing at Gu Tingye, Huang Qingyue shook his head: “Er Lang, it depends on the battlefield. If it’s a direct charge with armored cavalry, the northwest horses win. But if it’s pursuit, the Mongol horses have the edge.”

“Oh!” Gu Tingye nodded noncommittally.

Xu Zaijing set down his chopsticks and looked at Gu Tingye: “Ye Ge, Da Lang charged through the Bai Gao troops outside Keyimen—he’s trained cavalry, seen plenty. His words make sense.”

“I know,” Gu Tingye said, raising his wine cup.

Huang Qingyue clinked cups with him from afar, and the group resumed other topics.

Liang Han, whether intentionally or not, asked about Huang Qingyue’s earlier departure from the city with the Imperial Guard cavalry.

Seeing his future brother-in-law’s expression, Huang Qingyue wisely avoided details and brushed it off with one sentence.

Afterwards,

Huang Qingyue, rarely in Bianjing, curiously asked Liang Han a few questions about the Dragon Boat Race.

He was deeply concerned whether the event would proceed smoothly the day after tomorrow.

“Yue Ge needn’t worry—the rowers on the little dragon boat are all elite picks. Your brothers boarding won’t be an issue. Especially Jing Ge—he’ll give the little dragon boat considerable help.”

“Now that you say that, I’m reassured.”

With that, everyone resumed drinking and eating.

Though there was no music or flutes, the atmosphere remained lively.

“Big Brother Huang, you’re a hero of the army with the first breach honor. I have a question, but I’m not sure whether I should ask.”

“Jiu Lang, go ahead and ask.”

“Between you and Jing Ge—who’s better?”

Hearing this, Huang Qingyue smiled and glanced at Xu Zaijing: “Naturally, Wu Lang is better.”

As everyone nodded, Xu Zaijing raised his cup and shook his head: “Yue Ge, you’re mistaken.”

Seeing their slightly surprised expressions, Xu Zaijing said: “Yue Ge, Jiu Lang didn’t specify whether it’s one-on-one or commanding cavalry units against each other.”

Jiu Lang blinked, then hurriedly nodded: “Yes, yes—that’s exactly what I meant!”

Huang Qingyue laughed: “Wu Lang, even if commanding troops, I wouldn’t claim I’m better.”

Hearing this, Gu Tingye, beside him, sipped his wine with quiet approval.

Just as he was about to pick up more food, Gu Tingye paused mid-reach, his chopsticks frozen in air for a moment before continuing.

When everyone had eaten their fill and Liang Han and Jiu Lang rose to practice martial arts nearby, Gu Tingye stepped beside his future brother-in-law.

“Earlier—”

As soon as Gu Tingye spoke, Huang Qingyue turned to him, serious: “Er Lang, what is it?”

“Earlier in Beizhou, the person I asked you to look after—how are they now?”

“They’re fine. When Zheng Er and I left Beizhou, we informed the new officials. On our way back to Bianjing this year, we stopped by—the lady reopened her clinic.”

“Oh!” Gu Tingye nodded with satisfaction, glancing at Huang Qingyue: “You’ve been thoughtful.”

“Er Lang, you’re too kind.”

After the lively gathering, everyone tidied up and prepared to depart.

At the Huang family’s gate,

the Huang servant sent to check the Nanxun Gate returned on horseback. Seeing the group bidding farewell, he bowed: “Master, I checked the Nanxun Gate—the crowd is lining up to reenter the city; the gate is completely blocked.”

Liang Han looked westward: “I wonder how the Guangli Gate is?”

Before he finished speaking,

hoofbeats came from the west. Seeing the rider’s attire, Xu Zaijing smiled: “Yue Ge is thorough.”

Huang Qingyue at the gate chuckled: “Military habit.”

After hearing the servant’s report, everyone mounted horses or climbed into carriages and headed west toward the Guangli Gate.

Arriving outside Guangli Gate,

Xu Zaijing looked out and saw a moderately dense flow of people and carts entering the city.

Though bustling, it was far from congested.

Afterwards,

their procession moved slowly, preparing to join the stream.

Xu Zaijing, riding his horse, glanced around while chatting with several others.

Suddenly,

Xu Zaijing’s gaze sharpened.

“Wu Lang, let’s go!” Gu Tingye said beside him.

Xu Zaijing didn’t turn: “Er Lang, go ahead. I’ll wait a moment.”

Gu Tingye leaned forward, following Xu Zaijing’s gaze: “What did you see, Wu Lang?”

“Nothing. Probably just my eyes playing tricks.”

“Alright then! Let’s go!”

With that, Gu Tingye waved and led his men into the city.

A few minutes later,

seeing a cart pulled by an ox approach, Xu Zaijing lightly kicked his horse’s flanks and rode up.

The ox’s coat gleamed with oil and sheen—clearly well cared for.

Cui Mama, seated on the cart’s shaft, turned upon seeing Xu Zaijing and spoke quickly to the carriage.

As Xu Zaijing reached the cart, the curtain was lifted, revealing Lady Sheng’s face, beside whom Minglan peered out.

“Auntie Sheng, Minglan,” Xu Zaijing smiled.

“Greetings, Cousin Jing,” Minglan nodded from inside the carriage.

Xu Zaijing nodded, then looked at the smiling old lady: “Auntie Sheng, where are you headed today?”

The old lady smiled warmly: “Today is Qingming. I went to a temple south of the city to burn incense and offerings.”

“Oh!” Xu Zaijing nodded.

“Jing Er, what about you? Where have you been?”

“Auntie Sheng, today Da Lang of Shoushan Bo hosted a banquet. I came with a few friends and am now returning home.”

“Ah! That explains it.”

As they spoke,

Qingyun and the Xu family carriage followed the ox cart slowly into the city.

After entering the city,

on the way back to Jiyin Alley with the Sheng family cart, Xu Zaijing spoke a few more words with the old lady.

“So it was Kong Mama’s request?” Xu Zaijing realized.

The old lady looked out at Xu Zaijing curiously: “Jing Er, you know Kong Mama?”

Xu Zaijing smiled: “Auntie Sheng, Kong Mama once trained several young ladies in the household of Prince Lu; my sworn brother Zezong mentioned her a few times.”

“Oh! So that’s it.” The old lady nodded, her eyes filled with nostalgic sorrow: “Back then in the palace, I was close to Kong Mama. A few maidservants were her friends—over the years, several have passed away.”

“Kong Mama is now far from Bianjing, unable to make offerings herself, so she asked me.”

Xu Zaijing nodded earnestly beside her.

Inside the carriage, Minglan glanced at Xu Zaijing from time to time as the old lady spoke.

Sensing Minglan’s gaze, Xu Zaijing smiled back: “Minglan, why do you keep looking at me?”

Minglan blushed slightly: “Cousin Jing, did Da Lang of Shoushan Bo invite you only because he wants to help Tingyi Sister win the race?”

Xu Zaijing thought for a moment, then shook his head with a smile: “I’m on good terms with him personally—not just because of this.”

“Oh!” Minglan nodded.

As they spoke,

the group arrived at the entrance of Jiying Alley. The old lady did not offer formal pleasantries, only smiled and said, “Jing’er, take your time on the way home.”

“Yes, Auntie Ancestress.”

Xu Zaijing nodded with a smile, watching the Sheng family’s ox cart turn into Jiying Alley before riding off on his horse.

On the first day of the third month,

the Jinming Pond Garden was open to the public,

as soon as dawn broke,

many noble households in Bianjing City rode in carriages or on horseback, accompanied by maids and servants, heading toward the western gate.

Although the wind was strong that day, along the road from the inner city to the outskirts, many commoners and wealthy families had already gathered by the roadside, waiting for the Emperor’s imperial carriage.

During this time, the commoners and wealthy could also admire the fine steeds and carved carriages of the noble families.

As the sun rose,

a commander of the Imperial Guard rode ahead with a hundred infantry soldiers to the street near the New Zheng Gate.

After setting up, the Imperial Guard infantry, clad in bright armor and armed with spears and swords, spread out along the street into position.

When onlookers recognized the officer and respectfully bowed, calling him “Commander Tu,” he would often return the bow.

As the sun climbed higher,

the atmosphere of military escort and vigilance grew thicker.

Soon,

hundreds of powerful Imperial Guard cavalry appeared in the sight of the crowd,

their long spears topped with flags made of precious materials, fluttering wildly in the spring breeze.

The Emperor’s imperial carriage, flanked by tall eunuchs holding up screen panels, blocked the view of the crowd; those standing by the roadside could see only these screens.

Behind the Emperor’s carriage followed a group of noble youths dressed in bright armor.

Xu Zaijing was among them, positioned closest to the imperial carriage.

Looking ahead, Xu Zaijing could see behind the light gauze of the carriage ahead, Zhao Fang and two young princesses seated side by side, all three turning back to wave.

Occasionally, the tinkling laughter of the young princesses could be heard.

After passing through the city gate,

crossing the Huilong River,

with the city walls no longer blocking the view,

the wind outside seemed stronger, making the flags on the cavalry spears sway even more fiercely.

Soon,

the Emperor’s carriage entered Jinming Pond.

As the imperial carriage headed toward the Linshui Pavilion, many people stood before the tents by the pond, gazing at the procession.

At this time, there were still hours before the performances on the pond began; smoke and steam rose from behind the tents on the shore, scattered by the southern wind.

The pond’s surface, stirred by the southern wind, shimmered under the sunlight; standing by the shore, one could hear the gentle splash of water against the banks.

Around Jinming Pond, many colorful pavilions had been erected, where performances from various teahouses could now be seen outdoors.

Among them were numerous gambling booths, drawing crowds three layers deep around them.

In short, the area outside Jinming Pond was lively and noisy, with the distant cheers and applause of commoners occasionally drifting to the pond’s edge.

Outside the tents by the pond stood the sons and daughters of the capital’s noble households.

Before returning to their tents, most would glance toward the Ningyuan Marquis’s tent.

One reason was that the third daughter of the Ningyuan Marquis, Gu family, was betrothed to the eldest son of the Shoushan Count; the jade carving awarded today would almost certainly be presented to this noble lady.

The second reason was that several noble ladies standing before the Gu family’s tent were of exceptional status—daughters of the most prominent noble and official families in the capital.

Sensing the gazes around her,

Hai Chaoyun, accustomed to such attention, felt no ripple in her heart; she merely leaned over with surprise to the Shen girl beside her and exclaimed, “Hezhen, have you heard about that boy who passed the county examination at such a young age?”

Shen Hezhen nodded with a smile: “Yes, Chaoyun sister.”

Gu Tingyi, walking ahead, turned back with a smile and asked, “Sisters, do you know what surname that boy bears?”

Seeing Gu Tingyi’s expression, Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan both laughed.

Hai Chaoyun laughed and said, “Of course we know—Mother told me. His surname is Sheng, and he’s a classmate of Gu brother’s.”

Shen Hezhen nodded vigorously: “Yes.”

Zhang Wu niang, walking ahead, first bowed with a smile toward Lady Bai, Pingmei, and Yanran inside the tent, then turned and said, “Do you know this boy has another title?”

The noble ladies who entered the tent all bowed to Lady Bai and the others before sitting down.

“This boy has another title?” Shen Hezhen asked, puzzled.

Tingyi smiled and waved his hand: “Hezhen, you wouldn’t know.”

Seeing their confusion, Wu niang looked triumphantly at Rong Feiyan and said, “Feiyan, do you know?”

Rong Feiyan shook her head thoughtfully.

Wu niang waved off Gu Tingyi, who was about to speak, and declared, “I’ll tell you—this boy’s other title is: Minglan’s younger brother.”

Upon hearing this,

the expressions of the noble ladies in the tent varied.

Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan, and others who had met Minglan looked enlightened.

Shen Hezhen looked utterly confused.

After Rong Feiyan explained a few words, Shen Hezhen smiled: “So this sister is very good at tossing the pot? None of you sisters can beat her?”

Everyone in the tent nodded.

“Minglan’s girl gets along very well with my second sister-in-law, right, Second Sister-in-Law?” Tingyi smiled.

Yu Yanran, sitting beside him, nodded with a smile: “Actually, according to my grandmother, Sixth Sister is quite good at polo too!”

“Oh?! Then we must find a chance to challenge each other!”

At that moment, a maid outside the tent announced: “The second daughter of the Shoushan Count’s household has arrived.”

At these words,

the girls in the tent laughed again, looking at Gu Tingyi.

“Please bring her in.”

Lady Bai, seated at the head, smiled.

The warmth and merriment inside the tent need not be described further.

As the sun climbed higher,

after a cannon shot,

the performance of the Hu Yi Water Army began in Jinming Pond.

The performance differed somewhat from last year’s, but the general sequence remained the same.

After the Emperor returned to the Linshui Pavilion, colorful dragon boats moored near the Five Pavilions; the much-anticipated dragon boat race was ready, awaiting only the signal from Commander Tian, the Hu Yi Water Army’s commander.

In fact,

Huang Qingyue was already the right-hand man of the British Duke’s heir, with a brilliant future ahead.

The betrothed bride was the legitimate daughter of the Ningyuan Marquis, of noble status.

The Ningyuan Marquis’s in-laws were the Yongyi Marquis’s household, and they had already notified the Yongchang Marquis’s household; no one in the capital would dare provoke so many ducal and marquisal houses at once.

Therefore,

the outcome of the dragon boat race was entirely predictable.

A more exquisite and precious peony jade carving than in previous years was presented to Gu Tingyi amid an atmosphere of admiration and congratulations.

Then,

in the afternoon,

near the Aowu Pavilion of Jinming Pond,

Xu Zaijing sat on a folding chair, watching the fishing rod before him, covering his mouth as he yawned.

Whether he caught a fish or not—he truly didn’t care at all!

Didn’t he once pull a huge fish out of the water upstream at Jinming Pond’s inlet, only to have the line cut by an arrow? Did he care then?

(End of Chapter)