Chapter 780: The Young Master Has No Talent [Thank You! Again! 37K Chapters Owed]

Mid-August,

White Dew had passed, Mid-Autumn near, the summer heat long gone, and the once-boisterous cicada songs silenced by nine-tenths.

A faint chill now lingered in the early morning and evening.

Jiying Alley,

the Sheng household,

the ceiling fans placed in the classroom had been taken down, making the room feel more spacious.

As dismissal neared,

Master Zhuang set the book he’d been teaching from onto the desk.

Xu Zaijing and the others looked up silently at Master Zhuang at the front.

“All of you, starting tomorrow, you have three days’ holiday.”

At these words,

the students’ faces lit up with uncontainable joy; they rose at once, bowing and calling out loudly: “Thank you, Master, for your teachings!”

Master Zhuang, slightly startled by the noise, smiled, stood, nodded a few times, then walked out of the classroom with his hands behind his back.

It was no wonder Xu Zaijing and the others were so delighted—since the Zhongyuan Festival last month, they had not had a single day off until today, nearly thirty days straight.

Chang Zhen, still young, rose early every day, and these past two days he had been yawning nonstop during lessons.

Chang Feng stood to the side, letting the servant tidy the desk, smiling at Gu Tingye: “Brother Er, what are your plans for these three days off? Don’t forget me.”

Hearing this, Ru Lan, who had been about to leave, secretly rolled her eyes in distaste.

Gu Tingye smiled and nodded: “Don’t worry, Brother Feng.”

Then he glanced at Qi Heng and Xu Zaijing and said: “Yuanruo, Wu Lang, after so many days of classes, I feel like my body’s rusted shut.”

“Tomorrow is the fifteenth, the Mid-Autumn Festival—we can’t go out for banquets. The seventeenth is the Autumn She Festival, and I must accompany my wife back to the Yu household. How about we meet on the sixteenth to play polo?”

Chang Feng nodded eagerly, smiling.

Gu Tingye’s words stirred a longing in Xu Zaijing’s hands; he smiled and nodded: “I’ve no objections.”

“What about you, Yuanruo?” Gu Tingye turned to Qi Heng.

Qi Heng smiled: “Uncle Er, I’ll come too—I can finally learn polo from all of you.”

Gu Tingye turned to Zai Zhang, who waved his hand: “I’ve plans with friends that day—you all go ahead.”

Xu Zaijing said: “Chang Bai and Qi Lang will be free that day too—let’s all go!”

Seeing Chang Bai turn to refuse, Xu Zaijing said: “Chang Bai, riding is one of the Six Arts of the Gentleman! No matter what you do later, you’ll need it.”

Zai Zhang chuckled from the side: “Chang Bai, Wu Lang’s right! Don’t just bury yourself in books—horseback riding benefits body and mind. I’m sure Qi Lang, once he learns polo, won’t get a chance to show off!”

Chang Bai looked around at their eager faces, glanced at Chang Zhen, and smiled: “How can I refuse such kindness? Fine, I’ll go.”

“That’s the spirit!” Gu Tingye laughed. “I’ll bring new wine, and Jiu Lang will prepare huge crabs—we’ll eat and play!”

Hearing this, Chang Feng licked his lips, as if already tasting the crab.

That night,

after dinner, Xu Zaijing returned to his courtyard.

He descended the covered walkway,

looked up—and saw the full moon.

Its clear radiance bathed the courtyard’s grass and trees in a silvery sheen.

Seeing Xu Zaijing standing motionless in the courtyard, gazing blankly at the night sky, Hua Xiang, carrying a food box, whispered softly: “Young Master, shall I bring out the reclining chair? Like before—you can lie in the courtyard and watch the stars?”

“No.” Xu Zaijing turned his gaze away and continued toward the main house.

The next day,

the fifteenth of the first month,

Xu Zaijing opened his eyes in bed, on holiday.

His internal clock was precise; faintly, he heard the night watchman’s cry of “Yin Hour.”

The room was dim, a slant of moonlight falling across the floor through the window.

He dozed a little longer, then sat up as Qing Cao opened the door.

After washing and dressing, Xu Zaijing stepped out with his maid.

Amid the gatekeeper’s unlocking sound, Qing Cao accompanied him out of the inner courtyard.

The master and maid walked toward the polo field, the large moon hanging low in the western sky, nearly set.

Watching Xu Zaijing’s upturned face, Qing Cao whispered: “Young Master, what are you looking at?”

“Hm? Nothing.” Xu Zaijing did not turn.

“Young Master…”

“If you have something to say, say it.”

“Young Master… which girl do you plan to marry?”

“Tch.” Xu Zaijing stopped, frowning at his maid: “What are you talking about?”

Qing Cao pressed her lips together: “I’ve served you for years—I’ve never seen you stare at the stars and moon so often, sighing over spring and autumn… you’re thinking of a bride!”

“Nonsense!” Xu Zaijing turned his back and walked on.

Qing Cao wasn’t afraid; she quickened her steps to catch up, whispering: “Young Master, I’ve accompanied you out of the house many times! Not to mention Lady Feiyan of the Rong household—she’s clearly taken with you.”

“And Miss Zhengzheng of the Chai household still keeps your armor in her boudoir—Madam Chai favors you too!”

“All you need to do is say two words, and it’ll be as easy as pricking a paper window.”

Xu Zaijing said: “My studies come first right now! Without scholarly success, what good can come?”

Qing Cao pouted: “But Young Master, our eldest brother-in-law married before taking the metropolitan exam—and still passed!”

“I don’t have my sister’s husband’s talent or quick wit—I must work harder.”

“Oh! Fine!” Qing Cao said, quickened her pace, glanced at Xu Zaijing, then added: “Young Master, I think both girls are beautiful.”

“Mm.” Xu Zaijing nodded.

“It’d be wonderful if you could marry both!” Qing Cao fantasized.

Xu Zaijing laughed in exasperation, frowning: “Stop talking nonsense! Both are noble daughters of high families—how could I, with my meager abilities, marry two?”

Qing Cao nodded: “True! Lady Feiyan is even the aunt of a prince! Then… Young Master, marry just one!”

Xu Zaijing sighed helplessly and walked on, ignoring Qing Cao.

Evening,

shortly after sunset, the great moon rose slowly from the east.

Throughout Bianjing, lanterns and decorations hung everywhere.

Bustling streets like Fan Lou and Pan Lou were packed; even the upper-floor private rooms were unbookable, even for gold.

Guests opened their windows to admire the moon, letting the sounds of strings and flutes drift into the streets.

The moonlight was bright enough tonight to see the streets without lanterns; children played in groups, their laughter and shouts never ceasing.

Quyuanjie was the same,

several children of varying ages ran and played between the two stone lions of the Hou Fu.

Among them were Dai Ge, Zhong Ge, Qing Jie, and Qing Yun’s two children.

Near them, at the Hou Fu’s main gate, beneath lantern light, Xu Zaijing carried Ning Mei, watching the children play with great delight.

He turned to look toward the second gate, saw Cui Chan approaching, and called out: “Enough, Dai Ge—take your brothers and sisters back inside.”

“Yes, Uncle!”

Dai Ge responded eagerly, then shouted: “Form ranks! Return to the house!”

“Yes, General!”

Xu Xingzhong saluted properly.

Then the children lined up and marched orderly into the courtyard.

Xu Zaijing brought up the rear, carrying Ning Mei.

The procession reached the back courtyard and ascended the two-story pavilion for moon-viewing—still orderly.

“Oh! Our little general has returned with his troops!” Zai Zhang laughed.

Sun Shi and the others at the table turned to look.

Seeing the boys and girls in formation, everyone burst into laughter.

“Disperse!” Dai Ge waved his hand.

The children responded and scattered to find their mothers, drinking water and eating melon.

Xu Zaijing set Ning Mei down from his shoulder, looked at the table piled with jujubes, pears, pomegranates, grapes—he picked up a pear with one hand and bit into it.

Seeing Sun Shi, Ning Mei kicked and waved her arms, babbling, making Sun Shi scoop her up, hugging her close and kissing her cheek.

On the other side, Zai Zhang had already begun quizzing his nephews and son on poems containing the character “moon.”

As he listened to the children recite, the famous Mid-Autumn verse—“When did the bright moon appear? I raise my cup and ask the blue sky”—flashed through Xu Zaijing’s mind.

Impossible to forget—it was simply too powerful.

But Xu Zaijing himself had not yet taken the imperial exams, had not begun his official career, let alone suffered setbacks, neglect, or lonely longing for family.

On the contrary, he was favored by the Emperor, had an excellent relationship with Crown Prince Zhao Fang, and his father and elder brother had been away less than a year.

After all the moon-viewing and merriment, the children remained energetic until the end of the Xu hour (after nine p.m.).

“Dai Er, stop playing! Your sister’s sleepy.”

“Zhong Er, come rest now.”

“Mother, I’m not tired.”

“If Brother isn’t tired, neither am I!”

Thus, Xie Shi and Hua Lan repeatedly urged and persuaded, but Dai Ge and the others kept playing wildly.

Watching Xie Shi and Hua Lan’s eyes narrow and their fists slowly clench.

Xu Zaijing smiled at the excited nephews and said, “Going outside the city to play polo requires waking early! Whoever can’t rise tomorrow won’t go!”

“Huh?” The two nephews froze.

“I heard Gu Shixing is going too,” Xu Zaijing continued. “If you don’t get enough sleep, you’ll be outclassed in riding and playing!”

“Mother! I need to bathe and go to bed early!” Dai Ge tugged at Xie Shi’s sleeve.

Xie Shi smiled, her eyes no longer narrowed, her clenched fist relaxing into a palm as she gently stroked Dai Ge’s cheek. “Come on.”

Hua Lan hugged her son and said, “Zhong Er, tomorrow we won’t go outside the city—how about you come with Mother to your maternal grandmother’s house?”

“No! Mother, I want to go outside the city with Uncle!” Xu Xingzhong shook Hua Lan’s arm, shaking his head and shouting.

“You! Listen!” Hua Lan’s face hardened.

Xu Zaijing chuckled, “Sister-in-law, tomorrow Chang Bai and the others are all going outside the city. In the afternoon, let Zhong Er go with his uncles to the Sheng household—they can return with you the day after.”

“Yes, yes!” Xu Xingzhong nodded eagerly, his eyes full of admiration for his uncle.

Hua Lan sighed helplessly and tapped her son’s forehead. “Then listen to your little uncle.”

“Great!”

Saying this, Xu Xingzhong happily burrowed into Hua Lan’s arms.

On the sixteenth,

in the morning,

the sun shone brightly, the temperature pleasant.

At the western city polo ground, few people had come, so only the central tent was open.

“Thundering, thundering.”

Horses galloped across the field, chasing the polo ball, their hooves thundering.

Outside the central tent, under the watch of maids and servants, over a dozen children aged four to eleven, of varying ages, watched the match, jumping up and down, cheering and shouting.

The children were dressed neatly—some wore arm wraps, others headbands.

“Uncle! Whip the horse! Whip the horse!”

“Uncle! Watch out!”

“Second Brother Gu, pass the ball!”

“Sixth Brother Liang, what a fine move!”

“Bravo!”

“Clang!” A gong rang at the sideline, and the children’s cheers grew even louder.

Of course, some, like Lu Zezong, Gu Shixing, and Xu Xingdai, older and able to understand the game, cheered with purpose.

The younger ones merely echoed them, joining in for the fun.

After a while,

“Clomp! Clomp!”

“Whoa!”

Eight steeds, panting heavily, were pulled to a stop near the tent by their riders.

Looking at the jumping children before the tent, Liang Han laughed. “These little brothers and nephews are even more excited than we are on the field.”

“Hehe, with their cheers, it really gives us energy!” Chang Feng chuckled in agreement.

Qi Heng, wearing a headband, shook his head helplessly at the two uncles jumping and grinning foolishly by the sideline.

Xu Zaijing dismounted. Once his horse was led away, he pointed at the children before the tent and called out, “Zong Ge, Xing Ge, Dai Ge, Zhen Ge—it’s your turn!”

The four youths before the tent, hearing this, eagerly walked down the steps.

Soon, their bareback mounts were brought over.

Among them, Gu Shixing’s horse was one of the offspring of a stallion and a dragon mare, the most majestic; Lu Zezong’s came second.

Dai Ge rode the black mare Xu Zaijing had received as a gift in his youth; Chang Zhen rode only an ordinary good steed.

Before Chang Zhen started school, Lady Sheng sometimes took him, aged four or five, to her country estate and taught him to ride and play polo.

The four boys arrived at the horses but were not yet allowed to mount.

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, and the other three each picked up a saddle pad and carefully fastened them onto the horses’ backs.

These four saddle pads differed slightly from those used by Xu Zaijing and the others—the stirrups and pads had been modified.

The purpose of the modifications was to secure the young riders on the horse’s back, preventing accidental falls.

After securing the pads, adjusting the stirrup lengths, and letting the four ride around the field a bit, they were finally allowed to play polo.

While they played, A Lan and several other expert horse trainers from the ducal and marquis households rode alongside the field, ready to respond to any emergency.

Soon,

the youths’ shouts and the children’s cheers rose again across the field.

Not far from the polo ground, on the third floor of Wu Tower, the Xiangyang Marquis, limping, shifted his stance by the window, nodding as he watched the boys on the field.

After nodding, the Xiangyang Marquis turned to the Lian Duke beside the table and said, “Old brother, won’t you come take a look? Your precious grandson is on the field!”

“Zong Ge’s sworn brother has always been prudent. If you hadn’t dragged me out of the city, I wouldn’t be here!” The Lian Duke sipped his warm drink.

The Xiangyang Marquis snorted, turning back to the field and sighing, “Hah! Xu’s horses truly are magnificent! Old brother, if my eldest son marries into the Xu family, won’t they send us a fine horse as a gift?”

The Lian Duke stroked his silver-white beard and snorted, “Heh, by then, those horses will have been bred for generations. If Gu Hou saw this scene, he’d have to live a few more years!”

“You—you old fool—can’t you speak properly?” The Xiangyang Marquis frowned.

The Lian Duke laughed without restraint and continued, “Even if you live longer, you still need to see whether the Xu family’s Fifth Young Master has any sons or daughters by then! Why would they give you anything otherwise?”

“True enough! Thinking like that, I won’t hold out any hope!” The Xiangyang Marquis nodded in resignation, then added after a moment’s thought, “With the Qi family and the Xu family, even if I close my eyes, I’ll rest easy.”

The old Lian Duke stroked his beard and shook his head softly. “I don’t know why, maybe because I’m old and timid, but lately I’ve felt uneasy in my heart.”

The Xiangyang Marquis looked down from above at the field: “Uneasy? With the Han and Tan families’ old fools quiet lately, without their barking, you naturally feel uneasy.”

Hearing this, the old Lian Duke helplessly pointed at the Xiangyang Marquis.

The Xiangyang Marquis continued, “It’s not bad they’re quiet—there’ll still be dignity left for them in the end.”

(End of Chapter)