Chapter 785: Viewing Pavilion at Chengnan [Thank You! Again! 36k Words Owed]

Jiying Alley,

Sheng Family,

in the back courtyard, at the gate of Lin Qige,

Yun Zai held a lantern beside Lin Qinshuang, watching Zhou Wansheng hurrying toward them in brocade cotton robes, clutching a handkerchief.

As Zhou Wansheng drew near, Lin Qinshuang frowned: “What? Has the Master not come?”

Zhou Wansheng bowed and lowered her head: “Miss, the Master is not in Lady’s courtyard—he is in Shou’an Hall.”

Lin Qinshuang gazed at the dim sky, puzzled: “At this hour, why is the Master at Shou’an Hall?”

“I inquired, but the maids and old women in Shou’an Hall are tight-lipped—I learned nothing. It was only on the way that I met a servant from the front courtyard; she let slip a few words.”

Zhou Wansheng raised her eyes to look at Lin Qinshuang.

“Mm. Go on.” Lin Qinshuang said.

“They say a letter arrived from Yingchang Prefecture, delivered to Weirui Pavilion. After that, the Master went from his study to Shou’an Hall.”

Hearing this, Lin Qinshuang’s eyes flickered as she murmured: “Yingchang Prefecture? It must be a letter from the Wang family. I wonder what it’s about.”

She glanced toward Shou’an Hall.

At this moment,

inside Shou’an Hall,

Lady Sheng sat smiling on a Luohan chair, a letter resting on the small table beside her.

Looking at Sheng Hong and his wife seated below, the old lady smiled: “Lady’s elder sister wrote with great sincerity—I see the Wang family truly wishes to arrange a marriage for Rulan.”

Sheng Hong grinned, his dimples showing: “Mother is right. Earlier, I wrote to my brother-in-law saying we’d wait until Baibei and Changfeng passed the imperial exams before arranging Rulan’s match—he agreed.”

The old lady nodded: “Hualan is the eldest daughter of the Marquis’s household. If Baibei and Changfeng both become jinshi, Rulan’s standing in the Wang household will be much stronger.”

“But what did the letter say about the Wang family’s reply to the Kang family?”

At the old lady’s question, Wang Ruofu forced a smile: “Mother, nothing serious—my eldest sister heard the Wang family was arranging a match for their child, and since Rulan must wait two more years, she…”

The old lady’s smile vanished: “Hmm?”

Glancing at Sheng Hong, Wang Ruofu lowered her head: “She said my niece Kang Yuan’er has reached marriageable age and need not wait—she could marry into the Wang family too.”

“How did your elder sister even know this?” Sheng Hong frowned.

Wang Ruofu bowed her head, whispering: “I… I mentioned it casually in conversation with her.”

“You!” Sheng Hong stared at Wang Ruofu in silence.

The old lady spoke sternly: “Lady, it’s good that the Wang and Sheng families are considering a match. But your sister’s actions amount to stealing a favorable alliance from relatives.”

“She shows no fear of souring relations between the two families.”

After the old lady spoke, Wang Ruofu bowed: “My elder sister says she has no one close in the capital except me, her own sister—I can’t just abandon her.”

Sheng Hong frowned: “Have you considered that with both noble families’ sons studying here, and your elder sister meddling, the Wang family might think we look down on Youge?”

“N-no? That can’t be,” Wang Ruofu said, bewildered.

Seeing this, Sheng Hong shook his head slightly in disdain.

The old lady waved her hand: “Regardless of what the Wang family thinks, this letter shows their stance.”

“Hong’er, write the reply yourself. Rulan still has two brothers and one sister yet to be matched—she won’t be next for years.”

“Don’t let the Wang son fixate only on Rulan and waste his time. If after two years neither child is betrothed, matters will be easier.”

Sheng Hong rose and bowed: “Mother, I understand.”

The old lady looked at Wang Ruofu, who had also risen: “Lady, the Winter Solstice is near.”

Wang Ruofu froze, then quickly looked up: “Mother, I understand! I’ve already had new clothes made for the young masters and ladies.”

“I’ve also had the seamstress from the tailor shop measure the servants and maids.”

The old lady smiled: “You’ve handled things well, Grandmother is at ease.”

Watching the old lady’s expression, Sheng Hong bowed: “Mother, I’ll just…”

Before he finished, Wang Ruofu added: “Mother, on Winter Solstice, His Majesty will leave the palace to offer sacrifices to Heaven. Should we build a viewing pavilion outside Nanxun Gate?”

The old lady nodded: “A pavilion is built every three years. But I won’t go—I want you and the children to attend the ceremony.”

“Yes, Mother,” Sheng Hong said.

“One more thing,” the old lady said.

Sheng Hong and Wang Ruofu immediately stopped.

“Hong’er, for the three days of Winter Solstice, as a court official you must accompany His Majesty. Winter nights are bitterly cold—take care of your dantian these days to avoid catching a chill.”

Sheng Hong’s face flushed awkwardly; he bowed his head: “Yes, Mother. I understand.”

The next day,

at noon,

after lunch,

Yun Xiang saw Xu Zaijing standing before her, hand outstretched, and quickly turned to fetch the large cloak from the wooden stand behind her.

“Young Master, are you going out?”

Yun Xiang asked with a smile.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: “I’m going for a walk after eating. You don’t need to follow.”

“Yes, Young Master.”

“I’m coming too,” said Gu Tingye beside him.

As the two donned their cloaks and hoods and stepped out the gate, they saw Sheng Family’s gatekeeper nearby, Qingyun sparring with a sturdy young man.

Xu Zaijing had sharp eyes—he could tell Qingyun was teaching, and the young man was learning.

The fellow looked exactly like the memory of Gu Tingye’s personal guard, Shitou.

Seeing Xu and Gu approach, the Sheng household servants bowed and greeted them.

Xu Zaijing smiled and waved to Qingyun and Shitou, who had paused their bowing: “Carry on.”

Gu Tingye chuckled: “Shitou, don’t overestimate yourself—Qingyun isn’t someone you can just ‘handle.’”

“I’ve already learned that,” Shitou grinned.

Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye nodded and continued walking.

As they strolled near the stable, Gu Tingye absently stroked the head of a Ma Er: “Wu Lang, will you join the Imperial Guard to escort His Majesty on Winter Solstice?”

Xu Zaijing shook his head: “I won’t go. But my third brother has already received the imperial decree.”

“Mm!” Gu Tingye nodded with a smile.

Seeing Xu Zaijing’s questioning look, Gu Tingye beamed: “That’s right, Wu Lang—I’ll be escorting His Majesty those days.”

Xu Zaijing smiled faintly: “Mm. I heard from my eldest brother that His Majesty rises at the third watch (1 a.m.) on Winter Solstice and remains busy with sacrifices to Heaven and ancestors until dawn.”

Gu Tingye’s smile vanished: “Third watch?”

Xu Zaijing nodded: “Third watch. Er Lang, as an Imperial Guard, you may have to stay awake all night.”

Thinking of the biting winter cold, Gu Tingye grimaced.

The day before Winter Solstice,

at the third watch (around 1 a.m.),

the moon had just risen, stars scattered across the night sky.

Nanjiangtang Alley,

Rong Family,

Huixue Courtyard,

the yard was silent, only a faint glow flickering from the window of the side room where the hearth remained lit.

Inside the main bedroom,

a delicate bronze water basin sat above the heated floor channel, releasing a light mist from the warmth.

The girl’s steady breathing echoed softly in the room.

Suddenly,

“Moo!”

A distant elephant’s call rang out, mingled with the whinnying of horses.

Moments later,

the maid Ningxiang entered the bedroom with a lantern, her steps light and swift.

“Miss, have you woken?”

Rong Feiyan sat up from her brocade quilt, pushed aside the curtain, and asked in a slightly hoarse voice: “Mm. What’s happening outside?”

“I heard elephant and horse sounds.”

“What time is it?”

“It seems near the end of the zi hour.”

Rong Feiyan exhaled slowly: “End of zi hour? The imperial procession should have left the palace by now.”

“Miss is right. But I wonder why there are elephant calls,” Ningxiang said, pouring warm water from the table into a cup and handing it over.

The cup’s design closely resembled Xu Zaijing’s.

Rong Feiyan moistened her throat; both mistress and maid fell silent again, the room sinking back into quiet.

Faint hoofbeats drifted from afar.

“He hasn’t come out in a long time,” Rong Feiyan whispered.

Not naming anyone, Ningxiang didn’t press—she only murmured: “The imperial examination is still a year away. He must be working hard.”

“Mm.” Rong Feiyan drank another sip of water and handed the cup out.

Lying back on the bed, Rong Feiyan closed her eyes and said, “I wonder when it’ll snow.”

Ningxiang tugged the corner of the quilt tighter around her mistress: “It should be soon.”

After waiting a moment until Rong Feiyan’s breathing grew steady, Ningxiang rose from the bed and lowered the canopy.

The next day,

on the day of Winter Solstice,

the morning sky was still dim, but the east had begun to faintly glow with blue.

Outside the outer city of Bianjing,

beyond the South Xun Gate,

from the moat all the way to the Southern Qingcheng Zhaigong, lanterns glowed along both sides of the road.

In the lantern light, one could see fine carriages and horses parked on either side, along with temporary pavilions heated by charcoal stoves—built by wealthy families of the capital to observe the Emperor’s procession.

Keep in mind that

Winter mornings were bitterly cold; a northern wind could freeze exposed skin painfully.

The Emperor and imperial clan began their duties at Zi Shi (after one in the morning), and on their return to the capital in the morning, they might stop at one of these pavilions to warm themselves.

Building pavilions along the road served not only for viewing but also offered slight protection from the wind—a small gesture of loyalty.

In one such pavilion,

Wang Ruofu, wearing ear flaps and a fur-lined robe, clutching a hand warmer, stood at the edge and peered toward a mounted imperial guard officer not far off.

The Sheng family’s sons and daughters who had come with her were dressed the same—tightly wrapped in layers.

Rulan, who had risen early, yawned and exhaled a puff of white mist: “Mother, what are you looking at?”

The others also turned curious eyes toward Wang Ruofu.

Wang Ruofu didn’t turn her head: “That imperial guard who just rode up—his build looks like Zai Zhang.”

“Liu Mama, come take a look.”

“Yes, Lady.”

At this, Rulan stood and walked over.

The others, seeing this, followed Rulan and gathered beside Wang Ruofu.

In their view, a knight in armor held a torch, standing motionless beside the road.

The armor looked finely crafted, glinting coldly in the torchlight.

With each breath, white mist rose from the horse and rider’s nostrils.

But the sky was still dim, and the rider faced away from the Sheng pavilion, so they could not see clearly.

After watching awhile, Wang Ruofu softly called, “Son-in-law?”

Hearing the call, the knight turned his head.

“Mother, he didn’t even react when we looked—he’s not Elder Sister’s husband,” Rulan said beside her.

Wang Ruofu sighed slightly: “I must have imagined it! Even if it’s not him, send over a bowl of hot soup—it’s too cold this morning.”

“Yes, Lady,” Liu Mama replied.

Soon,

Han Niu, one of Chang Bai’s personal attendants, carried a warm cup of tea over.

Anyone who could set up a pavilion by the road was either rich or noble, and the lanterns bore their names—the imperial guard did not refuse, drank the hot soup, and felt warmth spread through his body, easing much of the chill.

The Xu family’s pavilion stood on the east side of the road, with mounted guards stationed ahead—coincidentally, it was Gu Tingye.

Xu Zaijing naturally sent over a bowl of hot soup as well.

The sky gradually brightened,

sunlight streaming from the east.

Though the torches carried by imperial guards provided warmth, they were extinguished one by one for safety.

From afar, toward the Southern Qingcheng Zhaigong, a chorus of “Your Majesty!” rang out.

After a while longer,

a group of Junrongzhi musicians approached, beating drums, clanging cymbals, and playing instruments.

Behind them came seven elaborately adorned elephants.

Each elephant wore red brocade, golden bridles on its head, and atop its neck sat a rider in silk robes, holding a sharp, pick-like tool to guide the beast.

As the elephants passed, Xu Zaijing’s nephews and nieces stared, wide-eyed, murmuring “Wow!”

Xu Zaijing looked down at the children’s awestruck faces and already knew what gift he would give them later.

North of the Xu family pavilion,

west of the road,

in the Chai family’s pavilion,

the music of the passing Junrongzhi was loud.

Watching the imperial guard officer standing with his back to them, Yunmu leaned close to Chai Zhengzheng’s ear: “Miss, what a coincidence—Third Young Master Xu is right in front of our pavilion.”

Chai Zhengzheng, wearing ear flaps, smiled into the morning sun—earlier, the Chai family had given Zai Zhang hot soup and a heated pouch, and he had thanked them profusely.

Suddenly,

Chai Zhengzheng sensed a gaze from elsewhere and turned, puzzled—across the way, someone in another pavilion stared directly at her.

Yunmu glanced at the extinguished lantern outside that pavilion and whispered: “Miss, it’s a young man of the Zhongshan Marquis Sha family—he’s being terribly rude.”

Chai Zhengzheng frowned and nodded: “Hmph! I wonder what he’s staring at! Here come the elephants.”

No sooner had she spoken,

“Moo—”

One of the seven elephants raised its trunk and trumpeted.

At the same time, the elephant took two steps toward the Sha family’s pavilion.

As the elephant veered, the rider on its neck raised the pick-like tool and jabbed its head.

But to the rider’s surprise, the elephant did not correct its path.

As the massive beast advanced, chaos erupted around the Sha pavilion; the mounted guards stationed before it were forced to rein their horses aside.

The Sha family members seated on chairs tumbled backward in panic, clattering as the charcoal brazier was knocked over, scattering glowing embers.

The elephant rider reacted swiftly, striking harder and pulling the tool back after embedding it in the elephant’s hide.

“Moo!”

The elephant, in pain, trumpeted again, lifting its front hooves slightly.

(End of Chapter)