Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 418: The Youth is Still Worthy of Praise [Thank you! Thank you again! I owe you more words]

evening,

Southeast of the inner city of Bianjing,

Chun Ming Fang,
There are two stone lions standing in front of the wide gate.
The stone lion is a bit bigger than the one at Xu's house, and is about the same size as the one at the gate of Qi's house.

There was a large plaque hanging on the door lintel, with four large gilded characters reading "An Guogong Mansion".

The huge courtyard had not yet had lanterns hung up, and the courtyard was deep and dark.

Youxiang's mother and two maids were standing in front of the gate of a courtyard holding trays.

Someone inside the door picked up the peach charms from the tray and said, "It's something from Yichun Lane. Xiang Mama is really thoughtful! No wonder the mistress of our room gave you the job!"

"You are too kind, elder sister! If there is anything wrong, please bear with me!"

"sure!"

"Then I'll take my leave."

"Take care, mom. Please pass on our daughter's gratitude."

The mother turned and walked away, taking two steps, and the door to the yard behind her closed.

The yard grew darker.

In the mansion, we walked through the door and the corridor and into a courtyard towards my mother.

Walking along the corridor, we entered the main room with a heating system.
In the room, there was a candle lit on the table in the middle of the bed, emitting dim light.

Mother Xiang looked at the two people, one big and one small, lying on the Luohan bed and squatted down slightly: "Madam, I am back."

You are the second daughter of the Qin family, Marquis of Dongchang, who married into the fourth room of the Duke of Anguo. Outsiders have to address you as Madam Qin when they see you.

Madam Qin, who was sitting, nodded and said, "Have you delivered all the things?"

"Yes. My wife asked me to convey her gratitude."

"Tsk! Will that bitch thank me?"

"That's what the housekeeper said."

While talking to his mother, he looked at Mrs. Qin a few more times.

"Mother, does this mean I have eaten a grain of rice?"

The girl opposite Madam Qin pointed at the Go board and asked crisply.

Madam Qin looked at the chessboard and nodded with a smile. After glancing at Mama Xiang who came in, Madam Qin stood up from the bed and said, "Yun'er, think about it more."

"Yes, mother."

After saying that, Madam Qin stepped away from the bed and walked toward the outer room.

Xiang's mother, who had just come in, also followed him out.

After standing outside,

Xiang Mama said to the two maids outside, "Go ask the kitchen when dinner is, and you go inside to look after the girls."

The two maids responded and then left.

Madam Qin whispered, "What's wrong? Did the maids in the other rooms say something unpleasant again?"

"Ma'am, they didn't say much."

"Hmm? So there's something else going on?"

"When I went to Yichun Lane, I ran into the young master from the Yin family."

Upon hearing what Xiang Mama said, Mrs. Qin froze.

"Let's just meet him. Isn't it good for him to be with Xu Jia Wulang?"

After nodding to her mother, she looked at Madam Qin and whispered, "Miss, I heard Brother Yin talking to someone else, and it seems that Brother Yin's wife is pregnant."

Madam Qin looked at Mother Xiang, who nodded affirmatively.

Madam Qin showed a hint of emotion on her face. She took a deep breath and said, "Find out the approximate date and send a gift when the time comes."

"Yes, young lady. There is one more thing. The Marquis' Mansion of Jingming Street has sent someone to ask again. They want to ask when you will mention Han'er's job to the Duke."

The Mansion of Marquis Dongchang is on Jingming Street.

"They also said that the naval job that the Tan family found for Huixianbo Tian's family is so good, our family can't be weak! If they can do it, they will do it. If they can't, they will ask you to take back what the Qin family gave you."

"Ah!"

Madam Qin laughed in anger, her face full of sarcasm:

"Your stingy nature hasn't changed! When you got married, you said that your family didn't have money, so you gave me such a small dowry. Now you're asking for an official position for Han Ge'er, so you don't lack money! You want to go back? Brother and sister-in-law are really open-minded."

"What did you say?"

To my mother: "I said, we didn't expect that our ancestor would be in poor health and couldn't enter the palace to ask for help from His Majesty, so we asked them to wait a little longer."

Madam Qin nodded, her eyes full of thought as she said, "The Marquis's estate has not changed in the past few years, and my brother doesn't have much real power. Among the gifts sent to the Tan family, have you investigated the origins of those good things?"

Xiang Ma nodded and said, "My husband asked the old servants around the old lady, and they were all the things that were sent by the Tian family of Huixianbo when they asked the Marquis' Mansion to do something for them."

Madam Qin's eyes were full of contemplation, and she said in a very low voice, "Did my cheap sister-in-law's family give it to her?"

Nodded to my mother.

"My sister-in-law is from the Tian family of Huixianbo, and her half-sister is the concubine of King Jing."

Xiang Mama said with some horror in her eyes: "Miss, are you saying that it was sent from the Jingwang Mansion to the Hou Mansion?"

Madam Qin glanced towards the center and said in a low voice with worry, "I hope it's just a courtesy."

"Oh, right. I remember that before my nephew from my mother's side got into trouble, he was accompanying the princes of the royal palace in Bianjing to the elephant sanctuary?"

"Yes girl."

Madam Qin moved her eyes, thought for a moment and said, "Go, ask someone to find some books about elephants. I want to read them."

Nodding to mother.

Three days after An-Mei gave birth to her baby,

On the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month,

The sky was gloomy from the beginning of the morning.

At noon, heavy snow began to fall.

Soon, the snowflakes turned the Xu Family Racecourse into white.

The stable next to the racecourse was covered with a thick layer of clean hay, and a large stove was burning in the corner.

A tall and handsome horse was lying on its side on the hay with its big belly and covered with a blanket.

In the stables,

Alan and Xunshu were busy beside Longju.

Next to the stables,

Xu Zaijing was holding the railing and looking inside. On one side were Qingyun and a few other guys including Chu Zhan, and on the other side were Xu Zaijing's two brothers and master.

The Xu family is a marquis's mansion, and the young master's personal soldiers all have mounts, and there are many horses in the mansion.

They had seen horses giving birth several times.
So there was no anxious or curious look on anyone's face.

Listening to the dragon colt snorting,

The heavy breathing blew the hay on the ground.

Xu Dalang Zaiduan looked at the dragon pony not far away with a fond face and said, "Zai Zhang, Zai Jing, can you two guess what color this pony is?"

Xu Zaijing said: "Its mother's fur color is very good."

Zai Zhang said, "I think it is probably black. The good horse that Yin Bo chose did not change the color of the horse's coat."

Xu Dalang said, "Who knows, it might be the same color as Zaijing's first horse."

Xu Zaijing: "Forget it then!"

Xu Dalang smiled and said, "Based on the size of the Little Li Colt and the Dragon Colt, this pony can't be ugly. It must be a divine colt! The boy from the Anmei family is really lucky."

Zai Zhang nodded: "It's very rare for a horse to give birth in winter!"

Talking
In less than half an hour,

The dragon colt was born, a mare.

Alan and Xunshu, who were standing by, had happy expressions on their faces.

The newborn foal was all black, much like its father and grandmother.

It's not late.

But the snow made the stable a little dark,
Xu Xingdai followed Zaiduan who came to the stable again, and saw the foal with slender limbs, which combined the advantages of its parents, standing and strolling in the stable.

"Dad, are we really going to give this pony of our uncle's to our newborn cousin?"

Zaiduan nodded and said, "Don't envy your cousin. When Daddy goes to the northwest, he will find you a pony."

Xu Xingdai smiled and nodded: "Yes!"

Turn around,

It is New Year's Eve.

2:45 pm (around 9:30 am)

Still in the Xu family stable,

Lu Zezong, wearing a small cloak, stood beside Xu Zaijing like a little adult, looking at the pony in the stable.

While watching, he also looked at his mount.

It just snowed again.

Lu Zezong naturally had to come to the Xu family in a carriage, and his mount was tied behind the carriage.

But after entering the Xu family, you can stroll around the snow-cleared racecourse for several laps.

After the comparison, Lu Zezong shook his head and said, "It's really beautiful."

Xu Zaijing, who was wearing a cloak, glanced at Lu Zezong's pony and said, "It's almost the same."

The pony that the Duke's Mansion is looking for is naturally a good one.

but.
"Sir, the palace's grand Nuo ceremony is about to begin. Several gentlemen are waiting for you at the door."

"Okay, we'll be out right away."

Lu Zezong and Xu Zaijing rode on the same horse. Lu Zezong, who was sitting in front of Xu Zaijing, stroked the fur of the little black colt and said, "Little black colt, you have to work harder!"

Listening to Lu Zezong's words, Xu Zaijing smiled gently.

When Xu Zaijing rode out of the gate of the marquis' mansion on horseback, a carriage full of gifts prepared for the Lu family also followed him out.

However, Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Liang Han and others rushed towards Imperial Street, while the Xu family's carriage, together with the Lu family's carriage and pony, headed towards Huihefang in the north.

Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong stopped their horses beside the Imperial Street for a while, and then a large Nuo ritual team of thousands of people came out of the palace and passed in front of everyone.

The Nuo ritual has the omen of curing diseases and driving away epidemics, and the common people and wealthy families watching on the roadside all patted their clothes.

Xu Zaijing and others also clapped their hands.

Subsequently,

Everyone rode on horseback and followed the team out of Nanxun Gate.
After stopping outside the city to watch the process, everyone returned the same way.

It snowed heavily yesterday.

There was a lot of snow outside the city of Bianjing.

Everyone's horses couldn't run fast, so they didn't gallop at full speed to compete for speed like they did last year.

Huihefang,
The Mansion of Duke Lian

The main hall in the backyard.

The old lady of the Duke was standing and talking with her daughter-in-law, Madam Li.

From time to time, maids came to ask for instructions.

After instructing a maid, Madam Li said, "Mother, this is the first time in so many years that I'm in charge of all the New Year's affairs. I feel a little flustered."

After Madam Li remarried and gave birth to Lu Zezong, her husband died of illness.

Madam Li is too worried to care about things, so it is always the old lady of the Duke who is responsible for these matters.

As Lu Zezong grew older, he became interested in both literature and martial arts, and Madam Li also became more cheerful.

This year during the Chinese New Year, Mrs. Li took over.

The Duke's wife smiled and said, "It's okay. We are all family. It's okay!"

Mrs. Li nodded.

At this time,

A housekeeper came in from outside, walked up to her and bowed, saying, "Madam, Madam, our relative's carriage has arrived at the second gate."

"How many people did Jinggeer bring with him?"

"Madam, there are only three maids."

"Mother, I'll go out and take a look." Madam Li stood up and said.

The old lady of the Duke smiled and nodded.

At the second gate,
Qingcao took the Yunxiang sisters off the carriage.

After waiting by the carriage for a while, I saw a woman wearing a luxurious cloak and an exquisite and appropriate headdress walking towards me.

Madam Li's family was originally an official in the Wensi Academy of the Ministry of Works, and they were in charge of the carving of gold, silver, rhinoceros horn and jade, so naturally there was no shortage of good things.

"Hello, Madam. We can just send a mother over here. Why do you come out in person?" Qingcao and the other three hurriedly bowed.

Mrs. Li smiled and waved, "It's okay! Come."

Walking in the Duke's Mansion,

On the way, Nanny would still come to Madam Li to ask for instructions from time to time.

Seeing that Madam Li seemed a little busy, Qingcao said, "Madam, you go ahead and do your work first! Let the mother take us there."

"It's okay, there are still a few steps to go!"

Seeing that Madam Li insisted, Qingcao stopped talking.

Arriving at a courtyard,
The maid in the yard was called over by the mother beside Madam Li.

Madam Li said solemnly:

"These are three girls, the maids of our relatives! Take them to get acquainted with them later! Don't neglect these three girls!"

"Yes! Madam!"

The Lu family maids said in unison.

"If you have any problem, just come find me in the hall." Madam Li said to Qingcao and the other two again.

Qingcao and the other two quickly responded.

Madam Li glanced at the Yunxiang sisters, nodded, and led people out of the yard.

Qingcao watched Madam Li leave, then turned around and bowed to the maid of the Lu family with a smile, saying, "Thank you, sisters."

Looking at the precious materials and exquisite embroidery on Qingcao, Yunxiang and Huaxiang, the maid of the Lu family said with a smile: "Miss, what are you talking about! Please come this way!"

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Liang Han and others entered the outer city from Nanxun Gate.
Walking northward along the Imperial Street for less than a mile,

Next to a pavilion with the words "Kanjieting" hung on it, several people stopped their horses.

"Brother Jing, why don't you come with us?"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said, "I have to take Zong Ge'er back to Huihefang Duke's Mansion for dinner later. There are too many people heading north and I can't run fast. I plan to take a detour."

Gu Tingye said with some regret: "I was thinking of asking you to go to Panlou for a drink!"

"You go ahead!"

"gone!"

After saying this, Xu Zaijing bowed and said goodbye, and Lu Zezong followed suit.

Qingyun bowed at the end and followed Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing and his three companions rode their horses straight eastward for a long distance, passing by the Taoist temples Jiucheng Palace and Nanbaozhen Palace, which were built opposite each other across the street.

At Ningbi Pond, Ningxiang Pond and Yingxiang Pond, the street near the three ponds turns north, and the horses begin to speed up after crossing the Yitai Bridge over the Cai River.

Running northwards,
After entering the inner city from the Old Cao Gate, you will reach Huihefang not far away.

While walking on Jiucaomen Street,
Lu Zezong in Xu Zaijing's arms pointed at the three carriages on the roadside and said, "Brother, that's our family's carriage! Maybe some of my cousins ​​are in it."

Hearing Lu Zezong's words, the little black horse, who shared the same thoughts with Xu Zaijing, moved towards the carriage.

"Sister? Are you there?"

Lu Zezong shouted crisply.

The curtains of the three carriages were all opened, and the ladies in the carriages looked out.

Looking at the people behind the window, Lu Zezong was stunned, because in the middle carriage, besides his cousin, there was also a familiar-looking girl.

"Sister Chai."

Lu Zezong shouted crisply.

Chai Zhengzheng in the carriage smiled at Xu Lu Zezong and waved his hand.

The girls from Prince Consort Lu's family looked at Xu Zaijing and Lu Zezong and asked, "Why did you come back so soon?"

Lu Zezong smiled and said, “My brother and I came from the outer city. Sister, aren’t you going back for lunch?”

"Yeah, someone's treating me."

The girl from the Lu family in the middle carriage said this and looked at Chai Zhengzheng.

"Then we'll leave first." Lu Zezong waved his hand.

"go Go."

The girls from the Lu family couldn't wait to lower the car curtains.

The sky darkens,

The sound of firecrackers in the city of Bianjing gradually increased.

From time to time, fireworks flew into the air and exploded.

Jiying Lane,
Sheng family,

The table was filled with dishes.
Sheng Hong sat beside the old lady, stroked his beard while looking at the children of the Sheng family sitting at the table, and said, "Bai'er, come and recite a poem."

Changbai stood up and bowed: "If you want to know that a young man at the age of 18 can still boast."

Rulan and Minglan, who had been looking expectant just now, lowered their heads and sighed after hearing the first sentence recited by Changbai.

Rulan frowned and said, "Second brother, when can you change your poem?"

(End of this chapter)