Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 426: Around the Lantern Festival [Thank you! Thank you again! I owe you yuan]

The fourteenth day of the first lunar month,

Sishimo (11:00 a.m.)
Quyuan Street

Yong Yi Hou Mansion
The dazzling sunlight shone into Xu Zaijing's yard.

The grape trellis in the yard blocked some of the sunlight, leaving shadows of branches crisscrossing on the stone floor.

Passing through the main house under the grape trellis,
The light from outside shines through the thin window paper, making the room very bright.

The heating was still on, so Qingcao, Yunxiang and Huaxiang, who were doing needlework near the window in the room, didn't have to wear very warm clothes.

In the room, beautiful fish were swimming carefree in a very clean fish tank, occasionally creating ripples on the water surface.

"Hua Xiang, go and see if the young master needs some more tea."

Hearing Yun Xiang's words, Hua Xiang nodded, put down the silver-white brocade cloak in her hand, and quietly pushed open the door to the study.

Xu Zaijing in the study room looked up at the flowers at the door and thought, "There's still tea, no need to come over."

"Yes, son."

Hua Xiang bowed behind the door and then walked out. He closed the door and walked back to Qingcao and Yunxiang, shook his head, sat down again and picked up the brocade cloak.

After embroidering a few stitches, Hua Xiang looked at Yun who was standing beside her and said, "Sister, how many words do you have left?"

Sister Yunxiang was holding a light-colored brocade cape in her hand. The style was exactly the same as Huaxiang's. She unfolded it and looked at it: "There are two left."

Sister Huaxiang nodded and looked at Qingcao: "Sister Qingcao, what about you?"

Qingcao smiled and said, "I also have two left."

As she spoke, Qingcao unfolded the green brocade cloak in her hand. On the green brocade was embroidered with the words 'Warm grass for sleeping and fat calves' with silvery-white silk thread.

On Yunxiang and Huaxiang's silver-white cloaks were embroidered with green silk thread the words 'The clouds resemble their clothes, the flowers resemble their faces, the spring breeze blows across the threshold, and the dew on their faces is gorgeous'.

When the three maids were about to finish embroidering the remaining two words,

When the embroidery thread is cut with scissors,
Xu Zaijing opened the door of the study and walked out, holding a completely empty teacup in his hand.

After looking at the three maids who were spreading their cloaks and admiring them in the room, he filled his teacup and prepared to return to the study.

After taking just one step, Xu Zaijing stopped, looked sideways at the cloaks in the hands of the three maids and said, "Why don't these words look like my handwriting? They look a bit like Uncle Sheng's!"

Hearing this, the three maids looked at Xu Zaijing and smiled.

"Sir, this is the calligraphy that we asked Miss Minglan to write a few days ago. Doesn't it look good?"

Xu Zaijing took a closer look and nodded, "Not bad, it's better than what I wrote!"

Yun Xiang, who was beside Qing Cao, bowed and said with a smile: "Sir, your handwriting is also very good! But the strokes are too sharp, and we are afraid that we can't suppress such good words."

The corners of Xu Zaijing's mouth slightly lifted up, revealing an almost undetectable smile on his face. He pointed at the air with his index finger and walked back to the study.

When Xu Zaijing disappeared at the door,
Hua Xiang and Qing Cao exchanged glances and said, "Sister, you are still good at talking!"

"Three girls, Brother Qingyun is back and he has something to report."

Xu's mother spoke in a moderate voice at the door.

"I know. Thank you for your hard work, Mom."

Qingcao stood up and shouted outside.

As Qingcao spoke, she nodded to Yunxiang and Huaxiang, motioning her to go find Qingyun. She then draped the newly made cloak over her arms and walked towards the outside.

When we got to the outer room,

The temperature dropped sharply.
Qingcao hurriedly put on his cloak, walked under the grape trellis in the yard, and headed towards the gate.

"Brother Qingyun!"

Qingcao looked at Qingyun, who was dressed decently and wearing leather earmuffs, and shouted with a smile.

"Sister-in-law Hua Qing is so pregnant now, and she still made new clothes for Brother Qing Yun? They look really beautiful!"

Hearing Qingcao's words, Qingyun touched his clothes with a happy look on his face, and then said seriously: "Sister Qingcao, please inform the master that the Shen family's brother is still not feeling well, and he will not have the opportunity to attend the Lantern Festival banquet."

Qingcao put away his smile and nodded solemnly: "I understand, Brother Qingyun."

Qingyun nodded: "Okay, I'll get busy then."

Qingcao nodded and walked through the grape trellis again and returned to the house.

Xu Zaijing, who was reading in the study, nodded after listening to Qingcao's words and said, "Qingcao, find time to tell Qingyun that next time if there is something, just come to the courtyard and report it. I haven't gotten married yet."

"Yes, son."

Not at the right time (2 p.m.)
This is the time of the day when the sun is at its highest.
In the Xu Family Racecourse,

Xu Zaijing was taking a walk on his first horse.
This horse is younger than Xu Zaijing, but it is also fourteen years old, which is already the late prime of a horse.

There are too many fine horses in the Xu family stable, and Xu Zaijing rarely rides it.

There is still no sign of its owner, Xu Zaijing's wife, but this horse has grandchildren.

When Xu Zaijing was riding the horse around the racecourse, the strong stallion, Xiao Li, would neigh in the fence from time to time, as if trying to win favor.

After running two laps,

Qingyun's figure appeared next to the wooden house at the edge of the field.

Xu Zaijing urged the horse to trot a few steps to the wooden house. He dismounted, patted the panting horse's neck, and looked at Qingyun and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Sir, the guards around the eldest son said that Brother Yu Huguang has returned to the capital!"

Xu Zaijing was stunned: "To arrive in Bianjing at this time, does that mean you set out before the New Year?"

Qingyun nodded.

"Do you know why you are so anxious?" Xu Zaijing asked.

"Sir, I haven't really asked about this!"

Xu Zaijing raised his chin.

Qingyun understood, bowed, turned around and left to find out the news.

An hour later,

Xu Zaijing was in the stable looking at the offspring of the little Liju and the longju, which was also the mare that would soon be sent to the Huyan family.

Not long after birth, the pony has already shown its handsome appearance.

"Sir, go to the Yu family and ask them clearly! The old doctor of the Yu family was not feeling well a few years ago, so the Yu family sent a letter to Brother Yu and asked him to return to Bianjing."

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Speaking of which, the old medical officer Xu Zaijing had also seen it.

That year outside Shenbao Temple, after Xu Zaijing blocked the flagpole that was sweeping over, this old medical officer was one of the three doctors who examined Xu Zaijing's injuries.

"Have you asked the Yu family what medicinal herbs they need?"

Qingyun shook his head: "The Yu family has been a medical officer for many years, and there are many medicinal herbs at home. When I asked, the Yu family manager said that he thanked our family for their kindness, but they might not need them."

Xu Zaijing touched the pony's chin and walked out of the stable. After a moment's silence, he said, "Let Qingcao go to the storehouse and get a good golden ginseng. You take it with you. It's a token of our appreciation."

"Yes, son."

Although it is early spring
But when it was time to light the lamps, it was still cold.

Medical officer Yu's family,

The old medical officer Yu, who had a ruddy complexion and white hair and a youthful look before, now had dark circles under his eyes and was lying on the bed in the bedroom.

There were bright candles burning on the tables outside.
Yu Huguang, who looked exhausted, was sitting on a chair beside the table.

Beside him were three stewards of the Yu family, who were holding wooden boxes. The boxes were made of precious materials, and it was obvious that they contained valuable things.

Yu Huguang stretched out his hand, and the steward handed the wooden box to him.

But when the wooden box was opened in Yu Huguang's hands, Yu Huguang just shook his head after examining it in the candlelight.

I checked several wooden boxes.

When Yu Huguang reached out his hand again, he did not feel the wooden box being handed to him.

Yu Huguang turned his head to look: "No more?"

The Yu family's steward nodded with an unpleasant expression: "Sir, these are the ginsengs sent by other families as well as all the treasures of our family."

Yu Huguang sighed uncomfortably, closed his eyes for a while, and then said, "I'll go ask someone else."

He stood up and said,

Maybe it was because I got up too fast and traveled for days.
Yu Huguang staggered as he stood up.
Even the candles on the table began to shake.

The three managers of the Yu family hurried forward to support him. One of them said, "Sir, the ginseng in our family is the best. The old master needs the best ginseng, which can be used to save his life. Where can you ask?"

"Who would give or sell it if it really exists?"

"I know but I have to give it a try!"

Yu Huguang paused and thought about the dignitaries his grandfather had helped. He seemed to have a goal in mind: "Go, prepare the horses! I'm going to Prince Kang's mansion!"

The steward who was supporting Yu Huguang said with some resentment in his tone:

"Sir! The old master sent me to the Kangwang Mansion before, just to ask for a life-saving precious ginseng beard! But..."

As he spoke, the steward seemed to have thought of something and was about to speak.

But after looking in the direction of the old medical officer's bedroom, he slapped his thigh heavily in anger and frustration: "Alas!"

Hearing this, Yu Huguang frowned even more tightly.

Perhaps because he was tired from the journey home, or because he felt sorry for his grandfather, Yu Huguang's eyes were a little cloudy. He was uneasy and said with a distressed tone: "I'll go ask again!"

As he said this, he was about to walk out.

In the courtyard of the Yu family,
The servant was carrying a lantern and walking in front of Qingyun, talking.
"After the young master arrived home, he went to the old master's room to check his pulse without even taking a sip of water. Now he is checking the treasures in the house and prescribing medicine for the old master."

"Now that the young master is back, we feel that we have someone to rely on."

Qingyun held a wooden box in his hand that was about the same width as his waist and nodded, saying, "Before in Bianjing, some of my relatives and friends were cured by Brother Yu! Later, when I served under the Marquis, I witnessed Brother Yu's superb medical skills. Many of my comrades were able to survive thanks to him!"

The Yu family servant nodded, his eyes full of pride.

"Sir, Brother Qingyun, who is next to the fifth son of the Xu family, the Marquis of Yongyi, is here!"

Hearing the servant's voice, Yu Huguang, who was standing by the table, was stunned.

"Please!"

After Yu Huguang finished speaking for a while,

Qingyun walked in holding a wooden box.

Seeing the wooden box in Qingyun's hand, the three managers beside Yu Huguang looked at each other and sighed softly.

The Yu family has been serving as medical officers for many years. The medicinal materials they have collected may be better than those of some ordinary noble families.
"Brother Yu, this is a small gift from my young master."

When Qingyun put the wooden box on the table, he looked at the several ginsengs placed in the box under the candlelight with some surprise.

"Young Master said, if you need any help, just ask directly, he will definitely help if he can!"

Yu Huguang patted Qingyun's arm and nodded heavily. He forced a smile on his face and nodded, "Wulang is so thoughtful. Qingyun, please go back and thank him for me."

"Don't worry, Brother Yu, I will definitely convey your message! Then, I'll take my leave!"

Yu Huguang turned his head to look at the housekeeper and said, "Send it over!"

The steward bowed and responded.

When Qingyun leaves the room,

Yu Huguang sat back in his chair and looked at the only unopened wooden box on the table in front of him.

When the steward opened his mouth to speak, Yu Huguang had already gently opened the wooden box.

"Hiss! This"

The steward took a deep breath unconsciously when he saw the precious ginseng revealed in the wooden box under the candlelight.

Yu Huguang looked up and down at the precious ginseng. Although there was a look of fatigue on his face, his eyes were no longer cloudy as before, but were bright with hope.

"Go! Get some medicine!"

On the second day,
The fifteenth day of the first lunar month,

Lantern Festival,

On the streets of Bianjing, there were many lanterns of various shapes placed or hung that had not yet been lit.

On the open space outside Xuande Gate, the most lively place during the Lantern Festival,

Although the lanterns had not yet been lit, many wealthy people in Bianjing were still hanging out nearby, looking at the lanterns in front of the imperial city that were more elaborate and gorgeous than in previous years.

Early noon (around 11:00 a.m.)
The best place to view the lanterns is on the top floor of a restaurant.
Wei Fangzhi was playing the pipa in his arms, and the soothing and beautiful sound of the pipa flowed slowly in the private room.

The noble ladies in Bianjing sat around the fireplace, chatting with their close friends from time to time.

Chai Zhengzheng sat in the main seat.
From time to time, she would smile at some of the daughters of a noble family who were looking at her, and sometimes she would raise her glass and take a sip of fruit wine from afar.

The maid Yunmu walked slowly to Chai Zhengzheng, squatted down and whispered a few words in Chai Zhengzheng's ear.

Chai Zhengzheng looked towards the entrance of the private room and saw the nearsighted Li Jia Wu Niang walking in with a girl with red eyes.

Behind them were their personal maids.

Chai Zhengzheng nodded and whispered, "Please ask Miss Shen to sit next to me, next to Tingyi."

"Yes, girl."

When Yunmu went to invite someone,
Chai Zhengzheng and Ting Yi whispered to each other.
When the fifth wife of the Li family came over with the girl of the Shen family, Tingyi spoke a few words to her with great care.

After the Shen family girl sat down, many eyes turned to her.

Chai Zhengzheng smiled and introduced loudly: "Everyone, the one sitting next to me is Miss Shen, and her father is Mr. Shen."

Although her eyes were red and her dress style was somewhat out of step with the latest fashion trends in Bianjing, it was obvious at first glance that this girl from the Shen family had received a strict education.

After hearing Chai Zhengzheng's introduction, Miss Shen stood up and responded politely.

After Miss Shen sat back in her seat, she relaxed a little. As Tingyi and Li's fifth daughter talked to her from time to time, she began to talk more.

While talking to a person of the same age next to her, Miss Shen looked curiously at a noble lady sitting opposite her, who looked at her with eyes that were a little different from those of others.

The lady was dressed very elegantly, but her expression was somewhat sad.

Seeing the girl from the Shen family looking at her, the noble lady forced a smile and nodded at her.

After talking for a while,

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Zheng Ni and said, "Sisters and sisters, let's go to the side hall to have dinner."

After saying that, he glanced at Gu Tingyi.

Ting Yi nodded to indicate that he had received it, and then he leaned close to the ear of Miss Shen and said, "Sister Hezhen, let's walk slower. Tell me about the scenery in the south of the Great Zhou."

Shen Hezhen pursed her lips, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.

quickly,

Everyone stood up and left.

Gu Tingyi and Zheng Ni, who also stayed behind, nodded, took a few quick steps and left Shen Hezhen behind, while Zheng Ni came over with the maid.

Seeing Gu Tingyi and his maid separating the two from the "large group" in front, the maid next to Shen Hezhen said with some vigilance: "Miss, what are you going to do?"

As he said this, he glanced at the strong female servant beside Zheng Ni.

The Zheng family was a military family, and there was never a shortage of maids skilled in martial arts in the family.

The maid behind Zheng Ni bowed and said, "Don't misunderstand, young lady. We are from the Zheng family, and this is our young lady."

Upon hearing this,
Shin Hezhen looked at Zheng Ni in surprise: "You are the elder sister of the Zheng family, the one who is planning a marriage with my brother."

Zheng Ni nodded and looked at the Shen family girl and said, "Are you and Ruita okay?"

Shen Hezhen felt her eyes warm up, and she shook her head with a tearful tone in her voice, "My brother is not well. Although father has invited many imperial doctors, the old doctor Yu, who is the best at treating diseases of the five internal organs in the capital, is ill in bed."

When Zheng Ni heard this, tears welled up in her eyes. Last year at this time, she went to see the lanterns with Shen Herui, but this year at this time,
Just as Zheng Ni was about to comfort Shen Hezhen, a maid from the Shen family ran up quickly. After walking to Shen Hezhen's side, she panted and said, "Miss, there was a message from home saying that Doctor Yu has woken up!"

In the palace,
Zhao Fang glanced at the eunuch who was being caned in front of the palace, then turned his head and asked Qingyun beside him, "What's going on over there?"

Qingyun bowed his head and said, "Your Highness, an eunuch in the palace concealed the fact that he had improperly stored the medicinal materials, and he is being punished by the chief eunuch beside Your Majesty!"

Zhao Fang looked at Qingyun in confusion and asked, "What medicinal herbs?"

"Your Majesty learned that the old doctor Yu was ill, so he specially allocated extra precious ginseng, but it was infested with insects and lost its medicinal effect! It almost made the old doctor seriously ill and he could not be treated. If Lord Shen had not come to your Majesty for help, your Majesty would not have known about this!"

Zhao Fang nodded after listening to Qingyun's words: "How is your Majesty going to punish that eunuch?"

"Your Majesty said we need to fight ten battles."

After Qingyun finished speaking, he felt the atmosphere around him was a little tense.
Then Qingyun heard the sound of Zhao Fang waving his sleeves: "Such a dereliction of duty happened in such an important place. If it were my father and my mother... Ugh!"

Zhao Fang let out a long breath and walked quickly towards where the emperor was.

After seeing the emperor, Zhao Fang immediately bowed and said, "Father! I think it would be better to beat the dereliction of duty eunuch to death to serve as a warning to others!"

(End of this chapter)