Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 460: Open your eyes and speak [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 41k more]

8:00 am

West of Bianjing
Wanshengmennei Street
Xiaoya Lane

“Ding ding~”

"Dong Dong Clang~"

The cheerful suona and gongs and drums sounded.

Leading a procession of carriages and horses out of the alley,
Leading the group were two young men riding on fine horses and wearing flowers in their hair.

The Ni family's main entrance is decorated with red and colorful decorations.
Zhu Qinghu and Ni Qiqiu withdrew their gaze and walked into the courtyard with everyone else.

Xie, who came on behalf of her mother-in-law and was dressed in bright festive clothes, stood beside Ni Qiqiu. After smiling and talking to the aunt of the Sun family who came to help, she tilted her head and said, "Sister-in-law, my mother-in-law and I always thought that we would start our journey at Zhu's house."

Xu Zaijing's grandparents' home was on Xishuimen Street, and Ni Qiqiu often taught the Sun children to read. When Xu Zaijing's aunts were unwell, Ni Qiqiu would not care about her status as a viscount's wife and would often help them massage their legs, so they had a very good relationship.

Ni Qiqiu smiled and said, "I thought so at first, but I couldn't resist the kindness of the Sheng family. Xiaodie also wanted to stay with him, so I decided to stay with the Sheng family."

The wife of Zhu Jiacheng, who was also wearing new clothes and had her hair in a bun, smiled and said, "It is a good thing to marry a maid at home. Anyone would say that you treat the maid well."

Xie nodded in agreement: "That's right!"

Xu Zaijing's eighth aunt laughed and said, "This Earl's wife is different. She says the same thing in a nice way!"

Xu Zaijing's second aunt said, "If you don't know how to praise people, just say less!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the women around laughed.

Madam Cheng pursed her lips a little embarrassedly, then looked at Ni Qi Qiu with a smile.

This Madam Cheng from the Zhu family is Chai Zhengzheng’s cousin Cheng Qinnan. Her husband is the eldest son of Zhu, the Marquis of Chengping, and works in the Ministry of Works.

The Cheng family had helped the Ni family a lot before, saving the Ni siblings from a lot of bullying.

Later, the Cheng family was able to marry into the Zhu family because of the kinship between the Ni, Zhu, Xu, and Lu (Duke Lian's Mansion) families.

Previously, Ni Qiqiu intended to have his younger brother marry into the Cheng family. Although it did not happen, it did not affect the interactions between the two families.

Talking
They entered the courtyard.

Today, the Ni family residence has undergone great changes after renovation and is far from the dilapidated appearance it had when Ni Qi Qiu got married.

"Sister, which craftsman did you hire to renovate the yard? His skills are really good!"

The eldest lady of the Jin family looked around the yard and asked.

Ni Qiqiu smiled and said to Cheng Qiniang who was equally curious, "I wanted to hire the Li family's team of craftsmen, but they were too busy, so we used another team sent by the Li family. The young master who led the team is also related to the Fuchang Marquis family!"

"Oh~"

The eldest lady of the Jin family nodded.

The other ladies around didn't say anything, but there was a hint of teasing in their eye contact.

There is no other reason, the ancestors of Fuchang Hou Rong were bricklayers.

The ladies of the wealthy and powerful families in Bian Jing, such as the dukes and marquises, often used this incident to bully the arrogant Rong family, and the interesting stories naturally spread to the people in the market.

Yangchun in March,

neither cold nor hot
After the ladies sat down in the main hall, the topic turned to the daily life in Bianjing.

Taking advantage of the conversation,

Cheng Qiniang asked uncertainly:
"By the way, when Lord Sheng from Jiying Lane was the magistrate of Yangzhou, was the prefect's surname Hong?"

The ladies in the hall looked at each other.
Xie shook his head to indicate that he didn't know.
It was the Jin family's eldest lady who thought about it and said, "It seems so!"

"I'm not afraid of being laughed at by you all. I have a cousin who is a concubine in the Kang family. When I was talking before, I heard about the story of Lord Kang's brother-in-law. Lord Hong is the one who works with Lord Sheng."

Once this conversation started,

The ladies in the hall started chattering, and the topic naturally turned to the scandal of the Kang family in recent days.

If such a thing happened to an ordinary family, people would talk about it, let alone a family as aristocratic as the Kang family.

"Duan'er's family, have you heard how much money the evil servants of the Kang family embezzled?" said Xu Zaijing's eighth aunt.

Mrs. Xie hesitated for a moment, but seeing the gossipy eyes of the ladies, she said, "A family as rich as the Kang family must have at least 7,000 or 8,000 strings of cash!"

When the ladies heard this, they all nodded in agreement.

"I heard that the Kang family's Qi Da and Qi Er, along with their personal servants, have not been seen for several days."

"Didn't they say they would send him to the farm outside the city?"

"Who knows? It's hard to say."

"Let's not talk about this topic at this moment," said the second aunt of the Sun family.

"Yes, yes, yes, let's stop talking about it." The ladies responded.

After the Jin family's eldest lady responded, she looked at Cheng Qiniang and said, "What did you ask about the Hong family just now?"

Cheng Qiniang said, "My mother-in-law and the eldest lady of the Liu family went out of the city to worship the immortal. They said that the third lady of the Hong family had decided on the Dongchang Marquis Mansion, but I heard from my mother's family that it was the Ningyuan Marquis Mansion that was decided."

"It's mainly because I heard that Mr. Hong is going to take up a post in the Ministry of Industry, so I wanted to take this opportunity to ask him."

Everyone in the hall understood, and then they all looked at Cheng Qinnan with a smile: This girl is planning for her husband. The eldest son of the Zhu family is a minor official in the Ministry of Works.

The Xu family and the Gu family are relatives by marriage.

So everyone looked at Xie as they spoke.

Mrs. Xie smiled and said, "I haven't received the Gu family's wedding invitation yet. I'll ask my mother-in-law when I get home today, and I'll inform my sister when I have news."

Hearing this, Cheng Qiniang quickly stood up and bowed: "Thank you for your help, Madam."

Xie smiled and waved her hand.

Everyone also turned to other topics.

period,

The Ni family sent another group of people to the Sheng family to deliver gifts to urge the bride to marry.

near noon,

Jiying Lane

Moriya
The courtyard was decorated festively inside and outside.
It was not as grand as Hualan's wedding.

But also joyous.

Shouantang,
The old lady looked at Sheng Hong kindly and said, "Hong'er, why are you so happy today?"

Sheng Hong sat on the chair with a smile on his face, bowed slightly and said: "Mother, my son is working in the government office, and many colleagues have praised him, saying that he is kind and generous to others."

The old lady smiled and nodded: "Well! This can be considered a good reputation."

Sheng Hong nodded in agreement: "Come to think of it, it was Ming'er's mother who mentioned it that made me make this decision."

"Then it seems that I made the right choice for the lady and the old woman."

Sheng Hong smiled awkwardly.

At first, Sheng Hong wanted Lin Qinshuang to be the housekeeper, but the two old ladies both favored Wei Xiaoniang.

At this time, Fang Mama smiled and said at the door: "Old lady, Master, the second makeup gift from the Ni family has arrived."

Sheng Hong stood up and said, "Mother, I'm going to go out and see what's going on."

The old lady smiled and nodded: "Go."

After saying that, the old lady turned her head to look at the calligraphy copied by Sheng Changqi on the table beside her and nodded approvingly: "Your writing is much better than your sister's."

In the present Anzhaiyuan,
The festive atmosphere is much stronger than in the yard.

The maid Qiu Jiang had a red silk tied around her waist and looked at Xiao Die in her wedding dress with envy.

Wei Shuyi stood aside with a smile, handed the comb in his hand to Qingcao, and said: "Miss Qingcao has really inherited the true teachings of Fang Mama. The bun you combed like this is indeed more beautiful than before."

In the room, several young maids all nodded.

Qingcao smiled and looked at Xiaodie, then said shyly, "Don't praise me, little girl. My embroidery skills are far inferior to yours!"

Liu Mama's own daughter Jiu'er is now thirteen or fourteen years old. She is holding an ordinary crown and said to the little maid Caihuan: "The embroidery on Sister Xiaodie's wedding dress is really beautiful."

Caihuan looked at Huaxiang and Yunxiang, who were standing opposite her with beautiful figures and elegant clothes, and said absentmindedly, "Maybe Miss Wei embroidered it herself."

Jiuer continued, "I don't know if we can compete with Sister Xiaodie when we get married."

Xi Que, Ru Lan's personal maid, whispered, "Then we need a brother who sacrificed his life for the country, and his comrade-in-arms must be a noble, and he must also be a personal maid who saved the sons of the Marquis' Mansion."

"Go away, you're spoiling the fun!"

Jiuer said angrily.

At this time,

Xiao Tao ran over excitedly, looked at everyone in the room, and said with a smile: "The groom is here!"

At the entrance of Sheng’s family,
Xu Zaijing and his brother, who had just got home from school at noon, stood there.

Originally, when Miss Xiaodie got married, Xu Zaijing and his brother didn't need to stand here.

But the people who accompanied Ni Tengyue to welcome the bride were his classmates at Li's School, all of whom were children of officials.

Xu Zaijing could not resist the request of his cousin Zhu Qinghu.

I can only come to share the good fortune and block the door.

As a result, Gu Tingye and Qi Heng, who liked to join in the fun, also followed. In addition, Changbai and Changfeng, who were supposed to be at the door,

In this way, it is the Sheng Family School versus the Li Family School.

In the yard,
Sheng Hong looked at the commotion at the gate and said to Dong Rong, "The Li family can have these people here, it seems that they are very optimistic about this Ni family brother!"

"My Lord is right!"

Thinking of my three daughters at home,
Sheng Hong put his hands behind his back and said, "Let's go and take a look."

Come to the door,

However, he saw that the sons of officials around Ni Tengyue were completely suppressed by Xu Zaijing and his group.

Xu Zaijing and his group all passed the academy examination, and four of the six were legitimate sons of noble families, and they had studied under great Confucian scholars like Zhuang Xuejiu.

It is natural for the opponent to be suppressed.

Fortunately, Xu Zaijing and others knew the seriousness of the situation and did not make things too difficult for them, so they allowed everyone to enter the yard.

Afterwards, everyone followed the groom into the front hall of the Sheng family.

Sheng Family Inner Courtyard
The main hall of Weiruixuan,
Wang Ruofu sat on the chair with a smile on her face.
Wei Shuyi stood beside Wang Ruofu.

Aunt Wei, with a happy look on her face, stood in the hall, supporting Xiaodie, who was wearing a wedding dress.

"Madam, the groom has arrived at the front hall." Caihuan announced at the door.

Wang Ruofu nodded: "Go ahead."

With tears in her eyes, Xiaodie looked at the smiling Wei Shuyi, lifted the hem of her wedding dress and knelt down. Even Aunt Wei was unable to hold her back.

Seeing Wang Ruofu's surprised expression and Wei Shuyi's hesitant look, Xiaodie said with tears in her eyes: "Madam, Madam, I'm leaving."

Wang Ruofu stood up and nodded, "Go! You are such a good kid!"

Watching Xiaodie leave the hall,

Wang Ruofu held Mother Liu's arm and said with some regret: "Alas, I should have given more."

"The lady is kind-hearted."

Mother Liu echoed.

Subsequently,

Aunt Wei helped Xiaodie, who was holding a round fan, to the front hall.

In the midst of the excitement, Ni Tengyue carried her out of the Sheng family and into the bridal sedan.

After nodding to Aunt Wei who was looking at him at the gate, Xu Zaijing looked at the sedan chair going away and said to Qingcao, "How much dowry is this for Xiaodie?"

Qingcao thought for a moment and said, "My lord, it was said to be thirty-six loads."

Xu Zaijing nodded and turned to enter the Sheng family.

When the bride arrived at Xiaoya Lane, there was a lot of excitement.

Because Ni Qiqiu's siblings and their parents both died,
So when Xiaodie and Ni Tengyue served tea the next day, it was Ni Qi Qiu who sat at the seat at the head of the table on behalf of his parents.

Standing next to Ni Qi Qiu were the other two little ones from the Ni family.

After drinking the tea,
Ni Qiqiu looked at his brother and sister-in-law standing there, and said with a smile: "The Ni family will rely on you two in the future."

After some instructions,

Ni Qi Qiu and Zhu Qinghu got up and prepared to leave the Ni family.

Zhu Qinghu and Ni Tengyue were walking and talking in front.

Ni Qi Qiu was holding Xiao Die's arm from behind.

Xiaodie looked at Ni Qiqiu and asked, "Sister, what's wrong?"

Ni Qiqiu hesitated and asked, "Xiaodie, were all these dowries bought for you by Madam Wei?"

Xiaodie smiled and said, "Some of them were prepared by me, and some were sent by the Madam, Miss Hualan and the Marquis' Mansion."

Ni Qiqiu nodded: "No wonder it's so generous!"

Ni Qiqiu took out a silver note from his sleeve and stuffed it into Xiaodie's hand: "This is a gift from your brother-in-law and me! From now on, you will be the head of the Ni family."

"Sister, this."

Xiaodie looked at Ni Tengyue in front of her at a loss.

Ni Qiqiu looked at the younger brother and sister who were talking to Zhu Qinghu and said, "You will need to take care of them in the future, so accept them!"

Xiaodie took the silver note: "Yes!"

Watching the Zhu family carriage go away,

Ni Tengyue said to Xiaodie who was still watching, "Madam, let's go back."

Ni Tengyue is a man.

Ni Qiqiu was busy with the Zhu family's affairs.
The two little ones of the Ni family would definitely be neglected.
Later, when Ni Qi Qiu came to Xiaoya Lane again, he saw that the clothes and hairstyles of the younger brother and sister of the Ni family were "brand new". That is another story.

Two days before the results of the imperial examination were announced,
The news that the main door of the Sheng family in Jiying Lane was marrying off a maid had been circulating in the capital.

I heard someone was going to write this into a travelogue.
Thinking of this made Sheng Hong smile from ear to ear the whole day.

Sheng Hong had a draft in his mind about how to write that person: "The Sheng family, the top scholar in Jiying Lane, Bianjing, the master is so and so."

On the day of the results announcement,

early in the morning,
Xu Zaijing and his brother did not go to Sheng's house.
Instead, he went directly to the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites according to Mr. Zhuang's instructions.

The results of the Great Zhou Examination were announced.

It is pasted on the wide screen wall outside the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites.

Although Xu Zaijing and his brother arrived early,

But when we arrived outside the South Courtyard of the Ministry of Rites,

There were already quite a few people gathered there.

Among the crowd were students who were going to take the exam to see the list.
There was a well-dressed wealthy man from Bianjing,
There were also some servants and idle yamen runners wearing red robes.

If a candidate passes the imperial examination, it is like a carp leaping over the dragon gate, and he or she has a bright future.

The servants and idlers saw the ranking and sent the good news, and naturally they were rewarded generously.

The students saw their rankings and knew that if they passed the exam, they would be chosen as their son-in-law by a wealthy family.

It is called catching a son-in-law, but it is mostly done by bribery. Students who have passed the imperial examination, as long as they nod and sign the marriage certificate, will receive a gift money of three hundred to one thousand strings of cash, not counting the dowry of the girls later.

The morning light is faint,

Xu Zaijing and his brother stopped their horses nearby.
"May I know your name, sir?"

A well-dressed steward came over and asked politely with a bow.

Zai Zhang smiled and asked, "Who to ask?"

The steward glanced at Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing cupped his hands and said, "I didn't participate in this examination. I just came to take a look."

The steward's eyes were filled with regret, and he bowed politely again: "Sorry to bother you, sir."

Wait for people to go far away,

Zai Zhang smiled and said, "Xiao Wu, this is the seventh person to ask you."

Xu Zaijing shook his head helplessly and said, "Let's wait for the teahouse next door to open and then go up to wait for Zhuang Xuejiu."

Just after he finished talking for a while, the steward came back and said, "Young Master, my master wants to ask if you are married. If you are not married, even if you don't pass the exam, my family is willing to marry you! My master has lived in the Wang family for a long time and has a lot of wealth."

Qingyun at the side said, "What do you mean by a huge fortune? Why don't you take a look at my young master's mount before you speak?"

The steward raised his head.
The sun had just risen.

The handsome brown dragon colt that Xu Zaijing was riding shone with dark gold color under the morning light.

The steward swallowed his saliva.

"Chi~"

Longju snorted.

Fortunately, someone shouted at this time: "We got it, we got it! Brother Jinyu, you got it!"

One stone stirred up a thousand waves,

Everyone looked at the man named Brother Jin Yu.

The steward in front of Xu Zaijing hurriedly bowed and left with the servant.

Xu Zaijing was sitting high up and could see several well-dressed stewards like the one just now rushing towards that man.

I heard the voices from afar, announcing their identities, wealth, and gifts.

After a while, the "Brother Jinyu" walked out surrounded by servants of a certain family amid the envious eyes of those around him.

When passing by Xu Zaijing and his group,
In the morning light, the man happened to see Qingyun talking and smiling with Xu Zaijing.

After that 'Brother Jinyu' talked to the steward nearby for a few words, he led his people over and bowed to Xu Zaijing and his party, saying, "Thank you very much for your help earlier."

Xu Zaijing, Zaizhang and Qingyun looked at each other, their eyes full of doubts, "You did it?"

(End of this chapter)