Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 522: Eating Porridge on Laba Festival [Thank you! Goodbye! 44k more to go]

Xingguofang,
Ningyuan Hou Mansion,

In the main house in the backyard,
Bai sat beside the bed, patting the silk quilt from time to time.

Under the quilt, Gu Shixing and his sister were sleeping soundly.

"Madam, the lady is back."

Nanny Chang lowered her voice and said.

Bai nodded.

After a while

Pingmei walked in with a chill in her voice.

"Mother, are the children asleep?"

Pingmei asked with a smile as she looked at her children, whose little heads were only visible.

"Yes, I just slept for half a quarter of an hour!"

"Pingmei, have you asked Jing'er about Erlang's matter?"

Pingmei nodded, smiled at Nanny Chang who was carrying the embroidery cushion, and said:
"Xiao Wu said that the arrow may have some special meaning to Erlang! Erlang rarely used a bow and arrow in Beizhou City, so he would not be contaminated by any battlefield evil spirit."

Hearing this, Bai nodded and said, "That's good! I don't know what the feather arrow means to Ye'er! No matter how I asked him before, he wouldn't tell me and insisted on hanging up the feather arrow."

Nanny Chang at the side whispered, "Madam, I heard from the servant beside Brother Ye that Brother Ye has been getting up early every day these past two days and has been practicing archery even harder!"

Mrs. Bai nodded thoughtfully and said, "Jing'er has been good at archery since he was a child. Could it be that Ye'er followed Jing'er to Beizhou this time and saw the scene, and then he knew shame and became braver?"

"Madam, Madam, I think that's probably the case! Didn't Ye'er see Sheng's Bo'er and Jing'er getting up early every day to study? "

"Seeing a virtuous person, we should emulate him! Ye'er's studies were not in vain!"

Time flies,

A few days later,

Early this morning,
Yinshi (four o'clock in the morning),
The sky was still dark, and the cold winter night sky was dotted with stars, but there was no moon.

As always,
After a lantern lit up in the backyard of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion, they walked towards the racecourse.

When Xu Zaijing finished his training and returned to his master's wooden house, he saw his maid Yun Xiang, who was busy picking things out of a large basket full of millet, dates and other things.

"Wow~"

The maid shook the large basket, and the various things inside made noises.

Xu Zaijing stood in the room, drank a sip of warm water from the gourd, and said, "Yun Xiang, what are you doing?"

Yun Xiang stood up and used a small dustpan to put the contents of the basket into the sack. He said, "Sir, today is Laba Festival. Sister Hua Qing said that the shop will distribute Qibao vegetarian porridge for free. The three of us have also prepared these ingredients. Please help us distribute the porridge, Sister Hua Qing."

"Just let Mother Xia help you, why do you have to do it yourself?"

"Sir, only when you do it yourself can you be sincere!"

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

After breakfast,

On his way to Sheng's house on horseback,
Although it was still early, there were already monks from the temples in the capital, carrying Buddha statues and knocking on doors in the streets to beg for alms.

When I arrived at Sheng's house and wanted to lift the cotton curtain, I found that in addition to the lit candles on the long cypress table in the school, Gu Tingye had actually come early today.

"Erlang, you're here earlier than me today?"

In the candlelight, Gu Tingye raised his head, his eyes full of pride, and said: "Changbai has the advantage of terrain, but I can't always lose to you, Jing'er!"

"Okay!" Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

As in the past,
As it approached the hour of Mao, Qi Heng, Zai Zhang and the three Lans arrived at the school one after another.

Half a quarter of an hour after Zhuang Xuejiu arrived at the school,

Chang Fengcai hurriedly lifted the cotton curtain and appeared at the school gate.

"Scholar!" Chang Feng bowed.

While Chang Feng was speaking, a little maid carrying his book box walked into the school behind him.

Zhuang Xuejiu, who was sitting behind the desk, acted as if he didn't hear anything and continued to look at the homework of Changbai and others.

Chang Feng turned his head to glance at his frowning sister Molan, then looked at the other people sitting in the school, and bowed deeply with some shame.

The sky outside the window paper gradually became brighter. When Chang Feng's legs were aching from standing, Zhuang Xuejiu, who had just finished explaining the lesson, said to Chang Feng, "Brother Feng, come here!"

As he spoke, Master Zhuang picked up a bamboo board from the table.

"Snapped!"

Amid the sound of bamboo clappers, Zhuang Xuejiao said, "After passing the imperial examination, you should have studied harder to prepare for the imperial examination, but Brother Feng, you have been..."

He was beaten while talking, and after a lecture and a beating with a bamboo stick, Chang Feng was allowed to return to his seat and listen to the class.

Early noon (after 11:00 a.m.)

It was almost noon when school was over.

Mother Cui brought the servants of the Sheng family and carried several food boxes into the school yard.

After opening the cotton curtain and entering the house, Madam Cui bowed and said, "Xuejiu, today is the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month. The mistress of the house has prepared some five-flavor meat porridge and seven-treasure vegetarian porridge for Xuejiu and all the brothers and sisters!"

Zhuang Xuejiu, who was sitting behind the desk, smiled and said, "Thank you, Madam and this mother."

"Pedant polite!"

Afterwards, the various hot porridges and refreshing side dishes in the food boxes were placed on everyone's tables.

For a moment, the school was filled with the aroma of porridge and side dishes.

It seemed that Xu Zaijing had set a bad precedent by bringing a maid to the school, as even Chang Feng came with a little maid today.

Xu Zaijing, who was drinking porridge, leaned against the wall behind him, and from time to time glanced at Chang Feng who was talking to the maid.

"Ke'er, I can't finish this meat porridge. You can drink it yourself later."

Chang Feng looked at the little female messenger in front of him with a loving expression.

The little girl looked around, lowered her head shyly and said "hmm".

Chang Feng's position was the same as Xu Zaijing's, both at the very back, very close to the wooden platform where the maids and servants were sitting.

Seeing the "interaction" between Chang Feng and the little maid Ke'er, both the magpie beside Rulan and the luzhongyunzai beside Molan rolled their eyes at the same time.

At this time, Qi Heng put down the bowl of porridge in his hand, and Bu Wei on the wooden platform quickly stood up and walked to Qi Heng: "Sir, do you want to drink more? Eat well in the morning, but it's best to eat a full meal at noon."

Qi Heng hadn't spoken yet.

Xu Zaijing, who was standing behind him on the right, said, "Mother Cui, please bring another bowl over!"

Looking at Mother Cui who was walking towards him with a smile on her face, Qi Heng nodded and said, "Well! Let's have a bowl of meat porridge instead!"

Don't rush to serve the bowl.

After a busy time in the school,

I sat back on the wooden platform.
Mo Lan's personal maid Lu Zhong glanced at the look in her daughter's eyes, then moved closer to Bu Wei and whispered, "Brother Bu Wei, the school will be closed before the Spring Festival. Do you have time after that?"

Buwei smiled and said, "Sister Luzhong, why are you asking this?"

Lu Zhong said with a smile, "Master, please be kind. Yun Zai, Xiao Tao and I will all receive a lot of money before the New Year. Let's discuss finding a private room in a restaurant and have a meal together."

"After all, we have been studying with the young masters and young ladies for such a long time, but we have never eaten together!"

Buwei thought for a moment, looked at Yunxiang, Xu Zaijing's maid, who was sitting next to him, and said, "Are you going too?"

Yun Xiang nodded slightly and said, "I just asked the Master, and he told the three of us to do whatever we want."

"What about Brother Qingyun? Will he go?" Buwei continued to ask.

Yun Xiang shook his head: "Brother Qingyun wants to see Sister Huaqing and the two children, so it's hard to say for sure!" Buwei nodded: "Okay, then I'll ask my son and give Sister Lu Zhong the exact news this afternoon."

Listening to the conversation of several people, Ke'er, Chang Feng's little maid who came to the school for the first time, was sitting aside. While drinking the meat porridge in the bowl, she looked around at the maids' dressing.

This lovely girl spent particularly long periods of time looking at people, especially Yun Xiang, with her eyes mostly fixed on Yun Xiang's jewelry and clothes.

After finishing the porridge, Ke'er handed the bowl to the maid brought by Cui Mama, and continued to look at Yun Xiang.

suddenly,

Ke'er's sight was blocked by Lu Zhong's figure.

When Ke'er wanted to turn sideways and continue watching, Lu Zhong took another small step and blocked her view again.

Facing Ke'er's gaze, Lu Zhong slowly squatted down and said in a very low voice: "Sister Ke'er, please stop looking! Miss Yunxiang's jewelry and clothes are not comparable to ours!"

They are all maids of Linqi Pavilion.

A few people look down and don't see each other, but look up and see each other.
Ke'er rolled her eyes and whispered, "They are all maids beside their respective masters. What's the difference between them?"

After hearing this, Lu Zhong sat down on the wooden platform and gave Yun Zai a look.

Yun Zai understood, and took Ke'er's arm affectionately, leaning close to her ear and saying, "Sister Ke'er, do you know where Miss Yun Xiang's jewelry is made?"

Ke'er thought about it, shook her head and whispered: "It looks delicate and beautiful, I can't tell where it is from."

As she spoke, Ke'er stroked a hairpin in her hair.

"That jewelry is from the Li family jewelry shop! Miss Zhou, who lives next to me, has been to that shop and seen the same style for 180 strings of cash."

"Hundred"

Ke'er, who was stroking the hairpin, paused. The hairpin on her head was only two strings of silver.
Seeing Ke'er's shocked expression, Lu Zhong and Yun Zai looked at each other, then sighed softly with some disappointment and envy.

Even Lin Qinshuang, the owner of Linqi Pavilion, does not have many pieces of jewelry worth hundreds of strings of cash.

in the afternoon,

Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye and others are relaxing outside the school.

Qi Heng and Bu Wei were walking nearby. After hearing Bu Wei's question, Qi Heng slowed down his pace and said, "Come on, change clothes with me first."

As they spoke, the two of them walked out of the yard.

On the way, Qi Heng saw that there was no one around, so he said as he walked: "Are you guys going? Then, will Xiao Tao who is with Sixth Sister go?"

Buwei thought for a moment and said, "He should go!"

Hearing this, Qi Heng smiled slightly and said, "Okay! I won't go over for you!"

"Thank you, sir!"

Buwei smiled and bowed.

Qi Heng nodded: "Then find a chance! Please ask Xiao Tao what Sixth Sister likes to eat, what she likes to play, and what color she likes!"

"what?"

Qi Heng frowned slightly: "Ah what?"

"Sir, it's not good to ask me about this~!"

"I, I'm still not going, sir!"

Buwei said with his head down.

Qi Heng looked back at Bu Wei, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay, you don't have to go, then don't follow me to the Sheng family tomorrow!"

As he spoke, Qi Heng took a few steps forward.

Because he didn't hear the sound of Lailai following behind him, Qi Heng stopped, turned around and walked back to Buwei: "You"

Don't bow your head and don't say anything.

"Alright! When you go, I won't force you to ask Xiao Tao what Sixth Sister likes, but if you hear anything about her, you must tell me!"

"Is this okay?"

Buwei bowed and said: "Yes, thank you very much, sir!"

Looking at Buwei's expression, Qi Heng shook his head and walked towards the school.

"Sir, you're not going to change your clothes?"

Qi Heng waved his hand, indicating that he would not go, and continued: "Buwei, you have accompanied me to many poetry gatherings, banquets, and flower-viewing gatherings. Have you ever seen a woman prettier than Sixth Sister?"

Bu Wei, who was following behind him, looked around and whispered, "Sir, it's not good to talk about other noble ladies here, right?"

Qi Heng stopped and glared at Bu Wei: "I'm just talking about the facts!"

Bu Wei said in a coy tone, "Sir, I think our relatives, Miss Zheng Zheng from the Chai family, and Miss Fei Yan from the Rong family, are both prettier than the Sixth Miss."

Qi Heng, who was walking in front, shook his head and said, "Buwei, you don't understand! It's true that Cousin Chai and Miss Feiyan are pretty, but Sixth Sister hasn't grown up yet. Wait until she's a little older, and then you can see."

As he spoke, Qi Heng couldn't help but smile because he saw the beautiful scenery that had never been discovered by others.

"But, sir, what is the Sixth Miss's background?"

Before he could finish his words, the smile on Qi Heng's face slowly disappeared.

Qi Heng is not very old, but he has been exposed to the world in recent years and knows it very well.
Although Hualan has now married into the Yongyi Marquis's mansion and become the second wife,
However, even if Changbai passed the imperial examination and was qualified to make his mother, Princess Pingning, think about him, the girl from the Sheng family who would discuss marriage with him would only be the legitimate daughter, Rulan.

Minglan, born out of wedlock, had a much bigger gap in status with him, so her chances were very slim.

Qi Heng took a deep breath and said, "As a man, why should I consider my wife's family background when choosing a wife? Besides, I am a juren now, so I can still compete with my mother for marriage!"

Buwei on the side pursed his lips and said in a deep voice:

"Sir, the princess has been raised by the queen since she was a child, and has a deep relationship with His Majesty and the queen."

"Now that His Royal Highness is healthy and strong, and you are doing well in your studies, it is clear that our Qi family's position in the court will rise even higher in the future!"

"How could the princess allow you to marry a concubine's daughter?"

"You!" Qi Heng stopped again, looking at Buwei, speechless.

My maternal grandfather was the Marquis of Xiangyang, whose ancestry was as ancient as that of the Marquis of Ningyuan.

My grandmother was from the extremely wealthy Chai family.
His father was the Duke of Qi, a high-ranking official.
My mother was loved by the emperor and was granted the title of Princess Pingning when she was a child!
Qi Heng himself also studied and passed the imperial examination.

With this background and relying on the relationship between Princess Pingning and the Emperor and Empress, there is a 99% chance that Qi Heng will be a close confidant and nobleman of Prince Zhao Fang in the future!
In terms of being well matched, there are only a few daughters and granddaughters of dukes and chancellors in the Zhou Dynasty who can discuss marriage with Qi Heng!
What? You said that Qi Heng's wife was a concubine's daughter from an official family below the fourth rank.

Anyone in Bian Jing who heard this would treat it as a joke and laugh their heads off.

Taking a few steps forward,

Qi Heng stopped again and said, "As long as mother nods, it doesn't matter what you said!"

He did not bow and did not continue speaking.

After school in the afternoon,

Walking on the way out of the school yard,

Xu Zaijing looked at Qi Heng beside him and said, "Yuan Ruo, why did you look so worried after you came back from changing clothes this afternoon?"

Qi Heng smiled: "Brother Jing, is there?"

Xu Zaijing nodded heavily.

Gu Tingye, who heard the conversation between the two, came over and said, "Yuan Ruo, you, you are not peeing."

As he spoke, Gu Tingye glanced between Qi Heng's legs and raised his eyebrows meaningfully.

Qi Heng looked anxious, first glanced back, then said in a hurry: "Second Uncle, I'm not, I don't have"

Gu Tingye patted Qi Heng on the shoulder and said, "Yuan Ruo, I understand, I understand. Hey, Wu Lang, what do you mean by looking at me like that? We are talking about Yuan Ruo!"

(End of this chapter)