Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 548 New Year's Eve [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 40K]

Late noon (before 1:00 p.m.)

sunny,

Jiying Lane

Sheng family,

Wei Ruixuan,
The melted snow from the roof kept dripping, wetting many places in the yard.

Under the eaves of the courtyard, there was a snow lion that Zai Zhang and Chang Bai had built after the snow. At this time, it was also "smashed" with several holes by the dripping snow water.

Outside the main house not far from the snow lion, Wang Ruofu and Mama Liu stood there with their heads leaning out. When they saw Caihuan walking quickly into the yard, Wang Ruofu asked, "How is it? Is the master coming?"

It is colder on days when the snow melts than on days when it snows. Although it was a sunny day, Caihuan's cheeks were frozen red.

Hearing Wang Ruofu's question, Cai Huan shook her head and bowed, "Madam, Dong Rong came back and said that the master will not come to eat today?"

"What!? Today is the twenty-ninth day of the twelfth lunar month! Why didn't the master eat? Did he go to the courtyard of that little bitch Lin Qinshuang?"

"Madam, the master has not returned home! He said that he had urgent business at the government office."

Wang Ruofu threw her handkerchief in annoyance, turned around and said, "Humph! You have urgent business to eat with me! Go, call Ruer to eat with me."

Caihuan responded with a bow and walked quickly towards Rulan's yard.

Wang Ruofu and Mother Liu walked towards the door. When they passed under the eaves, the cold snow water fell on the back of Wang Ruofu's neck, causing her to shrink her neck.

the other side,
Linqi Pavilion,
Lin Qinshuang sat on the embroidered cushion beside the table, looked at Molan who was wearing new clothes, nodded, and said: "This dress is nice! It makes my Moer look even more beautiful."

Molan looked down at her new clothes, stood on tiptoe happily, waved to Yunzai and said, "Mother, take another look at my new cloak. I want to wear it on the Lantern Festival."

Lin Qinshuang waited for Molan to put on the cloak, took a careful look at her, and said, "It looks OK! But I heard from Lu Zhong that the young master of the Qi family, who is studying in our family, always likes to wear light-colored and elegant clothes."

Molan asked in confusion: "Mother, doesn't my daughter's dress match the elegant color?"

"Too gorgeous."

"Madam Zhou is here."

There was a little girl outside the house preaching.

Lin Qinshuang turned her head to the side and saw Zhou Xuenniang walking into the room holding a handkerchief.

"You've been out all morning. What have you learned?"

Zhou Xueniang bowed to Lin Qinshuang, nodded repeatedly, and said excitedly, "My dear, it's been very lively outside these past two days!"

Looking at Zhou Xuenniang's appearance, Molan stopped trying on clothes. She reached out to take a hand warmer and sat next to Lin Qinshuang.

"Can it be more lively than the day before yesterday when Xu Jiawulang went to Beiliao Inn and made a scene?"

Zhou Xuenniang hurriedly said, "Little girl, it's hard to say which one is more exciting, but someone has already had an adventure!"

"Oh?"

Seeing Lin Qinshuang's curious expression, Zhou Xueniang said:
"People outside said that someone stole a lot of valuables from the Chai family's shop the day before yesterday and disappeared into the Wuyou Cave in the underground canal! The Chai family asked for the money back but to no avail, so they issued a reward in anger!"

"Yesterday, a scoundrel in Beijing somehow found out two secret ditches that could hide people! He told the Chai family about it and got five hundred strings of silver!"

"Give it directly?" Molan asked in surprise.

Zhou Xuenniang shook her head: "Miss, they didn't give it directly! The Kaifeng government servants went in to check and gave the money. I heard that three women were rescued from the culvert! But, the Chai family's things were not found!"

Lin Qinshuang curled her lips when she heard this and said, "I don't know if he can survive after being rescued."

Zhou Xueniang nodded in agreement and continued with great interest:

"When I left, I heard that the famous dukes' and marquises' houses in the capital have all issued bounties, and it seems that they are going to flatten Wuyou Cave in Bianjing! There are also many imperial guards patrolling the streets.
"Which army do you know?"

"Girl, it looks like he's from the Xuanwu Army!"

Hearing this answer, Lin Qinshuang nodded and said:

"I remember my lord saying that this elite group of Xuanwu Army had previously served under Marquis Yongyi, and many of them were promoted after returning to the capital after making military achievements!"

"That group of desperate criminals in the secret canal dared to mess with the Marquis's eldest son and the Chai family. They will have a bad year!"

After saying that, Lin Qinshuang looked at Molan and said, "Mo'er, look! This is what it means to be rich and powerful! Xu's Fifth Brother has a wide range of friends in the capital. Whenever he encounters any problem, the Duke's Mansion and the Marquis' Mansion will come out to support him! If you could marry into a family like this, I wonder how comfortable your life would be!"

Molan, who was standing by, pursed her lips and said, "Mother, when you heard about Brother Xu Wu's incident the other day, that's not what you said."

Lin Qinshuang paused: "Your father hadn't come home yet yesterday. Tell me the reason. I was wrong."

"Oh."

Molan held the hand warmer in her hands, her eyes turned and she said, "Mother, I think if Brother Yuanruo encountered something like this, there would definitely be more wealthy families who would come out to support him! One is a duke, and the other is a marquis, they are different! Brother Yuanruo will inherit the title in the future!"

"Besides, after hearing what people in the community said about him, Brother Xu Wu's daughter didn't dare to look him in the eye!"

Lin Qinshuang glanced at her daughter and said, "Nonsense! I've seen Xu Jia Wulang a few times before, but he's not as ferocious as you say."

Zhou Xueniang on the side agreed:

"Girl, you are thinking the wrong thing! Xu Jiawulang is studying in our house for the imperial examination and is nurtured by the culture! If not for this, he would have been a young general long ago!"

"This is a fate given by God. Maybe one day if we fall in love, you can become the mistress!"

Hearing this, Lin Qinshuang smiled and nodded, stroked Molan's hair, and said: "Mo'er, you have liked poetry since you were young. Look at the poems written by Xu Jiawulang, they are really good!"

"Rulan and Minglan are both talentless! If you can succeed in the future, you and your husband will discuss poetry and lyrics together. I don't know how happy our lives will be!"

Zhou Xuenniang nodded repeatedly after hearing this.

Molan seemed to be immersed in what Lin Qinshuang said. She lowered her head with an embarrassed look on her face and said, "Mother is right."

"But, mother, I heard that there are many noble ladies in the capital who like Brother Xu Wu!"

Molan said again somewhat disappointedly.

Lin Qinshuang smiled and shook her head, saying, "Mo'er, they do have family backgrounds, but they don't have the opportunity to spend every day with the brothers!"

"Mo'er, if you can marry one of the three families, your mother's life in the Sheng family will be better in the future!"

"It's a pity that my eldest sister also married into the Marquis's Mansion, otherwise we would definitely be able to turn things around!"

After saying that, Lin Qinshuang sighed, waved to Zhaoluzhong, and said, "Mo'er, try this new style of earmuffs again!"

The sun sets in the west and gradually goes down the mountain.

As the temperature dropped, icicles gradually appeared on the dripping places of the eaves.

At the time of lighting,

Shouantang,
The old lady held the teacup in her hand and said, "Hong'er, I heard that many people from the Ministry of Works have also participated in the cleaning of the underground canal?"

Sheng Hong sat below the old lady, drinking a warming drink and nodding repeatedly:
"Mother is right. The Ministry of Works has made efforts to retrieve the blueprints of the underground canals in Beijing over the years! My son thinks that with the blueprints, the money and efforts of these wealthy families, and the cooperation of the imperial guards, we will definitely be able to solve the problems of the Wuyoudong underground canal in Bianjing."

Sheng Hong lived in Bian Jing for many years when he was a child. He also studied in the private school of Duke Lingguo and had heard a little about Wuyou Cave in the capital.

The old lady nodded and said, "I hope so! Hong'er, has the court decided how to deal with Jing'er today?"

Sheng Hong shook his head: "Mother, it has not been decided yet! I think His Majesty and the eunuchs are probably going to use the tactic of 'delay'!"

The old lady smiled and said, "Well! This Bei Liao Posthouse secretly dug a tunnel in the well leading to the underground canal, which is wrong!"

"If Jing'er had brought a dozen people to the Bei Liao Posthouse, it would be embarrassing, but he defeated dozens of Bei Liao people by himself! Haha, Bei Liao would be ashamed to tell others about it!"

"By the way, Hong'er, didn't they say there was an old man who was injured by Jing'er? Where is he sent to now?"

Sheng Hong put down his teacup, looked at the old lady with some admiration in his eyes, and said: "Mother, there is no rumor about this matter. You said yesterday that there was something fishy, ​​and your son was skeptical. Now it seems..."

The old lady nodded.

After talking for a while, Sheng Hong said goodbye and left.

Walking to a fork in the road in the backyard, Sheng Hong thought for a moment and turned into the corridor leading to Linqi Pavilion.

"The Lord is here."

As the maid told him to go, Sheng Hong walked into the main room of Linqi Pavilion with a smile.

When the meal was served, Lin Qinshuang called Molan, who was wearing new clothes, into the house and said to Sheng Hong, "Honglang, what do you think of Molan's clothes?"

Sheng Hong smiled and nodded: "Mo'er, this outfit is very simple and elegant! You can wear this outfit in the second year of junior high school!"

Seeing Lin Qinshuang's puzzled expression, Sheng Hong continued:

"At noon, Duke Qi found me and said that the young master and Erlang of the Gu family wanted to come to our house on the first day of the new year to visit Zhuang Xuejiu."

"I told Duke Qi that since coming to the capital, Grand Tutor Yu and his wife have been coming to our Sheng family on the second day of the new year."

"Old Master Yu is very knowledgeable. Why don't the children come back in the second year of the new year so that they can ask more questions."

Lin Qinshuang smiled and nodded, "Honglang is very thoughtful."

Sheng Hong enjoyed it and laughed.

"Then, Honglang, you let Moer wear such a beautiful outfit, could it be for..."

Before Lin Qinshuang finished speaking, Sheng Hong said with some emotion: "The children have been studying together for so many years. In the second year of junior high school, let Moer help serve water and tea to leave a good impression."

"Those families are all nobles. When Mo'er gets married in the future, she will have an easier life with the friendship she had with her classmates," said Sheng Hong.

Hearing Sheng Hong's words, Lin Qinshuang nodded repeatedly.

Sheng Hong meant that with the friendship between classmates, it would be easier for Molan's husband to ask for help if he had any problems in the future.

But Lin Qinshuang's eyes kept moving and she looked quite happy.

Lunar New Year's eve,

early in the morning,
In front of Beiliao Posthouse,
The adopted son of the emperor's chief eunuch, Eunuch Huaibao, walked out of the carriage with a sad face.

Looking at the many injured people limping inside the inn, Huai Bao had to close his eyes and take a deep breath to prevent his expression from getting out of control.

Got off the carriage,

Huaibao changed the direction of the whisk in his hand and walked forward with the officials from the Ministry of Rites.

After a while, he entered the courtyard of the posthouse and, with tears in his eyes, he bowed and said to the Northern Liao envoy, "Lord Liu, I hope you will accept my condolences!"

Looking at Huai Bao in front of him, the Northern Liao leader frowned and said, "Eunuch, what do you mean by this?"

Huai Bao sighed, "Sir Liu, someone in the Imperial Hospital neglected his duty yesterday and didn't keep an eye on the stove. A fire came out of the stove and accidentally ignited a wooden building. The old man from your delegation was in that wooden building. He has turned to ashes! Alas!"

The Northern Liao leader glared at Huai Bao with anger on his face and said, "You, you guys."

Huaibao bowed and said, "I hope Lord Liu will accept my condolences! Those who have neglected their duties have been punished."

"The source of this matter is Xu Jiawulang. When I came here, His Majesty had already issued an order to confine Xu Jiawulang to his house for the day and to pay compensation to your delegation. If the old man's family needs more money, our Great Zhou can also compensate them!"

Looking at Huaibao's appearance, Lord Liu from the Northern Liao delegation was like a dumb person eating bitter herbs, unable to express his grievances!
He knew that the old man was most likely not dead!

But he couldn't yell, 'That old man is the governor of the Northern Liao garrison, this is a serious matter! You must hand him over!'

Because he didn't know whether the old man was still gritting his teeth and enduring Da Zhou's torture, and not telling Da Zhou his identity.

Is it possible that the old man fabricated an identity and is dealing with the Imperial City Division of the Great Zhou?

For everything, the Northern Liao envoys must wait for Northern Liao's orders.

The Northern Liao official gritted his teeth and said, "Thank you, eunuch. I will report to Xijin Prefecture and give you a reply!"

The eunuch Huai Bao nodded and said, "Okay! Accept my condolences!"

After saying this, Huaibao bowed and led his men out of the inn.

After sending the man to the door of the posthouse and bowing to the departing person, Lord Liu of Northern Liao walked back to the posthouse with a stern face.

The last hour of Si (before 11:00 noon)

Inside the posthouse, Lord Liu, who was born in Changping, Northern Liao, looked at his subordinates in front of him and said angrily, "You said that the Zhuangfotai is unwilling to lend a hand?"

"Yes, sir. The person I contacted said that the chess piece of the Buddha Decoration Platform plays a very important role and is very hidden. Unless Xijin Prefecture sends a message, they will not try to find out the news of the members of the delegation."

Hearing this,

Lord Liu took several deep breaths to prevent himself from losing his composure.

"I know, go down!"

Quyuan Street,
Yong Yi Hou Mansion,

In the racecourse,

Lu Zezong rode his horse and walked side by side with Xu Zaijing.

"Brother, can we really not go to watch the Nuo ceremony today?"

"Well, His Majesty just issued me a house arrest order."

“Oh!” Lu Zezong nodded repeatedly and said, “Actually, I’ve watched it for two years in a row, and I don’t think it’s anything new.”

"Oh, brother! My uncle said that in the future, all entrances to the Bianjing underground canal will be fenced off, and there will be people from the Drainage Department patrolling! After the Wuyou Cave is cleaned up, it won't come back to life."

Xu Zaijing nodded and smiled, saying, "That's best!"

"Brother, I heard from my grandfather that you encountered the desperadoes from Wuyou Cave when it snowed heavily before, right?"

"Yeah! We met them a little late, and they harmed several good families." Seeing Lu Zezong's sad look, Xu Zaijing patted his shoulder and changed the subject: "Let's go and see the fireworks you brought!"

"Ok!"

Bianjing City,
Outside Nanxun Gate,

There is still white snow in many shady places.

Gu Tingye was riding on his horse, looking at the Nuo ritual team of more than a thousand people coming out of Xuande Gate not far away. He turned around and said to Qi Heng, Liang Han and other noble sons who were also watching the ceremony: "Alas, Jing'er is not here, I am still a little uncomfortable!"

Liang Han said, "Second Brother Gu, without Brother Jing here, we can have a great time racing horses!"

Gu Tingye: "Haha, Liu Lang is right!"

(End of this chapter)