Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 564 A Different Kind of Blessing [Thank you! Thank you again! I owe you 46k more]

Outside Xuande Gate Tower,
A row of palace lanterns hung high under the double eaves. Human shadows were visible in the light of the lanterns and between the pillars.

Xu Zaijing stood by the railing and smelled the cool air mixed with the fragrance of burning candles.

It was also the first time that Xu Zaijing stood on the Xuande Gate Tower and looked down at the square outside the building.

There is a huge mountain of lights in the square.

There are various uniquely shaped lanterns.
There were also colorful lanterns that the people of Bianjing carried on their shoulders or wore on their heads.
Under the light of these lamps, the sky became darker and darker, and the not-so-bright stars were almost invisible.

When the people of Bianjing walked to view the lanterns, the countless lanterns looked like a broad river of stars flowing slowly across the square.

Amid the flow of the galaxy, there could be huge sounds of talking and shouting of "Long live the star".

"It's so beautiful." Chai Zhengzheng stood beside Xu Zaijing and said softly.

"Ah."

Xu Zaijing and Rong Feiyan, who were standing on both sides of Chai Zhengzheng, nodded in unison.

This made Rong Feiyan feel a little surprised and secretly happy.

After a while,
Listening to the voices of other young men and women near the railing, Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing's profile and asked, "Brother Xu Wu, what are you looking at?"

Xu Zaijing looked into the distance and pointed to a restaurant with lanterns on the far side of the square. He said, "Look at that restaurant. Liang Jialiu Lang and his classmates from the academy may be there tonight."

"Oh."

Rong Feiyan nodded.

There was nothing much to say. Against the backdrop of the huge noise coming from under the gate, the area around the three of them became increasingly quiet.

"Chirp~"

"Pfft~"

Under the Xuande Gate Tower, fireworks shot up into the night sky and exploded.

In Chai Zhengzheng's eyes, the flash of fireworks illuminated Xu Zaijing's clear eyes. Looking at Xu Zaijing who turned his head to look at him, Chai Zhengzheng's heart was in turmoil, and he asked without thinking:
"Most importantly, is Madam Sun in good health recently?"

Hearing Chai Zhengzheng's question, Rong Feiyan widened her eyes in slight surprise.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Thank you Miss Zhengzheng for your concern. Mother is in good health."

Chai Zhengzheng cursed himself in his heart and said with a smile: "Well, that's good, that's good."

"Whoo~"

A somewhat chilly night breeze blew by, causing the hairpin flowers on Xu Zaijing's temples to tremble a few times, and also blew the scent of incense on Xu Zaijing's body to the vicinity of Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan.

"Brother Xu Wu, the scent of the incense you used tonight is very unique, and the borneol you used is just right."

Rong Feiyan turned her head and looked at Xu Zaijing.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was standing nearby, also nodded, his eyes drawn to the trembling hairpin.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Thank you Miss Feiyan for the compliment. It was a random match made by the maid in my house."

"Brother Xu Wu, is the flower in your hairpin a fresh flower?" Chai Zhengzheng asked curiously.

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head. He stretched out his hand from his cloak, took off the hairpin, and handed it to Chai Zhengzheng, saying, "It's not a fresh flower, but an elephant flower."

"what?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at the quality of the hairpin in Xu Zaijing's hand, asked in surprise, and then took the hairpin from Xu Zaijing.

"I saw a lady at the Daxiangguo Temple who was very good at making elephant-shaped flowers before, so I recommended her to the Duke Lian's Mansion. This elephant-shaped flower is the work of that lady."

"Oh!"

Chai Zhengzheng didn't think about anything else. He just looked at the thing in his hand carefully in the candlelight.

After looking at it for a while, Chai Zhengzheng handed the Elephant Flower to Rong Feiyan who was standing beside him.

"This flower deserves the name 'Xiangsheng'! I just don't know how it looks when I see it in the daytime."

As she spoke, Rong Feiyan looked at Xu Zaijing with a questioning look.

"Very similar." Xu Zaijing replied.

At this time,

A palace maid came over with a tray on which was a hand warmer covered with a cloth.

Xu Zaijing, Chai Zhengzheng and Rong Feiyan each took a hand warmer and placed it in their hands.

Afterwards, Rong Feiyan held the hand warmer in one hand and handed the elephant flower to Chai Zhengzheng.

When Chai Zhengzheng was about to return the Xiangshenghua to Xu Zaijing, an eunuch came over, bowed and said, "Wu Lang, His Majesty asks you to come over."

"it is good."

Xu Zaijing nodded quickly in response.

After taking a look at the elephant flower in Chai Zhengzheng's hand, Xu Zaijing turned around and walked into the gate tower.

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Xu Zaijing's back, then lowered his head to look at the Elephant Flower in his hand, and raised it uselessly towards Xu Zaijing, as if to imply "you haven't taken your Elephant Flower yet".

Inside the gatehouse,
Xu Zaijing came to the throne, bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I greet you."

"Be flat!"

The emperor said in a calm tone.

Looking at Xu Zaijing who stood up, the emperor continued, "Did you receive any gifts today?"

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing looked at the emperor with some surprise.

The Queen Mother looked at Xu Zaijing's expression and said with a smile, "That's what Jing'er said."

Xu Zaijing bowed and said, "Your Majesty, my lady, I have not received any gifts today."

The emperor nodded slightly and said, "That's good! Before the Lantern Festival ends, you can go to Daxiangguo Temple for me now!"

Although he didn't understand what the emperor meant, Xu Zaijing still bowed and said, "I obey your order."

"Ok!"

After saying this, the emperor waved his hand, and the eunuch Huaibao came to Xu Zaijing and stretched out his hand, saying, "Wu Lang, please come this way."

Outside the gatehouse, beside the railing,
Chai Zhengzheng looked back at Xu Zaijing who was leaving with Huaibao, then glanced sideways at Rong Feiyan beside him, and shook his head helplessly, "It seems that I can only find another opportunity to return it to Brother Xu Wu."

As he spoke, Chai Zhengzheng raised the elephant flower in his hand.

Rong Feiyan's eyes rolled, and although she really wanted to help Chai Zhengzheng return the flower, she didn't say anything in the end and just nodded.

In the corridor connecting Duolou and Xuande Gate Tower,
Seeing Xu Zaijing walking over with the eunuchs, Qi Heng asked in confusion: "Brother Jing, what are you doing?"

"I have something to do."

"Oh!"

Continuing to walk forward, Gu Tingye hurriedly smiled and raised his chin as a greeting, while Hai Chaoyun beside him stood up and bowed to Xu Zaijing with a smile.

After nodding in greeting to Hai Chaoyun, Xu Zaijing looked at the young man on the other side of Hai Chaoyun with some confusion, who had an unfriendly look in his eyes.

When Xu Zaijing passed by, a voice was faintly heard asking "Has this person been kicked out?"

Xu Zaijing looked back and only saw the back of the head of the unfriendly young man.

After going down Duolou, Xu Zaijing arrived at the palace gate under the guidance of the eunuchs.

After leaving the palace, Xu Zaijing rode on his own little black horse, and together with the eunuchs and imperial guards sent by the emperor, they bypassed the most crowded Imperial Street and rushed towards the Daxiangguo Temple in the south.

On the way,

There are many hanging lanterns on both sides of the busy streets, lighting up the streets.

Even the streets and alleys that were dim in the past now had many lanterns lit.

The sound of hooves.

Everyone came to the vicinity of Daxiangguo Temple.

"Whoa~" The little black horse stopped at the gate of Daxiangguo Temple, and Xu Zaijing dismounted.

At this time, the largest and most beautiful lanterns in Bianjing were all in the huge square in front of Xuande Gate. There were not many people and tourists near Daxiangguo Temple. When they saw Xu Zaijing and his group, some people pointed at them.

Listening to the sound of stringed instruments and wind instruments in Daxiangguo Temple, Xu Zaijing looked at the eunuch who had dismounted and said, "Lord Huaibao, what are we waiting for?"

Huaibao smiled and said, "Brother Jing, just follow me in."

Xu Zaijing nodded, followed Huai Bao, and walked towards the Daxiangguo Temple.

Along the way, Xu Zaijing found that Daxiangguo Temple was busy with decoration.

Everyone stopped in front of a hall. Xu Zaijing saw that there were many long lanterns hanging in the corridors on both sides of the hall. With his outstanding eyesight, Xu Zaijing could see that these long lanterns were all covered with wooden plaques with hollowed-out inscriptions.

The candlelight behind the wooden sign shines through the hollow space, allowing people to clearly see the poems on it.

"Brother Jing, the decoration of Daxiangguo Temple is currently being managed by the young man from the Han family of the Zhennan Marquis's Mansion. The mother of this young man is the sister of our Majesty. Please wait a moment, I will go and talk to the young man from the Han family."

The internal official Huai Baodao.

Xu Zaijing nodded.

Afterwards, Huaibao entered the main hall.

Soon, Huaibao appeared at the entrance of the hall accompanied by a man and a woman, both dressed in luxurious clothes.

The man and woman, dressed in luxurious clothes, looked at the handsome Xu Zaijing outside the palace and said to Huaibao, "Sir, is this the elixir that mother mentioned for seeking a child?"

Huaibao nodded with a smile and said, "Brother Yun is right. The Fifth Brother of the Xu family is the celestial remedy that the princess mentioned."

Han Jiyun, who was born in the second house of Zhennan Marquis Mansion, looked at the lady beside him and said, "Then, sir, how can we have a child?"

Huaibao smiled and nodded at Xu Zaijing outside the palace, then whispered to Han Jiyun, "Have you prepared the things that His Majesty asked you to prepare, Brother Yun?"

"Yes! My mother asked me to bring three carts of rare treasures from the storehouse."

Huai Bao smiled and said, "That's good! Jing'er will come to the palace to pray for His Majesty, His Majesty, His Highness, and the other lords. Afterwards, Yun'er will just use the excuse that His Majesty gave him a reward and give the gift to Jing'er."

Han Chengyun glanced at his wife and said softly, "Is it that simple?"

Huaibao smiled and nodded: "Not bad!"

"Okay! I'll do as your Majesty and mother say."

After Han Chengyun finished speaking, Huaibao walked towards Xu Zaijing outside.

After Xu Zaijing finished praying for the emperor's family in the palace, Han Chengyun came over with his wife and said, "Thank you, Jing'er, for praying for His Majesty and His Highness. There will be His Majesty's reward and a thank-you gift from my husband and me later. Please accept it."

Xu Zaijing smiled at Han Jiyun and said, "These are the duties of a subject, and they do not deserve rewards or gifts of thanks from your noble couple."

The eunuch Huai Bao beside him hurriedly said, "Brother Jing, you should accept it! This is what His Majesty specifically instructed."

Xu Zaijing hesitated for a moment and said, "The boy will have no choice but to obey your order."

Hearing this, Han Jiyun and his wife immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The journey here plus the prayers in the temple took quite some time. If we returned to Xuande Gate Tower, the lantern viewing would probably be over.

So Xu Zaijing did not return to Xuande Gate, but took three carts of "rewards" and went directly back to the Marquis' Mansion on Quyuan Street.

At the gate of Daxiangguo Temple, watching Xu Zaijing and his entourage leaving in the distance, the eunuch Huai Bao said to Han Chengyun beside him, "Brother Yun, I won't say much about the proper etiquette of husband and wife after you return home."

"Yes! Lord Huaibao, please thank His Majesty and the Queen on my behalf."

Han Chengyun said somewhat stiffly.

Huai Bao smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Well, it's better to wait until there is good news, and then Yun Ge'er and the eldest lady will go to the palace in person to thank His Majesty and His Majesty."

"Yes, yes, what the eunuch said is right!"

That night,

Xu Zaijing added a lot of good things to his private collection.

East side of the palace,

Chai family,

Qiushengyuan,
In the bedroom.

There were candles lit on the table. Next to the bright yellow candlelight, Chai Zhengzheng, who had changed into pajamas, was sitting at the table.

Chai Zhengzheng held the flower branch that looked like a living flower in his hands, looked at it carefully for a while, and then gently turned it.

While turning the branches, Chai Zhengzheng's eyes were full of memories.

"Girl, it's getting late, you should go to bed."

Yunmu's voice came.

"Oh, I see."

Chai Zhengzheng took a deep breath, stood up and walked towards the bed with the Elephant Flower in his hand.

After taking a few steps, Chai Zhengzheng stopped. After thinking for a moment, he turned and walked towards the armored puppet beside him.

After standing in front of the puppet for a while, Chai Zhengzheng reached out and pinned the elephant flower on the edge of his helmet.

After taking a look, Chai Zhengzheng nodded with satisfaction and walked towards the bed again.

Nanjiangtang Lane is not far from Chai's house.

The Rong family returned to Xueyuan,
Rong Feiyan sat in front of the dressing table with her eyes slightly closed. A maid stood behind her, helping her comb her loose hair.

Thinking about the scene of handing Xiangshenghua to Chai Zhengzheng, Rong Feiyan sighed heavily: "Alas!"

"If only I could give it to Zheng Zheng slower." Rong Feiyan thought to herself.

Ningxiang happened to come to Rong Feiyan with a copper basin filled with hot water. After hearing the sigh, she said, "Miss, what's wrong? Are you tired?"

"Ah."

Rong Feiyan nodded.

"Miss, where are you tired? Tell me and I will give you a massage." Ningxiang placed the copper basin beside the bed and said with a smile.

"Okay." Rong Feiyan finished speaking and continued, "By the way, send someone to inquire with the third branch of the Lu family of Duke Lian tomorrow and ask those sisters if there are any good ones."

"Yes, girl."

Turn around,

It's still dark,

After finishing the exercise, Xu Zaijing did not wash his face or take a shower. Instead, he and his family sent Yongyi Hou Xu Minghua and a group of personal soldiers to the gate.

“Zhang’er, Jing’er, stay at home with your sister-in-law and make sure to take good care of your mother.”

Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang bowed and said, "Yes, father."

Xu Minghua, who was riding on a horse, looked at Sun and others standing at the door and said, "Well! It's cold in the morning, let's go back."

finished,

Xu Minghua tapped his horse's belly lightly and walked towards the street entrance with his personal soldiers.

When the personal soldiers caught up with Xu Minghua, Hua Rong, who was in the crowd, bowed to Xu Zaijing.

Chu Zhan, who was riding a horse at the end of the team, waved to Xu Zaijing, Qingyun, Shu Bo, Hua Qing and others as a farewell.

Chu Zhan is young and has not studied, so he has to join the army to gain experience early so that he can have a good future.

After returning to his mother's courtyard to have dinner, Xu Zaijing and Zai Zhang rode out of the Yongyi Marquis's Mansion and headed towards Jiying Lane.

On the way to Jiying Lane, you can still see lit lanterns from time to time.

In addition to the lanterns, you will occasionally encounter noblemen from the capital who are having fun all night long.

Arriving at Jiying Lane,
Entering the courtyard from the lantern-lit gate of Sheng's house,

When Xu Zaijing lifted the cotton curtain of the school, Changbai was studying hard with a candle on the table, just like he had been doing years ago.

(End of this chapter)