Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 677 Xu Wu, who never causes trouble [Thank you! Goodbye! I owe you 37K]

"You haven't returned home yet?"

The old lady pondered for a moment, waved her hand and said, "Forget it, I won't bother with him."

"Mr. Yu is coming to our house this afternoon. This is such a rare opportunity to ask for advice!"

"Chang Feng is not at home to ask for advice and listen to the lectures. His father doesn't care. Let's not talk too much and make him unhappy!"

The mother next to the bed nodded and said, "Yes, old lady."

There was the sound of doors opening and closing.

After a while,
Mother Cui walked around the screen carrying a tray.

There was a medicine bowl on the tray, and the wisp of heat was quite noticeable in the candlelight.

Seeing the old lady's frowning expression suddenly turn bitter, Mother Cui smiled and said, "Old lady, let's drink the tranquilizing decoction."

The old lady glanced at Fang Mama and said in a very soft tone: "Suqin, I slept well these past two days, so we won't take this medicine."

Mother Fang shook her head firmly: "Madam, this won't do! What if you wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall asleep again? You won't have energy for the whole day tomorrow."

As she spoke, Fang waved to Cui: "Bring it over here. The old lady will definitely be able to finish it in a few sips."

Hearing this, the old lady frowned even deeper.

Xingguofang,
The Duke's Mansion of Qi State,

Backyard,
In the spacious study, several rows of bookshelves stood on both sides, and several lit candles made the room quite bright.

Next to the bookshelf, behind the desk, Qi Heng stared blankly at the shuttlecock in his hand.

After weighing the shuttlecock, Qi Heng smiled, as if he was thinking of something.

"Well, I'm glad to see you, Madam."

A voice was heard outside the study.

"Heng'er is still awake?"

"My lady, not yet."

Hearing the conversation, Qi Heng suddenly panicked. After looking around, he hurriedly put the shuttlecock in his hand into the book in front of him.

By the time Qi Heng picked up the brush and pretended to write, Princess Pingning had already walked into the study.

Qi Heng put down his brush, stood up and said, "Mother, why are you here so late?"

"I heard from the servants that there were still candles lit in your study, so I came to take a look." Princess Pingning said as she walked, holding a hand warmer.

Sitting down on the chair opposite Qi Heng, Princess Pingning asked, "What's the matter? Why aren't you sleeping at this hour?"

Qi Heng thought for a moment and said, "Mother, Mr. Yu went to the Sheng family today. I asked him for some advice and got some insights."

"Oh!" Princess Pingning put the hand warmer aside and nodded, "Is it written on the paper?"

Glancing at the white paper in front of him, Qi Heng said, "My son is still thinking about it in his mind and hasn't finished writing it yet."

Princess Pingning smiled and said, "It's best to write down this kind of experience, so as not to forget it later! Heng'er, you are so motivated, and I am relieved as a mother."

After looking around the room, Princess Pingning continued, "No."

Buwei came over and bowed, saying, "I'm here."

"Young Master, you must study harder at this time in the future. You must not light only a few candles in the room."

"I understand. I will definitely order a few more next time."

"Yes." Princess Pingning nodded, looked at Qi Heng and continued, "Heng'er, I went to the palace to pay my respects to the Queen today, and learned from His Majesty that the Goguryeo envoys will be touring the capital in the next two days."

Qi Heng nodded.

Princess Pingning said: "Among the envoys from Goguryeo who came to Beijing, there are several young men. Some of them are from the powerful Goguryeo officials Liu family, Cui family, etc., and some are from the wealthy merchants of Goguryeo."

"In order to show our dynasty's appreciation for Goguryeo, we need a few sons from noble families to accompany you, so I asked for this job for you, which can also help you broaden your horizons."

Princess Pingning stood up and said, "I wanted to tell you tomorrow, but I saw the light was on in your study, so I just told you tonight."

Qi Heng walked out from behind the table, stood beside Princess Pingning, and said, "Mother, besides me, who else is there?"

Princess Pingning said, "There are also the brothers of the Cao family, the Gao family, the Viscount Li family, and the two families of the Liannu family."

Qi Heng nodded: "Then, is it Gao Lin or Gao Jing?"

"Of course it's Gao Lin! Your Majesty and the Queen haven't forgotten what Gao Jing did last year."

Princess Pingning said this and was about to walk out.

"Mother, aren't Jing'er or Second Uncle going?" Qi Heng asked.

Princess Pingning stopped and looked at Qi Heng in confusion: "Heng'er, why are you asking this?"

Qi Heng smiled and said, "Mother, with Brother Jing or Uncle Er around, I feel more at ease."

Princess Pingning thought for a moment and said, "Let's see if they are free these two days. If they want to accompany me, Your Majesty will not stop them."

Turn around,

The sky was blue and clear.

The last hour of the morning (after 9:00 a.m.)
Xu Zaijing, wearing a cloak, earmuffs and leather gloves, stopped his horse at the intersection and looked at the street scene in the sun.

Today is the last day of the opening of the market. People are coming and going on the street, and the sounds of various people shouting and soliciting customers are endless.

Occasionally, there were shouts of joy from those who succeeded and sighs of failure.

The sun gradually rose higher, and under the sunlight, the snow left on the roofs and walls was slowly melting.

Qingyun stopped his horse behind Xu Zaijing, exhaled a breath of white air, looked at Alan who was walking in the distance and said, "Sir, look, what has Alan hit again?"

Xu Zaijing, who was looking away, turned his head, took a look, and nodded with a smile.

quickly,

Alan came over holding a piece of leather. Qingyun smiled and asked, "Alan, how many copper coins did you spend on this piece of leather?"

Alan smiled and shook his head: "Brother Qingyun, I didn't care. I just bought it because the leather was good."

As he spoke, Alan showed the reddish-brown leather in his hand.

"What is this? Mole skin?" Qingyun asked puzzledly.

Alan nodded: "I heard from the mother in the Marquis' Mansion that this mole skin has good meaning when stepped on, so I bought it and will make a pair of insoles for my wife when I go back."

Qingyun looked at Xu Zaijing with some doubt and asked, "Sir, what is the meaning of this mole skin?"

Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and said, "A natural birth and a safe pregnancy will ensure an easy delivery."

Qingyun and Alan nodded after hearing this.

Alan stroked the leather and carefully put it into the leather bag next to the saddle.

After waiting for a while,

There came the sound of horse hooves,

In Xu Zaijing's field of vision, several sturdy knights came up to him.

"I've met Goro."

"Meet the Fifth Young Master."

"Why are you waiting here?"

Several sturdy knights bowed and called for help.

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded, "Taotie, Chimei, Zhongding, happy new year."

Looking at the other knight who looked familiar, Xu Zaijing thought for a moment and then smiled, "Are you Liannu Baihuo from Liannu's family?"

After hearing this, the muscular knight smiled and said in the Da Zhou dialect with a slight accent: "I didn't expect Wu Lang still remembered me."

Xu Zaijing smiled and asked, "How is your performance under Zheng Xiao?"

Lian Nu Baihuo nodded and said with an accent: "He has made some contributions. After the first month of the year, he will serve under General Zheng Xiao in the newly established cavalry!"

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded: "That's good! Let's go to Xingguofang."

Everyone nodded, divided into two lines and walked forward.

On the way, Xu Zaijing and his group, tall and strong, attracted a lot of attention.

Chatting and laughing, the group urged their mounts lightly and soon arrived at the gate of the Duke of Qi's Mansion.

Qi Heng, who was waiting on horseback, also joined the team.

On the way to Anzhou Lane,
Qi Heng, who was walking side by side with Xu Zaijing, exhaled a breath of fresh air, looked at the street scene around him and said, "Brother Jing, why do you think His Majesty asked Brother Li and others to accompany the Goguryeo envoys today?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Do you even need to ask this?"

Qi Heng shook his head in confusion.

Xu Zaijing turned around and looked at the Li brothers and others with a smile, and said, "They are all former members of the Bai Gao clan and old ministers. Their appearance in front of the Goguryeo envoys today will enhance our country's prestige without saying anything."

"Ah?" Qi Heng looked back after hearing that.

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, “Yuan Ruo, don’t look at them. They also know why they are going.”

"I was a little surprised that I didn't see Jilang today."

Qi Heng smiled and said, "Brother Jing, my second uncle is accompanying the envoys from the Kingdom of Jin today."

"No wonder."

Xu Zaijing laughed.

Subsequently,

On the road, they met up with the children of Cao and Gao families of Tuoxi Hou and headed north.

Gao Lin, the elder brother of Miss Taotao of the Gao family, rode his horse close to Xu Zaijing. Qi Heng, upon seeing this, rode his horse to the back.

Gao Lin bowed to Xu Zaijing and said sincerely, "Wulang, if you hadn't intervened in time, my cousin would have almost made a big mistake and I never had the chance to thank you in person."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Brother Lin, you are too polite. Has Gao Jing returned to Beijing?"

Gao Lin shook his head: "You can't return to Beijing until February."

Xu Zaijing nodded. He didn't have any good impression of this kid Gao Jing.

Subsequently,

After passing Xianningfang and leaving the inner city, they arrived at Anzhou Lane.

When we were almost in front of Tongwenguan,
Xu Zaijing reined in his horse gently and went to the back of the group.

He was here to join in the fun today and was not an official accompanying the Goguryeo envoys.

After dismounting, Xu Zaijing stood behind the crowd and watched Gao Lin and others, accompanied by officials from the Ministry of Rites, greeting the Goguryeo envoys.

Xu Zaijing did not understand Goguryeo language, and thought that the Goguryeo envoys would be just as he remembered, coming and going at will.

But it turned out that no one heard a single word. After greeting in Goguryeo, the Goguryeo envoys and the Goguryeo youths following the envoys began to communicate in fluent Great Zhou dialect.

When Gao Lin introduced the identities of Zhajue Zhongding and others, the Goguryeo envoys and young people showed surprise on their faces.

After being surprised, several Goguryeo youths who were as tall as Gao Lin began to whisper to each other and said a few words in Goguryeo.

While speaking, he smiled at Li Taotie and others.

Gao Lin, Li Taotie and others smiled back.

But the smile of the official from the Ministry of Rites who understood Goguryeo language froze slightly.

Lian Nu Baihuo, who was standing next to Zhua Jue Zhongding, saw this scene and smiled and spoke a few words loudly in Baigao dialect.

Lian Nu Baihuo was the one who had encouraged Zhua Juezhong to surrender to the Great Zhou in the mountains outside Keyi Gate. He was a brother of Lian Nu Baili who also surrendered to the Great Zhou.

After he finished speaking, the Li brothers, Zhuajue Zhongding and others also laughed.

The Goguryeo envoys and several young men understood the Great Zhou dialect, but not the Baigao dialect. Seeing Li Taotie and others laughing, they also started laughing along.

Xu Zaijing patted the shoulder of Lian Nu Bai Huo in front of him and asked with a smile: "Bai Huo, what are you talking about?"

Lian Nu Baihuo cleared his throat and came over to say, "Wulang, look at their wretched looks, and you can tell at a glance that they have nothing good to say."

"If they really have something nice to say, they won't communicate in Goguryeo."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing gave him a thumbs up.

Lian Nu Baihuo smiled and continued speaking in the Da Zhou dialect with a slight accent: "Wu Lang, look at the faces of those people. They probably guessed that I didn't say anything nice."

Xu Zaijing looked at the slightly stiff smile of the Goguryeo youth opposite him and nodded with a smile.

After the little episode,
Everyone got on their horses and carriages and headed towards the outer city.

The group of people, together with their respective entourage and guards, were quite a large group of people. Walking on the street, they attracted more attention than Xu Zaijing and others just now.

Gao Lin, Qi Heng and others were in the front, and Xu Zaijing fell behind. Looking at the officials of the Ministry of Rites riding horses beside him, Xu Zaijing whispered, "Sir, what did the young man from Goguryeo say just now?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites smiled bitterly and whispered to Xu Zaijing, "Wu Lang, they said that if they have a chance, they must test the strength of Li Zijue and others. They also said..."

Xu Zaijing smiled and said, "Sir, just speak frankly if you have anything to say."

The official from the Ministry of Rites nodded and said, "They also said that if they were not separated from Baigao by Northern Liao and Jin, they might have been able to destroy Baigao."

Hearing this, Xu Zaijing scratched his head helplessly: "Is arrogance also hereditary? Sir, what are the arrangements for today?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites, who did not understand the meaning of Xu Zaijing's previous words, hurriedly said, "Wu Lang, I know you are angry, but you must not do anything. What if..."

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "Diplomatic relations are a big deal, and they didn't provoke me, why should I do anything?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites looked at Xu Zaijing's expression and finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said, "Wulang, today we will go to the seed garden outside the city to have a tour, then we will go back to the city and have a tour along the canal and then go to the Daxiangguo Temple to burn incense."

"After lunch and music at Panlou, we went to Fanlou in the evening to see the night view of Tokyo."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Well, the arrangement is really good! By the way, do these Goguryeo envoys have any other interesting stories?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites thought for a moment and said, "There is nothing funny, but there is one rude thing."

"explain."

"They seem to be particularly fond of collecting maps."

"Map?" Xu Zaijing asked with a frown.

The official from the Ministry of Rites nodded and said, "Since landing in Dengzhou, every time they go to a place, they will ask if there is a local map."

"If so, the Goguryeo envoy said he wanted to see the beautiful mountains and rivers of our dynasty and borrow them to take a look."

Xu Zaijing said with a smile: "Your Ministry of Rites wouldn't really let them see it, would they?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites nodded and said, "We looked at the maps of several prefectures and counties along the way."

Xu Zaijing, who thought everything was fine, frowned and asked, "How many? Which ones? How long have they been watching?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites looked at Xu Zaijing's unpleasant expression and said softly, "It seems that most of them have been read. Most of them were read while staying overnight at the post station and will be returned the next day."

Xu Zaijing looked at the official from the Ministry of Rites in disbelief and said, "You actually let them see something that concerns military secrets?"

The official from the Ministry of Rites looked at Xu Zaijing and said helplessly, "Wu Lang, the mission of receiving the Goguryeo envoys a few years ago was presided over by the Prince of Anguo. We are insignificant and our words have little weight."

"Bullshit! The Tan family is also a family of noble military generals, how could they not understand this?" Xu Zaijing said in a cold voice.

Feeling Xu Zaijing's cold eyes, the officials from the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but think of what Xu Zaijing had done.

You know, Xu Zaijing is a noble young man who dared to throw a knife at the prince and remained safe and sound.

"Gudong——" Thinking of this, the official from the Ministry of Rites couldn't help but swallow his saliva.

Then, the official from the Ministry of Rites said in a trembling voice: "Wulang, your subordinate, your subordinate heard, just heard that there were several extremely beautiful maids from Silla in the accompanying Goguryeo envoys."

Xu Zaijing frowned: "Go on."

"Someone saw one of these maids entering and leaving the house of the Prince of Anguo." After the official from the Ministry of Rites said this, he secretly glanced at Xu Zaijing again.

"Wu Lang, please don't say it was me who said it. I am of low rank and my words are not taken seriously. I really can't take the responsibility."

Xu Zaijing glanced at him and said, "Don't worry, it's none of your business."

The official from the Ministry of Rites heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, Wulang."

"Then, if the maps of our prefectures and counties are copied, will they be placed in the Tongwenguan or in the team on this trip?" Xu Zaijing asked.

The official from the Ministry of Rites glanced at Xu Zaijing, and then at the back of the guard following the Goguryeo envoy.

"I understand." Xu Zaijing said.

(End of this chapter)