Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 727 This is the son of a high-ranking official [Thank you! Bow again! 36k words owed]

morning,

The sun rises in the east.

The eaves and branches of the houses inside the city were covered with morning frost.

As the sunlight shone down, the morning frost began to melt.

Jiying Lane,
The Sheng family,

Schoolyard

A ray of sunlight shone down beside the big tree, and a faint mist hung over the courtyard.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that hot water was being heated at the bottom of a traditional earthen stove, and steam was drifting out.

In the main house,
Zhuang Xuejiu's cloak was hanging on the rack next to the door.

At the very bottom of the cloak, in a place that is not easily noticed, there were several almost invisible mud spots.

However, the soles of Zhuang Xuejiu's shoes, who was sitting behind the table in front, were very clean, indicating that he had changed his shoes.

One side of the screen,
Sitting at the very back, Minglan looked up at Zhuang Xuejiu in front of her with a hint of curiosity in her eyes.

At this moment, Zhuang Xuejiu spoke up: "Everyone, let's take a break for a moment."

"Yes, scholar!"

Everyone should be.

Rulan, who was in front, turned around and glanced at Xiaotao and Xique who were walking towards her. Then she whispered to Minglan, "Sixth Sister, I think the scholar seems to be in a very good mood today!"

Minglan nodded repeatedly: "Yes! It's probably some happy occasion."

Rulan glanced at the other side through the screen and continued in a low voice, "But I noticed that the scholar seemed to be smiling and nodding at Brother Xu Wu all the time!"

"Fifth Sister, you noticed it too?" Minglan replied, her eyes lighting up.

"Why is that?" Rulan asked, puzzled.

As they spoke,
The two accepted the tea offered by the maid.

After taking a sip, Minglan said softly, "Perhaps it's because the writing is so good that Scholar Zhuang likes it so much?"

“Possibly! Very likely!” Rulan echoed.

On the other side of the screen,
Qi Heng listened to the whispers of the two girls beside him and turned to look at Xu Zaijing.

At this time,

Zhuang Xuejiu, who was sitting in front, stood up, put his hands behind his back, and said, "Zaijing, come out with me."

Xu Zaijing handed the teacup to Qingcao and quickly got up and went over.

Xu Zaijing and Zhuang Xuejiu lifted the cotton curtain and disappeared into the school.

Qi Heng said through the screen, "My two sisters, your scholarly manner is perhaps not due to the excellence of Jing-ge's writing!"

"what?"

Rulan was both surprised and puzzled. After glancing at Minglan apologetically, Rulan asked, "Brother Yuanruo, why do you say that?"

Mo Lan, who was in front, also turned around with a slight frown.

Turning around, he saw Rulan's smug face.

Taking a deep breath, Mo Lan looked at Qi Heng through the screen.

Qi Heng waited quietly for a moment without speaking, feeling Mo Lan's gaze while glancing at Ming Lan through the hazy screen.

Seeing that Minglan didn't intend to speak, Qi Heng continued, "I heard from my mother that Jing'er sent a letter to the palace a couple of days ago."

Looking at the three Lans nodding behind the screen, Qi Heng said with some admiration, "Afterwards, the laborers who dredged the canal this year received a lot of coal to use for heating!"

"Oh!" Rulan suddenly realized.

Mo Lan shook her head and pursed her lips, seemingly disdainful of it.

Minglan looked out with deep emotion.

Unlike her two older sisters, Minglan truly experienced the hardships of winter in Yangzhou, when coal was scarce and the cold was unbearable.

"My mother also said that many prominent families in the capital are preparing to donate money," Qi Heng added.

"Brother Yuanruo, why are we all donating money?" Mo Lan asked softly.

"They said they wanted to pray for the Crown Princess's well-being," Qi Heng said.

Behind the hazy screen, the three Lans didn't ask any questions. The news of the Crown Princess's pregnancy had already spread throughout the capital.

Because of this joyous occasion, the Gao family generously distributed porridge and money for more than three days.

outside the house,

With his hands behind his back and wearing a heavy cloak, Zhuang Xuejiu looked up at the sky and said in a deep voice, "Zaijing, was it you who went to the palace to tell the laborers who were clearing silt about getting charcoal?"

Xu Zaijing, who was following behind, said, "Yes, scholar! When students go to and from school, they often see laborers working in the dried-up river."

"I also went to the workers' sheds by the river. In such bitterly cold weather, the workers often suffer from frostbite and illness."

"I couldn't bear it for a moment, so I sent the letter to the palace."

Zhuang Xuejiu smiled, turned to look at Xu Zaijing, his eyes full of approval, and said, "Good! Zaijing, you are very good! I am very pleased!"

"The scholar has flattered you."

Xu Zaijing bowed slightly and said.

Zhuang Xuejiu shook his head slightly and said, "I am not praising you too much."

"You are better than your teacher! When I saw it, I only felt sorry for the laborers and sympathized with them!"

"At most, all I do is take out some money."

"But they did not have the ability to get the government to provide charcoal."

“When I walked along the riverbank and saw the laborers suffering, I felt a pang of regret. I regretted that I was too willful when I was young and did not continue to take the imperial examinations.”

"but"

As he spoke, Zhuang Xuejiu glanced at Xu Zaijing again, his eyes filled with a look of satisfaction.

Xu Zaijing bowed slightly: "This student is merely following the teachings of the scholar."

Zhuang Xuejiu smiled.

At this time,

Qingyun stepped into the courtyard and hurried toward the teacher and student.

Upon seeing Xu Zaijing standing in the courtyard, he quickened his pace even further.

Approaching, Xu Zaijing frowned and asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"

Qingyun first bowed and clasped his hands in a salute to Zhuang Xuejiu.

After Zhuang Xuejiu nodded in return, he turned and walked into the school.

Watching Zhuang Xuejiu's retreating figure, Qingyun stepped forward and whispered to Xu Zaijing, "Young Master, a message has come from home! It says that the palace has issued an imperial decree, ordering you to enter the palace first thing tomorrow morning."

"Did they say why?" Xu Zaijing asked.

Qingyun shook his head: "No."

"okay, I get it."

noon,

The backyard of the Sheng family

Linxi Pavilion
Wearing a cloak and carrying a hand warmer wrapped in brocade, Mo Lan and Yun Zai, who was carrying a book box, stepped into the courtyard.

"The Fourth Sister is back."

The young maidservant standing at the door quickly announced the message.

The voice just fell,

Zhou Xueniang then lifted the cotton curtain and looked outside: "Fourth Miss, please come in quickly! Although the sun is out today, it's still a bit cold."

Mo Lan glanced at Zhou Xueniang, a perfunctory smile appearing on her lips.

Bending down, she passed through the cotton curtain, went around the screen, and stepped onto the carpet in the room. Mo Lan looked at Lin Qinshuang and called out, "Mother."

Lin Qinshuang, who was setting the table, smiled and nodded, then beckoned, "Mo'er, come and sit down!"

“When your father came back this morning, he brought a box of Poria cocos cakes for us. You should eat one before class this afternoon.”

"Take good care of your skin!"

Mo Lan handed the hand warmer to Zhou Xueniang, and let Lu Zhong help her take off her cloak, saying, "I know, Mother."

After washing her hands with warm water and wiping her face with a handkerchief, Mo Lan finally sat down at the table.

When eating
Mo Lan said, "Mother, I never thought anything of it before, but today I feel that my fifth cousin from the Xu family is a bit silly!"

"Huh? Xu Jiawulang Zaijing? Why is he acting like a fool?" Lin Qinshuang asked in confusion.

Mo Lan put down her chopsticks and said, "Mother, you know about the laborers who were conscripted to work along the canal, right?"

"Hmm! I know! They're all uncouth servants from the countryside, scraping their living off the land," Lin Qinshuang said with a frown and a look of disdain.

Mo Lan nodded repeatedly: "Mother, my fifth cousin from the Xu family actually sent a petition to the palace for those lowly laborers who were clearing silt from the river!"

"Oh?" Lin Qinshuang was even more puzzled: "What's he doing in the palace?"

"Could it be that those uncouth people made the road dirty, and this young master was annoyed by it?" Lin Qinshuang guessed.

Mo Lan shook her head repeatedly: "Mother! If that's the case, I might think more highly of this cousin! What a pity!"

Seeing Mo Lan pretending to be deep and silent, Lin Qinshuang urged, "Mo'er, tell your mother quickly! What's wrong with this young master!"

Mo Lan said in a dismissive tone, "Fifth Cousin Xu, after entering the palace, the government distributed a lot of coal."

"I think it's probably because Cousin Xu used his influence in the royal family to beg His Majesty for a favor, which is how the laborers got charcoal!"

"Huh? Is that really true?" Lin Qinshuang looked surprised.

Mo Lan nodded, puzzled, and said, "Doesn't Cousin Xu Wu know that this bond with the royal family diminishes with every bit of use?"

"Instead of wasting it on lowly laborers like those who dredge silt, it's better to keep it for myself, so I can secure a good future for my wife and children!"

Without responding to her daughter's words, Lin Qinshuang sighed, "I heard from your father that 20,000 laborers are dredging the canals throughout the capital this year!"

"Distributing coal to such a large population would cost a fortune! It's such a waste to spend it on these lowly people!"

"Mother is right!" Mo Lan nodded and said, "That's why I think Cousin Xu Wu is foolish!"

“Mo’er’s feeling is right, this young master is indeed somewhat naive and innocent!” Lin Qinshuang shook her head and said.

Mo Lan added, "However, Brother Yuan Ruo said that many prominent families in the capital also want to donate money to pray for the Crown Princess's well-being."

Lin Qinshuang: "Praying for blessings? Does that mean we're going to donate money to the temples and Taoist monasteries in the capital?"

"Then I don't know! Brother Yuanruo didn't explain in detail."

Lin Qinshuang nodded.

Mo Lan continued, "I think the reason why Cousin Xu is so reckless is because there isn't a capable and shrewd woman like Mother in the family!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Qinshuang touched Mo Lan's cheek with great satisfaction: "Mo'er, it's good that you know it in your heart! But don't say such things outside!"

Looking at Mo Lan who was nodding, Lin Qinshuang sighed and said resentfully, "It's a pity that the business your eldest sister brought in fell into the hands of that bitch Wei Shuyi, otherwise..."

Mo Lan picked up her chopsticks and continued eating.

Lin Qinshuang pondered for a moment and said, "Mo'er, do you think that if Young Master Qi went to the palace, he could obtain such a favor?"

Mo Lan's eyes darted around, and she said uncertainly, "It should be okay, after all, Brother Yuan Ruo is His Highness the Crown Prince's nominal nephew."

"Mo'er, don't be too afraid of the Fifth Young Master Xu! If you could marry the Fifth Young Master of the Xu family, he would be far more luxurious than the Third Young Master of the Xu family that your eldest sister married!"

"Mother! I just feel it's not worth it! Yuanruo and I are in love."

"A youngest son of a marquis's family and an only son of a duke's family—can't you see something this simple?"

Lin Qinshuang frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Mo'er is right!"

Near Shou'an Hall,
In Jin'anzhai,

Liu Mama's daughter, Jiu'er, bowed to Wei Shuyi and said, "Young lady, that's exactly what my mother instructed me to do."

Seeing Qiu Jiang stuff a string of copper coins into Jiu'er's hand, Wei Shuyi smiled and nodded, "Thank you for your trouble, please accept this, Miss Jiu'er."

"This"

"Sister Jiu'er, take it!" Qiu Jiang said with a smile.

"Thank you, young lady, thank you, Qiujiang sister," Jiu'er said with a smile.

Wei Shuyi held up the hand warmer: "Please tell Granny Liu that I will prepare the money here tomorrow. Granny Liu can just tell me how much you need to donate."

Jiu'er smiled and nodded: "Of course I won't let my mother pay for this herself! Madam will definitely pay the lion's share."

Wei Shuyi smiled.

"Then I'll take my leave," Jiu'er said again.

Wei Shuyi smiled and said, "Qiujiang, see him off."

When Qiu Jiang returned to the house, he saw Wei Shuyi stuffing loose silver into a purse.

"Young lady, what's wrong?"

Wei Shuyi raised his head: "Qiujiang, go out of the manor now and deliver this bag of silver to my sister!" "Young lady, this is what you painstakingly saved up from your embroidery!" Qiujiang frowned.

Wei Shuyi smiled and waved his hand: "Things are different now than before. With business opportunities in our courtyard, these things are nothing!"

"Alright! Young lady, how should I tell Madam Wei?"

Wei Shu pondered for a moment and said, "Just say that you would ask your brother-in-law to check along the canal and see if there is anything that needs help! Sending a pair of shoes, or making a pot of hot soup and steamed buns, would be fine!"

"Since the royal family acts this way, we should follow suit."

As he spoke, Wei Shuyi handed over the purse in his hand.

After Qiu Jiang took it, she said, "This servant understands! That's right, even the mistress is donating money, why do you need to do it yourself, young lady?"

Wei Shuyi gently shook her head: "If I were to donate money for blessings and have my brother-in-law do it at a temple or Taoist monastery, I would feel more at ease."

"Yes!"

Looking at Qiu Jiang turning around, Wei Shuyi said, "Oh, right!"

"Little girl?"

"If I see any delicious lamb or fish, I bring some back to have as an extra meal in the evening."

Qiu Jiang smiled broadly: "Yes, young lady!"

at night,

Quyuan Street,
The Marquis of Yongyi's Residence

Sanlang Zaizhang's courtyard,

The candlelight in the bedroom was warm and dim.

Hua Lan sat on the edge of the bed, gently patting her son Xing Zhong, who was nestled in the quilt.

Then, Zai Zhang stepped in.

Looking at his son on the bed, Zai Zhang said softly, "Asleep?"

"Mm." Hua Lan nodded.

Zai Zhang then asked, "What was in the wooden box that my mother-in-law and great-aunt asked me to bring back this afternoon?"

Hua Lan smiled and said in a low voice, "It's just some money."

Zai Zhang asked in surprise, "Silver money?"

"Yes!" Hua Lan nodded: "Mother and grandmother are worried that I won't have enough money when our family donates money."

Zai Zhang sat down on the edge of the bed, shaking his head with a smile: "How could that be! I thought it was prepared by my mother-in-law for me!"

Hua Lan didn't reply. After carefully examining Zai Zhang, she smiled and called out, "Cui Chan!"

Soon, Cui Chan, the personal maid, came in: "Madam?"

"Take Zhong'er to the wet nurse."

After a while,
Only the couple remained in the bedroom.

Seeing Hua Lan walking towards the dressing table, Zai Zhang smiled and walked over.

After helping Hualan remove her hairpins and jewelry, Zaizhang naturally picked up a comb and began to comb her hair.

Looking at Zai Zhang's reflection in the bronze mirror, Hua Lan said softly, "My lord, is something on your mind?"

"No," Zai Zhang said with a smile.

"Oh!" Hua Lan nodded and continued to let Zai Zhang comb her hair.

After a short while, Hua Lan stood up and said, "Alright, my lord! Sit down, it's my turn to comb your hair."

After Zai Zhang sat down, Hua Lan combed his hair while whispering, "Is my husband thinking that Xiao Wu will be going to the palace again tomorrow?"

Zai Zhang turned his head in surprise, looking at Hua Lan behind him with a look in his eyes that seemed to say, "Wife, how did you know?"

Hua Lan smiled but didn't say anything.

Zai Zhang sighed: "From the time he was born in the fifth year, he was sensible and obedient. His talent in martial arts and studying was also much better than mine and my eldest brother's!"

"When I was seven or eight years old, I could bring honor to my family! But me..."

"I can't compare to my eldest brother and fifth brother in martial arts, and my academic performance is just so-so too. From now on..."

Hua Lan put down the comb, massaged Zai Zhang's shoulders with both hands, and said, "My lord, I think you are wrong! Xiao Wu is indeed outstanding, and now he is even more favored by the Emperor."

"But, with my elder brother in a good position in the north, Xiao Wu's future will not be bad either. I wonder if he will become a high-ranking official or a key military officer."

"But after a long time, when your father-in-law and mother-in-law get old, I don't know how many of you three brothers will be around to take care of them."

"Being able to stay by your parents' side and fulfill your filial duties is something many people long for but cannot achieve!"

"You saw how worried your mother-in-law and sister-in-law were when your father-in-law, eldest brother, and Xiao Wu were fighting in the Northwest!"

"Hmm!" Sitting down, Zai Zhang felt relieved, and a smile slowly appeared on his face.

"Speaking of which, it's all thanks to my mother that I found such a wonderful wife for her son."

"Slap." Hua Lan slapped Zai Zhang a little shyly.

On the second day,
early morning,

There was a light mist.
Xihua Gate of Bianjing
Wearing a cloak and earmuffs, Xu Zaijing stopped his horse not far from the palace gate.

The little black horse shook its head and exhaled a puff of white breath.

"Squeak—"

The heavy palace gates opened.

The continuous sound of horses' hooves echoed through the palace gate.

Two elite cavalry units filed out of the palace gates.

The cavalry formations stretched out in an endless line, all dressed similarly, and were mostly light cavalry.

After walking for about fifteen minutes, the cavalry began to show signs of different attire.

"Shut up!"

Amidst the sounds of horses being reined in,
Dressed in luxurious winter clothes and riding the imperial horse, Zhao Fang exhaled white breath and waved to Xu Zaijing by the palace gate with his gloved hand.

Xu Zaijing then lightly nudged his horse's belly and rode towards the cavalry, with Qingyun following behind him.

He Guan, who was guarding Zhao Fang's perimeter and had sharp eyes, nodded to Xu Zaijing and then continued to observe the surroundings.

Cao Yi, who was on the inside, waved to the imperial guards beside him, making way for Zhao Fang.

"I have met His Highness!"

Xu Zaijing, who had come close to Zhao Fang, sat on his horse and bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

Zhao Fang smiled and breathed out white puffs of air, saying, "Brother Jing, are you cold outside?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head: "Even with the cloak bestowed by Your Majesty, this humble subject is still a little hot."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Fang smiled and nodded, saying, "That's good! Pass on the order, let's go."

"Yes!"

Cao Yi cupped his hands in greeting.

Then, the military order was relayed forward.

The cavalry moved again.

While waiting, Xu Zaijing looked at the ranks in front and behind and discovered that there were heavily armored cavalrymen among them.

These heavy cavalrymen's mounts were robust, only slightly inferior to the small steeds.

At every street corner, Imperial Guard cavalry were already maintaining order.

The group arrived at the outskirts of the city without any problems.

On the way, Xu Zaijing learned that Zhao Fang was actually going to the canal outside the western city today.

This morning, Crown Prince Zhao Fang will begin his inspection of the dredging efforts both inside and outside the capital, starting from the canal outside the western city of Bianjing and proceeding along the riverbank into the city.

Bianjing West City

Outside the west water gate of the city,

In a labor camp near Bianjing.

"Boom, boom, boom!"

The sound of hooves woke everyone in the camp, and after getting dressed, they came out of the work shed.

Someone, while buttoning their shirt, looked curiously outside and asked, "What happened?"

"What's that noise?!"

"Could it be an earth dragon overturning?"

"Shut up!"

An elderly laborer stroked his beard, frowned, and looked outside, scolding, "Don't talk nonsense! A large cavalry force is passing by!"

"Uncle Wang, how did you know?"

"How did you know? When Marquis Yongyi led his troops north, he passed through my hometown, and that's when we heard this commotion!"

The camp foreman, looking bewildered, listened to the old laborer's words while his eyes darted around, constantly looking outside.

"Hiss! The sound of horses' hooves is getting closer and closer!" Uncle Wang exclaimed in surprise. "It looks like they're coming this way."

The voice just fell.

"Xilulu——"

The sound of horses neighing rang out.

quickly,

Dozens of elite cavalrymen rode into the camp!
A cavalryman found a camp official and drove the laborers aside.

Cavalrymen rode their horses to high and strategic locations within the camp, where they stopped to stand guard.

After being busy for a while,

Only then, in the public eye, could one see the awe-inspiring, heavily armored cavalrymen riding into the camp.

While the laborers were still curious,
Then they saw several richly dressed young noblemen, riding tall horses, following behind them as they entered.

"Gudong."

The camp clerk couldn't help but swallow hard.

He didn't recognize anyone else, but he recognized Xu Zaijing riding the little horse!

Because the minor official lived near Xishuimen Street, and his residence was not far from the home of Xu Zaijing's maternal grandparents.

He knew that this famous noble son of the capital was the heir of a princely family, and that he had been beaten up before.

Even the heir of a first-rank noble family like the Duke's mansion would only walk alongside this one.

Can!
This morning, this person was seen riding a horse behind a young nobleman with a respectful attitude.

Looking around at the mounted guards,

There were also the heavy cavalrymen who accompanied them, clad in exquisite heavy armor. Ordinary members of the royal family would not even have two heavy cavalrymen, let alone such a number!

Immediately, a thought crossed the clerk's mind that he had never dared to imagine in the first half of his life: "Today, I will not see His Highness the Crown Prince!"

That's what the minor official thought.
However, the conscripted laborers around them neither recognized the light and heavy cavalry nor Xu Zaijing, the young master of the Marquis's mansion.

A young laborer whispered to the elderly Uncle Wang, "Old man, look at all these guards, which young master is showing off his power today?"

After pondering for a moment, Wang Bo said in a low voice, "It has to be at least a commander of a garrison in one of the four armies!"

"Hiss! Old man, is this commander a high-ranking official?" another person asked.

“Very big!” Uncle Wang nodded emphatically.

"Old man, what kind of army is Shangsi Army? Can an officer command a thousand men?" someone else asked.

"You really don't understand, the commander of the Fourth Army."

"quiet!"

One of the Imperial Guards shouted loudly.

The camp quickly quieted down.

Zhao Fang, the noble young man in the eyes of the laborers, had already dismounted and led Xu Zaijing and Cao Yi into the nearby work shed.

After a while,
The three men came out, and Cao Yi called out, "Come out, one in charge and one laborer, to speak with His Highness."

While the laborers were still wondering what 'dotting' meant.

The minor official took a deep breath, stepped forward from the crowd, and after taking two steps, knelt down on the ground with a thud.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the laborers, the minor official knelt and said, "This humble servant greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!"

As soon as this word comes out,
The campsite was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Immediately, the laborers knelt down in droves, like wheat fields swaying in the wind.

"It's freezing cold, everyone please get up," Zhao Fang said.

At the command of the Imperial Guards, the minor officials and laborers stood up again, bewildered.

(End of this chapter)