Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 743 My Heart Awaits You [Thank you! Bow again! 34k words owed]

The Marquis of Yongyi's Residence

Xu Zaijing's courtyard
The chimney on the roof emitted only a thin wisp of smoke, clearly indicating that the stove burning under the radiator was not producing a strong flame.

Upon entering the house,

Hua wanted to place the tea set and other items there.
Qingcao and Yunxiang followed Xu Zaijing, helping him remove his cloak, taking the earmuffs and gloves, and placing the cotton slippers in front of Xu Zaijing.

Just then, Xia's mother came over with a bowl of warm water. Yun Xiang took all the items from her, leaving Qingcao empty-handed. She quickly soaked the cloth draped over the edge of the basin, wrung it out gently, and handed it to Xu Zaijing.

Xu Zaijing sat down in the chair, placed a warm, damp cloth on his face, and let out a comfortable sigh.

After applying the cloth for a while, Xu Zaijing removed it and wiped his hands.

As he stood up, Xu Zaijing felt something strange in his chest. He reached inside and took out a finely crafted purse.

The three maids who had been in the carriage the whole way looked on in surprise at what Xu Zaijing was holding.

None of them knew when their young master had acquired this item.

Qingcao looked at the auspicious words embroidered with fine silk thread on the purse and asked in confusion, "Young master, what is this?"

Xu Zaijing stroked the fabric of the purse, looking at the fine stitches, and said, "This is a thank-you gift from someone else; keep it safe."

Qingcao quickly reached out and took it.

Xu Zaijing then walked towards the study next to him.

After placing her things down, Hua Xiang followed.

Looking at Xu Zaijing standing behind the table, preparing to grind ink, Hua thought, "Young Master, are you still doing your studies?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

Before Xu Zaijing could even take the inkstick in his hand, Qingcao reappeared at the door of the study.

"Sister Green Grass, what's wrong?" Flower asked, puzzled.

Qingcao walked into the study, smiled at Xu Zaijing, placed the purse on the desk, and then took Huaxiang's hand and walked out.

Watching the backs of the two maids, and glancing down at the purse on the table, Xu Zaijing belatedly picked up the purse and opened it.

In the afternoon light, Xu Zaijing looked into his purse.

Upon seeing the note folded inside, Xu Zaijing was stunned for a moment.

With some suspicions in mind, Xu Zaijing took a deep breath and then used two fingers to pick it out.

Amidst the rustling sounds, Xu Zaijing unfolded the stacked papers.

"Read ten thousand books, and your writing will flow like a god's. Your prose rivals Yang Xiong's, and your poetry is akin to Cao Zhi's."

As Xu Zaijing softly recited the four lines of poetry on the paper, he felt both happy and slightly disappointed.

Fortunately, there were no poems about love on the paper.

That's why I felt a little disappointed.

"Smug."

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head.

Xu Zaijing then prepared to refold the paper.

However, as soon as Xu Zaijing folded the paper, he discovered that there were ink stains on the back of the paper as well.

Unfold the paper again.

Xu Zaijing looked closely and saw that it was the character '心' (heart), with a dot and a vertical line next to it, and it looked like the radical '忄' was mostly written.

With a quick thought, Xu Zaijing guessed that it was the words 'Xin Yue' (心悦).

Thinking of this, Xu Zaijing turned the paper over and looked at the handwriting of the four lines of poetry.

The handwriting is somewhat hurried, as if it was written under pressure.

But looking at the strong lines, long structure, and dark ink of these characters, they do resemble the personality of Rong Feiyan, the daughter of the Rong family.

Xu Zaijing then realized that Rong Feiyan originally wanted to write a love poem to express her feelings, but perhaps she thought of something else and changed it to these four lines of poetry under the urging of others.

What was she thinking about?

Xu Zaijing sighed with emotion, slowly folded the paper, and put it back into his purse.

"grass."

The maid pushed open the door and entered the room: "Young master?"

"Put it away properly."

"Yes."

Qingcao left the study.

Xu Zaijing added some water to the inkstone and ground the ink for a while before he could calm his mind.

outside the window,

The sun sets in the west.

After the light dimmed, Xu Zaijing stopped doing his studies, rinsed his brush, and got up to leave the study.

Outside,

The three maids rested for a while in the afternoon.

At this moment, Qingcao was doing needlework, while Yunxiang and Huaxiang each held a sword and slowly practiced their sword dance moves.

After instructing Qingcao to put the purse away, Xu Zaijing sat down. Just as he was about to offer a few words of comment with a smile, a voice came from outside the door: "Fifth Young Master?"

Yun hurriedly put down his sword and walked towards the door.

After a while,
"Dan's mother, what brings you here?"

"Hehe, of course we've come to deliver something to our Fifth Young Master."

As they were talking, Dan's mother and Yun Xiang, who were carrying some things, walked in, bowed slightly to Xu Zaijing, and said, "Greetings, Fifth Brother."

Xu Zaijing stood up: "Dan's mother."

Then, Dan's mother placed what she was holding into Xu Zaijing's hands.

Xu Zaijing looked puzzled: "What is this?"

Madam Dan smiled and said, "Wu Lang, today when Madam went out to a gathering, the eldest daughter of the Hai family gave this to Madam in front of everyone."

After glancing at the three maids, Madam Dan continued, "They said it was a pen case prepared by Miss Hai. Miss Hai also gave the same style to Hai's son when he took the imperial examination." "Hai's son wearing a pen case like this means he will pass the imperial examination with flying colors! Wulang, I'm sure you will too."

Upon hearing this, Xu Zaijing smiled and accepted the pen cap.

Qingcao smiled and said, "Thank you, Mother Dan."

"Miss Qingcao, you flatter me." Mama Dan said with a smile, "Then this servant will return to Madam's side first."

"This servant will go and see it off," Qingcao said with a smile.

Xu Zaijing nodded, watched the two leave, and then looked at the pen cap in his hand with a hint of disbelief in his eyes.

He thought that after saving someone back then, the Hai family would come to the Xu family to express their gratitude, and he would have no further contact with the Hai family girl. Unexpectedly, with the imperial examination approaching, he would receive a gift from this girl.

"Young master, shall we put this in the same place as the purse?" Yun Xiang asked with a smile as he stood to the side.

Xu Zaijing shook his head: "No need, just put it on the desk, you'll need it later."

"Yes, son."

A few days later,
Lantern Festival,

Lanterns of all styles appeared in the streets and alleys of Bianjing City.

As in previous years, the largest and most beautiful lanterns are located near Xuande Gate, the south gate of the palace.

I had just had a get-together with my friends a couple of days ago.
Therefore, it wasn't until after sunset and as darkness fell that Xu Zaijing, who hadn't left the house all day, accompanied his family out of the Yongyi Marquis's residence.

Because Lady Sun, the wife of Marquis Xu, did not want to go out and join the fun, she stayed at home with Ningmei.
Xu Zaidan and his wife, along with their two children, were invited to the palace and will ascend the Xuande Gate Tower to enjoy the lanterns tonight.

Therefore, there weren't many people in the Xu family group. Hua Lan took Zhong Ge'er in a carriage, and in the following carriage sat Qingcao and two other maids.

Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang accompanied them on horseback with their personal attendants.

When they set off from Quyuan Street, Qingcao also helped Qingyun's two children and his wife Huaqing onto the carriage.

After the sun sets, the temperature drops sharply.

On the way,

Wearing earmuffs, Zai Zhang exhaled a puff of white breath and looked at the lanterns lit up along the street, asking, "Xiao Wu, Mother said that Zong Ge'er is with us tonight. Did she say where he'll be waiting for us?"

Looking up at the dark blue night sky, where the moon had not yet risen and the stars were twinkling, Xu Zaijing said, "The street corner east of Panlou."

"Oh!" Zai Zhang nodded.

Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang rode in front, followed by Qingyun and Zaizhang's entourage. In the middle were two carriages, and at the very back were four mounted guards, including Alan Xunshu.

The group then headed towards Panlou Main Street.

The closer you are to the direction of the palace, the better.

The more pedestrians and vehicles on the road,
When we arrived at Panlou Main Street, the area was already bustling with pedestrians.

Riding on horseback, Xu Zaijing pointed to the lantern bearing the inscription "Duke Lu of Lianguo" held high beneath a teahouse not far away, and then led his men over.

"Greetings, Sanlang and Wulang." The old woman beside the Lu family's carriage bowed to the two men and said, "My maid has already gone up to fetch them. Please wait a moment."

Xu Zaijing dismounted and nodded with a smile: "Alright! We'll wait here."

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing glanced at the carriage beside him with a puzzled look.

at the same time,

Hua Lan also got off the carriage with her son.

When Qingcao and the other two maids came over with Hua Qing, Lu Zezong also led his men down from the teahouse.

By the candlelight in the teahouse, Xu Zaijing could see that his sworn brother Lu Zezong was accompanied by a noblewoman.

Lu Zezong and the noble lady came to Xu Zaijing and Zaizhang. Zaizhang couldn't help but raise the corners of his mouth.

There is no other reason,

It was actually Cao Jiazhi, the noble lady who served Lu Zezong, who was more than half a head taller than Lu Zezong.

Lu Zezong smiled, bowed, and greeted him with his hands clasped in a respectful gesture: "Third Brother Xu, sworn brother."

"Greetings, Third Brother Xu, Fifth Brother Xu, and Madam Sheng." Sister Cao Jiazhi smiled and gave a curtsy.

Hua Lan smiled and nodded in return. Xu Xingzhong's eyes darted over Lu Zezong before he bowed and said, "Greetings, Aunt Cao."

Sister Cao Jiazhi nodded with a smile.

The Lantern Festival is a day for engaged or prospective married couples to meet.

Xu Zaijing didn't find it strange that Lu Zezong and Cao Jiazhi were together.

Girls naturally develop faster than boys, and Sister Zhi is even older than Lu Zezong.

Sister Zhi is very tall, and she looks a little mismatched standing next to Lu Zezong, who hasn't started growing yet.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, the group set off on foot to Xuande Gate to admire the lanterns along the way.

"Brother."

Lu Zezong deliberately slowed down by two steps and grabbed Xu Zaijing's sleeve.

"Ok?"

Xu Zaijing turned around and saw Lu Zezong pull a leather belt out of the pocket inside his cloak.

"My cousin, who married into the Chai family, asked me to give this to you. She said it was made by Sister Zhengzheng herself," Lu Zezong said in a low voice.

"what?"

Xu Zaijing took the belt in surprise: "Miss Zhengzheng, you can make this?"

Lu Zezong nodded: "The craftsmen have prepared the materials, and Sister Zhengzheng is drilling holes and fixing them in place. This is also to wish Brother Zhu good luck in passing the imperial examination next month."

Holding the rolled-up leather belt, Xu Zaijing was still somewhat surprised. He nodded and said, "Please pass on my thanks. I have received your kind words and the gift."

"Ok!"

After nodding, Lu Zezong looked at Xu Zaijing curiously and said, "Brother, when did Sister Zhengzheng become so close to you? She even asked me to hand over things in front of Aunt Chai and everyone from the Rong family."

Xu Zaijing was taken aback, then a thought struck him, and he said, "Brother Zong, it's not what you think! It's because one year ago, when the families were returning to the capital from Jinming Pond, they encountered a sandstorm on the way, and the Chai family's carriage almost fell into the Hulong River."

"I lent a hand, and that's probably why Miss Zhengzheng gave me something."

"Oh!" Lu Zezong nodded in realization.

Walking ahead of the two, Cao Jiazhi, who had been eavesdropping, turned her head back, her eyes filled with a look of sudden realization.

(End of this chapter)