Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 767 Bah! This old scoundrel is truly shameless! [Thank you! Thank you again! 25k words owed]

Chen Shi (around 8 AM)

Outside Xinzheng Gate

Hulonghe West

At the entrance to Jinming Pond, flags fluttered and imperial guards stood in rows.

The emperor and his officials had already entered the Jinmingchi Garden.

The emperor's chief eunuch stood on one side of the road.

Seeing Xu Zaijing and the other hundreds of other successful candidates in the imperial examinations dismount, the chief eunuch flicked his whisk and bowed, saying, "His Majesty has decreed that you are all the elite talents of our dynasty, and you should go to the Imperial Academy first."

"Your subjects accept the imperial decree and express their gratitude," said Xu Zaijing, who was standing at the front, bowing and cupping his hands.

Changbai, who was following behind Xu Zaijing, immediately called out, "Thank you, Your Majesty."

The hundreds of other successful candidates echoed in unison.

The chief eunuch smiled and nodded, looking at Xu Zaijing and saying softly, "Scholar Xu, please lead the others first!"

"Yes, Your Excellency!" Xu Zaijing smiled and bowed again, then took the lead and followed the Ministry of Rites official toward Qionglin Garden in the south.

The other successful candidates quickly followed.

Xu Zaijing did not visit Qionglin Garden very often.

Looking around, the main road leading to the gate of Qionglin Garden is lined with pine and cypress trees that are too large for one person to encircle, indicating that they are quite old.

Among the lush branches and treetops, glimpses of rooftops and eaves can be seen from time to time, indicating that there are other buildings in the forest.

Halfway down the main road outside Qionglin Garden, an official from the Ministry of Rites pointed to an open wooden gate by the roadside and said, "Wulang, please come this way. Let's go to the cherry orchard to pick cherries first."

Xu Zaijing nodded, glanced at the rows of decorated carriages outside the courtyard wall, and then walked forward.

Stepping over the threshold into the garden, Xu Zaijing found that palace ladies were already standing at the entrance.

Upon seeing Xu Zaijing enter, the female official smiled and handed him a bamboo basket about the size of a fist.

Xu Zaijing accepted it with a smile, stood aside for a while, and then walked into the depths of the orchard with Changbai, Gu Tingye, and others.

The palace officials in charge of organizing the Qionglin Banquet were clearly very experienced, and the orchard had also been scouted beforehand.

Although the pebble-paved path beneath their feet led in all directions, the area where they were to move around had already been defined by ribbons.

Xu Zaijing and his companions walked and stopped frequently, picking a few bunches of cherries every now and then and putting them into their bamboo baskets.

On the way,

Gu Tingye held up the bamboo basket in his hand and grinned, saying, "This basket is too small; it can't even hold a few strings of food!"

Changbai shook his head with a smile: "Erlang, if I really gave you a big bamboo basket, with more than four hundred of us, we'd probably plunder the orchard bare."

"Haha! That's true!" Gu Tingye laughed.

Xu Zaijing, who was biting into a cherry, smiled and nodded: "Try it, it's very sweet!"

At this time,

"Ha ha ha ha--"

A hearty laugh came from behind me.

Xu Zaijing and the others turned around and saw that one of their classmates had put a cherry in his hair.

Today was supposed to be a celebration banquet for those who had studied hard for many years and finally passed the imperial examination. Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, Changbai and the others exchanged glances and were also infected by the laughter.

We walked through the orchard for quite a while.

After Xu Zaijing and the others turned a corner, a tall wooden building with a rather long shape appeared in front of them.

The wooden building's base is made of bluestone and is more than two people tall, with columns standing around the outside of the base.

A two-story wooden building was built on the base, and wooden planks were laid on the columns with railings, forming a viewing platform.

At this moment, the second floor of the wooden building and the railings of the viewing platform were adorned with a group of people dressed in brocade robes and surrounded by pearls and jade.

Dozens of ladies from wealthy and powerful families, some holding round fans and others clutching handkerchiefs, craned their necks to look at the forest path below.

Under the sunlight, the clothes and jewelry of the noble ladies shimmered with various colors.

Upon seeing Xu Zaijing and the others appear, the wooden building and platform were initially quiet, then filled with chatter and laughter.

"Oh my God!"

Gu Tingye, who was eating cherries, quickly spat out the pit and looked himself up and down before asking, "Changbai, Wulang, am I alright like this?"

“No problem,” Changbai said.

Xu Zaijing laughed and said, "It doesn't matter if there's a problem! Anyway, Erlang, you already have a wife!"

Gu Tingye was taken aback and said, "Then I also need to pay attention to my appearance."

The words trailed off.

"oops!"

The other scholars following behind Xu Zaijing and others saw the noble ladies on the wooden building one after another, exclaimed in surprise, and hurriedly tidied their clothes.

Xu Zaijing was used to such scenes, whether in Yangzhou or Bianjing.

After exchanging a glance with Changbai, they continued walking forward.

We arrived near the wooden building.

"Second Brother! Fifth Brother Xu! Second Brother Sheng!"

Standing by the platform railing, Tingyi, with his womanly hairstyle, smiled and waved to the group, calling out to them.

After calling out to everyone, Tingyi pointed at Changbai and the girl next to him and whispered a few words to her.

"Oh! You've brought relatives from the Shoushan Earl's family," Gu Tingye said with a smile.

As Gu Tingye spoke, the girl next to Tingyi glanced shyly at Changbai.

The other ladies by the railing were pointing and whispering about Xu Zaijing, their gazes frequently sweeping over him.

When the noble ladies saw Xu Zaijing approaching, they quickly smiled and bowed.

Xu Zaijing glanced over and saw that they were women and girls from the Shen, Hai, and Lu families. He quickly smiled, cupped his hands, and nodded in return.

Walking beside Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye looked left and right and said, "Changbai, Wulang, give me some cherries, I'll throw them to Sanniang so she can have a taste."

Xu Zaijing nodded, handed the small bamboo basket to Gu Tingye, and said, "In this cherry orchard, how could Third Sister and the others go without cherries?"

Gu Tingye shook his head: "That's different! These were picked by us older brothers ourselves."

After filling the bamboo basket to the brim, Gu Tingye carried it down from the platform with one hand and called out, "Catch!"

As he spoke, he gently tossed the bamboo basket upwards.

When the bamboo basket flew to eye level with Gu Tingyi, she caught it in her hands.

Xu Zaijing and the others waited aside.

"Eat up! It's so sweet!" Gu Tingye laughed, tilting his head back.

"Okay, brother," Tingyi said with a smile.

Hai Chaoyun stood not far from Gu Tingyi, looking at the group of people downstairs. She thought to herself: This is Gu's second brother, that is Xu Wu's brother, and the person next to them must be Sheng's second son.

Thinking about all this, Hai Chaoyun's gaze turned to Changbai.

Perhaps sensing something, Changbai also turned his gaze in this direction.

After exchanging a glance with Changbai, Hai Chaoyun nodded somewhat embarrassedly, after all, her kite had hit Changbai on the head before.

Upon seeing this, Changbai was about to smile and nod when...

suddenly,

"Changbai, who are you looking at?"

Xu Zaijing moved closer to Changbai and looked towards the edge of the platform railing.

In that instant, Changbai suddenly realized that he really disliked the noisy Xu Zaijing.

Although he still wanted to see that noble lady one more time, Changbai reluctantly looked away and said to the despicable Xu Zaijing, "I wasn't looking at anyone!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Xu Zaijing smiled and waved to Hai Chaoyun by the railing.

Seeing Xu Zaijing's gesture, Hai Chaoyun curtsied again. Beside Hai Chaoyun, the young Shen Shizhen, thinking Xu Zaijing was waving to her, also smiled and curtsied.

Seeing this, Xu Zaijing could only continue nodding and waving.

Then, Xu Zaijing and the others continued walking forward.

After Xu Zaijing and his group left, the other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) who followed behind would often greet their relatives or old friends who they knew by the railing.

As for whether this led to any happy marriages, haha, that's a story for another time, right, Changbai!
"Wulang, why are you looking at me like that!" Changbai frowned.

Xu Zaijing said with a smile, "Nothing! It's just that you seem a little absent-minded, Changbai!"

Changbai focused his attention on his eyes and asked, "Is there?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head, saying, "It's gone now."

Gu Tingye interrupted, "What are you two chattering about?"

"It's nothing!" Xu Zaijing and Changbai said in unison.

"How strange! I didn't see any noble ladies from the Chai and Rong families just now," Gu Tingye said in confusion.

Changbai was very surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Second Brother, Miss Feiyan wasn't on the platform just now?"

"No!" Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing for confirmation: "Fifth Brother, you have good eyesight and can see clearly that the two noble ladies did not come, did they?"

"He didn't come!" Xu Zaijing confirmed with a smile.

"Oh—" Changbai seemed to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Changbai, why are you asking this?" Xu Zaijing asked, suppressing a laugh.

Gu Tingye also realized what was going on and asked, "Yes, Changbai! When you ask this, are you mistaking some noble lady for Miss Feiyan?"

Changbai had met Rong Feiyan and Hai Chaoyun before.

The group had seen the "Kui Xing Pointing at the Dipper" inkstone on the day Xu Zaijing and Hai Chaojie discovered it at Chai Zhengzheng's Sibaozhai.

However, Changbai has always been a gentleman who observes proper etiquette since childhood. Even when he goes out with Xu Zaijing and others, he will not stare or look at women he is not very familiar with in a rude manner.

Moreover, girls change a lot as they grow up, and even Changbai, who had seen them before, could hardly recognize some of them.

"I... I just asked casually," Changbai said, trying to remain calm.

"Oh!" Gu Tingye nodded, somewhat disbelieving.

As they talked, the group continued walking along the forest path in the orchard toward Qionglin Garden.

One side of the main gate of Qionglin Garden
Inside a wooden door,

Xu Zaijing and the others came out after taking a walk around the orchard.

Guided by officials from the Ministry of Rites, the group entered Qionglin Garden through the main gate.

It is springtime, and the flowers and plants are lush and green.

As a royal garden, Qionglin Garden was naturally filled with blooming flowers, lush vegetation, and stunning scenery.

Artificial hills, ponds, pavilions, and terraces appear from time to time along the way.

Arriving in front of a grand hall,

Officials from the Ministry of Rites led Xu Zaijing and his entourage inside.

As soon as you arrive at the entrance of the hall, a refreshing fragrance wafts out from inside.

After everyone entered the hall, they discovered that there were incense burners about half a person's height in the four corners of the hall, with blue smoke rising outwards.

The hall was furnished with tables and chairs, and brocade embroidered with the names of the people were draped over the backs of the chairs.

"Gentlemen, please take your seats!" an official from the Ministry of Rites gestured.

Everyone sat down.

The palace ladies-in-waiting, with smiles on their faces, entered in a steady stream, carrying trays.

Despite the orderly arrangement inside the palace, a busy scene was actually taking place in a courtyard somewhere in the Qionglin Garden, where the people from the four departments and six bureaus of the palace were already working hard.

When Xu Zaijing and others sat down to taste tea, discuss incense, and exchange ideas.

North of Qionglin Garden

On the banks of Jinming Pond,

In the Linshui Palace, the emperor was also hosting a banquet for his officials.

"My beloved subjects, come! Let us drink this cup together."

The emperor, seated on the dragon throne at the head of the table, smiled and raised his cup.

Inside the hall, civil and military officials alike raised their wine cups.

After drinking it all,
The Marquis of Xiangyang, sitting not far from the emperor, bowed and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, there are a few words that this old minister is unsure whether he should say."

The emperor smiled and stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and said, "Speak!"

The Marquis of Xiangyang chuckled: "This old minister is thinking that this year's Jinming Pond Banquet should be even more lavish with fine wine and delicacies!"

Minister Huangfu, who was not far away, laughed and said, "Lord Gu, what do you mean by that?"

After looking at his colleagues, the Marquis of Xiangyang smiled and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, isn't the Qionglin Banquet being held next door? Could you perhaps add some dishes for our colleagues?"

"Hmm?" The emperor frowned and looked at him: "Why are you still so greedy!"

The Duke of Qi, standing not far away, looked at his father-in-law with a somewhat helpless smile.

In fact, when the Duke of Qi was young, he also longed for the Qionglin Banquet.

The Marquis of Xiangyang looked ashamed and said with a smile, "Your Majesty! You have gathered the best talents in the world this year. Several of your senior ministers have often told this old minister how delicious the dishes at the Qionglin Banquet are!"

"This old minister is so curious and itchy! I beg you to grant me the opportunity to have a taste!"

The emperor shook his head with a smile, pointed at the Marquis of Xiangyang, and said, "You! To truly appreciate the deliciousness of the dishes at the Qionglin Banquet, it takes more than just a good palate!"

The high-ranking officials in the palace, who had risen through the civil service examinations, nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

The Marquis of Xiangyang asked in bewilderment, "Your Majesty! What else is needed to savor fine food besides the tongue!"

The emperor smiled and shook his head: "Forget it! I'll just ask you, what do you think is the best and most unforgettable wine you've ever tasted?"

"Hmm—" Marquis of Xiangyang pondered for a moment, then said with certainty, "Your Majesty! It was the same celebratory wine we drank after the rebellion was quelled! It wasn't a fine wine, but its sharp taste is still unforgettable to this day."

Immediately, the Marquis of Xiangyang said with a look of sudden realization, "Your Majesty, this old minister has learned a great deal."

The emperor smiled and nodded, looking at the Marquis of Xiangyang, and laughed, "Haha! It's good that you understand!"

Looking at the Marquis of Xiangyang diagonally opposite him, the Duke of Anguo curled his lip in disgust and whispered to the Duke of Han beside him, "Pah! This old scoundrel is shameless! He really knows how to please His Majesty!"

The Korean man with heavy eye bags nodded and said, "Ever since he had two sons, his face has disgusted me!"

"Exactly!" Duke Anguo said, picking up some food with his chopsticks.

After examining Duke Anguo for a moment, Duke Hanguo asked in confusion, "Brother Tan, you look quite well these days! Have you taken some kind of magic pill?"

"Haha!" Duke Anguo laughed, raised his cup to toast Duke Han, and said, "I have to thank Brother Han for his help!"

"Me?" The Korean prince raised his glass, then after a moment of confusion, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Brother, you mean tomorrow!"

Duke Anguo nodded with emotion: "Yes! Tomorrow His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince will watch the Imperial Guards perform their military drills at Baojin Tower!"

"I hope my child will do well! If he gains His Majesty's favor, he can go to the north to lead troops in the future!"

"If I achieve some military merit in the future, I will have lived up to the expectations of my ancestors in the ancestral hall."

"Tsk!" The Korean Duke put down his wine glass, picked up a handkerchief from the side and wiped the cold sweat from his hands: "Brother, don't thank me! Your Fourth Master is willing to take on this troublesome task of martial arts training for my family, without being afraid of messing it up and implicating the Tan family. I am already very grateful!"

"But what if we actually go to the battlefield? On the battlefield, swords and spears don't discriminate! What if someone..."

Duke Anguo looked at the wine cup in his hand and nodded, saying, "Yes! Swords and spears have no eyes! But it's still better than staying at home and accomplishing nothing."

"The children have earned real military merit! In the future, our family can hold our heads high in front of those younger generations!"

The Korean official raised his glass again: "Brother, your family's sons are still better! My kids, not one of them doesn't tremble at the mere mention of going to the battlefield!"

At this time,

The chief eunuch walked to the emperor's side, bowed, and said, "Your Majesty, the tables and chairs under the colorful canopy outside the palace have been arranged."

"Hmm!" The emperor nodded: "After the banquet with my ministers, I will order the graduates of this year's imperial examination to come over."

(End of this chapter)