Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 768 "Brother Ye, you're still young." [Thank you! Thank you again! 24k words owed]

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The chief eunuch bowed and said.

East of Jinming Pond

poolside,

The tents of high-ranking officials and nobles were lined up everywhere.

In front of the tent, officials' wives and noblewomen often walked and socialized with their children or relatives' children.

Behind the curtains, the servants and maids of each household were busy boiling water and steaming food.

In some poorly prepared households, the maids and servants would grind peanuts, sesame seeds, and other ingredients needed for Lei Cha (a type of tea).

and,

This year is different from previous years.

The matriarchs and wives of the various households did not go to the Linshui Palace; most of them stayed in their own tents.

The reason is,

Today, the newly appointed scholars will sit near the Linshui Hall.

With nearly five hundred people, it was really difficult to arrange seats for the matriarchs and wives of each household.

This does have some advantages.

For example, it is more comfortable and relaxing to talk and chat in one's own home or in a relative's tent than in front of the emperor and empress.

After entering the capital, Sheng Hong had already undergone two trials and tribulations and his official rank had gradually risen. The Sheng family's tents were no longer located on the north bank of Jinming Pond, but continued to move southward.

In the Sheng family tent,

Rulan rolled her eyes at Molan, who was standing at the entrance of the tent, and continued to leisurely sip the Seven Treasures Lei Cha she was holding.

"Magpie, add some more sugar for me."

"It's a girl!"

The magpie turned and walked to the side, bringing over the sugar jar.

After adding sugar to Rulan, the magpie added two more spoonfuls to Minglan, who was smiling.

"Fourth sister, stop looking! Mother made it very clear before she left! Only third brother can go out today! We can only stay in the tent."

Mo Lan looked south, where new and old tents stood in rows. Although she couldn't see the Qi family's large tent, she continued to look south, ignoring Ru Lan who was speaking.

suddenly,

To Minglan's surprise, Molan quickly turned around and walked into the tent.

Minglan and Rulan exchanged a puzzled glance.

Before Rulan could utter a sarcastic remark, Lu Zhong and Yun Zai, who were standing at the door, frowned and quickly untied the curtain and lowered it.

"What are you doing? I'm going to watch the online troll show later!" Rulan asked, frowning.

"Fifth Sister, outside," Lu Zhong pointed behind her.

Before he could finish speaking, a burst of laughter came from outside.

"The young lady I just saw standing here was quite tall and slender! We came to the door, why are the curtains all down?!" a man asked in confusion.

"Could this be a strategic retreat to advance?"

"Ha ha."

Upon hearing this, Rulan looked at Molan, who had her head down, with a mixture of panic and reproach in her eyes.

Minglan was also a little flustered. After taking a few deep breaths, she hurriedly said, "Xiaotao, go find Sister Cuiwei quickly."

"oh oh!"

Xiao Tao quickly walked towards the back of the tent.

Outside the tent, several men were still talking.

"I bet that little girl got shy when she saw our handsome faces!"

“Brother Gao, you come from a noble family. Even the eldest daughter of a noble family is not worthy of you!”

"Hey! Who said you were going to marry me? It's fine to be my maid."

"What you say makes perfect sense!"

quickly,

Cuiwei then quickly went into the tent.

Upon hearing Minglan's words that "there are some lecherous men outside the tent," Cuiwei said with a stern face, "The three ladies, please go behind the tent and hide for a while. I will go outside to talk."

"oh oh!"

Rulan nodded and took Minglan's hand, walking towards the back of the tent.

Mo Lan, her face also pale, hurriedly followed.

At this moment, some of the men outside the tent stepped forward, wanting to lift the tent flap and look inside.

Cuiwei, with a stern face, led her maid and took the lead in tearing open the tent curtain.

"Ouch!"

The man who had approached stepped back.

Cuiwei curtsied with a stern face: "Greetings, gentlemen! The tent is currently filled with women, so it is truly inconvenient to entertain guests! Please forgive us!"

"Sa——"

The leading man opened his folding fan, glanced at Cuiwei, and laughed, "You, a maid, do have some guts."

As he spoke, the man looked at the wooden plaque hanging at the entrance of the tent: "The Sheng family? What does your master do? This surname sounds unfamiliar."

Someone leaned over from behind the man and whispered a few words.

The young man sneered, "Hmph! Not much of an official position, yet he's related to the Marquis of Yongyi by marriage!"

Leaning close to the doorway behind the tent, listening to the conversation in front of it, Minglan and Rulan exchanged a glance. On a sudden thought, Minglan waved to Xiaotao: "Xiaotao, go quickly to the main tent of the Marquis of Yongyi's residence and fetch reinforcements!"

"Magpie, you go with her," Rulan said.

"May I ask your honorable surname, young master?" Cuiwei said coldly.

"Open your eyes wide and look carefully, this young master is the Crown Princess's own brother, the son of the Gao family!" someone laughed from the side.

Cuiwei's eyes widened in surprise.

Just as Cuiwei was about to continue speaking, she suddenly noticed someone running quickly towards her.

To Cuiwei's surprise, the man who ran over kicked Gao Yanei, the leader of the group.

Staggering forward three steps after being kicked, Gao Yanei, who was lying on the ground, turned around and shouted angrily, "Rongxian, how dare you kick me?"

Rong Xian spat and said, "I'm going to kick you! Not only will I kick you, I'm going to beat you up too!"

Standing next to Rong Xian, Liang Han looked at the others, raised her chin, and questioned, "What, are you going to make a move too?"

Those who came with Gao Yanei saw the capable servants behind the four and quickly turned around to help them up.

Gao Yanei looked at Qiao Jiulang and Lu Zezong behind Liang Hanrong and Xian and laughed, "Brother-in-law, we are relatives. Why are you standing with them?"

"What are you doing?" Lu Zezong asked casually.

"I"

Lu Zezong: "The Sheng family is a family of scholars. Lord Sheng is not only an exceptional calligrapher, but also a respected and upright official in the court! You've been harassing the women of the Sheng family! Aren't you afraid of ruining the Gao family's reputation by doing this?"

"Here."

"I wonder what Brother Gao Lin will say if I tell him about this."

"No! No! Brother-in-law, this is a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding! We'll leave right away!" Gao Jing said with a forced smile.

Looking at the people around Gao Jing, Lu Zezong frowned.

Then, to everyone's surprise, Lu Zezong walked to Gao Jing's side, pulled Gao Jing seven or eight steps to the edge of the pond.

Lu Zezong waved to Liang Han, who was approaching with concern, and whispered to Gao Jing, "Second Brother Gao, don't you know that the Tan family's patriarch and the Cao family's matriarch are at odds?"

I, Gao Jing, looked embarrassed.

"The Korean royal family doesn't have any outstanding sons! If His Highness the Crown Prince finds out that you're getting so close to these two families, it won't be good for your career, Second Brother Gao!"

"I know! I know!" Gao Jing nodded with a smile.

"Take care of yourself!" Lu Zezong, though young, patted Gao Jing on the shoulder.

"Alright!" Gao Jing nodded perfunctorily and waved to the Han and Tan family members: "Let's go."

After walking a dozen steps, Gao Jing turned back and smiled, nodding at Lu Zezong.

After straightening his head, Gao Jing's smile vanished, and he thought to himself, "If I don't play with them, I'll go to Gao Le to find the leader. Who's going to give me money?!"

"What kind of person is this! He's living off my family and still acts so arrogantly!" Gao Jing said angrily.

"Young master is right! That fellow is just pretending to be something he's not!"

In front of the Sheng family's tent,
Cuiwei asked the young lady to lift the curtain, while she herself gave a deep bow: "Thank you for your righteous help, gentlemen."

"It's nothing! I've had my eye on that fellow for a long time!" Rong Xian waved his hand with a smile.

Qiao Jiulang laughed and said, "I have a very good relationship with Brother Feng, so when I saw this, I naturally had to step in to stop it."

Liang Han smiled at Lu Zezong without saying a word.

Lu Zezong glanced at the two women peeking out from deep within the tent and smiled, "We're all relatives, so please, sister maid, you're too kind! The Sheng family is in a lot of trouble today, so there's no need for you two to come out and thank us!"

Cui smiled and nodded: "Thank you, young master!"

"Shall we go?" Lu Zezong asked Rong Xian with a smile.

Xu Family Tent

Liu and Dan, the two mothers, walked in, panting.

Sitting on the chair in the tent, Madam Sun suddenly stood up. She glanced at Wang Ruofu, who had also stood up and was frowning, and asked urgently, "What's wrong? Why are you back so soon?"

Dan's mother gestured for Liu's mother to speak.

Madam Liu curtsied and hurriedly said, "Reporting to Madam, Madam, Madam Dan and I were stopped and turned back by Cuiwei, who serves the Old Madam, on the way." Glancing at Madam Wu beside her, Madam Liu continued, "They said that Young Master Lu, the sixth young master of the Liang family, and the four young masters of the Rong and Qiao families happened to be passing by and simply drove them away."

"Thank goodness!" Sun breathed a sigh of relief and sat back down in her chair with Wang Ruofu.

"That young master Gao is really acting recklessly!" Madam Wu exclaimed. "Yesterday, I heard from Sixth Brother that this young master was flirting with women in the garden and almost caused a fight. Today, he's harassing the officials' wives by the pond again!"

"Such reckless behavior will only bring trouble upon himself sooner or later!" Bai Shi shook her head and said from the other side.

Wang Ruofu came out in a huff and said, "If I had something important to do today, I would definitely have gone to the Gao family's tent to argue with them!"

"Alright, alright, let's not talk about this unpleasant stuff!" Madam Wu laughed. "So that when Madam Hai comes over later and sees us like this, she won't think we don't like her!"

“Sister is right,” Bai nodded.

Wang Ruofu quickly took a deep breath, adjusted her emotions, and forced a few smiles.

after awhile.

Yun Jin, who was standing at the door, called out into the tent, "Madam, it seems that it is the eldest daughter of the Hai family who has arrived."

Everyone inside the tent rose and headed towards the entrance to greet them.

Bai, who was lagging behind, looked at Sun and Wang Ruofu walking ahead and whispered to Madam Wu beside her, "Originally, I wanted to introduce other noble ladies! But as soon as you mentioned the Hai family, my interest immediately vanished."

With an air of complete confidence, Madam Wu chuckled softly, "Is she Third Sister's sister-in-law?"

Bai nodded with a smile.

Looking at Hua Lan behind her, Madam Wu laughed and said, "Hua Lan, do you see? Your younger brother is in high demand these days!"

Hua Lan nodded with a smile: "It's all thanks to Madam's kind words!"

"Haha!" Madam Wu laughed triumphantly.

After exchanging a few words, the group arrived at the tent entrance and greeted Madam Hai with smiles.

After placing Madam Hai to sit below Madam Sun and offering her tea and a few words of conversation, Madam Hai glanced at everyone in the tent and smiled, saying, "Since all the ladies are here, I won't hold back anymore!"

"The reason I came to the Marquis's residence this time is also for the marriage of my children."

Hua Lan, Liu's mother, Cai Huan, and the others standing to the side all wore expectant smiles.

Wang Ruofu grinned and nodded, flattered: "What you say is true, Madam! When Sister Wu mentioned this before, I felt as sweet as if I had eaten honey."

Then, Wang Ruofu glanced at Madam Sun and asked uncertainly, "I just don't know if your master has taken a liking to my son."

"Oh my! I say, Miss Wang!" Madam Wu looked at Madam Hai with a smug smile and said, "If Madam Hai hadn't taken a liking to Brother Bai, would she have come to our tent to speak with us herself?"

"She didn't like it, so she sent me, this annoying person, to deliver the message a long time ago!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Hai's face showed a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

Wu Da Niangzi helped select potential husbands for the Hai family's children's marriages. The two had interacted several times and were quite familiar with each other.

"My husband saw your second son several times when he was in the palace! He came back and praised the child to me!" said Madam Hai with a smile.

Wang Ruofu smiled and nodded happily: "You and Lord Hai are too kind."

Madam Hai gave Hua Lan an appreciative look, shook her head and smiled, "How could it be excessive? I was just telling the truth."

"Good, good, good!" Madam Wu clapped her hands with a smile and said, "Since that's the case, shall we choose an auspicious day to hold the wedding ceremony?"

Wang Ruofu and Madam Hai nodded with smiles.

Hua Lan exchanged a happy glance with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law.

The Hai family produced five Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)!

The lord of the Hai family was a high-ranking official in charge of a region, and both father and son were highly valued in the court.

If Changbai can marry a girl from the Hai family, he will be able to avoid many detours in his career.

As a result, the atmosphere inside the tent became more relaxed.

The wives and daughters of the officials chatted and laughed, discussing various interesting stories and anecdotes from Bianjing (Kaifeng).

Time flies when you start talking about things and gossiping.

"The newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) has arrived!"

From the vicinity of the Linshui Palace, several dozen feet away, the eunuch's loud shouts could be faintly heard, and everyone inside the tent looked out.

From Sun's and others' perspective, after the scholars bowed and greeted each other outside the Linshui Hall, they were led by the eunuchs to sit on the seats under the colorful canopy outside the hall.

After a while, a figure could be vaguely seen moving in front of the Linshui Palace.

Upon closer inspection, one could see female officials carrying flower baskets walking orderly under the colorful canopy.

The ladies-in-waiting seemed to be taking small, quick steps, and from a distance, their skirts appeared motionless, as if they were fairies floating by.

The female officials placed the palace flowers from the flower baskets in front of and behind the scholars, and then drifted away.

"Oh, these are imperial flowers!" the eldest daughter-in-law of the Hai family exclaimed with a smile.

Everyone in the tent nodded in agreement.

The scholars who received the palace flowers either placed them in their hair themselves or helped each other.
The scholars then bowed again and expressed their gratitude in unison.

After expressing their gratitude, the colorful boats that had been moored in front of the Linshui Palace set off for the pool to begin their performance, accompanied by the sound of drums and music.

Although the officials' wives and noblewomen had seen this performance in the pool many times, there were no videos to watch repeatedly, and it only happened once a year!
Therefore, the wives and noblewomen of the officials still watched with great interest.

"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

After a few gong sounds, the decorated boats, having finished their performance, retreated towards the shore.

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

Amidst the resounding drumbeats, twenty small dragon boats and ten tiger-head boats passed under the bridge in the distance to the west, heading this way.

"Roar!"

"Roar!"

A series of synchronized low growls and exhalations rang out.

With each low growl, the sailors on the small dragon boats and tiger-head boats rowed in unison.

In front of the Linshui Palace, Huyan Jiong, dressed in official robes, stood under the colorful canopy, looking at the naval forces in the pool with great envy.

Xu Zaijing, who was sitting not far in front of Huyan Jiong, turned around and looked at him, whispering, "Brother-in-law, what are you thinking about?"

Huyan Jiong whispered to Xu Zaijing, "I remember the battle we fought on the East River of Keyimen a few years ago."

Xu Zaijing turned to look at the navy in the pool, closed his eyes to sense it for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "Yes! The roar is full of momentum and has a hint of killing intent; it looks like a powerful army!"

Not far below Xu Zaijing, Gu Tingye, looking bewildered, closed his eyes, mimicking Xu Zaijing.

After sensing for a moment, Gu Tingye looked at Xu Zaijing and asked in confusion, "Fifth Brother, where is the killing intent? I can't detect it."

"Brother Ye, you're still young," Xu Zaijing said in a low voice.

Hu Yanjiong smiled, pursing his lips.

Gu Tingye: "Me"

A quarter of an hour later, the small dragon boat and the tiger-head boat had arrived outside the Aowu on the north bank of Jinming Pond, with one end tied to the ropes of the large dragon boat and the other end tied to the two small boats.

Twenty small dragon boats were responsible for pulling the ship from the front, while tiger-head boats were positioned on both sides to adjust the direction.

"Thump—thump—roar!"

The drums beat slowly, the navy roared in unison, and the oars paddled powerfully.

"Thump—thump—roar!"

With the sound of drums, the mooring rope was quickly taut by the small boat.

Then, the enormous dragon ship was slowly pulled out of the tall inner chamber.

"Thump—thump—roar!"

The drumbeats on the small dragon boat and the tiger-head boat gradually quickened.

Once all the large dragon ships had left the inner room.

"boom!"

On one side of the large dragon boat, six large oars struck the water simultaneously and began to slide.

"Thump! Roar!"

"Thump! Roar!"

Pulled by twenty small dragon boats and propelled by large oars on both sides, the large dragon boat sailed towards the Linshui Palace.

When they were still some distance from the Linshui Palace, the ropes between the large dragon boat and the small boat were no longer taut, and the six oars on one side, a total of twelve, began to paddle in the opposite direction to gradually slow down.

Finally, with the adjustment of the tiger-head boats on both sides and the twelve large oars, the large dragon-shaped ship slowly came to a stop in front of the Linshui Palace.

After the imperial guards in golden armor stepped onto the ship, the emperor, along with the empress, several concubines, officials and nobles, and the top thirty scholars of this year's imperial examination, began to board the ship.

After the emperor and empress boarded the ship.

Zhao Fang, who was following behind the Emperor and Empress, suddenly sensed something and turned to look at Xu Zaijing and the others standing by the pond. He said, "Fifth Prince, you and the young master of the Huyan family, come up with me."

"Yes, Your Highness!" Xu Zaijing and Huyan Jiong bowed in response.

Half an hour later,

The emperor was already seated on the dragon throne in the highest tier of the stands.

"Is everyone here? If so, let's begin," the emperor said with a smile.

The chief eunuch whispered, "Your Majesty, the Duke of Anguo says he is not feeling well."

"Oh! Then let him rest more."

"Yes."

As the chief eunuch spoke, he nodded to the junior eunuch behind him.

After a dozen or so breaths, to the beat of drums from the two small boats, the large dragon boat began to slowly sail into the pool.

Once aboard, the officials and nobles began to move around, searching for the best spots to watch the naval performance.

(End of this chapter)