Do you know: I am Xu Jiazi

Chapter 769 In the Pool! Thunderclap! [Thank you! Again I bow! 24k words owed]

On the east bank of Jinming Pond, tents stand in rows.

One of the tents had a wooden plaque with the character "Qin" hanging on it.

This tent hadn't had its curtains replaced this year, and compared to the tents next to it, it looked rather worn.

At the entrance of the main tent,

Beneath the lifted curtains was a folding chair, upon which sat a noble young man dressed in brocade robes.

The young nobleman leaned back comfortably in his chair, holding a wine glass in one hand and a wine pot in the other.

The young nobleman lowered his head and slowly poured himself a full glass of wine, then brought the glass to his lips.

The wine glass stopped at his lips.
The young nobleman looked up at the large dragon-shaped ship slowly sailing towards the center of the pool, a mocking smile on his lips, and then tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.

The highest level of the grandstand on the Dragon Ship.

Apart from Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye, the other top ten newly appointed scholars stood somewhat reservedly a short distance in front of the emperor.

To everyone's surprise,

The emperor did not speak to the newly appointed scholars first, but looked at Huyan Jiong, who had come with Zhao Fang, and asked, "Child of the Huyan family, how has your grandfather been lately?"

Huyan Jiong quickly bowed and clasped his hands: "Your Majesty! My grandfather's health has always been alright, but he is a little depressed."

"Hmm!" The emperor nodded: "It's understandable that the old man is a little frustrated because he doesn't manage his household well."

Huyan Jiong bowed deeply.

The emperor then said, "You and your father should manage the army well; you will have a bright future ahead of you."

"Your subject obeys the decree," Huyan Jiong hurriedly replied.

"Hmm. Rise." the emperor said slowly.

Hu Yanjiong straightened up, trying to suppress his excitement, and smiled at Xu Zaijing, who was giving him a thumbs-up.

At the same time, Hu Yanjiong also saw that the empress, sitting to the side and behind the emperor, was smiling and nodding at him.

The emperor then beckoned to Changbai and said, "The third-ranked scholar, come here."

Before Changbai could even realize who the emperor was calling, he was pushed by Gu Tingye and hurriedly went to the emperor's side.

"Your grandfather was a third-ranked scholar, and you are also a third-ranked scholar. It's quite interesting," the emperor said with a smile. "Raise your head and let me see you."

Changbai quickly looked up and lowered his eyes.

"Hmm! You do look somewhat like your maternal grandfather!"

Changbai quickly replied, "Your Majesty flatters me! I dare not compare myself to my maternal grandfather."

The emperor smiled.

The drumming near the large dragon ship gradually stopped, and the mooring lines on the small dragon ship were untied one by one.

The chief eunuch standing to the side whispered, "Your Majesty, the commander of the Tiger Wing Navy said that there will be a cannon blast when the performance begins."

"Yes! I know."

Zhao Fang, who was standing to the side, also stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Father, Mother, I would like to go to the side of the boat to enjoy the scenery."

"Yes! Be careful," the emperor nodded.

"Yes, Father!" Zhao Fang laughed, "Jing-ge, let's go!"

Xu Zaijing looked up at the Emperor and Empress, and after seeing them nod, he bowed and followed Zhao Fang.

Standing by the railing of the viewing platform, Zhao Fang looked at the bustling and vibrant Jinming Pond, with its willows swaying in the breeze, and then glanced at the Wu Tower in the distance.

Then, Zhao Fang took a deep breath, pointed to the various tents by the pond on the east side, and said with a smile, "Brother Jing, which family's daughter do you think your future mistress will be?"

Xu Zaijing chuckled and scratched his head. After a moment of wistful thought, he looked at the curtains by the pond and said, "Your Highness, this matter requires the consent of parents and the words of a matchmaker."

"I know! Then let you choose for yourself?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

"Hmm—" Xu Zaijing's mind flashed before the eyes of several noble ladies. After taking a deep breath, he shook his head and smiled, "Your Highness, it concerns..."

"boom!"

A cannon shot rang out near the large dragon ship, interrupting Xu Zaijing's words.

Xu Zaijing then turned to look at the small dragon boats around him.

On the east bank of Jinming Pond, at the entrance of a tent.

Upon hearing the cannon shot, the young nobleman, who was pouring himself a drink, trembled slightly, spilling some wine outside his glass.

Looking at the spilled wine on his hands and clothes, the young nobleman smiled.

"Clang! Bang!"

Two loud noises were heard as the young master threw the wine cup and wine pot to either side of the chair.

"Wow!"

The young nobleman, who had just thrown down his wine cup and jug, suddenly stood up, put his hands behind his back, took a few steps, and looked at the scene in the pool with great interest: "Ha, it's about to begin!"

The people on the large dragon ship had been informed in advance and were not surprised at all. Several adults even looked at the small dragon ship that was firing its cannons.

Zhao Fang laughed and said, "Brother Jing, it's just that the performance is about to begin! Tell me, which noble lady do you fancy?"

Xu Zaijing turned his gaze away from the surrounding dragon boats and gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"What are you laughing at? Answer my question first!" Zhao Fang said with a smile.

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said, "Your Highness, it's nothing. I was just overthinking it."

"You're overthinking it?" Zhao Fang raised an eyebrow and smiled. "We're not afraid of overthinking, and Jing-ge, don't worry! Just tell me which family you like! At worst, I'll be your best man every time."

Xu Zaijing smiled helplessly and said, "Your Highness, is it alright?"

Before I finished speaking,

"boom--"

A tremor ran beneath everyone's feet.

Xu Zaijing was shocked and immediately grabbed the railing.

The crowd near the stands fell silent.

The chief eunuch frowned and said, "Guards, go and find out what kind of trouble they're causing!"

Before the young eunuch could even speak...

"No!" Xu Zaijing exclaimed, then looked at the surprised Zhao Fang and said solemnly, "Your Highness! The tremor is coming from under the ship!"

"What? Under the boat?!" Zhao Fang's eyes widened.

"Boom!" The giant dragon ship shuddered again.

"Watch out!" Xu Zaijing reached out and steadied Zhao Fang, who was losing his balance.

"What's going on?!" The emperor stood up, frowning as he looked at Lord Tian, ​​the Earl of Huixian, who was preparing to direct the dragon boat performance not far away.

The old man, Hui Xianbo, bowing respectfully, had only uttered one word.

Hu Yanjiong, who was not far away, shouted, "Look at the water!"

Xu Zaijing looked down while holding onto the railing and saw bubbles and whirlpools appearing beside the boat.

Looking down, Xu Zaijing could still feel the railing he was holding vibrating.

Hu Yanjiong, who was standing nearby, also sensed it. After thinking for a moment, he stared wide-eyed at Xu Zaijing and shouted, "Damn it! Fifth Brother! The bottom of the ship is leaking! The shaking is most likely because the gold ingots in the lower deck are falling into the pool!"

"The gold ingot is the size of a table, how could it have fallen?" Hu Yanjiong shook his head in confusion.

"Brother-in-law, stop talking nonsense! Just tell me what might happen! What should we do!" Xu Zaijing glanced at the Emperor, Empress and Zhao Fang, and hurriedly said.

Hu Yanjiong felt the still-vibrating railings, his brows furrowing so tightly they almost bled. After a couple of breaths of silence, he shouted, "Wulang, get ready to take off your clothes! The entire Great Dragon Ship relies on the dozens of large iron ingots in the hold for ballast!"

"Once all the iron ingots in the hold fall into the water, the warship will be top-heavy! At that point, the entire dragon warship might capsize!"

"Overthrow?!" Zhao Fang looked at Huyan Jiong in disbelief.

Immediately, Zhao Fang looked at the emperor leaning on the dragon throne and the empress behind him: "Father! Mother!"

Hu Yanjiong said urgently, "No! Perhaps not! There are other ships around. As long as things don't get chaotic, they'll arrive in time, and there won't be any major danger!"

Xu Zaijing, who was about to tear his clothes, was stunned.

Gu Tingye and his classmates around him asked in confusion, "So, are we going to take them off or not?"

At this moment, there was some chaos on and off the ship, and someone shouted, "The bottom of the ship is leaking!"

"A monster has crashed into the boat in the pool!"

"Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor!"

"Quickly protect Her Majesty and Her Highness!" These two sentences faintly sounded like the voice of the old Marquis of Xiangyang.

"Ah—" Someone standing by the boat lost their balance and fell directly into the pool.

"Help!"

"The boat is rocking! Jump in!"

"ah!"

"Oh no! The ship is listing!"

The people on the large dragon ship began to scream and shout in alarm, and some even ran around in a panic!

"Don't run around! Stay calm!" Hu Yanjiong shouted, "There are other ships around!"

"Anyone who makes another move will be executed without mercy!" the emperor shouted, trying to remain calm.

"Anyone who makes another move will be executed without mercy!" the chief eunuch shouted, his voice high-pitched and trembling.

As soon as this word comes out,
The ship became much quieter.

"Help! Someone's in danger!"

From the lower stands, people were still calling for help towards the small dragon boats and tiger-head boats dozens of feet away.

"what happens!"

"What are you people on the ship doing, running around and shouting like that!"

"Oh no! The Dragon Ship is in trouble!"

"Escort!"

The shouts of the naval forces near the large dragon ship were chaotic. "Help the Emperor! Help the Emperor!"

"Listen to my drumbeat, row! Turn! Save the day!"

Those who reacted slowly were still watching to see what was happening.

Those who reacted quickly began rowing in unison, heading towards the large dragon ship.

Seeing this, everyone on the ship's viewing platform felt that they no longer needed to impolitely take off their clothes.

but,

"collapse!"

The sound of ships colliding could be heard.

Perhaps due to the chaos, several small dragon boats that were most likely to reach the large dragon ship were capsized by their comrades rowing at high speed.

"Tian Guangbo, what the hell are you doing!" the drowning sailor shouted. "Your father is Huixianbo, and you're navigating the boat like this, delaying my rescue!"

Before he could react, the small dragon boat sped past the sailor's head, the oars nearly smashing his head open.

"I'm your mother!"

After hurling insults, the online troll quickly submerged into the water to hide.

He then glanced around the large dragon ship again.

Xu Zaijing shook his head and said, "That's not right!"

"wrong!"

Hu Yanjiong also shouted out in unison.

"What's wrong?" Changbai, who was not far away, asked anxiously as he helped Tongnian up.

Gu Tingye, who was standing to the side, also looked puzzled.

Huyan Jiong glanced at Zhao Fang, then at the emperor, and said urgently, "Your Majesty, Your Highness, even in the midst of chaos, small boats should be coming! But I see someone deliberately obstructing us!"

Xu Zaijing nodded repeatedly.

"Deliberate obstruction? Could it be an assassination attempt?" Zhao Fang looked at the surrounding pool surface in disbelief.

As soon as this word comes out,
The emperor's face instantly turned extremely ugly.

Changbai and the other newly appointed Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) looked at each other in bewilderment and discussed among themselves.

"what?"

The chief eunuch was so frightened that his legs went weak and he collapsed to the ground.

Meanwhile, officials and nobles would occasionally come to the third tier of the stands, shouting, "Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Something's wrong!"

"Don't all come up!" Hu Yanjiong said urgently.

But to no avail.

"The ship is starting to tilt! Take off your clothes! Don't let your soaked clothes drag you down!" Xu Zaijing shouted.

Upon hearing Xu Zaijing's shout, the Grand Eunuch, who had collapsed to the ground, hurriedly crawled to the Emperor's side and cried out, "Your Majesty, take off your clothes! Quickly, take off your clothes!"

"Waaah!" Not far away, a concubine burst into tears.

The Empress frowned and looked over, then scolded, "Crying won't help! If you don't want to die, take off your clothes now!"

The boat was rocking, and Zhao Fang hurriedly took off his clothes.

The more anxious he became, the harder it was to untie the belt around his waist.

suddenly,

Zhao Fang felt his clothes tighten.

In a blink of an eye.

"Stab!"

The sound of clothes tearing came from behind.

Seeing his clothes falling apart, Zhao Fang hurriedly took them off while shouting, "Jing-ge, help Father and Mother!"

"I know!" Xu Zaijing said, helping Huyan Jiong take off his clothes. "Brother-in-law, protect His Highness!"

As he spoke, Xu Zaijing staggered over to the Grand Eunuch who was helping the Emperor undress.

"Stab!"

"Huh?" The palace official, who felt the waist loosen, looked at Xu Zaijing in surprise.

"My lord, I apologize for offending you," Xu Zaijing said helplessly.

After saying "What are you saying, Wulang?", he prepared to continue helping the emperor undress.

However, the chief eunuch was already somewhat frightened and his hands were trembling, and the emperor's clothes were also quite complicated, so he was a little flustered for a moment.

The emperor, panting, looked at the chief eunuch and said, "Take care of yourself first!" Then he nodded to Xu Zaijing and said, "Fifth Prince, come here and tear it open!"

Xu Zaijing did as instructed.

Hu Yanjiong shouted from the side, "Everyone! There's nothing fixed on the ship, throw everything you can overboard! Those who can't swim, hold onto the wooden objects! Those who can swim, don't try to steal anything!"

Upon hearing this, Gu Tingye quickly knocked down a screen and pushed it outside the stands.

"Snapped!"

Some of the heavier screens fell into the water.

After a few dozen breaths, most of the people on the ship's viewing platform had taken off their outer garments.

Xu Zaijing casually helped many officials, nobles, and fellow graduates of the imperial examination to tear off their belts and outer garments.

"Let His Majesty and the Empress come to His Highness!" Huyan Jiong, who was beside Zhao Fang, shouted.

Zhao Fang was positioned on the railing on one side of the top of the warship, which was the last point to enter the water when the warship capsized.

"Listen to the children of the Huyan family!" the emperor said.

"Your Majesty, you and the Empress should go quickly," the chief eunuch said in a trembling voice.

The empress was supported by a female official, while the emperor was supported by a chief eunuch, with Xu Zaijing protecting the four from behind.

During this time, the large dragon ship continued to slowly sink and tilt.

suddenly,

The bottom of the large dragon ship shook again.

The large dragon ship tilted slightly.

Amidst this massive shaking, what no one had noticed was that the half-person-high bronze incense burner, which was originally fixed to the side and back of the dragon throne, suddenly tipped over uncontrollably.

"when!"

The bronze incense burner crashed onto the ship's deck and then began to slowly roll.

"Clang clang"

The slow rolling sound of the bronze incense burner was like a death knell, leaving everyone horrified.

Seeing that the rolling direction of the bronze incense burner did not pose a threat to the emperor, the chief eunuch relaxed a little.

suddenly!

The ship lurched again, tilting at an even greater angle.

"when!"

The bronze incense burner bumped into the edge of the stands, instantly changing its rolling direction. Then, it was cushioned by something unknown, and after being lifted into the air, it accelerated straight toward the emperor.

"His Majesty!"

"Father!"

The people on the ship cried out in horror.

"Your Majesty, leave quickly!"

The chief eunuch shouted desperately, trying to push the emperor aside.

However, when the chief eunuch exerted his strength, he suddenly slipped and fell to the ground, unable to push with any force.

Knowing he couldn't dodge in time, the emperor turned his head to look at Zhao Fang by the railing, smiled, and then resignedly closed his eyes.

"when!"

"Humph--"

A muffled force and a somewhat dull impact sound came from the air.

"Brother Jing!"

"Xiao Wu!"

"Goro!"

Hearing the shouts that rang out again around him, the emperor suddenly opened his eyes.

The first thing that came into view was Xu Zaijing, who was holding a bronze incense burner, with red eyes and bulging veins on his face and arms!
Because the ship was tilting, Xu Zaijing couldn't maintain his balance at all!

Holding the bronze incense burner, Xu Zaijing brushed against the emperor's arm and staggered back two steps.

Before the crowd could shout a second time, Xu Zaijing struggled to turn to the side, preparing to twist his waist to dissipate the force.

However, at this point, the angle of the ship's planks was too large.

Xu Zaijing shifted his weight to the side, and instead of smashing the bronze incense burner onto the ship's deck, it pulled Xu Zaijing along with him and crashed into the water.

"Child! Be careful!" The Empress tried to reach out and grab Xu Zaijing.

But it was completely useless.

"Pfft!"

The sound of a heavy object hitting the water could be heard from outside the boat.

"Wulang!" Changbai called out urgently.

Hu Yanjiong stared in disbelief at the scene, then quickly took a few deep breaths and stammered, "It's alright, it's alright, Xiao Wu is a very good swimmer!"

(End of this chapter)