Do you know: I’m Xu Jiazi

Seeing Xu Zaijing coming over, Gu Tingye, who was standing on the back of his own tent, pointed at the tent some distance away and said:

"Brother Jing, what does the girl who is playing shuttlecock with the maid behind the tent look like?"

While Gu Tingye was speaking, Chang Feng and Qiao Jiulang looked at Xu Zaijing with hope in their eyes and nodded repeatedly.

Xu Zaijing raised his head slightly, smiled at the three people on the platform half a person high and said, "Erlang, if you three want to see clearly, can't you just walk over there?"

Looking at Xu Zaijing who walked along the aisle between the two tents under the stage and went around to the front door of the tent without turning his head,

"Teng."

Qiao Jiulang jumped off the stage, grabbed Xu Zaijing, and said in a flattering manner: "Brother Jing, we don't have any friendship with that family. I'm afraid it would be inappropriate to just walk over there and offend the beauty."

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head, then used his hands to slightly exert force to restrain Qiao Jiulang, and then hit Qiao Jiulang's butt with his knee.

Qiao Jiulang staggered forward a few steps uncontrollably, while Xu Zaijing continued to walk towards the Gu family's tent.

"Hey Jing'er, don't go!"

Looking at Xu Zaijing's back, Gu Tingye shouted helplessly.

"I'll pay my respects to the elders and be right back."

Xu Zaijing said without turning his head.

After Xu Zaijing's figure disappeared behind the curtain, Qiao Jiulang said doubtfully, "Brother Ye, what move did Wulang use to stop me just now? It was too fast, and I didn't even react!"

"It's a common use for scouts to catch slanderers." Gu Tingye replied.

"Oh! Brother Ye, do you know how to do this? Please teach me when you have time!"

"No problem!" Gu Tingye continued to look at the tent not far away.

Chang Feng on the side said, "Second Brother Gu, is Jing'er's eyesight really as good as you say?"

"Of course. Last year, Jing'er and I went to Beizhou. From where we are to the west of the pond, Jing'er could clearly see what was under the eagle's claws."

"Ah? So far?"

Passing through the corridor between the two tents,

Xu Zaijing walked to the front door of Gu's tent.

Without the tent blocking his view, Xu Zaijing could gaze at the Jinming Lake in the sunshine.

The wide surface of Jinming Lake ripples and sparkles under the spring breeze.

The willow branches with green buds on the shore sway gently in the spring breeze, full of the vibrant breath of spring.

In the distance, voices of royal family members and officials could be heard talking in the Linshui Palace.

Further away, near the Lingxing Gate, the sound of musicians playing was small but could be faintly heard.

"Xiaowu, come in."

Zai Zhang, who was walking in front of Xu Zai Jing and was walking up the stairs, turned around and said.

"oh."

When they entered the Gu family's tent, Qingxia and Qingzhi, who were standing at the door of the tent, both smiled and bowed to the Xu Zaijing brother.

Looking at everyone in the tent, Xu Zaijing followed his brother in bowing and greeting.

"Okay, okay, kids, sit down!"

Mrs. Bai looked at the Xu Zaijing brothers and said with a smile.

After Xu Zaijing sat down, Madam Chai, who was sitting above Pingmei, smiled and said, "Brother Jing, do you want to go on stage today and help Brother Xiong get the peony jade carving?"

Xu Zaijing bowed slightly in his seat and said to Madam Chai, "Madam, the Xiong family has some relatives with the Tian family of Huixianbo. Today, they have the help of the soldiers of the Tiger Wing Navy, so I don't have to go on the field."

"Oh! I see!"

Mrs. Chai nodded.

"When you came here, did you see Tingyi and the others?" Mrs. Bai asked Zai Zhang with a smile.

Zai Zhang nodded: "Madam, I did see her. When I came, the girls were talking to my sister-in-law."

Listening to the conversation between the two, Mrs. Chai looked at Xu Zaijing, a handsome man with a satisfied smile, who held his head high and his chest high even when sitting.

After Zai Zhang finished speaking, Xu Zai Jing looked at Madam Chai and said with a smile, "Madam, is Brother Jin going to play today?"

Madam Chai nodded and smiled, "Go ahead! Of course he will go! He must get a peony jade carving for Miss Lu."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Oh! Are there any old soldiers?"

"Yes! Madam Wu asked Liang Jialiu to bring a group of people here. They are also former pawns of the Tiger Wing Navy and are very powerful."

"Oh! Then I feel relieved, kid."

Zai Zhang, who was sitting above Xu Zaijing, looked at the satisfied look in Madam Chai's eyes as she looked at her younger brother, smiled, picked up the drink offered by Qingzhi, and lowered his head to drink.

At this time,

Zhique, the servant beside Gu Tingye, came out from behind the screen behind Lady Bai, bowed to the people in the tent, and then said, "Madam, the second young master said he had some academic questions and wanted to ask Jing'er for advice."

Hearing this, Nanny Chang curled her lips slightly.

Mrs. Bai raised her eyebrows slightly, with a look of helplessness in her eyes.

"It seems that Brother Ye is really studious!" Mrs. Chai exclaimed with a smile.

Mrs. Bai smiled and said, "Brother Jing, since Erlang is looking for you, just go over."

Xu Zaijing stood up and responded.

Zai Zhang also stood up and bowed, saying, "Madam, sister, I also have an appointment with a good friend, so I will take my leave as well."

"Go ahead."

Mrs. Bai smiled and nodded.

Pingmei looked sideways as she watched her two younger brothers stand up and walk towards the door of the tent. As soon as she turned around, her eyes met those of Mrs. Chai.

Pingmei quickly smiled.

Madam Chai nodded in response and said with a smile, "Looking at Jing'er's figure, he looks very similar to you, Ping'er, both are tall and straight."

"Thank you ma'am for the compliment."

Pingmei, as the eldest daughter of the Xu family, is famous for her tall figure. When she stands next to Madam Gaoming from the capital, she will be noticed at a glance.

"Among the five children of the Sun family, I think only Jing'er and Ping'er look like you. Zaiduan and the others are different from you two." Mrs. Bai said with a smile.

Pingmei nodded: "Mother is right! I just don't know whether the baby in my mother's belly is a boy or a girl, and who will it look like in the future!"

When Madam Chai heard this, she said with certainty, "I went to the Xu family to see her. Judging from Madam Sun's body shape, I knew it was a boy."

Mrs. Bai smiled and nodded: "Yes, when I was pregnant with Brother Ye, it was similar to Sister Sun, it was a boy!"

At this time,

A well-dressed old woman came to the door of the Gu family's tent and said a few words. After she finished speaking, she looked at Xu Zaijing who was walking not far away with appreciation.

Soon, Qingxia came over, bowed, and said, "Madam, the one outside the tent is the maid from Suzhou's Jiang family. Her family has some dealings with the Bai family's master, and she arrived in Beijing recently to pay a special visit."

Mrs. Bai smiled and nodded, saying, "Please come in."

Pingmei looked at Madam Chai who looked thoughtful and reminded her in a low voice: "Madam, the Jiang family's ancestral home is Wujiang, and one of their ancestors was a top scholar who held an official position."

"Oh! I remember now." Mrs. Chai said with a smile.

While Mrs. Chai was speaking, the Chai family nanny behind her looked at Pingmei with approval in her eyes.

When Qingxia said that just now, Nanny Chai couldn't remember who it was for a moment and failed to remind Madam Chai in time.

Nanny Jiang entered the tent, and after a conversation, everyone knew that the Jiang family had heard the news that Prince Zhao Fang was going to choose a concubine, so they specially sent their legitimate daughter to Bian Jing all the way.

"If Miss Jiang is free today, you can come to my tent and have fun with Tingyi."

"Thank you ma'am."

After Madam Jiang finished speaking, she looked up at Madam Bai and continued, "Madam, I have a somewhat abrupt question. I don't know whether I should ask it or not."

"Mammy, please speak first."

Mrs. Bai laughed.

Nanny Jiang pondered for a moment, then smiled sheepishly and said, "Madam, which family is the young man who just left the Marquis's mansion from? I saw that he was really handsome."

Hearing this, Pingmei and the two maids behind her raised their lips unconsciously.

Although Mrs. Chai was smiling, there was no smile in her eyes, only an unclear look.

Madam Bai and Nanny Chang beside her looked at each other with a smile and said, "Oh! That is Wu Lang from the Xu family of the Yongyi Marquis's mansion."

"I wonder how old this Wulang is and whether he is married?" Nanny Jiang continued to ask with a smile.

Mrs. Bai smiled and said, "He is still young, unmarried, and studying. He is a successful candidate."

Nanny Jiang's eyes lit up, and she nodded repeatedly with satisfaction. She glanced at Pingmei uncertainly and said, "Madam, I heard that the eldest lady of Ningyuan Marquis's Mansion was from Yongyi Marquis's Mansion, but this eldest lady?"

Pingmei smiled and nodded.

"Madam, please forgive me, my two legitimate daughters have now come to Beijing! If you are free, maybe you can." Nanny Jiang said with a smile.

"Okay! Okay! I'll also ask my mother about this matter." Pingmei replied with a smile.

"Thank you, madam. Thank you, madam!" Nanny Jiang bowed and said.

Madam Chai, who was standing behind Madam Chai, looked at her own madam's expression, bowed and whispered: "Madam, relax! There are many discerning people in the world. Doesn't this just prove that the young lady didn't make a mistake in choosing someone?"

Nanny Jiang smiled and said, "Then, I will take my leave first."

"Madame Chang, please see me off."

"Yes, ma'am."

Seeing Nanny Jiang leave the tent, Madam Chai took a deep breath, looked at Lady Bai and Ping Mei with a smile, and said, "Hey, I'm not afraid of you laughing at me when I say this! I really hope that Jing'er can be like a lady from a wealthy family, never leaving the front door or the back door."

Mrs. Bai smiled and nodded.

Pingmei stood up a little embarrassedly, smiled and bowed, saying, "Madam, I am here on behalf of my mother, thank you for your favor."

Madam Chai smiled and nodded, saying, "Pingmei, please come and sit down! Hey! I really hope that the examination will come soon."

In the tent, while the ladies were talking to the lady in charge,

Xu Zaijing had already arrived behind the Gu family's tent.

Standing on the stage, looking at a girl playing shuttlecock behind a tent at a distance, Xu Zaijing said, "Hmm!"

Gu Tingye and the others who were surrounding Xu Zaijing and looking over there looked at him puzzledly and asked, "Jing'er, what do you mean by 'hmm'?"

"Ji Lang has good taste!"

"Is it a good-looking one?" Gu Tingye asked curiously.

Without waiting for Xu Zaijing to answer, Gu Tingye continued: "Jiulang, Changfeng, why don't you go over and see it with your own eyes."

Seeing Chang Feng and Qiao Jiulang's eager expressions, Xu Zaijing said, "Go ahead! Don't blame me if Liu Lang gets into a fight with you guys later."

"Why did Brother Han turn against us?" Chang Feng asked puzzledly.

Qiao Jiulang: "Yes, Brother Jing, why?"

Gu Tingye on the side thought for a moment and said uncertainly: "Brother Jing, you are not saying that the girl is someone we met when we went fishing with Liu Lang before, right?"

Xu Zaijing smiled and nodded.

"Ah? Why isn't she following Liu Lang, but behind the tent over there?" Qiao Jiulang asked in confusion.

Chang Feng said, "Maybe he is accompanying a girl from a noble family who is visiting Beijing?"

"That's probably the case." Qiao Jiulang nodded.

Linshui Palace,

There was a colorful tent in front of the hall, under which sat the nobles and officials of the court.

In the main hall,

Only the emperor's family sat there.

The emperor sat on the dragon throne behind the imperial desk, and the empress sat beside him.

"I'll take my leave."

"I'll take my leave now."

Watching the officials and their wives leading their daughter out of the hall, the queen turned sideways to look at Zhao Fang and said with a smile, "Fang'er, what do you think?"

Zhao Fang shook his head slightly, somewhat bored.

The emperor and the empress looked at each other helplessly.

The eunuch standing beside him understood and continued to shout: "Announce, Huixianbo Tianjia enter the palace!"

soon,

A woman in gorgeous clothes walked into the hall with a beautiful girl. After standing still, she bowed and said:

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highness."

"I have seen it before"

Looking at the officials' families standing solemnly not far away, Zhao Fang smiled rarely.

Looking at their son's appearance, the emperor and the empress felt quite happy.

The emperor and empress asked a few questions, and the girl from the Tian family in the palace answered them appropriately.

After the emperor and empress finished their questions, the empress turned her head to look at Zhao Fang and said, "Fang'er, do you want to ask a few questions?"

Zhao Fang nodded and said, "I wonder what hobbies Miss Tian has at home?"

Hearing Zhao Fang's voice,

Mrs. Huixianbo looked at her daughter with excitement in her eyes.

The noblewoman of the Tian family took a deep breath and said with some trepidation, "Your Highness, at home, I mostly study things like burning incense, arranging flowers, hanging paintings, and tea art."

"Besides this, do you have any other hobbies?"

"I know a little bit about Cuju, Touhu, chess, backgammon, polo and chuiwan."

"Is there anything else?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

The noble lady of the Tian family thought about it, then shook her head and said, "Your Highness, it's gone."

There was a slight disappointment in Zhao Fang's eyes, and he said:

"Do you read?"

"I have hired a female teacher at home and read the "Instructions for Women" and "The Analects of Women"."

Zhao Fang nodded and said, "Thank you for the hard work of Commander Tian in organizing all kinds of performances in the pool today."

"Father, it's his duty." The noble lady of the Tian family replied.

After seeing Zhao Fang finish speaking, he shook his head slightly.

The queen sighed and smiled, "Thank you for your hard work, Madam Huixian."

Seeing this, the wife of Marquis Huixian bowed tactfully and said, "Your Majesty, you are too kind! I will take my leave."

The noble lady of the Tian family was also a little dazed and at a loss. After her mother finished speaking, she also took her leave.

Palace

The emperor first looked at the queen, and when the queen noticed his gaze returning to her, the emperor glanced at Zhao Fang again.

The queen understood what the emperor meant in his eyes, which was, "What kind of fourth wife does Fang'er want to choose?"

The so-called Four Ladies are the four "noble, virtuous and virtuous" ladies below the Crown Princess.

Later, when Zhao Fang ascended the throne, these four were the Imperial Concubine, the Virtuous Concubine, the Virtuous Concubine and the Xian Concubine under the Empress.

The queen shook her head slightly, indicating that she didn't know either, and nodded to the eunuch.

"Announce, the family of the Minister of Personnel, Lord Li, enter the palace."

The eunuch shouted loudly.

After a while,

The nearsighted Li family's fifth daughter, dressed in gorgeous clothes, followed her mother and walked into the hall with her head lowered.

After bowing and greeting like the Tian family.

The Queen said in a brisk tone, "Stand up."

"Thank you, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, and Your Highness." The mother and daughter bowed to express their gratitude.

"How is Lord Li in good health these two days?" the emperor asked softly.

"Your Majesty, my father-in-law has recovered a lot after taking the medicine prescribed by the imperial physician." Li's daughter-in-law lowered her head and said.

"Good! It's cold during the spring, so Minister Li should take good care of your health."

"Yes, Your Majesty! I will definitely convey it." The Li family's daughter-in-law replied.

After the emperor finished speaking, he glanced at Zhao Fang and motioned him to come.

"I wonder what hobbies Miss Li has at home?"

Li Jia Wu Niang narrowed her eyes slightly, looked up at the emperor and his family in front of her, and said in a crisp voice: "Reply, reply Your Highness, I like to read some miscellaneous books at home."

"Cough." Li's wife coughed lightly.

"I just love reading." said Li Jiawu Niang.

Zhao Fang smiled and continued, "What else?"

The fifth lady of the Li family and the girl of the Tian family gave similar answers, which were burning incense and arranging flowers, hanging paintings and making tea, playing Cuju and throwing pots, playing chess and backgammon,

". Polo and ball games. Later, when I attended a gathering of elegant people, Miss Feiyan from the Rong family recommended soft bow archery. I would practice it from time to time."

"Haha! How can you practice archery with a soft bow when you have such short-sightedness?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

"Your Highness, I will practice based on my feelings."

“How effective is it?”

"Out of ten arrows, I can hit eight or nine of them."

"oh?"

"Well! If Your Highness doesn't believe me, I can show you a thing or two."

"Haha! Looking at you like this, I feel that what you said is the truth."

Li Jia Wu Niang's mother knew that her daughter was short-sighted and was just there to make up the numbers without any hope.

However, as he watched his daughter talking to Zhao Fang, an unbelievable thought came to his mind.

"So what do you think I look like?" Zhao Fang asked with a smile.

Li Jia Wu Niang raised her head, squinted her eyes and said, "I dare not comment on your appearance, but your voice is very pleasant."

"Hahahaha." Zhao Fang's laughter rang out in the hall.

Seeing her son's happy expression, the queen smiled and exchanged glances with the emperor.

"Humph! This kid really knows how to pick people."

After the emperor finished speaking, the eunuch beside him hurriedly said, "Madam Li, please take Wu Niang and the female official to sit aside for a while."

"Yes! Yes!" Li's daughter-in-law hurriedly responded.

Li Jia Wu Niang bowed to the Emperor and Empress in a standard manner.

Several noble ladies from the families of high-ranking officials in the capital also entered the palace.

But there will never be another one like Li Jia Wu Niang.

"The lady of the Yao family of Xuanqian State Duke, the noble lady, enter the palace~"

Following the summons of the Grand Chamberlain,

The daughter-in-law of the Duke of Qian walked into the hall with her daughter.

After greeting each other,

It was Zhao Fang's turn to ask questions again.

Zhao Fang looked at Yao's Ninth Lady, whose temperament was somewhat similar to that of Duke Ying's Fifth Lady, and asked a similar question as before.

Yao Jia Jiuniang gave a similar answer.

"I heard that you sent your brother Yao Shisilang to inquire about Xu Jiajing's hobbies?"

As soon as these words came out,

The Yao family's wife looked a little panicked, but Yao family's Ninth Lady nodded and said, "Your Highness, yes! Most of the sisters who are on good terms with me want to know the hobbies of a good boy like Xu family Jing'er."

"It's just that my younger brother is smarter and has found out a lot."

"Well, you are honest. Just now you said that you also like to shoot arrows with a bow?"

"Your Highness, yes."

"good."

When Yao's Ninth Lady was brought to sit next to Li's Fifth Lady,

The emperor looked at Zhao Fang in confusion and said, "Fang'er, why do I think you are particularly fond of girls who like to shoot arrows with a soft bow?"

The Queen nodded in agreement and looked at Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang looked at his parents a little embarrassedly and said, "In the future, when they become concubines, they can..."

Before Zhao Fang finished speaking, the emperor frowned and said sternly:

"absurd!"

"Fang'er, do you want the concubines to compete with you in archery?"

Listening to the emperor's words, the queen also looked at Zhao Fang seriously.

Zhao Fang waved his hands repeatedly and said, "Father, Mother, no, it's not like that."

"Then you say!" said the emperor, frowning.

"This is for my concubines. They want to have some common interests with Jing'er's future wife, so that it will be more lively when we talk in the palace."

"You! You, just for this?"

"Yes!" Zhao Fang nodded heavily.

"Shh~"

Hearing this, the emperor pursed his lips and sneered in boredom, and the thought "I shouldn't have asked" came to his mind.

"You really think about him! You think far ahead, you're already a 'big lady'. Humph!"

The queen beside the emperor also looked at her son helplessly.

The Queen Mother never imagined that her son's criteria for choosing a concubine would be this.

"Your Majesty, you've got to say it. In my opinion, the two girls selected by Fang'er are quite good in terms of their family background, character, appearance, and conversation." The Queen said with a smile.

"Yeah." The somewhat jealous emperor nodded and pursed his lips.

By the Jinming Pond,

Shen Congxing, Duan Chengqian and others, who were born in Yuzhou and followed Xiong Yan back to Beijing from Guangnan West Road, stood beside the Xiong family's tent.

Seeing several noble ladies coming with their maids not far away, they quickly turned sideways and walked towards the pool.

After the noble ladies entered Viscount Xie's tent, Shen Congxing and his companions turned around and continued to look at the Jinming Lake not far away.

"Everyone says that Jinming Lake is bustling. We can take a look today." Shen Congxing said with a smile.

"Brother Shen, when His Majesty celebrated his last birthday, you accompanied him to the capital. Didn't you see the hustle and bustle of Jinming Lake?"

"No, it's only been open for more than a month. When I came here, it was already closed." Shen Congxing looked at the pond and continued:

"Old Geng, my brother-in-law told me that there is a very powerful master on Panlou Street. When Young Master is done with his business here, we will go and ask him for his advice. We must destroy the arrogance of those former high-ranking white-collared thugs."

"Good! Those Bubazi have real skills." Someone in the crowd nodded.

"Brother Shen, look, someone is coming." Another sturdy young man pointed at a group of noble young men with servants and said.

"Old Shen, you are worthy of being the young master of the Bian Jing government. The aura of these people seems to be quite different." Geng Jiechuan, who was called Old Geng, said in a low voice.

"Yeah." Shen Congxing continued, "It looks like it's coming towards us. It might be the young master's friend."

Xu Zaijing looked at the familiar Shen Congxing standing at the door of the Xiong family's tent and asked in confusion, "Why are you here?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, Xiao Duan beside Shen Congxing looked at Xu Zaijing unconvinced and said, "Why, you..."

After Old Geng pulled his sleeve, Xiao Duan turned his head to look at Old Geng. Geng Jiechuan whispered, "Shut up! I think these yamen are not easy to mess with, especially the leader. His aura is not right!"

"How old is he? What's wrong with that?" Xiao Duan said in a low voice.

Shen Congxing bowed his hands and asked respectfully, "May I ask which yamen official is here?"