Do you know: I’m Xu Jiazi

In the carriage,

Chai Zhengzheng raised his sleeves to block the dust.

I heard my brother Chai Jin's voice outside.

Chai Zhengzheng simply rolled down his sleeves and looked outside the car.

Before anyone could see clearly, a cold north wind and dust blew into the car.

Trying to suppress the discomfort, Chai Zhengzheng squinted his eyes and looked outside.

Outside the carriage, the light was dim and the floating dust blocked out the sky.

A tall and strong figure appeared in the dust and sand.

This man was standing next to the carriage, rubbing his arm, and next to him was his eldest brother.

"It's okay!" the man's voice came.

"Jinger!"

Mrs. Chai called out from the carriage.

Chai Jin and Xu Zaijing, who were standing next to the carriage, turned around and looked over.

"Mother, what's wrong?" Chai Jin asked as he approached the door of the carriage.

"Let me and your sister go out first."

"oh oh!"

Hearing this, Chai Zhengzheng hurriedly stood up and followed Yunmu out of the car.

Chai Jin stretched out his hand and let Yunmu get out of the car first, and then helped Chai Zhengzheng, Mrs. Chai and her personal mother down from the back.

Everyone got off the carriage and covered their mouths and noses with the handkerchiefs in their hands. Only then did Chai Zhengzheng see clearly where his carriage was.

The carriage was now right next to the Huluo River. Behind the carriage was a steep slope with a deep rut on it.

Looking down in the direction of the tire tracks, you can see the rippling river surface.

Although spring is the dry season, there is still a lot of water in the Huluo River.

Mrs. Chai looked at the steep slope, patted her chest with fear in her eyes, and said, "Oh my God! I almost fell in!"

After getting off the car, Chai Zhengzheng, who was holding Mrs. Chai's arm, frowned when he saw this scene.

The Chai family carriage is exquisitely crafted and made of materials at great expense, so it is naturally very heavy.

On a slope like this by the river, it would be difficult for the horses pulling the carriage to stop if it slid down.

What's more, the carriage was moving backwards just now!

The horse would most likely be pulled down by the downward force and fall into the river along with the carriage.

"Please, please punish me, Master!"

The Chai family's driver, who had just been blinded by the wind and sand, woke up from the shock and quickly knelt on the ground and shouted.

The personal mother standing next to Mrs. Chai looked at the scene behind the car and angrily scolded: "You don't have to ask for punishment yourself! There will be family rules waiting for you when you get home!"

"It was my negligence! I am willing to accept the punishment!"

The driver knelt on the ground and replied.

Chai Jin, who was standing by, sighed and said, "Mother, the wind is strong today and the dust is blinding. No one could have imagined that a flag would be blown in the air and blind the horse."

"It was indeed an accident."

Chai Zhengzheng glanced at his driver who was kneeling on the ground.

Even as he was speaking, dark marks could be seen on the driver's forehead and temples.

The driver must have been startled and busy just now, and he tried his best to hold the carriage, so he started sweating after exerting so much effort.

After Chai Zhengzheng whispered a few words into Madam Chai's ear, Madam Chai glanced at the driver and said, "Get up. Go to the car and find a thick coat for him to put on."

"Yes, ma'am."

The driver quickly rubbed his knees and kowtowed to Xu Zaijing, saying, "Thank you for your help, Fifth Young Master!"

Xu Zaijing raised his chin towards Qingyun, who was closer to the driver and holding his fallen hat, and motioned for him to help him up. He then said, "This was an accident! No one wanted this to happen!"

When Qingyun helped the man up, the driver continued to bow to Xu Zaijing.

Madam Chai walked closer to Xu Zaijing, looked at him with narrowed eyes, and said, "Jing'er, I saw you rubbing your arm just now, are you okay?"

Chai Zhengzheng, who was beside Mrs. Chai, held up a handkerchief to block the wind and sand. He looked at Xu Zaijing's arm with concern, then looked at Xu Zaijing's face, his eyes full of a look that asked him to speak quickly.

"It's okay. I just exerted too much force and it's a little uncomfortable."

Xu Zaijing said with a smile.

Madam Chai took another step forward, stretched out her hand and held Xu Zaijing's palm, saying: "If Jing'er wasn't here today, who knows what would have happened!"

Before Xu Zaijing could speak, Madam Chai frowned and asked, "Hmm?"

Chai Zhengzheng on the side looked at his mother, Mrs. Chai, in confusion.

Then, Chai Zhengzheng felt his mother's arm move, and the hand of Xu Zaijing that Mrs. Chai was holding in front of her was turned over.

"ah!?"

When Chai Zhengzheng saw Xu Zaijing's hand, his eyes widened and he couldn't help but let out a cry of surprise.

"Here, your palm."

Chai Jin, who was standing by, heard his sister's exclamation and took a step forward.

Only then did Chai Jin see that there were two foreign objects in Xu Zaijing's palm, under the middle finger and ring finger, where calluses were most likely to form, and underneath the foreign objects was pink and bloody flesh.

Looking more closely, it was actually a layer of callus that had been worn away from the skin, hanging on the palm of the hand with its fangs and claws bared.

Chai Jin also practiced martial arts, and he could tell at a glance that the calluses were caused by excessive force.

Just looking at it can make people feel the pain.

"hiss!"

Xu Zaijing, whose hand was held by Madam Chai, also took a deep breath and said with a smile, "I didn't notice it just now! No wonder my palm felt a little hot."

Chai Zhengzheng stood beside his mother.

Staring blankly at Xu Zaijing's hand in front of him,

Somehow,

Chai Zhengzheng felt his nose sour and hot tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.

Afraid that Xu Zaijing would see her, she quickly lowered her head.

He lowered his head too quickly and in a blink, a crystal tear was squeezed out of his eye socket and fell on the dusty ground.

Feeling Chai Zhengzheng's arms tightly around her, Madam Chai was startled, then looked at Xu Zaijing with distressed eyes and said, "Child, this, hurts a lot, right? Didn't the Queen give you a lot of good ointments, Jing'er? Why..."

Xu Zaijing smiled and shook his head, "Madam, these calluses will grow and fall off, and they will grow back if they fall off. It won't hurt!"

Chai Jin at the side interrupted and said, "Mother, the Queen gave me a good ointment, but Jing'er is practicing more and more, so calluses are inevitable."

Looking at Chai Zhengzheng who was lowering his head in front of him, Xu Zaijing, who had outstanding eyesight, naturally saw the crystal teardrop flying out.

While his brother Chai Jin was talking, Chai Zhengzheng didn't raise his head. He just raised his handkerchief and wiped his eyes, as if there was sand and dust in his eyes.

After wiping it, Chai Zhengzheng deliberately squinted his eyes and looked up to hide the expression in his eyes.

“Huh~”

Another gust of north wind blew by,

Mrs. Chai took the handkerchief that her daughter Chai Zhengzheng had just used to wipe her tears without any hesitation.

Then,

In Xu Zaijing's surprised and stunned eyes,

Mrs. Chai took out Chai Zhengzheng's soft and absorbent handkerchief made of expensive and exquisite material, shook it vigorously, and then covered Xu Zaijing's hand with it.

After covering the body with the handkerchief, Mrs. Chai wrapped the handkerchief around the back of Xu Zaijing's hand and finally tied a knot in the palm of Xu Zaijing's hand.

Then, Madam Chai held Xu Zaijing's wrist with one hand and pushed his fingers with the other hand, closing the palm of Xu Zaijing who was a little dazed, letting him hold the knot in his palm, and said, "Jing'er, this weather is really not the time to talk."

"When the weather is good, my family will come to thank you again."

As she spoke, Mrs. Chai patted Xu Zaijing's clenched hands again.

Chai Zhengzheng, who was beside Mrs. Chai, was unable to react to what was happening.

Yunmu and Chai's personal mother behind them could only watch this happen before their eyes.

Xu Zaijing even said: "Madam Chai, this...you."

Before she finished speaking, Mrs. Chai turned around and walked towards her own carriage with Chai Zhengzheng.

Chai Jin looked at his mother, Madam Chai, with great admiration in his eyes, then turned around, patted Xu Zaijing's arm, and said, "Jing'er, see you in two days."

When the four of them got on the carriage,

Qingyun, who had been supporting the coachman just now, mechanically helped the Chai family coachman to turn the carriage back, and watched the Chai family carriage move forward and onto the bridge over the Hulu River.

Qingyun walked to the still dazed Xu Zaijing, looked down at Xu Zaijing's palm, and said, "Sir, this..."

Xu Zaijing felt the softness of the handkerchief on his palm, and the pain and heat from the calloused area. He glared at Qingyun and said, "You can't tell anyone about this! Not even your wife Hua Qing!"

"Ah? Sir, you..."

Before Qingyun could finish his words, he saw Xu Zaijing walking towards the little black colt, and he could only hurry to catch up.

After entering Wansheng Gate,

It seems that the wind is much weaker because of the city wall.

Horse-drawn carriages were moving on the street, making a lot of noise.

Outside the car, the north wind was blowing sand and dust.

When we left Jinming Lake, in the very clean and elegant carriage of the Chai family,

Even with candles lit and the light dim, you can still feel the dust everywhere in the carriage.

but,

The people in the carriage, however, had no mind to think about these things.

In a quiet atmosphere,

In the candlelight, Chai Zhengzheng glanced at Madam Chai beside him and said, "Mother, how could you use your daughter's handkerchief to bandage his wound?"

Yunmu on the side glanced at Chai Zhengzheng and pursed his lips slightly, not knowing what he meant.

Mrs. Chai was much more direct. She looked at her daughter and said, "Zheng Zheng, I think if you rely on yourself, I don't know when you can take a step forward!"

"What do you mean by take one step, take two steps?" Chai Zhengzheng hurriedly lowered his head, pinching his clothes and said helplessly.

"well!"

Madam Chai sighed heavily and said, "You girl, you feel distressed when you see someone's hand is injured. You are busy lowering your head and crying. What else can you see?"

Mrs. Chai's personal mother, who was sitting opposite Yunmu, nodded twice in approval.

"Who, who is crying!" Chai Zhengzheng continued with his head down.

"Huh! You didn't cry?"

Mrs. Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng who was lowering his head and asked.

"No, it's just sand that got into my eyes." Chai Zhengzheng replied in a muffled voice.

"Okay! Since you didn't cry, it means Jing'er misunderstood! It's a pity for Jing'er's eyes! What a pity!" Mrs. Chai said with emotion.

Chai Zhengzheng raised his head suddenly and asked, "Eyes? What eyes?"

Looking at her daughter with sparkling eyes under the candlelight, Madam Chai raised her eyebrows slightly and said, "Since it was Jing'er who misunderstood, as an elder, I can't say much!"

"Talking too much will bring bad reputation to other people's children!"

Seeing Madam Chai's expression, Chai Zhengzheng loosened her hands that were pinching her clothes, climbed onto Madam Chai's arm, and said, "Mother! Just tell me! I have always kept my mouth shut and won't tell anyone else!"

"You didn't even cry, what can I say!?" Mrs. Chai continued with a stern face.

"I" Chai Zhengzheng was speechless for a moment.

After a moment of silence,

Chai Zhengzheng lowered her head and whispered, "Okay, mother, your daughter just cried."

"Do you admit that you feel sorry for her?" Mrs. Chai asked with a smile.

"Um!"

Seeing her daughter nodding, Mrs. Chai patted Chai Zhengzheng's arm and said, "Then I'll tell you."

"oh!"

Chai Zhengzheng continued to lower her head, as if she was in a depressed mood, but her ears moved.

Madam Chai took in this scene, took a deep breath, and said, "Just now, when you hugged my arm tightly and lowered your head, I saw the surprise in Jing'er's eyes!"

"There was some doubt mixed in his surprised eyes! But, I was not mistaken, there was even more emotion in Jing'er's eyes!"

Mrs. Chai nodded as she spoke, and at the same time looked at her personal mother beside her.

The personal nurse nodded to confirm what Madam Chai said, and looked at Madam Chai and said, "Madam, this is what I saw just now! Especially after Xu Jia Wulang looked down!"

Chai Zhengzheng raised his head and asked doubtfully: "In this weather, can he see me crying?"

"Yes!" said the mother in a firm tone.

Madam Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng and said, "I, your mother, saw the look in Jing'er's eyes, so I immediately tied your handkerchief to his hand!"

"From now on, whenever he sees the handkerchief, he will think of how you lowered your head and cried today, and he will be moved again!"

Chai Zhengzheng looked at Mrs. Chai with a confused look.

Seeing her daughter's eyes, Madam Chai said earnestly, "Zheng'er, you feel sorry for Jing'er, but is it because he saved us?"

Chai Zhengzheng thought for a while and shook his head gently: "Mother, it's not because of him that I helped you, but after he saved me, I didn't have the chance to be alone with him."

"Although I know from others that Brother Jing practices diligently every day, today is the first time my daughter has seen the calluses on his palms in person, and the calluses fell off like that!"

"Mother, how many times did he have to suffer from callouses falling off from childhood to adulthood? How many times did he have to suffer from pain?"

Chai Zhengzheng looked up at Madam Chai with some pity in his eyes.

Madam Chai looked at Chai Zhengzheng with relief and said, "Zheng'er, Jing'er is smart and can naturally figure out why you are crying. Otherwise, he wouldn't have such a touching look in his eyes."

"For the family and for myself, I work hard every day. Even if I have achieved something, who would say to Jing'er, 'You've worked hard'?"

Chai Zhengzheng shook his head and argued: "Mother, Madam Xu is a good person, and Sister Pingmei and Sister Anmei naturally love Brother Jing too!"

Mrs. Chai smiled and stroked Chai Zhengzheng's hair, saying, "Of course I know all this! But what about girls of the same age? Would anyone say this to him?"

Chai Zhengzheng was stunned. After thinking about the five ladies of the Zhang family, Gu Tingyi, Rong Feiyan, etc., she shook her head and said, "Mother, I think there shouldn't be any."

Madam Chai smiled and nodded: "That's right! And your tears, Zheng'er, are just saying to Jing'er, 'You've worked hard and suffered a lot'!"

"Zheng'er, you are beautiful, and you were saved by Jing'er before. It's such a fate, and I can't help crying from the bottom of my heart!"

"Mother, why can't I take advantage of the victory and tie a handkerchief for Xu's brother?"

Listening to Mrs. Chai's words,

Chai Zhengzheng suddenly felt that the north wind and dust outside the carriage were not annoying at all, and a sweet smile appeared involuntarily on the corners of his mouth.

Suddenly,

Chai Zhengzheng raised his head with some anxiety in his eyes, looked at Madam Chai who was a little confused, and said: "Mother, will treating him like this affect his study and imperial examinations?"

Madam Chai was stunned and asked, "Studying. Imperial examination?"

"Yes! My daughter is afraid."

Seeing Chai Zhengzheng's worried look, Madam Chai thought for a moment and said, "Zhengzheng, I think Jing'er can discipline himself to get up early and practice diligently every day regardless of the cold or hot weather, which means he can control his thoughts!"

"I don't think I'll be easily influenced by love!"

"Oh!" Chai Zhengzheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's good! I don't want his future to be affected by what happened today."

Madam Chai looked at her daughter and said with a smile, "Zheng'er, that will be him in the future."

Before I finished speaking,

Chai Zhengzheng quickly reached out and covered Mrs. Chai's mouth, saying, "Mother, please don't say anything nonsense."

Glancing at the palm under her nose, Madam Chai nodded helplessly: "Okay, okay! I won't say anything more!"

Only then did Chai Zhengzheng loosen his hand that was covering his mouth.

The sound of cars rumbling,

The carriage drove into the Chai family's gate in the midst of dust.

evening,

Near the Chai Family Stables,

After placing the carriage and horses, the Chai family's coachman sat in the house with lingering fear, thinking about what happened in the afternoon with horror in his heart.

A steward of the Chai family walked into the house and said to the groom, "Old brother, you are covered in dust. Brush it off!"

"After the shoot, I drank this bowl of soothing decoction."

The groom turned around and saw the Chai family's steward holding a tray, and quickly stood up and said, "Steward! I..."

The Chai family steward smiled and shook his head, saying, "Stop talking! The eldest master has already told me! You are frightened and sweating, so you should take medicine just in case. If you really get sick, it will be your sister-in-law and nephew who will be worried."

The groom nodded with emotion in his eyes and said, "Hey!"

Chai's backyard,

Qiushengyuan,

After bathing and changing into new clothes, Chai Zhengzheng frowned and looked at the teacup on the table in front of him. He turned his head to look at Yunmu and said, "Can I not drink this medicine?"

Yunmu shook his head and said earnestly: "Miss, Madam said that it is warm in the morning and cool in the afternoon. You cried again, so you must drink this medicine!"

Chai Zhengzheng pursed his lips and said, "Yunmu, medicine is three parts poison!"

Yunmu said: "Miss, you only need to drink two bowls at most, it's okay! If something goes wrong, it won't just be the Madam and us who will be worried!"

After saying that, Yunmu lowered his head.

Chai Zhengzheng glared at Yunmu who was looking down, took a deep breath, and said, "Go, prepare the candied fruit!"

Around midnight (11pm)

In the bedroom,

"Yunmu!"

Chai Zhengzheng's voice was heard from behind the bed curtains.

"Girl, what's wrong?" Yunmu walked over quickly with his clothes on.

'Tatttattt'

Listening to the noise outside the house, Chai Zhengzheng asked, "What's that noise?"

"Girl, it's raining!"

"Oh! It's raining!"

After repeating the sentence, the tent became quiet and soon Chai Zhengzheng's breathing became steady again.

Seeing this, Yunmu quietly retreated.

Day 2

It was still drizzling in the early morning.

In the morning,

The sun rises from the east, illuminating the blue sky.

Quyuan Street, the Mansion of Marquis Yongyi.

Mrs. Sun, wife of Marquis Xu, sat on the Luohan chair and leisurely ate a nourishing soup.

Putting down the soup bowl, Sun took the handkerchief handed over by Zhu Mama and wiped her mouth. She looked at Qingcao standing in the hall and said, "Qingcao, tell me what's the matter!"

Qingcao frowned and looked at Sun, saying, "Madam, this morning, this morning, the master asked me to wash one clean. You have told me before, so."

Saying,

Qingcao pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve.

Mother Zhu quickly passed the handkerchief to Sun.

Xie and Hua Lan, who were standing by, looked at what Sun was holding and looked at each other in surprise.

The two sisters-in-law's eyes were filled with: "When did my brother-in-law Jing Ge'er finally come to his senses!"