After the family fell, I wanted to lie down

At this time, in a house beside the canal, people were surging inside. Passersby could see from a distance that there were the prefect, county magistrate, provincial prosecutor, general of Mocheng and others inside. All the officials, big and small, and the gentry and nobles of Mocheng supported the person standing in the middle.

The man had a white face and no beard, was tall, had a high nose bridge, and wore a dark green brocade belt around his waist. He was the one who was stepped on and injured by a squirrel when he went down the mountain that day, and a squirrel expressed his distress. In the spacious courtyard, the man was sitting on a sedan chair, surrounded by eight people wearing black robes with scimitars hanging from their waists, with gloomy expressions.

"Master Hu, I am grateful for your kindness and allowing me to stay in my Chen family's Yi Garden. If there is any negligence, please bear with me."

"Well, you have to bear more responsibility, that's for sure."

The man looked out of sorts and spoke with a hangover. While he was talking, his hand unconsciously stroked a bulging object in his arms. Everyone then saw clearly that in his arms was a squirrel with a broken leg.

"Your garden is very quiet. You probably don't usually receive guests."

"Yes, yes, this time it is specially prepared for you, Master Hu."

"Don't let your kindness go to waste with this beautiful scenery, so I am going to host a banquet for the men of various noble families. Let them bring their families to attend!"

The clattering sound of horse hooves disturbed the tranquility of the night in Mo City.

A team of patrol soldiers hurried past in the street. The blacksmith shop was not making the usual clanging noises. Yingge stood in front of the shop, watching the team hurried past, his expression became a little serious.

"Brother, do you think it's okay to make what you want like this?"

Yingge took the thing handed over by the blacksmith and observed it carefully. This might not be called a weapon for them, but an iron rod, about the length of a knife, with flat ends and a thickness of about one and a half fingers in the middle. The blacksmith didn't know what kind of weapon he was making, and it might not even be called a weapon, at most it was an iron rod.

"Okay, that's about it."

She weighed it in her hand and found it to be of moderate weight. Yingge paid the remaining money to the blacksmith and walked back with the basket.

"Hehe, the golden hoop, the real and fake Monkey King."

"Brother, your skills are very good. Can you grind the iron rod into an embroidery needle in the future?"

"You need an embroidery needle. If you want, you can sharpen it."

"Hehe, I don't want that. I'm just asking."

Before reaching Liu's house, he saw a soldier who had just patrolled the street standing at the door of Liu's house.

Yingge wondered if something had happened, but it didn't seem like it.

Yingge saw that Butler Zhang personally went out to greet him, and by the way, he gave the man a seal of silver as a reward for servants.

The two of them tried to refuse, but in the end the man accepted it. Yingge could only hear from afar, "Three days later, Mr. Hu will hold a banquet... The daughters of noble families cannot be absent..."

Butler Zhang smiled and said, "Don't worry, we will complete Lord Hu's orders no matter what, and we will participate in this infinite honor no matter what."

"I like you guys who know the situation. Don't shirk responsibility like others. The people above are not fools, right? This matter may not be resolved by shirking responsibility."

Butler Zhang nodded repeatedly. "That's right, that's right, you are right, I will definitely participate."

"Please wait, I still have several other places to send messages to. You can stop here."

"Okay, Sir, take care!"

The servant of the Liu family led a horse over. Butler Zhang shouted, "Go quickly, go quickly, we must make sure that the young lady can come back within the stipulated time."

After busying around for a while and seeing the official off, Butler Zhang realized that Yingge had been standing here for a long time.

"Hey, what are you doing, Master Yingge? You're scaring me to death. I'm going to die here."

"Uncle housekeeper, it's mainly because you're too busy. I've been here the whole time."

"You, what is that thing in your hand?"

"Oh, this is the weapon I just made."

"What nonsense! A newly made weapon, isn't this just an iron bar?"

"Well, whatever you say is what it is."

"What's going on? I just saw a military officer coming over. Did something happen? Is Miss Liu coming back?"

These words immediately made Butler Zhang alert. Okay, Yingge admits that my words have ruined his mentality of currying favor with the powerful.

"Well, it seems you are willing to tell me, so I won't ask any more questions."

Yingge would not embarrass herself here. She put the iron bar on her shoulder and swaggered into the gate of Liu's house.

Butler Zhang next to her was almost affected by her actions.

"Master Yingge, take care and study hard."

"Don't mess around with this stuff all day long."

The doorman next to him immediately explained, "I heard that Master Yingge is learning how to use sticks and spears recently. I think boys like these."

Judging from what she saw just now, it was probably Hu Gongqing who wanted to meet those girls who were hiding in their maternal grandparents' home or who had returned to their hometown to visit relatives. The Liu family probably wouldn't believe that Liu Abao would be chosen. If she was chosen, would she go to the palace to be ganged up on? That's her personality.

Things turned out just as Yingge had thought. Sure enough, when she went to the school today, all the students were discussing the banquet that Mr. Hu was going to host.

"I heard that the banquet will be held at Chen's Yi Garden in three days."

"If you say so, how big a place would it take to accommodate so many people?"

"Are you stupid? Didn't I mention before that there are restrictions? Do you think that anyone who wants to go can go as long as they are a girl from an aristocratic family?"

"But I want to go too..."

When Yingge heard this, she immediately looked up and asked, "What's going on? Why are you going anyway? Didn't they say they only wanted boys?"

"Are you stupid? It would be so embarrassing if they only let girls go, so the boys go just to serve as foils."

"Now that you mention it, didn't everyone just find out about it? Why am I the only one who's stupid?"

At this time, a student who was not on good terms with him said, "Some people look like country bumpkins from the countryside, so unsophisticated."

Yingge looked up at him and wanted to fight back, but Zhu Nian came over and said, "Yingge, Yingge, come and help me check if my article is well written. I feel like there are many places that don't make sense."

Then he lowered his voice and said, "Don't fight with Fang Su. He has a backer in Mo City. The governor of Mo City seems to be his uncle from a distant place."

Yingge knew very well that Zhu Nian's family was able to enter Qinghe Academy because of their modest fortune. She also admitted that people in all walks of life have been divided into different classes since ancient times. However, the fact that someone could say such words to her directly showed that his family education was also average.

Yingge appreciated Zhu Nian's kindness and she felt it was a little funny. It turned out that people are the same wherever they go.

Seeing Yingge didn't reply, Fang Su snorted and turned around to chat with other students. "Of course I'm going... I admire Mr. Hu very much. I heard that his articles are very good..."

Mr. Yan, the teacher, came into the classroom and coughed a few times. Several students who were talking loudly immediately separated.

"Alright, hand in the homework I asked you to do the day before yesterday."

Only then did Zhu Nian realize that because he had used the homework as an excuse to persuade Yingge just now, the homework book was still in Yingge's hand.

"Yingge, Yingge, my homework, hey, what are you doing, don't touch my homework."

"You can modify it a little bit."

"Do you understand homework? I have never seen you do homework."

"Hey, you look down on me, don't you? I don't do my homework, but that doesn't mean I don't know how to do these things."

"Zhu Nian wanted to talk back, but was interrupted by Mr. Yan. Silence in the classroom!"

Zhu Nian took the homework book and checked it himself. He hesitated for a moment when he saw the part that Yingge had revised. "Okay, you tell me where the problem is, and I'll believe you this time." Zhu Nian quickly copied down the part that Yingge had mentioned.

Probably because of Hu Gongqing's arrival, the classroom atmosphere of the students of Qinghe College is different from before. First of all, the teachers in the school play more roles, and their teaching attitude is completely different from before. Secondly, the students' families are forbidden to play outside. They have to go home after school, and all entertainment activities seem to have been paused.

These Yingges are understandable. After all, when high-ranking officials from the imperial court come, it is not easy to offend them one by one. In the end, the aristocratic families will be the ones who suffer.

The day when Hu Gongqing was going to host a banquet for everyone soon arrived. Yingge saw several carriages parked at the gate of Liu's house after school. Liu Abao was getting on the carriage with her skirt lifted up in her formal dress. Then she saw Liu Ziheng and Yufeng following behind. Liu Abao shouted "Brother"

Liu Ziheng felt embarrassed and immediately turned his head away. However, Yufeng, who was standing next to him, saw Ying Ge under the carriage and called him "Brother Ying" just like Liu Abao called Liu Ziheng.

Liu Abao snorted and urged, "Go, go!"

It was hot in the summer, and the breeze brought a little coolness near the canal. The Yi Garden in front of me had trees by the lake dotted with lights, bright or dim, like a fairyland. In the distance, there were a few small boats returning late on the canal, and the boatmen were singing loudly on the bows. The setting sun and the water in the canal formed a fine silver mirror.

Liu Ziheng lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and looked out. "People in Mo City say that the Chen family's Yi Garden is an unparalleled summer resort in the world. Today I see that it is indeed extraordinary."

The Chen family was arrogant and always found it difficult to invite others to visit their Yi Garden. Although the Liu family, the Fu family and other people all lived together in Mo City, the number of times they were invited was very few.

Liu Ziheng and Yufeng looked at the crowded carriages and horses, just like the day they returned home after school, the crowds surged. Liu Ziheng felt bad, and he didn't know if the news of his loss to Yingge had spread.

"Brother, brother, are we almost there, are we almost there, have you seen the young master and young lady of the Chen family, I want to find Chen Wumei, I want to find Chen Wumei."

"Mrs. Liu wanted to push her back immediately, and in fact, she did so."

"Just be quiet and don't make any noise. You should treat this scene as if it were your own home."

Su Qingyu also complained, "Why do I have to dress up? I am a man. I am not attending a banquet. I am not selecting eunuchs."

When he said this he started to chuckle, then he remembered what Yingge said and laughed even more happily.

"Hey, Ziheng, why didn't your Yingge come?"

I guess everyone in the Liu family, except Mr. Liu, thought this way. What was Yingge doing here? She wasn't really a member of the Liu family.

She, she didn't come.

"Hey, is the young master of the Chen family here?"

"Hey, when you say that, who knows? It's probably coming."

Speak of the devil, he appeared. The two looked up and saw that it was the young master of the Chen family in front of them. He was lowering his head among the other men in the family, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Soon they arrived in front of Liu Ziheng. "Master Chen? Brother?"

Before Master Chen could react, Liu Ziheng couldn't wait to introduce himself, which made the other students who were watching look very strange.

"Who are you calling brother? I don't understand what you are saying."

"Then let me explain to you. You call Yingge Big Brother, right? And we also call her Big Brother. So you were the first one to call her Big Brother, so you are in the front. As for us, Yingge's little brother, you call her Big Brother. We who entered later also call you Big Brother."

"You, you, huh, you are unreasonable."

The young master of the Chen family was so angry that his face turned red. He threw his sleeves and strode away.

Liu Ziheng had humiliated the young master of the Chen family. The other children of the Chen family were a little indignant and wanted to step forward to argue, but they were restrained by the occasion today. However, this issue of face created a grudge.

The other children of the noble families didn't know what was going on, so they came forward to ask. Liu Ziheng then told everyone about his bet with the young master of the Chen family and how he lost to Yingge.

"You kid, why do I feel like you're pretty happy even though you lost? Don't you feel ashamed?"

"It's embarrassing to lose to Yingge. If I lose, I lose."

The boys' side was lively, and so was the girls' side.

"Bao'er, why are you running around? This is the Chen family's garden." Miss Qi comforted Liu Abao.

"Don't pull me, I want to go find Chen Wu'er. I'm going to let them settle the marriage that they lost in the bet today."

"Baoer, don't mess around."

"Chen Wuer, come here!"

As night fell, a group of beautiful young girls dressed in red hairpins walked slowly along a path beside the pavilion in Yi Garden, making jingling sounds as they walked.

Liu Abao saw Chen Wuer walking in the middle at a glance.

Chen Wuer heard what Liu Abao said just now, so she spoke first to stop her from saying anything more outrageous. "All the people who came here today are nobles. You are shouting and yelling in my garden. Aren't you afraid of being selected and sent to the palace, and being separated from your parents in the future?"

Such words are often the most frightening to little girls.

"Humph, don't try to scare me with such things. If I am chosen, I will go to the palace to serve as a guard for the emperor or ask him to make me a general. I will lead the army to fight."

"Haha."

As soon as Liu Abao finished speaking, a soft laugh came from a bush on the path. It sounded like a man's voice, and the tone was low and soft.

A strange voice suddenly appeared in the midst of a lively conversation, which made the group of women a little worried.

The brave Liu Abao shouted, "Who is this? Come out and play tricks on me."

Today, the Yi Garden is not separated by gender, only because Hu Gongqing is a eunuch. Although he couldn't accept it at first because of the pain, this is also a fact that cannot be ignored. This arrangement is actually quite good, to avoid that neither party is satisfied.

The banquet was held in the flower hall, which was the only way for everyone to enter the mansion. It was no surprise that he met these girls here.

When the girls heard the voice, they looked over and saw that the man was tall and thin, with deep facial features, but an unusually fair complexion. He was wearing the latest style of men's robe in Mo City, which stunned the girls for a moment.

The man who came was so handsome. Nowadays, men also like to dress up in disguise. It is rare to see a man dressed like this.

"What a great ambition! How about I fulfill your wish?"

Liu Abao didn't react to his question for a moment and stood there in a daze, until the men following the man saluted him. Then Liu Abao and the girls immediately separated and saluted Hu Gongqing.

Lord Hu glanced at the girls huddled at the back and paused.

"It turns out to be Lord Hu. We are so rude."

The masters who followed behind immediately stepped forward to ask, "Did you offend Lord Hu?"

Hu Gongqing smiled and waved his hands and said, "No, no, it's fine, everything is fine!"

As he said this, he pointed to the brightly lit hall and said, "I think it's getting late, let's start the banquet."

Those who had good sense immediately made a gesture of invitation and stepped back from the blocked road in front, allowing Hu Gongqing to walk to the front, and they stepped back and followed.

The girls exclaimed in surprise and panic, "So this is what Lord Hu looks like! It turns out that eunuchs are so handsome!"

"I heard that he used to be a eunuch and an important official in the court, because he was the former crown prince."

"You don't want to live anymore, so you start to arrange the affairs of the court."

The girl who was about to speak further was so frightened that she immediately shrank to the side.

Chen Wuer said, looking at the excitement, "But we don't have a chance anymore. Liu Abao, you still have a chance."

"Just now, Lord Hu agreed to take you to the palace!"

"Well, let's go. He has agreed that I can be the general."

"Then we would like to congratulate you here first. Greetings, General Liu!"

Chen Wuer's words caused laughter from the other girls.