When Pei Jing learned that Yu Shu didn't pass the first exam, he sent someone to deliver a letter to her that night to comfort her. Early the next morning, he actually came to visit Yu Shu. In addition to a good horse that was promised to Yu Shu, he also brought a cart of construction materials and two masons. He came to build a stable for the horse.
Pei Jing's arrival dispelled some of the dark clouds in Yu Shu's heart. She circled around the dark red horse that Pei Jing was leading a few times. She touched it here and there. The horse had a good temper. When it saw that she was a stranger, it only snorted twice and shook its head uncomfortably. It didn't kick back and let her touch it.
He Fangzhi, who went out late today, also came to join in the fun. Zhao Hui was afraid that the horse would startle, so she didn't come out from the backyard.
Pei Jing smiled as he explained to Yu Shu from the side, "This is an excellent match between a Great Wan horse and a Gui Nan mare. It has been tamed for five years at the stud farm in the north. It was originally prepared to be used as a war horse for the imperial court. However, the management of that horse farm wasn't good. These two years, the money was tight. So, they selected a batch of take-out horses. They were chosen by our Thai Heng Chamber of Commerce and ordered. I liked them, so I kept one for myself. I also chose a more docile one for Xiao Yu. It seems that it can be used as a saddle or a saddle to pull a carriage. "
Before Yu Shu could say anything, He Fangzhi spoke first, "Thank you, Brother-in-law, for spending so much money. This horse is a good horse. It will be wasted if it is used to pull a carriage. After a while, when Xiao Yu's hands are more agile, let her learn how to ride."
Pei Jing nodded and looked at Yu Shu with a kind expression. "When the weather gets warmer, I'll find two chaperones to accompany you for a few laps. You'll be able to ride it soon enough."
Yu Shu was thinking that with such a good horse as a ride, in her previous life, it would at least be worth four laps in a car. After receiving such a big gift from Pei Jing, even though he was her relative, she still felt embarrassed. She touched the shiny hair on the horse's back and said to Pei Jing with embarrassment,
"I've made uncle spend money again."
Pei Jing laughed heartily. He stretched out his hand and very naturally stroked her head, saying, "What's the matter? Jiujiu only has one daughter, and her body is delicate. If I don't have any children in the future, in the end, you and Xiaoxiu will have to live in retirement. "
Yu Shu saw that Pei Jing had a sigh on his face, and it did not seem like he was joking. For a moment, she did not know why he was so emotional. Although Pei Jing was over forty years old, his body was very healthy, and Madam Qin was younger than him. In a few years, he could have another son, so why was he afraid that there would be no successor?
Although she was doubtful, she did not show it on her face. She only followed Pei Jing's words and said, "Jiujiu is an elder like father and mother. In the future, Xiaoxiu and I should provide for him."
Seeing her attitude, Pei Jing and He Fangzhi were very optimistic. They smiled and nodded, then went into the inner hall to talk. She was left in the courtyard to get close to the horse.
Yu Shu was raising her head to stroke the hair of the new resident, when she heard someone call her.
"Miss."
Yu Shu turned around and saw Bai Ran crossing the courtyard door. She stood not far away and passed on a message, "Young Master heard that Master Pei came and wanted to come out to pay his respects, so he asked me to come and ask."
How could Yu Shu not guess what Yu Xiaoxiu was thinking? He said he wanted to pay his respects to Pei Jing, so he must have heard about the horse and wanted to come out to take a look. Thinking that his injury had not recovered, she shook her head and said,
"My father said that he must not eat in the wind for the next few days." After saying this, she was afraid that Yu Xiaoxiu would be disappointed. She touched the soft hair in her hand and said with a smile, "You go and tell Xiaoxiu that Jiujiu sent a horse. I will take it to the backyard later and let him look at it by the window."
Bai Ran obeyed and returned to the room to pass on Yu Shu's words to Yu Shu. Although Yu Xiaoxiu did not succeed in leaving the room, he still happily put on some clothes and went to the window. After waiting for a while, he saw Yu Shu approaching with a big, red horse. He was very happy.
He studied at Baichuan Academy and had a few classes a month on riding and archery. Seeing some young masters bring their own horses, he was very envious. However, he could only take turns with a few of the sons of concubines who were not well liked by their families to replace the two old horses that could not run fast.
Last time, Brother Xue had brought him to the horse farm to play to his heart's content and he still remembered it. Xue Rui had promised him that he would take him there in spring. Unfortunately, he had no prospects and had been injured by Xue Wenzhe. He could only stay in the room to recuperate. It was really sullen.
Uncle Pei had given his sister a horse. Once he recovered from his injuries, he would have a horse to ride on. Yu Xiaoxiu thought happily to himself.
In this child's heart, he had never thought of separating himself from Yu Shu. The two of them depended on each other for survival. There was no one closer than them in this world.
"Sister, when our injuries are healed, I will teach you how to ride." Yu Xiaoxiu said arrogantly.
"Tch, I don't need you to teach me. Your two short legs are not even as long as my arms. Grow them for another two years." Yu Shu's words mercilessly attacked her brother.
"You, you look down on me. Brother Xue said that I ride very well. If you don't believe me, you can ask him!" Yu Xiaoxiu argued with a red face.
"He was just being polite. How could you believe him?"
The two of them had nothing better to do. One was inside the house while the other was outside. Bai Ran watched from the side as they quarreled. In fact, they were very intimate. He was envious and couldn't help but feel bitter about his life. If his family hadn't been ruined, he would still be the young master of the Bai Family and not a servant. Even if he had to continue to endure his stepmother's harsh treatment, he would gladly endure it.
***
Because of Pei Jing's arrival, Yu Shu originally wanted to find Xue Rui to verify Qu Hai's matter, but she could only postpone it for a day.
On the sixth day, she went to Wang Ji Lou, thinking that she could see Xue Rui face to face and talk business. Who knew that after waiting there for a day, she didn't see him. After asking Lin Fu, he said that Eldest Young Master hadn't shown up in the past few days. Yu Shu left a message for him to pass on the message when he saw Xue Rui, and then she went back.
The next day, she went to Wang Ji Lou to wait, but she still didn't see him. On the third day, she came again, but she still didn't hear that Xue Rui had come.
This made Yu Shu depressed. Her feet turned in circles. For a moment, she didn't know where to find Xue Rui.
Then she suddenly realized that it seemed that it was Xue Rui who looked for her every time. Even if he didn't look for her, she would always meet him. This seemed to be the first time she took the initiative to look for him.
What to do? Except for Wang Ji Lou, she didn't know where he liked to go. Should she go to the gate of the Supreme Court and wait for him?
It was not impossible, but she didn't know whether he would leave from the front gate or the back gate. What should she do if she didn't find him? It would be February 13th in a few days. If she didn't figure out Qu Hai's matter, she would be worried.
This was Yu Shu's mistake. She didn't think that besides Wang Ji Lou and the Supreme Court, there was another place where she could definitely find Xue Rui.
Lin Fu saw that Yu Shu didn't wait for him for three days. He guessed that she was in trouble. At dusk, he saw Yu Shu coming down from upstairs with a sad face, so he came over to offer advice.
"Are you looking for Young Master Xiao? If it's urgent, why don't you go to the Xue Mansion to look for him? Even if Young Master is busy with work, he has to go home to sleep."
His words woke her up. Yu Shu patted her head and secretly scolded herself for being dizzy. She immediately thanked Lin Fu and left.
Knowing where to find him, Yu Shu wasn't in a hurry to visit now. First, it was late. It would be disrespectful if she went to the Minister's Mansion at this time. Secondly, even though she'd acknowledged Xue Rui as her Big Brother, she hadn't met the seniors of the Xue Clan in the end, so it couldn't be considered as an official relationship. She was just a young lady, and if she boldly went to the Young Master's house to look for him, she might not necessarily be able to meet him.
When Yu Shu returned home, she washed up and went to sleep. The next morning, she found a long gown and a short coat in the cupboard and changed into a man's outfit. She dressed up well and wrote an invitation seriously before looking for the way to the Xue Mansion.
***
Minister Xue was a civil official. When Emperor Jingzong was still on the throne, he was already a minister of the Imperial Library. Later, when His Majesty succeeded the throne, he also inherited the previous Emperor's ministers. He admired Xue Lingnan's prudence and strategy, so he valued him. He appointed him as the Minister of Internal Affairs and promoted him to the Right Prime Minister. He also conferred Lady Xue the title of Imperial Consort and bestowed her with great glory.
The Minister's Mansion had been built for many years and had been renovated several times. From the outside, it didn't look like a mansion that suddenly rose to prominence. There was only a large door in front of the main entrance and a pair of stone lions. There wasn't even a corner door that was open. On the door, there was a plaque with the two words "Xue Mansion". Although it had been exposed to the wind and sun for many years, it hadn't been changed. This plaque had been scrubbed until it was spotless. It wasn't decorated with gold or silver, but when the carriages and horses passed by the door saw this plaque, they all lowered their heads.
Serving the emperor for six dynasties and several generations of loyal ministers. How could those new nobles with shallow family background compare to them?
Yu Shu got out of the sedan chair at the street corner. After inquiring that the Xue Mansion was in front of her, she walked to the door and confirmed that the plaque on the door was correct. Then she knocked on the door and handed over the invitation, asking to see the Eldest Young Master of the Xue family.
Yu Shu cleverly didn't write on the invitation that she was a sworn brother or sister. She claimed that she was a friend of Xue Rui and that she had come to discuss something with him. If the Eldest Young Master was at home, she would like to meet him. If he wasn't at home, she would like to pass on a message for him.
The gatekeeper of the Xue family didn't say anything. When the gatekeeper saw Yu Shu dressed as a servant, he politely told her: "The Eldest Young Master has just gone out. There are rules in our mansion that servants are not allowed to pass on a message for the Master, and they are not allowed to tell the Master's whereabouts to outsiders. If you have something to do, you may come back tomorrow."
Hearing this, Yu Shu regretted that she didn't come earlier. Knowing that she couldn't get the whereabouts of Xue Rui from the gatekeeper, she reluctantly nodded and turned away with a sad face.
Walking on the road, she thought that it was not a good idea to delay it one day after another. Qu Hai was still locked in Huixing Street. She couldn't just let him go like this. Since she couldn't find Xue Rui in a short time, it was better to interrogate him first. At most, it was not easy to force Qu Hai to tell the truth.
Thinking of this, Yu Shu quickened her pace. Not long after she walked, a person she knew came out of the gate of the Xue Mansion.
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