Although he was hungover, at three o'clock in the morning when he should go to Xiumuyuan to practice martial arts, Jing'er closed his eyes, groaned, and sat up.

"Ajin, Ajin..." He held his head, "Pour me a basin of cold water... I want to go to Xiumuyuan."

"You're in this state, unable to even stand steadily, and you still want to go to Xiumuyuan?" The one who answered him was not Ajin, whose voice was sweet and submissive, but his mother's voice, which was cold and a little angry.

Jing'er was startled and immediately opened his eyes.

Although he had a terrible headache, he still managed to smile: "Mom, why are you here?"

"You come back at midnight every day, so I have to come and see you anyway!" Eleventh Lady had a dull expression, and it was hard to tell whether she was happy or angry, but it made Jing'er feel uneasy: "Mom, today is a little special... Lin Tongzhi is going to Tianjin to serve as the deputy general, so everyone drank a little more happily... By the way, you don't know Lin Tongzhi yet, right? His name is Lin Jun, and he is from the Xishan Camp. He said that he served under Dad when he was young, so I drank a few more glasses with him. I'm not like this usually..."

"Alright, alright!" Xu Lingyi, who was standing at the head of the bed, came to his son's rescue. "We'll talk about this later. I sent someone to tell Master Pang to sleep for another hour and then go to Xiumuyuan in an hour. Lie down and rest for a while!"

"Dad, you, you are here too!" Jing'er then discovered Xu Lingyi and opened his eyes wide in disbelief.

I didn't do anything! Why are my father and mother here?

He looked at Shiyi Niang, then at Xu Lingyi, his face full of confusion.

"Sixth Young Master, you are drunk. I wonder how worried the Marquis and his wife are!" Ah Jin said hurriedly, "The wife has been waiting for you since yesterday afternoon. When you vomited, it was the wife who helped you change your clothes and gave you sobering soup. She and the Marquis stayed by your bedside and have not slept a wink until now..."

"Dad, Mom!" Jin Ge'er looked at Shiyi Niang and Xu Lingyi in shock, and slowly lowered his head, "I, I..." He looked very ashamed.

"Have a good sleep first." Xu Lingyi's voice was as gentle as the wind and drizzle. "If there's anything, we'll talk about it later." Then he pulled Shiyi Niang, "He's fine now, you don't have to worry. Let's go and rest!" His grip was a little too strong, as if he was determined to pull her away, but his expression didn't show it. Instead, he paused and said hesitantly, "Practicing martial arts is like sailing against the current, you can't stop for a day. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you rest for an hour before going to Xiumuyuan!"

Seeing Jing'er like this, although it was not suitable for him to go to Xiumuyuan again, it would be more serious if he delayed his studies because of drunkenness. When he thought giving up was so easy, would he choose to give up when he encountered difficulties that needed to be overcome in the future? So when Xu Lingyi suggested that Jing'er rest for an hour before going to Xiumuyuan, Shiyi Niang agreed. She stood up.

Jing'er's face flushed red.

He had already moved to the outer courtyard and was an adult, but he still made his parents worry about him like this, and even stayed up all night to watch over him when he was hungover...

"Daddy, I, I will never do this again!" Jin Ge'er was so ashamed that he threw off the quilt and was about to get up, "I'll go to Xiumu Courtyard now." But he staggered and almost fell.

"This is not the time to be stubborn." Xu Lingyi helped him up in time, his expression slightly displeased, "Admit your mistakes when you should, and correct them when you should. This is the mindset of a man."

Jing'er felt even more ashamed: "I know, Daddy!" But he straightened his body.

Xu Lingyi smiled and patted his shoulder, then left Jing'er's room with Shiyi Niang.

It was still pitch black outside. This was the first time that Eleventh Lady had stayed up all night since arriving in this world. She felt a little dizzy when she came out. Xu Lingyi hurriedly helped her up: "Are you okay?" Then he pondered, "Let's rest in the warm room of the outer study today!"

It's close to where Jing'er lives.

Eleventh Lady nodded and went to the warm room with Xu Lingyi.

She told him what Jing'er had said while drunk: "...Since he also feels bad, why not let him go back to Jiayuguan as soon as possible!"

"Let's wait until after the Buddha's Birthday on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month!" No one had slept in the warm room for a long time, and the quilt smelled of camphor wood. Xu Lingyi tucked the quilt in for Shiyi Niang, "Then go to the temple with him to burn incense for the Bodhisattva, and ask the Bodhisattva to bless him with a safe journey."

"Going after April 8th..." Eleventh Lady pondered, "Will it be too late? You and Jin Ge'er agreed to stay in Jiayuguan for two years. If we count on our fingers, it would be good enough for him to stay in Jiayuguan for one year."

"We didn't plan for him to stay in Jiayuguan for long." Xu Lingyi smiled disapprovingly, "One year is just one year! What matters is whether he can successfully stay in other guard posts for three years."

Seeing that he seemed confident, Eleventh Lady did not ask any more questions. She just said "hmm" and thought about how to persuade Jin Ge'er not to drink anymore, and gradually fell asleep.

* * * * * *

After getting up, Shiyi Niang went to see Jing Ge'er first. He had gone to Xiumuyuan and had not come back yet, so Shiyi Niang returned to the warm room and had breakfast with Xu Lingyi, and then went to greet the lady together.

"Why didn't Jing'er come with you?" The lady's gaze fell behind the two of them, with a look of disappointment on her face.

"Jin'er has to practice boxing every morning," the second lady laughed, "How can it be so fast!"

"Yes, I forgot!" The lady smiled with her eyes narrowed, looking very happy.

Brother Jing is here.

He looked a little pale and unhappy. The old lady's eyesight was not good now, but she felt that his words were full of energy, and she clapped his hands with a smile. However, the second lady looked at Jing'er several times.

After coming out from the Madam, Xu Lingyi asked Jing'er, "Are you feeling better?"

"Much better!" Jing'er smiled embarrassedly.

"Don't underestimate this hangover. Sometimes it takes several days to recover!" Xu Lingyi said gently, "Go back and get some sleep! Regain your energy."

Jing'er smiled and replied "yes".

Xu Lingyi told him about his childhood: "...I was two years younger than you. It was your uncle Zhou who stole the wine from home. Your uncle Zhou, Prince Shun and I hid in our greenhouse to drink, and ended up breaking a Clivia plant that your grandfather raised..."

As he was speaking, a servant came running over with a bright red invitation sprinkled with gold.

"My Lord, Madam, the Sixth Young Master," he handed it to Jing'er respectfully, "This is a letter from Lin Tongzhi, the governor of Xishan Camp."

After reading the invitation, Jin Ge'er explained to Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang, "He has set up a flower boat on the Xiyuan Canal and invited me to go over for a drink tonight." Then he said to the servant, "Give the invitation to Chang'an and ask Chang'an to write a reply to the person who sent the invitation. Just say that I'm hungover and can decide whether to go after I wake up." After saying that, he did not hand the invitation to the servant immediately, but looked at Xu Lingyi and Shiyi Niang, as if asking them if this approach was okay.

Xu Lingyi nodded slightly, and Eleventh Lady also showed a relieved expression.

Jing'er then handed the invitation to the servant, who nodded and quickly went to Qingyinju.

Xu Lingyi reminded Jing'er: "When they are drunk, send Chang'an to deliver a big gift, which will be regarded as Lin Jun's courtesy."

Jin Ge'er hurriedly responded "yes".

Denghua came over hurriedly: "My Lord, the eunuch from the palace came here and said he would convey the emperor's oral order."

Xu Lingyi went to the outer courtyard.

When he came back for lunch at noon, he said to Shiyi Niang, "The emperor asked me to go to the palace at the beginning of the morning tomorrow."

"Do you know what it is?"

"No." Xu Lingyi said, "It was early morning, and the court was about to end. Most likely he had something to ask me in private. Even if he asked the eunuchs who delivered the decree, they wouldn't know." Then he said, "Help me get my court robes!"

Eleventh Lady agreed, ironed her court robes herself, and sent Xu Lingyi out two hours earlier the next day.

* * * * * *

Xu Lingyi had been to the emperor's inner study many times. The eunuchs serving in the Qianqing Palace all knew him and talked to him with a smile, waiting for the emperor to leave the court.

After a while, a eunuch came running in to clear the way. Just as Xu Lingyi stood at the door, the emperor's carriage arrived.

"Yinghua is here!" The emperor addressed Xu Lingyi by his given name in a somewhat affectionate manner and instructed Eunuch He, "Set up seats for both of you, my dear ministers."

Only then did Xu Lingyi realize that among the eunuchs surrounding the emperor, there was an official who was bowing his head and wearing a bright red court robe with peacock patches.

He was of medium height, with a weather-beaten face, like an old man in his sixties, but his eyes were very sharp, and it was obvious at first glance that he was not an ordinary person.

Someone he didn't know...

Xu Lingyi understood everything clearly and nodded at him with a smile.

The man also smiled and nodded, looking very kind.

Xu Lingyi smiled secretly, turned around and walked into the inner study room in a casual manner.

The man stared at his back with a thoughtful expression, then quickly followed him in.

The two men thanked the emperor respectfully and sat on the armchair beside him.

The emperor took off his shoes and casually sat on the big kang by the window. He ordered the eunuch to serve Biluochun tea to the two of them: "Spring is here. Drinking some green tea can clear away heat." Then he pointed to the person next to Xu Lingyi and said to Xu Lingyi, "This is the governor of the Grand Canal, Chen Bozhi. This is the first time you meet him, right? He used to be the magistrate of Chun'an County. At that time, Chun'an was hit by a flood, and Chen recommended him. Later, he helped me repair the Huitong River. He is a great contributor to my cause..."

Chen Bozhi stood up with a look of panic, knelt on the ground and said "I dare not" repeatedly.

Xu Lingyi also stood up and said, "Congratulations to the Emperor for finding a good minister." He added, "I have heard of Lord Chen's reputation for a long time, but I have never had the chance to meet him. After meeting him today, I found that his reputation is well-deserved. He is a man who gets things done."

"I don't deserve the praise from the Marquis of Yongping." Chen Bozhi said hurriedly, "I am just doing my duty as a minister..."

Before he could finish his words, the emperor suddenly interrupted: "Since you knew that, why did you allow your youngest son to beat up Lord Chen's only son?" Then, he pointed to the memorial on the table with a gloomy face and said, "Show it to the Marquis of Yongping."

When the emperor is angry, everyone is terrified.

Xu Lingyi and Chen Bozhi both lowered their heads.

The young eunuch tremblingly brought a pile of memorials to Xu Lingyi.

Xu Lingyi apologized and stood there with some fear as he read the memorial carefully.

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Additional update will be added on October 14th!