Chapter Thirty-Four: Nalan

  Outside Donghua Gate, the training grounds of the Imperial Guard Division.

  "This is Cao Guang, the newly arrived third-class imperial guard, and from now on he will be one of us!" De Te He introduced.

  As soon as De Te's voice fell, two people walked out of the crowd, both dressed in guard attire with waist cards. One was slightly older, 26 or 27 years old, with a short beard; one was younger, around 20 years old, with a few hints of arrogance on his face.

  "Hey, is this the new brother? Not bad at all!" The young man said with a smile.

  Cao Gong felt that the voice was somewhat familiar, turned his head to look over, but it was a not unfamiliar face, it was the dandy who had flirted with Zi Jing yesterday afternoon when entering the city.

  "It's you two brothers here, Little Cao. This is our Nalan brother." De Tie He said to Cao Yun: "This is the second-class guard Nalan Fusheng, and that one is the third-class guard Nalan Chengping. The two are brothers of the same clan!"

  Cao Gong clasped his fists in both hands: "Cao Gong has met the two Nalan brothers!"

  "What should I call you, Brother Cao and Cao Zao from Jiangning?" Nalan Fusheng asked warmly.

  "It is indeed my father!" Cao Gong replied.

  Nalan Fusheng was about to say something, but was interrupted by Nalan Chengping: "De Tou Er, new brothers have arrived, and we should be welcoming them with a good wind. However, many of our brothers are not in the palace right now. Why don't we give Chengping some face today and go drink at the VIP building first?"

  Deke He looked a bit embarrassed and had something to deal with in the afternoon; Nalan Fuxun also showed a difficult expression, apparently it was not convenient at this time.

  Nalan Xingping was secretly pleased, knowing that neither of them would be able to get away with it. He had a good relationship with this Cao fellow, and he pulled him in to compete on behalf of Bao Gege, which would not only suppress the arrogance of those Mongolians but also curry favor with Bao Gege - what's not to love?

  Sure, here is the translation:

  As expected, after leaving the Wu Gate, De'er Hei and Nalan Fusi reported to Cao Gong one by one, both saying that they would postpone the welcoming banquet until tomorrow, and then each returned home. However, Nalan Chengping stuck to Cao Gong like a sticky rice cake.

  Cao Guang was lazy by nature and had no good impression of Nalan Chengping, so he wouldn't waste his energy responding to him. He just said that since he had just arrived in the capital, he still needed to visit relatives and friends, and would invite him for a drink another day to make amends.

  "Cao brothers, aren't you giving me face? Nalan Chengping saw Cao Ou three times and five times pushing and shoving, his heart was somewhat annoyed, and his tone became harsh: "The master invites you to drink wine, it's to give you face. Do you know who the master is? Mingzhu Xiangguo is the master's uncle! In this capital city, who doesn't give the master a few points of face!"

  Cao Gong looked at Nalan Chengping's complacent appearance, feeling very strange. Had he remembered wrongly? Wasn't Mingzhu already gone for over ten years? It seemed like he had passed away five or six years ago, so why were the people of the Nalan family still waving his flag and acting arrogantly?

  Before Cao Kun had a chance to speak, someone not far away laughed and said: "Nalan Chengping, you're at it again with your mouth full of crap! What's wrong, didn't you enjoy the taste of that horse dung yesterday? Do you want another bite?" Along with the laughter, several people walked up.

  Nalan Chengping was exposed to an embarrassing situation and became furious with a red face: "Wanyan Yongsheng, don't go too far!"

  The man who just spoke said, "What's wrong with being excessive? I'm tired of hearing you boast about the virtues of the Nalan family every day!" After finishing speaking, he smiled and looked at Cao Yun, cupping his fists in greeting: "Brother Cao, do you still remember me? My father was once the commander-in-chief of Jiangning a few years ago."

  Wasn't the Jiangning General a few years ago Wan Jihai, the father of Yongqing? So Yongsheng is actually Yongqing's younger brother. No wonder he looks somewhat familiar, having seen him two or three times before. Due to his good friend Yongqing's experiences, Cao Mou didn't get close to this general's son. The two were both children back then and have now become young men, so Cao Mou didn't recognize him at first.

  Cao Gong bowed his fist in return, and seeing Nalan Chengping wanting to speak again, he asked with a hint of curiosity: "Brother Nalan, what's the story behind that horse dung?"

  Following Wanyan Yongsheng's several young men was another burst of laughter, Nalan Chengping couldn't say a word for the time being, and could only glare at them angrily.

  Cao Cong got away with it, saying "excuse me" as he leisurely left.

  Nalan Chengping glared at Wanyan Yongsheng: "This little Cao's archery skills are impressive, it's just right to lure him out and have him compete with the Mongols. But you're being too nosy. Since you two are old acquaintances, I won't interfere. If Baoge complains about this later, don't drag me into it!"

  Wanyan Yongsheng gazed at Cao Kun's back, sneering: "Something that the Emperor himself has personally praised, how could it not be exquisite archery!"

  "As for him, a son of a fifth-grade official, he was even praised by the emperor himself, this is too absurd!" Nalan Chengping shook his head in disbelief.

  "The son of a fifth-grade minor official?" Wanyan Yongsheng looked at Nalan Chengping with a hint of a smile: "Who told you this?"

  Nalan Xingping was slightly startled: "Just heard Fu Ge's brother mention it, what is this Jiangning Cao Weizhao? Isn't the rank of Weizhao a fifth-grade official?"

  Wanyan Yongsheng nodded: "It's a fifth-grade official, but it's a fifth-grade official that even the governor and inspector have to fawn on!"

  Nalan Chengping was bewildered, and Wanyan Yongsheng looked at him with disdain: "You've been following us in and out of Pingjun Wangfu all this time, yet you don't even know which family the Madame is from?"

  "Empress Ping's imperial concubine, Cao Jia's family, I know this!" Nalan Chengping still seemed to be puzzled.

  Wanyan Yongsheng was too lazy to argue with this fool, and said straightforwardly: "This Cao Kun is the younger brother of Princess Pingwang, the younger brother-in-law of the Duke."

  *

  West of the city, Cao's mansion.

  Cao Guang had just entered the mansion when Wei Hei and Wei Bai, two brothers, stepped forward to greet him.

  "Your Excellency, I've made some inquiries. In that compound with the two-story building, there lives a beautiful woman, dressed as a married lady. Inside the compound, apart from two young maidservants, there are also two cooks and two guards. And then there's a middle-aged man who looks like he might be the steward or accountant."

  Cao Gong was not patient with being a "servant", nor did he go to be a "master". In Jiangning, there were rules and regulations in the mansion that bound him, and it was not good for him to overstep his bounds. This time when he returned to Beijing, he brought these few people with him to change their mouths and call him "young master", but Zi Jing and Xiao Man refused to comply, still calling him "master" as before, only the two brothers of the Wei family, who were not Cao Fu's servants, did not have so many scruples and changed their mouths to call him "young master".

  "Sir, as I said, just catch that little girl and scare her. If she still dares to shamelessly pester the young master's brother-in-law, we'll deal with her." Wei Bai had been serving in the Cao residence for several years, but he still carried a bit of his rogue air from his Jianghu days.

  Cao Gong shook his head: "But she's just a weak woman, the root of the problem doesn't lie with her!"

  Know that this brother-in-law is fooling around outside, but can't say anything or scold him. The identity of a county king is there, let alone if it were oneself, even if one's own father came, couldn't speak up. But also can't just endure like this, what good method is there to vent for sister and make that philandering prince remember. Can't just put a sack over his head and drag him into an alley to beat him up. Looks like need to think carefully about it.

  After Cao Gong changed his clothes in the west wing, Zi Jing took out a list and handed it over: "Master, these are all the relatives and friends of the Cao family in the capital. The old master had instructed you to visit them before. Madam was afraid that you would not remember clearly, and neglect some families, so she let the servants prepare the gifts and made a list for me to keep."

  Cao Cong took a look and suddenly felt a headache, with about 20 or 30 households. Fortunately, under each household, there were small notes indicating the head of the household, how to address them, their relationship with the Cao family, which households needed personal visits, which ones only required sending a card, and which households required gifts of certain weights, etc.

  Cao Gong recognized it as Cao Yin's handwriting, and his heart warmed up. He was less resistant to such social interactions.

  *

  Ping Junwang Fu, side hall.

  "What? Cao Kun's archery skills are so good that he won against De'erhe?" Bao Yajie was furious and stomped her feet: "Great, I treated him as a friend, but he thought I'm an idiot!"

  Deke Heshuo's reputation for being a good fighter had spread far and wide, and Bao Ya was no stranger to him, often entering the palace.

  In front of Bao Ya were several nobles led by Wan Yan Yong Sheng and Nalan Cheng Ping.

  After hearing that Cao Kun was actually a friend of Bao Ya Ge Ge, several young men looked at each other in dismay. Wanyan Yong Sheng opened his mouth to ask: "Didn't Ge Ge say before that she only had one friend, her elder sister?"

  Bao Ya nodded and replied, "I've said it before, I only consider Yong Jia as my friend. But now, Cao Guang is also my friend!" She looked around at the crowd: "You servants are not allowed to bully him, or Ben Ge Ge will not stand for it!"

  Wanyan Yongsheng's face looked a bit unsightly, Nalan Chengping asked: "But what if he doesn't agree to compete with the Mongolians?"

  Bao Ya nodded and looked at Nalan Chengping: "Aren't you getting married the day after tomorrow? I'll go find him, see if he has any more excuses!"

  *

  West of the city, Cao's mansion.

  After lunch, Cao Gong went to the study and wrote two letters to his parents. He simply told them that he had arrived safely, handled all matters properly, visited his sister, and asked his parents to take care of their health. After finishing writing to his parents, he thought of Cao Yi who cried uncontrollably when he left Jiangning and Cao Song who insisted on following him to the capital, so he couldn't help but write a letter to each of them.

  The curiosity and joy of having just arrived in the capital were unknowingly covered by a feeling of homesickness. Cao Yun let out a long sigh, his family had given him so much, what he could repay was to protect the Cao family's safety.

  "Old master, try on these clothes and see if they fit!" Zi Jing brought a little maid, holding a stack of clothes, and walked in.

  Cao Guang stood up, and the two of them fiddled with him. Not fat or thin, just right. Cao Guang saw that this set of clothes was slightly different from the one he had seen yesterday, similar in style but made of a different material.

  "This is another purchase? It looks more neat than yesterday's set!" Cao Gong was very satisfied.

  Zi Jing smiled and replied, "The official uniform bought from the shop has a slightly rough workmanship. Yesterday, I followed the pattern and bought fabric of the same color. Fortunately, the style is not complicated, so it was rushed out!"

  Cao Gong saw that Zi Jing's eyes were slightly tired, and he knew she must have stayed up late last night. He said with a hint of complaint: "I'm just a big man, dressing well is nothing to be ashamed of, but it's causing you trouble!"

  Zi Jing knew that Cao Gong was heartbroken for him, and he wasn't angry, but instead used his handkerchief to cover his mouth and smiled lightly.

  "What's so funny?" Cao Gong didn't understand.

  "In the hearts of the slaves, Master is still seven years old! Who would have thought that he has also become a 'big man' now!" Speaking to this point, Purple Crystal felt a little sad: "Master grew up and became an adult, Old Lady must be relieved in the underground too!"