Chapter 25: Yanqiu, that slick, sour scholar, take him away! ...

That day at Daxinglong Temple, Bald Donkey fought ten enemies alone, using his brute strength to defeat a formidable opponent – truly impressive. He was thrown into the Heavenly Prison, where he mysteriously disappeared within ten days, becoming an unsolved case during the Yongchang reign and further cementing the enigmatic figure of Monk Jade.

Zhou Xian was certain that Monk Yu would not die.

But he had never imagined that this bald man would be so audacious, braving the scrutiny of two Jinyiwei and appearing calmly before him, his smile unwavering! You have to know that the Jinyiwei have been hunting down this bald man to this day, with wanted posters plastered everywhere, featuring a handsome large goose egg. He had just seen one at the Taiyuan government office.

Zhou Xian's thoughts raced. He held the note in his hand, pacing back and forth, muttering, "Strange! Doesn't Baldy want me dead? This is... No, he doesn't necessarily want me dead."

Thinking back, he and Zhang Jinwei were just two poor souls who had strayed into Daxinglong Temple that day and happened to stumble upon a fight between gods. Attacking them was unnecessary. Everyone present had their own agenda. After a chaotic brawl, they brushed the matter aside with a frivolous air. The ultimate outcome was war.

Thinking of this, Zhou Xian looked a little indignant.

He folded the note, stuffed it back into the amulet, wrapped it in a handkerchief, and put it into his sleeve. He turned to the two Jinyiwei with a smile, looking calm and composed, and said, "My lords, let's go."

After walking a few steps, he turned back and asked casually, "Hey, where's the monk who was selling amulets?"

The Jinyiwei thought for a moment and realized they had no recollection of the mute monk's departure. The two looked at each other, and one of them stepped forward and said hesitantly, "Perhaps he went to the Guanyin Temple... I wonder why the princess asked about him?"

Zhou Xian smiled and said, "Nothing, just teasing you guys."

The two Jinyiwei were now even more confused. They followed the princess with a bewildered look on their faces, walking in sync, unable to figure out what had made Zhou Shan unhappy.

Zhou Xian stepped down the steps, jumping with each step, the tassels tied around his waist swaying, and he seemed to be in a good mood. He was just thinking, the bald donkey just left a piece of paper with the price written on it, so how should he contact the bald donkey and how should he pay?

A chance to escape for nothing. As the saying goes, fortune and honor are sought in danger. Zhou Shan gambled that Bald Donkey didn't intend to kill him. If that was the case, why not use Bald Donkey's martial arts? As for how to contact him, Zhou Shan wasn't in a hurry. When the time was right, Bald Donkey would surely reveal himself. Everything else would be discussed once they reached Yan'an Prefecture. He...also had to make arrangements for his funeral.

…

The front line was pressing for help, so they only rested for one day in Taiyuan Prefecture and continued to march westward the next morning without stopping.

The carriage was swaying, with only two people in it. Yuxi wasn't there; she had gone to the carriage behind to reprimand the servants. Several maids and eunuchs were so engrossed in playing cards that they might cause trouble if they continued. She had to watch them closely, saying that Muxue looked serious, but in reality, she was having a blast.

Zhou Xian was bored, so as usual, he leaned his head against the car window, looking out, taking in the scenery. There wasn't much to see. Near the official road, the mountains stretched out in a continuous line, the autumn colors gradually tinging the green hills with a hint of yellow. A flock of wild geese flew across the azure sky, and Zhou Xian's gaze followed them southward.

"What is the princess looking at?" Zhang Jinwei asked with a smile.

Zhou Shan turned around and saw the man leaning over. She tilted her head slightly and exchanged glances with Zhang Jinwei. A few strands of her loose black hair were blown by the wind and landed on the back of Zhang Jinwei's hand. "Look at the wild geese," she said.

"Hongyan? Let me take a look too."

As Zhang Jinwei spoke, he moved closer to Zhou Shan, almost pressing his entire body against her. Zhou Shan curled up, thinking to himself, "This guy is so annoying. He's sneaking over to hug him again."

He was still hugged. Zhang Jinwei rested his chin on his shoulder, but he was still shameless enough not to put his cheek against his. The two of them could hear each other's breathing.

Zhou Xian half-penetrated her face from the man's arms, then looked up at the sky. Suddenly, she heard Zhang Jinwei say from above her head, "Speaking of Taiyuan Prefecture and wild geese, I remember a beautiful story."

What a sour scholar!

Zhou Xian knew what allusion he was going to bring up, and he felt strangely uneasy. He couldn't help but mutter a few words, but after thinking it over, he decided not to say anything and just let it go. He didn't know what he was thinking.

Zhang Jinwei casually recounted, "In the past, there was a poet who, while traveling to Taiyuan Prefecture, saw a goose hunter capture and kill a wild goose. The goose's mate, wailing incessantly, crashed its head into the ground and died as well. Unable to bear the tragedy, the poet buried the two geese on the Fen River and carved a stone monument, naming it 'Wild Goose Mound.' Princess, look among these rocks on both sides of the Fen River. Which one could be the Wild Goose Mound?"

Zhou Xian's teeth ached from his bitterness, but his eyes remained obedient as he wandered along the murky, yellow Fen River, seeing the jagged rocks and the heaps of yellow earth. Where were any signs of wild geese, orioles, or swallows? If there were any, they would have, over the years, turned to dust.

Since someone was always talking in a smooth way, Zhou Shan decided to pretend that he didn't hear anything. If he paid attention to the other person, he would definitely suffer, so it would be better for him to be mute.

Zhang Jinwei obviously didn't care. He was in high spirits and kept muttering to himself, "Qianshan and Muxue are well-named. I wonder if they were chosen by the princess or Concubine Jing? Passing by Yanqiu at this moment is also a special fate..."

"It was my mother who gave me the name." Zhou Shan spoke up hastily, trying her best to distance herself from the matter so as to prevent this person from being overly sentimental.

Zhang Jinwei smiled, then remained silent for a moment before saying, "Princess, have you seen the betrothal gifts I sent you last year?"

Zhou Xian sighed quietly but still did not answer.

He reflected that the Daning royal family's weddings strictly adhered to the "Three Letters and Six Rites": accepting the bride price, asking for the bride's name, accepting the auspicious date, accepting the betrothal gift, requesting the date, and welcoming the bride. With the exception of the betrothal gift, the remaining five rituals all included a pair of geese as a "gift," a ritual known as "laying the geese." Perhaps because geese are inherently loyal and highly revered by the ancients, this item seemed particularly important to some pedantic scholars.

Seeing the person in his arms motionless, Zhang Jinwei was not discouraged. He simply remembered that in August of the previous year, the imperial decree for his marriage to the princess had been issued. He had declined the Ministry of Rites' proposal and rode out of the capital alone. After waiting for a long time, he personally shot down a south-flying goose as a sacrifice for the goose-laying ceremony.

It wasn't that he was old-fashioned; he simply felt that even if he didn't like his future wife, he had to maintain his dignity. After all, how many marriages could one have in a lifetime? Fortunately, it wasn't a bad marriage. Thinking of this, Zhang Jin smiled.

Zhou Xian found this guy really annoying. He had been hugging her for so long, yet he didn't know how to quit while he was ahead! He raised his hand and pushed Zhang Jinwei's face, pushing him aside. The man was still laughing, and he couldn't help but yell angrily, "Stop laughing!"

"Cough." Zhang Jin pretended to be serious, coughed lightly, sat up straight, and looked as if nothing had happened.

Zhou Xian also climbed up from the window, simply tied up his long hair, and fumbled for the hairpin while angrily saying, "I'll ask my aunt to come back soon!" He searched for a long time but couldn't find his jade hairpin. When he looked up, he saw the jade hairpin in the shape of a plum branch lying in Zhang Jinwei's palm.

His hair stood on end, and he grabbed the jade hairpin and pinned it into his bun. Suddenly, he remembered what happened in Taiyuan Prefecture yesterday, and took the initiative to change the subject: "The prince consort said yesterday that he was going to see an old friend. I wonder which official he was meeting?"

Zhang Jinwei said: "He is not an official."

Zhou Xian looked puzzled.

Zhang Jinwei laughed again, a laugh that was truly provocative. He didn't answer Zhou Xian's question first, but instead said, "The princess finally asked me about this. I tossed and turned last night, even thinking about going out all day, but the princess said nothing. Doesn't she care about me?"

Zhou Xian: ...

He regretted it.

Zhang Jinwei continued to talk to himself, "Since the princess asked, I'll tell you straight out. I'm a wealthy businessman from Taiyuan Prefecture. He made his fortune in Jiangnan in his early years and gave me some money. Yesterday, I went to visit him and ran into a friend I made during the imperial examination. As a result, I stayed until the evening. Will the princess be unhappy?"

"No." Zhou Xian numbly shook his head, "As long as the Prince Consort is happy."

He is not a jealous person, unlike some people who get jealous all the time!

After resting at the post station and Yu Xi returning, Zhang Jinwei finally restrained himself and sat upright, showing that he still had some dignity.

After another ten days, with a short rest, they finally arrived in Yan'an Prefecture. The Yan'an Prefecture Magistrate Zeng Wenjun personally welcomed Zhou Shan and his party and led them into the city of Yan'an Prefecture.

Zhou Xian leaned against the car window and saw a pagoda standing on the top of a mountain not far away. There were mountains on both sides of the city. He knew it was a good place to go, but he didn't know how long he could stay.

The prefect, Zeng Wenjun, was a capable man. He had received instructions in advance to build a small mansion in a safe area of the city. It was small, just three courtyards, and it was a perfect place for Zhou Shan to rest and recuperate. The courtyard was neither luxurious nor neglectful, and the surrounding environment was quiet. The furniture and supplies were complete, and several skilled maids and servants were also provided. Zhou Shan was invited to stay.

Standing in the front yard, Zeng Wenjun said respectfully, "Princess, if you would like to live in a better house in the future, please tell me and I will buy one for you when the time comes. However, Yan'an Prefecture is a small place after all, not comparable to the capital. I am afraid that with all my efforts, I can only make your life comfortable."

Zhou Xian smiled and said, "That's all right. I'm here to accompany my husband. Besides, the situation on the front lines is tight, so it's no time to enjoy ourselves. The courtyard the prefect has chosen is excellent, just right, and quite to my liking. Thank you for your hard work, sir."

Upon hearing this, Zeng Wenjun hurriedly said, "The princess is very understanding and righteous. It is a blessing for me and the people!" He was still worried that a domineering and troublesome royal child would come and take advantage of his status to be dissatisfied with this and that, causing unrest in the city. Now it seems that he was just too worried.

Zhou Xian knew what he was thinking and said politely, "Lord Zeng is a good official."

"How dare I, how dare I!" Zeng Wenjun waved his hands repeatedly, grinning bitterly. "Princess, you are embarrassing me!" After a pause, he continued, "Princess, you are staying with me temporarily. I dare not neglect you. I have arranged a banquet in my mansion. I wonder if Princess and Prince Consort will honor you with a feast?"

Zhou Xian said, "Your Excellency is so polite. My husband and I will come to visit you."

Thus, tomorrow's affairs were settled. After Zeng Wenjun left, Zhou Xian looked around their temporary residence. Seeing the many flowers and plants planted in the backyard, he felt happy. He walked a few steps and asked Qianshan beside him, "Has the Prince Consort not returned yet?"

Qianshan shook his head: "No."

Zhou Xian stopped talking. Before Zhang Jinwei could even enter the city, he was stopped by the rushing garrison soldiers and taken straight to the government office to discuss the war. Mu Guang also went with him, and neither of them returned until nightfall.

He walked into the main room and saw that the furnishings were simple but not shabby, which made him quite satisfied. He sat down in front of the newly arranged dressing table, took off his jewelry and earrings, and undid his hair. Suddenly, he felt a little hot, so he got up and opened the window.

Unexpectedly, when he opened the window, he saw a big, shiny goose egg in the night.

Zhou Xian: ...

The Jinyiwei outside haven't left yet!