Chapter 21: A Prelude to a Tremendous Change, and the Acquisition of the Eastern Pearl

One day, Xu You came over and brought Zhang Ting letters from the sisters Zou Yueru and Li An.

Zhang Ting thought something serious had happened in Lvtian County, so she quickly opened the letter, only to find that it was full of concern and greetings from the two men.

The letter said that it knew about the hardships she had endured on her journey, and asked how she was doing in Kyoto. It also told her about some interesting things that had happened recently, invited her to come back to participate in a literary gathering, and said that it would introduce her to some new friends. Finally, it hinted that she should avoid associating with frivolous and narrow-minded people.

Zhang Ting appreciated their sentiments. After practicing a set of boxing techniques that evening, she sat under the lamp and wrote back to them:

Dear elder sisters, it is as if I am seeing you in person.

My younger sister has settled down in Kyoto and found a job. In her spare time, she can read, paint, and practice martial arts to stay healthy. My sister is doing well, so her older sisters can rest assured.

There is a library in Kyoto that houses many rare and classic works. After visiting it, I specially selected a few thought-provoking volumes to give to my elder sisters. I hope you will not find them offensive.

The younger sister often reminisces about the times she and her older sisters would drink and talk about poetry, and she longs for those times. However, it is currently inconvenient for her to return home. She promises to apologize profusely and welcome her back with open arms when she does.

Words cannot express my feelings; I wish my sisters good health and all the best!

After sealing the letter, Zhang Ting took out the books he had bought at a high price from the Sutra Repository a few days ago, packed them up, and handed them to Zheng Er to send back to the Zou family in Lvtian County.

Zheng Er returned after a long time, and his expression was slightly strange when he reported to Zhang Ting.

Zhang Ting asked her what had happened. Zheng Er scratched her head, looking puzzled, and said, "Reporting to the master, I went to the post office to deliver a letter and found that the items you sent had to be repeatedly opened and inspected. This... is really too strict."

"What about others?"

“I’ve already sent it and come back, but there’s a long queue outside the post office.”

Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow, and as if thinking of something, she smiled and said, "As long as it's sent out, you can go now."

Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, Keyinglou has been open for a month.

Zhang Ting and Xu You went over the accounts with the accountant, and the result they came up with was astonishing.

The net profit for January was a staggering 17,450 taels!

Kyoto is full of wealthy people, and indeed, it's a place where money flows in.

Five thousand two taels of silver were left at the restaurant, while Zhang Ting and Xu You each took six thousand two hundred and twenty-five taels of silver.

Xu You, beaming with joy, hurriedly bid farewell to Zhang Ting, took his share of the profits home, and wanted to show it off to his aunt.

With money flowing in smoothly and her mood pleasant, Zhang Ting hadn't been this happy in a long time.

Including her previous savings, she currently has a total of 8,530 taels of silver.

We've made a modest fortune; it's time to acquire some assets.

......

At night, heavy snow swept through Kyoto, and the wind howled, rattling the doors and windows.

Zhang Ting looked up from the table, frowning and thinking to herself: The weather in Kyoto is terrible.

I got up to close the window, only to see flames shooting into the sky outside, along with faint noises.

Zhang Ting put on a fur coat, called Zheng Er and Li Ruilian, and went out to check.

All I saw was—

A line of soldiers armed with knives first surrounded the house in front, then swiftly kicked down the door and rushed in. The whole operation was so smooth and fast that even the gatekeeper didn't have time to react.

Before long, screams could be heard coming from inside. Then a group of soldiers brought out the old and young people from the house, and those who moved slowly were kicked to the ground.

Zhang Ting pulled the two of them into hiding in the shadows, observing them closely.

In the crowd, a richly dressed middle-aged woman fawned over the leading officer, offering him jewelry. "Sir, please...please accept this."

The man glanced at the woman contemptuously, took the jewelry, and then kicked her to the ground with a cold laugh.

"Who do you think you are? How dare you come so close to us!"

Immediately, with a wave of his hand, he ordered, "Take him away!"

Zhang Ting and the others watched them leave, and by the last glimmer of firelight, they could make out the plaque hanging above the gate of the house.

It was none other than the ancestral home.

This must be a branch of the main family, Zhang Ting thought.

After shaking the snow off themselves, Zhang Ting helped the two brush the snow off their heads before the group returned to the courtyard.

Still shaken, Zheng Er asked softly, "Master, that was...?"

Zhang Ting placed her slender finger to her lips, making a "shh" gesture to interrupt her: "Tonight, everyone should pretend they haven't gone out. If anyone asks, say you know nothing."

From her words, Zheng Er vaguely sensed that this was a serious matter, and quickly nodded in agreement.

Li Ruilian is obsessed with horses and doesn't care about anything else.

The next day, Zhang Ting first went to Ke Ying Lou for an inspection, and when it was almost time for the officials to finish their shifts, she went with Xu You to her aunt's house for dinner.

Xu You smiled and said to her, "The cook in my aunt's house is best at making stir-fried chicken with soy sauce. It's tender, coated in sauce, and incredibly delicious. And there's also..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Shan walked in listlessly.

"Auntie, you're back!"

Zhang Ting stood up and bowed to Xu Shan to greet her, but Xu Shan seemed extremely tired and didn't even bother with pleasantries, simply slumping into a chair.

Xu You glanced quickly at Zhang Ting, who also looked bewildered, and asked, "Auntie, what happened? What's wrong?"

Xu Shan paused for a moment before saying, "Today, the censor accused Grand Secretary Zong of abusing his power and causing chaos in the government, allowing his clansmen to bully and oppress the people, and even attempting to bribe officials of the court."

Seemingly mentioning the difficulties, she couldn't help but sigh, "Grand Secretary... Grand Secretary has been temporarily suspended from his duties by His Majesty."

Xu You didn't know much about court politics. Seeing his aunt looking distressed, he simply said, "The Grand Secretary is only temporarily being neglected by His Majesty. Perhaps His Majesty will come to his senses after some time."

Xu Shan shook her head, not even having the energy to scold her, her eyes filled with confusion.

Zhang Ting took in Xu Shan's expression, lowered his eyelids, and thought to himself: Grand Secretary Zong truly deserves to be the guiding light in the hearts of countless students; his status is extraordinary.

After the meal, Zhang Ting took his leave and returned home, asking Zheng Er to fetch Manager Wang.

January has passed, and Zhang Ting and Xu You discussed that, based on individual abilities, Steward Wang would be promoted to manager.

Within half an hour, Manager Wang, wiping his sweat, stepped into Zhang Ting's study.

"Boss, you called me."

Zhang Ting looked up at her and said, "From now on, you don't need to send any more pickles to the young master. Just explain to the master's residence that the servant who makes the pickles has gone back to his hometown to visit relatives."

Manager Wang was puzzled, but seeing that Zhang Ting had no intention of explaining, he leisurely withdrew.

In the evening, Xu Qiushui stared at the sumptuous dishes in front of her, but had a headache and couldn't eat. Suddenly, a servant came to report that the manager of Keyinglou Restaurant was requesting an audience.

Xu Qiushui was in a bad mood and didn't want to see anyone, but she gave Zhang Ting face because she thought of her.

After listening to the shopkeeper, she sighed and said, "I understand," and waved for her to leave.

The servant beside him, upon hearing this, was filled with indignation: "This Ke Ying Lou restaurant is really going to take this again and again. Isn't this just bullying you, sir?"

Xu Qiushui waved her hand, her face full of worry, "What do you know? She's just reminding me."

Returning to one's hometown to visit relatives is essentially saying that one should retire and return home to stay away from trouble.

But as an official under the Crown Prince, how could she...

well!

Grand Secretary Zong was a renowned literary figure of her time, and the news of her suspension shocked the court and the public.

Officials from the Qingliu faction stood up to defend her and pleaded with His Majesty to rescind his decree.

The Crown Princess, in collusion with the Censor, impeached the Grand Princess and the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel for framing Grand Secretary Zong.

His Majesty dismissed the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and ordered the eldest princess to return to her residence to reflect on her actions, but did not lift the ban on Grand Secretary Zong.

The situation remained deadlocked, with upright officials being impeached one day and corrupt officials being impeached the next.

But it's clear to anyone with eyes that it's unlikely that Grand Secretary Zong will be reinstated.

On the fifth day after Grand Secretary Zong was suspended from his post, a man rushed over to see Zhang Ting in a panic.

The atmosphere has been tense these past few days, and even Ke Ying Lou's business has dropped by half. Zhang Ting just hopes that things will come to an end soon so that it won't delay her from making money.

Zhang Ting sat in the main seat, slowly flipping through the classics and commentaries he had just bought yesterday, while also munching on an apple.

Kneeling below the hall was a plump woman with a tired face, wrapped in fine silk, whose face was exactly the same as that of Magistrate Hu whom they had met in Qishan County.

"For the sake of those gifts from back then, please... I beg you to have mercy on me, Your Majesty!" Magistrate Hu cried.

Zhang Ting put the book away, her heart filled with complex emotions. It had taken them more than ten days to travel from Qishan County to the capital, but Magistrate Hu had only taken five days from receiving the news to arriving in the capital.

Tsk, I really don't know how she got through that journey.

Zhang Ting's identity was questionable, but her demeanor was unwavering. She raised an eyebrow and said, "You were the one who asked me to recommend you back then, and now you're the one being fickle. What? You dare to play me?"

Despite the turbulent times and her status as a disciple of the Grand Secretary, she was on the verge of disaster, yet she remained unperturbed.

When Magistrate Hu saw her like this, he thought she had abandoned the light and joined the corrupt faction of officials. He expressed his desire to switch sides, but to his surprise, she scolded him.

Magistrate Hu was really unsure of her meaning, and said tearfully, "Your Majesty, you didn't say that day... that the Grand Secretary was going to fall from power."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Ting let out a cold laugh.

Startled, Magistrate Hu hurriedly crawled forward on his knees, grabbed the hem of her robe, and forced a weak smile: "This time, I have brought some local gifts from the countryside for Your Majesty. Please accept them with a smile."

Zhang Ting's heart skipped a beat; she really had no intention of tricking Magistrate Hu again!

Magistrate Hu, fearing Zhang Ting would remain silent, hurriedly opened the box and presented it to her, saying, "Your Majesty, please accept this."

Zhang Ting stared at the box full of pearls and pursed her lips helplessly.

Well, since she hasn't had a chance to get to know the Grand Secretary yet, she'll give Magistrate Hu face today.

Zhang Ting pulled Magistrate Hu to his feet, even brushing off non-existent dust for her, before taking the box. "I'll accept your gifts. As for what you said that day, consider it as if you never said it."

Upon hearing this, Magistrate Hu's tense nerves relaxed. After a while, he smiled and tentatively asked, "I wonder if Your Majesty would be so kind as to recommend someone for me again?"

Zhang Ting snorted coldly, "What, trying to play me again?"

Magistrate Hu was so frightened that he shook his head and dared not say another word.

She's been terrified these days, fearing she'll be implicated in the recommendation and lose her official position.

She was unlucky and had bad luck; almost all of her life savings were lost to Zhang Ting.

Seeing that she was weak and powerless, Zhang Ting kindly invited her to have a meal. Magistrate Hu had come to the capital in a low-key manner and dared not let anyone know. After having a quick bite, he hurried back to Qishan County under the cover of night.

At night, Zhang Ting picked up a pearl and examined it closely. It was large, full, round, and lustrous. There were ninety-nine more pearls like that in the box.

She smiled. Such rare and precious items, and so many of them. She really didn't know where Magistrate Hu got them from.

A note from the author:

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My darlings, we'll start Volume Two tomorrow! The ending of Volume One felt like being chased by a dog, so Volume Two will be a bit slower. [Panda head emoji]