Chapter 91 The Return to Nature

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The following day, the Empress Dowager took the initiative to summon the Empress.

The queen entered the palace, bowed respectfully, and asked, "What business does Your Majesty have with me?"

The Empress Dowager glanced at her, and the palace servants quickly withdrew, leaving only the mother and daughter. The Empress Dowager smiled and approached. The Empress Dowager pursed her lips and said softly, "Yinyin, I wish to leave the capital for a while."

The queen was not surprised at all, and immediately replied, "You should have gone long ago."

She should have left the capital before she became a daughter; the oriole should never have been kept in a golden cage.

"Where does Mother plan to go?" the Queen asked with a smile. "Yumen? Yangguan? Or both?"

Wang Yuying remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "That's my hometown, so naturally I want to go back and visit."

The queen smiled, then suddenly said, "General Jing—"

Wang Yuying's smile suddenly froze.

Seeing her mother's expression, the queen felt a lump in her throat and her words abruptly stopped. After a short while, she continued, "I discussed state affairs with him for a long time in the imperial study, and he—"

The queen was usually eloquent, but she was speechless and finally said, "He is a very good person."

At this moment, she reverted to being nothing more than Wang Yuying's daughter, desperately needing comfort. The woman took a step forward, embraced Wang Yuying, pressed her head against her mother's, and only felt at ease when she could feel Wang Yuying's body through the fabric.

Wang Yuying gently stroked her daughter's back, using the same way she used to pick her up when she was a child, and then thought about how she had talked a lot with Jing Ye last night...

She spoke again after a long pause: "I'll leave a month after he finishes his report and goes back."

The queen broke free from her embrace, took out a sandalwood token with red gold seal script and a dragon emblem: "Mother, take this. Seeing this token is like seeing the emperor in person. All civil and military officials will see this token as if they were seeing the emperor, and all must obey his orders. In case of extraordinary events, you can use this to control local military affairs and execute first and report later."

...

When the General of the Western Garrison came to the capital for an audience, he only stayed for ten days before returning home. During this time, he never visited any officials privately and cut off all social interactions.

The day after Jing Ye left Beijing, Wang Yuying visited the Zheng residence at night.

Before the carriage had even come to a complete stop at the side gate, a servant ran up to inform Zheng Yangzhi.

Zheng Yangzhi, with a cold face, grunted. Was it only his turn after Jing Ye left?

He really wanted to give Wang Yuying the cold shoulder, but he was afraid she would never come again. He was feeling frustrated because the doorman never stopped Wang Yuying, and she had already stepped into Zheng Yangzhi's room in two strides.

He glanced at her, thinking to himself, "She comes and goes as she pleases, but she doesn't even greet me when she enters. Does she think she owns her own home?"

What started as anger turned into an involuntary smile.

He glanced at Wang Yuying's satin jacket with a front opening and her white pleated skirt with gold prints, and his mouth slowly pursed again—was she dressed like this when she secretly met Jing Ye, or was she even more beautiful than this?

Wang Yuying noticed Zheng Yang looking her up and down and wondered: What's wrong? Is there something wrong with her clothes? It's not like this is the first time she's worn these clothes in front of him.

But she knew Zheng Yangzhi must be unhappy at the moment, so she smiled and stepped forward, taking his arm. As soon as they were close, there was no longer any barrier between them, and Zheng Yangzhi's heart immediately softened.

"What were you doing before I arrived?" Wang Yuying asked with a smile, resting her chin on his shoulder.

Zheng Yang glanced at her, his face tense, and replied indifferently, "It's all official business."

He was busy with official duties, while someone else, who was also on official business, was able to enjoy romantic moments under the moon and flowers.

Wang Yuying showed no annoyance after hearing this, and continued to smile, raising her hand to massage Zheng Yangzhi's shoulders twice: "Then you've had a hard time."

Zheng Yangzhi froze—this was the first time she had ever served him.

He was overjoyed, but he couldn't help but think, "If she really wants to please me, she should call me 'husband'."

He secretly harbored a desire to take advantage of the situation, but he would never say it aloud—he had ruined so many things with his mouth in the past, which led him to think twice before speaking, for fear that one wrong move would lead to total defeat.

That's why, no matter how much he criticized Jing Ye in his heart, he dared not say a bad word about Jing Ye in front of Wang Yuying.

Thinking of this, Zheng Yangzhi hesitated for a moment, but then put his arm around Wang Yuying.

Looking at him, Wang Yuying thought to herself that before she was close to Zheng Yangzhi, he was the most obedient concubine, but now...

She shook her head and sighed inwardly, leaning against him as she slowly asked, "Have you had dinner yet?"

“Yes, I’ve eaten.” Zheng Yangzhi turned to look at Wang Yuying: What, she hasn’t eaten yet? Then tell the kitchen to hurry up and make something…

“I already ate before I came.” Wang Yuying looked at him, then changed the subject, “But right now I suddenly want to eat dumplings again…”

Zheng Yangzhi opened his mouth, about to give instructions outside, when he suddenly heard Wang Yuying say again, "Otherwise, it would be a waste to have such a big dish of vinegar."

Zheng Yangzhi immediately closed his lips, then opened them again after a moment, and sneered, "What do I have to be jealous of?"

He stared straight at Wang Yuying, wondering if he looked like the kind of person who lacked magnanimity.

Wang Yuying immediately seized the opportunity to back down: "I know you're a magnanimous person, as the saying goes..." Her hand touched Zheng Yangzhi's lower abdomen, "...a prime minister's belly can hold a boat, right?"

Her soft hands slowly caressed his abdomen, seemingly circling but not quite, before probing downwards.

Zheng Yangzhi was aroused by her teasing, but he knew he should stop now, or she would turn her back on him. So he raised his hand slightly and grabbed her mischievous hand.

Wang Yuying understood Zheng Yangzhi's response, smiled, and tiptoed to remove his hairpin with her other hand. Zheng Yangzhi let go, and she busied herself with both hands, helping him loosen his hair and placing the hairpin on the table. Zheng Yangzhi watched the starlight from the candlestick flicker before Wang Yuying, outlining her figure in a hazy glow, and then his gaze traveled down her neck.

Wang Yuying suddenly frowned.

"What's wrong?" Zheng Yangzhi blurted out, raising his right arm to support her arm.

"It seems like she's on her period." Wang Yuying frowned even more.

What? Zheng Yangzhi frowned, then realized she was referring to a woman's menstrual blood.

He had been with her for almost a year and they met quite frequently, but this was the first time they had met face to face.

The two were very close, and he no longer blushed, but he was still a little embarrassed.

But Zheng Yangzhi still instructed a servant to bring her a menstrual pad. After she changed, he turned around and asked softly, "Do you have this time every month?"

“It’s never been accurate.” Wang Yuying shook her head. “It’s been like this for many years since the beginning of the Northern Frontier. He came twice the year before he gave birth to Yinyin, and then he didn’t come for two or three years after he gave birth. After that, he came once every three or four months, or every four or five months.”

Zheng Yangzhi felt distressed upon hearing this. All the sourness and jealousy in his heart had vanished, replaced only by affection and regret. He thought to himself that he should have spoken more politely when the car accident happened.

He keenly noticed Wang Yuying press the back of her head and immediately asked, "What's wrong with your head?"

When he saw it, Wang Yuying simply started rubbing it openly: "These past two times when I had my period, this area hurt terribly."

Zheng Yangzhi stopped smiling and pressed her shoulders to make her sit down. His hands were much colder than hers, so he rubbed them to warm them up before massaging the back of her head. He also ordered someone to bring in a hot water bottle to warm her lower abdomen.

After pressing the back of her head for a while, Wang Yuying raised her finger and pointed to her temples, indicating that Zheng Yangzhi should also massage them. He obeyed and moved his hand up, his two long fingers together, and gently massaged them for her.

"It's inevitable for people to miss their hometown. I plan to stay in Yumen for a while soon, and I need to ask you to assist me in the capital." Wang Yuying was a little afraid to see his expression, so she simply closed her eyes.

Zheng Yangzhi sneered inwardly. She really did order him around in everything. He was here raising her daughter while she went off to have fun with Jing Ye? What kind of unfair thing was this? This was just bullying!

It must be that Jing Ye used some kind of strategic retreat before leaving the capital.

"How long is your short stay?" Zheng Yangzhi pressed, then went down and massaged her shoulders as well.

"One...two months?"

Zheng Yangzhi blinked as he massaged her shoulders, saying it would be best if it really lasted one or two months.

"Go, go," he sighed. People's hearts have already flown away; how can they be kept? Besides, if he were to be forcibly kept, how would he be any different from the late emperor?

Besides, he had always wanted to support her wishes.

"Let's set off as soon as possible." Zheng Yangzhi said this without a sigh, sincerely advising that life is short and we should seize every opportunity.

"I'll be right back." Wang Yuying, with her back to Zheng Yangzhi, made the promise. After a while, she said softly, "I'll write to you. If you miss me, you can write to me too."

"Um."

The following month, the Empress Dowager left the capital incognito, spending half a year in Yumen and Yangguan respectively. While hiding in the border towns and remaining anonymous in the marketplace, she and the General Garrisoning the West addressed each other as husband and wife.

We parted ways the following spring and summer.

She brought Chu Ying, Juan Xue, and Shuang Tian with her. On the way back, Chu Ying drove the carriage, turning back before cracking the whip to ask, "Your Majesty, are we returning to the capital?"

“No,” came Wang Yuying’s voice from the carriage, “Next, I’m going to Jiangnan to take a look!”

"Alright! Giddy up—"

The Empress Dowager traveled from the northwest to the south of the Yangtze River, enjoying the scenery, admiring the beauty of Kuaiji, and inquiring about the customs of Wu and Yue. She sent letters to the women of the state, Jingye, Zhengyang, and other places.

So there were two documents on Zheng Yangzhi's desk: one was sent to him by Wang Yuying, written in cursive script; the other was a thickly bound book containing Wang Yuying's every move, secretly reported by his own subordinates.

Zheng Yangzhi had finished reading both documents and sat quietly, gritting his teeth: "I'll be right back?"

fraud!

Heartless woman...

After a long silence, he took a deep breath, pointed to the secret report on the right, and said weakly, "Remove all the hidden agents. From today onwards, there is no need to report anymore."

Out of sight, out of mind.

From now on, I'll believe whatever she says and avoid causing myself any trouble.

"Yes, sir." Zheng Yangzhi's attendant immediately responded, but then suddenly opened and closed his eyes.

Zheng Yang caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of his eye, then turned his head coldly: "Why are you blinking?"

The servant bowed immediately: "My eyelid twitched, please forgive me, young master."

Actually, he wasn't blinking; he was only closing his left eye while keeping his right eye open, secretly celebrating that his young master had finally learned to open one eye and close the other!

Zheng Yangzhi had already turned back and ordered, "Grind the ink."

The servant quickly ground the ink.

Zheng Yangzhi sat up straight, carefully arranged the Xuan paper, and, despite his anger, he had to reply to every letter from his unfaithful wife—even in times of peace, one should be mindful of potential dangers, let alone someone who was constantly in a state of anxiety; he couldn't let her forget him.

To my beloved:

I heard you are in Jiangnan; the misty willows of Su Causeway and the lotus blossoms of Quyuan Garden must surely have relieved your weariness. I am staying in the capital, and both Yinyin and I are well, living as usual from dawn till dusk, only occasionally feeling melancholy and lying alone in my pillow. But traveling has always been your wish, and now it has finally been fulfilled. It is a joyous occasion, so please roam freely and do not worry about me…

...

When Wang Yuying received this letter, she was already intoxicated by the water towns of Jiangnan.

The painted boat swayed gently, willow branches brushed against her face, and the midday sun was as scorching as gold. She lay on the deck and heard a commotion. Looking towards the shore, she saw a group of seventeen or eighteen-year-old scholars swarming out of the school. Some had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, while others had gentle and refined features. The corner of their blue robes was lifted by the wind, revealing the unique vitality of young men.

Wang Yuying smiled, picked up the Daughter's Red wine beside her, took a sip, and thought, "The light is bright, life is long, and the future is promising."

—End of text—

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Author's note: Thank you all for your continued support. I will send red envelopes to those who leave comments on this chapter over the weekend.

There will be a bonus chapter for Mi on Sunday, and the Zheng 1V1 if route will start updating next Monday (but other characters will also appear).