Chapter 36 Sister, I won’t call you brother!
"Why are your eyes red?"
Zhang Jinwei had just gotten into the carriage when he saw Zhou Xian with red eyes, staring at the curtain motionlessly. He sat down, pulled her into his arms, gently pressed his fingertips on Zhou Xian's eyelids, and rubbed them lightly.
"It's your fault." Zhou Xian said angrily. He blinked and felt his eyelids were a little moist. His frustration turned into a sigh.
Zhang Jinwei kissed his forehead: "Yeah, blame me."
The carriage fell silent for a moment. Outside the carriage, the groom was training the horses, the swords of the Embroidered Uniform Guards were humming, and the eunuchs from the Eastern Depot were discussing a shortcut to Yan'an Prefecture... Zhou Shan let Zhang Jinwei hold her in his arms, and whispered in the man's ear.
He said, "Zhang Huaiyu, I'm so sad."
Things in this world are always like this: joy turns to sorrow. Last night, the candles were red and the curtains were dim, but today, old friends have become strangers. Zhou Shan met new people, but kept losing old ones. Those people were completely changed, which made him very sad.
People's hearts are fickle.
But Zhou Xian stubbornly thought that there must be something eternal and unchanging, as eternal as the heaven and earth. However, everything did not go as he wished, and he was about to lose those close to him.
He sniffed softly, his breath brushing Zhang Jinwei's earlobe. "...Do you know? When I was eight, Wang Xiang came to work at the Pearl Pavilion. He was brought in by my mother herself. He was eloquent, humble, and talented, and everyone in the palace liked him. I was bullied in the Shangshufang and didn't dare go out anymore. He personally taught me how to read and write, and brought me storybooks... He was like a teacher to me."
People say that a teacher is like a father. For a child like Zhou Shan, whose biological father is almost dead, a gentle and considerate man, even if he is actually a eunuch, will always make the younger one develop some admiration for him after ten years of living together.
"Have you ever doubted him before?" Zhang Jinwei stroked the hair of the person in his arms. It was soft and smooth, and damp with the late autumn dew.
Zhou Xian nodded. "I had my suspicions, especially after he left the palace. His behavior became increasingly strange. Now I think I can't hide it anymore, so I've decided to stop pretending. And when Wang Xiang sent us back to Shaanxi this time, I felt like something was amiss."
"Don't worry." Zhang Jinwei kissed his temple, "I'm here."
Zhou Xian straightened up from Zhang Jinwei's arms, and with his hands, one on each side, he pinched Zhang Jinwei's face. His eyes were clear, and because he seemed shy, his eyelashes drooped slightly, which made people feel soft and itchy. Zhou Xian looked into Zhang Jinwei's eyes and said seriously, "My biological mother died a long time ago, and I have a biological father. You know, he never cared about me, so I..." He suddenly lowered his voice and whispered in Zhang Jinwei's ear, "I just pretend that he is dead and never had this father."
Zhou Xian felt uneasy when he said this. He was saying something deeply disrespectful, and Zhang Jinwei was a minister of the Yongchang Emperor—rulers ruled, ministers served, fathers served, sons served—and these scholars were the most conventional. But Zhou Xian still spoke out. He thought, Zhang Jinwei was different.
Zhou Xian continued, "Your parents passed away long ago, leaving you all alone. Your teacher has been demoted and is now in exile... We..." He couldn't stop his tears from rolling down his cheeks. "We can be considered to be in the same boat."
He opened his heart and wanted to act coquettishly, saying that you have to be nice to me in the future and treat me as a family member. After all, if there was a place in the world that he cared about, he would not want to run away every day.
By this time, they had already left Yingtian Prefecture and were on the official road. The carriage was moving very fast, and the two of them were swaying. Zhou Xian loosened his grip and saw that Zhang Jinwei's cheeks had been pinched red. Just as he was about to apologize, he was pressed down again.
"It's in the carriage!" Zhou Xian was anxious and embarrassed, and reminded Zhang Jinwei in a low voice.
Zhang Jinwei sighed: "What are you thinking about?"
Zhou Xian blushed, tears welled up in his eyes, and he stammered, "It's all your fault. Every time you pushed me, it was because you wanted to..." He couldn't finish his words because his mouth was blocked by someone.
After kissing for a long time, Zhang Jinwei hugged him and whispered, "Don't worry. I stand by Xianxian unconditionally. I'm so happy that you can tell me this... How can I not be happy to be trusted by the one I love?"
Zhou Xian was startled. He looked up at Zhang Jinwei, but because he was being held, he only caught a glimpse of his handsome profile. Zhang Jinwei continued, "Xian Xian is worried and afraid of the person I'm afraid of, too. He's the biggest uncertainty in the court, but how can the affairs of the world and its people be controlled by one person?"
After Zhang Jinwei finished speaking, he stopped talking and sighed instead. Zhou Shan knew that it was inconvenient to say more. The people around them were all Jinyiwei and Dongchang eunuchs, who were the extension of that person's eyes and ears. No matter how many complaints they had, it was not convenient for them to say more.
So they had to put it aside for the time being. At this time, Zhou Shan was still an unknown princess, and Zhang Jinwei was just a seventh-rank imperial censor, unable to make changes in the court.
But there are other things to say.
Zhang Jinwei looked at Zhou Shan's soft cheek and suddenly said with emotion, "I wish Shan Shan were my sister."
Zhou Xian: ...?
He couldn't understand what was wrong with this man.
Zhang Jinwei said to himself, "If Xianxian and I were a family, then Xianxian would definitely be my sister...hiss, now we are a family, Xianxian is my sister, and the terms wife and sister don't conflict..."
Zhou Xian laughed angrily: "You just want to hear me call you brother!"
Zhang Jinwei smiled.
Zhou Xian said coldly: "You wish. I only recognize Sixth Brother as my brother, and you are not allowed to call me sister!" As he was speaking, his face suddenly changed slightly and he covered his heart with his hands.
"Are you feeling uncomfortable?" Zhang Jinwei asked quickly.
Zhou Xian groaned, "My heart hurts a little."
Although only a little bit.
Zhang Jinwei said, "Come, let me rub it." As he said that, he put one hand on Zhou Xian's heart and pressed gently.
Soon Zhou Xian felt something was wrong.
By the time he was held in someone's arms, his clothes wide open, and rubbed until his face flushed, it was too late. He couldn't understand why this person was so fond of him, even though he was flat and had no flesh at all. Last night, too, they kissed and rubbed him so hard that he felt like his skin was about to break, but he was too embarrassed to say it out loud.
"Xianxian..." Zhang Jinwei called softly.
Zhou Xian nodded while panting.
Zhang Jinwei kissed his forehead. Looking from above, Zhou Xian's white neck was faintly flushed. Under the aqua-red brocade, his skin was dotted with red marks, soft and warm.
At this moment, someone knocked on the car wall, and a Jinyiwei who had come with Zhang Jinwei said in a loud voice: "Your Excellency the Censor, Your Highness the Princess, we will stop the car for lunch."
Zhang Jinwei replied calmly, "I understand. Ask them to make something light and send it over."
Zhou Shan, who was in his arms, tried to stop the restless hand, but unfortunately, she didn't have enough strength and ended up being led to rub herself. Zhou Shan had no choice but to lower her head and bite Zhang Jinwei's hand.
The man finally let go.
While Zhou Xian was adjusting his collar in a fierce manner, he felt aggrieved and wanted to find someone to complain to. After thinking it over again and again, he decided to write a letter to his sixth brother in a few days to denounce Zhang Jin for a series of shameless behaviors.
…
"cough."
Zhou Heng suddenly coughed a few times. He was very confused. He thought he was in good health, but today he felt like coughing.
"Oh, Your Highness, Prince Rui, what's wrong?" The chief eunuch Liu Renfu beside him was frantic. "Alas, it's autumn now, and the wind blows, so it's easy to get sick! Your Highness, you are a precious child, you must take good care of yourself, so that I and the emperor can rest assured."
Zhou Heng smiled faintly: "Where did His Royal Highness Prince Rui come from? He was just a joke that my father mentioned casually. He is not worthy of being called His Royal Highness by Eunuch Liu."
Liu Renfu said respectfully, "What are you talking about, Your Highness? I saw the title personally drafted by the Emperor, and submitted it to the Imperial Academy a few days ago. Your Highness will be crowned a king, it's a done deal!"
How could Zhou Heng not know about this? He knew it better than anyone else, but he was just playing along with Liu Renfu as usual. Shortly after returning home from court today, Liu Renfu was carried into his house like a pig, with a strange smile on his face, which made him extremely unhappy.
"Eunuch Liu, if you have something to say, just say it. There's no need to play Tai Chi." Zhou Heng was too lazy to act anymore. He was in a hurry to go to the Dali Temple to deal with the accumulated official business.
Liu Renfu said, "Well, it's a long story. Your Highness, you know that a few days ago, Su Tu led 20,000 elite troops to attack Ningxia Guard and almost broke through the border wall. The emperor was very worried and wanted to send a prince to supervise the battle to boost morale."
Zhou Heng raised his eyebrows: "According to what you mean, eunuch, this person is me?"
Liu Renfu smiled and said, "Your Highness is intelligent and capable. I'm sure he will not disappoint the emperor's trust."
Zhou Heng smiled wryly, "I'm not good at military affairs. On the contrary, Prince Jing has been stationed in the three major camps for many years. He should be a more suitable candidate. Why did they choose me?"
"Hey!" Liu Renfu clapped his hands. "Your Highness forgot that Prince Jing was seriously injured half a year ago and is still bedridden from time to time! The other adult princes in the court are incompetent and short-sighted, but Your Highness has traveled far and wide, so your mindset is naturally different from the others. His Majesty appreciates you and specially sent you to make great achievements!"
"It seems I can't refuse." Zhou Heng picked up the map of Daning on the table and stared at the Hetao area. It used to be the territory of Daning, but it was abandoned by the previous emperor and fell into the hands of the Tatars for more than 40 years.
Liu Renfu added, "Your Highness need not worry about your personal safety. Mu Guang, the Northern Commander of the Imperial Guard, is currently in Shaanxi. The Emperor has specially ordered him to accompany Your Highness with the Imperial Guard."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Heng slowly clenched his hands hidden under his sleeves, his expression still cold and indifferent: "Thank you, father, for your consideration."
After the matter was explained, the unlucky Liu Renfu showed no intention of leaving. He kept wandering around in front of Zhou Heng, which was very annoying.
Zhou Heng frowned and asked, "May I ask if there is anything else you would like to tell me, sir?"
Liu Renfu smiled, then put on a sad face and said, "Your Highness, you also know... The emperor has been obsessed with making elixirs recently. King Xuan found a sorcerer from somewhere, who said that he would use the blood of a virgin's first menstruation as a medicine inducer... Your Highness, you are a serious Taoist practitioner. Could you please go to the palace and persuade the emperor?" As he spoke, Liu Renfu was about to cry.
"Nonsense!" Zhou Heng slammed the map in his hand on the table and stared coldly at Liu Renfu. "This is a serious matter. How dare you, a dog slave, hide it and tell me now?"
Liu Renfu knelt down quickly: "I know I was wrong!"
This is no longer nonsense...
Zhou Heng sent Liu Renfu away and sat alone in silence facing the courtyard with rustling bamboo shadows. His face was ashen, and he thought to himself that this old guy was getting more and more confused as he got older. He was provoking the anger of the Tatars and seeking immortality. In a few years, the country would surely be gone!
"Aheng, are you okay?" A large, smooth goose egg poked out from the bamboo forest, and Monk Yu looked at Zhou Heng worriedly.
Zhou Heng sighed and said, "You were too harsh back then, almost crippling Zhou Huang. Now that the war has started and I've been expelled from the capital, I'm afraid some of the previous arrangements will have to be scrapped."
Monk Yu clasped his hands together and remained silent.
Zhou Heng looked at him and suddenly asked, "How is my sister now?"
Monk Yu smiled and said, "Very good, lovers finally get married."
Zhou Heng rubbed his forehead. "To be honest... well, Zhang Jinwei can barely bear to see it. By the way, Fang Yuan, I need you to help me kill someone."
Monk Yu asked, "Who?"
"Wang Xiang, the criminal officer of the Eastern Depot."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
