Chapter 21 Chapter 21 Human Tragedy
Liang Hanzhang was slightly surprised. She never expected that the usually taciturn prince would one day personally ask her to help him with his hair. Was this the end of the world?
Seeing the subtle sarcasm in his eyes, she finally understood and said calmly without any hesitation, "Leave it to me."
He wanted to tease her, but ended up being the one being teased. Seeing the woman taking the silk scarf with ease, Li Rong suddenly felt like he was shooting himself in the foot.
How come her temperament is so different from the beginning?
Before he could figure it out, he was led to the couch and sat down. A silk scarf was wrapped around his hair, and the woman's soft, boneless hand gently pressed on his head. The friction between the silk scarf and hair was a pleasant sound.
Li Cheng's movements gradually relaxed, his wrist resting on the table as he sat sideways. The long black hair of the person behind him would occasionally brush against his shoulder, sending a tingling sensation. Seeing the hair rise and fall with the person's movements, Li Cheng felt as if a small stone had been dropped, rippling through his heart.
Almost instantly, he suddenly felt the room temperature getting a bit too high. Sensing something was wrong with him, the prince snatched the silk scarf from his hand, his voice tinged with hoarseness, "I'll do it myself."
Liang Hanzhang felt puzzled, and finally his eyes swept over the body wrapped in his inner clothes. He seemed to see something, and his eyes became meaningful.
Seeing the smile in her eyes, Li Cheng was very angry. Just as he was about to wave his hand to ask people to leave, he heard Li Fu's voice from outside: "Your Highness, the eldest princess is waiting for you in the outer hall."
"What is she doing here?" Li Yan frowned, threw away the silk scarf in his hand and prepared to get up.
"The princess is here to see Empress Fengyi." Li Fu seemed to have sensed His Highness's uneasy mood, and his voice became more cautious.
Li Cheng raised his eyelids to glance at her, waved his hand and said, "Go ahead." He then walked into the inner room to change clothes.
Liang Hanzhang felt a little disappointed that her golden opportunity was interrupted by the arrival of the eldest princess. But then she thought, the princess must have come to invite her out for some sightseeing. It just so happened that she was going to Taoran Residence.
Thinking of this, Liang Hanzhang walked away with quick steps, without any reluctance.
"Mrs. Zhang!" Li Luohua hurried over to greet her, having spotted her approaching from afar. She was dressed quite formally today, wearing a crown of auspicious clouds and nine phoenixes, a symbol of a princess's status, a floor-length red dress, and delicate, precious moon-shaped earrings adorning her earlobes. She looked regal and imposing.
"Princess, why are you here today?" Liang Hanzhang led his people into the inner room and did not forget to turn around and ask.
Li Luohua tapped her forehead with his index finger, looking quite joking and indulgent, "I know that the emperor is on a day off today and you two can't wait to stick together, but I came to you for something serious."
"I wonder what's going on?" Liang Hanzhang poured her some tea. Princess Changping smiled. "Do you still remember Marquis Boyi's Mansion?"
Isn't the Zhuang family of the Marquis of Boyi Mansion the same Zhuang Yue residence that embarrassed her in public last time? Although Liang Hanzhang wasn't one to hold grudges, Zhuang Yue certainly hadn't forgotten.
"The second branch of the Zhuang family has been childless for many years, with only one daughter, Zhuang Yue. Unexpectedly, the second wife gave birth to a legitimate son. The baby is one month old today, and the people from the second branch asked me to preside over the full-month ceremony," Li Luohua said, holding her hand.
"I don't like Zhuang Yue either, but her mother, Yin, is the prince consort's cousin. With this relationship, it's difficult for me to refuse."
"I thought you were bored, so why don't you go out for a walk with me? Zhuang Yue has been spoiled since she was a child. If she still dares to have any opinion about you," Li Luohua snorted coldly, shaking the teacup lightly with her fingers, with a look of arrogance between her brows, "I don't mind turning the full moon banquet upside down."
Liang Hanzhang naturally believed her words. The princess had enough capital and enough pride. If she had favored the Zhuang family, she wouldn't have embarrassed Zhuang Yue in public at the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
She seldom socialized and wanted to take this opportunity to interact with other people, so she smiled and said, "Okay, let me change my clothes and then go with you."
Li Luohua laughed, "Mrs. Zhang, please don't dress too brightly, or you'll outshine me." Liang Hanzhang glanced at her and joked, "Princess, be careful, you might actually outshine me."
"Well, you're becoming more and more eloquent, aren't you?" Li Luohua pretended to hit her.
The two maids, Sun and Liu, were also pleased to see the unusual relationship between Fengyi and the princess. No one in the royal family disliked Fengyi, and now everyone was most eager to see when Fengyi would give birth to a child for the princess!
It was mid-spring, and the weather wasn't too hot. Thinking she'd wear something festive for the full-moon banquet, Nanny Sun chose a pink kimono for her, and styled her hair into a high bun, accessorizing it with a few white jade hairpins. The tassels swayed gently with her movements, making her look incredibly charming.
Princess Changping held her in her arms and couldn't help saying, "Mrs. Zhang is so pretty. Have you charmed my brother these days?" Because she was one year older than Liang Hanzhang, she usually spoke and behaved like the elder sister.
Liang Hanzhang's pretty face flushed. Ever since that night out playing the zither, her relationship with His Highness had truly blossomed, and she could see the affection in his eyes. But he refused to touch her, no matter what! It was truly frustrating.
Seeing that she looked a little embarrassed, Princess Changping realized the seriousness of the situation and her heart tightened: "What's wrong?"
Liang Hanzhang told her shyly, and added at the end: "Your Highness, do you have any unspeakable secrets?" Otherwise, after what happened last night, why didn't he touch her?
Li Luohua seemed lost in thought. It was common sense that men rarely let go of a woman after having tasted her. The fact that his brother didn't have a concubine was already suspicious, but he still refused to have sex even though he had feelings for her.
Could it be that she really had some unspeakable secret and was afraid of being discovered? Realizing that this guess might be true, the princess's face became more solemn.
It was all her and her mother's fault for being negligent. They didn't even notice the emperor's brother's illness. Men are shy and feel ashamed to have problems in this area, so they hide their illness and avoid seeing a doctor.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt that everything that had happened before could be strung together into one coherent whole. Li Luohua solemnly reassured her, "Don't worry, Zhang Niang. I'll discuss this with Mother tomorrow. We'll definitely be able to come up with a solution that will satisfy both sides." This solution wouldn't hurt his brother's reputation, nor would it make him shy away from seeking medical treatment.
Seeing the princess's solemn expression, Liang Hanzhang had a vague feeling that things seemed to be heading in a direction beyond her control.
-
As the carriage passed through Zhuque Street, Liang Hanzhang couldn't help but lift a corner of the curtain, listening to the lively cheers outside. Seeing Taoranju passing by not far away, he felt torn. He didn't know what excuse to make to go in.
The princess obviously saw it as well. She glanced at the jade hairpin on Liang Hanzhang's hair and suddenly said, "Taoranju has made a new batch of jewelry designs recently. The style on your head is too old-fashioned. When we come back from Boyihou Mansion, I will go with you to choose."
It was really a relief to have someone give me a pillow just when I was sleepy. Liang Hanzhang looked at Princess Changping with great gratitude and was speechless.
Li Luohua rubbed her hair lovingly, but suddenly realized that this would mess up her hair. His hand suddenly turned halfway and fell on her face, kneading the flesh on her face.
After spending so many days together, the two had become incredibly familiar with each other. Princess Changping had a problem: she loved rubbing people's faces. Liang Hanzhang had initially protested, but now he was used to it.
The princess was so strong-willed that her protests seemed to be of no use.
The carriage stopped in front of a large mansion, and the driver outside announced, "Your Highness, we've arrived at Marquis Boyi's residence." When the curtains were lifted, the entrance was already crowded with traffic, including carriages of many dignitaries. The figures of the young men and maids shuttled back and forth, their heads dazed by the full moon banquet.
Li Luohua carefully got out of the carriage, holding the hand of a palace maid. This was a carriage with the eldest princess's emblem, and someone noticed it as soon as it stopped.
The gentleman-looking man standing at the door to welcome guests walked quickly to the front of the carriage with a group of people and bowed, saying: "Hail, Princess."
Liang Hanzhang looked him over carefully, noting that he was dressed in rich attire, with a ruddy complexion, tall and slender, and a beautiful beard. Although he was old, he still had the elegance of his youth.
"I respectfully welcome the princess to attend my son's full-month banquet. I am deeply honored!" The princess is the ruler of a country, and she personally came to the full-month banquet at the Marquis' Mansion. According to etiquette, everyone in the Marquis' Mansion had to go out to greet her.
However, the old lady of the Marquisate was not in good health and could not stand for long. After waiting at the door for a while, she felt dizzy and had to go back to rest. The second wife, Yin, had suffered heavy bleeding during childbirth and was still in confinement.
As for the Zhuang family's main house... not a single person came out to greet them. Looking at the dignitaries kneeling on the ground, Li Luohua glanced at them coldly, lingering on the Zhuang family for a moment before frowning subtly.
A cold voice sounded: "Get up."
"Thank you, Princess, thank you, Empress Fengyi!" everyone shouted in unison. Liang Hanzhang was surprised; she was among them kneeling.
Li Luohua explained in a low voice: "You are the emperor's brother's Fengyi, and you are the emperor's brother's person. No matter how high or low your position is, you must kneel down with the etiquette of the monarch and his subjects when you are outside."
Liang Hanzhang suddenly realized. Thinking about it this way, being the Eastern Palace attendant was quite comfortable. Look, even though Zhuang Yue looked indignant, didn't she still have to kneel down and greet her?
As everyone was getting up, an old lady with silver hair arrived at the gate of the mansion, leaning on a cane, with a maid carefully supporting her. She rushed to the princess's feet and knelt down to pay her respects: "Your Excellency, I am so late. I am sorry for not welcoming you. I hope you will forgive me."
Li Luohua personally helped the old lady up and said with a smile: "Don't worry, old lady. I am attending your full moon banquet today as a junior. There is no need to make such a fuss."
The Boyi Marquisate had served the emperor well, and Lord Zhuang Yuanjiang had made great contributions to the Jin Dynasty, ultimately dying on the battlefield. Therefore, the princess would always show some respect to the Boyi Marquisate.
The Zhuang family has a fascinating story. The eldest son, Zhuang Yuanjiang, and his wife, Ms. Gao, have two sons and a daughter. The eldest, Zhuang Binghuai, inherited the title and is the current Marquis. The second son, Zhuang Bingchu, is a twin of his elder brother. Both are military commanders, now guarding the border, and only return home once during the Lunar New Year.
Speaking of it, Mrs. Gao, the wife of the eldest son, was originally a blessed person. The glory of the marquis's mansion was all due to the eldest son, and she gave birth to two sons in succession, so her status as the marquis' wife was as solid as a rock.
Unexpectedly, fate did not go as planned. The eldest daughter of the eldest son's family was lost early in life. Many people were sent out to find her, but none could find her. Gao cried every day. Soon after, news arrived that Zhuang Yuanjiang had died on the battlefield. Under this series of setbacks, Gao's spirit could no longer bear it and she went mad.
"The old lady is not feeling well, let's go in quickly," Li Luohua said hurriedly, seeing that she was unable to stand steadily even with Zhuang Yuansong's support.
The old lady also knew that she was not in good health. The strong sun outside made her eyes darken from time to time, so she nodded repeatedly.
He caught a glimpse of Liang Hanzhang standing beside him. His cloudy eyes moved and he asked in confusion, "Who is this?"
The princess was busy talking and had no time to introduce Liang Hanzhang. She took her hand and introduced her to the old lady: "This is Empress Fengyi of the East Palace."
The old lady was old and had not heard of the affairs of the court for a long time. She had no idea when the Eastern Palace had added a Fengyi Empress. However, the other party was the emperor and she was the minister. After hearing this, the old lady hurriedly bowed and saluted.
Liang Hanzhang was just a small Fengyi, so how could she dare to act rashly? She personally stepped forward to support the old lady. She didn't know if it was her illusion, but she always felt that although the old lady had the compassionate appearance of the Buddha, she made people feel uncomfortable for no reason.
The entrance was no place for conversation, so the group headed towards the mansion in a mighty procession. Zhuang Yue, following behind, spat inwardly at Liang Hanzhang's smug expression.
He turned his eyes and saw his father smiling from ear to ear, and a sense of depression arose in his heart.
If Adi had not been born, she would have been the only child of the second wife. Her elder and second brothers had been stationed at the border and had not returned home for a long time. She was the only youngest in the mansion. For many years, both her parents and the old lady had cherished her with all their heart.
But now, her younger brother was born not long ago, and her parents seemed to have forgotten their daughter. They didn't care about her food, clothing or other expenses, and spent all their attention on the newborn baby.
Therefore, the more she saw her parents happy, the sadder she felt, with a hint of jealousy. In a corner where no one was paying attention, she clenched her fingers into fists.
-
After all, the Marquis Boyi's Mansion is a century-old family and is relied upon by the current emperor, so many court officials came to the full moon banquet with their families.
Men and women sit at separate tables, with men in the second hall and women in the outer hall.
A cup of tea later, the nurse came out carrying the little prince to meet the princess. Li Luohua looked at the baby sleeping soundly in the cradle, and inexplicably thought of Yu Ge'er when he was born, just like that, a tiny ball curled up in the quilt, which made his heart melt.
The princess couldn't help but hold the child in her arms and tease him. The other ladies in the court were envious and jealous when they saw that the child was so favored by the princess.
The second branch of the Zhuang family was mediocre, wasn't it because of the merits of the first branch that they were able to gain a foothold in front of the powerful in Chang'an? Without the first branch, it was hard to say whether the ancestral foundation could be preserved.
Next came the etiquette of the full moon banquet. The young prince would bathe in the sacred water, and the one who brought the willow branch to touch the water must be a person of high moral character and prestige. It was for this very purpose that the princess had been invited here today.
Liang Hanzhang felt that the main hall was stuffy, and most of the people sitting there were elderly women. No one could continue the conversation, so he wanted to go out for some fresh air.
Nanny Sun followed closely behind. Zhuang Yue's attention kept wandering between Liang Hanzhang and the young master. When she noticed them leaving, she also found an excuse to leave.
There were people everywhere at the Zhuang Mansion because of the grand celebration today. Liang Hanzhang was not a sociable person, so he took Nanny Sun to a secluded place.
After crossing a emerald lake, a bamboo forest looms before us. This secluded and tranquil spot is dotted with birds occasionally darting through. Two winding paths lead directly to the end of the road. The swaying shadows of the bamboo create a truly idyllic atmosphere.
Sitting down at the stone table, Liang Hanzhang took a breath and said, "Mammy, let's rest here for a while." Mammy Sun was old and tired from walking so much, so she sat down on the stone block beside her.
It was quiet, with only the faint voices of guests talking in the distance.
Suddenly, there was a noise coming from the grass nest next to Liang Hanzhang's heels. Nanny Sun thought it was some snake, insect, ant or beast, so she jumped up in fright and hurriedly pulled Liang Hanzhang to run away.
Unexpectedly, a "meow" was heard from the grass, and soon a black kitten came out from it, staring at the two of them with bright eyes, and there were a lot of weeds on its body.
"Mammy, it's just a cat," Liang Hanzhang reassured the old woman beside her. Mammy Sun breathed a sigh of relief. She didn't blame her for being so frightened. It was simply because she'd been bitten by a venomous snake as a child and nearly died, and she'd been terrified of such venomous creatures ever since.
She was still frightened for a moment and couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, we can't stay here for long. Let's leave quickly."
Although the bamboo forest is quiet and elegant, countless bamboos block out the sun, and some even grow so densely that they block out most of the sunlight. As the sky darkens a little, the bamboo forest looks a little gloomy.
Suddenly, she felt a chill on her back. She nodded and prepared to go out with the nanny. Just as she took a step, she heard the maid's cry behind her: "Madam! Madam! You can't leave!"
The two looked in the direction of the sound and saw a woman in plain clothes and unkempt appearance rushing in the direction, followed by several maids and servants, who kept shouting. But the woman ignored them.
She was just a boudoir woman, weak and frail, and was quickly pinned down by the servant who had come after her. The servant looked very young, his face filled with anger: "What are you running around for, you bastard? If you run again, I'll beat you to death!"
He took advantage of the remote location and the fact that the old lady was too old to manage many things. He was afraid that the power of the household affairs of the mansion would be handed over to the second lady in the future. In order to please the second lady and fulfill her orders, the servants secretly beat, scolded and tortured the woman.
"Laian, keep your voice down! Can you say that?" One of the maids hurriedly stopped the boy, fearing that others would hear. Today was the young master's full moon banquet, and many dignitaries were in attendance. She was worried that their actions would be seen by outsiders.
The servant spat on the ground and said, "Anyway, she's crazy and doesn't know we're scolding her. As long as good sister doesn't tell anyone, no one will know." Then he smiled playfully at the maid again.
The woman, pinned to the ground, continued to struggle, whimpering. As she struggled, a strand of white hair fell down the side of her face. Sensing the servant's grip was loosening, she seized the opportunity to break free and ran towards where Liang Hanzhang and the others were squatting, crying out, "Yaoyao! My Yaoyao!"
"You bitch!" This action completely angered the servant. He grabbed the woman's shoulder with one hand, raised the other hand high and slapped it hard on the woman's face.
There was a loud "pop," especially noticeable in the quiet bamboo forest. Soon, the woman's face became red and swollen, looking horrible.
Nanny Sun whispered, "My Lady, this must be the eldest wife of the Zhuang Mansion." Mrs. Gao had lost her daughter and husband in her early years and gradually became mentally unstable. The Zhuang family had kept her locked up at home, preventing her from coming out and embarrassing herself.
Seeing the silver hair on the woman's head, Liang Hanzhang could no longer bear it and walked out of the bamboo forest, shouting, "How dare you!"
The maids and servants trembled at the shouting voice, and turned around to find a bright-looking woman in a pink skirt walking towards them angrily.
Judging from her attire, she must be a noble lady from some noble family. Thinking of this, the servants who beat her panicked and fell to their knees with a thud.
Liang Hanzhang was so angry that his chest heaved up and down. He glared at her and asked, "Why did you beat and scold her?" The maids and servants had a guilty conscience and did not dare to tell the truth. They stammered and did not dare to look up.
However, Gao, who had just been beaten, saw Liang Hanzhang and suddenly got up from the ground. She grabbed her sleeve and tears welled up in her eyes, "Yaoyao! My Yaoyao!"
Liang Hanzhang looked at the scars on her face, and her heart ached for a moment. She squatted down to be level with Gao and asked softly, "Who is Yaoyao?"
"Yaoyao is my daughter! My daughter! You are Yaoyao! You are my daughter!" Gao spoke incoherently. After she finished speaking, she stopped looking at her and stared at the pile of yellow earth on the ground, muttering: "My daughter! You are my daughter!"
As if to find an explanation for his previous behavior, the servant immediately jumped out and pointed at Gao and explained: "Madam has been crazy all day and wanted to sneak out just now. We servants just wanted to stop her."
"Stop it!" Liang Hanzhang's eyes were stern, and a murderous look appeared: "What you mean by stopping is beating and scolding the master." Seeing that the servant was still trying to quibble, she shouted: "Don't think I didn't see you hitting someone just now!"
"How can this be justified? A servant is actually beating up his master! Who do you think you are? Your claws are not worthy of it!" Liang Hanzhang stared at the servant with a cold gaze. "Believe it or not, I'll have your hands and feet chopped off and your tongue pulled out!"
These words were so intimidating that even those kneeling on the ground trembled with fear. Perhaps it was because the servant was too arrogant, or perhaps it was because Liang Hanzhang's face was not very aggressive.
The servant pouted, then raised his head and retorted, "Even if you're a daughter of a noble family, you absolutely have no right to interfere in the affairs of our banker. The banker is now run by the old lady and the second wife. If you want to punish me, you have to go past them!"
He spoke with confidence, and thinking of the second lady's esteem for him, he felt more and more that he had someone to rely on.
The Second Lady was the Prince Consort's cousin, and with this relationship, ordinary officials had no choice but to refuse him a visit. He would only receive a mild punishment from the Second Lady, such as incompetence.
You want to chop off his hands and feet, pull out his tongue? Dream on!
Nanny Sun was also surprised when she heard Feng Yi's words, she had never expected that the Empress, looking at a weak person, would be so fierce and undiminished when scolding someone. It was truly eye-opening.
Liang Hanzhang stared at the servant, pacing back and forth in front of him, with an ambiguous smile on his face.
Youyou said, "I am the Eastern Palace Fengyi. Do you think I have the authority to go beyond your Second Madam?" Seeing that her expression did not seem to be false, the servant panicked and banged his forehead on the ground begging for mercy:
"Your Majesty! I didn't realize you were the one visiting me. I didn't mean to offend you. I hope you will forgive me!"
"Forgive me," Liang Hanzhang snorted coldly, "You are worthy," and then casually pointed at a kneeling maid: "Go and ask the manager of your manor to come, and tell him that I am asking for a servant from the manor, and see what he says."
The maid ran out of the bamboo forest trembling.
She hadn't wanted to cause controversy at the Zhuang family's banquet, but the Zhuang family had gone too far, and this was intolerable!
Zhuang Yue peeped into a corner that no one noticed for a long time.
The maid hurried to find the steward, who also found it difficult and did not dare to disturb the old lady and the second master on such a happy day, so he had to follow the maid.
"You are the manager of the banker." Liang Hanzhang looked at the newcomer coldly.
The steward's surname was Wang Fang. He was short and thin, like a sausage that had been dried out in the sun. He had high cheekbones, a shrewd look in his eyes, and a mercenary demeanor. He smirked and said, "Your Majesty, I am the steward of the Zhuang Mansion."
"The servant in your house beat up the master. Do you want to do anything about it?" Liang Hanzhang glanced at him with contempt.
"It was my fault for not acting properly and insulting the Empress. I truly deserve death!" Wang Fang apologized carefully. Then her expression turned cold and she ordered her attendants, "Drag him away and give him thirty lashes of the cane!"
The servant was obviously relieved when he heard Wang Fang's order. Liang Hanzhang could not fail to see the quarrel between the two of them. He said calmly, "I want this servant. I wonder what Manager Wang thinks."
"This..." Wang Fang was in a dilemma. "This boy is clumsy and I'm worried he might humiliate the Empress. Should we just forget about it?"
"No, I think this boy is very clever, and I was worried about having no one to run errands for me, so this boy is just right for me."
Wang Fang hesitated for a long time, but still did not dare to make a decision casually. Finally, she said, "This matter has to be decided by the Second Madam. Let me ask the Second Madam for instructions and then report back to the Queen."
"Go ahead," Liang Hanzhang waved her hand. Since she was in charge of the matter today, she was not afraid of it getting out of hand. She could let them go and ask for help. She was right anyway.
"Yaoyao, my daughter." Gao squatted on the ground with her hands on her knees, muttering to herself.
Seeing her haggard face, her hair streaked with white hair, and her eyes bloodshot, Liang Hanzhang suddenly felt an endless sorrow spreading through his heart, as if someone was clutching his heart tightly, making it hard for him to breathe.
This lady should have had a smooth, happy life, but she lost her daughter one day, and then her husband died in battle the next. Such a tragedy forced upon a woman, under the extreme pressure of tragedy, how could she not be mentally disturbed?
It's funny to say that Gao became like this because her daughter disappeared. And she was sold by her biological parents for ten cents.
After all these years, would they still remember that they had a daughter? Would they...feel a little ashamed of their behavior? Would they think of her in their sleepless nights, just like this Mrs. Gao?
Probably not.
That's where the gap between people lies. At that moment, Liang Hanzhang wished the woman in front of her was her own mother, to comfort her broken heart.
-
"Daddy, Grandma! Empress Fengyi is going to kill someone!" Zhuang Yue hurriedly ran into the main hall and roared in a shrill voice, scaring the guests in the hall half to death.
"How dare you!" The old lady was so angry that she raised her cane and hit her. "You think you can make up stories about Empress Fengyi? Get out of here!"
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