Henpecked
"Hahahahahahahahaha, Master's wife is really good at joking. So funny, really funny."
The young men smiled at each other. They had assumed that a man like Dr. Cui would marry a woman of gentle elegance and grace. They hadn't expected this mistress to be not only petite and delicate, but also playful and endearing.
Several people said that Dr. Cui was very secretive and his talent was totally unrecognizable!
Tai Shi Zheng smiled sheepishly. She then turned and poked Cui Zhijun, asking, "The student is talking to you, and why doesn't the teacher respond? How rude!"
Cui Zhijun wanted to turn a blind eye and get away with it.
Unexpectedly, these people were so enthusiastic that it looked like he couldn't escape even if he wanted to. He turned around and nodded awkwardly.
Cui Zhijun thought the young men would stop pestering him. However, upon seeing the doctor's response, they not only didn't leave, but instead gathered around him joyfully. This made Cui Zhijun even more flustered. He was sure that after his few days of rest, he would become the laughing stock of the Imperial Academy.
"Sir, sir, I didn't expect you to like coming to this bustling place. However, I think you should come here more often to relax and have fun. I wonder what you like? We come here frequently and are very familiar with this place. Why don't we let us recommend something to you—"
The teenagers were so happy talking that they even lifted Cui Zhijun up.
"Actually..." Cui Zhijun looked at everyone with curiosity, and hesitated to speak for several times.
Seeing his embarrassment, Taishi Zheng seemed to sense something and quickly jumped in to talk Cui Zhijun out of trouble, saying, "Hey, how could your master like a place like this? Look how reluctant he is! It's only because I wanted to come that he came with me, and he was so reluctant! Since you're so familiar with this place, why don't you tell me what's fun there? Don't make things difficult for your master."
"Well, I just said that the teacher always taught us to be diligent and hardworking, and not to indulge in pleasure and lose our ambition. How could I..." The young men were full of vigor and vitality. They exchanged glances and then laughed it off.
Then, several people consciously turned their attention to Taishi Zheng, and one after another introduced the famous acrobatics of the Sang family's tile house.
Cui Zhijun finally escaped and felt a little relieved.
But when he looked at Taishi Zheng, the enthusiastic and cheerful figure who, amidst the crowd, was able to connect with the students upon their first meeting, he couldn't help but be mesmerized. Although he always gave the impression of being gentle and dignified, Choi Shik-jun actually didn't know how to get along with others. And let alone someone as bright and brilliant as Taishi Zheng, perhaps this was Zheng's unique brilliance.
At that moment, Taishi Zheng's eyes began to brighten, and everything around him dimmed.
"Wow, everyone really knows a lot, and even has their own opinions on folk arts and acrobatics. As expected of students from the Imperial Academy, they will surely shine wherever they go."
After several conversations with these young men, Taishi Zheng couldn't help but sigh. These scholars, though known for their elegance, were always able to perceive beauty in different environments that ordinary people could not perceive, and express it with passion and emotion.
Zheng really admires her.
Then she stood up and wanted to thank them for being so generous in telling her so much, so she waved and called the idle man again, asking him to run errands and buy a jar of Dangmei for each of the young men as a gift, and also ordered some tea and snacks for them on the table.
The young men immediately became more fond of their teacher's wife and thanked her repeatedly.
Zheng smiled and stood up, saying goodbye to them, "Why are you being polite? Since you call me Master's Wife, I must live up to this title. I hope you have a good time. Your husband and I will leave now. We will go somewhere else. But you must remember——"
"Don't fall behind in your studies."
"We will follow the Master's orders. Sir and Madam, take care." The young men bowed and saw them off with a friendly look.
Tai Shi Zheng, holding a small can of Dangmei, glanced back at Cui Zhijun, who nodded obediently and stood up to say goodbye to the students. But as soon as he turned around, a student shouted, "Teacher, we'll see you at the Imperial College in a few days~"
Cui Zhijun grinned when he heard this, and quickly pulled his newly married wife away from the stage where the variety show was being performed.
After that, when the two walked away, the teenagers could no longer hold back their laughter. They no longer said that Dr. Cui was so different from his usual self, but only thought that Dr. Cui was actually a henpecked husband.
-
Walking in front of the various performance booths, Taishi Zheng twirled the plum in her mouth along her cheek. She had already shaken off Cui Zhijun as soon as she was out of sight. Taishi Zheng thought, why is he holding her hand now? Ugh, ugh, ugh, she didn't care about his two sweet dates!
Cui Zhijun followed Zheng cautiously, wanting to go forward but not daring to go over rashly.
The young couple walked awkwardly, one in front and one behind.
Until, for some reason, the bamboo pole in the hands of the tightrope artist in front suddenly swung violently, and it was about to hit Taishi Zheng on the head. Cui Zhijun quickly grabbed Zheng's collar and lifted him up like a kitten.
This prevented the bamboo pole from knocking Zheng unconscious on the head.
But being grabbed so suddenly made Zheng stunned, with half of her face buried in the collar.
“…”
Tai Shi Zheng came to his senses and moved twice like a carp.
Cui Zhijun showed no intention of letting go. Even in this situation, he unexpectedly whispered, "Thank you," into Zheng's ear. Zheng looked back at him in surprise, but because of the collar, she could only see a blurry face. She said, "Cui Erlang, could you please take a look at the situation and let me go first..."
Cui Zhijun finally reacted and loosened his grip on her hand.
Feeling relieved for a moment, Taishi Zheng raised his hand to smooth his collar and replied with a pout, "Hey, don't get me wrong! I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this entirely for the sake of those students. It has nothing to do with you."
Cui Zhijun smiled. No matter whether the person in front of him was there for him or not, he had at least helped him out of the predicament.
He then asked her, "Where would you like to go next, Madam?"
Tai Shi Zheng, however, looked disdainful and walked away with his hands behind his back, "I'm not interested anymore. I don't want to go shopping anymore. I'm hungry."
"Madam, are you hungry? Then I will treat you to a meal."
Cui Zhijun stood there and watched, certain that Taishi Zheng would turn around. Sure enough, Zheng's eyes flickered as she finished speaking, and she turned back. "You're treating me to dinner? I can choose the restaurant. Don't regret it!"
"I dare not go back on my word." Cui Zhijun's attitude was much more sincere at this time.
Tai Shi Zheng raised his head and pointed in the direction of Baifan Tower, as if he wanted to make a killing from Cui Zhijun. "Then let's go there to eat today."
Cui Zhijun had no objection and simply said, "It's up to Madam to decide."
Zheng snorted when she heard that, stuffed the jar into Cui Zhijun's hand, and turned away.
-
The young couple walked to their destination and it was almost sunset.
As dusk approached, Taishi Zheng paused before the five towering pavilions that stretched from north to south, reaching the nearby palace wall. Behind him, Cui Zhijun had gone from empty-handed to carrying everything his wife had purchased along the way, both arms and even under his arms.
If the young men were to encounter such a scene again, his reputation as a henpecked man would be fully confirmed.
The old man who was waiting for guests in Baifan Tower greeted them warmly. Taishi Zheng followed him in with a swagger, and Cui Zhijun hurriedly followed. Standing in the hall decorated with gold and jade, Zheng turned to ask the old man, "Is the West Tower still called Denggao?"
The uncle replied, "Ever since the late Emperor said that you could see the Forbidden City from that tower, it's been many years since we were asked to go to the West Tower. My two nobles, take a look. There are still seats in the East Tower today, and the view there still overlooks the entire capital. Why don't we go there?"
Tai Shi Zheng didn't say anything, she just turned around and looked at Cui Zhijun.
But Cui Zhijun had done something wrong today and owed Taishi Zheng a favor. How could he dare to say anything more? He just said, "It's up to the madam," and said nothing more.
Tai Shi Zheng couldn't help laughing when he saw how aggrieved he was.
After pursing her lips, Zheng replied to the uncle who was leading the way, "Okay, let's go to the East Building."
"Okay, you two from the Meilan Pavilion in the East Building—" The uncle's shout echoed between the carved beams, circling up, and then quietly fell down.
After that, you will climb up the hanging bridge and enjoy the fragrance of life at every step.
As dusk falls on the sky, the setting sun shines into the buildings, some bright and some dark.
The splendor of Baifan Tower indicates the prosperity of the Yuan and Liang dynasties.
Under the peaceful conditions, the people lived and worked in peace and contentment. Taishi Zheng moved freely and unrestrainedly through the streets. As the candlelight in the corridors illuminated her embroidered clothes, the night-less Tokyo city began to unfold...
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