Zhang Yun bathed and changed his clothes, took a brief rest in the tent, then went to the tent next door to visit Zhang Mao.
Zhang Mao’s leg was immobilized. Though he had learned to use crutches, most of the time, he still lay in the carriage or on the bed. However, he wasn’t bored because Ning Ze and Zhao Li often chatted with him.
When he heard Zhang Yun had come, he wanted to go out to meet him, but Su Rong stopped him, suggesting it was unnecessary for him to wait in the cold wind. He should rest and recover in his tent, especially since he and Zhang Yun were close brothers.
Zhang Mao naturally listened to Su Rong’s advice, but he was a little impatient to wait.
Fortunately, Zhang Yun came to see him quickly after his bath. Hearing movement, Zhang Mao was heading out with his crutches when the tent’s flap was raised, and Zhang Yun entered calling out to him, "Big brother."
Zhang Mao paused in his steps, "Third brother."
Zhang Yun looked at him up and down, his gaze falling on his injured leg. He then smiled and asked, "Big brother, how long do you need to recover from this leg injury? I thought you’d stay in Nanping City to recuperate, but instead, you are here with the army."
Zhang Mao said, "Miss Seven said that it will take a few months to move freely." He shook his head, motioning Zhang Yun to sit, "I couldn’t stay in Nanping City. If I stayed too long, I was afraid I would become too feeble. I felt more secure following Miss Seven."
Zhang Yun laughed, "It seems Miss Seven is a very persuasive person."
Zhang Mao nodded in agreement. "Serving a master who gives peace of mind is indeed rare. Miss Seven is different from others. She is straightforward and doesn’t hide her thoughts, so serving her is relaxing and pleasant."
"Compared to how it felt serving our father before?" Zhang Yun asked.
Zhang Mao shook his head, "It’s not comparable. Even as his son, you have to carefully consider what to say around him, to avoid displeasing or angering him. But it’s not the case with Miss Seven. She’s excellent at utilising people, and doesn’t play favourites. She’s very casual with her own people. By knowing and using each person’s abilities, there’s no infighting."
Zhang Yun understood," I see."
He chuckled, "That’s great."
Looking at Zhang Mao, Zhang Yun quipped, "It seems that big brother, you’ve put on a little weight."
Someone recuperating from an injury as serious as Zhang Mao’s, and who had been locked up in the dark cell of the Marquis Nanping Residence, should have lost weight. Even if he hadn’t become emaciated, he should be thinner, yet he had surprisingly gained weight.
Feeling somewhat embarrassed, Zhang Mao replied, "With no more worries or ties to the Zhang family, I’ve been able to let go of all my concerns. Although I keep my name, in many ways, I’m no longer part of the Zhang family. With this release, my days are peaceful and relaxed. I spend my time serving Miss Seven, recovering from my injuries, and planning for the future in Nanchu. Eating well and sleeping well naturally led to weight gain."
Zhang Yun nodded in agreement. He had no doubt Zhang Mao meant his words, then informed him, "I killed our father."
Zhang Mao had anticipated this. If their father were still alive, he would never hand over control of the 250 thousand Jibei Army. He agreed that their father had to die. Even if their father had a breath left, he would persist in his ambition, after all, he had connections with the Dawei and Nangong Family in Nanchu and followers from many years of foundation building. As long as there was a bit of hope left, they had to be careful of potential chaos, and it wouldn’t be so easy for Zhang Yun to take control without a fight.
"He couldn’t be allowed to live, not even one breath," Zhang Yun declared, "Not in Daliang, and he couldn’t be allowed to live in Dawei either. Zhang Jin and Zhang Zun have also been killed by me. They were going to die sooner or later, so dying at my hands gave them a quicker end."
Zhang Mao nodded, agreeing with him without any doubt. He quietly asked, "How did you kill our father? Did you do it yourself?"
"Through Doctor Zhang." Zhang Yun briefly explained the process.
He finished speaking quickly. There was not much to say. It appeared simple, but everything had to go perfectly. The key person was Doctor Zhang, as well as the act he put on of crying at the sight of their father. He wanted to test the bonds of family, not just his own, but also between his uncle, big brother and fifth brother. Unfortunately, they didn’t return his feelings, and instead, they got angry and ruined his plans.
"Since our father was unkind, he could not blame his sons for being unfilial." Zhang Mao didn’t feel sad. After all, the moment he gave up, he already severed the father-son relationship. The ridiculous predicament their father and sons found themselves in was indeed a joke. He asked, "As for our family, what do you plan to do with them? Are you really going to have the Crown Prince obliterate our family?"
"That would depend on you, Big Brother. After all, my mother is long gone, the lives of the rest of them have nothing to do with me," Zhang Yun stated, "Only you still have a mother and young brother."
"There is no motherly love between my mother and me, but the youngest brother does respect me a little. However, he likes our father more." Zhang Mao replied, "If possible, I would like to ask Miss Seven and the Crown Prince to spare their lives. As long as their lives are spared, nothing else matters."
Zhang Yun nodded, "Miss Seven should agree to it. The Crown Prince, having no more threats, and considering the seamless transition of the 250 thousand Jibei Army, should also agree."
"Thanks to you for handling this matter, third brother." Zhang Mao said, "From now on, no matter what happened in the past, we are real brothers."
Zhang Yun laughed, "We will look out for each other and respect each other, rest assured, big brother."
Su Rong knew Zhang Mao and Zhang Yun, as brothers, would have private things to discuss, so he gave them plenty of time alone.
After finishing their conversation, they both came out of the tent together.
To Zhang Yun’s surprise, Zhang Mao was able to walk quite fast with the crutches. Zhang Mao laughed at himself, "At first, the best doctor in Nanping said I would lose this leg, and I felt life was playing a cruel joke on me. I thought I was done, transformed into a useless person, I might as well die."
Zhang Yun laughed, "Big brother, you have a strong destiny. It seems you’re very fortunate, blessed by heaven."
"Indeed, I am lucky." Zhang Mao chuckled nostalgically.
The feast was arranged in the central military tent, filled with the tantalizing scent of meat.
About twenty or thirty tables were set up inside the central military tent. A charcoal burner was placed near every two tables, with a stove in the middle.
Su Rong didn’t sit in his place, but sat by the stove in the center of the tent, roasting lamb chops over the charcoal. The sizzling lamb chops smelled so good that they whetted one’s appetite.
Ning Ze and Zhou Shen had accompanied Fen Ling to take over the Jibei Army, so only Jiang Zhu was available. The others hadn’t arrived yet.
Seeing Zhang Yun and Zhang Mao coming, Su Rong waved at them, "You guys are just in time, these lamb chops are perfect. Come eat. There are plenty for those who come early, but none for the latecomers."
After all, there weren’t endless supplies of lamb. Though there were orders to slaughter sheep and cattle, they had to make sure the soldiers tasted some meat, so the supply was limited.
Su Rong’s serving of lamb chop was large, but it was the only one.
Zhang Yun chuckled, moving to sit next to Su Rong in the empty space, "Great, I’m hungry."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
