With Zheng Xi and Wang Chong voicing their stance at the banquet, several others made the decision to declare their intention to follow Su Rong.
Naturally, Su Rong was pleased to welcome them.
Fen Ling clicked her tongue as she chatted with Zhang Yun, "Bro, have you noticed? My sister has something about her, something she’s born with, that people just like."
"You mean charisma?" asked Zhang Yun.
Fen Ling considered this and nodded, "Right. Anyone who interacts with her seems willing to follow her. She doesn’t put on airs. Whether it’s a noble or a beggar, she can mingle. When it comes to big problems, she can always come up with a solution. Although she’s naturally aloof, she still doesn’t lack warmth. Doesn’t it seem contradictory?"
"Miss Su aloof?" Zhang Yun raised his eyebrows.
Fen Ling chuckled, "Of course. You haven’t had much contact with my sister, so you don’t know her well. She’s quite aloof."
"I didn’t notice." Zhang Yun too, chuckled.
"Not at all. Don’t listen to him. He’s only saying this because Miss Su indulges and spoils him since he’s her personal protector. He constantly tarnishes her reputation." Ning Ze interjected, leaning over towards Zhang Yun, "Miss Su is anything but aloof. She’s actually quite tender-hearted. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have rejected Second Young Master Ye to favor Lord Thursday."
Zhang Yun knew that Su Rong had called off her marriage to Zhou Gu and then arranged to marry the second young master of the Ye Xiang Residence, Ye Guixue. Yet he wasn’t aware that she had called off her marriage to Ye Guixue to choose Zhou Gu again. Confused, he asked "What happened? Will Brother Ning elaborate?"
Ning Ze started explaining, detailing the various events that he had come to understand from being around Su Rong and Zhou Gu.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yun realized, "No wonder Nangong Yu managed to step out of Nanchu."
Just like Zhou Gu, he had previously suspected that the Ye Xiang Residence, boasting the status of being the second most influential family in Nanchu, must not have had enough power to stop Nangong Yu. Little did he expect, the engagement had already been called off. It seemed like the Ye Xiang Residence might have gotten offended, hence, they didn’t further interfere. After all, from anyone’s perspective, it would seem like Su Rong had disregarded their good intentions by rejecting Ye Xiang Residence’s olive branch. There was thus no reason for Ye Xiang Residence to expend energy and manpower in a thankless task.
"So, on one hand, we have the Ye Xiang Residence, which can compete with the Nangong Family in Nanchu, and on the other hand, we have the Duke Residence in Daliang, which can’t provide any assistance to the princess. Moreover, Second Young Master Ye has an outstanding reputation and is widely praised for his character and appearance. Anyone would know who to choose, right?" Ning Ze commented quietly, "Yet, Miss Su went back and chose Lord Thursday. Does that sound like she’s aloof?"
He glared at Fen Ling and defended Su Rong determinedly, "Right now, people in Nanchu are probably laughing at Miss Su for not being able to handle major responsibilities for the sake of a man."
Zhang Yun nodded, "Given that, she’s indeed not aloof."
Fen Ling looked at the two of them. Alright, they don’t believe her? That’s fine. He didn’t expect his sister’s character to change after meeting Zhou Gu and falling for him.
The banquet lasted until midnight before it ended.
Su Rong had a decent tolerance for alcohol, but she was quite drunk. Supported by Lan Zhi, she headed back to her camp and fell asleep.
Zhang Yun and Jiang Zhu, both had good alcohol tolerance and although they weren’t entirely sober, they remained clear-headed after the banquet. Zhang Mao, who couldn’t drink, was the most clear-headed. Lacking any fatigue after the banquet ended, he decided to check on Zhang Ping’s coffin, accompanied by Zhao Li.
"Brother, I’m going to see father," he told Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun waved him off, "Go ahead, big brother. Just don’t get scared by father."
So, with Zhao Li holding up a lamp, Zhang Yun leaning on a cane, the two of them walked a fair distance to the location of Zhang Ping’s coffin.
The coffin hadn’t been nailed shut, and three coffins were laid out quietly; one big and two small ones.
Le Shu approached Zhang Mao and Said, "My master says that General Zhang cherished Sixth and Eighth Young Masters the most. They should accompany him in the afterlife. He must be delighted." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
Zhang Mao nodded, his two younger brothers, indeed, were the most cherished by his father, conceived by his favorite concubine. He once saw them together in his concubine’s courtyard. He had visited her on urgent business, and had witnessed their happy family scene. It was almost as if they were the real family.
His father, being who he was, had a warm side too, just not for his other children.
He had originally planned to take one last look at his father, but at the last moment, with his hand on the lid of the coffin, he decided otherwise. He told Zhao Li, "Forget it, let’s not disturb father. Let’s go back."
Le Shu stopped Zhang Mao, "Please take a look, Your Highness. It’s better to have a closure than to have lingering thoughts in the future."
With that, he waved a hand, pushing open the coffin lid.
Inside, Zhang Ping appeared just as he did right before his death--enraged to the extreme, displaying a menacing air, eyes filled with hatred, refusing to close upon death.
Zhang Mao fell silent. He recalled what his younger brother had said to him before their father’s last breath. His brother didn’t hide anything, he shared everything with him. He spoke lightly then, expressing how he wished to choke him to death but couldn’t reach him, couldn’t get up, couldn’t move. Seeing his appearance before death now, one could tell how much he wished to tear him apart and drink his blood. That rage was directed not only towards him, but also towards Zhang Mao.
He silently observed for a moment, it was indeed as Le Shu had said, all filial ties vanished completely after this scene.
Le Shu closed the coffin, "Eldest Young Master should go take a rest."
Zhang Mao nodded; he had already journeyed far. Now, upon his return, Zhao Li hoisted him onto his back and carried him back to the camp.
The next day, everyone slept till well past dawn.
Having eaten and drunk to his fill, Su Rong summoned the troops to the central military tent for deliberations on marching towards the Dawei border with the soldiers and horses.
Everyone was somewhat surprised, they hadn’t expected Su Rong to suggest marching to the Dawei border. Someone asked, "Has Dawei mobilized their troops?"
"We haven’t received any news yet." Su Rong looked towards Zhang Yun.
Zhang Yun nodded, "Indeed, we haven’t received any news yet. But the Seventh Miss’s plan is right. Since our father has betrayed us to Dawei, Dawei’s troops will surely seize the opportunity of Daliang’s civil war. They must be planning to invade Daliang now."
Upon hearing this, everyone agreed that it seemed they should head to the border immediately. There was no objection.
Therefore, Su Rong said to everyone, "Let’s rest for another day today, and we’ll set out early tomorrow."
Everyone responded in unison.
Early the next morning, all the troops began to break camp and set forth.
As Su Rong was about to board the carriage, Fen Ling brought a man forward, "Sister, this man says he’s a guard from the Old Duke’s side. The Old Duke sent him here to deliver a letter to you. I’ve checked his identity, and it’s correct."
Su Rong looked at the man, who appeared weary from his journey. It seemed he had travelled day and night. She took the letter, opened it and after reading it, said to Fen Ling, "The Old Duke says he’s waiting in Changzhou. Zhou Gu has already led a hundred thousand troops to the border. If I have nothing urgent to do, then I should go to Changzhou to see him."
Fen Ling said, "It’s a three-day journey from here to Changzhou, if we travel day and night without rest."
Indeed, a single rider could not travel as fast as a large army.
With no reason to refuse, besides, having kidnapped their grandson, it was time to meet the Old Duke anyway. Su Rong nodded at the man, "You go and rest first, once I’ve given some instructions, I’ll start off with you."
The man agreed.
Thus, Su Rong gathered everyone together again, "You all set forth first, I’ll make a trip to Changzhou, to see the Old Duke. After I leave, the command of the troops will be handed over to Zhang Yun. The vice generals will be Second Young Master Zhou and Jiang Zhu."
Zhang Yun was startled, he looked at Su Rong. She should have handed them over to Zhou Shen, who was from the Duke’s Residence and represented the Imperial Court, being part of the Crown Prince’s party.
Su Rong patted his shoulder, "It’s you."
Then she asked Zhou Shen with a smile, "Second Young Master, do you have an issue with my decision?"
Zhou Shen immediately said, "The Crown Prince has ordered that after I leave the capital, I should follow Miss Seven’s instructions fully."
Su Rong nodded, looking at Zhang Yun, "Heard that? These hundreds of thousands of troops are now given to you. Once you meet up with Zhou Gu, hand it over to him."
Zhang Yun took a deep breath, moved deep within, "Okay."
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