Chapter 27
By New Year's Eve, Zhang Xihua had not been summoned by Zhu Mingji. She thought that Zhu Mingji had changed his temperament and his love for her came and went quickly. She was ready to ask for leave from the Imperial College and continue to travel outside Beijing.
After the New Year’s Eve dinner, Mrs. Jiang and Mrs. Li went to play mahjong.
Zhang Anhua was dragged by Zhang Xuanhua, who had a child's mind, to the garden to set off fireworks.
The maids in Zhang Xihua's courtyard gathered together to draw flower lots. They asked Zhang Xihua if she wanted to join them in the fun. Zhang Xihua politely declined and returned to her study to continue recording what she had seen and heard in the Ming Dynasty over the years and compiling it into a book.
When writing about Zhu Mingji, she wrote: When Emperor Huiyuan first ascended the throne, he had the ambition to revive the dynasty. Since he took the throne, he has been diligent in government affairs, caring for the people and serving the people. He has governed the country with ease, etc.
When she stopped writing, rubbed her sore eyes, and asked the maid who came to bring her tea, she learned that the old year had passed and it was the first day of the first lunar month of the third year of Huiyuan.
Zhang Xihua went to bed to catch up on her sleep and slept until the afternoon.
Qingque fetched some hot water to wash her face, and while wringing out the scalding-hot handkerchief and handing it to her, she said, "The Second Master came home this morning, bringing with him his concubine and a pair of children. The West Garden where the Second House lives is in complete chaos—"
Before Qingque could finish, there was a commotion outside, and someone could be heard shouting, "Murder! Murder! The Second Master wants to kill the Second Mistress!"
Zhang Xihua ran out of the courtyard to see that Madam Li was running towards Chonghua Courtyard in a panic, holding up her skirt. Zhang Jianren was chasing Madam Li with a knife in his hand, swinging at her. There were also a dozen maids and five or six servants following closely behind the two of them.
Zhang Xihua went to Chonghua Courtyard with a sword in one hand.
Under the eaves of the corridor outside the main house, Madam Jiang protected Madam Li behind her, and a dozen guards surrounded Zhang Jianren who was raising a knife to kill Madam Li.
Zhang Jianren cursed, "You two bitches are colluding with each other, not only have you embezzled my property, but you also want to kick me out."
Madam Jiang was fearless and said sternly, "When the old lady and the old master passed away, the family's share of the property that was due to the second branch was witnessed by the elders of the clan. It was all passed on clearly. Don't say such slanderous words. You have received every cent that was due to the second branch. Who would dare to kick you out in the first month of the year?"
The knife in Zhang Jianren's hand had been taken away by the guards, but his arrogance had not diminished at all.
"Sister-in-law, ask the bitch behind you if she said anything about chasing people away?"
Madam Jiang turned and looked at Madam Li. Madam Li cried in grievance, "It was Jiaohong who went too far. Her son Xingchun pushed Dalang into the fish pond as soon as he arrived. Her daughter Taochun falsely accused Sanlang of lifting her skirt. The master defended them and wanted to kill Dalang and Sanlang with a knife. In desperation, I spoke without thinking and said some harsh words. I was the one who said to drive them away. I wanted to drive away Jiaohong and her children."
"You jealous woman! I'm going to divorce you today!" Zhang Jianren took out a divorce letter from his sleeve and held it high in his hand.
Madam Jiang naturally favored Madam Li and her two children, but even if Zhang Jianren brought the matter of divorce to the attention of the clan elders, it would be of no avail. Of course, it was Zhang Jianren who had the final say on whether to divorce or not.
Zhang Xihua came up with an idea. He walked forward, bowed to Zhang Jianren, and called him "Second Uncle".
Zhang Jianren snorted twice in annoyance, "You are not a good guy either. If I hadn't been away from home for so many years, how could you inherit the title of Yongjia Marquis?"
"Uncle, what you said is very true. After much thought, I, your nephew, out of gratitude for your great kindness to me, must do everything I can to help you divorce and remarry." Zhang Xihua said with a respectful attitude.
After being coaxed by Zhang Xihua, Zhang Jianren's attitude towards Zhang Xihua softened a little.
Mrs. Jiang knew what was strange about this and whispered something to Mrs. Li. However, Mrs. Li accepted Zhang Jianren's divorce letter and simply went back to her parents' home.
Zhang Jianren helped Jiaohong straighten up as he wished.
Jiaohong became the second wife in the mansion, and she wanted to suppress the eldest wife, Madam Jiang, and instigated Zhang Jianren to seize the power of the housekeeper in the mansion for herself.
At first, Mrs. Jiang fought with Jiaohong for a few rounds in a formal manner, but later she pretended to be defeated by Jiaohong's persistence and reluctantly handed over the power of housekeeper to Jiaohong.
Jiaohong became even more aggressive and said many bad things about the eldest son's wife to Zhang Jianren.
Before the end of the first month of the lunar year, the master and servant of the eldest house and the two gentlemen of the second house, Zhang Xuanhua and Zhang Anhua, were forced by Jiaohong to live in a separate house.
When Zhang Xihua was going to the ancestral hall to take away the tablets of his ancestors, he had an argument with Zhang Jianren and was hit on the head by Zhang Jianren. When he was leaving the house, the onlookers saw Zhang Xihua with his head wrapped in a plain cloth and his wound still bleeding.
In less than half a day, what happened to the Zhang family of the Yongjia Marquisate became the topic of conversation among everyone in Beijing.
As the story was passed around, it became distorted.
Zhang Xihua was just hit on the head by Zhang Jianren, but later it was spread that Zhang Xihua became the second fool of the Zhang family.
Zhang Xihua, the person involved, heard the increasingly outrageous versions and discovered that the ancients could make rumors spread to an uncontrollable level with just their mouths.
Now they moved to a house that was part of Madam Jiang's dowry. This house was in Menlou Hutong and was only half the size of Zhang's house, but it was more than enough to accommodate them.
After his day off, Zhang Xihua returned to the library of the Imperial College to continue editing books. As soon as he entered, he saw Zhu Mingji in casual clothes.
Zhang Xihua was about to kowtow, but before he could bend his knees, he heard Zhu Mingji say, "Erlang, you have a head injury, so the ceremony will be unnecessary."
Zhang Xihua then bowed and saluted Zhu Mingji instead.
Zhu Mingji, who had anticipated this, came over and held Zhang Xihua's chin with his hand. "Don't lower your head. If you get hurt again, you'll look like a fool."
"It's just a minor wound on my head. In a few days, I can even take off the cloth strips wrapped around it." Zhang Xihua said with a smile.
"Disfigurement is a minor matter. I'm just worried you'll have a headache in the future. I'll call the imperial physician to see you."
Before Zhu Mingji came, he had no intention of showing any concern to Zhang Xihua. He just wanted to see how his injuries were. However, his heart was with him. No matter how hard he pretended, when he really saw Erlang, all his natural emotions could not be suppressed.
"The doctor who treated my injury is very skilled. I have finally met Your Majesty, so I would like to wish you a happy new year." Zhang Xihua did not have the habit of bringing red envelopes when he went out. He pulled off a red purse tied around his waist, put a silver note of one hundred taels in it, and stuffed the purse into Zhu Mingji's hand. "May the new year be peaceful and prosperous, and may all your wishes come true and everything go as you wish."
Zhu Mingji handed Zhang Xihua a thick red envelope, "May spring be blessed, summer be peaceful, autumn be peaceful, and winter be blessed."
"Taking advantage of the new year's atmosphere, I would like to confess my sin to Your Majesty. The last time Your Majesty came to the Imperial College, I was not repairing the books in the library. Someone else was here for me. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor, and I will accept Your Majesty's punishment."
The handwriting of the part of the manuscript that the person edited for her that day did not look like hers. The manuscript had been sent to the palace. Zhang Xihua was afraid that the truth would be revealed, so today she confessed the matter to Zhu Mingji in an attempt to seek leniency.
Zhu Mingji reacted and sneered. He had been sulking for so many days, but it was all in vain.
"I've also hidden something from you. That day, I came to the library and, at a glance, knew it wasn't you. To the people of the world, I'm their emperor and father. To Zhang Xihua of Taiping Prefecture, I'm just Zhu Mingji. Erlang, you haven't committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. No matter what mistakes you've made, you'll always be forgiven by me."
"Your Majesty, can I ask for leave from the Imperial College to travel around Beijing?"
"Can't."
"Your Majesty, what about this minister who secretly left the capital to travel?"
"Zhang Xihua, you are committing the crime of deceiving the emperor."
"Your Majesty, how come you change your attitude faster than turning the pages of a book?"
"You like to push your luck."
Zhang Xihua pulled up Zhu Mingji's sleeve and shook his arm, saying, "Your Majesty, I still have many years of official duties ahead of me. I only have a few years of free time. It's a rare opportunity to travel as a young man. Please allow me to leave the capital. I will write to Your Majesty from time to time, send you local specialties, and stand facing north every day to admire the bright moon with Your Majesty..."
Zhu Mingji deliberately maintained an indifferent expression, staring at her slightly opened and closed red lips, his throat rolling.
"Are you done?"
"That's all." Zhang Xihua knew it was a waste of words and released her hand that was pinching his sleeve.
Zhu Mingji put his arm around her waist with one hand, lowered his head, and their lips touched, and the touch was as soft as he had imagined.
Zhang Xihua was also moved by his kiss and felt a lingering and sad emotion.
She didn't hate doing these intimate things with him.
I just wonder why I suddenly have such feelings?
Like him?
So when did you start liking him?
When the two figures reflected on the screen separated, Zhang Xihua, with cheeks flushed like a drunk, pressed the small hole on her lips that he had sucked with her fingertips, and she hissed in pain.
Zhu Mingji is such a bastard!
He held up her soft, white face and looked at the wound on her lip with an apologetic look.
"I've given you a new injury. Does it hurt?"
"Let me take a bite and you'll know if it hurts." Zhang Xihua said unhappily.
Is there such a good thing?
Zhu Mingji pretended to lower his head and kiss her again.
Zhang Xihua turned her head away, pulled up his hand and bit hard on the tip of his index finger.
"If I let you smack me on the mouth again, I'd be a fool."
Zhu Mingji was amused by her rough words. "When I go on a southern tour in the spring, I'll bring this precious sweet candy of yours with me. I'll take a bite of it when I'm bored. I want to hear how many dirty words you can prepare to curse me."
"Zhu Mingji, you bitch!"
Zhang Xihua spoke without hesitation, completely forgetting the taboos between the emperor and his subjects.
Zhu Mingji felt secretly happy when he heard this, thinking that Chen Fuzhou had never been called a "bitch" by her, so he must have been the first one to be called a "bitch".
"If someone calls me a bitch, I will kill all of his clan. But you call me a bitch, and I feel very happy. I want to reward you, and I will give you an official position right now."
"What official?"
"Be my groom."
Zhang Xihua rolled his eyes at him. "Not to mention that I'm in deep mourning, even if the mourning period is over, I won't be your groom even if you give me the entire Ming Dynasty."
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