Chapter 10 Chapter 10 Could it be that Zhang Jingxuan has a hidden illness? ...
Xue Yuanyin finally finished the assignment after going through many drafts and turning it in. Dr. Jiang was a bit surprised and teased, "Xue Ling, why are you so late today?"
Xue Yuanyin said honestly, "I have no idea. I've strayed from the topic."
"This course is a bit difficult." Dr. Jiang patted her shoulder and said, "Go back."
Xue Yuanyin bid farewell to Dr. Jiang, stood in front of the door of Suixing Hall, took another look at the empty school, and left the Imperial College with his book box.
…
The list of people accompanying the emperor to the palace was released three days later. There were six people who could accompany the emperor, including Xue Yuanyin, Zhang Jingxuan, Gao Songlin, and Zhang Zimo.
The remaining two were people Xue Yuanyin was not familiar with. One was a boy from a poor family named Chen Lu, and the other was the descendant of a loyal and brave man.
Xue Yuanyin looked at the list and felt a little surprised.
The six names above were chosen very fairly. There were families from the prince's party, families from the Prince of Yu's party, loyal and heroic families dedicated to serving the country, and poor families with no one to rely on. The emperor took them all into consideration.
The only special thing is that among the six names, the Zhang family accounts for two.
But this wasn't surprising. The Zhang family, thanks to Zhang Jingxuan, had firmly established itself as the foremost of the aristocratic families, standing proudly at the feet of the emperor, towering and transcendent, untouchable by ordinary individuals.
Zhang Zimo was also on the list of accompanying the emperor, which was a sign of the emperor's support for the Zhang family.
As for more, there is no clue.
Xue Yuanyin put down the list and thought to herself, I thought there would be some inside story about accompanying the emperor, but now it seems that she was overthinking it?
They were to set off at the hour of Mao the next morning. Xue Yuanyin no longer cared about the roster and stayed in her boudoir, with Fuzhu helping her pack her bags.
She would spend the entire summer at the palace, about four months, so she packed some clothes, daily necessities, and writing brushes, inkstones, and paper. She gave the banknotes to Fuzhu, put some small change in her pocket, and then packed everything.
Although she was accompanying the emperor, she didn't know whether she needed to be responsible for inspecting the emperor's safety. Xue Yuanyin thought about it and hung a light dagger with a sheath on the jade belt around her waist.
This way, even if the weapons need to be disarmed in front of the Imperial Court, it will be easy to dismantle and throw away.
-
Just after she packed her bags, Manager Wei asked her to go to the front yard.
Xue Yuanyin came to the front yard and bowed politely: "Father."
Xue Chang sat in the hall with a solemn expression. He asked a few questions about why he lost the first place. Xue Yuanyin's heart was in turmoil and she nervously apologized. To her surprise, he did not intend to blame her. Instead, he talked about something else:
"Last time you mentioned the matter of guest officials, I discussed it with my staff and decided to discard those with inferior literary talent and select several young men of both good character and appearance. Upon your return to the capital from Ximing Garden, I will have them serve you. What do you think?"
Xue Yuanyin didn't expect her father to bring up the matter of the lover again, so she didn't answer for a moment, but Xue Chang seemed to have made up his mind. This time he just wanted to inform her, not to ask for her opinion.
He didn't pay much attention to her reaction, and continued solemnly, "You are now sixteen years old, the age for marriage. I have investigated some young men from poor families for you. There are many with outstanding talents. When the time is right, I plan to send someone to meet them and see what their character is like. If both parties are interested..."
Xue Yuanyin was stunned. Was he investigating this young man from a poor family to find her a husband?
Indeed, she was the only daughter of the Marquis of Qing'an, and her marriage proposal would definitely require a son-in-law. If she were an official, they would probably be unwilling to accept a talented young man as a son-in-law. However, a poor scholar with no future would find it difficult to gain a foothold in officialdom due to lack of support, so they might be willing to agree to marry into a family for the sake of their career.
Therefore, her father selected male servants for her and examined young men from poor families, all for the future of the Xue family.
Although he knew rationally that this was inevitable, seeing his father's stern and unquestionable look, Xue Yuanyin still felt a strong resistance rising in his heart.
Whether it was getting married or choosing a husband, she wanted to do things her own way, which was obviously impossible. Even if she chose a live-in husband, she didn't want to follow her father's arrangements and be constrained by rules and regulations.
In her life, she has been forced to make enough choices for the future of the Xue family!
Xue Yuanyin's pretty face turned slightly cold, but she didn't dare show it. She lowered her eyes and said:
"Thank you, father, for your consideration. I hope we can discuss this matter later."
Xue Chang frowned deeply, his face turning cold. "Marriage is decided by our parents and the matchmaker. Xue Ling, this is what you should do for the Xue family! Even if your brother were still alive, he would have to follow my instructions and marry a woman based on her family background and character!"
"Don't mention my brother anymore!"
Xue Yuanyin couldn't help but retort, but when she saw her father's face was as gloomy as water, her heart skipped a beat. She lowered her head and said, "The emperor will leave the capital tomorrow. I haven't packed yet, so I'll take my leave first."
Xue Chang said nothing, but looked at her coldly as she bowed in anger, his eyes as if he was looking at a disobedient child.
Xue Yuanyin didn't like his look and turned away.
The father and daughter parted on bad terms.
-
The next day at noon, the emperor set off on time.
Xue Yuanyin and six others rode in their own carriages, following closely behind the emperor. Behind them were the accompanying civil and military officials, such as Xue Chang and the old man of the Zhang family.
Su Mian, Guan Bo and others could not accompany the emperor, so they sat in their own carriages and followed the others.
It was impossible not to feel proud of being in such a prominent position. Not to mention Xue Yuanyin, even Fuzhu, who was riding in the same carriage with her, felt a little excited and nervous.
The excitement didn't subside until we left the capital and drove onto the official road.
Their destination was Qionghua County, Fangzhou, which was two states away from the capital, and the carriage would take six to ten days to travel.
Although it is a bit far, the palace is located in a place surrounded by mountains and water with pleasant scenery. It is the most majestic palace built from the previous dynasty to the present dynasty, so the long journey is worth it.
The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and in the blink of an eye, the journey was halfway through.
Xue Yuanyin was privately informed by her father that His Royal Highness Prince Yu had sent a letter through the post station, giving her new orders:
Find out clearly the purpose of Zhang Jingxuan's accompanying the emperor this time.
When it comes to business, Xue Yuanyin is not vague. Zhang Jingxuan works for the prince, so she must get the news in time to help His Royal Highness Prince Yu compete for the throne.
But what is the purpose of inquiring about Zhang Jingxuan?
He was her companion, coming with her and going with her. Could he have any other job?
Xue Yuanyin lifted the curtain and took a look at the carriage in front.
Zhang Jingxuan's carriage had been quiet for the past few days, and occasionally failed to stop at the post station to rest. When she saw him get off the carriage, he would either eat or go to the guest room.
She lowered the curtains, feeling irritated for no apparent reason.
Zhang Jingxuan was more discerning than she was about the big things, so why would he reveal anything to her? They were sworn enemies now, and the deep friendship and openness of their youth were long gone. What could she possibly find out?
At noon, the emperor stopped at the post station to rest.
Xue Yuanyin still couldn't figure it out, so she just followed the crowd and went to the post station for dinner.
She was used to taking a look at Zhang Jingxuan's movements first, but she found that he was not in the lobby of the inn. She turned her eyes and realized that Zhang Jingxuan was not heading towards the lobby.
Xue Yuanyin frowned slightly and called out to him casually, "Zhang Jingxuan, we're all going to have lunch. What are you going to do alone?"
Zhang Jingxuan raised his eyes and said calmly, "Going to the toilet. Do you want to follow me?"
"..." Xue Yuanyin suddenly turned her head away.
Xue Chang went to the private room upstairs with other officials. Xue Yuanyin and Gao Songlin were both juniors, so naturally it was not their turn to go to the private room upstairs, so they sat together in the lobby.
During this time, she glanced at the Zhang family's table again and couldn't help but say to Gao Songlin, "Do you think Zhang Jingxuan has a hidden illness? It takes so long to go to the palace, and he always likes to go there all the way. I didn't realize he had so many problems before?"
Gao Songlin casually said, "That time I ran into him and the guard commander Qin Fang going to the imperial chambers together. After I recovered, they didn't come out. It was as if they were staying in the imperial chambers."
Xue Yuanyin was eating lotus root meat when she suddenly stopped eating and looked up. "What did you say they were doing in the guest room?"
Gao Songlin swallowed the beef with difficulty, his face pale. "Xue Ling, please don't ask these questions during dinner. How would I know what they are doing in the toilet? Maybe they are taking a dump together?"
Xue Yuanyin didn't answer.
Sharing a bowel movement with someone else was out of the question. Judging from his behavior as a child, it was impossible for him to share a bowel movement with someone else even if he was pooping in his pants.
So why did Zhang Jingxuan go to the palace without telling anyone?
No, to put it another way, what does he want to talk about when he always chooses to avoid being seen?
Gao Songlin saw that the person opposite him was still in a daze, so he poked him with the tip of his chopsticks and said, "What are you thinking about? Eat your meal."
Xue Yuanyin came back to her senses and suddenly asked, "You said that Zhang Jingxuan was fighting for the spot to accompany the emperor. Was he really just asking for a place to accompany the emperor?"
Gao Songlin was stunned: "What did you say?"
"I don't want to eat anymore. I'm going back to the carriage." Xue Yuanyin put down his chopsticks and hurried back to the carriage.
Everyone was at the post station, and there were few people where the carriage was parked. She pulled up the curtains, rummaged through her bag, and finally found a map that she had casually stuffed in before leaving. She followed the route and looked at it carefully along the way.
How could she forget that when the exam was about to start, everyone was reviewing their lessons, but he was the only one who went to the library to look up relevant books about the places he passed by on the way to the palace.
Could it be that... Zhang Jingxuan's real destination wasn't Ximing Garden?!
So where is he going?
-
After everyone had packed up and set off again, Xue Yuanyin rolled up the map and stuffed it into her arms.
It was hard to tell from the map, and the driver said the original road was rugged and difficult to travel, so they were going a little further west, so the route was not the route they usually took in previous years.
Something flashed through Xue Yuanyin's mind. He sat quietly in the carriage for a moment, picked up the "Book of Changes", got off the carriage, and knocked on the window frame of the Zhang family's carriage.
Zhang Jingxuan lifted the carriage curtain, a hint of surprise flashing across his eyes: "How did Miss Xue find the time to come?"
"I just remembered how I solved that question from the invigilation exam. I have to challenge you to a duel!" Xue Yuanyin snorted, a hint of pride in her eyes. "I'm sure you'll be impressed!"
She forced her way onto the carriage and pulled Zhang Jingxuan to discuss the balance of the Eight Trigrams in the Book of Changes. She stayed there for a long time on the pretext of something, but gained nothing. In the end, there was really nothing to say, so Zhang Jingxuan ran out of patience and wanted to kick her out.
Xue Yuanyin simply used Gao Songlin's words to mock him: "Are you feeling weak? Are you going to the toilet again?"
Zhang Jingxuan's expression remained unchanged as he sarcastically retorted, "I've only been to the palace a few times. People have to eat, drink, defecate, and urinate. I'm not some saint living in a fairy palace."
Xue Yuanyin was finally invited back by his flawless speech.
She returned to the carriage expressionlessly, thinking that she had to find another way.
…
Another day passed in the blink of an eye, and there were only two days left to reach Fangzhou.
During this time, Xue Yuanyin was called into the Xue family carriage by her father and questioned privately, but she was unhappy with this angle of interrogation and did not tell him her findings.
Perhaps it was her attitude recently that made Xue Chang feel uneasy, so he sternly told her not to slack off and not to have any other thoughts.
Xue Yuanyin found it absurd. How could she betray His Royal Highness Prince Yu? She was really worrying too much.
But her father's words frightened her and always made her break out in a cold sweat. She simply ignored them.
At noon, Xue Yuanyin finally found another opportunity and squeezed into Zhang Jingxuan's carriage.
She was holding the Book of Changes in her hand and had deliberately found an excuse to come here, but she didn't expect to see a row of people crowded together inside the carriage as soon as she got on.
Hearing the noise behind them, the people in front looked over.
Xue Yuanyin was slightly startled, and nodded politely to Chen Su and Zhang Zimo, then turned to the other two and said, "Su Mian, Guan Bai, why are you two here?"
Su Mian said, "I'm going to get the fragments of ancient books for Zhang Jingxuan on behalf of Dr. Jiang. I'll be heading back soon."
Guan Bai was with him and followed Su Mian out of the carriage.
Before leaving, Su Mian's eyes swept over Xue Yuanyin and Zhang Jingxuan, and he winked desperately at his revolutionary friend Zhang Zimo, suppressing the raging fire of gossip while hinting at something.
Zhang Zimo: "..."
He turned his head and pretended not to see.
Xue Yuanyin's eyes swept across the cover of Zhang Jingxuan's ancient book, and vaguely saw the words "state" and "road". Before she could take a closer look, Zhang Jingxuan raised his sleeves and put the ancient book away.
He raised his eyes, his gentle eyes were dull, and he looked at her with insight, and said meaningfully:
"What's Miss Xue doing here again? Is there another problem you don't know how to solve?"
The author has something to say:
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I'll update it every other day, next Tuesday (woohoo, to catch up on the word count for the charts TvT)
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