Chapter 97 Chapter 97 [End of Text] Outside the window...
The next day, at the hour of Si, the sky was clear and the sun was high in the sky.
Xue Yuanyin opened his eyes sleepily, but what he saw was the familiar yet unfamiliar dormitory roof. Looking around, he saw an antique display cabinet with bamboo carvings and a burnt-out candle on the ground. Next to it was a screen with a painting of a unicorn beast on it, and next to it was a red sandalwood desk with writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone on it.
It was already bright, and sunlight streamed in through a crack in a bamboo-patterned window, casting a slanting shadow on the white jade paperweight on the desk. Beneath the paperweight lay what seemed to be some kind of deed, with words like "separate residence" and "separate residence" written on it.
A breeze blew in from the narrow gap in the hanging window, blowing the deed paper over with a rustling sound.
All this reminded her that this was not her boudoir.
Xue Yuanyin blinked slowly, recognizing that this was Zhang Jingxuan's Zhanyun Courtyard, and slowly remembered that she and he were married.
She immediately felt a throbbing pain all over her body, her thighs and waist barely able to lift. This was the end of excessive pleasure; she feared she would be lazing around in bed today.
Last night was their wedding night, and it was all Zhang Jingxuan's fault for not having enough self-control.
Wait, Zhang Jingxuan?!
Xue Yuanyin suddenly woke up and turned her head to look to her side. Zhang Jingxuan, who was supposed to sleep on the outside, had somehow moved to the inside and was lying flat on a silk pillow. He was sleeping in a straight position, with a handsome face, closed eyelashes, and breathing long and evenly.
For some reason, he was covered with a new quilt, not the mandarin duck quilt from last night. Xue Yuanyin suddenly thought of something and glanced at herself. The mandarin duck quilt was tightly held in her arms, with most of it falling to the ground. Only a small part covered her body, revealing one of her legs that was sticking out at an angle.
There is a red rope tied around the ankle with a silver bell strung on it.
Xue Yuanyin: “…”
While Zhang Jingxuan was still asleep, she felt a little guilty and wanted to straighten the quilt. As soon as she grabbed the quilt, she saw the scene under the quilt, and her movements paused, and she froze slightly.
She was completely naked, not wearing a single piece of clothing! Not even a bra!
That's fine, but what about the mottled red pinch marks all over her body? Especially on her thighs and waist, it was simply unbearable to look at.
Xue Yuanyin's face flushed red, and she quickly covered herself with the quilt. Before she could calm down, an arm reached out from the side, grabbed the quilt in front of her, and hugged her and the quilt into his arms.
"When did you wake up?"
He lowered his head and placed it behind her head, his voice slightly hoarse.
"Just woke up."
Xue Yuanyin was inexplicably nervous, or perhaps uncomfortable. How could they have become so intimate? She was momentarily unaccustomed to it. She hugged the quilt and turned around, looking at Zhang Jingxuan's slowly opening eyes, and said, "Why am I sleeping on the outside?"
According to Zhang Jingxuan's personality and her remaining memory of the intense situation last night, she should sleep on the inside.
"What do you think?"
Zhang Jingxuan rubbed his forehead, his expression still drowsy, and said, "Don't you know how restless you were when you slept? You almost kicked me off the bed in the middle of the night, and you wouldn't let go of the quilt."
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been squeezed in with no place to sleep in the middle of the night, and forced to put on his pajamas in the dark of the night and dig out a new quilt from the cabinet to cover himself with.
Xue Yuanyin knew, but she was used to sleeping alone, so she didn't expect him to be so dishonest. She said "oh" with a guilty conscience and asked, "You're not cold, are you?"
But she didn't really care. She asked this question mainly to help herself out of the situation. After saying this, she hugged the mandarin duck quilt in her arms tighter.
Zhang Jingxuan saw through her thoughts at a glance and said lazily, "Don't cover it up. Who cleaned and tidied you up last night? Have you forgotten?"
Xue Yuanyin was frozen for a moment.
No wonder she had no clothes on, it turned out she had nothing on in the first place!
"Besides..." Zhang Jingxuan leaned closer, his palm sliding into the mandarin duck quilt covering her, grabbing her hand and pulling it towards his own, whispering, "I saw it all last night."
Xue Yuanyin was caught off guard by his actions. When she touched something, she shuddered and her face flushed again.
"You, why are you so early in the morning..."
"Yeah, that's what happens in the morning."
As Zhang Jingxuan spoke, he lifted the mandarin duck quilt and grabbed her thighs. Xue Yuanyin felt weak all over and tried to dodge, but she was no match for a well-rested man. In just a few breaths, he hugged her and pulled her over, holding her up with his arms and pressing her down.
Xue Yuanyin suddenly remembered something, raised her hand and pushed his chest, saying urgently:
"Wait! We haven't even had tea with your father and mother yet!"
"What time is it?" Zhang Jingxuan took out a sheep sausage casing and put it on while taking a moment to reply, "We woke up too late, and Father had already gone to court. Mother sent someone over at noon to say that we didn't need to go in the morning, and that we could have dinner together in the front hall. Then we'll serve tea and introduce you to the other elders of the clan."
Xue Yuanyin's face flushed again. Madam Zhang must have guessed that she and Zhang Jingxuan couldn't get up in the morning. Her soothing attitude made her feel ashamed.
She angrily wanted to kick him with her feet, but he trapped her on both sides. She had to settle for the next best thing and scratched him with her nails:
"It's all your fault that I'm so embarrassed."
"It's not embarrassing. I told my mother at noon that it was me who couldn't get up. If you want to blame it, blame me."
Zhang Jingxuan leaned forward slightly, straightening his back as he said absentmindedly, "Besides, you often came to the Zhang residence when you were a child. My mother loved you so much, she couldn't be more happy."
Xue Yuanyin felt that the hot ground had no obstruction, and finally could not bear it any longer. She struggled to raise her leg to kick him, but Zhang Jingxuan blocked it with his bent legs.
He gripped her tightly, forcing her to grab the quilt beneath her. The remaining syllables were intermittent, ringing together with the ankle bells, lingering for a long time.
The mandarin duck brocade quilt rolled over, and the sun illuminated the room, bright and clear.
…
The clepsydra was ticking away, and only the sound of a bell could be heard in the dormitory.
When Zhang Jingxuan was about to stand up and let her go, Xue Yuanyin suddenly thought of the contents of Ning Yan's album and said without thinking:
"Why don't other people's penises look like yours? The length and shape are all different..."
Zhang Jingxuan was about to stand up when he suddenly stopped, then he put it back down and asked directly, "Others? Who else have you seen?"
Xue Yuanyin was stunned, her heart skipping a beat. It was over, she had let the cat out of the bag!
The fire avoidance maps sold in the market now are all half-covered. The one Princess Ning Yan has is a banned version, so logically she should not be able to see such a lifelike picture album.
Her eyes wandered, and before she could think of an excuse, Zhang Jingxuan had already quickly grabbed her. He pinched her chin and straightened it, forcing her to look directly at him, not giving her time to think. His tone seemed extremely calm, but he could not hide his displeasure:
"You know the shapes and sizes of other people? Whose have you seen?"
Seeing that he was about to get angry, Xue Yuanyin gritted her teeth and explained, "Don't overthink it! I've never seen anyone like that! I've only seen them in picture albums, and I didn't look at them much...really!"
Unfortunately, Zhang Jingxuan no longer listened to her. He threw away the sheep casing, put on another one, and said calmly:
"Okay, I have no objection. I just suddenly don't want to let you go."
Xue Yuanyin's waist was aching so much that she refused to agree. She said hurriedly, "We clearly agreed to just do it once!"
Zhang Jingxuan asked, "Who told you that?"
Xue Yuanyin's cheeks flushed red, not knowing whether it was out of anger or shame: "You!"
She stubbornly refused to obey, raised her hands to block him, tried to roll over, and said, "I want to be on top!"
Zhang Jingxuan pushed her back, sneered, and said, "Can you still do it? Lie still and don't let me move. I'll be gentle, and you just enjoy it."
After that, he coaxed in a low voice: "Wait until you practice more in the future, and then we can discuss whether you will be promoted or not."
Xue Yuanyin felt him leaning over and taking her in again, and weakness and pleasure surged up at the same time. She moaned softly, and finally closed her eyes, allowing herself to fall.
-
As a family of aristocracy in the capital for a hundred years, the Zhang family has a noble tradition, and their mansion is naturally elegant and graceful.
In addition to the first and second houses, there are some other elders in the clan who are highly respected and living in retirement, but they do not live together. Instead, a moon gate or alley is opened between each house to connect them. The whole house is located in the same block of the capital and is called Zhang Mansion.
The Zhang Mansion is so large that there are up to a hundred servants. The eldest house is located in the part of the Zhang Mansion closest to the imperial palace. Apart from the servants, the masters are Old Master Zhang, Zhang Chengli, Madam Zhang and Zhang Jingxuan.
Zhang Chengli did not take a concubine, not even a maid, so the eldest son's house was the quietest in the Zhang family.
In the main courtyard of the eldest house, Madam Zhang and Zhang Chengli were chatting at the eight-immortals table in the main hall.
The sun was high in the sky, and it was almost noon when the lunch was served one by one. It was very rich. Zhang Chengli came back from court and sat next to Mrs. Zhang. Seeing this, he asked:
"Didn't I already say that I wouldn't wait for them?"
Madam Zhang dismissed the servants, set out the dishes and chopsticks, and said sadly:
"Yes, we have delivered it. Aren't we afraid they will show up unexpectedly? You know Jingxuan's Zhanyun Courtyard. No one can enter without permission. There isn't even a servant who can scout ahead and pass on the message."
Zhang Chengli didn't care. He picked up a piece of braised pork with chopsticks and placed it on Mrs. Zhang's plate. He said casually, "Why are you asking about this? They just got married, so it's normal for them to be delayed for a while."
Even Zhang Jingxuan didn't know that the wedding tea ceremony was always postponed. It has been going on for three generations and has almost become a tradition of the Zhang family.
Madam Zhang showed a look of nostalgia and said, "Don't you miss her? Otherwise, why would I be so anxious to wait?"
After she finished speaking, she thought of something and asked Zhang Chengli: "Did Jing Xuan give the old man the things he asked for?"
Zhang Chengli nodded. "It's a division of the mansion, but not of the family. The deed was given to him today at noon. The mansion is not far from here, across the Xiangchun Alley, and connected to his other courtyard."
Madam Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That house is in a great location. It's perfect as a tea gift."
At first, when Zhang Jingxuan went to the elders of the clan the day before his wedding and said that he wanted to divide the house but not the family, no one could react to why he did this. But Mrs. Zhang thought that the girl of the Xue family had been trained as the pillar of the family from beginning to end. If she married into another family as a daughter-in-law, he was always afraid of letting her down.
The mansion is divided but the family is not. Although it is not as crowded and lively as the Zhang family mansion, it is also quiet and worry-free. It is a more comprehensive and appropriate solution.
The elders in the clan did not make things difficult for him, but they put forward a condition - he could not neglect his responsibilities as the eldest grandson of the Zhang family, and he had to come back to reunite with the family during the holidays. He felt discouraged if he could not separate from the family.
As early as when Zhang Jingxuan returned to Beijing, his name had been recorded again in the family tree, so he could not shirk his responsibility.
Zhang Jingxuan naturally agreed to all of these.
The process of dividing the house without splitting the family went very quickly. It took only one night, and by noon the next day, the deed was complete. After handing it over to him, they could separate and live on their own at any time, or choose to come back.
After taking a bite of the braised pork, Madam Zhang suddenly thought of something and blushed slightly as she asked Zhang Chengli beside her:
"Did our wedding night last this long?"
Zhang Chengli stuffed another piece of braised pork into her hand without changing his expression and said, "Are you hungry? Eat more."
The past is too painful to recall. This kind of private talk must not be heard by the younger generation outside, so let's talk about it in private tonight.
-
The territory of Beiguan is vast and boundless, with high skies and far-reaching lands. Most people consider themselves tribes. Although there are no major wars, there are constant small-scale wars. Being stationed here is very unremarkable and can be considered a tough job.
Although Xue Chang was sent here as a serious criminal of the court, Xue Chang himself knew very well the purpose of the court sending him here. It was just to have him guard the North Gate and stop the foreign enemies who liked to harass him.
Xue Chang wasn't someone who couldn't stand losing. Losing was losing. His current situation was his own fault, and he had no complaints. If he were given another chance, he would still choose his original path.
Now that he had no possibility of making a comeback, he felt more comfortable staying in the frontier to fight than in the capital. When there were foreign enemies invading, he would draw his sword and kill them. When there were no foreign enemies, he would eat meat and drink wine with those men, as if he had returned to the days before he was granted the title of nobility.
The only difference is that the ambition has no longer been rekindled.
Today, foreign enemies invaded again from morning to night, without getting tired of it. Xue Chang picked up his sword, mounted his horse, and led his men to the pass to meet the enemy. The enemy's heads all rolled to the ground under his sword, and their blood splattered on the land of the northern border.
He put away his sword and rode back to the tent. The soldier who brought the news came hurriedly and said, "Someone's here at the post station! They say there's a letter for you!"
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang dismounted, walked through the tent to the door, and took the letter from the post station official, which was signed from the capital.
He quickly opened it and read it quickly.
It was a letter from his daughter, whom he had rarely disciplined before. The envelope was red with the word "Xi" printed on it. The content was very simple. She had a lover and decided to marry him. He knew her fiancé, who was the eldest grandson of the Zhang family.
Knowing that he could not return to Beijing, she did not invite him. She just said that they were father and daughter after all, and she wanted to tell him something and hoped to get his blessing.
Xue Chang showed no expression after reading the letter.
He actually didn't have any deep feelings for his daughter. The death of his son caught him off guard, so when he saw that his daughter was still alive, he made the most advantageous choice at the first opportunity.
But to be honest, she surprised him. She was talented in literature, beautiful in martial arts, passionate, soft-hearted and obedient. In some ways, she was no worse than the eldest son.
Because he felt surprised, Xue Chang gradually placed a bet on her and poured more and more effort into her.
But she disappointed him in the end. Her mind was full of love, and she even colluded with the enemy and forgot about the great cause of His Royal Highness the Prince of Yu.
Even though he abandoned her during the palace coup, wasn't that the most advantageous choice?
What's more, he already knew that the eldest grandson of the Zhang family had feelings for his daughter and would not ignore her, so her life would not be in danger.
Xue Chang doesn't think he did anything wrong, even to this day.
She did not understand his painstaking efforts, nor did he recognize her unwavering determination in love. Before he left, he asked her to give birth to a child with the surname Xue to carry on the Xue family line and produce descendants, waiting for the opportunity for the Xue family to regain its footing in the capital, but she still refused to agree.
Xue Chang originally thought that the relationship between him and his daughter could only go this far, but when he saw the letter, he inexplicably thought of his daughter's appearance when she was born.
At that time, his wife was still alive. The baby was wrinkled in her arms, with red skin and wrinkles. It was a tiny ball, and when it cried, it was earth-shaking and full of energy, not at all like the baby-voiced girls of other families.
What was even more unexpected was that her love for her father even surpassed her mother's. She stuck to him all day long and asked him to teach her how to use a spear, saying that she wanted to beat her brother in the future.
Xue Chang clutched the letter, lost in thought for a moment. What was he thinking at the time? It had been so many years, and he no longer remembered his specific thoughts, but he clearly remembered the relaxed and happy mood he felt during that time.
When she was little, he had indeed pampered her for a while. Otherwise, his eldest son wouldn't have been jealous so often, and his daughter wouldn't have grown up to be so cheerful and bright.
So, when did it change?
He couldn't think of an answer to this question.
Xue Chang lowered his head to look at the letter, which was written by her own hand. The handwriting was light and graceful, and it was not difficult to tell that she was in a good mood about getting married at that time.
What would he have said before? He would probably have told her not to forget her original intention. Her last name was Xue, and she couldn't forget her roots.
Did he really want to reply like this?
Xue Chang returned to the tent with the letter, his face solemn and cold, showing no other emotions. He sat down at the wooden table, unfolded the letter, picked up a slightly rough ink pen, pondered for a moment, and finally wrote slowly:
The newlyweds are in good health, and they have a happy marriage and a long life together.
After a pause, he added at the end: Father Xue Changliu.
Xue Chang didn't like the boy from the Zhang family. He was too sharp, too smart, and had superior brains and methods.
During the time he and Prince Yu lay dormant, he had secretly orchestrated numerous subtle moves and kept many back-up plans. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been tracked down by the new emperor in just a year or two. If it weren't for that person, a mere mediocre crown prince wouldn't have been forced to this point.
But when it comes to entrusting one's life to someone, even Xue Chang has to admit that the man is a rare and good man.
Xue Chang put down his pen, waited for the ink to dry, folded the letter, and walked out with his hands behind his back.
The post station clerk was still waiting up ahead. When he saw Xue Chang approaching, he walked up to him and asked, "Should the Marquis' reply be sent back to the capital?"
Although the emperor stripped him of his title, his name, Marquis of Qing'an, was still well-known, and the officers and soldiers of the northern border still liked to call him Marquis. Xue Chang twirled the letter behind him with his fingertips, paused for a few seconds, and said:
"How is she doing in the capital?"
The post station clerk knew who the Marquis of Qing'an was asking about and replied, "Dr. Xue is getting married soon. I hear he's quite popular and wants to invite all his friends to his wedding banquet. He must be doing well."
Marquis Qing'an asked, "Dr. Xue?"
The clerk nodded and said, "Yes! Jiang Jijiu has established a women's class in the Imperial College and invited Miss Xue to be her female teacher. Sooner or later, she will become a doctor of the Imperial College."
Marquis Qing'an asked, "Did she rely on her own abilities? Or did she rely on the Zhang family?"
The clerk said, "Of course it's Miss Xue's own ability! Miss Xue is truly remarkable, a true heroine. It's said that even the Princess herself will attend the banquet to celebrate her wedding. Your Majesty probably doesn't know about this yet."
Xue Chang snorted lightly, but said nothing. He handed over the other sheathed sword he wore at his waist, along with the letter, and said:
"Send a gift for me, wishing her a happy marriage and a harmonious and prosperous life. Also, pass on a message for me: if you have time in the future..."
After a pause, his throat slid open and he said slowly:
"Have her bring the Zhang family member to visit me in Northern Xinjiang. I will prepare the best tea for them."
Prepare some tea and listen to the boy shout, "Father-in-law."
-
The Imperial College was solemn and dignified, quiet and peaceful, with the sound of reading aloud. The girls' school was being prepared and was about to be established, ready to begin classes.
Jiang Jijiu held a lottery awarding ceremony in front of Jixian Gate today. After the ceremony, Jiang Jijiu led the girls aged thirteen or fourteen to the girls' class. There were about twenty of them. They were young and naive, and well-behaved. But after all, they were young, and their expressions could not hide their curiosity and eagerness to try.
Seeing this, Jiang Jijiu couldn't help but laugh and said:
"Currently, I will be in charge of your classes, but from now on, it will mainly be Instructor Xue. You should have heard of her name. When you officially enroll, she will be your female teacher."
The little girls were all very obedient, and since a female teacher was naturally more appropriate than a male one, they all agreed.
Someone asked curiously, "How is Teacher Xue? Can he teach us? Is he strict?"
Dr. Jiang did not answer, but said: "You will know when you meet her."
-
In the capital, a new mansion is being built.
The street located diagonally opposite Zhang Mansion is undoubtedly in an excellent location, adjacent to the imperial city, at the feet of the emperor. There is a huge locust tree in it. In autumn, it is lush and flourishing for ten miles away, with golden petals falling to the ground.
The name of the street is also very nice, it is called "Yunzhong Road".
The mansion at the edge of Yunzhong Road has fewer pedestrians and is relatively quiet. It used to be an empty house, but now it has been renovated intensively. It will be combined with the villa in the next alley to serve as a new home for the eldest grandson of the current Zhang family.
The plaque has also been inscribed. Lord Zhang is now a Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue, so the name of his residence is "Langzhong of the Ministry of Revenue". It will be changed after his official rank is promoted in the future.
The foreman stood in front of the house on Yunzhong Road, a sweat towel draped around his neck, and shouted to the several craftsmen in the yard:
"Remove these withered grass, these tiles, and the mottled mud walls and replace them all with new ones! Everyone, be smart, this is the nobleman's new house! Repair this house, and you will have no worries about food and drink for ten years! Listen carefully, I'll say it again..."
The workers below responded one after another. The master paid them generous wages, so they naturally worked hard.
Within a month, the new house will be completed and ready for occupancy.
-
In Zhang's mansion, the sun was shining brightly and the servants were cleaning the courtyard in an orderly manner, except for one place. There had been no movement since morning until now, and the servants did not dare to enter without permission.
Zhanyun Courtyard was peaceful and quiet, with only the rustling sound of the bamboo forest. In the bedroom, Xue Yuanyin slowly opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling in a daze.
Why did she fall asleep again?
What time is it now?
Xue Yuanyin turned her head to look at the clepsydra, her eyes suddenly widening. It was almost noon! All her sleepiness disappeared immediately, and she struggled to get up from the couch.
However, an arm reached out from the side and pulled her back into his arms.
Xue Yuanyin tugged at the quilt, but it didn't budge. She looked up at his jaw and struggled to say:
"Zhang Jingxuan, it's already noon! Look how bright the sun is outside! If I don't get up now, the servants in the entire Zhang Mansion will laugh at me! Besides, I have to go to the women's class of the Imperial College to meet with Jiang Jijiu..."
She talked a lot, in short, there were a lot of things that needed her to do, otherwise without her, the capital would be unable to move.
Zhang Jingxuan hugged her from behind, stretched out a hand to press her head back into his arms, closed his eyes slightly, and said softly:
"Sleep a little longer."
"etc!"
Xue Yuanyin wanted to struggle again, but he held her so tightly that she couldn't move at all. After trying a few times, she was forced to give up the idea of getting up and said, "Wait a minute, I'll put up a wooden sculpture."
After saying this, she stretched out her arm, fumbled around on the bedside table for a while, and took out a wooden sculpture of a civet cat from her bag and placed it on the windowsill, next to another wooden sculpture.
Bright sunlight filtered in through the window. The raccoon cat tilted its head slightly and touched the other's face with its side face in the sunlight.
Xue Yuanyin retracted her arms and slowly closed her eyes on his chest. Her black hair spread out on the silk pillow, tangling messily with his black hair, looking sad and lingering.
After a while, she was not willing to give up and murmured:
"Look at the time, and you still want to drag me to sleep in. I'll ask Aunt Zhang to scold you later."
Zhang Jingxuan closed his eyes and hummed, then said, "It's time to change your words."
Xue Yuanyin hummed softly and mumbled to herself, but her whole body felt limp. She was indeed very tired. She nodded her head and fell asleep again in a short while.
When she stopped moving, Zhang Jingxuan slowly opened his eyes and stared intently at her sleeping face in his arms.
When she was a child, she loved to take a nap on his bed, take a nap and then return to the Xue Mansion refreshed, leaving the brocade quilt folded crookedly on the bed.
After several years, she unexpectedly returned to his bed again, snuggling up with him under the eaves to take a nap every day.
At this time, the sky was clear, the clouds were rolling, the birds were singing, and the sky was bright.
The sun is shining, the time is perfect. All who come and go are guests, and I am alone enough.
If you don't walk with me, the world will be as dark as ever.
When I hold your hand, magpies will come and step on the branches.
Look, it’s sunny outside the window.
—End of Text—
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The author has something to say: The main text ends here. I will take a two-day break and update the extra chapters, still at 15:00 in the afternoon.
Maybe write some fancy plays or something.
Thank you for your company, this chapter will drop a red envelope~[kiss][kiss]
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