Chapter 018

That day, after Zhan Shaoying came back from Changchun Temple, he went straight to Zhang's yard. It was the first time in his life that he felt so defeated.

Is he so unpopular?

Zhan Shaoying came back in a mournful voice.

Zhang saw that her son looked like he was out of his mind. She first had someone serve him tea, then reached out and gently touched his forehead: "What's wrong? Are you sick? The temperature has been changing recently, so remember to put on more clothes."

As she spoke, a cold light flashed in Zhang's eyes: "Could it be that Mo Ju didn't serve you wholeheartedly?"

After the old Duke Anguo dismissed Zhan Shaoying's concubine, Zhang had assigned a maid from her own side to take care of Zhan Shaoying's daily life. When she saw her son's pale face, she immediately thought that the maid was not serving him well. As long as Zhan Shaoying said yes, Zhang planned to send Mo Ju away immediately.

Zhan Shaoying said unhappily: "No, it has nothing to do with Mo Ju."

He raised his head and silently glanced at the people around Zhang. Zhang understood and winked, asking Yingchun beside her to send some little maids away.

"Did your fourth uncle give you a cold shoulder when you went to Changchun Temple today?" Zhang's face turned unfriendly when she mentioned Zhan Yue. She almost never considered that the reason why Zhan Shaoying looked so shabby was that he was not favored by the eldest princess.

In Zhang's eyes, her son was taught by a famous teacher and was handsome. He was perfect and definitely worthy of the eldest princess. To be honest, although the eldest princess was a legitimate daughter, her brother could not ascend the throne, and the title of the eldest legitimate princess only sounded more noble.

But her son is different. Zhan Shaoying will definitely take the title of Duke An in the future. It is not certain who will marry whom between Zhan Shaoying and Jiashan.

Zhan Shaoying said in a muffled voice: "No."

He was silent for a moment, then suddenly looked at Zhang and asked softly, "Mother, will I be able to marry the eldest princess in the future?"

Zhang was stunned for a moment, and looked at Yingchun, who was standing beside her. Zhang smiled calmly and said, "Why are you suddenly saying such a stupid thing?"

Zhan Shaoying thought of Jiashan's emotionless eyes, and felt an infinite sadness in his heart. He smiled bitterly and said, "My son went to Changchun Temple today and met with a setback in front of the princess."

"She doesn't seem to like me." Zhan Shaoying murmured.

When Zhan Shaoying was born, Madam Wen had already taken Zhan Yue to be adopted, so he grew up with his mother and was always willing to listen to Zhang. He was also willing to talk to his mother about any problems he encountered.

Now that he found out that Jiashan had a bad impression of him, he felt sad, and the first person he thought of was Zhang.

Seeing Zhan Shaoying hanging his head and looking depressed, Zhang couldn't help but feel uncomfortable. She touched Zhan Shaoying's head and comforted him, "Brother Ying, you're overthinking."

"You are a handsome young man. The princess will definitely like you." Zhang said with a smile.

Zhan Shaoying's mood did not improve much because of this sentence. He looked at Zhang with some uneasiness, with a strong look in his eyes: "Mother, do you think that Fourth Uncle is better than me?"

Zhang raised her chin slightly and whispered, "You are my child. In my heart, I naturally think you are the best. Even if your fourth uncle is now in a higher position than you, so what? The most taboo in the world is not to despise the poor young. How do you know that our Ying'er will not be as good as him in the future?"

Zhan Shaoying smiled dryly, and said in a trance, "But the eldest princess treats Fourth Uncle more intimately than she treats me."

"No matter what, I am now definitely not as good as Fourth Uncle." Zhan Shaoying's temperament is gentle, which is unlike Zhang. He held the cup of tea in both hands, and his mind was restless.

When Zhang heard this, she immediately frowned.

She said confidently, "Shut up. How can you be so self-deprecating? I didn't give birth to you for ten months just so you can tell me, 'You are not as good as your fourth uncle.'"

Zhang had only one son, Zhan Shaoying, and she had spoiled him since he was young. Her desire for her son to become a successful person was naturally stronger than that of most people.

Hearing him say this, Zhang said angrily: "You should work hard in the Tongzhengsi, and wait until your fourth uncle is old and you are still young and strong. Then, you can bring up today's incident again and make him angry."

Zhan Shaoying still couldn't muster up any energy.

Zhang looked helpless and angry. She warned, "You haven't eaten yet since you came back. I asked Mo Ju to save some food for you. Go and have something to eat. And be more relaxed. Your sister will be coming home tomorrow. You are the eldest brother after all. Don't make a fool of yourself in front of your aunt."

Zhan Shaoying nodded, sat there blankly for a while, then turned around and went back to his own courtyard.

After Zhan Shaoying left, Zhang's eyes drifted in the air for a long time. After a while, she came back to her senses and said to Yingchun, "I heard a few days ago that the old lady was planning to arrange a marriage for the fourth master. Why hasn't she made any moves recently?"

Yingchun guessed, "I will go and find out tomorrow."

"But..." Yingchun paused for a moment, and whispered, "Since the incident with Aunt Fu, the people around the old lady have been very cautious about us. I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

Zhang glanced at her coldly: "If it were easy, what would I want you to do?"

Yingchun lowered her head, lowered her eyebrows and replied submissively, "Yes."

Zhang's eyes narrowed slightly. Yingchun's words "Aunt Fu" just now still caused Zhang's chest to rise and fall slightly.

Her face turned red. Some things that she was extremely reluctant to recall still flooded into her mind again along with her endless train of thought.

When Zhang first married into the Anguogong Mansion, Zhan Yue was only three years old. He was the only son of Anguogong and Fu Shiyu, and was considered a late-born son, thirteen years younger than Zhan Tai.

Fu Shiyu married into the Duke's Mansion, although as a concubine, she was born in a marquis's mansion and had been engaged to the Duke of An since childhood.

Old Madam Wen already felt guilty towards the Fu family because of the broken marriage, so after Fu Shiyu entered the mansion, the old madam had always taken good care of her and Zhan Yue.

When Zhan Yue was four years old, Fu Shiyu's health was already very bad. There were too many dirty things in this mansion, and Mrs. Wen was afraid that Zhan Yue, who was four years old, would not survive, so she took Zhan Yue to her husband to raise him when Fu Shiyu was ill.

At that time, Zhang's mother-in-law, Lady Jia, the principal wife of Duke Anguo, was still alive. Zhang knew that Lady Jia and Fu Shiyu did not get along, and as a daughter-in-law, she should naturally share the same hatred with her mother-in-law.

One year after getting married, Zhang got married, but Fu Shiyu's health was already deteriorating.

On a snowy night three months after Zhang became pregnant, Fu Shiyu came to the end of his life. Duke Anguo had gone on a business trip and had not yet returned home, and the affairs of the Duke Anguo's mansion were almost entirely in the hands of Jia and Zhang.

Jia went into the house to see Fu Shiyu, and Zhang also got the news and came over. Zhang was accompanied by Mother Li, whom she brought from her natal home.

Zhang carefully held her belly while asking Mother Li, "Does Fourth Master know about this?"

Mother Li looked around and said softly, "The fourth master is still young. I see that Madam doesn't seem to plan to let him know."

Zhang was startled. She looked at Mother Li, and Mother Li shook her head gently, signaling her not to say anything.

After all, Zhang was a newly married daughter-in-law. Although she knew that Jia and Aunt Fu were not getting along, she never thought that her mother-in-law would not even intend to let Fu Shiyu and Zhan Yue see each other for the last time.

Madam Li said in a low voice, "Grandma, you need to clarify your identity. The Fourth Master is a concubine's son. Even if he has the support of the old lady, he is not from the same line as us. Naturally, it is up to you to decide what the Madam says."

"If the old lady and the Duke ask about it, you can also push it onto Madam. Besides, you are pregnant now." Mother Li said.

Zhang was still young at that time and had no definite idea in her mind. She also always trusted Mother Li. After hearing what she said, she nodded in confusion.

She was pregnant, Fu Shiyu was seriously ill, she should not stay for long, she just wanted to take a look and leave. Unexpectedly, when she was leaving the room, she ran into Zhan Yue who was running towards her.

Zhan Yue was wearing a thick cotton coat. Compared with other boys of the same age, he was taller. He seemed to be running in a hurry, still panting.

When he saw Zhang and Mother Li, Zhan Yue called them "Sister-in-law".

"Has Auntie's condition worsened?" Zhan Yue, who was four years old, was not as quiet as he would be when he grew up. He was a polite child and even smiled at Zhang and Madam Li. "Can I go in to see her?"

Zhang and Li's mother looked at each other. Li's mother took two steps forward and grabbed Xiao Zhanyue's arm tightly. "Fourth Master, you are too worried. Aunt Fu is fine. It's dark now. Fourth Master ran over here. Does the old lady know? If she can't see you when she gets up at night, the old lady will be worried."

The night was dark, and the little Zhan Yue's face was white, with his pupils particularly bright. He tilted his head, glanced at Mama Li holding his hand, smiled carefully at Zhang, and repeated, "Sister-in-law, can I go in to see Auntie?"

Zhang said nothing, only Madam Li said, "Why didn't the Fourth Master listen to my advice? I will take you to the old lady."

Xiao Zhanyue pursed his lips, his eyes widened, staring straight at Zhang, he asked stubbornly: "Sister-in-law, are you not letting me in?"

Zhang finally spoke. She said softly, "What are you talking about, Fourth Brother? I'm just worried that Aunt Fu might pass on her illness to you."

"I'm not afraid." Xiao Zhanyue's eyes were like a pool of stagnant water with no bottom to be seen. He said, "I want to go in and see her."

Xiao Zhanyue tried to break free from Mother Li's grip, but every time he moved, Mother Li moved even more violently.

She held onto Xiao Zhanyue's arms tightly with both hands, and said with a fake smile, "Don't be stubborn, Fourth Master. I'll take you back to the old lady. Let's not let her worry."

Zhan Yue raised his eyes, which were filled with red. Although he was small, he had a very clear mind and had already figured out that Zhang and Mama Li were deliberately not letting him in.

Just as Mother Li tried to hold him up horizontally by her waist, Zhan Yue suddenly lowered his head and bit the base of Mother Li's right hand hard.

Only he himself knows how much effort he put in.

Mother Li screamed in pain, and Zhang was also frightened by the blood on Zhan Yue's lips. She no longer cared about Fu Shiyu's affairs, and hurriedly called for the maid to come.

By the time the maid arrived, Zhan Yue had already let go. His mouth was full of blood, and his white teeth were full of the smell of blood.

Mother Li's right hand was almost useless, and the veins at the base of her palm were exposed due to being bitten.

At the same time, the news of Fu Shiyu's death came from the inner room. Just a moment ago, Fu Shiyu was gone.

Upon hearing the news, Zhan Yue's face turned pale. Under the moonlight and snow, his eyebrows were dark and his mouth was black. He wiped the blood from the corners of his lips with his tender fingers. He looked so gloomy, as if he was a little devil from hell.

It was a scene that Zhang would never forget.

There was a thousand miles of ice all around him, and a vast starry sky above him. He kept walking, but he still couldn't reach the end of this road.

Little Zhan Yue never got to see his mother for the last time.

While no one was reacting, Zhan Yue suddenly stepped forward and pushed Zhang hard. There was snow on the ground, and the people around had no time to help her. Zhang stumbled and fell to the ground.

She couldn't understand how such a small four-year-old child could have so much strength?

She didn't need to figure it out.

Because the next moment, the pain from her stomach drowned her alive.

In this restless night, Jia lost her first grandson, Zhang lost her and Zhan Tai's first child, Li's mother lost the use of her right hand, and Zhan Yue would never see his mother again.

If we injure one thousand enemies, we will lose eight hundred of our own. No one can tell who has gained the advantage and who has suffered the loss.

More than a decade later, Jia passed away. Zhan Yue performed brilliantly in the autumn imperial examination and was chosen by the emperor to be a member of the Jinwu Guard. Step by step, he became the commander of the Jinwu Guard, who was admired by everyone.

However, Mother Li's son was sent to prison for committing a crime.

Both Li's mother and Zhang knew that Zhan Yue was behind this. For the sake of her child, Li's mother even went to Zhan Yue to beg for mercy.

However, the little boy who could still show his emotions on his face, after years of forbearance, gradually became an unfathomable general.

There was no need for him to do many things himself. Like them, he would always remember that snowy night.

By the time Mother Li finally used her connections to ask people to rescue her son, her son was already disabled. He barely lived a year before he passed away.

That was Mother Li's only son, and he had not even married yet. Without this only bloodline, Mother Li had lost her lifelong support.

I heard that later on, she went crazy and started calling everyone "my son".

At first, Zhang still took care of her for two or three years out of affection, but as time went by, Zhang lost contact with Mother Li.

Zhang, who had just married into the Duke's Mansion, probably never expected that Zhan Yue, a son born out of wedlock and without anyone to rely on, could reach his current position.

On a snowy night, Zhan Yue's eyes like a tiger and a wolf, the blood on his lips, the blue veins on Mama Li's hands, her lost child...

These scenes often appeared in her nightmares and haunted Zhang for most of her life.

Zhang knew in her heart that some entanglements were irreconcilable and could only be resolved at the cost of blood.

This is exactly the case between them and Zhan Yue.

Now that Zhan Yue is very famous, only if Zhan Shaoying succeeds in marrying a princess, and as long as the princess safely gives birth to a child with Zhan family and royal blood, the title of Duke Anguo can truly be bestowed upon her man and her son.

Only then could those nightmares be eliminated from her life.

Zhang looked into the distance, his sinister eyes darkening slightly.