Chapter 112

Old Master Pei had been the teacher of Emperor Zhanghe in his past, and was known as the Grand Tutor. After the Pei family produced an empress, Old Master Pei became the father-in-law of the emperor. He was truly a man who gained both fame and fortune.

Therefore, the news of Grandma Pei's death caused quite a stir in the capital.

Zhao Youze also came out of the palace to pay tribute.

Old Mrs. Pei was about the same age as Old Mrs. Wen, so it was a happy death.

In addition, the old man suffered almost no pain when he died. He just took a nap. After the nap, the servants of the mansion went to wake him up, only to find that the old lady had passed away suddenly in her sleep.

Therefore, although the entire Pei family was also shrouded in a sad atmosphere, it was not heavy. The only pity was that, in this case, Jiashan's uncle Pei Zijing would definitely be in trouble.

However, at the beginning of this year, Pei Yuantang was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, which showed that he had a promising future. With his example, Pei Zijing was almost outshined.

Zhan Yue also accompanied Jiashan to Pei Mansion to pay tribute to the old man, but Xuan'er was young, and Pei Mansion was in mourning, so it was not convenient for Xuan'er to stay in Pei Mansion for long. So, after the tribute, Zhan Yue took Xuan'er back to the mansion first.

Jiashan stayed with Zhao Youze to help the Pei family.

Two months ago, Gu Junyi was already pregnant.

Fortunately, Pei Yuantang's younger brother had just married a new wife, and at this time, he was able to lend a hand to Madam Pei so that she wouldn't be alone in the chaos.

After Jiashan paid tribute to Old Lady Pei, he went to Gu Junyi's room to talk to her.

Who knew that just when the two of them were chatting for a while, Pei Yuantang rushed in.

Because he was in mourning, Pei Yuantang wore a black straight-sleeved gown. He usually liked to wear bright colors and rarely wore such dark clothes. Unlike his usual liveliness, he finally looked a bit deep and sophisticated.

After Pei Yuantang entered the room, he glanced around Gu Junyi and Jiashan. He said to Jiashan, "I've been looking for you everywhere, and you're hiding here."

Jiashan thought his words were rude, so he glanced at him and said, "What do you mean by hiding? I'm talking to Junyi's cousin's wife."

"Then you can talk about it later," Pei Yuantang said seriously, no longer playing around like before, "I have something to tell you."

Seeing his formal tone, Jiashan couldn't help but ask seriously, "What's the matter?"

Pei Yuantang's eyes darkened, he walked over and whispered: "You'd better remind Zhan Yanqing not to act too ostentatiously."

"I wonder how many people are watching him from this position," Pei Yuantang said, "Remember to keep his tail in check and be careful!"

Jiashan's eyes suddenly darkened, and she frowned and asked, "What did you hear?"

"Hmm," Pei Yuantang stopped talking after hearing Jiashan's question and pretended to be calm to whet people's appetite.

Gu Junyi glared at him again, and Pei Yuantang touched his nose and said angrily: "Zhan Shaoying from the Duke of Anguo's Mansion has been doing a bad job recently and someone has found fault with him."

Pei Yuantang narrowed his eyes and said, "There are rumors that he was deliberately suppressed by Zhan Yanqing because he offended him."

"So some people say," Pei Yuantang said in a mysterious voice, "Zhan Yanqing has no friendship with the younger generation of his clan, which shows that he is a cruel and ruthless person."

Jiashan almost laughed out of anger when she heard this. Before she could think about it, she said, "This is obviously slander."

"Besides, if Zhan Shaoying really behaved properly, would there be any faults for others to find?" Jiashan said bitterly, "Even flies don't bite flawless eggs."

Pei Yuantang chuckled twice, as if he had heard a very funny joke. He said proudly, "You called Zhan Yanqing a fly."

Jiashan was not distracted by his jokes, and his expression was still a little gloomy.

Now, it was clear that someone was slandering Yan Qing with unfounded rumors. Why had he never mentioned it to me? Who was doing this? Was it Zhao Youcheng's group, or the Princess Qin and the others?

Jiashan pursed his lips tightly and frowned as he thought.

Pei Yuantang's words obviously affected Jiashan's mood. Gu Junyi saw that she was frowning, so she held her hand and said to Jiashan with a smile: "He has the nerve to say that he is flamboyant."

Gu Junyi said, "A few days ago, the Director of the Imperial College, Lord Wang, passed away, and he went to the mansion to pay his respects."

"Lord Wang loved to write poetry when he was alive. Someone suggested that everyone should write a poem for Lord Wang during the funeral. Yu Yuan was very good at it and said that Lord Wang actually liked to listen to donkeys cry more than writing poetry. Why don't we all learn to cry like a donkey in front of his coffin!" Gu Junyi said at this point, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Zhou Shi, who went to the funeral with us, almost reported him for being ridiculous."

Gu Junyi described the incident vividly, and Jiashan finally lowered his eyes. Pei Yuantang said confidently, "I didn't say anything wrong."

"Later, His Majesty found out about it, but he didn't scold me. Instead, he praised me for my originality." Speaking of this, Pei Yuantang was even a little proud.

He was a good scholar, but he was not a pedantic scholar who could not adapt. His articles were often original. Although Pei Zijing was pleased that his son had made great achievements, he was used to reading the books of sages, so sometimes he could not help but feel that Pei Yuantang was heretical.

Emperor Zhang He had no such concerns.

Emperor Zhanghe had always admired Pei Yuantang, which is why he chose him as the new runner-up in the palace examination without any restrictions.

Pei Yuantang is now under the care of Gu Junyi, so he doesn't do anything too ridiculous anymore, but he is occasionally a little unreliable.

For him, this is already a big progress, and he still comes to remind Jiashan now.

Jiashan thought for a moment, then said to Pei Yuantang: "I will remember your words."

"You have to be careful too." Jiashan did not forget to remind him.

Pei Yuantang waved his hands nonchalantly, looking like he was awesome. Jiashan ignored him and turned his head to continue talking to Gu Junyi.

Jiashan and Zhao Youze stayed in Pei's house until they finished dinner and then said goodbye and left.

While Jiashan was accompanying Gu Junyi, Zhao Youze was talking to his uncle Pei Zijing.

Since Zhao Youze's eyesight was restored, he had visibly won the emperor's favor. In addition, Zhao Youze studied hard and treated people kindly, which had won the favor of the Qingliu.

Pei Zijing is a representative figure among the Qingliu. Pei Zijing likes Zhao Youze as his nephew. Moreover, Zhao Youze himself is also working hard, so the Pei family will be his solid backing.

Zhao Youze and Jiashan got on a horse-drawn carriage. It was already dark, and he planned to send Jiashan back home first, and then return to the palace himself.

In the carriage, Jiashan was still thinking about what Pei Yuantang said, so he did not take the initiative to talk to Zhao Youze.

The wind rustled in the night, and fireflies occasionally flickered outside the carriage. Unfortunately, the curtains blocked most of the moonlight and light, making the interior of the carriage even quieter and more silent.

After the car moved slowly for a while, Zhao Youze said slowly: "Sister, do you know who Jingwen is?"

Jiashan's thoughts had not yet been completely pulled back, and he just subconsciously asked, "Who?"

"Jingwen." Zhao Youze then repeated it in a clear and precise voice.

These two words made Jiashan suddenly realize something, and she suddenly woke up. At this moment, her heart was beating like a drum.

Jiashan looked up at him and said slowly, "What happened to Jingwen?"

Zhao Youze smiled at her, his features still elegant and handsome, and said, "The last time I left the palace to visit my grandfather, he held my hand and called me 'Jingwen'. These two words must be mine."

"It sounds like a person's name to me," Zhao Youze asked with a smile, "Does Sister know this person?"

Zhao Youze asked openly, but Jiashan's heart beat even faster. Her face was expressionless, but her finger bones were clenched tightly, with a light white color.

She moved her stiff body and slowly said, "My aunt told me that my grandfather was a little confused before."

While observing Zhao Youze's expression, Jiashan added, "Jingwen is probably a friend of my grandfather. When you passed away, my grandfather was probably missing him, so he held your hand and called you."

After getting Jiashan's answer, Zhao Youze nodded slightly and didn't ask any more questions.

Seeing this, Jiashan lowered her eyes. There was a hint of panic in her dark pupils.

Zhao Youze may not know, but Jiashan specifically asked Princess Ruyang.

The two characters Jingwen were exactly the childhood nickname of Crown Prince Xiaohuai!

However, later on, Crown Prince Xiaohuai became estranged from the late emperor because of the Fu family incident, and this name has not been called for many years, and it is not even recorded in historical documents.

Jiashan raised his eyes carefully and looked at Yuankang casually. Over the years, Yuankang's facial features gradually grew up, and his childishness and innocence had completely faded away. His facial features became smooth and clear.

Daughters take after their fathers, sons take after their mothers. When Zhao Youze was young, he looked more like Empress Pei. When he grew up, he naturally did not look much like Emperor Zhanghe.

So, is it possible that Yuankang and Crown Prince Xiaohuai have similar facial features?

Jiashan suddenly remembered that over the years, when people mentioned Yuankang, they would say that he looked like Empress Pei.

Was this statement just a casual remark by someone, or was it deliberately directed by someone... Was the real purpose just to cover up the truth of something?

The more Jiashan thought about it, the more solemn his expression became.

When she got off the carriage, the night wind blew through the darkness and hit her face directly, like a cold tentacle of a monster.

Zhan Yue was standing at the gate to meet her. Seeing Jia Shan seemed to be in a trance, he grabbed her hand and asked, "What's wrong?"

Jiashan didn't know if it was because of the night wind or a psychological reaction, but she couldn't help but shiver.

She shrank her neck and whispered, "It's okay."

But she doesn't look like everything is alright.

Zhan Yue thought she caught a cold, so he hurriedly picked her up and carefully used his forehead to feel Jiashan's temperature.

"Where do you feel uncomfortable?" Zhan Yue asked concernedly.

Jiashan didn't say anything else. She looked at Zhan Yue deeply and buried her face in his arms without saying a word.

Zhan Yue stopped asking questions and hugged her tightly, covering her tightly with his tall and soft robe.

His shoulders were broad and his waist was straight and strong, like an eagle spreading its wings, keeping all the danger and ferocity outside his wings.

Let this world always remain warm and comfortable.