Chapter 16 Chapter 16 Setting the Stage
"Go back to your parents' home?" Fang's mother was very confused. "There's no one home anymore. Even the old house was given to my uncles next door. It's just a visit with relatives at best. I've already given the Dragon Boat Festival gifts, so there's no reason to go back now."
Mrs. Jiang's voice was a little hoarse. "I just want to go back and take a look at the yard and house where I lived when I was a girl."
Mother Fang felt that the lady was very strange today.
The Jiang family had no sons, so according to the law and clan rules, they had to appoint an heir to inherit the family business.
Old Master Jiang felt sorry for his daughters, so he secretly divided his property into two parts and gave all of it to his two daughters as dowries, leaving only an old house for them to live in.
The yard is still there now, but it has become someone else's home. It has been changed and moved, and it is no longer what it used to be. It only adds to the sadness when you see it.
Moreover, he had a lot of unpleasantness with his clansmen because of the issue of inheritance.
Although the wife didn't say it, she knew it very well in her heart. Since the two elders of the Jiang family passed away, she has never returned to the old house.
Thinking of the time when the old lady had just left the lady alone to talk, she tentatively asked, "Did the old lady say something unpleasant?"
Mrs. Jiang was silent for a while, hiding the old lady's sarcastic words, and only said, "She has taken a fancy to my sister's youngest son and wants to marry Anyi to him."
Mother Fang was astonished. "How dare you, old lady! When a concubine married into a marquis's mansion, people said she was marrying above her station, not to mention the Zhang family! How could the Pingyang Marquisate possibly agree to this?"
Mrs. Jiang sighed deeply. "Who said it wasn't true? But the old lady is so stubborn and insists that I go and propose marriage. How can I even bring myself to do that?"
"Madam's concern is that the two parties must be equally matched in a marriage proposal. If the fifth girl were outstanding, she could have a chance, but she has neither the lively and generous personality of the third girl nor the commendable appearance and talent of the fourth girl. She's only in her teens, and the smell of cigarettes can't be washed off, making her look like a nun."
Mother Fang kept shaking her head. "If you bring it up, you'll offend people. Even if the concubine doesn't mind, the marquis's wife and the dowager's wife will blame you."
After a pause, she continued, "The old lady just helped Madam deal with Concubine Yao. It would be bad to refuse outright. The day after tomorrow there will be a dragon boat race on Houhu Lake, and the Pingyang Marquis's Mansion will definitely be there. Madam will take the girls for a tour and just say she's worried about the fifth girl's marriage. Madam will definitely offer to help find out. That way, we can tell the old lady that the Marquis's Mansion has politely declined."
Mrs. Jiang thought for a while but couldn't think of a better solution. She smiled bitterly and said, "Let's do this for now. I'm afraid the old lady will have more to say." As she spoke, she caught a glimpse of a figure passing by the window and immediately shouted, "Who's outside?"
A young maidservant, with her neck hunched, reported, "The fourth young lady came to bring food to Concubine Yao and stopped at the courtyard gate, crying and refusing to leave. The gatekeeper asked Madam for instructions."
Mrs. Jiang said, "Let the fourth girl in."
Mother Fang was stunned again and wanted to remind her, but Mrs. Jiang waved her hand and said, "It's pitiful that she is so filial. Forget it." After saying that, she lowered her eyes slightly and said, "I can't even fulfill my filial piety..."
A sigh filled with longing and regret was scattered by the wind in this gloomy walled courtyard.
The sky gradually darkened. When the sun lost its last ray of light, the sky turned into a huge black pot, pressing down tightly and making it hard to breathe.
The lanterns in front of the Northern Pacification Office emitted a dim light, illuminating two people coming out from inside.
"Is it going to rain?" Wu Yong sniffed like a hound. "It smells like damp rain. Tsk, it's the Emperor's first dragon boat race in Houhu Lake, and rain is such a bummer."
Chen Ling'an walked down the stairs, adjusting his cuffs. "It's rainy season, so a little rain is perfectly normal. How can it spoil the fun? You should focus on..."
He suddenly paused, waved his hand to signal Wu Yong to be on guard, then drew his sword and threw it at the shadow beside the screen, "Come out!"
With a startled cry, a dark figure rolled out, holding its head. Wu Yong stepped forward to stop him and, after a glance, couldn't help but laugh, "I was wondering who it was. Turns out it's Master Zhou. What's up? Do you want to go to the Imperial Prison to reunite with your family?"
Chen Ling'an had no intention of killing the man, so the knife deliberately avoided him. Even so, Zhou Yongchang was so frightened that he lost all his soul. He collapsed to the ground and shook like a sieve for a long time before finally finding his tongue.
"I, I have something to ask, Master Chen... My mother is not in good health and can't stand the coldness of the imperial prison. I beg you to release her and let me go in prison instead."
He kowtowed loudly.
Wu Yong laughed, "Do you think the Imperial Prison is your backyard, where you can come and go as you please?"
Zhou Yongchang didn't dare to say much, but just kowtowed and begged.
Chen Ling'an tilted his head to look at Zhou Yongchang and suddenly smiled. Zhou Yongchang felt uneasy and couldn't help but shut up.
"I didn't realize you're such a filial son..." Chen Ling'an said slowly, "I'm a soft-hearted person and can't bear to see others suffer. How about this, you do me a favor, and when you do it, I'll release your mother."
How can you be so confident as to say you're soft-hearted? Zhou Yongchang muttered to himself, and was about to ask what it was, but then he realized he had no right to refuse, so he gritted his teeth and agreed, "As long as the Lord needs me, let alone one thing, even ten or a hundred things, I'll do it for you, even if it means death."
Chen Ling'an raised the corner of his mouth and gave some instructions.
After hearing this, Zhou Yongchang asked in disbelief, "So simple? Sir, please don't tease me."
Chen Lingan raised his eyebrows, "I never joke."
"Don't worry, sir. I can definitely handle this small matter!" Zhou Yongchang puffed out his chest.
Chen Ling'an patted his shoulder, a look of expectation in his eyes, "I believe you."
I trust you……
Zhou Yongchang was stunned. A sour and hot wave rushed up, burning his eyes and making them hurt. It seemed that a strange liquid was about to flow out.
He was admitted to the Imperial College by imperial favor, but he failed to even pass the examination to become a scholar. His father told him that he was useless and shameful. His mother doted on him, but never expected him to achieve anything. She only pampered him and let him eat, drink, and have fun as an idle playboy.
This is the first time since he was a child that someone has expected so much of him!
His heart was shaking, his blood was boiling, his lips were trembling, and thousands of words were stuck in his throat, but he couldn't say them. Finally, he wiped his eyes fiercely, nodded heavily, and left with his head held high.
A ray of moonlight, like a transparent veil, shone through a gap in the clouds, illuminating Wu Yong's bewildered face. "What happened to him?"
Chen Lingan: "I don't know."
Wu Yong shook his head and said, "I'd better worry about the dragon boat race. Hehe, this time I have to give those noble families a big surprise!"
The humidity was very high that night, and sure enough, it started to drizzle the next morning.
Zhang Xiaoman asked Zhang Anyi to go for a walk in the back garden. "It's a very pleasant experience to look at the flowers in the mist and rain. Let's sit in the pavilion, away from the wind and rain, make a pot of tea, eat some melon seeds and chat. How pleasant it is."
Zhang Anyi hesitated for a moment and then softly declined, "Grandma said that rest is the key to longevity. She told me to chant sutras and meditate every day, and not to run around unless necessary."
Xiaoman just thought it was funny, "Is what the old lady said completely right?"
Zhang Anyi slowly opened his mouth, his face full of shock, obviously frightened by her "treasonous" words.
For a moment, the atmosphere in the room became subtly awkward.
Fortunately, the curtain was lifted at this moment, and Mrs. Jiang came over, breaking up the slightly tense atmosphere in time.
She brought two pieces of tapestry for Zhang Anyi, one in a light gold peach pink scattered flower pattern and the other in an apricot yellow peony lotus pattern. Both were bright colors and very suitable for a girl in her teens.
Mrs. Jiang smiled and said, "The day after tomorrow we're going to watch the dragon boat race. Your clothes are too plain. Ask the sewing room to make you two sets of clothes today. There are also some jewelry here. You can dress up beautifully when the time comes."
Probably because he had received instructions from his aunt in advance and knew that he would have to stay in the city to discuss marriage, Zhang Anyi nodded obediently, "I will follow your arrangements, Madam. If I do anything wrong in the future, please teach me more."
Mrs. Jiang touched her head lovingly and sighed softly.
As light and shadow changed, on May 5th, people who got up early were surprised to find that the heavy rain that had lasted for two days had miraculously stopped!
Zhang Xiaoman and Zhang Anyi went out in high spirits.
What surprised Zhang Xiaoman was that Zhang Junyi also came. She had exquisite makeup and bright clothes, and there was no sign of decadence or worry on her face.
"Do you think that if you lock up my aunt, I'll be devastated and give up?" Zhang Junyi glanced at Zhang Xiaoman coldly. "Don't be too proud too soon. As long as I'm here, it's not your turn to step forward in the Zhang family. Who will win or lose is still uncertain!"
Xiaoman was dumbfounded, and after a while she smiled and shook her head. Just as she was about to ask her fifth sister to go with her, Zhang Junyi grabbed Zhang Anyi and said, "Xiaowu, take my carriage."
Without waiting for Zhang Anyi to speak, he dragged the man onto the carriage.
The curtains were lowered, and Zhang Junyi, with a fierce face, lectured the little sister, "Don't be fooled by her innocent smile all day long. She's actually very scheming. Be careful, don't let herself be sold out and then help others count the money!"
Zhang Anyi muttered quietly, "I think Third Sister treats people very sincerely."
"Have you been blinded by those pieces of lapis lazuli? You're so shallow and petty!" Zhang Junyi poked her forehead with a finger in anger. "I've given you so many good things, and you haven't said a single good word for me. You're just like your aunt, an ungrateful person."
At that time, Aunt Yao was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to serve Zhang Wen, so Zhang Wen wanted to buy a maid from outside.
It was Aunt Yao who found the old lady and said that those bought from outside were not as good as those born at home, and she knew the family background very well. She should choose one that was gentle, docile and easy to raise, so that the master could feel at ease using it.
The old lady thought it made sense, so she pointed to the maid beside her and told Zhang Wen - it was Aunt Sun.
Normally, since she was promoted from a slave to a half-master, Aunt Sun should be grateful to Aunt Yao, but for some reason, she has always remained indifferent and has not expressed anything.
When Aunt Yao had several fights with Madam Jiang, she always stood far away, fearing that she would be splashed with a drop of water. Later, she even went to the nunnery to live a quiet life.
Zhang Junyi gets angry when he thinks about this, but because he wants to isolate Zhang Xiaoman, he has to persuade Zhang Anyi with "nice words".
"I used to think she was a good person. I helped her send messages and money to Xuanfu and gave her expensive jewelry. But how did she repay me? She stole my marriage and ruined my reputation..."
"That's all fine and dandy. I don't bother with country folk, but she shouldn't have framed my aunt time and again!"
Her voice gradually choked. "I heard that life in the nunnery is very poor, with only cabbage and tofu, not even meat. In winter, there's no charcoal fire anywhere except in the old lady's room. My aunt is weak and usually relies on bird's nest for nourishment. If she goes away... how can she bear it?"
"My aunt is right. We are all girls who have been carefully brought up in the mansion. We are like delicate flowers in a greenhouse and don't understand the treacherous nature of human hearts."
"She's different. She's been out selling things on the street since she was young, dealing with the peasants. She'd throw her conscience on the ground for a few copper coins. She smiles on the surface, but she's actually full of evil intentions. She's not the same kind of person as us."
Zhang Anyi lowered his head and said nothing.
After a long and rambling speech, with no reaction from the listener, the speaker felt slighted and said in a harsh tone, "You're useless, just like your aunt, destined to be a slave for the rest of your life!"
Perhaps this was too harsh, and Zhang Anyi finally responded, "Don't be angry, Fourth Sister. If I did anything wrong, you can teach me a lesson when I get back. We'll need you to hold the fort later. Madam said the Marquis of Pingyang's wife and his wife will also be there to watch the dragon boat race. We must go and pay our respects. Who knows... we might run into Young Master Liu."
Zhang Junyi's face froze and his whole body tensed up involuntarily.
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