When Mingyue returned from her stroll, she saw Zhang Wen waiting at the door. Her rosy lips curved slightly. "Zhang Duwei, is there something you need?"
Zhang Wen looked embarrassed. "I originally wanted to treat you to a welcome-home feast, but food is scarce in the city, and there's really nothing good to eat. I hope you will forgive me, Grand Preceptor."
"It's alright, I'm not a picky eater." Mingyue said calmly, "Chenyu, go and call General Ji to come and eat with us. Zhang Duwei is treating."
Shen Yu bowed to Zhang Wen and turned to leave.
Zhang Wen was displeased, but when he met Mingyue's smiling eyes, he was startled and quickly led the way, saying, "This way, sir."
"Zhang Duwei is truly poor; there are hardly any servants or maids in his household."
Zhang Wen sighed, "The imperial salary is hardly enough for me to hire servants. Enough is fine."
Mingyue said "Oh," and asked curiously, "That's true. By the way, I saw a mansion to the south, built in a magnificent style, with the words 'Zhang Mansion' written on it. Which family's shop in Huaizhou does it belong to?"
“That’s the Zhang family’s rice business. They often do good deeds. Yesterday, they were distributing porridge at the city gate.”
"Could you make an introduction?"
Zhang Wen smiled sincerely, "Of course, I'll have my servant go to the Zhang family today to arrange a time, and I'll accompany you personally."
After Mingyue took her seat, she said, "Then I'll have to trouble Zhang Duwei."
"What's the big deal? As long as the imperial court doesn't forget the people in our city and is still willing to distribute disaster relief grain, everything else is a minor matter."
Zhang Wen sighed and sat down as well, his voice filled with desolation, "These people have suffered so much. They hope for a good harvest all year round, but they have been hit with three consecutive years of drought."
"It's also because I, a mere lieutenant, am incompetent; otherwise, why would they have to live such a miserable life?"
Mingyue patted Zhang Wen on the shoulder, "Zhang Duwei has done a great job. Come on, let's eat first without waiting for General Ji."
"I heard it from far away, sir. Why didn't you wait for me when you called me to eat together?"
Ji Yong'an shouted loudly, and then saw Zhang Wen and Mingyue, "Zhang Duwei, aren't your family members coming to eat with us?"
Upon hearing this, Mingyue also looked at Zhang Wen.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Wen sighed even more heavily, "My wife couldn't bear the hardship and took the children back to her parents' home long ago. My father and mother live in the courtyard and support themselves."
Mingyue exclaimed in surprise, "The old man and the old lady are truly enjoying their leisure time."
Zhang Wen stroked his beard jokingly, "When you get old, what can your children do to stop you?"
Everyone had their own thoughts while eating the meal. What Zhang Wen least expected was how much the Grand Preceptor could eat.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Zhang Duwei. It's getting late, and I'm quite tired from the long journey."
Mingyue's eyes were glistening with tears, revealing a rare touch of girlish charm.
"Then I won't bother you any longer, sir."
After Zhang Wen left, Mingyue looked at Ji Yong'an and asked, "Is there anything else?"
Ji Yong'an shook his head.
"Then aren't you leaving?"
Ji Yong'an choked, feeling helpless, "...I'm leaving now."
He thought the adults had something to entrust to him, which was why they deliberately sent him away.
As night fell, the night wind rustled the leaves of the trees in the courtyard. A paper tube poked a hole in the window of the room where Mingyue was, blowing out a wisp of white smoke.
Mingyue sat on the bridge. Zhang Wen was decisive. Taking advantage of people's relaxed vigilance and their fatigue from the journey, he arranged the assassination without hesitation.
The door creaked open, and a man dressed in black crouched down, gripping a dagger, and crept to the bedside. He lifted the covers and found only a pillow.
The man in black immediately retreated, preparing to jump out of the window, only to see Mingyue looking at him with a half-smile, fiddling with the jade beads.
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