Sister-in-law, do you know how I've spent the last three years?
The next day. In the imperial court.
The Empress sat high in the court hall. "I heard today that the sandstorm in Longxi County has subsided. This is truly a joyous occasion. Do any of you ministers have anything else to report?"
"Your Majesty, I have something to report." Zhang Chunfeng slowly stepped forward.
"What is it, Minister Zhang?"
"Your Majesty, I have submitted a memorial to the throne, in which Zhou Zhengdu, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, received a banquet to welcome envoys from the Western Regions and privately accepted a kickback of one hundred taels of silver. This memorial contains the evidence. I request Your Majesty to review it."
Upon hearing this, not only Zhou Zhengdu, but everyone in the court was taken aback. Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Zhengdu were from the same hometown and both passed the imperial examination in the same year. Everyone knew that the two had always been on good terms. How could Zhang Chunfeng have impeached him for such a trivial matter as taking kickbacks?
The Empress read the memorial once.
"I've heard that you and Minister Zhou have always been on good terms, but this time you've put righteousness before family."
"Your Majesty wants me to rectify official corruption, so naturally I must put aside my own family for the greater good."
"Zhou Aiqing".
"Your subject is here." Zhou Zhengdu's fox-like face remained calm. He knew from the few days ago that with Zhang Chunfeng's current power, he would not be able to hide anything from her. She was no longer the Chunfeng of the past, and this fate was within his expectations.
He just never expected it to happen so quickly.
Do you acknowledge this?
Zhou Zhengdu knelt down and said, "Your subject admits that you embezzled the silver. Your subject is willing to accept any punishment."
The Empress smiled slightly, "In the past, what I hated most was this kind of memorial being submitted to the emperor. How come it was resolved so quickly today? Minister Zhang, you are in charge of the Ministry of Personnel. Tell me, how should Minister Zhou be punished now?"
“Your Majesty, a few hundred taels of silver is not a serious crime. Your Majesty has just learned that the storm in Longxi County has subsided. However, the area is inhabited by nomadic peoples, and their etiquette and education are inadequate. Since Lord Zhou is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, why not take on the task of educating the people of Longxi and properly settle them in Longxi County?”
Those in the court lowered their heads even further. Zhang Chunfeng had offered a solution the Empress would absolutely not refuse. Whether it was Zhou Zhengdu's official position in the Ministry of Rites or the Empress's long-held desire to civilize Longxi, this proposal had no reason not to be accepted. However, Longxi was a remote place, ravaged by storms year-round. The food and lodging of the nomadic people differed greatly from those in the Central Plains. Zhou Zhengdu, being from Jiangnan with delicate skin, would truly suffer in a place exposed to the elements every day.
"These suggestions are excellent. What do you think, Minister Zhou?"
"Your subject obeys."
"Very well, starting tomorrow, Minister Zhou will depart for Longxi County for three years of education. I await to see the results of Minister Zhou's efforts after three years. Court adjourned."
A large group of people walked out of the palace.
Zhang Chunfeng dislikes crowds and usually leaves slowly at the very end. Zhou Zhengdu follows Zhang Chunfeng around every day, and the two exchange a few words before parting ways.
Before Zhou Zhengdu even got close, Zhang Chunfeng had already distanced himself.
Zhang Chunfeng's movements were so clumsy that Zhou Zhengdu lowered his head and felt a sudden throbbing in his heart.
"Even the spring breeze knows?"
"From when?"
“The day you slept with Lee Soo-man in the restaurant, Lee came to me in the morning and told me everything about you and Lee Soo-man. I went to the restaurant and overheard you and him outside.”
Zhou Zhengdu didn't continue. He had heard about you and him, and the implication was already quite clear.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Chunfeng smiled cruelly and asked a question that felt like a knife stabbing Zhou Zhengdu in the heart.
"Does it sound good?"
Zhou Zhengdu's face turned pale instantly, and he gave an awkward laugh.
"Spring Breeze, do you really not know my feelings?"
Zhang Chunfeng turned around, and the coldness in his eyes made Zhou Zhengdu's blood freeze.
"Zhou Zhengdu, do you really not know my feelings?"
Zhou Zhengdu's face was deathly pale.
Zhang Chunfeng knew his intentions, and he only knew Zhang Chunfeng's intentions.
One loves to the extreme, so they cling to everything.
She never had him in her heart, so she only ever explained the scriptures. The occasional physical contact was only to try to figure out if she loved Lee Soo-man alone.
True love doesn't hurt that person. In the quiet of the night, after countless heartbreaks, Zhou Zhengdu should have known long ago that she had never had him in her heart.
Zhou Zhengdu's deep, quiet eyes seemed to glisten with tears.
He didn't cry in the end, knowing that even if he shed tears, Zhang Chunfeng wouldn't feel sorry for him.
"Mid-Autumn Festival is just a month away. I originally planned to stay for another month, but Chunfeng, after Mid-Autumn Festival we will have known each other for ten years."
Zhou Zhengdu tilted his head slightly, suppressing the tears welling up in his eyes.
Despite the high walls of the palace, Zhou Zhengdu seemed to be able to see through these layers of walls and gaze at the scene ten years ago when Zhang Chunfeng, who was only nine years old, was specially invited to the school by Master Li of the Li Family School because of his exceptional talent.
She was so small and short back then that everyone in the school thought they had found an illiterate cleaning maid, but Zhang Chunfeng stood on the podium without any fear.
"My surname is Zhang, my given name is Chunfeng. 'Peach blossoms and spring breeze, a cup of wine; Jianghu night rain, ten years of lamplight.'" Her voice still had that crisp, childlike tone.
Twelve-year-old Zhou Zhengdu was instantly captivated. As the son of a county magistrate, he shouldn't have been attending classes in this school with a group of people. His father had deliberately sent him here to train him, and he hated this noisy environment. But at this moment, looking at Zhang Chunfeng on the podium, Zhou Zhengdu suddenly remembered the Buddha statue in his home. It was a divine guidance that led him to meet Zhang Chunfeng.
Without the slightest hesitation, Zhou Zhengdu rushed forward as soon as Zhang Chunfeng sat down.
"My name is Zhou Zhengdu. Zhengdu, Zhengdu, startling a flock of gulls and egrets in a struggle to cross."
Zhang Chunfeng smiled at him, and that was how the two became acquainted.
He was so bold back then, yet in the end, he was extremely cautious in his love.
“Spring Breeze, I’ve been thinking these past few days, if we hadn’t taken the imperial examinations, it wouldn’t have been so bad to have become a scholar who passed the provincial examinations.”
Zhang Chunfeng paused, realizing she had thought the same thing a few days ago.
"Those who have abandoned me, the days of yesterday cannot be retained."
The two lowered their heads slightly, their understanding unspoken. The osmanthus flowers in the capital had already bloomed, and they could faintly smell their fragrance, but it was no longer the same as it used to be.
"Where did you hide Li Xiuman?" Zhang Chunfeng asked.
Zhou Zhengdu shook his head. "The person my father picked up, I just want him to settle him in properly. He didn't tell me where he went. Maybe he's back in his hometown, but..."
"Spring Breeze, do you know that the Crown Prince is in love with you?"
Zhang Chunfeng raised an eyebrow slightly. "He's stupid."
Zhou Zhengdu's originally cold face suddenly showed a hint of suppressed laughter.
"How do I compare to him?"
"He's dumber than you." This tone still didn't imply that Zhou Zhengdu was smart; the only question was who was dumber. Zhou Zhengdu smiled.
"Good for being born into the right family, becoming the crown prince." Zhou Zhengdu muttered to himself, then thought that he neither had Li Xiuman's favor with Zhang Chunfeng, nor Zhao Yong's background that allowed him to keep Zhang Chunfeng by his side.
"A foolish crown prince is better off not being one."
This was quite clear: no matter how noble Zhao Yong was as the Crown Prince, the entire court was a vast network, and whether you were the Crown Prince or the Emperor, as long as you were within this network, you had to abide by its rules. Zhang Chunfeng was adept at navigating social situations; she could handle the Crown Prince's favor just as well.
“As long as the Li family is here, Li Xiuman will not come here. You have so many responsibilities right now and can’t leave. Are you going to knock him out and carry him to the capital?” Zhou Zhengdu asked again.
Zhang Chunfeng did want to do that, but it was a two-month journey from Jiangnan to this place. Her sister-in-law was so unwilling to come, how much torture would Li Xiuman suffer if she were forced to travel for two months? She couldn't do that.
When his sister-in-law was coming, Zhang Chunfeng naturally went to greet her personally. How could he treat his sister-in-law like that?
However, Zhou Zhengdu is right. The capable should do more. Zhang Chunfeng has too many things on her shoulders now. If she wants to see Lee Soo-man, she needs a vacation that the empress will definitely not summon.
"I have my own plans."
Zhang Chunfeng nodded to Zhou Zhengdu, indicating that they should part ways there.
As the official in his bright red robes walked further and further away, Zhou Zhengdu clenched his fists, repeatedly telling himself not to cry. But when Zhang Chunfeng's fluttering clothes disappeared around the corner, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
In the past, when Zhang Chunfeng came to the Zhou residence to give lectures, she never wanted Zhou Zhengdu to see her off. Little did she know that Zhou Zhengdu would always stand to the side, secretly watching her leave. He had seen Zhang Chunfeng's back for so many years, how come he still couldn't get used to her departure?
In the third month of spring in the third year of Shangwu, the mother of the newly appointed Grand Secretary Zhang Chunfeng, Lady Li, passed away. The Empress advised Zhang Chunfeng that he should attend to both family and state affairs, and his three-year mourning period was shortened to one year. Everyone said that Heaven was unkind, taking away the mother of such a good official as Grand Secretary Zhang who worked so hard for the people. Little did they know that Zhang Chunfeng was overjoyed. Everyone praised Grand Secretary Zhang for his extreme filial piety, traveling a thousand miles from the capital to Jiangnan to escort his mother's coffin back to her homeland. Little did they know that the Grand Secretary Zhang who had helped his mother was currently enjoying a carefree life with his sister-in-law.
Jiangnan, Lijia Village.
When Lee Soo-man woke up feeling weak all over, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was his dilapidated window. For a moment, he thought everything from the previous night had been a dream. Just as he was about to turn around, he suddenly felt something like fire behind him. Their naked skin was pressed together, burning hot, and Lee Soo-man felt excruciating pain.
He saw the pale arm beneath his neck, and realized that his waist and legs were completely pinned down by Zhang Chunfeng's arms and legs. He was like a caged beast, utterly trapped in Zhang Chunfeng's embrace.
Everything that happened last night flashed through his mind like knives.
The mourning hall, candlelight, Li Shi, Zhang Chuntian.
The sounds of clothes tearing, bodies colliding, his shouts, and Zhang Chunfeng's questioning all blended together, leaving Li Xiuman breathless.
He pushed away Zhang Chunfeng's body parts that were pressing down on him in near terror, stood up abruptly, and gasped for breath.
"Sister-in-law, why are you awake so early?" Zhang Chunfeng was still half asleep; she had never had such a good sleep in all these years. She didn't even open her eyes, and wrapped her arms around Li Xiuman as she lay down on the bed.
Lee Soo-man looked around in horror. Although he was still in his dilapidated house, the quilt on the bed was inexplicably soft. The room was still gloomy, but there were several large trunks on the floor, and the decorations alone showed that they were very luxurious.
Li Xiuman remembered Zhang Chuntian's mourning hall and hurriedly tried to get out of bed, but saw Zhang Chunfeng slightly frowning, her peach blossom eyes slowly opening, and looking at the reddened corners of Li Xiuman's eyes.
"We haven't seen each other for three years, and my sister-in-law isn't even willing to spend a little more time with me?"
Zhang Chunfeng suddenly exerted more force in his hands, pressing Li Xiuman onto the bed and embracing her tightly.
“Spring Breeze, you…” Li Xiuman’s voice was still hoarse, “How could you do this?”
Zhang Chunfeng held Li Xiuman and gently stroked his waist. Li Xiuman had truly suffered a lot in the past three years and had become much thinner than before.
Previously, although his waist was thin, it felt nice to the touch. Now, his bones were particularly prominent, and his shoulders, which used to have lines like an ink painting, now had slightly raised shoulder blades, making Zhang Chunfeng feel uncomfortable as he climbed onto Li Xiuman's neck. The only thing that remained was his good physique; although he might have lost more than ten pounds, he still had flesh in the right places.
“My sister-in-law and I have been engaged for a long time. We haven’t seen each other for three years, and our passion has been burning intensely.” Zhang Chunfeng said in a relaxed tone.
Li Xiuman struggled, trying to reach out to stop him, but Zhang Chunfeng held both of her wrists together.
Before Zhang Chunfeng returned, Li Xiuman had been drinking only thin rice porridge for three days. Last night, she was so exhausted that she fainted and had no strength left.
Zhang Chunfeng effortlessly grabbed the soft flesh and kneaded it back and forth.
"Let me go."
"Sister-in-law, it's been three years since we last met, and you haven't even asked how I've been doing?"
"You're doing very well, don't!" Li Xiuman's waist was also gripped by Zhang Chunfeng, making him feel like a lamb to the slaughter. Zhang Chunfeng seemed dissatisfied with this answer, and suddenly tightened his grip, causing Li Xiuman to gasp in pain.
"How can I be alright without my sister-in-law by my side?" Zhang Chunfeng bit Li Xiuman's ear, then suddenly turned over. Li Xiuman immediately understood that Zhang Chunfeng was going to do it again.
He resisted with all his might, which only made Zhang Chunfeng even angrier.
"Lee Soo-man! Why are you resisting me like this! I didn't blame you for standing between us back then, after all, she is my mother, and this matter was not up to us. Now all the obstacles between us have disappeared, and we have already pledged our lives to each other. What are you resisting now?"
Lee Soo-man's lips, red from being bitten, were pressed into a thin line, and there was an almost indescribable, immense pain in his eyes.
"Spring Breeze, Spring was your elder brother. From the time you returned until now, haven't you asked him how he could have died at only thirty years old?"
Seeing Li Xiuman's expression, Zhang Chunfeng immediately realized that he couldn't ask this question.
Just as Zhang Chuntian had fed Zhang Chunfeng with his own blood to save her life many years ago, just as the two had accidentally injured Zhang Chuntian while having an affair in the cave. Zhang Chunfeng knew she owed Zhang Chuntian too much; if her brother were alive, she would have had a chance to atone for her sins, but Zhang Chuntian was dead!
What Zhang Chunfeng owed was something she could never repay. Not only her, but Zhang Chunfeng also realized that her brother's death might have been to save Li Xiuman? Li Xiuman's guilt had nowhere to go, no one to atone for it. So Li Xiuman could only push Zhang Chunfeng away, repeatedly telling himself that Zhang Chunfeng died for him, yet he hadn't fulfilled his marital duties, sleeping with his sister-in-law before her body was even cold.
"I don't want to know," Zhang Chunfeng said coldly. So many years of forbearance, so many years of waiting, and it had finally come true today.
Three years is a long time. Every moment, Zhang Chunfeng was absolutely certain of one thing: she could not live without Lee Soo-man! This time, no matter what the reason or excuse, Lee Soo-man had to be by her side.
Lee Soo-man's tears streamed down his face uncontrollably.
He gritted his teeth, Zhang Chunfeng's face was right in front of him, and through his teary eyes, Li Xiuman studied that face.
Familiar peach blossom eyes, familiar lips, her expression is very indifferent when she doesn't smile, but when she smiles, her peach blossom eyes seem to hold countless bright peach blossoms.
This was the spring breeze he had longed for for three years, and now it was right in front of him, not only in front of him, but also entangled with him at close range. Everything he had yearned for had finally come true, but Lee Soo-man felt no joy, only a deeper and deeper sense of sin.
He stared at Zhang Chunfeng's face, flushed from a slight sweat, and as he stared, he suddenly felt that the flush looked like blood, like Zhang Chuntian's blood, the blood from Zhang Chuntian's head being trampled to pieces by horses' hooves, flowing out in large swaths. Right in front of him, bright red blood flowed from Zhang Chuntian's brain, soaking the soles of his shoes and wetting his feet.
He stepped on Zhang Chuntian's blood, looked at Zhang Chuntian lying on the ground, and then saw the man on horseback who didn't care at all that his horse had trampled someone to death, and just laughed and said, "Chunfeng will definitely like this!"
Ah! Li Xiuman suddenly burst into tears, twisting his body in resistance against Zhang Chunfeng.
"Spring Breeze, Spring Breeze, please stop, I beg you." Li Xiuman cried so bitterly that Zhang Chunfeng quickly stopped, hugged her in his arms, and gently wiped away his sister-in-law's tears.
"What's wrong? What happened?" Zhang Chunfeng asked, cupping his sister-in-law's face in his hands.
Lee Soo-man continued to cry, shaking his head through teary eyes.
Seeing his sister-in-law crying so hard, Zhang Chunfeng simply held her tightly and dared not move again.
Zhang Chunfeng only let go of Li Xiuman after he had recovered from the shock.
"Are you hungry? I'll go and have someone bring you some food." Zhang Chunfeng had just put on his clothes and his feet had barely touched the ground when he suddenly heard a muffled voice behind him.
"Spring Breeze, too many things have changed in three years. Let's just call it quits."
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