Chapter 80 Practice Makes Perfect
Before the arrival of early autumn, the group returned to Chang'an from Liangzhou.
Upon returning to Chang'an, Yu Mingshu's first task was naturally to go to the Zhaohua Hall of the Eastern Palace to report on his duties, explaining to his superior everything he had accomplished in the past six months.
He Zheng followed her into the hall and listened to her rambling on for almost half an hour before she stopped.
The Crown Prince praised her highly, calling her his trusted confidante several times, before turning his gaze to the bored listeners beside him.
He Zheng snapped out of his daze, stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "This time it was a close call, but I have brought back the evidence, witnesses, and Yu Sheren to Your Highness."
That's true, but it sounds so strange.
Yu Mingshu's eyelashes trembled, and she glanced at him secretly. The other man had his usual bright smile on his face, and the upward curve of his lips seemed to be asking for praise.
The Crown Prince seemed to be quite taken with his act, and couldn't help but wave his hand with a smile, "You'll be rewarded. You should go back to your residence to see your parents, so that the Duke and his wife won't keep asking me for you every few days."
He Zheng smiled and agreed, but his gaze drifted toward Yu Mingshu beside him.
His thoughts were written all over his face, and the Crown Prince said helplessly, "Minister Yu, please stay."
He Zheng left alone, exiting the imperial city directly through the east gate, and rode his horse leisurely back to Chongrenfang.
The original plaque of the Anyuan Earl's Mansion was replaced with that of the Duke of the County, but the interior of the mansion remained largely unchanged.
Upon entering the hall, he greeted the two elders seated there. His mother, Tao, patted his shoulder and sighed deeply, complaining that he was never home. After saying only a few words, a servant came to announce that the Crown Prince's reward had arrived.
Upon hearing the eunuch announce the decree, He Zheng's brows furrowed deeply. "You mean His Highness the Crown Prince is granting me a mansion?"
“Indeed, this new residence is in Chongren Ward, not far from the Duke’s mansion and close to the Eastern Palace.” The eunuch smiled and presented the land deed and key with both hands.
"That residence was originally the mansion of the Marquis Wenshun of the previous dynasty. It had been abandoned for many years, but it has been renovated in the last two months. If the Marquis has time, you can come with me to take a look."
“I have a place to stay.” He Zheng glanced at the things he was offered, not really wanting to take them.
The eunuch nodded and said, "Now that you have been granted the title of Marquis of Pingyan, the official residence you previously rented was far too simple and unbecoming of a marquis."
It doesn't matter whether he has a social status or not. If he really moves in, how can he see Ming Shu every day?
He Ting coughed twice, the sound neither too loud nor too soft, as if to sound a warning bell for him.
The land deeds have already been delivered; does he still intend to have the eunuchs return them to the Eastern Palace?
He Zheng pursed his lips and changed his question to, "Can the Marquis's residence be rented out?"
He Ting stepped forward and covered his mouth, smiled politely at the eunuch, took the land deed and key, and said, "He has received the decree. Please go back and thank His Highness the Crown Prince for his generous reward."
The eunuch quickly agreed, "Of course."
After everyone left, He Xiao sighed, "Erlang, when will you ever be more composed and think before you speak?"
He Zheng didn't take it seriously, waved his hand and told Jing Hong to take the land deed and key away, and drank half a cup of tea by himself.
Tao smiled and said, "Once Erlang gets married and settles down, he will naturally become more stable."
No sooner had he finished speaking than He Zheng choked on his tea and coughed violently. Jing Hong was so frightened that he rushed forward to pat He Zheng's back, but He Zheng pushed him away after only a few pats.
"Mother, please don't make arrangements for me. I know what I'm doing."
"Do you have any sense of propriety? Do you even remember how old you are this year?" He Xiao snapped irritably. "Look around Chang'an City, how many people over the age of twenty are still unmarried!"
“Why not?” He Zheng counted on his fingers for him. “My cousin, the Crown Prince, is older than me and not married yet, right? Xie Huaijin is over twenty and still unmarried, right? And… and that Mr. Yuan from Chang’an Academy, isn’t he all alone too?”
Tao tried to persuade him earnestly: "Do you really have to keep up with them? Have you ever thought about learning from your good friend Yu Sanlang? He got married at a young age and now has a family, a degree, and a job. He lives a very stable life."
He Zheng was tired of hearing this kind of talk, so he didn't want to argue and tactically reached for the teacup.
He Ting quickly moved the teacup away from him, saying, "Are you and that Miss Yu going to get together or not? If she really doesn't like you, you should give up and find someone else. Don't hang yourself on one tree."
"It can be done, but not now." He Zheng said dismissively, looking down. "Don't rush me. Even my cousin, the Crown Prince, isn't in a hurry, so why should I be?"
He Xiao and Tao Shi exchanged a glance, both feeling utterly helpless.
After the family finished dinner, He Zheng hurried back to his own residence.
Under the deep darkness of night, Jinghong watched his young master swagger into Yu Mingshu's courtyard, then turned back to the Duke's mansion.
After listening to Jing Hong recount He Zheng and Yu Mingshu's recent situation, He Ting's brow furrowed into a deep frown.
"You mean, Erlang and Miss Yu are inseparable, eating and living together?"
Jinghong lowered his head and answered, "Yes."
He Xiao's expression was strange. "How can the two of them live together? Are they in the same courtyard but different rooms, or in the same room but different beds?"
Jinghong said with difficulty, "This humble servant doesn't know that the young master doesn't allow servants to enter the courtyard to keep watch at night."
He Xiao and his son He Ting exchanged a glance, and both of them simultaneously imagined some scenarios.
Only Tao was overjoyed, her eyes shining, and she shook He Xiao's shoulder, "It seems that Erlang's good thing is coming soon!"
He Xiao hesitated, "Now that things have progressed this far, why is he still unwilling to get married?"
Chen, who had been silent until now, suddenly said, "Could it be that the Yu family doesn't agree?"
He Xiao hissed, "That's quite possible."
From the moment they discovered that He Zheng had feelings for Yu Mingshu, the He family had never formally brought up the matter with the Yu family elders because He Zheng always stopped them. If they were the woman's elders, they would also suspect that the He family was not sincere.
Tao called over the old woman from the storeroom and said seriously, "We were impolite in this matter. Quickly go to the storeroom and find some decent items. I will visit Madam Wu in Yongning Ward in a couple of days."
The two people having a secret rendezvous under the moonlight at the other end of Chongren Lane were unaware of the decision the He family had made.
He Zheng looked down at the woman resting her head on his shoulder. His heart, which had been restless since leaving the Duke's mansion, suddenly calmed down and was filled with a feeling of contentment.
Before them was the moonlight, behind them was a warm tent, there were no family matters or trivialities, only the two of them leaning against each other in the world, what more could he ask for in such a life?
Seeing her slowly open her eyes, sit up straight, and stretch her neck, He Zheng asked softly, "What did the Crown Prince say to you when he kept you alone?"
"Good news." Yu Mingshu smiled smugly at him. "I've been promoted too."
"The Imperial Attendant?"
"No, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, the Junior Court of Imperial Sacrifices."
He Zheng was slightly surprised and sighed, "You are indeed a pillar of the state in the eyes of your cousin, the Crown Prince. With this speed of promotion, no one else can catch up."
Yu Mingshu gently patted his chest, "Stop making such sour remarks, you're being petty."
She didn't know which words aroused the interest of the man in front of her, but He Zheng suddenly put one hand through her arm and hugged her shoulder tightly, while using the other hand to lift her knees, picked her up and walked into the house.
Yu Mingshu took the opportunity to put her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, "What are you doing?"
He Zheng glanced at her, his gaze suddenly falling into a pair of bright, smiling eyes, which made his throat tighten.
He said in a hoarse voice, "I miss you."
He Zheng carried her back to the inner room and gently placed her on the couch.
Yu Mingshu couldn't help but recall some awkward and unpleasant experiences. She raised her hand to keep him outside the bed curtains, her eyes flickering slightly. Then, seeing his unnoticed, burning gaze... she finally softened.
As long as the hardware is decent, experience is gained through repeated practice.
She then hooked her arm around his neck, untying the belt along his collar, her voice barely audible.
"Keep it down, I have to go back to Yongningfang tomorrow."
…
The next day at noon, the sun shone brightly.
Yu Mingshu stayed on the soft couch until the sun was high in the sky. Seeing that noon was approaching, she knew that if she didn't get up soon, she would miss her lunch at Yongningfang. So she reluctantly changed into a light robe, casually combed her hair into a bun, and went out under the scorching sun.
He Zheng was quite thoughtful, knowing to prepare a carriage for her, with soft cushions inside and a lumbar pillow for her.
She leaned half her body into the car, and seeing this, she felt a warmth in her heart. She paused for a moment before getting into the car and settling in.
He Zheng tried to follow her in, but as soon as he poked his head out, she pushed him out of the car.
Seeing the tired look on her face, He Zheng couldn't help but feel guilty. Could it be that she had gone too far last night and was still angry?
Yu Mingshu glared at him and said in a low voice, "Don't you know what it means to avoid suspicion?"
He Zheng muttered to himself, "They never used to be so open about it, but now they're trying to avoid suspicion. Doesn't that just make them more suspicious?"
Forced by the other party's slightly annoyed gaze, he still retreated and rode a white horse in front of the carriage.
Having not returned to Yongningfang for a long time, Yu Mingshu was genuinely surprised to see the guards standing in front of Xie Huaijin's house and the seal on the door.
After getting out of the car, she looked back several times, until she entered her own courtyard and closed the gate. Then she couldn't help but whisper, "The evidence against the Xie family was all leaked by Xie Huaijin. Why is the Emperor so wary of him?"
"You feel sorry for him?" He Zheng raised an eyebrow.
Upon hearing this, Yu Mingshu slapped his arm, "Are you even being reasonable?!"
He Zheng remained silent.
The Yu family members who came out to greet them were all taken aback by this scene.
Although He Zheng, Ming Shu, and Sanlang have been friends for many years, things are different now. He Zheng has been granted the title of Marquis and has a noble status.
The fact that the Marquis did not forget his old friend shows his loyalty and righteousness, but for his old friend to lay a hand on him is rather arrogant and rude.
Yu Mingshu only then realized that this was not her and He Zheng's private time, so she quickly withdrew her hand, pretended nothing had happened, and bowed to her mother.
He Zheng then called out "Hello, Auntie," which startled Wu Qiuniang quite a bit.
How come she remembered that He Erlang had never called her "aunt" before?
Yu Dan vaguely sensed that the atmosphere between the two men in front of him had changed. He cautiously scrutinized his good brother from head to toe, stepped forward, cupped his hands, and tentatively addressed him as "Lord Marquis".
He Zheng slapped him on the back and said irritably, "Trying to pull this on me? Have we grown distant?"
Yu Dan said with a hint of resentment, "Isn't it because our friendship has faded? You came back from Youzhou and rushed to Liangzhou without stopping. I wanted to tell you some good news in person, but when I went to Chongrenfang to inquire, I found out that you had left the city again!"
He Zheng decisively changed the subject, putting his arm around his shoulder and heading towards the main room. "What good news? It's not too late to tell me now."
Yu Dan's expression became even more resentful. "You really are oblivious to what's going on around you."
Yu Mingshu couldn't stand it and spoke up for him: "Sanlang's ranking has soared this year, making him second in the Mingfa examination. After review by the Ministry of Personnel, he is now serving as the Registrar of the Jingzhao Prefecture, assisting the Legal Advisor in handling litigation matters."
Yu Dan said happily, "It's still my elder sister who cares about me."
He Zheng asked himself honestly, and realized that he had indeed devoted himself to Yu Mingshu these days and hadn't thought much about his brother who was still struggling in the sea of learning. He could only laugh awkwardly.
"That's good. This job aligns with your aspirations, and you will be a well-known and respected official in the future."
Upon hearing him mention the phrase "having a name and a place," Yu Mingshu, who was drinking tea nearby, raised her eyelids slightly.
Their eyes met, and He Zheng casually looked away. Yu Mingshu, however, didn't move. Sure enough, she caught him sneaking glances at her before long.
He Zheng felt bitter. He hadn't seen the Yu family for over a year, and they treated him much more politely, making him feel like an outsider.
If Yu Mingshu hadn't been so unwilling to let the secret slip, he really wanted to press Yu Dan's head down and hear him call him brother-in-law.
Jiang Ruan sat down next to Yu Dan, took his hand and began to complain: "What's so good about it? The affairs of the Jingzhao Prefecture are numerous and complicated. You are just a minor clerk. When you get there, you can only take orders from others. It is said that you are in charge of litigation and prison matters, but in reality, you are doing copying and writing. It is not only hard on your hands and eyes, but you also can't get any credit."
"Is that so?" He Zheng frowned, glanced at Yu Dan's expressionless face, and said cheerfully, "If anyone asks you to copy documents again, just refuse. If anyone dares to give you a hard time, tell them to come to the Marquis of Pingyan's residence and argue with me."
Yu Mingshu noticed that he had fallen back into his old habit.
“Isn’t that a bad idea? People will say I’m abusing my power…” Yu Dan hesitated.
He Zheng clicked his tongue and said, "What do you mean by bullying others by abusing one's power? What is our relationship? It's only natural for you to borrow my power."
Yu Dan stared at him suspiciously, "Brother He, it seems we haven't become sworn brothers yet."
The implication is that the relationship hasn't reached that stage yet.
He Zheng was speechless.
Jiang Ru'an didn't glean much brotherly affection from these righteous words. Her gaze was fixed on Yu Mingshu, and she said coquettishly, "Elder sister, you have influence with His Highness the Crown Prince and know many people. Can't you think of a way to find a new place for our husband?"
Yu Dan was surprised that she dared to talk nonsense in front of the guests, and quickly rebuked her, "Sister would never do such a thing as abusing her power for personal gain."
Yu Mingshu asked patiently, "Which government office do you hope Sanlang will be transferred to?"
Jiang Ruan's eyes lit up, thinking to himself that there was hope, and he blurted out: "The Censorate, the Ministry of Justice, the Court of Judicial Review, any of them will do, it's better than staying in the Jingzhao Prefecture doing odd jobs!"
Yu Mingshu remained noncommittal, then asked, "Your father works in the Ministry of Justice. Has Sanlang discussed this matter with him?"
Jiang Ruan stammered, her voice suddenly becoming much softer, "My father is of low status and his voice carries little weight; even if he wanted to help, he couldn't get a word in edgewise."
Yu Dan quickly stopped her and said to Yu Mingshu, "Sister, don't listen to her. Jingzhao Prefecture is fine. I'm not going anywhere."
Yu Mingshu looked at him and then at Jiang Ruan, whose face was full of dissatisfaction, and said with a smile, "You two can come and discuss this with me when you have matched up your stories."
After the family finished lunch, Yu Dan made an excuse to send Jiang Ru'an away, leaving only Yu Mingshu in the study.
As soon as the door closed, Yu Mingshu saw him staring at her with a solemn expression.
"Sister, you've gotten together with He Erlang?"
Yu Mingshu paused, instinctively adjusting her collar, her knuckles frozen on the thin silk fabric. She quickly racked her brain for a moment. She had clearly checked before leaving the house; there were no marks on any skin that might be exposed.
How did you figure that out?
Yu Dan's face flashed with an "I knew it" expression, and he said with certainty, "You rarely had physical contact with him before, but you crossed the line today."
Yu Mingshu was speechless, silently reflecting on his lack of caution; he had only just returned home, and Yu Dan had already seen through him.
"You're quite perceptive." She didn't want to say more, and before Yu Dan could press for details, she countered with, "Were you telling the truth in the hall just now?"
Yu Dan was stunned. "Which sentence?"
"Is staying in the capital city your true desire?"
"certainly!"
Yu Dan answered without hesitation. Seeing the doubt on Yu Mingshu's face, he simply sat down next to her and explained, "Ru'an is right. The Jingzhao Prefecture does have a lot of things to do and it is complicated. But so what? All kinds of cases concerning the livelihood of the people in the entire Chang'an City must first be handled by the Jingzhao Prefecture."
"In the hall of the Jingzhao Prefecture government, I have heard the cries of the poor and suffering, seen the hypocritical tears of the wicked, witnessed the tragedy of evil going unpunished, and occasionally seen a gratifying verdict. I know very well that this is the place I want to be right now."
Yu Mingshu was somewhat surprised that he would say such a thing.
"The Three Judicial Offices gather all the difficult and important cases from across the country. Their understanding of the benefits and harms to people's livelihoods may not be as profound as that of the Capital Prefecture. Do you really not want to take another step forward?"
Yu Dan laughed, "The three judicial departments mostly do review work. Sister, do you think I, a law student who has just entered the world, can clearly handle a major case involving the whole country?"
A scholar who has been away for three days should indeed be viewed with new respect.
Yu Mingshu patted his arm with satisfaction and asked, "Why didn't you explain these things to your sister-in-law?"
“I told you, she doesn’t understand the seriousness of the case; all she can see are the arrogant faces of those people in the Jingzhao Prefecture.” Yu Dan said helplessly, “However, Ru’an was also thinking of me and had no bad intentions.”
Yu Mingshu laughed and said, "You two aren't arguing anymore?"
Yu Dan seemed oblivious to the teasing tone in her voice, and shook his head, saying, "We stopped arguing a long time ago."
On the way back, He Zheng finally got Yu Mingshu's permission and climbed into the carriage, brazenly embracing her waist.
"If Sanlang really wants to be transferred, would you help him get it done?"
“We can give it a try.” Yu Mingshu nestled into his arms. “But I don’t think I have that much influence.”
"I thought you couldn't tolerate even a speck of dust, not even your own brother asking you for a favor." He Zheng gently brushed a stray hair from her forehead.
Yu Mingshu was speechless. "I'm just transferring his work unit, which means he'll be doing odd jobs in a different government office. It's not like I'm telling him to become the Censor-in-Chief, Minister of Justice, and Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review tomorrow."
He Zheng seemed to be thinking about something, and then said, "Pick an auspicious day, and I will go to the Jingzhao Prefecture."
Yu Mingshu tilted her head slightly. "What are you going to do?"
He Zheng laughed heartily, "Of course, it's to support my brother-in-law."
Yu Mingshu pinched him, "I haven't even let you in yet, what are you shouting for?"
He Zheng seemed to feel no pain at all, gripping her chin and pressing her against the back of the chair.
A storm is brewing.
Yu Mingshu cursed under his breath, "We're in the car! Behave yourself!"
The other person seemed not to hear her. She raised her hand to push him away, but he suddenly changed his usual good temper and grabbed her wrist tightly, pressing it above her head.
Having had his fill, He Zheng released her lips and whispered triumphantly in her ear, "It's only a matter of time."
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