Chapter 63 Meeting Him Again
The female workers watched the spectacle with wide eyes. Yuezhi waved her hand, urging them to get back to work. She went to the courtyard, rinsed the remaining fluid off her skin with well water, went to her room to put on her shoes and socks, and changed out of her soiled clothes before coming out.
Liang Zhang stood in the courtyard waiting for her. His handsome appearance stirred her heart, and she couldn't help but lower her eyes.
When she first arrived in Qingzhou City, the prefect helped her a lot when she rented a house and bought a shop. They also had occasional contact. Although they didn't know each other well, their relationship was that of gentlemen.
At first, we just nodded and greeted each other, but before we knew it, we were able to walk side by side.
The warm glow of the setting sun shone on the streets and alleys of Qingzhou City. Liang Zhang accompanied Yue Zhi home, keeping an arm's length between them, with their carriage following far behind.
“I heard from Guard Liang that there are some suspicious eyes watching your shop. I’m worried they might have ulterior motives. If you agree, I’ll have the government handle this matter.”
"Them," Yuezhi said casually, not surprised. "They were arranged by the newlywed lady of the Yu family. Because of her old grudges with Xianglan and knowing that you have dealings with me, sir, she probably wants to use my mistakes to force me to do her a favor. If you have time to deal with it, that would be best."
As business people, she knew that Zhao Meier wouldn't be too ruthless on the surface, but there were always flies buzzing around the shop, which eventually became disgusting.
“Then I’ll have someone take care of it tonight,” Liang Zhang said knowingly.
He turned his head slightly to steal a glance at Yue Zhi's fair and rosy cheeks, and softened his voice, saying, "I originally wanted to visit Mi Guo Zhai more often to support my wife, but I was tied up with official duties."
The man exuded an air of refined scholarliness, which Yuezhi respected and appreciated. She was not unaware of the affection he intentionally or unintentionally showed, but with two children to care for and two shops to manage, she simply did not have the extra energy to engage in romance.
However, since the other party had never seriously expressed anything, she didn't want to create distance first, as if she were taking herself too seriously.
She simply replied politely, "It's kind of you to do this, sir."
I walked slowly with my hands clasped together in front of me. Whether it was the comfortable spring breeze or the warm sunset, the alluring heat in my heart gradually faded.
"My lord, there's no need to trouble yourself with such a trivial matter. You are very busy and your time is precious. Just have Guard Liang or a constable come and tell me about these things."
Liang Zhang remained silent. He had only come to see her under some pretext, but he always felt that after she had a child, she became much more kind and gentle to others, but she was quite distant when it came to romantic relationships.
He also wanted to express his feelings to her, but he was busy with official duties and couldn't focus all his attention on her. If he said it now, he didn't know when they would see each other again, leaving only a heartfelt message that would put her in a difficult position.
In my spare time, I would do things for her and spend some quiet time with her.
Even if I can't have her, I'm happy just to see her doing well.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at Yuezhi's house.
Just as they were about to say goodbye, a maid from the courtyard opened the door. Seeing that it was Yuezhi returning, she quickly brought out the invitation she had just received a quarter of an hour earlier.
"My lady, the Marquis of Yongding's birthday banquet is in three days. The Marquis's residence has sent an invitation, saying that the Marquis's wife likes the pastries from our Miguozhai and would like to invite you to the banquet to join in the festivities."
Yuezhi was stunned. "I have no dealings with the Marquis of Yongding's mansion. Why would they invite me to a birthday banquet just for a few pastries?"
The maidservant glanced cautiously at Liang Zhang behind her and said reservedly, "The person who delivered the invitation said that ordinary people might not be able to invite the prefect, and that it would be even better if you could go with the prefect."
So they still wanted to use her to build connections with the prefect.
Yuezhi felt extremely bored, especially since the prefect was right behind her listening. He had already mentioned that he was busy with official duties, so how could she possibly ask him to attend a birthday banquet for her sake?
She pressed down the invitation handed to her by the maid, and before she could even utter a word of "forget it," the man below the steps behind her spoke first.
"If you wish to go, I may sit with you at the table, and no one will dare to neglect you."
Upon hearing this, Yuezhi turned to look at him, her face showing hesitation. "The Marquis's mansion doesn't really want to invite me; they clearly want to invite you to the event. Their real intentions are not what they seem."
"Why bother with other people's intentions? The Marquis's birthday banquet will surely attract all the city's dignitaries. Gaining the Marquis's favor will greatly benefit your business and network. Such a good opportunity, why not take it?"
He taught her like a patient teacher, always considering her best interests; it was hard for Yuezhi not to be moved.
He thought to himself: The business is gradually getting on track, and I have the opportunity to get to know the powerful and influential people in the city. Before someone as wicked as Zhao Meier dares to mess with her, he will have to think twice about whether he can afford to offend her.
Seeing that the advantages outweighed the disadvantages, he smiled and agreed, "Since the adults have said so, how can I not go?"
The two agreed to meet again at noon three days later outside the Yongding Marquis's residence to celebrate his birthday together.
*
Three days later, in the morning, inside the Qingzhou Prefecture government office.
Liang Zhang stayed up all night reviewing the case files; his eyes were swollen and his official robes were wrinkled.
After Pei Yao captured the suspect and interrogated him for a few minutes, several thorny old cases of missing persons were uncovered.
The subordinate official, standing to the side with a solemn expression, reported: "Sir, this is the missing persons record from the various counties of Qingzhou over the past two years. It is more than the total number from the previous five years combined. Most of them are young and strong laborers or orphaned girls with no one to rely on."
Liang Zhang took the list, his gaze sweeping over each name and brief information, his brows furrowing deeper and deeper.
In the past, most such missing persons cases were simply dismissed as ordinary wanderings or people going to other places to make a living. If the local government couldn't find the person after searching for several months, they would not investigate further.
According to the suspect's confession about "buying slaves on behalf of others and trafficking innocent people", there have indeed been many more outsiders around Qingzhou Wharf and the market recently. They frequent the slave brokerage and are secretly engaged in the business of buying and selling slaves.
These trades, as long as they don't involve respectable families, are conducted discreetly and normally, and the government can't interfere. However, the appearance of these people and the increase in missing persons seem to be unrelated.
Liang Zhang rubbed his throbbing temples and immediately sent men to the ferry crossing and market to keep an eye on the buyers, starting with them.
As the sun rose higher and higher, he was about to finish reviewing the last few official documents when Pei Yao walked in with light steps. She had just woken up and was full of energy.
She held no official position in the Qingzhou government and did not receive a salary from the government. As she said when she arrived, she spent most of her time relaxing and sightseeing. She was more enthusiastic than anyone else in catching suspects, but she didn't like doing the tedious work of searching everywhere like a headless fly, looking for clues, and dealing with trivial disputes.
"Lord Zhang, you've been busy all night again?" she teased deliberately, familiarly joking, "Don't forget you still have to accompany Yue to the Marquis's birthday banquet later. If you don't go back to the manor to change your clothes, you might be late and make Yuezhi lose face."
Upon hearing her mention it, Liang Zhang suddenly remembered the matter and quickly stood up: "Thank you for reminding me, I'll go right away..."
Pei Yao waved her hand and replied readily, "Go ahead, I'll keep an eye on things here, nothing will go wrong."
Liang Zhang smiled gratefully, said no more, hurriedly left the yamen, and returned home by sedan chair.
No sooner had he stepped into the mansion than a figure dressed in a pale yellow brocade dress, looking charming and bright, rushed towards him and grabbed his sleeve without saying a word.
"Prefect Liang! You're finally back!"
Liang Zhang was puzzled and seriously pulled the sleeve back from her hand. "Who is this young lady, and what brings her to my residence?"
The girl straightened her back. "My father is the Sixth Prince. I came to Qingzhou to deliver birthday gifts to the Marquis of Yongding on his behalf."
Liang Zhang stepped back and bowed to him, saying, "Greetings, County Princess."
Pei Xuan'er, unwilling to give up, leaned closer to him. "I'm new to Qingzhou and have heard that the scenery here is beautiful. Why don't you accompany me to see the sights of Qingzhou, Prefect?"
Liang Zhang frowned, glancing at the group of strangers in the courtyard. His expression was quite unpleasant—bringing so many people into the manor without prior notice showed that the Sixth Prince's upbringing was rather poor.
His tone turned cold: "Your Highness is joking. You have so many servants at your beck and call. If you wish to relax, I can send a maid to accompany you for a stroll in the streets."
"I don't want those servants to accompany me, I only want you to accompany me!" Pei Xuan'er stomped her foot and insisted on sticking close to him for no reason.
"Your Highness, I have official duties to attend to..." Liang Zhang tried to decline, as men and women should not be too close.
"What official business could be more important than this county princess, that it can't be delayed even for a moment?" Pei Xuan'er put on a stern face, displaying an unapproachable and domineering demeanor. "Does Prefect Liang look down on me and think I'm not worthy of your company? If that's the case, I'll have to write a letter to my father and let him judge this matter!"
Liang Zhang felt annoyed, and his temples throbbed with pain.
He came to Qingzhou by imperial decree, ostensibly as the prefect, but secretly also to keep a close watch on and restrain the Sixth Prince, who was stirring up trouble in the city. He had not yet made any achievements, so how could he arouse the other party's suspicion too early?
This county princess must be a spy and stumbling block that the Sixth Prince planted under his nose, but he can't openly confront him about it.
If we let her write back to complain, it would give the Sixth Prince an excuse to interfere in Qingzhou, which would ruin everything.
After a moment's hesitation, Liang Zhang suppressed his anger and, for the sake of the bigger picture, could only agree to her request: "Your Highness is too kind. In that case, I will accompany you."
Pei Xuan'er's anger turned to joy, and she smugly beckoned him to leave: "That's more like it, let's go!"
Meanwhile, outside the Yongding Marquis's residence.
Guests arrived one after another, and the gate was bustling with carriages and people, a lively and extraordinary scene.
Hua Chun helped Yue Zhi down from the carriage.
Today, to celebrate her birthday, she specially changed into a brighter outfit: a pomegranate red short-sleeved shirt paired with a tea-white long skirt. The pearl shirt with red glass beads hanging at the waist shone brightly in the sunlight, and the tea-white skirt was made of smooth fabric that swayed gently like flowing water when she walked.
His distinctive air, unlike that of the other wealthy guests, attracted the attention of many people both inside and outside the mansion.
Her black hair was tied in a simple bun, adorned with two silver hairpins on the left and right, and decorated with tea-white gardenia velvet flowers and a few small pomegranate red velvet flowers. A silver hair ornament with three strings of jade beads dangled from it, occasionally touching lightly with her movements, producing a soft, crisp sound.
She was slender, and the red and white dress made her look even more graceful and healthy. Her figure had a just-right plumpness, and her movements were full of gentle charm.
"Whose wife is this? She looks unfamiliar."
"I wonder which lucky gentleman is so fortunate to have such a beauty."
The guests who entered whispered among themselves. Yuezhi overheard a few words, lowered her eyes, and did not rush to enter. Instead, she waited at a distance outside the Marquis's mansion.
A few moments passed, and noon arrived. The guests gradually arrived, but the prefect was nowhere to be seen.
Yuezhi was a little flustered. When she saw the old steward of the prefect's mansion rushing over, he said, "I've finally found you, Lady Yue. The magistrate was held up by something today and said he was very sorry. I will go into the mansion with you and explain the situation to the Marquis."
Is he not coming?
Yuezhi was stunned for a moment. She had dressed up carefully all morning, but suddenly felt that she had lost her luster. Her happy expectations turned into wishful thinking, and she felt embarrassed and ashamed.
Indeed, Lord Zhang was already busy, and his offer to accompany her at that time was probably just a spur-of-the-moment thing.
She wasn't someone special or important to him. Asking him to take time out of his busy schedule to accompany her to her birthday banquet was just helping her expand her network and save face. What benefit would that bring him? It was really putting him in a difficult position...
Yuezhi forced a kind smile. "You don't need to wait for me. Go to the manor first and deliver a message to the Marquis. I'll bring the congratulatory gifts and then go in."
The steward, oblivious to her disappointment, was busy delivering birthday gifts to the Marquis's residence on behalf of his mistress and brought the invitations into the mansion first.
"My lady, the prefect isn't coming. Shall we still go in?" Hua Chun felt awkward seeing all the guests entering looking glamorous and surrounded by servants, while they themselves were dressed simply and alone.
High-ranking families always show respect for appearances before respect for the person. Yuezhi knew that she had only received the invitation because of the prefect's influence, and if the prefect couldn't come, she wouldn't have the nerve to go.
Just as the thought of retreating crossed her mind, a person hurriedly walked past her. Huachun protected her and was bumped by that person.
"Who does he think he is? Doesn't he know where he's going?" Hua Chun was already unhappy, and she complained to the man's back.
No sooner had she finished speaking than a mocking voice came from behind, "Oh, isn't this Lady Yue? What are you doing here in the wind? Could it be that you don't have an invitation and can't enter the Marquis's mansion? You can only watch longingly from behind?"
Turning around, she saw Zhao Meier and Yu Shao walking towards the gate of the Marquis's mansion, looking at her arrogantly and even peering into her carriage.
"Even Yue Niangzi is here, so why isn't Cui Xianglan showing herself? She probably knows she was divorced and is too ashamed to face anyone."
Zhao Meier laughed triumphantly. Yu Shao did not stop her, his eyes wandering inappropriately over Yue Zhi's body. When Zhao Meier realized what was happening, she pinched him, and he finally behaved himself.
Enraged by these two despicable people, Yuezhi suddenly felt rebellious.
She was proud too. They were all merchants, so why should she be looked down upon? She decided to book the birthday banquet.
He called Huachun and went to the front of the mansion to touch the invitation, but found nothing.
Hua Chun panicked and whispered, "I kept it on me the whole time. It was still with me when I got off the carriage. How could it be gone?"
The steward of the Marquis's mansion scrutinized the two women as if they were poor relatives who had come to beg for money, his eyes filled with both wariness and suspicion.
Just then, Zhao Meier and Yu Shao walked over, solemnly took out the invitation, and read it aloud meaningfully, their words laced with laughter, attracting the attention of several guests who had just alighted from their carriages outside.
"The Marquis's mansion is not a place where just any Tom, Dick, or Harry can climb up to. What's the point of showing up without an invitation? It's disgraceful and tarnishes the Marquis's reputation..."
The harsh words stung like needles, and the surrounding gazes were filled with scrutiny and contempt. Yuezhi felt her face burning and wished she could turn around and leave immediately.
I shouldn't have come today.
Knowing full well that the Marquis's birthday banquet was a gathering place for the powerful and wealthy, he still insisted on coming. No matter how carefully he dressed up, in other people's eyes he was just a poor man who couldn't even afford to wear gold.
She was so embarrassed that she wanted to disappear. Just as she was about to leave quickly, a series of neat and powerful hoofbeats approached from afar, drowning out Zhao Meier's sharp mockery.
All eyes, both inside and outside the gate, were drawn to a magnificent carriage that had been escorted by a group of distinguished-looking and solemn guards and stopped in front of the main gate of the Marquis's residence.
Everyone held their breath, and then a young man dressed in a sky-blue brocade robe embroidered with silver thread stepped out of the carriage.
He was tall and handsome, with deep-set eyes, exuding an aloof and noble air that kept strangers at bay.
The steward of the Marquis's residence had already received the news and hurriedly led his men to greet him respectfully: "Welcome, Imperial Envoy, Young Master Zhang!"
The young master Zhang had an indifferent expression, only nodded slightly, and spoke in a deep voice. He was very businesslike, and his demeanor exuded an unquestionable authority. It was clear that he was of noble status and extraordinary background.
"By order of the Emperor, I present a birthday gift to the old Marquis."
Upon hearing that this person was from the capital and had come on the emperor's orders, everyone's attention was drawn to this important figure, and even the common people passing by on the street couldn't help but stop and watch.
—People from the capital are indeed different. A handsome young man with such elegant manners, one might mistake him for a high-ranking official.
The young man walked slowly into the street, and all those who were watching him held their breath. No one saw that his gaze swept over the gate of the mansion seemingly unintentionally, and landed on the beautiful woman at the edge of the gate, whose face was embarrassed and whose clothes were out of place with the guests.
His gaze lingered on her face for only a brief moment, a complex emotion flashing across his eyes as his eyelashes fluttered.
Just then, the steward of the Marquis's residence shouted, "Gentlemen, quickly pay your respects to the Imperial Envoy!"
As if waking from a dream, everyone bowed and knelt down. Yuezhi and Huachun, enveloped by the solemn atmosphere, also subconsciously wanted to follow suit.
Hearing the shouts from inside the mansion gate as he prepared the banquet for his father, the young master rushed over to greet the messenger. He saw the imperial envoy, Young Master Zhang, slowly walk through the kneeling crowd and go straight to a woman he didn't recognize but who was undeniably beautiful.
Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, he reached out and firmly supported her arm, preventing her from kneeling.
Yuezhi was helped up in a daze, still adhering to the etiquette she had learned in the capital, and did not look up at him.
Puzzled, I wondered, what was this person doing?
Before her doubts even came to mind, her keen sense of smell wafted through the breeze as the young man's sky-blue clothes carried his delicate plum blossom scent to her.
She was somewhat dazed. The rare and precious spices were something she hadn't smelled since leaving the capital—it was seven-tenths similar to the incense she used to concoct, but with a few more off-putting notes, like ambergris or sandalwood…
Yuezhi didn't think much of it. Everyone was looking at the imperial envoy, and she wanted to see who he was too, but too many people crowded around, and she was pushed to this side, unable to even see the hem of his clothes clearly.
But why did the imperial envoy come to help her?
Just as he was hesitating whether to ask, the young man asked the butler beside him, "Why won't you let her in?"
The steward approached with a forced smile, "These two women didn't receive invitations. They're just small local merchants. People like them often come to ask for rewards on festive occasions. If the Imperial Envoy is so kind, I'll have someone give them some celebratory money..."
The prince walked to the door and saw that the young man's expression was gradually becoming displeased as he listened to the steward's handling of the situation, so he hurriedly went up to make amends.
"I apologize for the poor Imperial Envoy. My old servant is ignorant and has neglected the two ladies. I will have my mother prepare a separate meal to entertain you both."
The young man's gaze softened, paused, and then fell on Yue Zhi's obediently bowed face. His gaze inadvertently swept over her softly shaped body, her slender hands clasped in front of her, and her flat stomach...
Turning to look at the prince, she unconsciously softened her tone, revealing a hint of gentleness, "This person is my relative; he may join me at the table."
In an instant, all was silent.
Zhao Meier and Yu Shao, who had been arrogant and mocking just moments before, were now kneeling beside him, not daring to raise their heads. Their faces turned deathly pale, and they stared wide-eyed in disbelief.
The prince was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded in agreement, "Alright, please come this way, all three of you."
The young man stepped forward, and Yuezhi looked up in a daze.
She stood beside him, shorter than him, and could only look up at his handsome profile, from his long hair, half-tied and half-down, to the fine strands at his temples, his well-defined ears, his clear jawline, his slender, fair neck, his broad shoulders, and his strong hand gently supporting her arm...
Yuezhi's heart pounded wildly. This face, this figure... faintly overlapped with that person's outline, yet appeared blurred by his aloof authority and distant concern.
He looks like him, but how could it be him?
She found it funny. Almost two years had passed. From the pain and nausea she experienced during her pregnancy because of him, to the relief she felt after giving birth, she had gone through so much and rarely thought about Pei Heng anymore.
But now, because of a completely unrelated young man, he actually felt that he resembled him, and thus began to recall him.
She pursed her lips, stopping her imagination.
The embarrassing situation she had just faced was averted thanks to his help, and Yuezhi felt relieved and very grateful to this young master Zhang.
Together with the young man, led by the heir apparent, she walked through the path that the crowd had parted to make way for her, and under the quiet gaze of countless eyes, she calmly and confidently entered the gates of the Marquis's residence.
The men's section is in the front yard, and the women's section is in the back yard.
As the young master was about to lead Young Master Zhang to his seat, Yuezhi took an extra step forward and said, "I will walk the rest of the way myself. Thank you for helping me out of that predicament earlier."
"It was nothing, don't worry about it." The young man's dark gaze briefly swept across her face before quickly looking away.
According to etiquette, Yuezhi should have lowered her head, taken two steps back, and then turned to leave. However, she was really curious about how stunning this young master Zhang from the capital must be, given that his profile was already so handsome.
The etiquette in local prefectures is not as elaborate as in the capital. She raised her head and, in the sunlight, could clearly see the young man's face.
Deep-set eyebrows, a high nose bridge, a pair of indifferent phoenix eyes, slightly pursed red lips, snow-white or even pale skin, bulging veins on the neck, and even the calluses accidentally revealed on the hands she held up, all perfectly matched the boy in her memory.
Pei Heng...
His name came to mind, but I couldn't utter a sound.
Yuezhi bit her lower lip, her heart felt like it was being squeezed by something, a tightness and a sour pain throbbing within her.
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