"What do we do here on the third day of the third lunar month?" He Youyou asked Butler Qian.
Steward Qian said, "The customs of Jizhou are no different from those elsewhere. Officials and commoners alike cleanse themselves by the flowing water in the east, washing away impurities and grime. Among them, there are especially many young women who walk together by the water, playing, singing, and dancing. Therefore, the third day of the third month is also known as the 'Daughters' Festival'."
He Youyou stroked her chin: "Especially many daughters?"
Isn't this exactly what she wanted?
When she gave Han Wenzheng a puberty health class last time, she talked about why people get love-struck.
I haven't met enough people of the opposite sex.
If you see several, you'll naturally stop treating just one like a treasure.
"Old Qian, how many girls go to the riverbank in the east of the city on the third day of the third lunar month?"
When Butler Qian heard her ask this, he didn't understand what she meant.
"That's a lot. I'd estimate at least eight hundred, if not a thousand?"
He Youyou nodded: "Okay, on the first day of the holiday, send a carriage to pick up Ali."
The third day of the third lunar month is an official statutory holiday, and the academy is naturally closed for the holiday as well.
On this day, Han Wenzheng will return, and he must return.
He Youyou was planning to take him to see the world of girls.
This child grew up in the Cuihua Tower and had seen quite a few women.
However, there are certainly not many girls from good families of the same age.
What respectable girl would go to a brothel?
Except for herself.
(He Youyou: I also wanted to broaden my horizons and understand the national conditions and customs.)
On the evening of the second day of the third lunar month, Han Wenzheng was taken home.
He Youyou said, "Ali, let's go play by the river tomorrow."
Han Wenzheng naturally wouldn't object: "I will listen to my mother."
In the dead of night, the sound of horses' hooves rang out.
The housekeeper was sleeping soundly when there was a knock on the door.
He was woken from his sleep and hurriedly put on his clothes and got up.
The person knocking on the door was the gatekeeper's servant.
The doorman whispered a few words in his ear, but before he could finish speaking, Butler Qian hurried toward the gate.
Upon opening the gate, a travel-worn figure stood outside.
The golden crown gleamed, and the black cloak with gold thread was stained with the marks of time.
It was Zhao Changqing.
"Master, why are you here now?" Butler Qian asked in surprise. "Weren't the city gates closed?"
Zhao Changqing raised an eyebrow slightly: "I am an official appointed by the imperial court and have a badge. It's just a matter of getting someone to open a city gate. What's so difficult about that?"
The steward thought to himself: Hey, even the waist token that can open the city gate depends on rank. You're just showing off.
They can't keep a low profile at all.
"Are you here to see the mistress?" Butler Qian asked cautiously.
Upon hearing the words "mistress," Zhao Changqing's expression became slightly unnatural: "I had a holiday for the Shangsi Festival, and since I had nothing to do and nowhere to go, I came back."
The housekeeper was in a dilemma.
He glanced at the large gate behind him and said, "Master, it's the middle of the night, I'm not really comfortable letting you into this house."
Zhao Changqing frowned slightly, his voice cool: "What, I can even knock on the gates of Jizhou, but I can't knock on this one?"
Butler Qian's face was filled with a complex expression.
He took the lantern from the gatekeeper, raised it high, and held it ever higher...
The lanterns illuminated a limited area, but it was enough for Zhao Changqing to see the plaque above.
The plaque bears two large characters in regular script—
He Zhai.
Zhao Changqing was stunned.
He was dumbfounded.
The large character "He" was full of mockery towards him.
"My lord, it's understandable that you treat the Han family as your own. You can say to others that you and Han Silang are close friends. But in your heart, do you also consider the mistress as your wife?"
Zhao Changqing choked.
No...isn't that right?
But the housekeeper read the answer in his eyes.
He sighed deeply in his heart.
“My lord, the mistress is Han Silang’s wife, not your wife. You are no longer Han Silang; in the Han family, you are a guest, here…”
He pointed to the plaque: "You are an outsider."
Zhao Changqing pursed his lips.
He stared intently at the plaque.
Butler Qian knew he was courting disaster; he had said something offensive that his master didn't want to hear.
Even if he doesn't want to listen, he has to talk.
“Master, it’s not appropriate for an outsider, especially a man, to stay at the widow’s house every few days.”
"...She is not a widow."
Butler Qian's face was full of helplessness: "Han Silang is dead. I personally nailed the coffin, held the funeral, built the grave, burned the paper money, and erected the memorial tablet."
"Fake."
Zhao Changqing's eyes were slightly red.
It's all fake, Old Qian knew that perfectly well.
Butler Qian sighed, "Sir, we agreed on this before, and it was your own idea. Why are you going back on your word now?"
Zhao Changqing gritted his teeth and said unhappily, "Old Qian, you've learned to talk back to me now?"
Steward Qian lowered his head: "I dare not. This old servant only wants my master to move forward, leave the past behind, and not look back."
Zhao Changqing remained silent, but his eyes were filled with resentment.
This was his choice. He had always longed to leave this place and break free from everything related to the Han family.
He longs to return to the capital and to be with his family.
But now...
I don't know what's wrong with me.
That longing suddenly faded, diluted by something.
It seems that whether or not we go back is not so important.
Butler Qian bowed deeply, his expression extremely submissive, yet his body remained stubborn, blocking the door and refusing to move.
Zhao Changqing's feet were firmly planted on the ground, and he did not move.
The situation reached a stalemate for a time.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
