Chapter 120: Treasure hunting in the middle of the night, relatives and friends seeing off...
Zhang Ting's lips twitched, and she swiftly pulled her hand back, sternly reprimanding him, "It's late at night, in front of the children, be serious." She glanced down, "You agree, kid."
Is he no longer being proper?
Zong Suyi glanced at her sideways and snorted sarcastically, "Yes, yes, our Lord Zhang is the most proper man. Not only does he dress most dignifiedly during the day, but he also 'doesn't touch his husband's finger' at night."
He covered his slightly swollen buttocks with one hand, his gaze fixed on her, pressing closer step by step. "I wonder who had some shameful dream and beat up her husband." After saying that, he raised his chin and gave her a light snort.
Zhang Ting is innocent; she didn't have any unclean dreams. But besides herself, who can prove her innocence regarding dreams?
She was unfairly blamed and even accused of being hypocritical by her husband. She clicked her tongue helplessly and didn't argue.
"It's my fault." It was indeed my fault, but thankfully the child wasn't hurt.
She then turned to him and asked, "My lord, why did you wake your wife?"
Seeing her admit defeat, Zong Suyi was incredibly proud. He curled up the corners of his mouth, stood on the bed, stood tall, and looked down at her.
He blinked and said mysteriously, "Of course it's a good thing."
"What is it?"
Zong Suyi waved his hand casually, jumped off the bed, and said, "Never mind that, just come with me."
The sudden movement aggravated the injury on his buttocks, causing him to gasp in pain. He gently rubbed it and glared at Zhang Ting.
His rash actions startled Zhang Ting, but when he turned around and glared at her, the huge weight in her heart lifted.
He walked up to Zong Suyi, pinched his fair cheek, and said helplessly, "You are pregnant now, you can't be so reckless anymore, be careful not to hurt the babies."
Upon hearing this, Zong Suyi suddenly came to her senses, hurriedly clutching her stomach, but her stubborn temper flared up as she retorted, "If there's no child, then I can still be reckless, right?"
He stood with his hands on his hips, looking disgruntled; his pouting lips could practically hold an oil can.
"Do you only think I'm important to you because you have a child?"
Here it comes again, here it comes again, here it comes again.
Zhang Ting rubbed her forehead in anguish; this man was simply unreasonable when he acted out. When had he ever acted rashly before? Hadn't she scolded him? All he ever did was nitpick.
Despite this situation, she showed no impatience whatsoever; on the contrary, her heart softened, and she gazed at him with boundless tenderness.
I've heard that pregnant women experience significant mood swings and once they've made up their minds, they won't budge.
Zhang Ting solemnly pressed down on his shoulder, looking directly at him, "I told you long ago that it doesn't matter whether we have a child or not, and that's not an empty statement."
Zong Suyi looked at her blankly, her hands resting on her belly. Suddenly, she saw her smile quietly. "Even if you give birth to a cat or a dog for me, I won't mind."
Zong Suyi blushed slightly, feeling happy again. She glanced at her reproachfully, thinking, "Who would have children with cats and dogs? You're just talking nonsense."
He couldn't help but smile, leaned over and hugged her. "Let's go, I'll take you to find the treasure." His tone was as gentle as a breeze and as sweet as honey.
Treasure?
Fifteen minutes later, Zhang Ting looked at the people digging in the yard, and then at the dark night sky. For some reason, the scene felt strangely familiar.
Finally, Zong Suyi threw down the shovel, clapped his hands, and stood up while holding the wooden box.
He carefully carried the wooden box and handed it to Zhang Ting, a few specks of mud on his fair cheeks. He smiled smugly, "Didn't expect that, did you? I had a backup plan."
The wooden box looked unremarkable from the outside, but when you opened it, you found several silver notes on top and a layer of silver ingots underneath.
A quick glance around revealed approximately one thousand taels.
But he didn't have much savings to begin with.
Zong Suyi's eyes sparkled as she envisioned the future. "This thousand taels isn't much, but I've heard that prices are cheap in Zhangzhou Prefecture. I think it should be enough for us to get through this difficult time. Before the child is born, I can use the remaining silver to do some small business and earn money to supplement the family income. After the child is born, I can also take the child out to earn money."
A gentle breeze ruffled the stray hairs on his cheek, and Zhang Ting tucked them behind his ear. She moved her lips, a thousand emotions stuck in her throat, finally turning into a deep sigh.
“Even if I were completely incompetent, I would never suffer such pain.”
Zhang Ting placed the silver box aside, silently filled in the hole in the ground, and then skillfully covered it with a layer of turf, making it look brand new, with no trace of digging.
Zong Suyi looked at her with suspicion. Her movements and steps were as practiced as if she had done them thousands of times. Could it be that before coming to the capital, his wife really supported herself by farming?
He frowned and looked her up and down, pouting with disdain. She was clearly all show and no substance; his wife was wicked and cunning, hardly an honest woman.
Zhang Ting finished up neatly, straightened up, picked up the wooden box with one hand, and took her husband's hand with the other, leading him into the house.
Under the moonlight, there were two or three specks of mud on her right cheek.
He pressed the man down to sit on the bed, washed his hands with water, and then took a handkerchief, dampened it with water, and gently wiped his cheeks. "I also buried a box of valuables in the old house."
Zong Suyi reached out to wipe the mud off her face, then paused upon hearing this, turning her head in disbelief. "Didn't you say that I was in charge of all the money in the house?"
"Where did this money come from? How come I didn't know about it?"
Zhang Ting lowered her head and chuckled softly, "I was unaware of this money, my lord."
"I...I..." Zong Suyi's eyes darted away. "No one can know about this money, otherwise it could easily cause trouble."
Zhang Ting looked up at him, "I am the same way as your wife."
The two, one standing and one sitting, stared at each other for a long time before suddenly bursting into laughter.
Isn't this a kind of unspoken understanding?
Zong Suyi lay down on the bed, patted the spot next to her, and gestured for her to get on.
He turned slightly to the side, opened his big eyes and asked her, "I learned this from my mother when I was little, when she hid money. Why are you doing this?" His father was very strict with money, afraid that his mother would spend it recklessly.
Zhang Ting leaned quietly against him, many answers flashing through her mind. After a long silence, she finally told the truth: "My family was poor when I was young, so I only felt at ease when I had more money." She smiled slightly and turned her head to look at him.
Zong Suyi's eyes darkened slightly, and a sudden wave of bitterness welled up in his heart. He moved to the side, cupped her face and kissed her tenderly, then pressed her head against his chest and gently comforted her back.
I pictured Xiao Ting, dressed in tattered clothes, digging for grass roots in the mountains when he was hungry and drinking water from the river when he was thirsty, struggling to survive like a wild man.
It's so tragic, his wife is so pitiful. Zong Suyi felt a pang of heartache, her eyes welled up with tears, and her tenderness turned into crystal tears that fell down her cheeks.
His voice was choked with sobs as he patted her back repeatedly, as if comforting a child. “We’ve gotten through the hard times. Things will only get better from now on. I can make incense. Let’s open an incense shop in Zhangzhou Prefecture. It will become more and more successful.”
Zhang Ting clasped her fingers in his hand, raised her eyebrows, and smiled.
"good."
...
The next day, after packing their belongings, the two set off.
I bid farewell to my teachers and friends on the roadside outside the city.
The teacher was getting old, and Zhangzhou Prefecture was too far away for him to travel, so he stayed in the capital. Zhang Ting was very reassured by the three senior sisters' prudent actions.
However, a certain disrespectful old man was always trying to play tricks, and she was afraid that her senior sisters wouldn't be able to handle it, so she gave them a few more instructions.
"The teacher is getting old and needs constant care." If he can't resist his craving for alcohol and goes drinking, then there will be a big problem.
Yang Fuchen understood, "Xiao Si, don't worry. I'll have someone keep an eye on the teacher."
Zhang Shu leaned against the pavilion, feeling smug and ready to show off his skills. Upon hearing this, his eyes widened in shock. "What?!" He was so surprised that his eyes almost popped out of his head.
Everyone burst into laughter.
Fang Ting brought another willow branch today, saying, "After this parting, I can only wait to meet my old friend again." I wonder what the scene will be like then, but I am certain that the person in front of me will be completely different from today.
Zhang Ting embraced her, took the willow branch, and said, "Take care!"
Luo Zijun arrived late, carrying a box of books. She was panting heavily, and her eyes were dark. "Sister, I have nothing else to give you, but this box of books might be of some help. I'll use it to express my gratitude."
The wooden box containing the heavy book was unreadable. Zhang Ting placed it on the carriage, pressed down on Ziju's shoulder, and seeing that she looked unwell, comforted her to rest early, saying that health is the foundation of all endeavors, and if it is ruined, she will only regret it later.
"I'll do whatever you say, sister." Luo Zijun smiled sweetly, her almond-shaped eyes curving into crescents. "I'll keep an eye on things in the capital while you're away, and I'll write to you when the time comes." This whole mess was that wicked husband's fault, but thankfully it turned out alright, a blessing in disguise. Being able to escape the court's strife through this assignment is a good thing.
"If things go smoothly on my end, I'll go see my sister when I get a job outside the area. Don't blame me, okay?"
Zhang Ting patted her head; the puppy she had once rescued had grown up completely.
He instructed, "The situation in the capital is turbulent, so please be careful in everything you do. If there is anything you cannot decide, please write to me."
"I'll wait for you to be transferred to Zhangzhou Prefecture, then we'll have a good drink together."
"Okay! Then I want to sleep side by side with my sister."
Zhang Ting was immediately embarrassed; perhaps it was better to avoid it.
Luo Zijun succeeded in her mischief and burst into laughter.
Zhang Ting laughed, stepped onto the carriage, and waved goodbye to everyone.
As the sun slowly rose higher, the carriage moved further and further away until it gradually disappeared from sight.
At the next pavilion intersection, Zhang Ting met two special people.
They are the Zou and Li sisters from Lütian.
The two rode their horses, and Zou Yueru waved excitedly at her, but didn't come over. Instead, she shouted loudly from afar, "Tingmei, you must be promoted and return to the capital soon! We'll be waiting for you there." They had only arrived in the capital last night and came here to keep watch after hearing the news.
Li An, with dark circles under his eyes, glanced at her indifferently, grabbed his horse, turned and walked away, as if he were just passing by.
Zhang Ting was slightly surprised, but she waved to indicate that they were now further and further apart.
Zong Suyi snuggled into her arms, nestling against her neck affectionately, "We'll meet again."
"Mmm." Zhang Ting gently stroked his hair and responded affirmatively.
She will come back.
...
The carriage stopped at the edge of Jeju Prefecture.
When the kettle ran out of water, Zhang Ting found a clean mountain spring and filled it with water.
The spring water splashed, splashing onto her face.
She first scooped up a handful of spring water and drank it, then casually washed her face with the cool spring water.
Only after finishing did he stand up, satisfied.
The cicadas chirped incessantly, their noise irritating everyone's ears.
A prison van slowly drove up ahead, and the female prisoners inside were disheveled, with gray hair, and looked very wretched.
The officials escorting the female prisoners also needed to fetch water, so their journey was temporarily halted.
Zhang Ting took the water bag, climbed into the carriage, and handed it to Zong Suyi. Only after learning that he was not feeling unwell did she feel relieved and continue on her way.
Just before leaving, she suddenly lifted the carriage curtain and greeted the people inside, "Lord Xu, it's been a long time."
The female prisoner in the prison van looked up blankly, then gritted her teeth and cried out, "Zhang Ting!"
Zhang Ting smiled and returned her earlier words: "Both thunder and rain are the Emperor's grace, Lord Xu, you must accept it well."
A few days ago, the censors jointly impeached the eldest princess for her disregard for human life, with the Xu family being the first to be implicated.
His Majesty dealt with the Xu family swiftly and decisively, employing a three-pronged approach: dismissal, confiscation of property, and exile. Before the individuals involved could even comprehend what was happening, they were bewildered and placed in shackles.
To this day, she remains bewildered.
However, Xu Pin understood everything in a flash!
Her eyes were wide with anger as she struggled fiercely in the prison cart, seemingly oblivious to the pain when the minor official whipped her.
"What are you making a scene for! Behave yourself!"
She acted as if she had gone mad, her eyes filled with hatred for the person in the carriage, hysterically shouting, "Zhang Ting, it was you, wasn't it? It was all your scheme! It was all you, all of you!"
Zhang Ting did not respond to the lowering of the carriage curtain, but directly instructed the driver to set off.
Xu Pin was still going berserk over there, shouting, "Why? Why?!"
He was clearly the winner of this struggle, so why was this brat unharmed while he was the one whose home was ransacked and who was exiled?
-----------------------
Author's Note: Volume Two Complete
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
