Chapter 130 Arriving in Zhangzhou, the menu...
Zhang Ting leaned against the car wall, glanced at him, and a smile flashed across her lips.
The carriage swayed and wobbled as it slowly made its way towards Zhangzhou Prefecture.
In the blink of an eye, half a month has passed.
This year is an unprecedented drought, and the land within Zhangzhou Prefecture is scorched and scorching hot.
Lately, Zong Suyi has not even dared to lift the carriage curtain. He is listless and lacks energy, and always prefers to curl up on the small couch to sleep.
Right now, he's fast asleep, having kicked off the blankets and sleeping soundly against the mat.
Zhang Ting put down the book in her hand and pulled the blanket over his slightly protruding belly.
She counted the days, muttering that it was almost March. The journey had been arduous, and the weather had been terrible. Fortunately, Zong Suyi was physically resilient.
The carriage stopped at a roadside alley near the outskirts.
Zhang Ting slowly leaned out of the carriage and steadily walked over.
Six women stood quietly inside the pavilion, all dressed simply, yet exuding an aura of righteousness. The woman in the lead, in particular, was calm, resolute, and had a serious expression.
Lu You waited for a while, sweating profusely. When he saw Junior Sister Zhang get out of the car, he immediately put on a smiling face and went to greet her, all his solemnity vanishing.
"Junior sister, it's been a long time since we last met. I hope you've been well." Her voice was light and cheerful, full of joy.
Five constables followed closely behind her, staring at the newcomer with a strange look.
With her elegant and graceful appearance, gentle and tall figure, and the dignified and noble air she exuded as her clothes fluttered, one might mistake her for a noble lady from a prominent family.
Is she the Guanyin Bodhisattva that everyone in the neighboring Tongzhou Prefecture talks about?
The constables glanced furtively at their master, whose clothes were tattered and patched, and whose appearance was rough and slovenly. They had heard that the two were fellow disciples, so how come their master looked like he had been dug out of a beggar's den?
The constables looked away, exchanged glances, and felt a sense of disdain.
"Senior Sister Lu, you look radiant. Has the medicine cured you completely?" Zhang Ting asked with a slight bow and a smile.
Lu You was taken aback when he heard this, but then he realized what she meant, put his arm around her shoulder and laughed heartily, echoing, "Junior sister, you truly deserve to be called a divine physician of our time. With your powerful medicine, I have indeed recovered."
Back then, it was thanks to Zhang Ting's idea of sending peaches to warn His Majesty that she was still bedridden, worried and depressed.
The two exchanged pleasantries, both of them sweating profusely.
Seeing that only Zhang Ting and her guards were present, Lu You couldn't help but ask in surprise, "Where is my brother-in-law?"
Zhang Ting turned around and pointed to the carriage, then smiled and replied, "I'm feeling sleepy during my pregnancy, so I'm resting inside. Please don't mind, senior sister."
Lu You was not angry at all, but overjoyed. "Good, good, good! It's a good thing that she's pregnant!" She had been worried about her junior sister who had been married for three years without having any children. Now that she heard the good news, she was finally relieved.
She smiled congratulatoryly, saying that no matter whether the baby was a boy or a girl, her junior sister would at least have a successor.
It's hot outside; staying here any longer is not a good idea.
Lu You came to welcome Zhang Ting today and specially prepared a lot of ice. "Junior sister, why don't you get in the car with me?" After saying that, she hesitated. Her brother-in-law was still in the car next to them. Would it be inappropriate to disturb the young couple?
Zhang Ting nodded slightly, "Of course I will respectfully comply." Having just arrived in Zhangzhou Prefecture, it would be best to find out more about the situation.
Lu You was overjoyed and warmly invited her into the car. The two then talked for a long time about the current situation in Zhangzhou Prefecture.
After the conversation, Zhang Ting felt somewhat depressed. If the situation in Zhangzhou Prefecture was still so serious after a year, the situation in Fengxian County must be even more difficult.
After speaking, Lu You looked at her with a troubled expression, "There is something I need to tell you, Junior Sister."
"Please speak, senior sister. I will listen attentively."
Lu You said, "When I came here, Prefect He specially called me over for a chat. She was overjoyed to hear that you had arrived in the prefectural city today and asked me to invite you to her residence for a welcome dinner."
Prefect He? He Ying's mother?
Zhang Ting nodded slightly, already having made up her mind.
He readily agreed, saying, "Since it is Lord He who has invited me, I will naturally attend the banquet." It would also be good to meet the local bigwigs and find out their background.
Lu You lowered his head in shame and sighed deeply, "My junior sister has come to Zhangzhou Prefecture to take up her new post, and I should host a welcome dinner for you, but..."
Zhang Ting, however, didn't seem to care at all and understood her situation.
"Senior sister, you flatter me. The court urgently summons you back to the capital. It is already extremely difficult that you managed to wait until today to see me. Since you have this intention, it is not too late for you to hold a welcome banquet for me when the court returns to the capital."
Lu You smiled, "I knew you were open-minded and didn't fuss over trifles." This time, she was transferred back to the capital, and she was about to be promoted.
He patted Zhang Ting on the shoulder and said firmly, "I'll be waiting for you in Kyoto."
The messengers outside were urging us that the time had come.
Zhang Ting said to her, "Take care, Senior Sister," and then turned and got off the carriage.
Watching Lu You's carriage disappear into the distance, Zhang Ting wiped the sweat from her face, frowned, and glanced sideways at the sky, which looked as hot as if there were nine suns overhead. She rarely cursed like that.
"What kind of weather is this?!"
She impatiently tugged at her completely sweat-soaked clothes and swaggered back, saying, "To the prefectural city."
As she climbed into the carriage, a wave of icy air washed over her, and she sighed deeply, feeling as if she had come back to life.
Zhang Ting met with Senior Sister Lu and chatted for a long time before returning covered in sweat. Meanwhile, Zong Suyi remained unmoved, still fast asleep in the same spot, clutching her blanket.
Zhang Ting picked up a fan and fanned himself to cool down, staring intently at his...stomach.
Could it be that she's pregnant with a sleeping goddess?
It was inappropriate to bring Zong Suyi, a pregnant man, to the evening banquet. Zhang Ting settled him in an inn and assigned Li Ruilian, Liu Da, and Wang Wu to protect him. Afterward, he took Zheng Er to the government office.
On the other side, Prefect He had started arranging the banquet long ago, and it was now in its final stages.
The servant beside her was quite puzzled. "My lady, isn't he just a minor county magistrate? Why is he making you take him so seriously?"
The highest-ranking official in the prefectural city personally handled every aspect of organizing the welcoming banquet; anyone who didn't know better would think the emperor had arrived.
Prefect He was checking the menu for the evening banquet. After she finished, she closed the "menu" with satisfaction.
Hearing this, he replied perfunctorily, "Zhang Ting is Ying'er's good friend. Since she has come to Zhangzhou Prefecture, I, as her mother, should naturally welcome her home."
"My lady, you're just trying to fool me." The servant pouted, not believing a word. Even if that little prodigy He Ying were here, you wouldn't be this attentive. If he didn't know Zhang Ting was a woman, he would have thought he was one of this old woman's male confidants!
Seeing that he was still trying to take advantage of the situation, Prefect He looked indignant and said, "Don't meddle in women's affairs. What do you know!"
She slammed her hand on the table. "Go back to the backyard and embroider!" This man is just spoiled.
The servant was startled and ran away trembling.
After flipping through the "menu," Prefect He examined the gift list, making sure nothing was missing. Then, she crossed her legs and hummed a local folk tune.
At night, the He residence was brightly lit, as if it were daytime.
A gentle breeze blew, billowing the light gauze curtains. Servants filed in, and fruits and delicacies were laid out on the table. Music from stringed and wind instruments began to play.
With the temperature remaining high for an extended period, some people even brought over numerous ice basins, leaving them exposed to the elements—a level of extravagance rarely seen in the world.
Zhang Ting was greeted with a smile and seated by Prefect He, who then offered her a cup of wine. "Oh, Lord Zhang, you are indeed as my daughter said, with extraordinary elegance and an air of nobility."
“My daughter is far away in the capital, but upon hearing that you are coming to Zhangzhou Prefecture, she specially asked me to entertain you in a good manner as a host.”
Zhang Ting also picked up a wine glass from the side and returned the toast, saying, "Lord He, you flatter me. I am of average appearance and cannot be described in words." He watched to see what she would do next.
Prefect He was overjoyed and praised Zhang Ting extensively, saying things like how intelligent and studious he was, how quick-witted he was, how virtuous he was, and how he was a role model for students. He also said that as an official in the court, he had a bright future ahead of him and that the people were fortunate to have him come to Zhangzhou Prefecture. In short, he used the most flattering words possible.
After he finished speaking and saw her shyly lower her head, Prefect He turned around and returned to his seat, satisfied.
To say that Prefect He liked Zhang Ting? Not at all. She was interested in the 'network of connections' behind Zhang Ting.
Since Xu Pin's downfall, Prefect He has been living in constant fear and anxiety, repeatedly reviewing the events that have unfolded, and has been unable to sleep for several nights.
The court was thrown into chaos, with constant arguments and uproar that enraged His Majesty. The situation was so serious, and it was clearly an impeachment of Zhang Ting, yet the incident ended with Prime Minister Xu being exiled and his property confiscated, and many corrupt officials being implicated.
And what about Zhang Ting? She was released unscathed?
On his way to his new post, he traveled around, enjoying the countryside and even cooking a lot of wild game. With such a leisurely attitude, let's wait and see how this farce ends.
Who would believe she doesn't have a princess as her backer?
That night, after a moment's thought, Prefect He was so frightened that he stood up abruptly, utterly astonished.
The ultimate beneficiary of this whole affair turned out to be the Fifth Princess!
His Majesty has few children, with only four daughters still alive. With the downfall of Prime Minister Xu, the eldest princess lost favor and was no longer in the Emperor's favor; the deposed Crown Princess was imprisoned in Yingzhou Prefecture, never to step out again; the fourth princess was of low birth and dull-witted, and was not well-liked; only the fifth princess was of noble birth, deeply favored by the Emperor, and had a good reputation both in and out of the court, with the support of Prime Minister Gao and his group.
The position of Crown Princess is undoubtedly hers.
Reflecting on the entire sequence of events, Prefect He felt a chill run down his spine.
Could this be a trap orchestrated by Zhang Ting and the Fifth Princess? Their aim is to bring Xu Pin down, cause the First Princess to lose power, and thus sever her chances of becoming the Crown Princess?
Prefect He reviewed the entire game: Zhang Ting deliberately angered Xu Pin, making her hate him, then quietly exposed the existence of 'Zong Suyi', giving her an opportunity to attack him, so that the Fifth Princess could ultimately reap the benefits.
What a cunning scheme!
Zhang Ting is truly no ordinary person; he actually started thinking about how to plan this three years ago!
It's truly terrifying.
Now that Prime Minister Xu has fallen from power, life must go on. Prefect He knows that her foundation has crumbled and she is walking a tightrope. She does not want to make an enemy of the terrifying Zhang Ting, and she also wants to switch allegiance to the Fifth Princess.
Given his past entanglements with the First Princess, currying favor with Zhang Ting and having her introduce him to the Fifth Princess was the best course of action for him.
As for the relationship with the daughter, it's like offering a pillow when someone is sleepy, or borrowing her for use.
Similarly, Prefect He knew that he would have to go to great lengths to please such a cunning strategist.
What woman in the world isn't attracted to beauty? After careful consideration, Prefect He put herself in Zhang Ting's shoes and specially found a number of courtesans—pure, seductive, aloof, cute and lively, dignified and pretty—and made them into a 'menu' to give Zhang Ting a big gift at the banquet.
Alas, all these fine young men are virgins; she herself is reluctant to use them.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
