Chapter 166 Even mortal beings have their sorrows. ...
Yang Fuchen arrived in Fengxian, weary from his long journey.
She stayed in Zhangzhou Prefecture for two days, admiring her junior sister's achievements before galloping off to Fengxian. Along the way, she was deeply moved and touched. She encountered a few people and talked with them, and they all expressed their admiration and respect for the former "Disaster Management Director".
They affectionately and respectfully called Zhang Ting their 'guardian angel'.
How can a mortal being be compared to a god? What a magnificent and reverent recognition this is! It strips Xiao Si from his ordinary physical body and elevates him to the status of a supreme deity.
Yang Fuchen wasn't there, so he doesn't know how dangerous or heart-wrenching the situation was. But the people's unanimous praise and veneration of her as a goddess—isn't that enough to attest to his junior sister's achievements?
The answer is yes.
She was overwhelmed with excitement, her whole body trembling. She felt fortunate that the people of Zhangzhou Prefecture had been given a new lease on life, and she was also happy for her junior sister's enormous achievements.
She once traveled to Zhangzhou Prefecture to study and helped the government manage the drought. At that time, the earth was crying out, the land was covered in scorched earth, and corpses littered the countryside and streets. How many people died of heat and hunger? But now, everything has changed. There are no more people displaced, no more famine. Not only that, they live in clean and sturdy houses, eat sweet rice, or grow new crops or build new roads, and have even secured large orders.
Everything in Zhangzhou Prefecture is developing into a paradise that was unimaginable before.
Yang Fuchen closed his eyes tightly, and all of this was thanks to his junior sister, who had sown seeds across the barren desert, turning it into an oasis and leading the parched and desperate people toward a bright and splendid future.
She herself felt honored to have such a junior sister who devoted herself to the country and overcame all difficulties for the people.
She opened her eyes, her gaze resolute and unwavering. People always say that environment determines one's altitude, and that's true. Xiao Si's kindness, benevolence, and noble morality constantly influenced and reminded her.
With such an outstanding and admired junior sister, I can't afford to slack off and embarrass her.
She took a deep breath and knocked on the gate of the Zhang residence.
...
Zhang Tingzheng picked up his pen, frowned, and held his hand in mid-air, hesitating to put it down.
A strange feeling welled up inside her, and she wanted to send a message to her teacher, asking her to help her get the position of 'Prefect'.
But the teacher has long since left officialdom. As the saying goes, once the person leaves, the tea grows cold. Without any mutual benefit, who will remember you? And who would lend a helping hand in times of crisis?
If the teacher were to appeal to their past relationship because of her, he would likely be scorned and humiliated...
She was still too impatient.
Perhaps we should have stopped Prefect He's memorial recommending her back then. That way, although we missed the opportunity, the court and the country would not have been thrown into turmoil because of her, and everyone would have lived in peace.
She is still young, just turning twenty-seven this year, while King Sengtay is getting old. Whether she can outlive King Sengtay and wait until he passes away, she will have the resources to take a gamble.
But now, taking another step forward is as difficult as climbing to the sky; taking a step back is just another step back...
Zhang Ting's eyes narrowed. Her power was ultimately too weak, and her time was too short... She still needed to accumulate a deeper foundation to contend with the imperial power.
She took a deep breath and slowly put down her pen.
"Knock knock—"
"Go in," she said softly, rubbing her forehead.
Just as the rustling sound of fabric rubbing against each other began, light and delicate footsteps approached, followed by warm fingers landing on her head and gently massaging it.
The slightly bitter yet rich fragrance emanating from the newcomer lingered around her nose, gradually relaxing her tired and tense mind.
"How's the new incense I recently got? I had a doctor prescribe it; they say it calms the mind and soothes the nerves, helping with sleep and sedation." The clear, gentle voice spoke, the movements and sounds like flowing water, nourishing a parched heart.
Zong Suyi felt sorry for his wife, who had been busy until midnight lately and was always tense as she worked hard outside. However, he could not relieve her pressure from her career, so he could only try to ease her fatigue by taking care of small things at home.
"Why aren't you wearing your favorite agarwood?" Zhang Ting vaguely remembered that it was his favorite. He didn't know the specific reason, but it was probably a habit that noble children from prominent families had developed since childhood.
Agarwood? That was the incense they used to pledge their love. He couldn't help but smile, his movements becoming even gentler, as if he were immersed in soft cotton, exuding a gentle, spring-like fragrance.
"I often carry it with me, but I always want to try something new." He said with a slight lilt, his long, slender, white fingers pinching her cheek. "You naughty thing, why don't you tell me how this fragrance is? Do you enjoy it?" Just like you enjoy me?
Zhang Ting's lips curled slightly as she pulled his hand into her palm. Suddenly, she looked up into his eyes and couldn't help but have a mischievous thought. "It's not to my liking." Her words were flat and indifferent, as if she were telling the truth.
Zong Suyi's smile vanished instantly, his delicate brows furrowing. Was it ineffective? Or did his wife find the smell too strong? Every spice and herb was a top-quality one selected according to the doctor's prescription; he had carefully considered it before presenting it to her.
Did good intentions backfire?
The more he thought about it, the more upset he became. His face darkened, and he pouted, saying dejectedly, "Have I messed everything up?" Not only had he ruined his wife's career, but he had also failed to pave the way for her at home.
He couldn't help but sniffle, a bitter feeling welling up inside him. He felt utterly useless, incapable of doing anything right, a complete burden. If his wife had married someone else, she would have long since risen to great heights and achieved great success, instead of being banished to this desolate place to suffer because of him.
She opened her mouth, realizing... she might have gone too far?
Feeling guilty, Zhang Ting touched her nose and pulled her husband into her arms to coax him, "My lord did very well, it was my fault." She coughed awkwardly twice and hesitantly admitted, "Actually, I was lying to you just now. The new fragrance on you was slightly bitter and calming, very soothing and calming."
My husband is a delicate person, prone to tears.
Zong Suyi's grief froze, like a compass stopping, stuck there without moving or making a sound.
Zhang Ting was wondering when he felt a sharp pain in his lower back.
Zong Suyi gritted his teeth, his handsome face contorted in anger. "I'll teach you to lie to me again! You old liar!" He didn't lessen the pressure on his hand, his chest heaving violently with rage. "Calling you a bad thing is not an exaggeration at all, hmph!"
Still not satisfied after pinching her, Zong Suyi's hair stood on end. She bared her teeth and claws, pinching her face, "Liar, bad guy, I'll teach you to bully me! I'll teach you to bully me!"
Sitting on Zhang Ting, Zong Suyi would definitely fall if she pushed him away, but she would suffer a lot if she didn't. So she had no choice but to resist her husband's encirclement while holding the line and preventing the enemy from breaking in.
The two were entangled, their hands moving so fast they left afterimages.
"My lord, you're too slow, too slow~" Zhang Ting parried his moves with ease, and even couldn't help but gloat, "If you want to break through my domain, you'll need to go back and practice for another ten years or so."
Zong Suyi was furious! How dare this bastard mock him! His cheeks turned red with anger, and unable to win with his hands, he resorted to biting her with his mouth, revealing his two sharp canine teeth.
Zhang Ting's expression changed. She knew Zong Suyi's teeth well, so she quickly dodged to the side. "My lord, it would be unfair of you to win with words."
Zong Suyi sneered, "Hmph, dealing with a bastard like you, talking about morality and fairness is just asking for trouble." He realized, wasn't that right? To deal with someone as shameless as Zhang Ting, you need to be even more shameless!
Zong Suyi thought he had grasped the essence of defeating her, and his bites became even faster, but still to no avail. "A dignified and noble woman, have the guts to let me take a bite!"
The provocation had no effect on Zhang Ting. Although she had some difficulty dodging, she managed to avoid it all and even mocked Zong Suyi, saying, "My lord, you should practice cooking more. Your wife won't laugh at you."
He spat fiercely, his anger flaring, and he used more force. Zhang Ting hurriedly dodged, and the two of them fell to the ground together. Fortunately, it was winter and there was a blanket on the ground, so it didn't hurt.
Zong Suyi lay flat on the ground, letting out a low groan, while Zhang Ting straddled him. The position was somewhat sensitive. Just as she was about to pull away, she saw the beauty on the ground with her black hair cascading down like a waterfall, her face delicate and gentle, her eyes upturned with a captivating blush, and her moist eyes looking at her with deep affection, as if a thousand words were left unsaid.
Zhang Ting's heart was pounding, her throat was dry, and she felt as if a fire was burning inside her.
Unable to contain herself any longer, she said in a hoarse voice, "My lord, shall we get up?"
His cheeks flushed red with shyness, and he lowered his head, replying softly, "Mmm."
Zhang Ting pulled him up, and the two sat facing each other. Her eyes glanced at him casually and noticed that his disheveled outer garment was wrinkled and slightly open, revealing a dark stain on his blue inner shirt.
Her movements froze, somewhat stiff—were those beads of sweat from their playful antics?
Under her gaze, his face flushed crimson, and he lowered his head even further, so embarrassed he wished he could find a secluded spot to hide himself. He stammered weakly, "You, you shouldn't look anymore..."
A sweet and rich milky aroma filled the air, like a servant suddenly spilling milk used for making milk cakes—intense, sweet, and lingering, impossible to ignore.
The scene fell silent instantly; no one spoke.
Zong Suyi's face turned so red that even the back of his ears turned pink. As if he could no longer bear this embarrassing situation, he scrambled to his feet from the ground, clutched his collar, and was about to rush out the door.
A pair of firm and strong hands grabbed him, and a rare blush appeared on Zhang Ting's fair and beautiful face. Her eyes darted around, as if she was extremely embarrassed.
"Does it hurt?" she asked, scratching her head helplessly.
Zong Suyi gripped the hem of his clothes tightly, his heart pounding like a drum. He didn't dare look at her at all. After a long while, he finally heard her say in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Yes, it hurts a little."
She paused, then slowly said, "Xiaoyi, do you need my help?" Her throat bobbed slightly.
Zong Suyi couldn't help but want to look at her, and unexpectedly met a pair of deep and captivating eyes.
He gently bit the inside of his lip and said shyly, "Okay."
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