Chapter 201: Arrival in Yingzhou, marital discord...
After entering the mansion, officials from all over Yingzhou Prefecture seemed to have caught wind of the event and rushed to offer their congratulations. The gifts they brought were piled up as high as a small mountain. Even a powerful dragon cannot suppress a local snake. As the lord of the mansion, Zhang Ting changed into a dignified casual outfit and went out to greet the guests.
"Lord Zhang is a young talent, and we all admire him greatly. With you as the head official of this prefecture, how can Yingzhou Prefecture not prosper!"
His colleagues echoed his sentiments, and after the laughter subsided, someone tentatively asked, "Sir, you are also a handsome man. I wonder if you would consider taking a husband?"
However, before Zhang Ting even arrived in Yingzhou Prefecture, they had already figured out her background, her political achievements, and even those dubious rumors.
As for whether her lack of sexual function was true, no one really cared. It was a political marriage, after all, a union of interests. If it couldn't produce offspring for both families, it wasn't unacceptable.
"I am no longer young, and I only wish to revitalize Yingzhou Prefecture to repay His Majesty's favor," she said with a slight smile, politely declining, while inwardly cursing these wretched old women for their disloyalty and their attempt to kill her!
Zhang Ting didn't know what other people's homes were like, but having Zong Suyi in her family was already enough of a hassle. If another clingy person joined them, who knew what kind of battlefield their home would become?
She probably has nowhere to hide and can only let the demon suck her life force back and forth!
Seeing that she had no intention of getting married, everyone laughed it off.
After finally getting rid of this group of people, local powerful figures have arrived.
Having just arrived in Yingzhou Prefecture and seen off a large number of officials, Zhang Ting was exhausted and had to deal with other people. However, she had no choice but to muster her energy and go out.
The one who arrived was the richest man in the prefecture, surnamed Liu, named Wang. Unlike the other women, she was slender, polite, and very young. She didn't look like a businesswoman, but rather like a frail scholar.
Liu Wang smiled, neither humble nor arrogant, "Thank you for your praise, sir. However, I am only a scholar and dare not presume to show off my limited skills in front of you."
"It seems your family has a long tradition of scholarship and a strong literary culture." Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow. A merchant who was a scholar was clearly from a respectable background. Moreover, he became the richest man in just a few years. His backing was not to be underestimated.
Liu Wang shook his head, "I am just like you, coming from humble beginnings. I passed the imperial examination but could not advance any further. It was only with the help of a benefactor that I have achieved what I have today. Although I cannot serve the country, I am content."
Zhang Ting looked at her with puzzlement. They were close in age and their paths to success were so similar, yet they had taken completely different paths.
A strange feeling arose in her heart, she couldn't explain why, but she didn't think about it too much.
He made a vague remark, "You've really had some good fortune." He didn't ask who her benefactor was, nor what kind of extraordinary encounter she had.
Liu Wang made no attempt to hide his feelings, saying, "I owe my current success to my benefactor. If the opportunity arises, I would truly like to introduce him to you, sir."
This is probably the purpose of her trip. But who would be worth the local tycoon missing the best opportunity to win over high-ranking officials and introduce her to someone?
Zhang Ting didn't respond, only smiling as she looked at her. Since the other party seemed to have something in mind, the initiative was actually in her hands.
Liu Wang was not in a hurry. He ordered his attendant to present the fine wine, saying, "This is a tribute wine from the Western Regions called Immortal Ganoderma Nectar. I obtained this fine wine by chance and would like to invite you, sir, to taste it."
How could tribute wine end up in the hands of merchants?
Zhang Ting frowned. He was really doing terribly; his household didn't even have any tribute silk or wine.
I've worked so hard for so many years, but I'm getting worse as I get older.
Her face remained calm and composed as she smiled gently: "I've only tasted the tribute wine once or twice at palace banquets, I didn't expect that Master Liu's mansion also has it."
"I just wonder, where did you get this wine from?"
Liu Wang laughed heartily, "I have a very good relationship with merchants from the Western Regions. What difficulty would it be for me to ask for a bottle or two?" He seemed completely unaware of the outrageous things he had just said.
Throughout history, tributes from various regions or countries have always been exclusively reserved for the royal family or the suzerain state, and then bestowed upon their subjects by the emperor. There is absolutely no reason for merchants to obtain tributes on their own.
This is a crime of usurping the imperial family, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family.
Zhang Ting felt an itch on her neck and wanted to find a knife to sharpen it.
If you want to die, then die, but don't take her with you.
Zhang Ting served tea and began to see the guests off.
The attendant, carrying a cup of tribute wine, looked rather grim, leaving Liu Wang caught in the middle, neither able to move forward nor backward.
But she was not angry at the humiliation. Instead, she bowed calmly and said, "My lord, you must be tired from your journey. I will take my leave now and come to visit you again when you have rested." After saying this, she backed away, and there was not a trace of displeasure in her words and actions.
That's really good at enduring things.
Zhang Ting admired her, but mainly admired the gifts she sent. They weren't precious gold or jade, but rather some unique and interesting trinkets for appreciation.
She called Wang Wu over, pointed to the ornaments on the table, and said, "Return all of these and say that I am not worthy of them."
This clearly means that they don't want to have anything to do with Liu Wang anymore.
Zhang Ting is known for her amiable and approachable manner, and rarely does anything that would make her look bad.
"We're new here, boss. Even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. I hope she won't cause us any trouble?" Wang Wu said worriedly.
"We'll meet force with force, and we'll dam water with earth. If there were no other way, I wouldn't want to do this." She didn't elaborate.
Zhang Ting also realized that Liu Wang was testing her attitude today and was doing other things behind her back.
If things go wrong, they might be hoping to drag her down with them.
His intentions are despicable!
She felt really unlucky to encounter such a thing on her first day in Yingzhou Prefecture, and told Zong Suyi about it that night.
Tun Tun slept in the side room with Jin Suo.
Zong Suyi was embroidering flowers under the lamp, virtuous and gentle, quiet and unassuming, looking like a completely different person from usual.
Zhang Ting is not used to the sudden change.
"Why doesn't my lord say anything?" This is completely unlike his usual behavior.
Zong Suyi continued fiddling with the needle and thread, and said indifferently, "I am a man, why should I comment on these matters of women? Just stay at home and be a good wife and mother."
During this period, he threaded needles every day and embroidered more than ten handkerchiefs, making great progress in his embroidery skills.
Today's embroidery is a simplified version of a tiger swallowing an elephant.
Zhang Ting looked at him suspiciously, wondering if he had ever felt this way when he used to be cursing this and that.
She didn't necessarily want Zong Suyi to be eloquent; she just wanted to find a topic to chat about.
She sat back on the bed, took his hand, and showed him the care and concern one would show as a wife.
"Why do you say that, my lord? I have not restricted you. If you have any worries or grievances, please speak freely."
Zong Suyi didn't even lift his eyelids, withdrew his hand and continued embroidering, "You are the lord, and I am but a lowly lad, why should I say such things?"
"You go about your business and don't need to pay attention to me."
Zhang Ting then realized that something was wrong.
So what if she's been avoiding him a lot? This little devil has already held a grudge.
She put her arm around his shoulder and coaxed him, "Xiaoyi, are you thinking about why your wife didn't return by carriage? I traveled from the capital to Zhangzhou Prefecture, rested for a day or two, and then traveled from Zhangzhou Prefecture to Yingzhou Prefecture. The room was stuffy, and I felt nauseous and vomited, so I had no choice but to ride a horse outside."
She tried to reason with him and appeal to his emotions, but she couldn't move Zong Suyi.
He bit off the silk thread and calmly replied, "My lord has traveled a long way and is exhausted. It is my fault for not serving you properly and causing you suffering." With that, he put down the embroidery frame in his hand and stood up.
Zhang Ting had a vague premonition that something was wrong; this was too abnormal.
"Xiaoyi, I..."
He suddenly knelt down before her, his knees hitting the ground with a loud thud. "I am guilty of disobeying my master. Please punish me." His eyes were slumped, and his expression was unreadable.
Zhang Ting quickly helped him up, clearly realizing there was a big problem. "Xiao Yi, that's not what I meant."
Zong Suyi brushed her hand away, turned her head away, her eyes filled with tears, "Then what do you mean?"
He turned to look at her, his face streaked with tears, as pale as paper. "You're just taking advantage of the fact that I couldn't get out of the carriage..."
"What can I do besides send someone to urge you? There's nothing I can do about you."
"You come when you call and leave when you dismiss them. When you think of them, you call them over and fiddle with them like objects; when you dislike them, you avoid them like the plague, wishing you would never see them again in this lifetime."
"I gave myself to you when I was sixteen. Nine years have passed like flowing water. Now I am old and faded, no longer as fresh and tender as a young man. No matter how much I try to win your love, I can only meet your gaze that you avoid at all costs."
"What else can I do besides fiddling with these needles and thread and watching you mingle with those beautiful women?"
Zhang Ting felt as if a huge boulder was pressing on her chest. She pursed her lips and said seriously, "I have never had the intention of remarrying or taking another wife, nor have I ever disliked you."
"Since you don't enjoy needlework, why force yourself?" She closed her eyes. "I'm just a little tired."
She smiled at Zong Suyi, her face somewhat pale, "Some things that happened in Yinzhou Prefecture have always worried me, and have made you uneasy, my lord."
"I just need to rest more, please give me some time, my lord."
Zong Suyi walked over and leaned into her arms, wrapping his arms tightly around her waist.
"Really?" The voice was as light as a feather.
Zhang Ting's raised lips froze. "That's natural."
“I misunderstood my wife.” Zong Suyi nodded, his ear close to her chest, and slowly raised his head, saying seriously, “But every time you lie, my heart skips a beat.” Nine years of marriage were not for nothing; every habit of hers was deeply engraved in his heart.
Zhang Ting froze on the spot, as if struck by lightning.
She chuckled dryly, "What are you saying, my lord? How could I, your wife, lie to you?"
Zong Suyi looked at her calmly.
After a long pause, Zhang Ting gave in and explained earnestly, "I lied to you again, but it was out of good intentions."
“We’re not young anymore, and we have a long life ahead of us. We should learn to take care of our minds and bodies. What’s the point of being inseparable all the time?” She took his hand affectionately, their fingers intertwined. “When we’re old and gray, still strong and healthy, hand in hand, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”
Zong Suyi astutely caught the key phrase in her words: "Who do you want to outlive?"
Zhang Ting chuckled, "As expected of my husband, you guessed it again." She stopped laughing, "Alright, I've completely offended the Fifth Princess. I don't think her mother will live much longer, and I'm afraid I'll have to endure some hardship under her."
Zong Suyi silently nestled into her arms, inhaling the clean, sweet fragrance, and silently breathed a sigh of relief.
It's good that he's not a good person, otherwise how would he live in his next life!
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