Chapter 39: The fine clothes are finished, and the first stirrings of love awaken...
Han Bingyue helped her father over, and servants carefully held umbrellas for them.
"You are Zhang Ting?"
Zhang Ting closed his umbrella and bowed slowly and respectfully: "Lord Han, Zhang Ting greets you."
Han Bingyue's appreciative gaze swept over her, and he nodded to himself.
What a brilliant talent!
Unable to resist testing Zhang Ting's knowledge, Han Bingyue was shocked by the question. At her age, Zhang Ting already possessed a wealth of knowledge and was very insightful when discussing current affairs, but her knowledge of the imperial examinations was relatively weak.
What surprised Han Bingyue the most was that despite her outstanding talent, she was only a Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations).
Han Bingyue frowned, then relaxed. The path to the imperial examination was fraught with obstacles. It was not just a competition of talent and learning. If it only required physical strength and endurance, how many students throughout history would be stopped?
She gently advised Zhang Ting to exercise and strengthen her body.
Zhang Ting agreed, after all, only a strong body can deal with danger in time.
Han Bingyue looked at her with affection, feeling very fond of her. She was truly a promising young girl!
Han's father brushed Han Bingyue's hand away and slapped her hard across the face in displeasure. "You're being so formal, like you're interrogating a criminal. How can you treat your benefactor with such disrespect?"
Han Bingyue didn't want to admit that he had developed feelings for the talent, so he gave an awkward smile and said, "Father..."
Han's father glared at her, then turned to Zhang Ting with a smile and said, "Young man, thank you for finding this old man's hand. This is a memento from my late wife. I don't know what to do now that you've shown me such kindness." Thinking of his painful memories, tears welled up in his eyes, and he wiped them with his sleeve.
Han Bingyue couldn't bear to see her father so upset, so she helped him up again and whispered, "Father."
Zhang Ting smiled and said, "Sir, you flatter me. Returning lost property to its owner is simply my duty."
Mr. Han took a great liking to this young man, and holding Zhang Ting's hand, he asked her how many people were in her family and whether she was married.
Han Bingyue rubbed his forehead with one hand. Here we go again.
As my father got older, he loved to matchmake young men and women, to the point that he would ask everyone he met about it.
Fearing that her father's enthusiasm might frighten Zhang Ting, she suggested that they go home first and then send Zhang Ting an invitation to visit their home later.
Zhang Ting naturally agreed and bowed to her.
Qiu Yuan and Fang Ting also came to see Han Bingyue and her father off.
After the figure disappeared into the distance, Qiu Yuan teased Zhang Ting, "Although your fortune and marriage are not going well, I see that your career path is truly extraordinary."
This Lord Han is the same Hanlin Academy scholar who lectured His Majesty on the classics, whom we mentioned last time.
Fang Ting, who is usually reserved, actually joined in Qiu Yuan's teasing of Zhang Ting this time.
Zhang Ting smiled and waved her hand, but in her heart she thought: It doesn't matter if anyone is poor, but Zhang Ting's fortune must be prosperous.
The three lived in different directions. After exchanging pleasantries, they agreed to meet again next time and parted ways at the foot of the mountain.
Zhang Ting's day went relatively smoothly, but an unexpected incident still occurred.
Her carriage was intercepted halfway.
Zhang Ting lifted the carriage curtain and saw a magnificent and luxurious carriage lingering in the middle of the road, which looked very familiar.
A hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. She lowered the curtain, half-bowed as she jumped down from the carriage, and gracefully walked towards the carriage opposite.
Upon hearing footsteps, the passengers straightened their clothes and slowly disembarked.
She glared at the newcomer and preemptively demanded, "Why didn't you contact me?"
Zhang Ting looked bewildered: "?"
When Xu Zhengrong and I parted ways last time, did we not mention contacting each other privately?
She hesitated before replying, "Sister Xu, have you confused Ting with someone else?"
Xu Zhengrong snorted softly, cursing Zhang Ting for being so dull-witted. She had made such an obvious move that day, yet she still didn't understand.
He handed her the letter, head held high, and said, "Don't misunderstand my words." With that, he turned his back, waved to those behind him, and boarded the carriage to leave.
Zhang Ting unfolded it and saw that the ink was still wet, and it was the address of the Xu residence written on it.
Watching the carriage disappear into the distance, she sighed deeply. Putting aside the fact that Prime Minister Xu's reputation was now ruined, the Xu family's ostentatious and impractical appearance alone made her want to stay away.
Therefore, even if Xu Zhengrong extended an olive branch, she could only turn a blind eye.
On the way back, Zhang Ting also made a special trip to the east of the city.
That's right, the spice shop has opened.
Yesterday, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held, but Zhang Ting was unable to attend in person, so she sent Zheng Er instead.
Today was the shop's first day of business. Xiao Yi, wearing a veiled hat, sat in the back room, and the entire shop operated smoothly and busily.
Zhang Ting only lifted the carriage curtain to peek out, and seeing nothing unusual, and not wanting to disturb others, quietly told the driver to go to Qingyi Pavilion.
The deadline for completion is today; the new clothes are finished.
The vegetarian meal contained no meat, and Zhang Ting got hungry quickly, so he thought he would buy some snacks along the way to tide him over.
The driver replied, "Miss, there's a package of dried meat in the drawer under the table."
Zhang Ting raised her eyebrows in surprise. She did not remember putting food on the carriage.
But when she gently pulled open the drawer, she found it there.
Zhang Ting's body screamed with the urge to eat. She hurriedly unwrapped the oil paper, picked up a piece, and put it in her mouth. The meat was firm, fresh, and sweet.
"Old Yang, you're very thoughtful."
Old Yang chuckled, "Miss, you misunderstand. This was prepared for you by the young master."
"Young master said that the temple's vegetarian food was not oily, so he specially instructed me to buy some for you."
Zhang Ting paused, her eyelids lowered, making it impossible to see her expression, before picking up another piece and chewing.
"This dried meat tastes good. Let's go buy some more later."
"yes."
The carriage swayed and rocked until it finally came to a stop.
Zhang Ting finished the packet of dried meat, wiped her fingers with a handkerchief, and gracefully got out of the car.
His figure was graceful and his demeanor extraordinary.
The employees of Qingyi Pavilion spotted the young woman in the crowd at a glance and hurriedly went to greet her, "Does Your Excellency have any reservations?"
"I've come to pick up the clothes I ordered from Mr. Xiangyu."
The hired worker led her upstairs, and as they passed the small embroidery section, Zhang Ting stopped and picked up an indigo-colored sachet with a dark pattern to examine it. It was embroidered with a lifelike green peacock, and the edges were decorated with lotus patterns. The stitches were exquisite, and it was extremely luxurious.
Zhang Ting handed it to the hired worker, asking her to help wrap it up.
Upon entering the attic, the hired worker knocked on the door and explained the purpose of their visit.
In an instant, the door to the embroidery room was pulled open.
The person who opened the door was a simply dressed, ordinary-looking young man who seemed somewhat surprised to see Zhang Ting.
He then turned sideways and bowed his head, saying, "Please come in, Your Majesty."
As soon as Zhang Tingfu stepped in, he was immediately drawn to the garment.
It was carefully unfolded and hung on a wooden frame. The bright blue satin with its dark patterns was striking. The peacock raised its head high and spread its magnificent wings, deeply impressing the viewer. It was flamboyant and unrestrained, beautiful and noble, yet exuded an air of haughty arrogance, as if it was certain that once the viewer saw it, they would look down on everything else.
Zhang Ting exclaimed in amazement, "There's definitely a reason why it's expensive."
She turned her head and told Xiangyu that the clothes could be wrapped up.
Xiangyu Langjun glanced at her cautiously, turned his back, pulled out a piece of brocade, and tentatively said, "My lady is so good to her husband that she is willing to make such an expensive garment for him."
Zhang Ting leaned against the door, not wanting to beat around the bush, and asked him calmly, "Do you know Xiaoyi?"
Xiangyu Langjun never expected that his old friend was actually alive. His mouth was slightly open, and his hands tightly gripped the brocade. He was momentarily stunned.
In the past, when his family was at its peak, he was still the head of the embroidery workshops in the capital. The Duke often came to Qingyi Pavilion to have clothes made by him. Nobles are always fickle and easily bored. He would make ten or eight clothes at a time, and throw them away when he got tired of them, and then make more.
Over the years, he has become intimately familiar with the preferences of influential people.
Recently, he received another large order and a familiar request, which gave him the feeling that an old friend had come to visit.
Xiangyu Langjun asked blankly, "How...is he doing?"
Zhang Ting raised an eyebrow and asked her why. "Why don't you just go and see for yourself?"
"If you have some free time, please feel free to play with him."
To everyone's surprise, as soon as he said this, Xiangyu Langjun's breath hitched, his eyes widened in horror, and he shook his head so hard that he almost tore a hole in the brocade in his hand.
"No need, no need."
Everyone in the capital knew that it took ten executioners nine days to kill the Zong and Lin families. After that, everyone who got involved with the Zong family met a bad end.
He secretly went to see it one day. The execution ground was filled with blood and a murderous aura. As the executioner's knife rose and fell, heads fell to the ground, and the eyes of the heads were wide open, full of injustice. It was terrifying. He had nightmares that night.
Zhang Ting frowned. How could Xiao Yi's personality be so frightening?
Before she could even ask a question, Xiangyu Langjun had already quickly wrapped up the clothes and handed them directly to her.
"Your Majesty, your clothes."
She took it with one hand, her brow unfurrowing. Oh well, it was just a private matter between men anyway.
......
The opening of the shop was a busy affair, and Xiaoyi dragged her tired body back. After quickly washing up and changing her clothes, she stepped into the inner room to take a short rest.
But on the table was an indigo-blue silk bundle.
With a strange look on his face, he stepped forward and opened it. The familiar turquoise fabric came into view, and he was so delighted that he quickly unfolded it to take a look.
The craftsmanship, ribbon-cutting, and pattern design were all exactly what he liked.
His eyes crinkled as he folded his clothes back the way they came, and then he noticed an indigo peacock sachet lying next to him.
Xiaoyi originally thought she didn't have enough accessories and wanted to get one made, but she was afraid someone would think she was taking advantage of him, so she didn't dare to mention it.
He probably didn't order this item?
Confused, he picked up the sachet, squeezed it and heard a strange sound inside. He opened the sachet, unfolded the yellow paper, and saw a peace and good fortune talisman inside.
Who visited a temple today?
Is there anything else he doesn't understand?
Xiao Yi was instantly wide awake. His eyes sparkled with starlight, and his heart felt as if it were filled with sweet honey. He lay on the bed, arching his soft waist, staring at the sachet and talisman in his hand. He couldn't help but smile, and after a moment, he couldn't help but laugh out loud.
After calming his mind, he carefully put the talisman into the sachet, hummed a little tune, and got up to go to the outer room to find spices.
After careful selection, the most precious agarwood was finally placed into the pouch.
Pick up the sachet and take a deep sniff. A faint sweetness and cool fragrance linger at the tip of your nose, as fresh as blooming flowers, pleasant and refreshing, invigorating and delightful.
He was very satisfied. He sat in front of the mirror and combed his hair. Halfway through, he couldn't help but pick up the sachet and smell it. His eyes, as clear as mountain spring water, rippled with a smile, and sweet dimples appeared on his face.
Xiaoyi stared at herself in the mirror for a moment, then touched her crescent-shaped eyes with her fair and slender hand.
Is this what's rumored... first love?
Is the person you love Zhang Ting?
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