Chapter 66: The Teacher's Thoughts, The Daily Life of a Couple
There is no moon tonight.
Lights were lit in the courtyard, casting a dim, yellowish glow that stretched people's shadows long.
Zhang Shu sat alone in the courtyard, then suddenly looked up at the sky, only to be accompanied by the cicadas clinging to the trees.
She looked down and reached for her waist. She didn't touch anything.
Oh, I forgot again, there's no wine now.
The night was cool, and a gentle breeze stirred her long, silvery hair, making it dance and flutter in the air. But her wrinkled face looked even older in the lamplight.
A series of footsteps sounded and stopped beside her.
"Why isn't the teacher asleep yet?"
Zhang Shu smiled faintly, turned his head slightly, and asked in return, "You were in such a hurry during the day, were you able to finish copying the calligraphy?"
"Everything is complete. I have prepared it and plan to deliver it to you tomorrow morning."
"What a diligent and good child." The calligraphy copybook contained a lot of content, which would take at least two hours to finish writing. Zhang Ting must have been writing it since after his evening meal.
Zhang Shu turned around and asked softly, "Now that you've finished your homework, you and Xiaoyi should rest. What are you doing out here?"
Zhang Ting said, "Xiao Yi has been asleep for a long time. I was a little worried when I saw that your room was brightly lit, so I came out to check on you."
Zhang Shu propped himself up on his knees, walked up to her, and laughed, "You little rascal, acting like an elder now. What do you need to worry about?"
Zhang Ting reached out to support her, his eyes lowered. "You haven't answered your disciple yet. Is something on your mind today?"
"You really can't hide anything from me." Zhang Shu grinned, leading her beloved disciple for a walk around the courtyard. The night wind was a bit chilly, and she suddenly shivered, putting her hands behind her back, her figure lonely.
She said wistfully, "I was thinking of two old friends."
"One was a renowned prime minister; the other was a teacher at the Imperial Academy."
Suddenly, an interesting thought occurred to her, and her thoughts drifted far away. Her tone was light and cheerful: "The three of us are from the same hometown, born in the same year, and belong to the same 'first-class' (甲) degree. There couldn't be a more coincidental thing in the world! We also share similar interests, and soon became inseparable friends..."
"Unfortunately, some have been beheaded, and others have committed suicide, leaving only this old woman like me!"
The image of Dr. Zheng's slender figure flashed through Zhang Ting's mind. Was she the other old friend her teacher had mentioned?
She lowered her eyelids and said, "I saw her the day before the doctor committed suicide." She recalled the weathered yet determined look in Dr. Zheng's eyes that day.
"Just yesterday they were drinking and pouring out their hearts to each other, but the next day I heard the news that she had committed suicide."
Zhang Shu smiled to himself, feeling a sense of connection between the child and the three of them. He married Granny Zong's beloved grandson, was greatly favored by Zheng Jiangniu, and even became her disciple.
Her eyes were filled with longing; those two old men would surely be gratified if they knew this from beyond the grave!
Zhang Shu patted Zhang Ting's shoulder gently, comforting her: "Since you've already drunk the wine, consider it a gift to her. Xiao Ting, you don't need to feel guilty."
With no one else in the courtyard, Zhang Ting suddenly asked her softly, "Was Dr. Zheng forced to death by His Majesty or by Prime Minister Xu?"
A look of sorrow crossed Zhang Shu's eyes as he shook his head and sighed, "Neither." He looked at Zhang Ting with an emotion she couldn't decipher, and told her, "She drove herself to her death."
Zhang Ting's mouth hung open in surprise: "The Doctor, she..."
"When Granny Zong fell from power, everyone in the court was in danger. When Xu was later appointed as prime minister, her fear was no less than that of others. On the one hand, she was ashamed that she could not stand up for justice for her sworn brother, and on the other hand, she was afraid of bringing disaster upon her entire clan and her disciple." Zhang Shu closed his eyes heavily, a bitter smile appearing on his lips. "I might as well find a quiet corner and die a clean death."
Zhang Ting fell into a long silence.
Zhang Shu chuckled to himself and waved at her, "Hey! Why are you telling me this so late at night, you little brat?"
"You still have to come to the old woman tomorrow morning to have your characters corrected, so go back to sleep!"
Zhang Tingshun bowed to his teacher from the ground, turned around and left, tiptoeing into the house.
Zong Suyi was fast asleep. She took off her outer robe and draped it on the rack before crawling into bed, pulling him into her arms and taking a deep breath of his jasmine scent. But then she felt a slap on her shoulder. He frowned and mumbled sleepily, "Go away, it's hot." He tried to push her away, but couldn't, and his brows furrowed even more.
Zhang Ting touched his brow, and her previously gloomy mood brightened instantly. She raised the corners of her eyes slightly, let out a soft, amused hum, and nestled her face against his neck to sleep, enjoying a good night's rest.
The next day.
Zhang Ting dreamt that she was sinking into a deep lake. She struggled to swim upwards, but just as she was about to break through the water, she suddenly felt someone grab her ankles tightly, and she couldn't take another step forward. She could only helplessly stare at the water surface that was so close to her. The oxygen in her chest was getting thinner and thinner, and the burning pain in her lungs made her suddenly open her eyes.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she met Zong Suyi's malicious gaze, his two fingers just as he was withdrawing from her nose.
Zhang Ting thought of the suffocating feeling in her dream, stared at Zong Suyi sitting lazily on the couch, and felt a slight itch in her back molars.
He crossed his arms, tilted his head, a smirk playing on his lips, and a smug glint in his eyes. He said triumphantly, "This is the price you pay for tormenting me last night!" This thief had slept right next to his neck all night, making him feel as if he were being steamed in a pot, sweating profusely.
Zhang Ting slowly sat up, propped herself up on the couch with one hand, met his gaze, and said with a forced smile, "Then I will apologize to my husband properly."
Zong Suyi keenly sensed the danger and quietly retreated, her eyelashes blinking rapidly with unease. Suddenly, she turned around and tried to run away, but as soon as she touched the edge of the bed, someone grabbed her ankle and dragged her backward.
"I don't want your apology! Let go, let go now!!" His face changed drastically, his eyes widened in terror, and he struggled to crawl out, clutching the bedding in his hands as if it were a lifeline, but unfortunately, he was dragged to her along with the bedding.
Zhang Ting looked at the red finger marks around Zong Suyi's pale ankle and clicked her tongue. She hadn't even used any force; she really couldn't withstand a touch.
Seeing that his escape attempt had failed, he immediately released the blankets and instead held onto Bai Xue's silk trousers tightly, even glaring at her fiercely.
But Zhang Ting had no intention of messing with him at all; the fact that he was clutching something in his hand only pleased her. She hummed softly, vowing to teach him a lesson, and scratched at his waist with both hands.
Zong Suyi was caught off guard and was suddenly ambushed by her. "Um, no... you hahahaha." He laughed and twisted his body to dodge, but he could not escape her clutches.
Still stubbornly insisting, "You bastard! I... hahaha, I'm not... hahaha, I'm ticklish!"
The tickling sensation was excruciating. He laughed until tears welled in his eyes, his waist and abdomen spasming as he reached out to push her away, but she held his head down. After a while, his laughter gradually turned into a sob. He rubbed his cheek against her arm in a pleading manner, finally unable to hold back his pleas for mercy: "My lady, I...I was wrong, I won't...I won't do it again."
Zhang Ting then let him go, a smile playing on her lips. She rolled out of bed and pulled a deep blue silk robe over her shoulders.
Turning around, she saw Zong Suyi pouting, her eyes filled with malice, as if she wanted to devour her, and she even waved her fist at her.
She smiled faintly and merely flicked her finger at him. He reflexively shrank his neck, as if she had grabbed the back of his neck from a distance, and his whole body tensed up.
Zhang Ting slowly lowered her hand and bent down to tidy her clothes. But after a while, Zong Suyi ran over barefoot, took over the work from her, and virtuously helped her tie her belt.
He lowered his eyelashes, concentrating on helping her tidy her clothes. But from his earlier fooling around, his eyelashes were wet, and there were still glistening tears in the corners of his eyes.
Zhang Ting reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of his eyes, gently pinched the soft flesh of his cheek, and said softly, "Go back to sleep for a while. I'll have Xiao Rong bring in a few ice basins."
Zong Suyi winced in pain, frowned, and slapped her hand away, leaving a clear finger mark on her right cheek. She muttered, "Clumsy."
Zhang Ting coughed awkwardly, as if she hadn't heard him, and casually touched her already straightened collar. "In that case, my lord, you should rest well. I'm going to my teacher's courtyard." She then strode away with an air of seriousness.
He raised his hand to rub his cheek, glancing at her dignified and upright back, recalling the day she had left the door wide open and pressed him down while doing her thing, and cursed inwardly, "What a hypocrite."
......
After the master and apprentice had breakfast, Zhang Shu took Zhang Ting to the Lu residence to visit an old friend.
On the way, she told her apprentice that this Lord Lu was originally a secretary in the Ministry of Rites and an examiner in the previous imperial examination. He was demoted to the position of judge in Taizhou Prefecture because he offended the emperor with his remonstrances.
Zhang Ting nodded. She had heard of this Lord Lu while she was in the capital; people said she was upright and incorruptible, and did not curry favor with the powerful and wealthy—in short, she was a well-regarded official. However, to be demoted from the fifth rank to the seventh rank, a drop of four ranks, must mean she had said something extremely offensive to the emperor.
The Lu family received the visiting card yesterday, and the steward was waiting at the door very early.
Seeing the two slowly alight from the carriage, she quickly came forward, smiling broadly: "Mr. Zhang, Miss Zhang, I'm so sorry for not greeting you sooner. Please come inside!"
"Thank you for your trouble."
The butler led the two inside, explaining, "Our master is bedridden and our young master is still young, so I am the one who greeted you today. Please forgive us."
"The host has instructed that tea be served to our distinguished guest first. Please!"
Zhang Shu waved her hand, "Not at all, you flatter me." Upon hearing that Lu You was seriously ill, she hurriedly said, "What is the doctor's diagnosis? Butler, please lead the way, this old woman must go to visit him."
Hearing the urgency in the distinguished guest's voice, and recalling the master's dejected and melancholy expression, the steward hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and resolutely led the two to the courtyard where Lu You lived.
"The doctor said that the master's illness is a mental illness, and mental illnesses are difficult to cure." She added earnestly, "Please, Master Zhang, give me your guidance."
The three stepped into the main courtyard, and the butler opened the door: "Please."
On the bed, Lu You's face was pale and haggard, her brows furrowed with worry. Her sunken eyes stared blankly out the window, lost in thought. Suddenly, she heard the door open. Thinking it was the housekeeper coming to report, she coughed weakly twice, panting heavily, and sat up, her voice low and hoarse, "Have you settled Aunt Zhang and the others in?"
Immediately afterwards, two rapid footsteps sounded.
Lu You sensed something was wrong, looked up, and was astonished. She took a breath and said, "Auntie, why are you here?"
Seeing this, Zhang Ting very tactfully placed a pillow behind Lu You and helped her lean against it.
Lu You thanked her and smiled faintly, "You must be my aunt... cough cough, your newly accepted disciple, you are truly a handsome young man."
Zhang Shu frowned, his face showing displeasure, and said, "Xiao Lu, what happened to you? You're so sick!"
Lu You gave a bitter smile. "Auntie, I... really..." She lowered her head helplessly, gripped the quilt tightly, her fingertips turning white. The pain that had been suppressed deep in her heart for so long finally erupted. Tears fell like torrential raindrops onto the quilt. She choked out, "After studying poetry and books for more than thirty years, I am completely helpless in this predicament. I am truly useless."
"I...I have failed my teacher's spirit in heaven!"
She was Dr. Zheng's only disciple, a student to whom he placed countless hopes.
Lu You's pale lips trembled uncontrollably. He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and asked in a low voice, "Auntie, on your way back, did you see any women working in the suburbs?"
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