Chapter 91 A wealthy merchant proposes marriage; the husband sobs.
Zhang Ting's day was truly unusual.
A young man threw fruit at her carriage, and a famous courtesan secretly fell in love with her; a senior female disciple relentlessly pursued her, causing her husband to be consumed by jealousy.
"Junior sister, we are all in the same boat. Quickly tell your senior sister how your essay turned out!" It's been several days since the results were announced, and none of the four of them had even checked their essays yet, which is really inexcusable.
Zhang Ting opened her mouth, thinking that it wouldn't be too late to look at it when she got back home, since she had memorized the exam papers at home.
But the next moment, Yang Fuchen handed her paper and pen, smiling considerately: "Junior sister, please." He clearly couldn't wait any longer.
Even the most reserved third senior sister, Wu Pingliu, stared intently at her, her eyes clearly conveying 'Quickly, write'.
The three men's intense gazes were fixed on her, both curious and strange, as if they were looking at some astonished monkey. Zhang Ting pursed her lips and remained silent for a long time before finally taking the paper and pen, silently writing down an article for them to read, thus escaping this predicament.
She realized that it was indeed better not to linger outside.
Just as Zhang Ting breathed a sigh of relief, a gasp erupted from inside the room.
"My goodness! That's amazing!" Xun Han was so amazed that she blurted out the Huzhou dialect. After speaking, she walked over to Zhang Ting, patted her shoulder heavily, and said with envy, "We were taught by the same teacher, so why are you so good?!"
After reading this article, let alone that young master Yin, even if she were born a man, she would definitely offer herself to him!
Yang Fuchen held the paper and examined it repeatedly, occasionally clicking his tongue in admiration, completely absorbed in the reading.
Wu Pingliu pursed her lips, her brows furrowed as if facing a great problem. Finally, she exhaled a breath of stale air, her expression relaxed, and she murmured softly, "It must be the teacher's problem... his level fluctuates wildly."
Zhang Ting: "..." Surely not? This essay by Mo is clearly the worst policy essay she has ever written?
After her senior sisters calmed down and finished their meal, Zhang Ting happily carried the packaged food back to her residence, unaware that even bigger trouble awaited her there.
Zhang Ting was chatting and laughing with her fellow disciples when she turned around and was shocked to find the mansion eerily silent, with the maids and servants not daring to utter a sound.
She frowned, vaguely sensing something was wrong, and quickly called Zheng Er over to ask him questions.
After looking around, Zheng Er shrank back and pulled his employer to the wall. "Today, a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan has come to your door to propose marriage. He is willing to offer 30,000 taels of gold and a ten-acre mansion in the capital as dowry, and wants to marry his eldest son to you as your legal husband."
"My lord threw a huge tantrum while you were away," Zheng Er whispered.
Thirty thousand taels of gold?!
It's true that Jiangnan is indeed wealthy; this is a full 300,000 taels of silver!
Luckily, Zhang Ting hadn't drunk any water at the moment, otherwise she would definitely have spat it out.
It should be known that the annual salary paid by the imperial court to a first-rank official is only about one hundred taels of silver, while three hundred thousand taels of silver is more than a first-rank official could earn in a hundred lifetimes. Zhang Ting dared not accept this bribe under the guise of a dowry.
Now, his family owns thousands of acres of fertile land, more than a dozen shops, and four houses. He lives a wealthy and comfortable life, with a virtuous and handsome husband by his side. Moreover, Zhang Ting is extremely famous among scholars throughout the country, so there is no need for him to do such a thing that would damage his reputation.
"You should politely decline this marriage proposal later, simply saying that I have not yet been granted an official position and have no intention of getting married," Zhang Ting said calmly.
Merchants of low status are easy to deal with, but Zong Suyi is giving her a real headache. She glanced at the food wrapped in her hand. She had broken her promise today.
Zhang Ting sighed, hesitated for a while, and finally gritted her teeth and went to the main room.
At this moment, Zong Suyi lay on the small couch with a worried expression, her heart filled with anger and resentment. Those despicable and treacherous merchants actually dared to lure her mistress into marrying her son with huge profits? It was simply outrageous!
How can he win over his wife's heart?
Zong Suyi's mind was in turmoil. The thought of someone trying to steal his wife fueled his jealousy. Suddenly, he clutched his stomach and angrily punched it twice, his shoulders slumping.
Oh, my belly, why are you so disappointing?
I feel the pulse every month, only to be disappointed every month.
Zong Suyi glanced at the sky and pondered listlessly: He had already eaten dinner, so why hadn't his wife returned yet?
"Squeak—" The door was pushed open.
He suddenly turned his head to look, his eyes sharp like a leopard hunting its prey.
The wife has returned.
Zhang Ting casually placed the food on the table, smiling gently, "I brought back some delicious food from the meal I had with my senior sister today. Come and try it, my lord." She seemed completely unaware of what had happened in the manor that day.
There was a charcoal brazier in the room, making it warm and cozy.
She took off her outer robe and casually draped it on the rack, then ordered the servant guarding outside the door to bring a set of bowls and chopsticks.
Zong Suyi narrowed her long, phoenix-shaped eyes, keenly catching a subtle, almost imperceptible hint. She climbed up from the small couch, carefully approached, and as she passed the shelf, she even picked up her outer robe and gently sniffed it.
This smell was terrible! Zong Suyi's expression changed drastically, instantly turning extremely ugly. The outer robe was covered in a complex scent of perfume and cosmetics; who knew how many vixens' stench it had tainted it!
He stood frozen in place, his heart filled with disbelief, and he was both angry and furious, wanting to reprimand Zhang Ting. But his lips opened and closed, and he could only let out a trembling breath.
Zong Suyi felt a dull pain in his chest, as if he had been stabbed by a sharp blade, making it hard for him to breathe. His shoulders trembled uncontrollably, and he stumbled back several steps, his arm knocking over a shelf, but he forgot to even cry out in pain.
Zhang Ting heard a "snap" sound and turned her head in surprise, only to see that Zong Suyi's eyes were filled with tears, like a ruptured water bag, which she could not stop.
Her heart skipped a beat, and she walked over with a frown. "What's wrong? Did that person bully you today?" For a moment, she even forgot to hide the fact that she didn't know the truth.
Tears blurred Zong Suyi's vision. His chest heaved violently, and a wailing sound filled his ears. He could hear nothing else. He only felt the taste of rust on his tongue and realized that he had bitten his lower lip. Blood mixed with salty tears poured down his throat.
He's in so much pain! So much pain!! It feels like his heart is being torn apart!!!
But why? He clearly knew all along that women were fickle and heartless, and that even great figures like his grandmother and mother had multiple husbands and were surrounded by men. So why was it that he found it so hard to accept Zhang Ting?
Zong Suyi was startled to feel a chill creeping up his skin, making him shiver. He was so scared that he instinctively hugged himself and huddled in the corner.
Zhang Ting had seen Zong Suyi at his most disheveled and pitiful, and she had seen him sobbing in sorrow, but she had never seen him in such pain. A strange feeling welled up in her heart, and she quickly stepped forward to hug him and patted his back comfortingly.
"It's okay, it's okay, I'm here."
Zong Suyi felt as if he were embraced by a furnace, dispelling the biting chill from his body. He heard a familiar voice in his ear, and his heart ached. He sobbed and buried his face in her arms, punching her twice in anger, then clutching her clothes tightly and pleading, "No, don't... marry someone else." His words were broken, and his knuckles were so taut that they turned white, revealing the extreme fear in his heart.
Zhang Ting sighed, "Fine." She wouldn't marry that merchant.
Zong Suyi suddenly used all his strength to hug her, as if desperately grasping at the last straw, and sobbed softly, "Never...please never...spend time with other men again." His weak voice contained a painful plea.
Zhang Ting's bones ached from Zong Suyi's grip, but she didn't pull his arm away. Hearing the sound, she glanced at the collapsed frame next to her, which was still loosely covered with a robe, and she immediately understood.
I completely forgot about that.
She pinched Zong Suyi's chin and lifted it up, took out a handkerchief to wipe the cat's face, and deliberately joked, "Does my husband think that his wife and senior sisters went to a brothel for dinner?" After wiping away the tears, she pinched his fair cheek.
Zong Suyi stared at her with red and swollen eyes and a pout, his face full of grievance, looking exactly like a wronged husband, his eyes seeming to say, 'Isn't that right?'
Zhang Ting didn't want to make things difficult for her jealous husband, so she leaned over and kissed Zong Suyi on the cheek, then smiled and ruffled his slightly messy hair. "Today, I came out of the Ministry of Rites and was hit with a sachet on my body while passing through Tongping Street." As she spoke, she shook her head as if sighing, "I have never seen such a scene in my life. I could only flee in a sorry state, and I also dragged my three senior sisters into the same predicament."
"Really?" Zong Suyi sobbed slightly, her body trembling, looking at her with suspicion.
"Why would I lie to you? The roast goose on the table is from the west side of the city. You've tried it before, you'll know once you try it."
Zong Suyi finally broke into a smile through her tears. Her upturned lips resembled a bright crescent moon, and her eyes, washed clean by tears, sparkled as she gazed intently at Zhang Ting, her eyes brimming with deep affection.
Seeing him so happy, Zhang Ting was deeply moved and a slight smile appeared on her lips. She said, "What's there to cry about? If you have any doubts, you should have asked me first."
Zong Suyi sniffed her slightly red nose, nodded obediently, and suddenly pounced on her.
Zhang Ting smiled, thinking he wanted to hug her, and subconsciously opened her arms. But the next moment, her lips were captured by his. He closed his eyes and embraced her neck with fascination. His dry lips repeatedly pecked at her lips, without a trace of desire, as if he was simply repaying her kindness, or as if he was simply absorbing the warmth from her body.
Zhang Ting's movements paused slightly, then she wrapped her arms around Zong Suyi's slender waist, letting him kiss her tenderly. After a moment, she took back the initiative, cupping his head in her hands, her calloused fingertips caressing the sensitive skin behind his ear, causing him to tremble all over. This was not what Zong Suyi intended, and he put his hands on her shoulders, trying to push her away.
But her lips were as gentle as if they were holding a snowflake about to melt. This made Zong Suyi involuntarily sink into it, gradually melting into a pool of soft, yielding water in her arms.
The servant returned with the bowls and chopsticks as instructed. Just as he was about to inform his master, he caught a glimpse of the young lady embracing her husband. His face immediately turned red, and he carefully withdrew, gently closing the door behind him.
He cupped his blushing face and stamped his feet, exclaiming, "Miss and gentleman are truly in love!"
Xi Ge, the kitchen staff member, even boasted that the young lady would definitely marry a rich young man. He thought that the young lady would clearly grow old with her husband and live a loving life together!
...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
