Chapter 229 Family Ethics, Those Who Are Willing to Take the Bait...
Little Pig Zhang is very experienced when it comes to how much trouble a child can get into.
Otherwise, they wouldn't have forced their elderly parents to stuff the house full of bamboo strips.
After we persuaded them with politeness that day, the little rascal became much more obedient and didn't disturb his parents' sleep in the morning.
Zong Suyi felt very relieved and slept peacefully until noon. He slowly opened his dazed eyes, but unexpectedly came face to face with a writhing, ring-shaped creature. If it moved a little closer, it would twist onto his face.
"Ah—" A deafening scream rang out instantly.
Zong Suyi dodged backward, nearly falling flat on his back. Several servants rushed over to help him up and removed the earthworms from the bed.
He clutched his chest, panting slightly, still shaken. "Where...where did it come from?"
The servants exchanged glances and decided to betray the adorable young lady.
He had an outer robe draped over his shoulders and was helped to sit down by his servants. He gritted his teeth and said, "Bring that little brat here!"
"Yes, Your Excellency."
Two strong young servants left, and the rest served the master by helping him wash, change clothes, and style his hair.
Today he wore a dark green long robe, tied only with a gold-embroidered belt, and over it was a light blue robe with a lotus pattern. His black hair cascaded down his back like a waterfall, and his skin was as white as jade. The blazing sunlight shone in, making the person in the bronze mirror look so noble and beautiful.
The servant used an ivory comb to smooth each strand of his black hair, then carefully applied precious perfume, making his hair shine like smooth, silky satin in the bright light.
It is said that when the Duke was deposed, he fell to the bottom overnight and suffered a lot of torment and suffering. But how could someone who has truly suffered maintain such lustrous and beautiful black hair? He has remained youthful for more than ten years and his temperament is as arrogant as an unmarried young master.
The servant said that the master cares about the duke and loves him very much.
Zong Suyi curled his lips, staring at the handsome and noble man in the mirror with great satisfaction. "My wife loves me extremely much, and her heart has never wavered over the years. She says that no man outside can compare to even half a finger of me, and she wouldn't even bother to look at him." Although the last sentence was fabricated by Zong Suyi, he believed that Zhang Ting must have thought so.
The servant quickly replied, "Everyone in the capital knows that there is only the Duke in the master's courtyard."
Zong Suyi was extremely pleased and casually rewarded the servant with a small handful of silver beans.
After he finished changing his clothes, he sat on the small couch in the outer room, just as a naughty little pig was being led in.
"Let go of the cub! Let go of the cub!!" He struggled with all four legs, shouting and yelling with great force, as if he were about to be thrown into a frying pan.
The teacup was slammed down with a "thud," splashing water everywhere. Tuntun's little body trembled, her big eyes met the person in front of her, she shrank her neck, stopped struggling instantly, and folded her arms, as quiet as a chicken.
"father……"
Zong Suyi ordered his servants to bring the criminals over so he could personally try them.
The servants in the room covered their mouths, trying to suppress their laughter, and gently pushed the child over to be interrogated by the old father.
The little kid's ability to recognize danger was unparalleled; his feet seemed glued to the ground, refusing to move an inch.
Zong Suyi was getting impatient. "One, two..." Before he could even count to three, the little brat came running over on his short legs. "Stop counting! Stop counting! The baby's here! The baby's here!!"
The old father snorted coldly, "Zhang Xiaozhu, I'm asking you, did you deliberately put that dirty thing by the bedside?"
The little brat was very clever. He refused to admit his guilt and even stood tall with his hands on his hips, saying, "Kid, I only asked Xiaomei to keep you company because Daddy was sleeping. How can Daddy say that Xiaomei is a dirty thing!"
"So, it turns out I was the one who misunderstood you?"
The little brat, having gotten the better deal, acted innocent, waving his hand dismissively, "As long as Dad knows his mistake and can correct it, that's fine. Your son is filial, so I don't blame you."
The old father was so angry he wanted to hit her; she was just like her mother, cunning and wicked!
The old father decided to punish his little brat by giving her a month's worth of snacks and toys, and making her copy ten chapters of the Classic of Filial Piety.
These words struck Tun Tun like a bolt from the blue. She froze, blinked, and quickly ran to her father's feet, hugged his leg, and pleaded with him in a sweet, childish voice, "Daddy, my good daddy, I'm obedient and filial. I won't copy scriptures or punish you with food or toys."
The old father's heart was already broken, and he remained unmoved.
Tun Tun jumped up and down anxiously, shaking his legs and begging for forgiveness, "Dad is right, I was wrong, I will be filial to you when I grow up."
The old father looked at the little boy at his feet and thought to himself: He hasn't even grown up yet, and he's already trying to make grand promises to him.
To protect her snacks and toys, Tun Tun racked her brains, turned around, stuck out her butt, and said, "Daddy beats the child to vent his anger."
The old father sighed, unable to bear the sight. How could he have given birth to such a tiny little thing? Just then, his wife returned from her shift and grumbled, "Zhang Ting, look at your daughter! She's always doing nothing productive, never writes a single character, and all she knows how to do is play with weird and wonderful things."
Upon hearing his mother's arrival, Tun Tun immediately stepped aside and stood ramrod straight, his chubby hands firmly protecting his little bottom. A father's beating doesn't hurt, but a mother's beating makes the child scream!
The servants in the room bit their lips, trying hard to suppress their laughter.
"What's wrong?" Zhang Ting walked in slowly, her voice languid.
She walked over to her husband and casually touched his face, which felt warm. "Just got up? Have you eaten yet?" In her opinion, this father and daughter were like two contrasting characters: one was a lazybones who slept until the sun was high in the sky, and the other was a mischievous and playful troublemaker. They were both equally bad, so neither of them could really say anything about the other.
Zong Suyi rubbed against her hand, pouting in dissatisfaction, and hugged her arm to complain, "Your daughter bullied me. I was so scared this morning, my heart almost jumped out of my chest." As she spoke, she pulled her hand to her chest and said, "Feel it."
Zhang Ting straightened her face. What kind of behavior was this in broad daylight! She angrily waved her sleeve, signaling the servants to take the little brat out, ready to teach this audacious man a lesson!
The first thing to do is to massage his chest.
"How much force did you apply? Does it still hurt?"
Zong Suyi whimpered and turned into a puddle in her arms, "A little harder, and my heart will break." She wrapped her arms around her neck and said sweetly.
With the soft, fragrant body in his arms, Zhang Ting became even more vigorous, and suddenly slapped her hand with a loud "smack".
The beauty opened her moist eyes and complained aggrievedly, "I told you to be heavier, but I didn't tell you to be so rough and clumsy." She pressed one hand against the dark green dress on her chest, her face flushed, and she was breathing slightly heavily.
Zhang Ting felt more wronged than Dou E. You want me to be heavier, but then you say I'm too heavy. Is that fair? She snorted and said, "I'm not doing this anymore."
But the beauty's eyes seemed to hide hooks, and her charming smile made him lose his mind.
As a strong woman, she possessed a strong sense of self-respect, able to bend and stretch. "I am a rough man, and I may not have been able to control myself properly. I apologize for any inconvenience caused, sir. Please tell me if you have any further instructions, and I will do my best to fulfill them."
The young master's face flushed even more, his affection deep and tender as he glared at her, "I knew you were just a stable boy in my household, clumsy and incapable of serving people, so I don't blame you. But—" he drawled, "just now, you've really caused me a lot of trouble! I'm in excruciating pain now."
Zhang Ting frowned, the old monk completely bewildered. Surely she couldn't have used that much strength? Suddenly, her expression hardened—could she have actually hurt someone?
She said urgently, "Let me see your injury."
The pampered young man shoved her, his eyes full of seductive charm, and teased, "Look at you, so impatient. You're so pathetic."
Zhang Ting: ? ? ? Forget it, if you're spineless, you're spineless. You should treat your injuries as soon as possible.
"Fine, I'll grant you your sincere feelings for me." The young master sat up halfway, resting one hand on her shoulder and tearing open his clothes with the other, revealing his wound. "You're just a lowly stable boy. Today I'm only asking you to treat my wound. Don't get any ideas you don't dare to have."
The dark green collar was embroidered with delicate patterns, wrapping around the wearer's rounded shoulders. The green and white colors created an extreme visual impact, so much so that it was almost blinding.
Green makes one's skin look fairer; that was Zhang Ting's first impression.
At her second glance, her pupils widened, and she tilted her head back. Almost instantly, she pulled his slipping clothes up and wrapped him up.
But the image in my mind wouldn't leave me: on the snow-covered plains, the mountains rose and fell with the breath of the earth, the wind sounded like the hurried breathing of a traveler, the traveler climbed over mountains and ridges, and finally arrived at the red crater, but instead of sinking inward, it bulged outward and spewed out its own scorching lava.
Zhang Ting turned his head away, looking troubled. The young master wasn't itchy; he was clearly thirsty!
But how could I, a stable boy in the Duke's mansion, disregard my rank and oppress my master?
“Young master, I have examined your injuries, but I cannot heal them… You should seek help from someone else.”
The young master was incredulous that he had been rejected by a lowly stable girl. He glared at her and turned her head to the side. "What do you mean? Explain yourself!"
"I……"
The young master cupped her face, his eyes slightly narrowed. "Tell me. Do you have someone in your heart, someone you're eyeing in the manor?"
Slave: "I don't have any."
The young master pressed on, "So you have a lover outside the manor! Is that right or wrong?" He wanted to find out which vixen dared to seduce his woman and teach her a lesson.
The servant sighed and shook his head. "I have no one in my heart." He cut off the servant's further questions. "I have no engagement and no husband."
The young master's collar was undone, revealing his stunning beauty once more. He seemed oblivious, asking in bewilderment, "Then why won't you heal me?" He grabbed her hand and pressed it against his chest, his tone tinged with naivety, "Am I not beautiful enough?"
She flew past quickly, her eyes closed. "Young master, you are as fine as jade. I am of humble origin and I fear I may tarnish your reputation."
"Nonsense! Open your eyes!"
Zhang Ting ignored him and simply wouldn't open her eyes.
The young master is domineering and a man of his word. He has to have the woman he sets his sights on. He even reaches out and pries open her eyelids, personally "helping" her open her eyes.
What's infuriating is that this bastard is such a good actor! All you see when he flips his eyelids is the white of his eye.
The young master was so angry he almost vomited blood, and just kept stalling with her like this.
"I don't need you to take responsibility, so why don't you dare to open your eyes and look at me?"
"You lowly stable boy, do you really think I'd be interested in you?"
Despite his persistent pleading and gentle persuasion, the young master's eyes widened in disbelief, as if he wanted to bite the bastard to death.
Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he came up with a terrible idea!
The young master slowly knelt down on her, tall enough to be a head taller than the bastard. He didn't mind her age, yet she acted like she was in a bind. Did she really think he was helpless?
Hmph, you're so wrong!
He aimed carefully and thrust his lips against hers, their lips meeting in an instant.
With her eyes closed, Zhang Ting felt something hard and granular being fed to her. She was jolted awake. Could it be that Zong Suyi had given her poison pills?
She immediately opened her eyes, and all she saw was pure white snow, icy cold. She shivered violently, feeling her blood rush to her head, perhaps this was the effect of the poison.
But she didn't spit it out. The poison pill was sweet; it was hard at first, but softened as soon as it entered her mouth, lingering between her lips and teeth, even sweeter than candied fruit.
In this round, Zhang Ting admitted to a crushing defeat.
The defeated stable boy was captured by the nobles and could only work diligently like an old ox, tirelessly fulfilling every outrageous request of the young master.
However, the spoiled young master discovered that the stable boy had already finished plowing the required amount of land, yet he was still going on and on, exceeding the quota. The young master said that he didn't have any extra land, and that the stable boy had over-plowed.
The stable boy, who had been oppressed for so long, sneered: "It's just the two of us here, young master. I want to plow the field a dozen or twenty more times. What can you do about it?" As he spoke, he buried his head in his work, plowing the field with increasing force.
The young master screamed repeatedly, crying and pleading.
The stable boy ignored him and continued to do as he pleased.
This war between the noble young master and the lowly slave lasted from noon to twilight, a raging storm filled with smoke and fire. For two whole hours, the stable girl initially lost, but she ultimately won.
The proud stable boy tidied himself up and also cleaned up the ragged young master, then opened the window to let the smell dissipate.
The young master was buried in the dry bedding, too weak to even lift his hand, and said in a weak voice, "You... bastard."
Oh no! Zhang Ting suddenly realized he hadn't eaten yet. What a terrible mistake!
She ordered someone to bring in porridge and vegetables, and personally fed him, gently coaxing him for a long time before her husband calmed down.
After dinner, her husband held her hand tightly, throwing a little tantrum, and said softly, "Sleep with me for a while, I'm so sleepy. I can't sleep soundly without you."
My husband is handsome, but I am a woman with ambitions to explore the world. How can I indulge in the pleasures of a gentle home for long?
Zhang Tingyi firmly refused: "My second senior sister invited me to go fishing. I will come back tonight and keep my husband company as he sleeps."
Zong Suyi muttered, "She can't even catch any, and she's wasting your time..." Exhausted and nourished by the food, he quickly fell asleep.
Zhang Ting felt her husband wasn't being honest, so she tried to persuade him to stay... and then went to sleep?
Men, oh men, they're all lies.
She stood with her hands behind her back, gathered her tools, and headed out of the mansion, only to realize halfway there that she had no bait!
Zhang Ting turned back and searched around the garden. In a loose mound of soil, he found an earthworm. It was reddish, plump, and round, clearly a favorite bait for fish.
Satisfied, she carried the little earthworm out, but suddenly stopped and stood at the door, asking her husband, "Xiaoyi, did Tuntun bury Xiaomei in the garden?"
Zong Suyi was half asleep, responding subconsciously, her voice growing softer and softer: "No... no, it's in the garden..." Sleepiness washed over her, and she could hear nothing more.
No? That's good.
Zhang Ting breathed a sigh of relief, exchanged a glance with the little earthworm, and said, "It's fate that we met. Come with me to go fishing."
The earthworm struggled in her hand, trying to escape her clutches.
Zhang Ting: "I know you're willing, so don't nod."
With everything prepared, she braved the scorching sun, donned a straw raincoat and hat, and headed to the outskirts with her fishing rod and basket in hand, striding confidently as if she were about to do something earth-shattering.
"Oh no! The lord has gone out at this time. Has something terrible happened in the court?"
"But it looks like they're going fishing..."
"Look at those broad strides, that unparalleled momentum, displaying the demeanor of a strategist everywhere! I know! My lord is emulating Jiang Ziya, who made those willing take the bait!"
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