Chapter 137 February 15th, once a month again...
Upon returning to the capital, Li Zhen handed over all the evidence, along with the prisoners of war, to Emperor Qing for disposal. While Li Zhao and his mother were recuperating at home in Liyang, they were placed under control, awaiting Emperor Qing's trial and sentencing.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, Li Zhen interrogated the people in Li Zhao's household and found the dungeon where Li Lang had been imprisoned. He personally saw the instruments of torture inside, but he did not tell Li Yang any more about these things.
"But there's something I think you should know."
When Li Yang returned home, she was completely dazed. Her mother spoke in her ear, but she couldn't hear what she was saying.
She didn't know how she fell asleep that night, but the next morning she was woken up, dressed herself up, bid farewell to her mother, and was put into a sedan chair.
Even after she got into the sedan chair, she kept thinking about what Li Zhen had said the day before.
"It wasn't Zhang Maolin who betrayed your parents' information back then. After his family's pawnshop acquired your sister Shutong's pearl, he didn't use it to curry favor with Jiqing."
Rather, it was one of his shopkeepers who, upon seeing the pearl's exceptional color, decided to use it as a pretext to obtain salt permits through auspicious means, thus becoming a small-time merchant.
Li Zhen learned of these things while interrogating Ji Qing. He originally did not want to tell Li Yang, but waited until the marriage was completed so that he could take Li Yang as a piece of fat meat, receive Chen Junbai's financial assistance on the left, and have Zhuang Xiang's support on the right.
However, he never expected that Chen Junbo would come to his residence and propose a deal.
Chen Junbo said that since Li Yang married him, he has never respected her thoughts. Just as Li Yang said that day, he only treated her as a puppet kept at home.
The contract, the trip to the capital, the divorce—every single thing was just like the day Li Yang scolded him; it was all his own decision, never discussed with her.
His self-reflection greatly annoyed Li Zhen, who repeatedly tried to blurt out the discussion with the Zhuang family.
To his surprise, Chen Junbo changed the subject and proposed that the Chen and Zhang families would provide full financial support to Li Zhen and all the needs of the royal family, in exchange for giving Li Yang a chance to choose for himself.
"Chen Junbo said that as long as you chose this one from the heart, he will keep his promise no matter what the outcome is." Li Zhen's last words echoed in his ears again and again. Li Yang gasped and grabbed the sedan chair, shouting, "Stop the sedan chair, stop the sedan chair, stop!"
The sedan chair stopped, and Li Yang lifted the curtain.
Teahouse, Chen Junbo, Ziyan, and Xiaobai came into view one by one.
Upon seeing her, Chen Junbo was so excited that he stepped forward, took her hand, and embraced Li Yang in the street.
-
On this day, Crown Prince Li Zhen got married and took Zhuang Jieling, the youngest daughter of the Zhuang family, as his concubine.
Following the emperor's decree, the young lady of the Zhuang family...
Emperor Qing was furious and punished the Zhuang family and the Crown Prince.
Crown Prince Li Zhen spoke with Emperor Qing about something, and just one day later, Emperor Qing was pleased again.
The court officials have been busy changing their tune for days, impeaching the dealers one day and the other the officials who impeached the dealers the next.
When the news arrived, Songshan Town was already in early winter. Winters in Jiangnan rarely see snow, and the dampness from the mountains, carrying a chill, seeped through the windows, making it extremely cold.
Li Yang and You Feng were drinking tea in the house while the coal stove was burning. "Master, how exactly did the Crown Prince persuade His Majesty?"
"His Majesty will agree," Li Yang said with a faint smile. "If the Zhuang family's daughter isn't investigated too deeply, not only will His Majesty save face, but the Marquis of Zhennan will also become a direct descendant of the Crown Prince."
Although His Majesty's original intention was to punish me, he would still have to choose between punishing me and the Chen family borrowing forty million taels from the Imperial Household Department.
"A loan? Mr. Chen is short of money?" Youfeng asked, puzzled.
“I don’t lack money, but the court needs you because you’re short of funds.” Li Yang crushed a chestnut. “The interest rate of the Imperial Household Department is more than nine out of thirteen. Chen Junbo will have to work for the Imperial Household Department for the rest of his life. I’m afraid the Chen family will never encounter such a big disaster again.”
“That’s true, who would lay a hand on their own money?” Youfeng said thoughtfully.
Li Yang smiled and said, "Be careful what you say."
Seemingly unwilling to discuss these matters further, he said, "Speaking of which, I must thank you for your help; otherwise, this school could have been built so quickly."
Youfeng observed the steam in the pot and said, "Why are you being so polite with me? If it weren't for your idea, I'm afraid Laiyi would be hiding in the mountains all day doing nothing. Now that we have this school, it's much more lively."
The two looked out the window at the mountains hidden in the thin mist, their layers of gray-blue undulating.
A little girl lifted the curtain and entered the room, rubbing her hands and shrinking back, saying, "Teacher Zhao Zhao, my brother is here again."
The two people inside exchanged a glance, and Li Yang waved and said, "Laidi, have some roasted chestnuts, and go find Pandi and the others to play."
Youfeng tilted her head slightly, "Master, he didn't mention marriage?"
Li Yang just peeled chestnuts and stuffed them into her mouth, saying, "Who told him to write the divorce papers? That's how it is."
After thinking for a moment, he added, "Youfeng, what about you and Bifang?"
Unexpectedly, Youfeng grabbed a chestnut and threw it at her, saying, "Boss, you're laughing at me! Don't run away."
"I was wrong, I was wrong."
The woman pleaded for mercy in a soft voice, ran straight out of the house, circled the yard, and headed forward.
In a row of houses in front of the courtyard, a dozen or so farm girls with their hair in double buns were chattering around a man in white. As if hearing the commotion, he got up and looked over.
Amidst the vast expanse of mist, the azure mountains rise and fall. A tall, slender man in white stands out against the backdrop, like a celestial being descended to earth.
-
This day was February 15th.
Songshan Town was unusually lively; even the old Taoist priest from Xiahai Temple strolled down the main street to watch the excitement.
The old Taoist priest took out a small pear, wiped it on his clothes, took a bite, and found it sweet.
It's that time of year again – the hydrangea festival.
Ever since that salt merchant surnamed Chen returned from the capital, his former wife has been throwing a silk ball every month, but it seems that the salt merchant surnamed Chen can never catch it.
"It's been almost half a year, hasn't it? Why haven't we found it yet?"
Aunt Fang smiled mysteriously: "The first time, that embroidered ball was an iron ball, and it caught fire..."
"Good heavens, if it catches fire, it'll burn you to death."
Aunt Fang laughed, "Who says otherwise? Everyone dodged the ball that time; who dared to catch it? The second time, it seemed to be a cotton ball; it couldn't be thrown far at all and just hit the ground. The third time was a spiky ball, and the fourth time..."
"This young lady is formidable. Is the Chen family, the head merchant, just going to play along with her antics time and time again?"
"Who can argue with that? At first, many people were vying for the embroidered ball because of the young lady's beauty. Now..."
"What's going on now?"
"Look, those people over there eating melon seeds all snatched the embroidered ball. It seems that a matchmaker came to their door later, and they all got married within a few days."
The crowd moved their stools, stuffed sunflower seeds into their pockets, and formed a circle at a distance to watch the spectacle.
Once a month, it has become a regular festive occasion in the town.
"Hey, hey, hey, why are there four of them?"
Fang Yuan looked around, spat, stood up and cursed, "Liu Yitong, Li Yuhan, how dare you married people try to snatch the embroidered ball! How shameless!"
Liu Yitong shouted back, "I am not Liu Yitong!"
"Then who are you?"
"I am Chen Junbo number two!"
Liu Yi, shameless as ever, pointed to the person next to him and said, "He is Chen Junbo No. 3, and there is also Chen Junbo No. 4."
Fang Yuan's face turned bright red.
You Feng spoke coldly, "Chen Junbo, number four, have you thought this through?"
Bi Fang looked embarrassed and said, "Young Master, hehe, well, I have something to do, so I'll be going now." With that, he patted his butt and walked away with a forced smile towards You Feng.
Liu Yitong was furious: "You traitor, Bi Fang!"
A chorus of boos erupted from the crowd.
Unexpectedly, another sweet female voice rang out, "Liu Yitong!"
"Oh, Peach Blossom, what brings you here?"
"You said you were going to collect rent from the shop, but you came here to pick up embroidered balls. What, aren't the concubines in the mansion enough for you?"
"Hey, Ziheng, it's not that I don't want to help you... Peach Blossom, Peach Blossom, don't hit me, there are so many people here!"
Li Yuhan stood blankly beside Chen Junbai: "Ziheng... goodbye."
Chen Junbo: ?!
Li Yang stood on the third floor of the banquet hall and smiled slightly at the white-clad man below.
Her vision blurred, as if it were February 15th, three years ago.
A tall, slender figure stood upstairs, dressed in white, seemingly an immortal. But this time, the immortal man did not look dejected.
He smiled broadly, head held high, and stretched out his hands towards her, "Zhaozhao."
The embroidered ball was thrown, tracing an arc in the air as it gradually approached the crowd.
Suddenly, bang—
The hydrangea burst open in mid-air.
Colorful smoke billowed out, red, yellow, blue, green, and purple, exploding into beautiful fireworks in the air.
"Oh my god!"
The crowd grabbed their stools and scattered.
Looking over, Li Yang saw a man standing with his hands behind his back amidst the fireworks, a slight smile on his face, raising his eyebrows. He was standing there, waiting for her.
—The End—
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Author's note: After nearly four months of serialization, it has finally come to an end.
The author's first book is finished. It wasn't easy. Thank you to all the readers who have followed us this far.
Next up: *The Husband-Killing Manual: Borrowing a Knife* [heart emoji]
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