Mei Xun and two others withdrew and stood aside. Yu Yichen, with his hands behind his back, coldly glanced at the several women in the room who were trembling like timid crabs, scanning them one by one before nodding slightly and saying, "Remember to come over tonight."
After saying that, he left. Zhenshu had been too busy these days, and was exhausted and sleepy. She wanted to go back to the mounting shop to get a good night's sleep. She had no interest in going to him to have him fix things up, but she didn't dare to say it openly in front of so many people. Seeing Yu Yichen leave, she lifted her skirt and chased after him.
Zhenyu patted her chest and said, "Good heavens, he's still so arrogant. He'll get what's coming to him one day."
Nie Shiqiu sighed, "He's too handsome. If you ask me, it's not that he's taking advantage of your third sister, but rather that your third sister is taking advantage of him."
Tao Suyi was newly married, and the two were deeply in love. Although she loved romance and poetry, she now knew that love between men and women had more meaning than romance and poetry. She thought to herself, "No matter how good-looking someone is, there is still something missing."
Zhenyu thought to herself that Dou Keming was also good-looking back then, not much worse than this, but who knew that he had become more and more withered over the years, and now he was gradually losing his virility. Isn't he really a rabbit?
Dou Mingluan, who had been silent, got up and went out of the house to the outer courtyard. She saw Zhenshu standing at the second gate, went over and asked with a smile, "How has Miss Song been lately?"
Seeing that she was still smiling and asking her questions, Zhenshu felt a little guilty and opened her arms, saying, "I've just gained some weight."
Just as Yu Yichen said, even that area has swelled up a lot.
Dou Mingluan said, "I heard Jinyu mention what happened to you in the Wuling Mountains."
Zhenshu said, "It's all in the past. He's having some trouble getting over it now, but he'll get over it eventually."
Dou Mingluan said, "I'm afraid it's not that easy. He doesn't talk much these days. He either goes to the yamen or hides in that small courtyard reading military books. He doesn't usually go out. I'm really afraid he'll get bored."
Zhenshu lowered her head and chuckled softly, "How could I possibly suffer from holding it in? He's a good person, it's just that we're not meant to be. You can see how I am now, I don't care about my reputation or my face."
Dou Mingluan said, "How much difference is there between you and me? We are so old now. If you break off the engagement again, everyone will laugh at us behind our backs and wish they could cut off their hair and become nuns."
Zhenshu said, "If you become a nun, you will fulfill those people's wishes."
The two exchanged a wry smile, and Zhenshu went to the outer courtyard to take care of things. Dou Mingluan also returned to the inner courtyard.
After the banquet ended in the evening, Zhenshu was so tired from the two months that her legs ached and her feet were weak. She took advantage of the carriage that Liu Wensi had hired passing by the Yu residence. She didn't even get out of the carriage, but just lay lazily inside. She fell asleep before they even crossed the Imperial Street.
Upon receiving the news, Sun Yuan dared not delay. He rushed into the small building, pushed open the two large doors, passed through the hall, and then pushed open the hidden door, went up the stairs to the second floor to Yu Yichen's office. In the dim candlelight, Yu Yichen was talking with Mei Xun.
Yu Yichen asked Mei Xun, "Have you found out where that old woman lives?"
Mei Xun replied, "In an alley near Kaibao Temple, the family is surnamed Ding, and they have only one son named Dalang."
Yu Yichen said "Oh" and after a long while said, "There's no need to kill her. Just break both her legs and let her live out her days in peace at home."
Mei Xun replied, "Yes!"
Upon seeing Sun Yuan arrive, Yu Yichen's face lit up with joy, and he stood up to ask, "Is it Miss Song who has arrived?"
Sun Yuan said, "Miss Song said she was really tired and went directly to the East City."
Yu Yichen sat down for a long time before finally saying, "Oh!"
He waved for Sun Yuan to leave, then sat with one hand supporting his forehead, a letter in front of him.
Mei Xun said, "If the news is true and Prince Ping has really returned to the capital, I'm afraid Du Wu will join forces with him to do something."
Yu Yichen said, "He has been a gentleman since childhood and would never stoop to using someone else to do his dirty work."
Mei Xun said, “But we must be on guard. Moreover, this is a great opportunity. If he also goes to the capital, Liangzhou will be vulnerable. We have notified the various tribes of the Northern Barbarians and told them to take advantage of this opportunity to advance and seize Liangzhou and Ganzhou. At that time, not only will Prince Ping be guilty, but Du Wu will also be held accountable.”
Yu Yichen frowned and remained silent for a long time before gently shaking his head and tapping the letter: "Let's wait a little longer."
Mei Xun couldn't help but advise again: "If we don't bring down Du Wu now, it will be even more difficult for us to act once Du Yu gradually takes control of the Censorate."
Yu Yichen remained silent, then suddenly smiled and asked Mei Xun, "Do you remember your hometown? Or your relatives there?"
Mei Xun said, “I am a nobody with no roots or duckweed, no hometown or relatives, just like you, sir.”
Yu Yichen said, "People like us have no roots, so where does our home come from? In the world's attachment to kinship, there is no place for us."
Mei Xun hesitated for a moment, then finally mustered his courage and asked, "So, Father-in-law, are you really going to marry Miss Song?"
Anyone who hears the name of someone they love, even if it's just a few words, will feel joy in their heart. Yu Yichen smiled gently, and his eyes softened immediately: "Once we're married, she will be my only family in this world."
Mei Xun advised, "Even for the sake of Miss Song, Father-in-law should make a decision immediately."
Yu Yichen shook his head slightly and said, "She won't like me doing this."
☆、113|Good match
He recalled watching her from a distance. She wore a bamboo-green long robe with a moon-flower skirt underneath. It was the most ordinary of clothes, but her figure was slender and graceful, her steps were agile and nimble, and her lips were full of smiles. Her eyes looked left and right with amusement. Even when she turned around, someone gave her a disgusted look and whispered in the corner, but she didn't care at all.
She seemed completely unconcerned by the gossip of the people of the capital, as if she hadn't heard a thing. He lacked her magnanimity and composure, the ability to endure so much slander and remain utterly unconcerned. What should have been the simplest and easiest thing, with such a fleeting opportunity, became fraught with hesitation and anguish because of her concern.
I come from there, and I am going there. Where did I come from, and why am I going?
For someone like him, hell is the only place to go.
It wasn't that he suddenly had a change of heart, nor that he began to sympathize with the weak. His only fear was that, when they reached the gates of hell, she would have to share all his sins with him.
Suddenly he remembered something else and asked Mei Xun, "How many musicians are there now?"
Mei Xun said, "Originally there were fifty-three people who came to the manor, but many have died in the past few years, and now there are only thirty-seven left."
Yu Yichen said, "Let's deal with them all. There's no need to keep them around any longer."
Mei Xun agreed, then added, "There haven't been any major cases lately, but with so many deaths all at once, it might be difficult to handle."
Yu Yichen frowned and said, "Then let's take her outside the city. We can't let another old Shi come along. I finally managed to coax her back, so let's not let them cause me any more trouble."
Mei Xun hurriedly replied, "Yes."
"Father-in-law!" Mei Xun turned back as he was about to leave.
"Is there anything else?" Yu Yichen looked up at him.
Mei Xun hesitated for a long time before saying, "We have been receiving letters from Blackwater City. As long as you nod your head in agreement, Shang Qiang will send Pang Dangchen to the capital to welcome you. Now that the situation is becoming increasingly difficult, why don't I reply and agree to this?"
Yu Yichen, who was originally frowning, was amused by him and his lips twitched into a smile: "I ask you, ever since Shang Qiang reclaimed Blackwater City from Northern Mongolia ten years ago, he has sent several letters or personally sent people to bring me back. What is his intention?"
Mei Xun was somewhat embarrassed and said in a low voice, "To take charge of the clan and continue the family line!"
Yu Yichen paced back and forth: "Do you think I still have that ability?"
Prince Shang Qiang, the young prince of the fallen Western Xia dynasty, had only one daughter. He had been a slave to the Northern Mongols for many years, and his daughter was a concubine of the Northern Mongol leader. Later, she gained favor and bore him several sons, all of whom were fierce and brave. The Northern Mongol Khan, pleased, granted Shang Qiang the former territory of Heishui City, the capital of the fallen Western Xia, making him its lord. Upon escaping the Northern Mongols, Shang Qiang immediately searched for his brother's orphaned sons, hoping to continue the lineage of his fallen kingdom.
But if they relied on eunuchs to continue their lineage, the remnants of the fallen Western Xia dynasty would truly be wiped out.
“There are countless paths in this world, but how can a crippled person like me see old friends again?” He turned and left, while Mei Xun watched from behind for a long time without saying a word.
Zhenshu slept soundly and deeply in the car, and when she got off, she still had drool on her lips. She was sore all over, her legs aching and her body wobbling as she staggered upstairs. She heard laughter from a man and a child upstairs. She could never forget Du Yu's voice; even among a sea of people, she could instantly recognize him.
She had just gone upstairs when she saw Du Yu place Xi'er in a round-backed chair, rocking it back and forth, making Xi'er giggle. Su Shizhong sat nearby, watching with a smile. Seeing Zhen Shu go upstairs, her expression seemed unpleasant. Startled, Su Shizhong stood up, wrung out her handkerchief, and asked, "You're back? Was it a long and tiring day? Did it go smoothly?"
Zhen Shu said, "It went smoothly and wasn't hard."
Du Yu placed the chair on the ground before saying, "Madam, now that Zhenshu has arrived, I shall take my leave."
Su agreed and pushed Zhenshu, saying, "Go and see it off quickly."
Zhenshu helped him stagger up the stairs and then accompanied Du Yu down. He hadn't groomed himself much these days; his stubble was thick and his brows were furrowed. From a distance, he looked like a brother to Duke Du Wu. Because Zhenshu was carrying a lantern and seeing him off, he walked a little slower. When they reached the ground, he softly reminded him, "The steps end here."
As she stepped outside, Zhenshu saw him still standing there and reminded him, "Take care."
"Oh!" Du Yu seemed to suddenly realize something and asked, "Is it your eldest sister's marriage?"
Zhen Shu said, "Yes."
Du Yu added, "I've heard that His Highness Prince Ping intends to come to the capital."
Zhenshu, not understanding his meaning, replied, "That is a noble son of the imperial family. Whether he comes or not is none of our business."
Du Yu said, "Perhaps he will form an alliance with my father to fight against Yu Yichen."
Zhen Shu asked, "So, what do you mean by telling me this? Are you warning Yu Yichen to be wary?"
Du Yu smiled wryly and said, "That's not necessarily true. He must also know that with King Ping going to the capital, the border defenses of Liang and Gan prefectures are weak. If he wants to fight against them, he might have to invite the various northern barbarian tribes to attack."
Zhen Shu said, “I don’t understand these things, but I have heard more than one or two people say that Prince Ping is going to enter the capital. Since everyone knows about it, then everyone is likely to lead the northern barbarians into the pass. Why point the finger at him alone?”
Seeing her holding a cup high with her eyes downcast, her face full of sorrow under the lamplight, Du Yu regretted telling her all this. He stepped closer and said, "He is a mighty general, a military supervisor under the Protectorate General, who can command three thousand Imperial Guards. What I mean by this is that he is not a good match for you."
The tall candle was suddenly extinguished by a gust of wind, plunging the surrounding area into darkness. Du Yu, unable to see the expression on Zhen Shu's face, took another step closer, his heart filled with anxiety, and said, "I just can't bear to see you get hurt again."
The two were now very close. Zhenshu suddenly felt a pang of pity and whispered, "Mingluan is a good girl; you shouldn't let her down."
Since meeting Zhenshu, this was the first time Du Yu had heard her offer such tender words of comfort. He quickly nodded and replied, "I know. But if you were still alive, even if you refused to talk to me, hated me, resented me, beat me, or even killed me, I would have no choice but to endure it, since I was the one who was in the wrong first. If you were not here, it would be reasonable for me to discuss marriage with her, but since you are here, how can I marry again for the sake of love and righteousness?"
In the darkness, Zhen Shu's face was obscured, but she was no longer angry. Du Yu added, "You are still my wife."
Zhen Shu asked, "If I leave the capital and go far away, never to return, would you marry her?"
A sudden realization struck Du Yu: she really is going to leave with him.
For this nation, Yu Yichen's withdrawal from the court and his abandonment of further warfare would reshape the political landscape. For the people of Liang and Gan prefectures, if Yu Yichen were to cease his actions, they too would be spared the ravages of the northern barbarians. As for Du Yu, if Yu Yichen were to leave, he would take his wife with him. The court and the people are ultimately distant; his wife is right before him, yet he can no longer reach her heart.
Suddenly, the sound of wheel tracks approached, startling Zhenshu, who took two steps back. She saw a carriage coming around the bend, and before it had even come to a complete stop, someone jumped off. As they got closer, she could make out that it was Liu Wensi. He had just become a groom today and was still wearing his wedding clothes. Upon seeing Zhenshu from afar, he asked, "Second sister, why haven't you gone upstairs yet?"
Zhenshu asked in surprise, "Why has my brother-in-law come?"
Liu Wensi didn't answer, turned around and ran upstairs. After a while, she carried Xiao Xi'er downstairs, took her little hand and said, "Say goodbye to your second aunt."
He then explained, “Your older sister is also in the car. Although we are newly married, it is hard for us to leave the child here. With the curfew approaching, I won’t say any more. You should go upstairs quickly.”
After saying that, he hurriedly got into the car and left.
When Zhenshu returned upstairs, Su saw that she looked unhappy and argued, "You all went over there to help, and I was left alone to take care of a child. It was really difficult for me, so I called Du Yu to help."
This is the truth. Madam Su has never liked taking care of children or patients. Besides, all the apprentices in the shop have been called to help in the west city, leaving Madam Su alone upstairs. It would be difficult for her to take care of a child by herself.
The next day, Zhenshu had to go to the Song residence to prepare for the three-day homecoming. She was also exhausted and too lazy to argue with Madam Su. After washing up, she went back to her room to sleep. Madam Su was still there sighing, "Such a beautiful daughter, but she has married into a nouveau riche family. All my efforts and hopes have been in vain."
She glanced at the door of Zhenshu's room and sighed, "A promising son-in-law is right in front of her, but she's as stubborn as a mule and won't even give him a second look. What should we do?"
After sighing for a long time, he realized that he hadn't heard from Zhenxiu for a year and wondered where she was and how she was doing. He thought of how Zhenxiu had done the most chores for him when she was alive, and how she had bound his feet the best, yet he had been beaten and scolded by her the most. He couldn't help but shed a few more tears. Only then did he go back to his room to sleep.
After Zhenyuan's return visit to her parents' home, Zhenshu, without informing Su Shi, started buying things for Zhenyi's wedding. Since they had already done it once, this time it was much simpler. If there were good items, they would get the same ones; if not, they would just have to go to the market a few more times to find something better. However, the little money they had saved from the shop over the years was mostly spent on these two weddings, and the rest had to be saved for Su Shi's retirement. They still couldn't keep up with the expenses.
That day, she was behind the counter, memorizing numbers and using the abacus, when she suddenly heard a commotion outside. A man in official robes and a turban entered, surrounded by a group of guards. He had a light mustache on his lips, and as he looked around with his hands behind his back, he waved his hand and said, "Roll up all these paintings and calligraphy!"
Zhen Shu then asked incredulously, "Tong Qisheng? What are you going to do?"
Tong Qisheng stepped forward with his hands behind his back and said, "Manager Song, it's been a long time."
Seeing that the little dog was standing on the pile of dung, and that his clothes made him look like a big dog trying to show off, Zhen Shu also stood up and sneered, "Long time no see. This outfit makes you look like a human being."
Just as those people were about to tear the scroll, Zhenshu shouted, "Uncle Zhao, someone is smashing up the shop!"