"Is Your Majesty alright?" Zhang Yu nodded, without mentioning anything else, and A-Hao understood that he was about to return. She smiled and said, "Your Majesty, please wait a moment, I'll go and say hello."
Zhang Yu stood there waiting for her. Ahao went back into the tent, said a few words, and then came out and followed Zhang Yu.
It was drizzling when the two of them went out in the morning, but it had stopped now, though the road was still wet. Many of the tung blossoms that were in full bloom on the roadside had been knocked down, carpeting the road in white, which looked even more poignant against the gloomy, rainy weather.
After returning to Qiwu Mansion, the two had lunch before going back to their room. As soon as Ahao entered the room, her gaze was drawn to something that hadn't been there before she left.
A magnificent and luxurious suit of armor stood atop the ebony pillars and crossbars. Sunlight streamed through the window and fell upon the bright, golden, fish-scale-like abdominal armor, instantly making it dazzling.
This is a magnificent armor piece featuring a peony and a qilin. The helmet, with its red base and deerskin lining, is topped with a golden lotus flower. The qilin shoulder guards exude an imposing aura, while the gilded armor plates, adorned with iron rings and a thick chest mirror, create a majestic armor body. A jade-inlaid belt with a peony pattern hangs loosely around the waist, and the rest of the armor, including the neck guard, arm guards, tail guard, knee skirt, and leg guards, is exquisitely crafted and grand.
But its presence here can only prove one thing. Ah Hao forgot to take a step, standing blankly in the distance staring at the armor. Even though she knew and had always been mentally prepared for Zhang Yu to go to the battlefield, the feeling in her heart was still different when she actually faced that day.
Her momentary lapse in composure was fleeting. Ah Hao quickly regained her composure, turned to look at Zhang Yu, and found him staring at her. She quickly forced a smile. Despite her concern, she wasn't entirely without faith in Zhang Yu. She believed in him, and she believed he would ultimately triumph.
As if sensing her worries about Zhang Yu, Ahao suddenly realized something she had never understood before. Where there is war, there is danger. Zhang Yu wouldn't have brought her to Tongcheng just because he didn't want to be separated from her; there must be another reason or purpose. She had always thought this through clearly.
Zhang Yu didn't stop her from going to the military camp every day to learn things she didn't understand before from Ling Xiao. At Jingyun Nunnery, he taught her riding and archery, introduced her to military strategy, and there was also that competition with Fang Rong... He always had some considerations and hesitations, probably because of his worries, but he also hoped that she would do it. This was because if she survived the war after a victory, even the smallest achievement would be enough to earn merit and win people's hearts.
The Empress's position—Zhang Yu was making plans for her. If she could achieve merit, she wouldn't have to face so much pressure and resistance when she returned to Lin'an. Even if he could disregard the ministers' opinions and make her Empress, it would still be different from her winning people over with her own virtue.
Zhang Yu had this thought, but perhaps he was even more worried that something might happen to her. He probably also felt that nothing was more important than her being safe and sound. Suddenly, Ahao understood everything. She breathed a sigh of relief. If she could, she would naturally be willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and share his safety, but she always felt that she would be a burden.
Even after so many years in the palace, she mostly served others; her skills were utterly useless on the battlefield. The battlefield was no child's play… However, she never really aspired to a prominent position. As long as she could do her job well and make even the smallest contribution, she felt that was enough.
Ah Hao thought for a while, and Zhang Yu, seeing her deep in thought, didn't disturb her, even though he didn't know what she was thinking. Zhang Yu saw her slightly furrowed brows relax, and a sense of relief appear on her face. She gradually returned to her normal demeanor, becoming calm and composed again, as if she too had relaxed her nerves.
Walking up to Mingguang Jinkai, Ahao carefully observed him for a while, then turned to look at Zhang Yu. Zhang Yu followed her as she took a step. She reached the vicinity of the armor, and Zhang Yu arrived there as well.
Ah Hao looked at the person so close to her, nodded slightly, and said without a trace of doubt, "Your Majesty will surely grant your wish." After a pause, she continued, "Although I cannot be of great help to Your Majesty, I can work alongside Ling Xiao, which should be of some use. If Your Majesty is not afraid, then I am not afraid either."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Yu knew that A-Hao had grasped why he had brought her to Tongcheng; otherwise, staying in Lin'an, far from the war, would have been far safer. With Prince Ning in Lin'an, she could be taken care of. At this moment, she firmly declared that she was not afraid, showing absolutely no fear.
There was a reason he took a liking to this person.
Zhang Yu had just hummed in response and hadn't had a chance to say anything more to Ahao when a commotion erupted outside, sounding like a woman crying. Lu Chuan, standing outside, said it was the daughter of Prefect Zhang. It wasn't hard for him to guess what could have caused her to burst in crying like that.
Ah Hao followed Zhang Yu out to see what was happening, and there was a little girl kneeling in the courtyard. She looked about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a light blue scholar's robe embroidered with white paulownia flowers, with only a white magnolia hairpin in her hair, exuding a simple and elegant air. But at this moment, her eyes were red and swollen, and she was sobbing uncontrollably, not caring about her appearance at all. She looked extremely sad and pitiful at first glance.
When Zhang Wenzhou's daughter, Zhang Xiuying, saw the Emperor and Empress emerge from the room, she immediately kowtowed and sobbed, "Your Majesty and Your Majesty, please have mercy and spare my father!"
Ah Hao recalled the beautiful maid who had appeared a while ago. Although the maid had disappeared, Lü Yuan said she was safe, so she hadn't paid much attention. Zhang Yu hadn't told her anything more. Could it be the work of Prefect Zhang? But if she had been punished then, there wouldn't be a need for him to plead for her now.
Zhang Xiuying knelt on the wet ground, her light blue skirt instantly stained. She repeated the same phrase over and over, kowtowing incessantly. Zhang Yu remained silent, and Ahao, unsure of the situation, also kept quiet.
Lu Yuan went over and asked Zhang Xiuying to get up, but she refused. Lu Yuan then pointed to two strong old women who dragged her away without giving her even a moment's respite in front of them.
Zhang Xiuying's mouth was gagged by the old woman, and even her sobs could barely be heard. Lü Yuan didn't turn back; he went with her to see what was going on. After she was taken away, Zhang Yu also led Ahao back into the house.
"I had Lü Yuan deliver that maid to Zhang Wenzhou, and I don't know what happened after that."
A-Kou looked at Zhang Yu, her eyes instantly filling with a smile. Zhang Yu was explaining things to her, even though she hadn't blamed him for it.
However, this makes it a matter of Prefect Zhang's family affairs, but Zhang Xiuying's plea suggests that the maidservant has likely caused Prefect Zhang considerable trouble. Is this a disguised punishment? It's still the same style of the person in front of us.
She nodded slightly to Zhang Yu and said, "Let's wait for Eunuch Yuan to return and see what he has to say." Back inside, the two of them saw the bright golden armor on the wooden structure again. A-Hao couldn't help but sigh softly, and Zhang Yu said, "I'm more at ease knowing you and Ling Xiao are in the rear. However, once the war starts, I'm afraid there will be many times when we can't see each other."
With one at the front and the other at the rear, this situation is quite normal. Unless Song Shuhao goes to the front lines with Zhang Yu, which is extremely difficult, and Zhang Yu would never agree to it.
Ah Hao herself knew that if that happened, it wouldn't be a good thing; on the contrary, it would greatly distract Zhang Yu. She was the most suitable person to stay in the rear. Zhang Yu's arrangement of Ling Xiao was probably also to highlight the role of those in the rear, even though that role was already important.
“Your Majesty walks in front, and I follow behind. I’ll catch up eventually,” Ah Hao said with a smile, looking up at her.
Zhang Yu smiled and said seriously, "I will clear the way, and you will cover the rear. Neither of us can be harmed." Ahao nodded, as if agreeing with him, and added affirmatively, "We will all be fine."
...
When Zhang Yu woke up from his afternoon nap, Lü Yuan had already returned. He said that Zhang Wenzhou was fine, but Madam Zhang had made a scene and frightened Zhang Xiuying. Zhang Yu and Ahao, after hearing his explanation, didn't press the matter further. With their days of separation looming, they didn't want to waste time on unimportant people and things.
·
As the war drew ever closer, Ling Xiao, being in the midst of it all, was well aware of the situation. She chose a day, took out the remaining two small jars of plum wine, and invited A-Hao to her residence for a meal. Zhang Yu escorted A-Hao to her appointment with Ling Xiao on time, and when A-Hao arrived, she learned that Fang Rong was also there.
Since that incident, Ahao hadn't encountered Fang Rong again, or perhaps Fang Rong didn't want to see her and intentionally avoided her. Their meeting again today at Lingxiao's place was largely due to Lingxiao's secret arrangements. Considering what might happen later, if Fang Rong had any lingering resentment, it was indeed necessary to resolve it sooner rather than later.
Fang Rong was also taken aback to see Song Shuhao. Startled, she rose and bowed to her, but looked somewhat embarrassed and uncomfortable. The competition with Song Shuhao had indeed been a significant blow to Fang Rong.
Even though her father didn't utter a single word of blame or dissatisfaction, or even try to comfort her, Fang Rong still felt resentful. She still didn't quite understand how capable Song Shuhao was, to possess such a unique and coveted relationship, and to be able to hold her own against everyone else in every way.
Hearing that she was originally a lady-in-waiting to the Empress Dowager, and that the Emperor's estrangement from the Empress Dowager was inextricably linked to her, Fang Rong felt even more conflicted. In Fang Rong's memory, the Emperor and the Empress Dowager had a very good relationship. In the end, it was all because of this outsider that things turned out so badly.
Seeing that neither of them spoke, Ling Xiao tried to mediate, urging them to start eating and drinking together. He told many jokes, but failed to amuse either of them. After all that, the meal became increasingly unpleasant.
Fang Rong kept drinking and barely eating anything, downing one glass after another. Ahao thought she had a high alcohol tolerance, but Fang Rong quickly got drunk and started to spill the beans.
She stood across the table from Ah Hao, holding her wine glass, frowning and muttering, "I really don't understand, how did you, who's as skinny as a bamboo pole, manage to beat me that day?"
Ah saw that she was drunk, so she said sincerely, "I guess it's because I'm lucky."
Fang Rong snorted dismissively, tilted her head back and drank a glass of wine, and said sullenly, "Luck is also a kind of strength. Without good luck, even if you have the strength, you can still cause trouble to death."
Seeing that she was already drunk after only four or five drinks, and that Song Shuhao was still looking amused and amused, Ling Xiao was speechless for a moment. She quietly said to Ahao, "I originally hoped that you two could sit down and have a good chat, but now it seems that I was meddling."
Fang Rong was immediately displeased to see the two of them whispering behind my back. "What are you talking about behind my back? Are you saying bad things about me?" She pointed at Ling Xiao as if she were holding a sword. "Tell me, what exactly are you saying about me? Answer honestly, and I might spare your life!"
Ling Xiao pushed Fang Rong's hand away, rolled his eyes, and then cried out in a high-pitched voice, "Heroine, spare my life! I'm innocent! We're all from the same root, why are you so cruel to me!"
"Who shares your roots?" Fang Rong muttered in dissatisfaction, then changed the subject, continuing what she had been saying to Ahao earlier, "I still don't understand, how could someone like you make His Majesty so infatuated?"