Mei Xun replied, "Yes."
The old man who was singing let out a wail and pointed at Yu Yichen, saying, "Eunuch, castrated eunuch, you rootless eunuch, despicable and shameless."
The other musicians pretended not to hear or see, staring at their instruments and scores like wooden figures, not daring to lift their heads. The old man was clearly furious, and suddenly rushed out to pounce on Yu Yichen. The eunuchs flitting among the flowers naturally couldn't let him succeed; for the grave offense of not speaking up for their master earlier, they were now eager to claim credit. Yu Yichen still addressed Mei Xun: "If he causes any more trouble, cook his whole son and feed him to him."
After saying that, he turned and left.
The two large doors shut out the wailing inside; this was still a secluded and quiet little building, separating him from that chaotic and ridiculous world.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, when court resumed, Yu Yichen, unusually, wore the official robes of the Inspector General. These robes, worn by the older, more scholarly officials, made them look rather unattractive with their protruding bellies and short legs, but on Yu Yichen, they possessed an indescribable elegance. Although he was still managing the inner palace, his personal service to Li Xuzhe was merely a matter of whim. After all, the capital region and the Inspector General's office required daily attendance, and while he didn't need to report for duty, he still had to personally attend to the matters.
He arrived at the Censorate's office with Mei Xun and a group of guards. He sat down in his office and saw Deputy Censor He Peng bring in files. He pointed to the table and said, "Put them down and talk."
He Peng held the dossier in both hands and put it down, then lowered his hands and said, "Please forgive me, sir. I believe that Lord Dou was honest and upright in his administration during his tenure at the Censorate, and that he had no faults whatsoever."
Yu Yichen held a cup of hot tea, glanced at the dossier with lowered eyebrows, nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for your hard work, Lord He. Go and rest."
He Peng bowed in thanks and quietly withdrew.
Yu Yichen beckoned Mei Xun in and pointed to the file, saying, "He's a tough nut to crack, but also a useless one. We don't need to waste our time on him."
He pointed to the path He Peng had taken earlier and said, “You can tell from the stains on his official robe and the newly sewn tear in his robe that his family must be in turmoil. Send someone down to investigate some of his family’s scandals and bring them to me. I want to transfer him from this position and replace him with someone else. I don’t believe we can’t find out about Dou Tianrui.”
Mei Xun responded and left. Yu Yichen was slowly reviewing the accumulated files when he saw another civil official, Zhang Li, standing obsequiously at the door, naturally blocked by the guards. Yu Yichen called Zhang Li in and asked, "What is it?"
Zhang Li bowed and said in a low voice, "This humble official has important matters to report to the Inspector General."
Yu Yichen sat up straight and said, "Speak!"
Zhang Li said, "A few days ago, Vice Envoy He ordered his subordinates to destroy many old files, all of which were files from when Dou Hou Dou Tianrui was an official in the Censorate."
Yu Yichen laughed: "I guess you didn't destroy those things."
Zhang Li's heart pounded wildly. The eunuch sitting behind the desk opposite him had a fair face and red lips, with a beautiful curve at the corners of his lips. When he smiled, he had an androgynous and alluring charm. Even a normal man would feel a desire to kiss his full, warm red lips.
Hearing that he had an ambiguous relationship with the current emperor, Li Xuzhe, if that were true... But the thought was fleeting. He then recalled the black bags he had seen carried out of the small west gate of the eunuch's mansion when he was delivering official documents late at night, as well as the bloodstains that the eunuchs had covered with sand along the way. He shuddered and suppressed his evil thoughts, saying, "Your subordinates are all hidden in secret places."
Yu Yichen pushed the dossier in front of him and said, "Very good. Someone will deliver a memorial to you tonight. Once you receive it, you will know what to write and how to proceed. As for the deputy inspector, he will be renamed He Zhang."
Zhang Li was overjoyed and clasped his hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, Inspector General."
As the year drew to a close and February came to an end, the weather gradually warmed up. Zhenshu received a letter from Zhenyuan, who said that she was more than four months pregnant and her belly was growing bigger. She also said that Zhangrui was afraid of missing the imperial examination on the first day of March and having to wait another three years, so he wanted Zhenshu to send him some money for travel expenses.
Zhenshu had visited the Marquis of Beishun's residence once during the Spring Festival and seen Zhenyu's newborn daughter. The beautiful little girl had stirred a longing in her heart. She thought that if Zhenyuan had a child, it would probably be just as beautiful and lovely as Zhenyu's. Moreover, it would be Zhenyuan's child, and she could have it all to herself and cherish it, unlike Zhenyu's child who was surrounded by too many people and would be snatched away the moment she held it. So she went to Song Anrong to report and discuss that she wanted to go out of the capital to see Zhenyuan and take some silver notes to talk to Zhang Rui to see if she could persuade him to wait three more years for the imperial examination.
Song Anrong shared the same idea. After discussing it with Zhenshu, they decided not to inform Su Shi. The father and daughter personally purchased some items and daily necessities, and asked Zhao He to hire a carriage to personally take Zhenshu to Liujiazhuang to see Zhenyuan.
In the early spring of late February, the sky was clear and the temperature was pleasant. Traveling downstream along the Grand Canal from the capital, it would only take half a day to reach Liu Family Village. Zhao He personally drove the carriage, while Zhenshu sat cross-legged inside, reading a book, occasionally lifting the curtain to peek outside. At this time, the Grand Canal was bustling with activity, boats coming and going. The boatmen on the boats, their clothes tattered and worn, hummed work songs, their thin frames carrying the tow ropes on their backs, their necks stretched out in a long line.
He had only gone a short distance from the city gate when a group of soldiers blocked his way with their spears. They bowed and said, "Your Excellency, may I speak with you in private?"
Zhao He touched the hilt of his sword and said, "Your Excellency, we are law-abiding citizens who have come out to visit relatives. If you wish to question us, do so here. Why do you need to ask for our permission?"
The two soldiers bowed and said, "Your Excellency, we are only acting under orders. Please do not embarrass us."
Zhao He drove the carriage to the roadside and saw a group of mounted soldiers on horseback on the overgrown grassland not far away. The leader was a young man wearing a royal blue robe and a beige cloak, with high eyebrows, arched eyes, and lips as red as cinnabar. Only a slightly thick wooden hairpin was inserted into the jade crown on his head. He was holding the reins and staring coldly at Zhao He. He was a law-abiding citizen who had not broken the law and did not deal with the government, so he did not get off the carriage. Instead, he held the reins, clasped his hands, and asked, "This humble citizen does not know what law I have broken. Please tell me."
Sun Yuan, who was behind Yu Yichen, jumped off his horse, bowed, and said, "Our father-in-law has some matters to discuss with Mr. Zhao. Please allow us a moment to speak."
Zhao He had seen Yu Yichen several times in the East Market, always dressed in a disheveled black robe, and had never clearly seen his face. He only guessed that Zhen Shu still had dealings with Yu Yichen after seeing the carriage go to the Yu residence. This time, seeing him riding a horse with his shoulders straight, back straight, and tall and elegant, he did not look like a castrated man at all, and he sighed inwardly: What a pity for such a good talent.
Zhenshu lifted the curtain and looked outside. She saw Yu Yichen riding on horseback staring at her. Her face turned red and shy in front of Zhao He. She waved to Sun Yuan and said, "We have urgent business today. Please let us go quickly."
After saying that, he flung the curtain aside and remained seated inside the carriage, his ears perked up like a rabbit's, listening intently to the sounds outside.
Zhao He, being an adult, knew he couldn't escape today, so he spurred his horse and dismounted. Yu Yichen, seeing this, also jumped off his horse, and the two walked away one after the other. Zhenshu peeked through the curtain and saw the two standing in the distance, back to back, talking about something. Her heart pounded with anxiety. After waiting for a while, she saw Zhao He still standing there, but Yu Yichen had returned. He seemed to know she was peeking from behind the curtain, and smiled at her from afar.
Zhenshu blushed when she caught his gaze from afar, and flinched, pulling the curtain away. She couldn't help but chuckle to herself in the car.
Yu Yichen, holding a whip, lifted the curtain from the outside and asked, "Would you like to ride in a carriage or on horseback?"
Zhenshu didn't answer him, but only asked, "Are you trying to scare my Uncle Zhao?"
Yu Yichen said, "No, it's just that we discussed it with him and told him to relax outside the city and come back to pick you up the day after tomorrow."
Zhenshu bit her lip and said, "I don't believe it. How could he let you take me away?"
Yu Yichen said, "Then why don't you go ask him?"
Zhen Shu gazed into the distance and saw that Zhao He had disappeared without a trace. She was by nature wild and untamed; any semblance of propriety was merely for show, lacking the refined manners expected of a young lady. Seeing that Zhao He had also been intimidated by Yu Yichen, and given that they were in this vast, open area outside the capital, she had long harbored the desire to roam and cause trouble in this expansive place. Therefore, she whispered, "I want to ride a horse."
Yu Yichen led over the horse he had just been riding. Sun Yuan carried him up from behind to the horse platform, but he didn't need to. Instead, he picked up Zhenshu and sat her sideways on the carriage, handing her the reins before asking, "Can you ride a horse?"
Zhen Shu said, "I've never ridden a horse, but I have ridden a donkey."
She held the reins in one hand and stroked the horse's neck with the other, steadied herself, and gave a soft "Giddy up!" The horse started moving. Sun Yuan then gave Yu Yichen another horse to ride, while the others followed at a distance.
Zhen Shu was uncomfortable sitting sideways, but since women in skirts should ride horses like this, she could only endure it. When she saw Yu Yichen catch up, she laughed and said, "Your horse is quite obedient, it moves very slowly. When I was a child, I once rode a donkey, and because it was tiptoeing too much, I grabbed its ear and wouldn't let go, which made the donkey tilt its head down and throw me off. I bumped my head and didn't get off for a long time."
Yu Yichen reined in his horse and slowed his pace, remaining silent while still watching her with a smile. Zhenshu felt a little embarrassed by his gaze and turned her head to look at the canal. By this time, the number of pedestrians on the road was gradually decreasing, and even the boats on the canal were disappearing. Zhenshu looked back and saw that the people in the distance were walking very slowly, seemingly deliberately keeping their distance from them.
Downstream along the canal stretched an endless plain. Spring planting had just ended, and all the fields were flat and straight, stretching as far as the eye could see. Zhenshu, sitting sideways, felt her back ache. Seeing that there were hardly any pedestrians on the road, she said to Yu Yichen, "At this rate, how long will it take to get to Liu Family Village?"
Yu Yichen said, "What's wrong with going slower?"
Chapter 66 Making a Wish
Yes, after being trapped in the capital for a year and a half, we've finally escaped those cramped alleyways and overcrowded rooms. What's wrong with taking it slow? Zhenshu suddenly had an ambition and pointed to her skirt, saying, "I'm still wearing thick trousers underneath. This cotton shirt has slits on both sides. If I take off this skirt, I can ride like you and run faster, right?"
Yu Yichen dismounted, helped her jump down, untied her skirt and placed it under the saddle, then lifted her back onto the horse. She was naturally light as a feather, and with a quick leap, she sat firmly with her legs spread wide, before the horse galloped off. Although the horse couldn't compare to a donkey, it was gentle and ran with a light and agile gait.
As noon approached, Yu Yichen pointed to a place shrouded in mist on the left side of the road and said, "That's Wanshou Temple. Shall we go and offer incense and have a vegetarian meal before we leave?"
Zhenshu wanted to ask Zhenyuan for a good luck charm, so she replied, "Okay."
They turned their horses around and galloped straight towards the swirling smoke. Although Wanshou Temple seemed close at first glance, it was actually quite a distance away. Kuang Zhenshu's horse wasn't fast, and by the time they arrived it was past noon. A plump monk in a kasaya was waiting at the temple gate. Upon seeing Yu Yichen, he hurried over, clasped his hands in prayer, and said, "Amitabha! How have you been, sir?"
Yu Yichen nodded slightly and led Zhenshu into the temple. The fat monk followed, walking beside Yu Yichen and asking softly, "Did you receive the gifts I sent during the festival, sir?"
Yu Yichen gestured to stop him, and continued walking inside with Zhenshu. Zhenshu entered the main hall, looked around and seeing no monks, said, "It looks like the incense is burning brightly from afar, why is the temple so deserted inside?"
The fat monk stepped forward and said with a smile, "Madam, you may not know this, but today all the other monks in the temple are in seclusion in the backyard and are not receiving guests."
Yu Yichen nodded slightly in praise when he saw that he answered very well.
The fat monk personally lit incense and handed it to Yu Yichen and Zhenshu before sitting down in front of the Buddha and striking the chime with his pestle.
Zhenshu rose and silently prayed for a long time before bowing again. She took out a small silver note from her sleeve and put it into the donation box before bowing to the fat monk and saying, "Master, my daughter wishes to ask for a peace talisman. I wonder how she can obtain one?"
The fat monk asked, "What do you seek?"
Zhen Shu thought for a moment and said, "Mother and child are safe!"
The fat monk gave Yu Yichen a deep look before smiling and saying, "This humble monk will do it for you right away, young lady."
After speaking, he left the main hall and went to the west side hall.
Zhenshu and Yu Yichen stood outside the main hall for a long time before the fat monk came out with a yellow talisman and presented it to Zhenshu with both hands, saying, "This is the talisman for the safety of mother and child. Please accept it and be sure to carry it with you at all times."
After speaking, he invited Yu Yichen over: "This humble monk has prepared a simple meal; please come to the side hall for a meal."
This side hall also housed a Buddha statue, but further inside it resembled the monk's living quarters. A kang table was laden with stir-fried vegetarian dishes, along with two bowls of glistening rice. Zhenshu, having woken up early and hungry, ate a large bowl of rice with the vegetarian dishes, then ladled out a bowl of soup and drank it. After wiping her hands with a handkerchief, she noticed that Yu Yichen still had half a bowl of rice in his bowl, and had barely touched the dishes, making it seem like he was eating with great difficulty.
He didn't finish the bowl of rice. He put down his chopsticks and said, "I'm full too. Let's go."
The fat monk was waiting outside the hall. When he saw Zhenshu come out to say goodbye and Yu Yichen also seemed to be leaving, he hurriedly caught up and whispered, "What did you promise this humble monk, sir?"
Yu Yichen paused slightly and turned to the side, saying, "You can go to the capital to find Mei Xun another day."
The fat monk, profusely thanking Yu Yichen and Zhenshu, saw them out of the mountain gate and, overjoyed, chanted Buddhist prayers as he entered the inner courtyard. Inside, a group of spear-wielding soldiers surrounded many bald monks. The monks, who were meditating with their eyes closed, all showed disgust upon seeing the fat monk enter.
The fat monk bowed to the head of the central army and said, "The eunuch has left, and the officials should also withdraw, right?"
The general said solemnly, "We cannot withdraw without the order from the Imperial Palace. We apologize for any offense."
The fat monk entered the circle of discipline and sat down next to the kind-faced old monk at the head of the group. He whispered, "Grandmaster, Eunuch Yu has granted permission for this humble monk to stay at Xiangguo Temple."
The old monk turned to look at the fat monk, shook his head slightly, and said, "Buddhism is one family under heaven, why must we argue about who is superior?"
The fat monk laughed and said, "After I go to Xiangguo Temple, I will find a way to invite my master to take charge. Then our sect will be able to flourish."
The old monk shook his head and sighed, then continued chanting Buddhist mantras with his eyes closed.
Stepping outside the temple gate, tender buds were sprouting on the willow trees, and several peach trees were about to bloom. Zhenshu walked with her hands behind her back and asked Yu Yichen, "Did you make a wish before the Buddha, sir?"
Yu Yichen countered with a question to Zhenshu: "What wish did the young shopkeeper make?"
Zhenshu shook her head: "I can't tell you. But if you can tell me what you wished for, I'll tell you mine."
Yu Yichen saw her walking forward with her head down and face upturned, laughing and skipping. She was slender and tall, with a fair and smooth face in the prime of her youth. Her beautiful lips curved into a pretty arc as she looked back at him. Suddenly, she said the truth: "I wish that the shopkeeper would no longer call me father-in-law. From now on, forever and ever, he will only call me by my name."
Zhenshu took two steps forward and said, "What's so difficult about this? Just listen..."
She turned around and called out, "Yu Yichen!"
Yu Yichen: "Uh."
She turned and walked forward, calling out again, "Yu Yichen!"
Yu Yichen: "Uh."
"Yu Yichen..."
Yu Yichen suddenly took two quick steps forward, turned her shoulders, lowered his head, and kissed her lips.
Zhen Shu was stunned for a moment, standing there blankly. After a while, she suddenly realized what was happening, pushed him away, ran a few steps to the horse's tether, untied the reins, and took the horse. She tried several times to jump onto the horse but couldn't. Finally, Yu Yichen came over and supported her waist, allowing her to jump up.
They rode back along the road, and Sun Yuanmei, who had been eating his rations by the temple wall, hurriedly packed up his rations and caught up with his guards.
Finally, they reached the right road. Zhenshu turned around and saw that the carriage was still nowhere to be seen. She asked Yu Yichen, "Why are they walking so slowly?"
Yu Yichen shook his head: "I don't know."
Zhenshu angrily said, "You're angry with me."
Yu Yichen shook his head and remained silent.
Zhenshu bit her lip and said, "You know that's impossible. Besides, I have two younger sisters. It's hard for a woman to get married if she loses her reputation. I'll let it go, since I'm not a good person to begin with, but they still need to get married. I can't let them be implicated because of me."
Yu Yichen spurred his horse to ride alongside her, then pleaded, "Just for today, stay with me. Tomorrow morning I'll take you to Liu Family Village, okay?"
Seeing that Zhenshu remained silent, he added, "They don't know which day you set off, so what if it's a day later?"
Zhen Shu was torn between two conflicting emotions. One moment she felt pity for Yu Yichen, and the next she felt that she had gone too far. She reined in her horse and bit her lip for a long time. Seeing that Yu Yichen was still staring at her and wanted an answer, she reluctantly nodded and said, "Alright."