Chapter 101: Red Beans Sent to Express Longing

Time flows like a river, and as the days pass, the eleventh month arrives in the blink of an eye.

It has been a month since Zhang Yunxiu came to Huating; this month, he and his elder brother accompanied Xu Yuanchun to meet all the prominent and wealthy figures in Songjiang Prefecture and even Yingtian Prefecture.

Zhang Yunxiu understood Xu Yuanchun's intention.

It was nothing more than two words: "borrowing influence," letting those who dared to scheme against the Xu Family weigh whether their own teeth were strong enough before trying to take a bite of this fat piece of meat.

After a round of deterrence, those officials who had coveted the Xu Family and wanted to loot a burning house immediately reined in their thoughts.

Wealth is good, but the head on one's shoulders is better; there is no need to lose one's life for the sake of worldly possessions.

At the same time, the autumn days in Jiangnan were growing increasingly cold, and Zhang Yunxiu knew it was time to return to the capital.

That evening, just after Zhang Yunxiu had finished his dinner, a green little "bean sprout" rushed to the door of his room and whispered, "Young Master Zhang, the young lady asks you to go to the back garden at the hour of the Rooster."

Zhang Yunxiu recognized that the owner of this voice was Xu Ruoxi's personal maid, Lvluo, so he felt a surge of joy and replied, "Understood."

Autumn days are short; as soon as the hour of the Rooster arrived, a curtain of darkness wrapped the earth tight.

In the Xu Family's back garden, brilliant lights were already shining; in front of a pavilion, a scarlet curtain blocked the entrance.

Zhang Yunxiu followed the directions and arrived before the curtain; just as he was about to probe inside, a trembling voice suddenly came from within: "Don't—don't come in, just stay outside."

"Fine!" Zhang Yunxiu responded with a helpless expression.

The young ladies of noble families in this Great Ming are truly conservative; wanting to see one's own fiancée is like demanding her life.

It is no wonder why those socialites are so sought after.

Because, even if you are a newly minted advanced scholar or a prominent merchant, you simply cannot get to see the daughters of these great households.

These socialites and courtesans, well-read and skilled in musical instruments, became substitutes for the young ladies of noble families.

Hearing that Zhang Yunxiu was not acting recklessly, the person inside let out a long sigh of relief, then parted her red lips and said sweetly, "Zhang Lang is returning soon; my talents are meager, so I shall offer a song for Zhang Lang."

"Then I shall listen with rapt attention."

Zhang Yunxiu straightened his back; Xu Ruoxi giggled, then gently plucked the strings, and a melodious sound drifted out from behind the scarlet curtain.

The gentle parts were like the whispers of a girl in love, the stirring parts like the clashing of weapons, and the coquettish parts were full of charm; it was intoxicating to listen to.

Looking through the scarlet curtain, the fair, delicate neck of the beauty inside was visible at a glance.

It felt to Zhang Yunxiu as if a caterpillar were crawling through his heart, both itchy and pleasant.

When the song ended, Xu Ruoxi raised her beautiful head and smiled toward the outside: "My skills are not refined, I have let Zhang Lang laugh at me."

"Ruoxi, can I come in?" Zhang Yunxiu asked, thick-skinned.

"No!" Xu Ruoxi's cheeks flushed with shame, and she muttered, "I let you see enough last time; if you weren't leaving, I wouldn't have come to find you."

"But we are husband and wife," Zhang Yunxiu insisted on teasing her.

"That will only be after we are married," Xu Ruoxi clenched her jade hands and said nervously, "We aren't yet; men and women must keep their distance. Zhang Lang, just stand outside and keep me company for a while."

"What is the point of talking through a curtain?" Zhang Yunxiu was greatly disappointed and turned to leave.

"Hey!"

Xu Ruoxi grew anxious and stepped out in pursuit; Zhang Yunxiu turned around and looked at her with a smile.

At this, Xu Ruoxi instantly realized she had been tricked; she bit her red lip, her face full of shyness, and stamped her foot before retreating back behind the scarlet curtain: "Then go, just leave; if you leave, don't come to see me again."

"Oh."

Zhang Yunxiu turned around again.

"Doing it again, this girl won't be fooled," Xu Ruoxi said, bowing her head and leaning against the back of the pavilion door.

Hearing Zhang Yunxiu's footsteps growing more distant, she poked her head out to look, but there was no one left outside.

"Really left?"

Xu Ruoxi's heart skipped a beat; she walked back to the guzheng in low spirits and sat down, resting her chin on her left hand while raising the red bean bracelet in her right, staring blankly for a moment.

"You, your mouth is the hardest part of your whole body," suddenly, a playful voice rang out from outside again.

Xu Ruoxi's eyes lit up, her face full of smiles, and she chided, "I knew it, you definitely didn't leave."

"Fine, seeing as you're begging me so much, I'll stand outside and keep you company for a while," Zhang Yunxiu said, and having found a small stool from somewhere outside, he sat down with a thud.

After drafting her thoughts for a moment, Xu Ruoxi asked nervously, "Do—do you still have a concubine in the capital?"

"Yes," Zhang Yunxiu did not hide it at all and said directly, "She is called Zheng Xi'er, two years older than you, and was originally a palace maid; but don't worry, she has a very good temperament."

"Oh." Seeing Zhang Yunxiu tell her so much, Xu Ruoxi felt as if she had eaten honey.

"Then, since you are often by the Emperor's side, can you tell me what the Forbidden City looks like? I have never been to the Forbidden City."

"There's nothing much to see; it's just a few red walls with some people living inside. Although the people inside have noble status, they are trapped between those red walls and green tiles for their whole lives, never knowing freedom; it is truly pitiful."

After finishing, Zhang Yunxiu smiled toward the inside: "Do you still think the Forbidden City is fun?"

A trace of disappointment flashed across Xu Ruoxi's exquisite face; she shook her head through the curtain and replied, "So, being the Emperor's woman is the most miserable thing in this world; one never receives the Emperor's favor, yet can only be trapped in the deep palace."

Hmm? Are you pointing at me with this?

Zhang Yunxiu caught the subtext and teased, "You have such great courage, daring to discuss the imperial concubines and implicitly mock the Emperor for being heartless; are you not afraid of the Emperor's blame?"

"Didn't you say it too?" Xu Ruoxi pouted and hummed.

"I don't count; you never get to see the Emperor, so whatever I say, doesn't the Emperor believe it?" Zhang Yunxiu began to act like a rogue.

"You—you are so shameless." Xu Ruoxi knitted her brows, searching her mind for a long time before squeezing out such a dirty word.

Just this much attack power? Zhang Yunxiu curled his lips, not caring at all. Clearly, it was an insult, but spoken in the soft, melodic dialect of a beauty, it had a different flavor.

Suddenly, a perverse thought emerged in Zhang Yunxiu's mind; he cleared his throat, tilted his head, and whispered, "Try scolding me a few more times."

"What?" Xu Ruoxi could hardly believe her ears.

"Scold me a couple more times."

"You—you don't have something wrong with your head, do you? Why would you want me to scold you?"

"Sigh, forget it, you wouldn't understand."

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head and ended the topic directly; Xu Ruoxi assumed she had misheard, so she asked about matters in the north: "Then tell me, what is the difference between the girls in the north and us girls in the south?"

"There's no difference; everyone has one head and two eyes," Zhang Yunxiu replied teasingly.

"You're talking nonsense! My third aunt is the daughter of the honorable Count Lu Bing, and her height and appearance are not like us southern girls at all," Xu Ruoxi's tone rose suddenly.

If you know, why ask?

Zhang Yunxiu muttered to himself.

Different environments produce different people; northern women have taller builds, and their temperaments are more fiery and heroic.

Southern girls are petite and gentle in temperament, just like the misty rain of Jiangnan.

"Then do you like northern girls, or do you like southern girls?" she asked, seeing that Zhang Yunxiu did not speak.

"I like you, is that alright?"

Zhang Yunxiu raised both hands in surrender.

Xu Ruoxi felt sweet in her heart, clasped her hands together against her chest to giggle secretly for a while, and then began asking about Zhang Yunxiu's personal affairs.

Such as what dishes he liked to eat, what flavors he preferred, from what he wore to what he ate.

Not a single detail was left out.

Down to the smallest detail, Zhang Yunxiu told Xu Ruoxi everything.

Unknowingly, the time had reached the end of the You hour, and the lit oil lamp began to grow dim.

Zhang Yunxiu rose to take his leave, and Xu Ruoxi reached out a fair wrist from inside: "This... this is for you. I made this myself."

Looking closely, it was actually a bracelet strung with uniform red beans.

Through the curtain, Xu Ruoxi spoke softly: "Red beans grow in the southern land, how many branches sprout in the spring?

I wish for you to gather many, for this object most evokes longing."

"Rest well. At the latest, I will come to see you next spring," Zhang Yunxiu said, putting the bracelet on his wrist, grinning, and turning to leave with light, quick steps.

Xu Ruoxi also stepped out from behind the curtain at this moment, watching Zhang Yunxiu's retreating back intently until he completely disappeared from her field of vision.

The next morning, while Huating was still shrouded in thick fog, a team of about a hundred imperial guards escorted two carriages, slowly driving out of Huating County and heading north.

After marching urgently for five or six days, the convoy finally entered Yangzhou city.

The office of the River Patrol Censor was located here.

When Zhang Yunxiu arrived, the River Patrol Censor Wang Zuan wanted to have the Zhang brothers stay for a few days so he could fulfill his duties as a host.

At the time, they were in a rush, so the two of them could not stay long and waited to gather on the return trip.

Passing through three streets and alleys, Zhang Yunxiu finally arrived at the residence of the River Patrol Censor. At the main gate, the River Patrol Censor Wang Zuan had already received the news and was waiting there.

He appeared to be about forty-seven or forty-eight years old, with a tall build and fair skin; beneath a pair of thick eyebrows, his large, round eyes were full of spirit.

He wore a bean-green cashmere jacket inside, a black ramie silk round-collared robe outside, a glass jade belt hanging at his waist, and long black boots embroidered with gold thread on his feet.

Seeing the Zhang brothers arrive, Wang Zuan trotted forward two steps and said enthusiastically with a smile, "Oh, my two nephews, I have been looking forward to your arrival like stars and the moon."

"Come, come, come! I have already set up a banquet in the residence to welcome you both. I have also asked my wife to keep Jingxiu's wife company; there will be absolutely no neglect."

The Zhang brothers smiled and followed Wang Zuan inside.

Passing through a large garden, Wang Zuan led the two brothers to the dining hall, where a dark-colored round table was set.

Once seated, Wang Zuan beckoned to a servant, who understood and shouted outside: "The honored guests have arrived... serve the dishes!"

In an instant, pretty maids in uniform attire were moving back and forth, holding delicacies.

Before long, the originally empty tabletop was crowded with delicacies.

"Two nephews, come, let us have a drink together first," Wang Zuan poured a cup of wine, raised it, and looked at the two.

Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jingxiu smiled, raised their glasses, clinked them, and then tilted their heads back to drink.

After a cup of wine, the atmosphere became lively, and Wang Zuan asked directly: "Two nephews, how is the Grand Secretary's health lately? If the sika deer I sent are not enough, just tell me; don't be polite with me."

"Cough, cough... let's not mention the deer for now," Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly interrupted him.

"Why?" Wang Zuan asked suspiciously.

"The doctor said that Father needs to properly recuperate his health."

Zhang Yunxiu said solemnly. Wang Zuan wanted to retort, but when he looked up and saw Zhang Yunxiu's stern face, he smiled and changed his words: "Very well, since it is the doctor's instruction, one should indeed be careful."

"Uncle is so ready to accept good advice; this junior admires you."

Waving his hand with a smile, Wang Zuan said modestly: "What kind of 'ready to accept good advice' is that? The Grand Secretary is the one with the grand vision and strategic mind. If it weren't for the Grand Secretary's appointment, I would still be a Director at the Ministry of Justice.

Of course, being a Director at the Ministry of Justice isn't bad, but for me, this River Patrol Censor position is a broader stage."

(End of chapter)