Chapter 24: Do You Think You've Made It?

In April, the willow catkins drifted in the wind; after the Grain Rain solar term, the climate of the entire city of Beijing became pleasant.

It was neither as bitterly cold as winter nor as sweltering as summer; it was truly the best season of the year.

Han San and Zheng Guotai left the small Zheng family courtyard and headed straight for Fugui Street.

The street was lined with shops and taverns, banners and flags fluttering; every doorway had a red carpet laid out, displaying the height of luxury.

Although it was not yet evening, the entire Fugui Street was already teeming with people, the lights brilliant and dazzling.

After walking along the street for seven or eight minutes, Zheng Guotai's eyes were already dazzled.

A place of such wealth—let alone visiting it, he wouldn't have even dared to imagine it in the past.

He had originally thought that Minglan Pavilion was already an earthly paradise, but compared to this, it was like a minor sorcerer in the presence of a great one.

Just as he was thinking this, Han San stopped in his tracks.

Zheng Guotai looked up; it was an extremely luxurious pavilion, standing a full five stories high.

The windows facing the street were all painted with intricate beams and ornate decorations, and beauties leaned against the window frames, lowering their heads and smiling faintly at the pedestrians below.

"Yilan Pavilion, a rather elegant name," Zheng Guotai muttered as he looked at the sign, then stepped inside.

After announcing their names, Han San waited downstairs, while Zheng Guotai was led to a private room on the third floor.

Pushing the door open and entering, he saw the brothers Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu leaning back in their chairs.

To their left were two sixteen-year-old beauties dressed in moon-white ru skirts, playing the zither and blowing the flute.

The zither music was winding and the flute melody was melodious, serene and distant; it left Zheng Guotai feeling intoxicated.

"Brother Zheng, you've finally arrived," Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, welcoming him.

Zheng Guotai cupped his hands toward the two of them, lifted his long robe, and sat down.

Once seated, Zheng Guotai shouted impatiently, "Brother, you are truly divine. I admire you so much I could kowtow to you; from now on, if you have any business, just say the word."

Zhang Yunxiu and Zhang Jianxiu exchanged a smile and said, "Then we two brothers will have to call you Imperial Brother-in-law."

"Not at all, not at all. My sister is just a minor Concubine; it's not worth relying on." Zheng Guotai was humble in speech, but a trace of arrogance rose in his heart.

Stung by this, Zhang Yunxiu felt displeased and decided to properly take Zheng Guotai down a peg.

He picked up the tea on the table, took a sip, and asked with a smile, "Brother Zheng, now that you are an Imperial Brother-in-law, where do you plan to seek a high position?"

Zheng Guotai looked slightly awkward; although he was an Imperial Brother-in-law, he was still a commoner. Suddenly asked by Zhang Yunxiu, he could only stammer and prevaricate, "I... I haven't thought about it yet, but it will likely be the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Good, the Embroidered Uniform Guard is good." Zhang Yunxiu stood up abruptly, pointed at Zhang Jianxiu, and asked Zheng Guotai, "Do you know what this brother sitting next to you does?"

Zheng Guotai looked at Zhang Jianxiu and shook his head.

"He is a Assistant Regional Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Ah!" Zheng Guotai acted as if he had been stung by a hornet and jumped up in a flash.

So young, and yet a Assistant Regional Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—that meant he was the son of the Senior Grand Secretary. He suddenly remembered that both of them were surnamed Zhang and could mobilize the connections of the Eastern Depot. Besides the son of the Senior Grand Secretary, who else could possess such power?

Recalling his earlier arrogance, Zheng Guotai felt bitter inside and said with a trembling voice, "I... I didn't expect that the two young masters were the sons of the Senior Grand Secretary. This... what virtue or ability do I have to be acquainted with the two of you?"

"Brother Zheng, you don't need to belittle yourself," Zhang Yunxiu said, changing the subject. "You are now an Imperial Brother-in-law, and in the future, when your sister enjoys the Emperor's favor, we two will really have to rely on you to get by."

Although it was flattery, Zheng Guotai felt more and more uncomfortable hearing it.

Who didn't know the power of the Zhang Family? Even the Emperor had to show them some deference. He didn't believe for a second that they would rely on him in the future.

This was like a billionaire saying to a millionaire:

"In the future, I'll have to rely on you to lead the way."

Seeing that his goal was achieved, Zhang Yunxiu stopped applying pressure and offered a few soothing words. He waved for the two women to leave, clapped his hands, and ordered wine and food to be served.

Before long, the previously empty table was filled with a dazzling array of delicacies. Shredded radish stewed with crucian carp, Jinhua ham, winter melon stewed with turtle skirt, Shaoxing Daughter Wine... Zheng Guotai drooled just looking at the various dishes.

"Please, help yourself," Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, gesturing with his hand.

Zheng Guotai rubbed his hands together, picked up his chopsticks, and began to gorge himself, showing no regard for the others present.

In no time, his mouth was oily, and steam was rising from his forehead.

Seeing that although this fellow had become slightly prominent, his ruffian nature remained unchanged, Zhang Jianxiu was quite displeased.

He hadn't wanted to come here today; if it weren't for his fifth brother's repeated requests, he wouldn't be dining with such a person.

Isn't he just a minor Concubine? Even if she were appointed one of the Nine Concubines, so what?

You don't see people fawning over Empress Wang's family like this.

"Slurp."

Just as he was thinking this, Zheng Guotai slurped up a mouthful of meat broth and smacked his lips, making Zhang Jianxiu's face darken with anger.

"Brother Zheng, eat slowly; be careful not to choke," Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly reminded him.

"Mmph... no, no need." Zheng Guotai spoke indistinctly. After swallowing a mouthful of food, he looked at the two who were barely touching their chopsticks and asked, "Eat, everyone eat. Why aren't you eating? If you don't eat, all of this will end up in my stomach."

"It's fine, we've already eaten; you just take your time," Zhang Yunxiu said, holding down his furious fourth brother and smiling at Zheng Guotai.

Hearing this, Zheng Guotai was overjoyed and became even more unbridled.

Before long, the entire table of wine and food had gone into Zheng Guotai's stomach.

He looked satisfied, leaned back on his chair, patted his belly, and let out a belch.

"Comfortable... truly comfortable. If I could eat like this every day, that would be the life of an immortal."

"If you ate like this every day, wouldn't you grow as fat as a pig?" Zhang Jianxiu mocked.

"If I could really eat like this every day, being a pig wouldn't matter." Whether he was thick-skinned or what, Zheng Guotai actually responded with a grin.

Zhang Jianxiu felt as if he had punched cotton, his teeth itching with anger.

Seeing that the situation was not right, Zhang Yunxiu hurriedly ended the gathering.

The two brothers parted ways with Zheng Guotai. Zhang Jianxiu pointed at Zheng Guotai's retreating back and cursed through gritted teeth, "A ruffian and a hooligan, a monkey dressed in robes; even if he put on a dragon robe, he couldn't cover up that rustic stench."

"Fifth brother, if it weren't for your sake, I would have loved to flip the table right then and there."

"Oh, it's just eating, no need to be so angry. Keep an open mind," Zhang Yunxiu said with a smile, trying to appease him.

"How could it not be? You saw the way he ate; even a pig would have better table manners than him." Zhang Jianxiu said indignantly, then added, "In the past, a person like that wouldn't even be able to see my face!"

"Who told him to have a good sister." Zhang Yunxiu sighed and said helplessly, "The current Emperor's maternal grandfather, Empress Dowager Li's biological father, Wuqing Earl Li Wei, was still a mason."

"Isn't he the same now, ranked as a Count?"

"Besides, if we trace our family back a few generations, we weren't exactly a wealthy or noble family either. Grandfather was a poor scholar, and great-grandfather was just a guard at the Liao Prince Mansion; we can't be considered a family of great wealth or status."

Zhang Jianxiu was lectured by his younger brother and couldn't save face, so he laughed and said, "Fine, since you came back, your glib tongue has grown; I can't win an argument with you, you're always right, okay?"

Having said that, Zhang Jianxiu strode away.

Zhang Yunxiu shook his head with a smile and called for Zhang Fu to head toward the Grand Secretary Mansion.

Before he had even walked into the residence, he was stopped by a figure to the side; he turned his head to look, and it was none other than Feng Bao's steward, Xu Jue.

"Fifth Young Master, something big has happened; this time you must help my master."

(End of this chapter)