Chapter 884

Yongheli.

As one of the few residential areas in Luoyang city, Yongheli and Buguangli were inhabited almost entirely by high-ranking officials of the court.

It would be no exaggeration to say that land in these two places in Luoyang city was worth its weight in gold.

Yet even so, there were massive mansions with vast grounds here.

East of Yongheli, near the Middle East Gate, there was a huge mansion covering about a dozen mu.

A huge plaque hung on the porch of the mansion, with the five gold-plated characters "Mansion of the Chief of the Imperial Physicians" written on it.

The Chief of the Imperial Physicians was in charge of the illnesses of the imperial family and all officials, and was the highest-ranking imperial physician official in the palace, belonging to the Lesser Treasury.

Although the position of Chief of the Imperial Physicians was not low, it was not realistic to own a mansion covering a dozen mu in this land where every inch of Luoyang was worth gold.

But the current Chief of the Imperial Physicians was not an ordinary one.

Because this Chief of the Imperial Physicians was Zhang Feng, the son of Zhang Rang, one of the leaders of the Ten Regular Attendants in the palace.

Therefore, this mansion covering a dozen mu was nominally Zhang Feng's, but in reality, it represented Zhang Rang's power.

This place was bustling with traffic all year round, with carriages lining up from dawn until dusk.

The people coming to give gifts were as numerous as crucian carp crossing a river.

Guards stood watch on the high towers at the four corners of the mansion, holding swords and bows.

The high courtyard walls separated the inside of the mansion from the outside into two unrelated worlds.

In the huge garden in the front courtyard, rockeries, pavilions, towers, and ponds were all present.

The flowers blooming in the garden attracted countless colorful butterflies dancing in the sky.

Between the corridors and walkways, there was a young girl every three or five steps.

Even the beams used to support the corridors were covered in vermilion and gold lacquer, showing extreme luxury.

And in the pond, fat carp were swimming in groups, slowly wagging their tails in the water.

In the center of the pond, there was an artificially filled island in the middle of the lake.

It was connected by corridors on all sides.

An octagonal stone pavilion stood on the small island.

The stone pavilion was covered with light gauze curtains to block mosquitoes.

Four maids dressed in cool clothing stood around the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion.

He Lingman, in a black gauze dress, was lying on her side on a soft couch.

On the table in front of her were a jade wine pot and four plates of exquisite pastries and fruits.

Two maids kneeling beside the table were holding cattail-leaf fans, gently fanning to drive away the sweltering heat.

He Lingman, with her curvaceous figure, was lying on her side, as if she had fallen asleep.

On the corridor leading to the pavilion, a maid in a white dress, with her hands placed at her waist, walked hurriedly toward the stone pavilion.

"Madam."

After arriving at the stone pavilion, the maid bowed and called out.

He Lingman, who was lying on her side, slowly opened her eyes, lazily covered her red lips, and yawned, saying, "This weather is so hot it's annoying."

"Speak, what is it?"

The maid glanced at the maids holding cattail-leaf fans on both sides. He Lingman immediately understood and waved her hand: "You all go down first."

The maids stood up, bowed, and slowly retreated to the distance.

After the maids around were far away, the maid knelt on the ground with joy on her face and said, "Madam, I just heard some news."

"They say the General of the Guards is returning to Luoyang."

Hmm?

He Lingman, who was sleepy and yawning a second ago, sat up straight the next second and looked at the maid in surprise, asking:

"Where did you hear this news?"

"Are you sure it's true?"

He Lingman couldn't believe it.

Duan Yu was currently leading troops to suppress the rebellion outside; how could he return to Luoyang?

The maid nodded repeatedly and said, "It's true, the Empress's maid said so."

"Today, the Empress's maid came out of the palace to the Grand General's mansion and happened to meet me at the market. She said the Son of Heaven had issued an edict several days ago for the General of the Guards to come to Luoyang from Taiyuan Commandery. It is absolutely true."

"Counting the days, the General of the Guards is probably already arriving by now."

An uncontrollable joy immediately appeared in He Lingman's beautiful eyes.

Then she said in a leisurely tone, "Hmph, knowing he's coming back but not telling me, he must be wanting to eat alone again."

"However..."

He Lingman smiled.

As the saying goes, those near the water get the moon first; being outside the palace, she was definitely much more convenient than those inside.

"You immediately find two clever ones to guard the Pingcheng Gate. As soon as you see the General of the Guards return, come and notify me immediately."

"By the way, take out all the Shu brocade sent from Sichuan for me, and send it to be tailored into new clothes. Remember, it must be beautiful."

At this time, He Lingman could no longer sit still.

She got up from the pavilion and headed toward the back courtyard.

It had been several months since Duan Yu last left Luoyang.

Walking on the corridor, He Lingman's steps were graceful, and a flush had already appeared on her face unconsciously.

Thinking of the last parting, He Lingman felt her feet go a bit soft.

Her expression became more and more expectant.

She had already heard about the war in Yingchuan.

Hearing that Zhang Rang's ancestral home in Yingchuan had been looted, she knew it must have been Duan Yu's doing.

"If he dares not thank me properly this time, I won't let him off."

He Lingman's red lips were lightly bitten by her white teeth, and that charming look turned into thick expectation in her beautiful eyes.

Walking toward the back courtyard, fantasizing about the madness in her memory, He Lingman did not notice a man in his twenties wearing official robes walking toward her.

It wasn't until they were about to collide and the maid behind her called out that He Lingman came back to her senses.

"Master."

"Master."

The maids following He Lingman looked at the man in front of them and bowed.

He Lingman looked up at the man in front of her.

He was of medium build, with a fair complexion, slightly upturned corners of his eyes, and slightly thin lips.

In this mansion, the only one who could be called Master was He Lingman's husband.

Zhang Feng, the son of Zhang Rang, one of the Ten Regular Attendants of the current dynasty.

Zhang Feng looked at He Lingman and showed a smile: "Madam."

The expression on He Lingman's face faded, and she replied indifferently.

"Why is Madam so happy?"

Zhang Feng, who did not notice anything unusual, asked.

Although Zhang Feng was smiling, He Lingman did not give Zhang Feng any smile at all.

The He family had two daughters in total.

One was He Lingsi, the other was He Lingman.

He Lingsi had used Zhang Rang's influence to enter the palace, which led her to Liu Hong's side, and she rose from a palace maid to the position of Empress.

During this period, He Lingman's marriage to Zhang Feng was a purely political marriage.

He Jin, to thank Zhang Rang, betrothed He Lingman to Zhang Rang's son, Zhang Feng.

At first, He Lingman didn't feel anything; anyway, her marriage couldn't be decided by herself.

But later.

When He Lingman discovered that Zhang Rang's son, Zhang Feng, was a 'useless man', everything changed.

It was impossible for her to get a divorce.

Because Zhang Feng was Zhang Rang's son.

Even if she wanted to seek comfort in Luoyang, it was impossible. ===== CHAPTER 886 =====