Сhаpter 13: Еntеring thе Liаng Fаmily 1
Even thоugh shе had faсed viciоus сriminаls frоm а уoung agе, Zhu Yan was still an innocent mаidеn at hеart. Whеn it саmе to mаttеrs оf рuritу, she still bеlieved theу shоuld be еxperiеnced with thе husband she lоvеd.
Аlthоugh Shеn Du wаs hеr husband, he did nоt likе her.
Griррing thе raisеd front оf thе saddle tightlу, Zhu Yаn darеd not look аt Shen Du again. Shе оnlу felt Shеn Du mount the horsе, ехtend his аrms tо grаsр thе rеins, traррing her within his еmbraсe.
Thrоughout thе еntirе ride, Zhu Yаn rеmаinеd like a frightenеd quail.
And Shen Du said nothing mоre. Without warning, hе grabbed thе horsеwhiр and struсk the horse’s hindquarters. The horse charged forward, nearly throwing Zhu Yan off!
Paling, she grabbed Shen Du’s arm. In her panic, she caught sight of the upward curve of his lips and instantly realized he had done it on purpose!
Yet she dared not scold him. Stubbornly turning her head away, Zhu Yan watched as the horse entered the East Gate of Wubenfang and continued toward the West Gate. She asked, “Where are we going now?”
Shen Du replied, “Fenglefang.”
Fenglefang was precisely where the Liang family resided. According to the plan, she was also supposed to come to Fenglefang today to gather information.
However, unlike Shen Du, who would openly meet with the Liang family, she intended to discreetly inquire about the Liang family’s private affairs among the commoners in Fenglefang.
Sitting in the flower hall, Zhu Yan felt the gaze of the Liang family’s maids upon her. She lightly raised her hand and coughed, saying to Shen Du, “I say, Great Pavilion Commander…”
Shen Du: “If you don’t call me ‘husband,’ you won’t need your tongue once we leave the Liang family’s gate.”
Zhu Yan conceded. Did he think she had no temper? Moreover, she had been married to him by the Emperor’s decree!
Standing up and glaring at Shen Du, Zhu Yan remained silent for a moment before saying, “Husband.”
Shen Du sipped his tea. “Speak.”
Zhu Yan’s expression faltered slightly, but she still managed a faint smile. “After all, we disagree on this matter. You wish to meet with the second branch’s master and mistress, but if I stay here, who knows what trouble might arise? I’d like to go for a walk.”
Setting down the porcelain teacup adorned with floral patterns, Shen Du nodded. “Let Jing Lin accompany you.”
Jing Lin, as stern and cold-faced as his master, bowed.
At this moment, Zhu Yan no longer minded her dislike for the Inner Guard. As long as she didn’t have to stay by Shen Du’s side, anything was acceptable.
Calling over a maid to ask where the garden was, Zhu Yan sat down in the pavilion and said to Jing Lin, “I stayed up all night and couldn’t sleep. I need to rest here for a while. Go stand guard for me over there.”
She pointed to the large tree at the entrance.
Jing Lin did not move. Zhu Yan rubbed her temples, irritably tugging at her collar, and muttered, “Fine. If you Inner Guard dare to stare even while the Great Pavilion Commander’s wife is resting, then why should I be shy? Guard as you please.”
With that, she lay her head on the stone table, her eyes lowered. Her slightly open collar slipped down, revealing her shoulder blade.
Jing Lin had initially thought she was up to some trick, but seeing her sleep so carelessly, he quickly averted his gaze and stepped out of the pavilion. He even called a maid to lower the bamboo curtain of the pavilion.
Hearing the footsteps fade into the distance, Zhu Yan opened her eyes. As the curtain was being lowered, she slipped out of the pavilion from the other side.
The maid was startled. Zhu Yan quickly pulled her aside, gesturing for her to be quiet, and complained, “My husband can’t bear to be apart from me. He fears I’ll fall to my death with every step I take, and he’s been watching me day and night. Please let me catch my breath, and don’t make a sound.”
The maid hesitated but nodded. As she and Zhu Yan exited through another door, she asked, “I remember you are an official lady from the Ministry of Justice. When you go to the Ministry, does Lord White Yama—I mean, the Great Pavilion Commander—not let you go either?”Zhu Yan lamented, "Even if he doesn't release them, the Ministry of Justice wouldn't dare object. He's currently favored by His Majesty, so even our Minister wouldn't dare confront him openly. It's rather frustrating—when I married him yesterday, I was afraid he might kill me with a single stroke of his blade. Yet now, just one day later, I'm afraid he'll keep me by his side all day long."
Shen Du sought trouble with her simply because rumors circulated that she was unloved and that Minister Zhang was targeting him as a result. To prevent him from causing her further misfortune, she would naturally take the initiative to cooperate in dispelling these rumors.
Servants from prominent households like this were most effective for quelling rumors.
Sure enough, after hearing the complaint, the maidservant exclaimed in surprise, "But yesterday..."
"Before yesterday, we had never met, so conflicts were inevitable," Zhu Yan explained. "If he didn't like me, why would he, as the Great Pavilion Commander of the Inner Guard Bureau, keep me by his side everywhere and even assign his most trusted Jing Lin to protect me?"
The maidservant suddenly understood. "That makes sense. I was wondering—since the Great Pavilion Commander is close to our Second Master, and knowing how much our household dislikes people from the Ministry of Justice lately, why would he bring you into the residence? It turns out it's because his affection cannot be separated. If outsiders knew how much the Great Pavilion Commander dotes on you, they'd surely be envious."
Zhu Yan smiled shyly and reached out to help carry two of the old lanterns that had been replaced. "Is my husband very close to Vice Minister Liang? I've only just married into the Shen residence and haven't heard him mention it."
Her approachable demeanor increased the maidservant's fondness for Zhu Yan. After thinking for a moment, the maidservant replied, "The Vice Minister and the Great Pavilion Commander have been acquainted for several years, but the Great Pavilion Commander doesn't visit often—only occasionally, and he brings gifts."
"Gifts?"
"Yes, nothing particularly valuable—just flowers, plants, and medicinal herbs. It must be something Vice Minister Liang asked the Great Pavilion Commander to find for Madam Wei." Seeing Zhu Yan's confusion, the maidservant added, "Madam Wei is our Second Master's first wife. A few years ago, after she went mad, His Majesty granted our master a special favor and elevated Madam Zheng from concubine to equal wife."
"Madam Wei loves tending to flowers and plants, but they often die under her care. Whenever one dies, she has an episode. However, plants like the Dripping Guanyin, which thrive in the south, are difficult to keep alive here in Chang'an. So, every time one dies, Madam Wei goes into a frenzy. If you don't understand the importance of that flower, let me put it this way: last month, when the flower died once, Madam Wei woke up, saw it was gone, and started injuring people everywhere. In her frenzy, she rushed into the First Madam's courtyard and slashed the face of the First Madam's wet nurse, leaving a huge gash. The blood splattered on the screen, staining the white plum blossoms red."
Zhu Yan gasped softly, horrified. "Did the wet nurse die?"
The maidservant shook her head. "No, though Wet Nurse Jiang was severely injured, fortunately, the physician treating Madam Wei was in the residence that day and managed to save her life."
Zhu Yan nodded thoughtfully and asked, "Since she's the First Madam's wet nurse and lives in the residence, the First Madam and Wet Nurse Jiang must be very close. After this incident, the first and second branches of the family must have fallen out, right?"
The maidservant stopped walking and looked at Zhu Yan, her eyes growing slightly wary.
Zhu Yan quickly explained, "I visited the Western Brightness Temple the other day and heard from our supervisor that as soon as Clan Leader Liang saw Young Master Liang's body, he demanded an autopsy and harshly criticized Vice Minister Liang. So, I wondered if there had been long-standing grievances between the first and second branches..."
Having spoken the truth, Zhu Yan observed the maidservant's expression.On the day the female officials were selected, the Ministry of Personnel posted announcements everywhere. Given her status, it was impossible to conceal the matter, so it was better to voice her thoughts openly—that way, others might trust her more.
Sure enough, the maid’s unease faded away. Seeing that the procession had already entered the corridor, she pulled Zhu Yan aside and continued, “I’ve also heard many people questioning this matter, and I don’t mind telling you, Madam, that our Second Master and the main branch of the family... are indeed not on good terms.”
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