Chapter 076: Filial Son

Zhou Yinzhi was involved in public service.

There has always been a saying here, “Entering the yamen peels off a layer of skin.” Even during times of clear governance, such things were not uncommon, and during unstable times, they were naturally even more frequent. The Jinyiwei had long been a source of widespread resentment, and they were well-practiced in such matters, being considered “masters of the craft.”

For those who committed crimes, the wealthier and more powerless they were, the better. They would be detained for seven days, scaring them out of their wits. Naturally, their families would be worried and would bring money to bribe officials, fearing that the officials would not accept it.

This was considered the more humane approach.

The more ruthless ones, regardless of whether you were the victim or the perpetrator, would detain you under the pretext of awaiting trial if there was any entanglement in the case. The perpetrator would have to bribe the officials, and even the victim would have to pay to avoid disaster.

If you didn’t give money, it was simple.

Incompetent officials would handle cases carelessly, and regardless of guilt or innocence, everyone would be punished.

When Zhou Yinzhi came from the yamen today, he wondered what Jiang Xuening intended. Upon arriving at the teahouse, although she distanced herself from You Fangyin in her words and seemed to speak for You Yue’s benefit, the expression of this “victim” did not match her words.

So, after a brief thought, he guessed that she wanted to deal with You Yue.

The Jinyiwei were handling matters outside, and as a newly promoted Qianhu, he didn’t dare to openly side with Jiang Xuening, but he didn’t hesitate in his actions: he arrested the person first and would handle the rest as Jiang Xuening instructed.

But he didn’t expect Jiang Xuening to have such an idea.

Give them a little knock…

That meant she was short on money.

Zhou Yinzhi nodded, showing no surprise or objection, and simply said, “I understand.”

Yan Lin had given her many things in the past, but selling them would take time. Although Jiang Xuening had some money, facing the disaster at the Yongyi Marquis’ residence, even a vast amount of silver might not be enough. Moreover, she was determined to secure the Ziliujing salt field, and having enough money was essential to prevent any mishaps and ensure success.

You Yue was unlucky to fall into her hands.

Today, she was acting, but she didn’t expect You Fangyin to risk her life to protect You Yue, picking up a bench to fight. If she let You Yue take her back to the residence, she would inevitably suffer a severe beating.

Jiang Xuening didn’t want to think about that scene.

Nor did she dare.

So she preferred to report to the authorities and have Zhou Yinzhi take care of her in prison, rather than return to the residence to be tortured. She wanted to get through this period first and then think of a permanent solution.

Jiang Xuening gently pinched her brow and said, “You Yue is also the companion of Princess Leyang in the palace. She should return to the palace after two days of rest. Handle this matter carefully and don’t make it too big. After all, you haven’t been in your position as Qianhu for long. Even if you have merits in investigating the collusion between the Yongyi Marquis’ residence and the rebel party of Prince Pingnan, you can’t withstand too much attention. It wouldn’t be good to become a target.”

Zhou Yinzhi’s pupils shrank instantly.

Jiang Xuening, however, acted as if she hadn’t said anything unusual and continued, “I’ve been in the palace these days, and I’m not well-informed about the Yongyi Marquis’ residence. You can tell me about it.”

The teahouse was empty, and when the Jinyiwei came to arrest people, everyone left.

But the commotion just now was significant.

Zhou Yin, being cautious, thought it was inconvenient to talk here and invited Jiang Xuening to his humble abode for a discussion.

Originally, Jiang Xuening came today to meet Ren Weizhi, but she unexpectedly encountered You Yue. It seemed that today was not a good day for business, and since she had already met You Fangyin, there was no need for her to appear again.

So she agreed.

After finishing her tea, she left the teahouse with Zhou Yinzhi.

Jiang Xuening’s carriage was by the roadside.

Zhou Yinzhi had come on horseback.

However, the white horse he was riding now was not the same beloved horse he had raised for two years.

Jiang Xuening glanced at it and remembered what Yan Lin had told her not long ago about Zhou Yinzhi killing his horse…

In her previous life, Zhou Yinzhi had married Yao Xi.

Later, he and Chen Ying conspired to frame Zhang Zhe, causing him to be imprisoned for several months. It wasn’t until Xie Wei’s rebellion that Zhou Yinzhi’s head was taken by Xie Wei and hung at the palace gate. Thinking of this, her mood darkened.

The coachman had already placed a footstool by the carriage.

Jiang Xuening walked over, holding onto Tang’er and Lian’er’s hands, ready to get into the carriage.

But she never expected that when she casually glanced up, she would lock eyes with a pair of silent, calm eyes across the street at the entrance of a pharmacy—

His hair was neatly tied with a green hairpin; his plain blue robe looked exceptionally simple, yet it suited him perfectly.

He was holding a small package of medicine.

Zhang Zhe stood quietly at the entrance of the pharmacy. It was unclear whether he had just come out or had been standing there for a while.

In that moment, Jiang Xuening froze, all her movements stopped, and her mind went blank.

Zhang Zhe, however, withdrew his gaze.

He withdrew his gaze from her and from Zhou Yinzhi beside her, nodded slightly as a greeting, then turned and walked away slowly along the bustling street, carrying the medicine he had just picked up.

Lian’er followed her gaze and saw a thin figure, not knowing who it was, and asked in confusion, “Miss?”

Jiang Xuening raised her hand and pressed it against her chest with some force.

She felt a sense of suffocation.

It was just an ordinary glance, but now Zhang Zhe might not even know Zhou Yinzhi, the newly appointed Jinyiwei Qianhu, yet she felt continued discomfort and guilt…

Zhou Yinzhi was undoubtedly not a good person.

In her previous life, he despised her for associating with such people, and in this life, she couldn’t escape yet and had to navigate this treacherous environment, forced to use such people.

Zhou Yinzhi noticed her unusual expression and secretly guessed the identity of the person just now.

Jiang Xuening slowly turned her head to look at him.

There was a hint of confusion in her gaze, as if she was seeing something else through him, and finally, a trace of hidden melancholy and wistfulness emerged…

Zhou Yinzhi had never denied the beauty of the woman before him. He had experienced it firsthand back when they were still in the countryside.

But this was the first time…

The first time he was moved by her incomprehensible expression.

He asked, “Second Miss, is there something you need?”

Jiang Xuening blinked, looking at the tall man in his flying fish uniform, still as if in a dream, and slowly said, “I truly hope that in the future, you won’t do anything too bad; or if you do, at least hide it well enough so I won’t know…”

Zhou Yinzhi looked up at her.

Jiang Xuening lowered her gaze, silently tugged at the corners of her lips, turned around, stepped on the footstool, and got into the carriage.

*

In the early winter afternoon, the Yao Mansion in the east of the city, with its four courtyards, was quiet and elegant. Although the outer gates were tightly closed, inside, the long corridors occasionally saw the figures of maids and old women walking and chatting.

Yao Xi, upon hearing the news, joyfully ran to her father’s study.

She couldn’t even wait for someone to announce her arrival and eagerly asked, “Father, did Zhang Zhe send a letter? What did he write?”

Yao Qingyu, now in his fifties, had always treated Yao Xi, his youngest and only daughter, like a precious gem. Therefore, even if she acted somewhat improperly at times, no one would scold her.

The servant, seeing her enter, did not announce her.

But Yao Qingyu, sitting behind his desk, looking at the already opened letter, had a gradually darkening expression on his aged face.

Yao Xi, always pampered and eager to know news about her marriage, didn’t notice Yao Qingyu’s expression. Instead, she immediately saw the opened envelope and noticed the letter Yao Qingyu was reading.

She quickly moved closer, “I want to see it too!”

She picked up the letter.

On the simple white letter paper was the familiar handwriting she had secretly seen many times while in the palace, each stroke clear and steady, penetrating the paper, just like the person she saw that day in Kunninh Palace.

The letter was addressed to Yao Qingyu, but for some reason, seeing the handwriting made her feel shy and her face flushed.

She steadied herself and continued reading.

In the letter, Zhang Zhe first inquired about Yao Qingyu’s well-being, then recounted the events surrounding the marriage proposal between the two families. He praised the virtues of the Yao family’s daughter, making Yao Xi feel increasingly shy. She couldn’t help but think that although he seemed cold and stern, he knew how to be charming in his letters. But just as this thought crossed her mind, the next line of the letter caught her eye, freezing all her previous joy on her face!

“How could this be…”

She hurriedly read those lines again, her previously beautiful face now showing signs of distortion. Her body trembled as she clutched the letter, unwilling to believe it.

“He’s still calling off the engagement. Father, he’s still calling off the engagement!”

Tears welled up in Yao Xi’s eyes. She felt as if all her previous shyness and joy had turned into a huge slap, hitting her face and leaving her completely stunned. She couldn’t even maintain her composure.

Unable to accept it, she kept asking Yao Qingyu.

Yao Qingyu, however, looked at his daughter, who had always been his cherished gem, and recalled the reasons he had previously investigated.

He could hardly believe it himself.

At this moment, instead of answering Yao Xi’s questions, he asked her, “Have you forgotten what you said and did in the palace?”

Yao Xi was confused, “What?”

Yao Qingyu, who had been suppressing his anger since seeing the letter, finally exploded. He slammed the table, stood up abruptly, and loudly questioned, “When you wanted Zhang Zhe to call off the engagement, did you conspire with others in the palace to ruin his reputation and damage his honor?!”

Yao Xi had never seen her father so angry.

She was stunned and said, “How did you know, Father…”

Hearing this, Yao Qingyu almost couldn’t resist slapping her!

But she was his most beloved youngest daughter.

He raised his hand high but didn’t bring it down. Instead, he threw the paperweight on the desk, his voice trembling with anger, “How could I have raised such a daughter! Zhang Zhe was chosen for you with great care. He is of good character, patient, and though not yet famous, he is bound to achieve great things in time! You were blinded by his temporary misfortune and wanted to call off the engagement, which I could understand. But to think you would go so far as to plot against him! Zhang Zhe, out of consideration for your reputation, didn’t explain the reason in his letter and took the blame himself. But he knows everything you did! You’ve brought disgrace to our family!”

It was like a bolt from the blue.

Yao Xi was completely stunned.

Only now did she understand why Zhang Zhe wanted to call off the engagement. Her heart sank, and she staggered back a few steps, barely able to stand, muttering, “How did he know, how did he know…”

Yao Qingyu coldly said, “If you don’t want people to know, don’t do it! It’s no surprise that others found out about what you did!”

Yao Xi felt humiliated, crumpling the letter in her hand and biting her lip hard. “Impossible! That was just a joke in the palace. How could Zhang Zhe know? Our Yao family is so prestigious. How could he, a poor scholar from a lowly background, call off the engagement? His family was so happy when they heard about this marriage; they wouldn’t let him call it off! Someone must be instigating this in secret, Father. Someone must be trying to ruin my engagement…”

Yao Qingyu felt a chill in his heart upon hearing this.

He looked at her, unable to speak. Yao Xi’s mind suddenly conjured up a face she hated with jealousy, and tears fell from her eyes as she repeated through gritted teeth, “Someone must be instigating this…”

*

Zhang Zhe returned home with the medicine.

At the end of a narrow alley was an inconspicuous old door. Inside, it didn’t look like an official’s residence, just a small, simple courtyard. On the clean bluestone slabs stood a bamboo rack for drying clothes, with his official uniform hanging on it.

From the main room on the east side came the sound of furniture being moved.

Someone was cleaning.

An elderly woman, dressed in coarse cloth and wearing an apron, was arranging the furniture neatly and wiping it clean.

When Zhang Zhe walked in, she was rinsing the cloth in a basin of water.

Seeing him, Jiang Shi smiled and said, “You’re back. What would you like for dinner? I’ll make it for you.”

Her husband had died young, and Jiang Shi had been widowed at a young age, raising her son alone. The years had left harsh marks on her, with lines etched deeply around her eyes and brows, unlike the noblewomen in the capital whose sons had achieved success.

Back then, their family was destitute, and she had gone to great lengths to get the schoolteacher to accept Zhang Zhe.

But the expenses at the school were high.

Pens, ink, paper, and inkstones all cost money.

Jiang Shi scrimped and saved to buy them for him, hoping he would pass the exams, make a name for himself, and one day clear his father’s name.

She knew her son was smart and believed that if he studied, he would excel.

But who would have thought that after a few years of studying, he would secretly take the civil service exam. When he passed, he came back and told her he wouldn’t study or take the imperial exams anymore.

She was so angry she beat him with a cane.

While beating him, she cried and scolded, “Think about how unjustly your father died and what he taught you! Useless, unpromising! What can you become by passing the civil service exam? The government only uses you in emergencies, and if not needed, they’ll dismiss you! You’ll be working for others your whole life, you’re really going to drive me to my grave!”

Zhang Zhe didn’t dodge or avoid her, just knelt in front of his father’s spirit tablet, letting her beat and scold him.

His back was beaten until it was a bloody mess.

In the end, Jiang Shi threw away the cane, sat in the hall, and cried, hating herself for being incapable, a mere woman without the ability to earn money. How could she not know that her son took the civil service exam instead of the imperial exam because he knew the family had no money and didn’t want her to suffer?

But the more she knew, the more it pained her.

Since Zhang Zhe started working at the yamen, receiving a salary from the court, their life, though still poor, gradually improved from the previous hand-to-mouth existence.

What Jiang Shi didn’t expect was—

Less than half a year later, Gu Chunfang, the Censor of Henan Province, inspected the yamen. Zhang Zhe filed a grievance, leading to a retrial of his father’s old case, and after more than ten years, the injustice was finally redressed. Zhang Zhe was then noticed by Gu Chunfang, who recommended him to the court two years later, appointing him as a junior official in the Ministry of Justice, thus removing his status as a mere clerk and making him a “capital official.”

This small courtyard was what they bought when they first arrived in the capital.

It was originally very dilapidated.

But Jiang Shi diligently cleaned it, and although it was still shabby and couldn’t afford much decoration, it looked lively and homely.

Zhang Zhe placed the medicine he bought on the table, frowned without saying a word, then took the cloth from Jiang Shi’s hands, put it in the basin, and moved the basin aside, saying, “It was already cleaned yesterday. There’s no dust in the house. Your health is not good, don’t overwork yourself.”

He said this with a stern face.

Jiang Shi shook her head and said, “You always have such a stern face, and you do things so rigidly, not knowing how to be gentle. How will you ever get a wife?”

Zhang Zhe sat her down without saying a word.

Jiang Shi continued to nag, “But it’s good that the engagement with the Yao family is called off. It was indeed a high match for us, but there’s no need to resort to such despicable means to harm others. And with your stubborn, unyielding nature, just like your father’s, how many noble ladies could tolerate you even if they married you?”

Zhang Zhe lowered his head, unwrapping the medicine, not responding.

Jiang Shi, seeing his silent nature, said irritably, “In the future, I’ll help you find a good girl from a decent family, someone who knows how to care for you, preferably gentle and virtuous, who can put you in her heart and tolerate you. Otherwise, when I go to see your father one day, I’ll still be worried.”

“……”

The string tying the medicine packet was already untied, and the mixed herbs spread out on the paper, releasing a bitter aroma. Zhang Zhe’s slender fingers pressed on the corner of the paper, unmoving.

The various torments in prison from his past life seemed to surge up again.

After a long time, he suppressed them all, along with the eyes filled with suppressed joy looking at him under the dim palace walls, pressing them down until his heart ached, then he looked up at Jiang Shi and slowly said, “Don’t say such things.”