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Chapter 119: Palace Flowers
The leaders of the Heavenly Sect invited Zhang Zhe to a secluded place to discuss some matters. Zhang Zhe was not afraid. He secretly carried some tokens and secret letters from Gongyi Cheng, intending to use this opportunity to gain the trust of these people. He turned to Jiang Xuening and instructed, “Don’t wander off, wait for me to return.”
Seeing Jiang Xuening nod in agreement, he went with the others. Jiang Xuening obediently stayed put and didn’t wander around. Being a girl who loved cleanliness, and since her identity as a woman had already been revealed by Xiao Dingfei , she decided to wash her face by a nearby stream.
The cold morning stream water washed away the dirt. Her beautiful, fair face emerged, looking exceptionally attractive even without makeup in the wilderness. The other members of the Heavenly Sect and the escaped prisoners were mostly rough men who had never seen such a beautiful woman. They were stunned by her appearance. The girl only washed her face, with water droplets still on her eyelashes, wearing an ill-fitting and simple men’s robe, which made her look even more like a lotus in clear water, her eyes sparkling.
When Zhang Zhe finished his discussion and walked out of the forest, he noticed something strange. Everyone he met along the way was smiling and even seemed a bit eager. A notorious bandit, who had changed out of his prison clothes, offered him a pancake, saying, “Master Zhang, you haven’t eaten breakfast yet, have you? Have some.”
Zhang Zhe glanced at him, “Thank you, but I’m not hungry.”
Another burly man with a scar on his face approached cheerfully, “Master Zhang, you are truly remarkable. I, Old Qiu, haven’t seen such a capable person in a long time. We misunderstood last night, not realizing that the delicate girl was your sister. Rest assured, we will protect her on this journey.”
Zhang Zhe: “…”
Before he could respond, a member of the Heavenly Sect, who was adjusting a saddle nearby, sneered disdainfully, “What status does she have, and what status do you have? Dreaming of eating swan meat, aren’t you afraid of burning your mouth?”
The scar-faced man’s expression changed instantly. Zhang Zhe finally understood what was going on when he saw Jiang Xuening standing under the wall. She was still wearing his robe, but her fair face was now exposed, looking at the weathered murals on the wall. The sunlight filtered through the mist, illuminating her face, making it hard to look away.
Moreover, there was an annoying figure beside her. It was none other than Xiao Dingfei , who had slipped away during the discussion. Xiao Dingfei had no interest in the Heavenly Sect’s matters. Seeing Zhang Zhe take out the tokens, he was convinced that Gongyi Cheng was dead and decided to take a stroll, still thinking about the beauty outside.
When he returned, he saw Jiang Xuening standing under the dilapidated temple wall, momentarily mistaking her for a goddess in the painting. He couldn’t help but approach her. The murals outside the temple were mostly of Buddha statues, but they were faded and unclear. What was there to see?
Xiao Dingfei , being uneducated, wanted to make a pretense but couldn’t think of anything to say, so he bluntly asked, “Are you interested in Buddhism?”
Jiang Xuening was just waiting for Zhang Zhe and was wary of the Heavenly Sect and the escaped prisoners, so she stood by the wall. She wasn’t a scholar. In her previous life, she was quite similar to Xiao Dingfei in being uneducated.
She had noticed Xiao Dingfei approaching from the corner of her eye. Hearing his attempt to strike up a conversation, she smirked inwardly and replied indifferently, “Not really.”
These few words left no room for further conversation. Anyone else would have been at a loss, but Xiao Dingfei was not just anyone. He laughed and said, “That’s perfect. I don’t understand these things either. Seeing them annoys me. I didn’t expect you to feel the same way. We really are kindred spirits.”
After a lifetime apart, he was still as thick-skinned as ever. Jiang Xuening took a step to the side without speaking. Xiao Dingfei naturally followed, “Do you live in the capital? I’ve stayed there for a while but never heard of you. My name is Dingfei. You can call me by my name. What’s your name?”
Jiang Xuening looked up and saw Zhang Zhe approaching. She thought of his earlier words about her being his sister and smiled at Xiao Dingfei , “Master Zhang’s surname is Zhang. I’m his sister. How should you address me?”
Xiao Dingfei : “…”
He had asked because he didn’t believe Zhang Zhe’s story, but Jiang Xuening used it against him, leaving him frustrated. He adjusted his hair and, with a charming smile, asked directly, “How old are you? Are you married? How many people are in your family?”
Jiang Xuening’s gaze fell behind him, remaining silent. Zhang Zhe arrived just in time to hear Xiao Dingfei ‘s question. His expression turned colder, and he said, “Master Dingfei, you’re asking too many questions.”
Xiao Dingfei realized someone was behind him. He didn’t mind being overheard. After all, Zhang Zhe had claimed she was his sister. He turned back with a sincere smile, “Not too many at all. I’m still young and haven’t settled down. I have no family, so I have to plan for myself. I felt a connection with your sister. Do you have her birth date?”
Asking for a birth date was for marriage proposals… This man was calculating! Jiang Xuening couldn’t help but twitch her lips. Zhang Zhe’s impression of Xiao Dingfei worsened, his expression icy, “I don’t know.”
Xiao Dingfei found it unreasonable, “She’s your sister. How can you not know?”
Zhang Zhe’s face darkened further. Jiang Xuening watched, amused. Zhang Zhe ignored Xiao Dingfei , lowered his eyes, and said to her, “Let’s go.”
Jiang Xuening felt inexplicably happy, smiled at Xiao Dingfei , and said, “Let’s go,” walking past him to follow Zhang Zhe. The Heavenly Sect had decided that the court would send troops to search for them after the prison break. Although their hideout was remote, they needed to reach Tongzhou quickly for safety. So, they set off immediately.
Only the members of the Heavenly Sect were involved in planning the journey, while the escaped prisoners were not included. The Heavenly Sect announced the plan without consulting them, causing some sensitive individuals to frown secretly.
A few people glanced at Meng Yang. Unexpectedly, Meng Yang got up from the corner, seemingly indifferent, as if it didn’t matter where they went, and followed the Heavenly Sect members.
There were limited horses, but the Heavenly Sect trusted Zhang Zhe and knew he was working for Du Junshan, so they gave him a horse. Zhang Zhe was adjusting the saddle. Jiang Xuening stood obediently beside him, observing his expression and teasingly said, “Brother, you don’t even know my birthday. That’s not good, is it?”
Her use of “brother” sounded normal but carried a hint of mockery. Zhang Zhe, knowing she had also been reborn, understood her displeasure. He could only pretend not to know. Pausing with the reins, he said quietly, “It was a temporary measure. Please forgive me, Miss Jiang.”
Jiang Xuening replied, “But you said I was your sister. If you don’t know my birthday, won’t it be a flaw when others ask?”
Zhang Zhe remained silent. Jiang Xuening continued, “Aren’t you going to ask my birthday?”
Zhang Zhe still didn’t respond. Jiang Xuening felt annoyed but didn’t dare to show her previous spoiled temper, saying pitifully, “My birthday is on the 16th of the first month, which is not far off.”
Of course, Zhang Zhe knew her birthday. She was the Empress. Every year on the 16th of the first month, Shen Jie would hold a palace banquet for her, invite opera troupes, hang lanterns, and have scholars from the Hanlin Academy write poems for her. Civil and military officials would present rare treasures to please the Emperor.
She enjoyed the treasures but found the poems boring. He, having nothing to offer, would stand aside. That night, the imperial garden was filled with lights and festivities. The Emperor sent palace flowers to the officials. Zhang Zhe, being a loner, was teased for not having a flower like the others.
Shen Jie, likely drunk, laughed and handed him a flower. Zhang Zhe accepted it but didn’t wear it. After the banquet, he left late and encountered Jiang Xuening. Her cheeks were flushed, and she seemed unhappy. Seeing him, she hid her vulnerability and mocked, “Others presented birthday gifts, but you just sent a card. Do you avoid me that much?”
Zhang Zhe replied, “I have nothing to offer.” She didn’t pursue the matter but noticed the flower in his hand and asked, “Even someone like you has admirers?”
She must have misunderstood. Zhang Zhe wanted to explain but hesitated. Jiang Xuening, seeing his silence, grew more annoyed and approached him, taking the flower from his hand. She placed it in her hair and asked, “Is it pretty?”
He didn’t know how to answer. Jiang Xuening threatened, “If you say it’s not, I’ll tell the Emperor someone in the palace likes you.”
He, being upright, wasn’t afraid of her words. But the sight of her with the flower, looking fragile yet beautiful, struck him. Perhaps it was a moment of madness, but he said, “It’s pretty.”
Jiang Xuening’s expression changed, and she coldly removed the flower, throwing it at his feet, saying, “So you are involved with someone in the palace. I thought you were a gentleman!” She left, leaving him alone. After a long time, he picked up the flower.
Zhang Zhe thought he had forgotten that scene, but it resurfaced vividly. Jiang Xuening, still looking at him, asked, “Did you remember my birthday?”
Zhang Zhe thought, how could I forget? But he suppressed his thoughts and said, “I remember.”
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