Chapter 255: Returning Home in Splendor and Supporting One Another

Tongzhou Wharf was the starting point north of the thousand-mile Grand Canal, where grain ships heading north were unloaded every year. Both water and land transportation were highly developed here. Having received advance notice, the Meng brothers came to pick up the ship that day, while Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi also took time off to welcome them. When both sides finally met their respective guests, everyone was overjoyed. Since their mother was still ill, Meng Tao and Meng Fan said a few words before escorting Lady Wu onto the carriage. Zhang Yue agreed to visit Meng Min another day and then watched as the Meng family left.

The three Zhang brothers, reunited after a long separation, had countless things to talk about. However, before Zhang Chao could say much, he suddenly saw a middle-aged man, both familiar and strange, coming down from another ship, and he was stunned. After looking closely and seeing that his brother Zhang Qi was still chatting with Zhang Yue, he quickly went over, tapped him on the shoulder, and pointed at the man.

“Second brother, who do you think that man is?”
“Elder brother, why make such a fuss? No matter who it is, it’s none of our business… Good heavens!”

Zhang You had traveled by land first and then by water. Due to the urgency of his journey, it was difficult to estimate the time, so he hadn’t sent anyone home to give news. Now, as he strode forward, he saw his two tall sons standing there in shock. He couldn’t help but laugh and say, “What? After just two years apart, can’t you even recognize your own father?”
“Father!”
Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi immediately left Zhang Yue behind and rushed forward to pay their respects. Seeing their father dressed in his imposing general’s armor and surrounded by his bodyguards, they couldn’t hide their envy—this was indeed what a true man should look like!

The brothers had planned to explain the situation at home and in the court to Zhang Yue along the way. With Zhang You as their leader, they felt confident that their father would succeed in everything he did. Meanwhile, Zhang Yue, watching the brothers’ joyful expressions, couldn’t help but think of his parents and sister still in Jiangning, as well as his uncle Zhang Xin, who had been exiled to Jiaozhi and hadn’t returned yet.

As the reunited family talked, several bodyguards carefully lifted a person down from Zhang Yue’s six-masted ship. Although it was already May, the man was covered tightly in brocade blankets, with only his head and face visible. Zhang Chao, finding this strange, asked Zhang Yue directly, “Third brother, could it be that one of the girls with you is sick?”

Zhang Yue glanced at Zhang You sideways, thinking that it was better for his second uncle to explain this situation. So he stepped back and remained silent. Zhang You, unembarrassed, gave his beloved concubine a concerned look before smiling and saying, “She is the only daughter of the Tusi of Mangshi. She has saved me twice before. From now on, we are one family—just call her Aunt Fang. She accidentally fell into the water and became weak; fortunately, it was your third brother who saved her. There’s too much to explain here; let’s go home first.”

It was common for men to have multiple wives and concubines. Zhang Chao and Zhang Qi were merely slightly surprised upon hearing this and didn’t think much of it. But when Zhang Yue heard that Zhang You’s concubine was the daughter of the Tusi of Mangshi, he raised his eyebrows. Jiaozhi was close to Yunnan and Guizhou, where there were many devoted Bai women. Since Zhang You said she had saved his life, their deep affection seemed genuine.

Beijing was still under construction, but its towering city walls already appeared majestic. The roads leading into the city were leveled with yellow soil, lined with poplar and willow trees, which looked lush in the midst of summer. People rode their horses for over an hour under the scorching sun, with dust and sweat making everything sticky and uncomfortable.

Zhang Yue was returning to report on his duties, so after entering the city, he went straight to the Ministry of Personnel to submit his documents before heading home. When he turned into the alley at the entrance, he saw that Zhang You hadn’t entered but was standing under the main gate, staring blankly.

Since the journey from Tongzhou to Beijing was quite long, Zhang You had left behind several bodyguards, the carriage and luggage, as well as his concubine. He had been in Beijing six or seven years ago and had even asked his two sons to show him around the city. Now, upon arriving at his home, he stared fixedly at the black plaque.

Though it was simply the words “Zhang Family,” now that his eldest brother had been exiled to Jiaozhi and his third brother was still just a county magistrate in Jiangning, these three green-painted doors with tin rings could only be adorned like this because of his own rising status. After years of hard fighting in the south, this was the best reward he could receive!

At that moment, the main doors were closed. However, a middle-aged gatekeeper in the west corner heard some noise and poked his head out to look. His sharp eyes immediately spotted Zhang Yue. Rubbing his eyes, he quickly shouted inside. Seeing this, Zhang Yue spurred his horse forward. When the people at the gate gathered around to take hold of his horse, he pointed in the direction of the main doors.

“Hurry and go inside and report—my second uncle has returned!”

“Second uncle?” While the others were still in shock, a young and quick-witted person rushed inside, shouting loudly, “Second master has returned! Second master has returned!”
Prompted by this, the rest finally realized what was happening. Some hurried to Zhang You to help lead the horse, while others rushed inside to deliver the news. Even more people came out, curiously observing this second master who, though not a high-ranking official, had risen to great prominence. He was a second-rank military officer, on the verge of entering the governor’s residence, yet in their family, Zhang You now held the highest rank!
With all this commotion, by the time Zhang You entered the palace gates, everyone available in the inner courtyard came out to greet him. Lady Dongfang had longed for her husband’s success in his career, and now that he had returned, her joy was immeasurable, tears of happiness welling in her eyes. Concubine Luo also came to greet him with her daughter, but dared not precede the wife, waiting until both sides had spoken before bowing. Seeing the reunion of the second branch of the family, Lady Feng thought of her own husband, her hand trembling as she held her son Zhang Jiu’s hand, though she forced a smile. In contrast, Zhang Yue received less attention.
“Master’s return is just in time. The old lady caught a cold a few days ago and has only just started to feel better today.” When people are happy, they are full of energy. With Zhang You’s return, even though Lady Dongfang had faced some setbacks earlier, she put them aside. Noticing Zhang You’s slightly dark expression, she quickly explained, “The doctor said it’s not serious; she just needs to rest quietly. Now that Master and Young Master Yue have returned, the old lady will be so happy that her illness might even disappear!”
Zhang You then turned to look at Zhang Yue, seeing his face covered in dust and sweat. Assuming his own appearance was similar, he pondered for a moment before ordering, “Since the old lady is ill, there’s no need to rush. Let’s each go back to our rooms to change into clean clothes before visiting her, so as not to bring any negative energy that might disturb her. Everyone else, go back and do your own things.”
The people then went back to their rooms to get ready. Since the third branch’s father and son, Zhang Zhuo and Zhang Yue, served in different regions, the western courtyard only had a few young maids who hadn’t yet settled in, along with the wives of the managers from the other two branches. The rooms there had just been cleaned recently. Zhang Yue rushed back on horseback, with Amber, Liansheng, Lianhu, and all his luggage on the cart behind. As a result, the maids took some time to find replacement clothes, and they were busy fetching water and washing faces for a while.

After changing into new clothes, Zhang Yue instructed the young girl Shui Jing to follow him to the main house in the north courtyard. Since he had been away from home for nearly a year, he couldn’t help but ask about the current situation at home. Although Shui Jing was only thirteen, she was clever and began to explain quietly as they walked.

“The old lady has spent most of the past month fasting and praying, ignoring household affairs. The eldest wife is not in good health and spends most of her time teaching the fourth young master, leaving all internal and external matters unattended. As a result, all household affairs and financial matters are handled by the second wife. Previously, the second wife intended to assign Sister Linglong as a maid to the eldest young master, but since the eldest wife’s maid, Hui Xiang, became pregnant, the old lady arranged for Linglong to marry the son of the Gao family. Because of this, the second wife secretly criticized the eldest wife as unfilial and claimed that Hui Xiang had seduced the eldest young master by breaking rules…”

Every family has its own troubles. Listening to this, Zhang Yue felt his head ache and couldn’t help but think of his second uncle Zhang You’s favorite concubine. That Lady Fang was the daughter of a chieftain and appeared to be just a young woman in her early twenties—naturally younger and more beautiful than his second aunt Dong Fang and Lady Luo, who were older. If it were anyone else, it might have been fine, but his second aunt Dong Fang’s temperament couldn’t even tolerate a good-tempered wife, let alone a concubine who shared his affection.

When they reached the north courtyard, he saw many people there, all servants and maids following their masters. He told Shui Jing to stay outside and went straight into the house. The main room was empty except for a young maid standing by a door on the left, who quickly pulled back the bamboo curtain upon seeing him. He lowered his head slightly and stepped in, only to find the room already filled with people.

On the large rosewood bed against the wall, Lady Gu was sitting with a pillow embroidered with golden snakes, while Zhang You sat by the bed’s edge. When she saw Zhang Yue enter, she narrowed her eyes and studied him for a moment. Only after he knelt in front of the bed did she nod slightly and say, “Just a few months away, and you’ve lost so much weight. It seems you’ve put in a lot of effort. Get up and sit so I can take a look!”

Put in a lot of effort? Zhang Yue couldn’t help but smile bitterly inwardly, thinking his grandmother’s comfort was truly unique. After sitting down, he was about to say something when suddenly Lady Gu grabbed his hand and joined it with his other hand. He looked up in surprise to find Zhang You also staring at him.

“Yue Geer, since you’ve returned, please consult your second uncle more often about certain matters. There are countless descendants of meritorious officials in the court, but few who have worked as diligently as he has to reach where he is now. Although you specialize in literature and martial arts, the principles are the same—do you understand?”