Chapter 406: Xiao Wu

Xisi Pailou was located at the intersection of Xuanwumen Street and Fuchengmen Street. Shops lined up one after another, carriages flowed continuously, and crowds bustled about—making it the busiest area in the capital, known as Xishi. Although it wasn’t an execution day, a head still hung from that tall pole, looking grotesque and terrifying. Yet passersby seemed accustomed to it; some took the time to comment, while others didn’t even bother to look.

After having lunch at Liu Sheng’s house, Zhang Yue naturally had to pass through Xuanwumen Street. From afar, he saw those dozen or so heads, their original colors no longer discernible. He paused for a moment before recalling that they were likely the traitors previously imprisoned by the Jinyiwei. He had beheaded hundreds in Qingzhou and personally killed many Japanese pirates in Shanghai County—rumor had it that those pirates were later used to build monuments in the capital. He alsonot knowing how many more he had executed by beheading and public shaming in the Jiangnan region. Seeing this scene now, he merely frowned. Everyone had their own sense of justice; since he hadn’t thought things through before acting, he shouldn’t regret it now.

As he passed the towering South Pailou, he saw an acquaintance standing blankly under the East Pailou. He wanted to dismount and approach, but realizing he didn’t know what to say, he gave up the idea. Although Wang Yu had done his best, it was unlikely that even if he saved his uncle’s family, they would be grateful—just as Liu Sheng, the Marquis of Anyuan, hadn’t implicated him, and despite his straightforward nature, Zhang Yue wouldn’t have instantly forgiven him after just one lunch, let alone ask him to draft a second apology letter.

After leaving the North Pailou, he sped home on his horse. As he turned into Wuanhou Hutong, he encountered a group of horsemen. Upon seeing their regal attire, he intended to steer his horse aside, but the perceptive Wuanhou Zheng Heng called out to him. The two families lived nearby and often interacted. Zheng Heng always treated the Zhang family’s descendants as his own younger relatives. After asking about the Eastern Palace, and learning that Zhang Yue had just returned from the Marquis of Anyuan’s residence, he asked a few more questions before giving a thoughtful look.

“Liu Sheng was only slightly implicated; once he understood the situation, everything was fine. This time, the emperor showed the Marquis of Baoding immense kindness—such a grave crime yet he wasn’t affected at all. I heard even me, an old man, wasn’t spared; after things were settled, they planned to send troops to abduct me and force me to attend court. I have a hundred or so family soldiers and servants at home. If they really launched an attack, our noble families aren’t easy to deal with! Speaking of which, your quick thinking this time was quite steady—too bad it’s wasted on being a civil official!”
“Uncle Zheng, I can’t accept such praise. It was just my duty; of course, I had to do my best. I just couldn’t keep up after traveling for four or five days straight. If I weren’t to be a civil official, would you still need an officer of my build under your command?”
Zheng Heng laughed heartily upon hearing this: “That’s true. If you’re to serve under me, you still need a few more years of experience!”
After laughing a bit more, seeing Zheng Heng nod and ride off, Zhang Yue continued on. Before long, he reached his own house. It was already the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month—he hadn’t been home for a full month. So when he dismounted at the gate, aside from the gatekeeper at the west gate who rushed inside to report, everyone else came out to greet him.
Surrounded by a crowd, he entered through the second gate along the corridor. Zhang Yue saw his three brothers waiting there. After greeting each other, they went together to the north courtyard, where there was another round of lively interactions among the elders and peers. Since it wasn’t dinner time yet, after chatting for a while, Lady Gu left Zhang Jing to accompany him, sending everyone else back to their rooms. She then instructed Zhang Yue, “Take good care of your wife as you go home. With the government offices sealed, spend some time with her!”
Lady Sun had just returned home that morning. Though her relationship with her two sisters-in-law was normal, she still had to visit each room. She smiled and told her son and daughter-in-law to go ahead. Although Zhang Jing was reluctant, with Lady Gu pulling her along and Lady Sun giving her a subtle signal, she couldn’t insist on stopping Zhang Yue from helping Du Wan. She could only watch as Zhang Yue supported Du Wan.
Although it was cold, it hadn’t snowed in days, so the path behind the north courtyard was clean and fresh. Du Wan’s weight had increased, but since Xiao Wu said pregnant women should walk more, and not wanting to be a burden, she refused to use a sedan chair. She never missed her morning and evening visits, though the timing varied slightly. Seeing Zhang Yue carefully supporting her, she couldn’t help but smile: “You really do whatever your grandmother says! Now that she’s not here, there’s no one to watch over you!”

“It’s not meant for others to see… Besides, if others can’t see it, can’t the baby in your belly see it?”
Hearing Zhang Yue say this, Du Wan couldn’t help but glare at him, then gently stroked her already rounded belly and said thoughtfully, “When you weren’t around, Mother came to see me several times and was even happier than I was. Mother has always loved children, but not long after giving birth to me, Father left. So it’s just the two of us, mother and daughter, relying on each other. Though Father and Mother are still as affectionate as before, now that I’m married, they no longer have anyone to accompany them.”
Xiao Wu, who had been holding Du Wan’s left arm, suddenly interjected, “That’s right! Last time I visited Master, he said he wanted to take in a disciple for company in his old age, only to have that proud student steal his precious daughter!”
“You slippery girl, stop talking nonsense!”
“How is it nonsense? Every time I go, Master asks about you and your husband. Knowing that you two live happily together clearly brings him great comfort!”
Seeing Du Wan about to get angry, Xiao Wu quickly let go and slipped over to Zhang Yue’s side, then poked her head out and said, “Although you can’t be by their side, Madam said that from now on I’ll act as their daughter—that solves it! Anyway, I don’t want to get married, so I can go and take care of them every day. Don’t worry, Miss!”
“Why not learn a proper way of speaking when you can imitate Sister Ning’s tone? Even she will have to get married someday; what will she do when she’s old?”
“Hehe, how about I take care of Master and Madam and then go keep company with Sister Ning?”
Seeing the master and servant arguing, Zhang Yue had to clear his throat to stop Xiao Wu’s increasingly absurd remarks. Realizing Du Wan was truly upset, Xiao Wu stuck out her tongue, gave a wink to Amber and Qiu Hen behind her, then slipped away quickly. At that moment, seeing Amber and Qiu Hen about to come over to help, Zhang Yue waved his hand at them and said, “Xiao Wu was just joking. Why are you getting upset with her? It’s time for men to marry and women to get married. Even the pearls and peonies around Father and Mother are all married now.”
Du Wan glanced at Amber and Qiu Hen out of the corner of her eye—one looking calm and the other pale—and softly said, “Xiao Wu is different. She’s not joking.”

She placed her left hand on top of Zhang Yue’s hands, which were holding her right arm, with a hint of confusion on her face. “Master Daoyan picked her up from the streets when she was only six years old. At first, she was like a thorny ball—ignoring and distrustful of everyone. Although Master Daoyan had already returned to secular life, he still wore monk’s robes when leaving court. He often took her with him while reciting Buddhist scriptures. Over time, she seemed to forget her past and became more lively. After all, Master Daoyan was a high-ranking official highly favored by the emperor. In his free time, he would have people investigate her origins, only to find that she was no ordinary vagrant or beggar.”

Although Zhang Yue had always found the naturally cheerful Xiao Wu adorable, he had never really thought deeply about the strange rumors about her refusal to marry. Hearing Du Wan’s account, he was surprised and couldn’t help but ask, “So what about her background…?”

“After her father died, her stepmother not only resolved to starve herself to death alongside him but also forced her two concubines—including her birth mother—to do the same. With all the adults dead and the imperial award for chaste women yet to come, and with only her as the daughter left in the family, her relatives grew jealous and forged her father’s will to appoint an heir. If it weren’t for her cleverness from a young age and the help of her servants, she would likely have lost her life. Though those people acquired fertile lands and wealth, because they came from the Jiangzuo region, they declined after being ordered to move to Beiping. It was all in vain.”

Zhang Yue had heard of women who died maintaining their chastity, of those who died alongside their husbands, and it wasn’t uncommon for a wife to force her concubines to die with her. But this was the first time he had heard of a wife forcing her concubine to die with her as well—such a bizarre act that made him gasp.

“She’s always been afraid of getting married, fearing she might become as extreme as her stepmother or as pitiful as her birth mother,” Du Wan said, unable to resist gripping Zhang Yue’s hand tighter as she slowed her steps. “In the letter Master Daoyan left for me, he mentioned that he originally wanted to officially adopt Xiao Wu as his daughter. But as the saying goes, once the person is gone, the affection fades. Even if she were forced to marry into a wealthy family, she would have no maternal family to rely on, and her husband might not treat her well. That’s why he asked me to help her find a suitable family.”

Du Wan didn’t have any maids as part of her dowry. Although Xiao Wu kept calling her “miss,” it was merely out of habit and not out of respect; she had always treated her as a sister. After she advised her sister-in-law Li Yun last time, Dong Fang somehow found out and used this as an excuse to frequently visit her room. When no one was around, she would advise her to take advantage of the fact that the elders hadn’t made a decision yet to choose a maid for her household and to arrange for Xiao Wu to marry Zhang Yue as soon as possible, so she could have someone reliable by her husband’s side. God only knows how much effort it took her to restrain herself at that time—she simply pretended not to hear rather than throwing this second aunt out right away.

To even suggest marrying Xiao Wu to Zhang Yue was absurd. Did Dong Fang really think she was someone who understood nothing? Or did she see Xiao Wu as some kind of maid who could be manipulated at will? Moreover, if she did that, what would be the difference between her and Xiao Wu’s biological mother?

“Xiao Wu is great,” Zhang Yue mused for a moment before nodding with a smile. “I’ve always liked her carefree nature. Besides, she speaks and acts from the heart. Right now, she’s just confused for the time being, but she’ll figure it out eventually. It’s okay. You keep advising her slowly, and I’ll help look for a suitable family. It doesn’t matter if she doesn’t have a maternal family—we can both support her. If our future great physician can’t get married, wouldn’t that be a joke?”