Chapter 589: As You Sow, So You Reap

Although he had been demoted and removed from his position as commander of the Shence Wei due to previous issues related to provisions for the northern expedition, Zhang Fu was after all the son of Zhang Yu, the leading general in the Jingnan campaign. Thus, after the New Year’s imperial ceremony, he was restored to his former position. Prior to the northern expedition, Zhang Fu had taken charge of the Central Army Command, and since the Shence Wei was under the jurisdiction of the Central Army Command, even though he was now leading troops to Danning, the officials there did not dare treat him harshly, so he naturally enjoyed a carefree life.

It should be noted that the imperial guards had always been a place where the offspring of nobles relied on their family connections for positions and benefits. Among the vanguard troops, there were five commanders, and in his own Shence Wei, there were three others at the same rank. As a commander, it didn’t really matter if he didn’t go to his office.

However, just a few days after returning home and settling in, Zhang Fu received an unexpected invitation, leaving him unable to continue lounging around. He sent several people to deliver messages—to his wife, Lady Wang, his younger brother Zhang Jie, and even the four brothers of the Yangwu Bo family. If before he had thought about playing multiple cards at once to ensure his safety, now he deeply realized how foolish it had been to consider that marriage arrangement ideal and to get involved with such a noble family!

Yet, when Lady Wang received the message, she merely sent back a brief reply—there was nothing that could be done now. Zhang Jie responded even more directly, writing in polite terms that since the marriage was already arranged, there was no way to go back on it; they could just sacrifice one daughter and he should accept it. As for the Yangwu Bo family, there was absolutely no response.

Within a few days, he became as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. Of course, he wouldn’t care about just one daughter, but what if the new emperor demanded accountability for past actions when he ascended the throne? Would he then be sidelined for life? After struggling for two days, he finally mustered up the courage and, that afternoon, took Zhang Ke to the British Duke’s residence—only to be turned away at the gate.

“Second Master, Madam took the eldest miss out early in the morning.” Rong Shan had never had any goodwill toward the brothers Zhang Fu and Zhang Jie. Fearing that Zhang Fu might lose his temper and cause a scene at the door, she quickly bowed again and said apologetically, “The younger master and the second miss are still young. With the eldest miss having no companion, Miss Jing from the Yangwu Bo family is already seven years old and could accompany her in studying. So whenever Young Master Yue from that family suggested it, Madam agreed—she would spend half a month there and half a month here. Moreover, Madam plans to send the younger master to the Zhang family’s academy once he grows up a bit.”

Zhang Fu had little contact with the brothers and nephews from the Yangwu Bo family, so this was the first time he had heard about these matters. He was stunned. After thinking carefully for a while, his heart sank. Lady Gu had taken care of him for three years. Although he was young back in Kaifeng and found her rules too strict, during the funeral, while Zhang Jie personally handled all the rituals, he stayed hidden under the pretext of being at fault and didn’t even show up for the burial—likely offending them badly.

But it wasn’t entirely his fault. After all, Zhang Yue was so favored by the emperor that he didn’t speak up for him at all, causing Zhang Fu to be dismissed and investigated—a great humiliation!

Thinking of this, Zhang Fu didn’t bother to talk further with Rong Shan. He quickly mounted his horse, swung his whip sharply, and rushed off to the Zhang family’s residence in Wu’an Hou Hutong. Naturally, the carriage behind him hurried after him. Inside, Zhang Ke peered through the cracks in the curtains at the outside scenery, her heart as still as dead water.

She had been known as a talented young woman since childhood, loved dearly by her parents, and her fiancé was the emperor’s direct grandson, a hereditary noble marquis. Back then, she truly thought she was the apple of heaven’s eye. But in the blink of an eye, her mother died under mysterious circumstances, her father simply dismissed a few concubines carelessly, and then her fiancé, Li Maofang, was involved in a rebellion, imprisoned in the western palace—by none other than her own cousin. Whenever she thought of the poetry gatherings at the Meng family’s house, it felt like it had happened in a past life.

Six years had passed. Zhang Yue had risen through the ranks, gotten married, and had children. He was no longer the cousin who had competed with her. Likely, he didn’t even remember her anymore. Her father had once used her to trick others into giving them sable furs, and now he wanted to ask for their help. Where had all his usual pride gone?

Although Zhang Fei rarely visited the Yangwu Bo’s residence on ordinary days, the two gatekeepers at the west corner gate still recognized him and did not dare keep him outside. The butler Gao Quan, who had been summoned upon hearing the news, quickly sent someone inside to inform them, while he led this visitor to the flower hall for tea. Zhang Ke was placed in a side hall nearby. Since Zhang Fei had sent a letter earlier, he roughly understood the reason for his visit and wanted to gauge the situation, but Zhang Fei refused to mention the previous matter and instead asked in detail about the affairs of the family school.

Fortunately, Gao Quan’s difficult situation did not last long, as a voice came from inside asking Zhang Fei to go to the west courtyard to talk. He personally escorted him to the second gate and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the father and daughter enter followed by the guiding maid.

Zhang Tian was now four years old. Although Lady Wang cherished her daughter dearly having had her at middle age, she never doted on her. She had brought the child along today out of concern that she might feel too lonely. Seeing Zhang Jing teaching Zhang Tian to read The Ode to the Three Capitals in a serious manner, she felt quite pleased and said to Du Wan with a smile, “Though your teaching skills are excellent for these two children, you still need to manage the household, so you can’t devote all your attention to them. Tian is still young, but it’s time for Jing to study proper books.”

“Your sister-in-law is right,” Du Wan agreed. She also thought the two young cousins looked very harmonious together. Hearing this, she replied with a smile, “Actually, Father mentioned before that the late Mr. Liang Bo’an had a son named Liang Jin. He is over thirty now, highly learned, but due to the previous incident and Mr. Bo’an’s recent death, he remains a student. Mr. Liang wrote to Father, saying that after completing his mourning period, he plans to go to the capital to learn from Father, teaching while furthering his own studies.”

“Learn from your father? Does he also want to be a teacher?” Lady Wang was surprised at first, then suddenly understood and smiled joyfully. “Liang Qian’s knowledge was highly praised by the emperor and the crown prince back then. It’s a pity… If he truly wishes to, our two little girls would be wasting his great talent. It would be more appropriate to have him teach those boys.”

“Doesn’t your aunt still not know about him? My husband intended to marry her. After hearing what Father said, he came back and said, ‘As you sow, so shall you reap.’ Your blessed gift—our Jingguan, my elder brother’s Jiongge, my father-in-law’s Fuge, and the Marquis of Baoding’s Angge—all of them will likely reach marriageable age soon.” Recalling Zhang Yue’s overwhelming joy when he heard the news, Du Wan couldn’t help but smile faintly. “But my husband said that since they want to repay our kindness, we can’t expect to keep them for years. The Liang family is a prominent clan, and Lord Liang will surely take the imperial examinations again in the future.”
Lady Wang was extremely intelligent and understood the implication right away. As long as the current emperor was still in power, he might still harbor resentment toward the Liang family. But once a new emperor ascended the throne, Liang Qian’s so-called crimes would no longer exist, and the Liang family’s descendants would surely have a chance to turn things around. By then, Liang Jin would inevitably enter officialdom. She only wanted a teacher with good character and knowledge to serve as an example for her son’s education, not expecting to keep someone forever. So she wasn’t concerned about this at all; instead, she hoped their future would be bright, which would bring honor to the family.
Seeing that Zhang Jing had become obsessed with being a teacher, with Amber always there to advise her, the others didn’t disturb them and quietly left the side room. Before they could return to the main room, a maid reported that Zhang Fu and his daughter had arrived. Hearing this, not only did Lady Wang’s expression stiffen, but Du Wan also remembered the situation when the news came a few days ago.
“He really isn’t giving up. With the marriage contract already issued, what more room is there for negotiation?”
Although Lady Wang was a woman of modest status, she had always managed the household while Zhang Fu was away on military campaigns, so she was well-informed about external affairs. She paced back and forth in the room but still couldn’t come up with any solution.
If Princess Yongping had been an ordinary princess, this marriage would have been perfectly satisfactory. But after Li Maofang caused such a huge scandal—having his title revoked, his contracts destroyed, and him imprisoned—plus the possibility of further investigation if a new emperor ascended, wouldn’t this bring trouble to the Zhang family? Zhang Fu was the emperor’s most trusted noble, but if the crown prince or grandson ascended the throne, the relationship would be strained. His frequent command of troops would only arouse suspicion. If the marriage went through, wouldn’t that add fuel to the fire?
“Wan’er, do you have any ideas on this?”

That day, upon hearing the news, Du Wan and Zhang Yue discussed it for a long time, eventually coming up with only two solutions. One was to delay things, but the problem was that as long as Princess Yongping wrote a petition pleading for it, Zhu Di couldn’t refuse such an arranged marriage out of consideration for his daughter. The other option was for Li Maofang to die first, but given the strict norms of propriety at that time, if Li Maofang died, wouldn’t Zhang Ke have to remain a widow for life? So at this moment, she could only sigh and shake her head at Lady Wang.

“Please invite Second Master Ruan in!” Realizing it was impossible to avoid it, Lady Wang ordered the messenger wife and then stepped into the room behind the curtain. After Du Wan followed in, she thought for a moment before saying, “Your second uncle might say some unpleasant things soon. As his niece-in-law, it’s better not to get involved. Anyway, he’s coming after me; I can handle him. Go and watch over Jing and Tian, so that no noise will startle them.”

Since Lady Wang said so, Du Wan had nothing to say. In the side room, she was pulled by Zhang Jing to talk about books. At first, she was a bit distracted, but gradually focused solely on the two children in front of her. It wasn’t until a commotion came from outside that she suddenly woke up, instructed Zhang Jing to take good care of Zhang Tian, and hurriedly went outside. When she reached the main room’s entrance, she happened to hear a woman’s deep voice.

“Father, you and Auntie don’t need to struggle anymore! If I’m gone, won’t everything be fine?”