Chapter 704: Partings in the Snow

Beijing in October had already seen its first snowfall. The Gu family’s grand ancestral ceremony began on this snowy day. Led by Zhang Jiu, the eldest grandson of the family, everyone offered fruits and vegetables in the small ancestral hall, recalling the kindnesses of their forebears and crying bitterly. Listening to the solemn prayers, Zhang Zhuo thought of the Gu family’s last wishes and was filled with mixed emotions.

“The sun and moon never cease to move; now that the grand ceremony approaches, we rise early and stay up late, being cautious and diligent. We grieve deeply and offer pure sacrifices and offerings to pray for this auspicious event. May it please the ancestors.”

Now, everything in the family was going smoothly, and the descendants were all capable of taking on responsibilities on their own. Zhang Yue was already young enough to be appointed as a provincial governor, Zhang Jiu had been chosen as a Hanlin scholar and was about to become a father, Zhang Qi had been promoted to commander due to his father Zhang You’s military achievements, and Zhang Chao, though unchanged in position, had secured a stable role in Tongzhou and grown more mature. Watching Zhang Jiu recite the prayers with proper rituals, he remembered Zhang Yue saying that Zhang Xin intended to move out once the mourning period ended. He sighed deeply before smiling thoughtfully.

His sons had grown up. All he needed to do was wait for Zhang Yue to achieve success and be granted titles for three generations!

Due to the attempt to revoke Zhu Gaoxu’s royal title, all his sons, starting from Zhu Zhanli, the heir apparent, had had their titles stripped and they were imprisoned in separate halls in the Western Garden. After Zhu Gaoxu’s death, Zhu Gao Sui, the Prince of Zhao, who had remained inactive, finally took action—conducting thorough searches across various provinces to eliminate Zhu Gaoxu’s followers, executing them, imposing collective punishment, and sending them to border defenses. Only then did he hurriedly submit a memorial to the court, immediately distancing himself from Zhu Gaoxu while accusing him of harboring rebellious intentions and expressing his loyalty.

Yet, how could Zhu Zhanji easily let go of another scheming uncle? After receiving the memorial, he personally wrote a reply, ordering Yuan Rong, the Marquis of Guangping and husband of the imperial princess, to deliver it. The letter not only included letters exchanged between the princes of Han and Zhao in the past but also memorials from officials demanding punishment for the Zhao clan. However, when Yuan Rong returned, he brought news that Prince Zhu Gao Sui was seriously ill, his heir apparent Zhu Zhanhuan had “died,” and Zhu Gao Sui had submitted a request to restore the guards of Changshan, the herding agencies, and the imperial guard units. Hearing that a wife in the Zhao royal family had given birth to a son, Zhu Zhanji ordered the Ministry of Rites to send people to offer condolences and handle the funeral, immediately appointing the infant as the heir apparent. It is said that the “ill” Prince of Zhao wept upon hearing this good news, though it was unclear why.

Knowing that King Zhao, Zhu Gao Sui, was merely waiting for death, Zhu Zhanji naturally stopped pursuing him. Since the Jinyiwei had once again launched large-scale arrests, and he hadn’t had time to inspect their prisons due to his hasty ascension to the throne, he made sure to check every corner of their prisons and released many people, including Sun Ru Jing. The last person to receive amnesty was Li Shimian, who had been beaten half to death by Zhu Gaochi. Although the previous memorials could no longer be found, upon learning that Li Shimian had advised the emperor that “it is not appropriate for the emperor to be too close to concubines, nor for the crown prince to be too distant from his attendants,” Zhu Zhanji, who had initially intended to kill Li Shimian, changed his mind and restored him to his position as a scholar-in-charge of reading to the emperor.

After handling all these matters, the new emperor, who had ascended to the throne just months earlier, turned his attention to court affairs. Due to the haste of his ascension, the foreign vassal states had not had time to send congratulations. Now, as the end of the year approached—a time when various countries usually came to pay their respects—Wanshijie brought envoys from the Oirat and Tatar tribes along with over 500 tribute horses, which naturally delighted Zhu Zhanji greatly. During the private audience for Wanshijie, he asked with great interest about his experiences beyond the Great Wall that year. Being eloquent by nature, Wanshijie seized this opportunity to recount his experiences in detail and even presented him with a book titled “Records of Travel Beyond the Great Wall.”

Although there was already Jin Youzi’s “Records of the Eastern Expedition,” written during Zhu Di’s campaign beyond the Great Wall, Wanshijie’s book was unique in its humorous prose and interesting descriptions of various landscapes. Zhu Zhanji found it very engaging to read. When it came to rewarding him, he appointed him as a director in the Ministry of War’s Department of Geography, granted titles to his parents and spouse, and awarded Wanshijie 50 taels of silver and 3,000 strings of paper money for his hard work on the campaign. His subordinates, such as Shi Heng, were promoted to deputy commanders of Kuanghe Guard, and Cheng Jiu was appointed as a fifth-rank supervisor in the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau. All the soldiers received rewards as well, allowing Wanshijie, who had gone through great hardships to bring almost everyone back safely, to breathe a sigh of relief.

Before the end of the twelfth lunar month, Zhang Yue finally received his new appointment—as the left governor of Guangdong, with his tenure to begin after the New Year.

Daqing Shousi Temple, West Chang’an Street.

It was neither the first nor the fifteenth day, and heavy snowflakes were drifting from the sky. There were not many pilgrims at the Daqing Shou Temple at the end of the year; only as usual, tents were set up at the entrance offering porridge and clothes. Now that the emperor had ascended the throne and bestowed his grace upon the land, the first measure was to bring order to the displaced people. Most of the poor in the capital city also did not wish to brave the heavy snow to ask for a bowl of hot porridge or a piece of old clothing, so the tents were deserted. When several carriages stopped in succession at the mountain gate, the monk in charge of guests went out to greet them with great enthusiasm. Recognizing Zhu Ning who got out of the carriage, he immediately understood that this was the reward sent by the Prince of Zhou’s residence and hurriedly led them inside.

Although the Daqing Shou Temple was also a famous great temple, even the largest temples spared no effort when it came to serving the royal family. Thus, the arrival of Princess Chenliu Zhu Ning naturally alarmed the abbot, who soon brought several senior monks to welcome her. Zhu Ning had often come here before to worship Buddha and offer incense in memory of her deceased mother. She greeted each of these old monks, then said she was just leading people on a tour, smiling as she dismissed them, before confidently taking the lead.

After entering the temple, the snowfall gradually lessened, so everyone took off their outer coats and walked together under umbrellas in small groups. Zhu Ning wore a white fox fur cloak embroidered with golden threads depicting birds paying homage to a phoenix. Meng Min, beside her, wore a cloak given by Zhu Ning—plain in color with lu silk lining. The two shared an umbrella made of green oil-silk, showing great intimacy. Du Wan and Xiao Wu wore identical silver mouse fur capes, which Zhang Yue had obtained in Shandong. The sisters had sewn them together a few days ago, one for each. Xiao Wu held the umbrella high for Du Wan while constantly joking. Behind them were Cui Mo, Hu Bo, Qiu Hen, Ling Xi, and others, all crowded together, with the sound of birdsong filling the air as they walked.

Seeing their joyful expressions, Wan Shijie, who was walking behind, couldn’t help but mutter, “Appreciating flowers, snow, and beautiful women—having this experience in such cold weather makes the trip worthwhile despite the snow.”

“Brother Wan, you’re already married—how dare you speak so carelessly?”

Hearing Fang Jing’s teasing, Wan Shijie laughed triumphantly and said, “In life, if one can’t act freely, that’s one thing, but if one can’t even speak freely, wouldn’t that be the most unbearable? Besides, I’m praising them. The snow and plain clothes setting off these beautiful women is truly a delight to the eyes. Don’t you think so?”

Fang Jing was still young, and he immediately turned red in the face after hearing this. Zhang Yue, who was watching, couldn’t help but laugh when he saw Fang Jing embarrassed instead of mocking others. After waving him over, Zhang Yue said, “I’m going to Guangdong to take up a position after the New Year. How about you come with me? Although the imperial examinations are important, reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. It’s better to go out and see the world than to stay indoors and work in isolation.”

This year, the three of them took the provincial exams, but only he failed. Fang Jing had been somewhat disheartened, but today, having been called out by the others to relax, he was actually very happy. Hearing Zhang Yue’s suggestion, he hesitated for a while before nodding and saying, “Okay, I’ll follow Brother Zhang’s advice. I’ve been stuck in the capital for so long; I really want to go out and travel.”

As soon as Fang Jing finished speaking, Xiao Wu ahead of them waved him over. Seeing him leave, Wan Shijie couldn’t help but give Zhang Yue a thumbs up, then said with a fake smile, “Among all those governorships, aside from Jiaozhi, which is a place no one wants to go, the rest are top-notch positions. Why did you specifically choose Guangdong? Do you have other motives? In my opinion, although only Ningbo has been opened for trade so far, with your departure, it’s only a matter of time before the Guangzhou Maritime Administration is established, right?”

“Guangzhou faces the South China Sea, making travel there convenient. With the Maritime Administration already in place, if not here, where else? As for you, now that you’ve taken on the role of Director of the Geographical Affairs Bureau, you’ll have to handle matters in the north. The spy agency is obviously under your control, and even opening trade routes requires your involvement. Both the Tatars and the Oirats are greedy—your responsibilities aren’t any lighter than mine.”

“If the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up. Although I’m half your height, since you’re leaving, I’ll have to take on some of the burden! Don’t worry, I’m just as good at dealing with those old officials as you are!” Wan Shijie shrugged bravely, then put his arm around Zhang Yue and winked, “After all, we’re not only classmates and close friends but also brother-in-law.”

“Hey, you two are whispering behind my back—what secret are you discussing?”

Hearing this sudden shout, Wan Shijie finally looked up to see Xiao Wu rushing over, hands on her hips, glaring at him angrily. Seeing her silver hairpin askew and snowflakes stuck in her hair, he couldn’t help but laugh. Naturally, he reached out to brush them off, then suddenly slapped her on the head when she wasn’t looking.

“Only the officials are allowed to set fires; commoners aren’t even allowed to light lamps. How can I know you two aren’t plotting something shady ahead? Looking at you, you’re about to turn into a tigress!”
“Who’s the official? How dare you call me a tigress!”
Seeing the couple argue in no time, Zhang Yue couldn’t help but smile. He quickly stepped forward and took shelter under Du Wan’s oil umbrella. At that moment, Zhu Ning also pulled Meng Min back. Seeing Xiao Wu stubbornly grabbing handfuls of snowballs from the ground and trying to stuff them into Wan Shi Jie’s collar, she laughed uncontrollably before sighing, “Only someone as stubborn as Wan Shi Jie could tolerate Xiao Wu. It’s fortunate for her that she doesn’t have in-laws to take care of. But if she keeps this temper when she becomes a mother-in-law, then I’ll really respect her!”
Zhang Yue smiled and said, “Princess, would you dare make a bet with me? I bet she’ll still have this temper even if she has many children and grandchildren!”
Hearing this, Zhu Ning tilted her head to look at Zhang Yue, then asked Du Wan, “Wan, what do you think?”
“I can’t speak for others, but as for Xiao Wu…” Du Wan smiled before shaking her head. “With Wan Shi Jie protecting her and no other setbacks or obstacles, it’s not bad for her to stay like this her whole life.”
Meng Min also nodded with a smile. “Xiao Wu is just that kind of person. If she changed, she wouldn’t be herself anymore. People say a woman changes after marriage, but looking at her, we know there are always exceptions and unique individuals in the world.”
“Ugh, this is so boring! It seems like a sure loss. I’m not interested.”
Zhu Ning helplessly spread her hands and stepped out of the umbrella alone, walking straight into the snow. A perfect match, peace and happiness—what more could one ask for in life? Yet, she couldn’t choose her background, nor could she abandon her father who raised and loved her. She had to protect the Zhou family at all costs. Since she was born to enjoy luxury, she had to pay the price.
“Sister Ning, it’s snowing so heavily outside, and you’re walking around with your head bare!” Xiao Wu chased after her, holding an umbrella to cover Zhu Ning. She grabbed her arm and winked, “Just now, my brother-in-law teased me. How annoying! Later, at Ning Xin Ju, let’s enjoy the snow and drink wine. How about we have my brother-in-law perform sword dances? Don’t be fooled by his scholarly appearance—he learned swordsmanship from Brother Peng, and it’s quite impressive!”

Zhu Ning was stunned upon hearing this. She turned to look and saw that the people behind her had split into several groups. Du Wan and Meng Min were holding hands together, while Zhang Yue was talking to Cui Mo about something unknown. Peng Shisan still lagged at the back, unhurried as ever. Recalling the background of this girl from what Meng Min had told her, and now that her long-held grudge had finally been avenged, she couldn’t help but sigh.

Ningxin Ju was a serene and secluded pavilion within Daqing Shousi Temple, with a plum forest right in front of it. In other seasons, it was merely greener, but now, some buds had already begun to bloom on the branches. Though scattered sparsely throughout the forest, they stood out brightly against the backdrop of white. The servants from the Zhou royal family, who had been waiting there all along, had prepared charcoal braziers, tea, snacks, and more. Everyone sat down, and after drinking some hot tea to recover, they fell silent.

Except for Wan Shijie and the Xiao Wu couple who remained in the capital, Zhang Yue and Du Wan would take Qiu Hen, Hu Bo, and Peng Shisan to Guangdong. Zhu Ning intended to return to Kaifeng to care for King Zhou Zhu Zhuo, who was ill in bed. Meng Min and Cui Mo planned to go back to Baisha Village to arrange the marriages of their brothers, Meng Tao and Meng Fan. No one knew when they would be able to gather together again like this.

Normally, it was Wan Shijie, who was best at joking to liven up the mood, or Xiao Wu, who chattered away to break the silence. But seeing that everyone was silent now, Zhang Yue had no choice but to stand up, clear his throat, raise his teacup, and say with a smile, “Although there’s a saying that no gathering lasts forever, I believe in another saying: those destined to meet will find their way together, no matter the distance. If we’re destined, we can gather happily like this again in the future! Today, let’s use tea instead of wine. I raise a cup to everyone as a prelude to this farewell, and also as a toast to our future reunion!”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Wu immediately wiped away her tears and stood up as well. As a result, everyone’s worries faded for a moment. After raising their cups together, they drank the tea as if it were wine. When they sat down again, Xiao Wu couldn’t resist urging Zhang Yue to practice sword dancing, pulling Wan Shijie along to join in. Left with no choice, Zhang Yue took out his sword and stepped onto the stage.

At first, the sword movements were extremely slow, awkward up and down, but gradually they became more agile. The snow-covered ground paired with the gleaming sword created a sense of sharpness that seemed to strike one in the face. Even those who had initially taken it as a joke grew quiet, watching with interest. Peng Shisan stood in the corner, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. Unconsciously, he thought of his own arrival in Kaifeng years ago, of the frail young man he used to be.

On the Pilu Pavilion in the southwest corner of the temple, Yuan Fangzheng, dressed in a hemp robe, stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the scene on the grass in front of Ningxinju with a faint smile on his lips. After a while, he felt someone gently place a cloak over his shoulders. Without turning around, he said, “Since the Pilu Pavilion can overlook the imperial palace, it will eventually be demolished. It’s a fortune for us to get to see it now. Come on, let’s go take a look—there probably won’t be another such opportunity in the future!”

Hearing the word “us,” Lin Sha was momentarily stunned, but she couldn’t help stepping forward two steps. Holding onto the new wooden railing, she felt immense joy, and her gaze upon Zhang Yue, who was practicing swordsmanship in the distance, was also extremely gentle.

It was because of meeting him back then that Lin Sha became who she is today. She was already content with her life.

Yuan Fang gently pressed his chest, as if feeling the jade ring attached to it. Just as Zhang Yue had said, he could now enjoy a peaceful life at home, without having to struggle outside with his aged body. When they first met, he was just a naive young man, but now he had achieved great fame and was capable of handling things on his own—so he could rest easy now.

Yellow clouds stretch for miles, dimming the daylight; the north wind blows, sending snowflakes flying. Don’t worry about having no friends ahead—everyone in the world knows you.

Volume 15: Observing the South Sea

After six years in office, he finally became a high-ranking official. He witnessed nations from all over coming to pay homage to the South Sea, ushering in an era of prosperity and peace for all.