Chapter 60: Questions on the Reunion Day

Perhaps it was because he had slept so well that afternoon, perhaps because he had moved from the rocking ship to solid ground, or perhaps because his mind was filled with too many doubts and questions… In any case, despite going to bed early, Zhang Yue could not fall asleep, tossing and turning. To make matters worse, whether it was because the bed in this room of Fangheng Courtyard hadn’t been used for a long time or due to some other issue, it made a noisy creaking sound every time he turned over. As a result, not only could he not sleep well, but those around him also suffered.

Qiu Hen, who had been restless on the ship for half a month, slept soundly in the outer room. Even when the creaking was loudest, she continued to snore evenly. Amber, who was sleeping outside her room, tiptoed out of bed but saw that the two new maids had already woken up. One was pouring tea while the other stood by the bed asking something. After thinking for a moment, she went back to bed.

“Stop rushing. Go back to sleep. I slept well this afternoon and won’t be able to fall asleep for a while.”

Seeing that one maid quickly brought him tea, Zhang Yue had no choice but to take a sip. When he saw the other maid about to go get a hot towel, he quickly stopped her. However, he didn’t expect them to be Amber and Qiu Hen, who he usually commanded easily. Fearing they might not serve him well, neither of them would go back to bed. In the end, he had to scold them softly before lying down facing the wall, only then hearing silence behind him.

After all this commotion, he began to feel sleepy and fell into a drowsy sleep shortly after lying down. He didn’t wake up until dawn. When he got up to change and tidy himself, he casually glanced over and noticed that the two new maids had dark circles under their eyes, clearly having not slept well all night. Though he felt helpless and disliked having people sleep on the floor in front of his bed, he couldn’t change the rule and wondered if he could find a way to get a different bed.

Seeing that the clothes Amber brought were clearly not the set he had changed into the previous afternoon, Zhang Yue gave her a questioning look. Qiu Hen beside him then smiled and explained, “This was just sent by the lady. It seems the eldest miss made it first. There’s one set each for you, the eldest young master, the second young master, and the fourth young master. It just didn’t get delivered to Kaifeng in time before everyone arrived. The eldest miss is coming today, so the lady specifically asked us to have you change into this set. She will surely be pleased when she sees it.”

“The eldest sister is coming?”

Zhang Yue, who had been listless and indifferent before, immediately perked up and changed into new clothes as quickly as possible. After getting ready, a maid brought him breakfast—four kinds of pastries and a large bowl of rouge-colored rice porridge. Preoccupied as he was, he had no mood to judge the quality of the food; he simply stuffed himself full and rushed out. Qiu Hen stamped her foot, about to say something, but Hu Bo noticed the other two maids staring at the remaining food, so she smiled and ordered that it not be taken back to the kitchen, allowing them to share it among themselves. Then she firmly pulled Qiu Hen out of the room.

Early in the morning, the three brothers gathered in the courtyard of Fangheng Courtyard. They glanced at their clothes and couldn’t help but laugh. Zhang Qing had always loved needlework at home. On her brothers’ birthdays, she would often give them sets of shoes, socks, and clothes, and she never stopped giving them small items like money pouches and sachets. Now, after two years apart, wearing these familiarly stitched clothes, all three brothers felt a deep sense of nostalgia.

“Young masters, the wife of the Marquis of Baoding has arrived. She is currently in the master’s room, chatting with Lady Wang…”

“Has my eldest sister already come?”

The three brothers almost simultaneously uttered the same question, then quickened their pace toward the master’s room. After finally making it through the long corridors, before even stepping into the room, they heard a familiar and warm voice inside. The youngest, Zhang Jiu, rushed forward at full speed, lifted the curtain, and called out,

“Eldest sister!”

Zhang Yue, who was a step behind, immediately spotted the bright-eyed young woman. She wore a pearl and gemstone hairpin, a bright red jacket with floral trim, and a honey-colored fur cloak over it. She sat upright, chatting with Lady Wang, with only a thin layer of makeup on her face, so the slight redness around her eyes was unmistakable.

It had been over two years since Zhang Jiu last saw his sister, so he rushed straight at her, allowing Zhang Qing to embrace him as tears streamed down his face. Zhang Qing had been worried about this matter ever since their father was taken to the capital. The Duke of Yingguo’s residence was the place she visited most often these days. Now, seeing her brother so upset, she too couldn’t hold back her tears. The siblings hugged each other and wept. Zhang Chao and Zhang Yue exchanged glances; the latter saw Lady Wang shake her head and leave, so he felt free to stay.

“Eldest sister, it feels like two years have passed in the blink of an eye!”

Hearing this, Zhang Qing released Zhang Jiu, took a handkerchief to wipe her eyes vigorously, and then stood up. After observing Zhang Chao and Zhang Yue for a while, she finally showed a joyful smile and forced the two to sit beside her. After asking about their well-being, she inquired about the conditions of their family elders and peers, only to be overcome with sorrow once again.
“If it weren’t for what happened to Father this time, the New Year would be the happiest time of the year. I even planned to return to Kaifeng with your brother-in-law next year to visit our family… Now that the New Year is approaching, not only can’t I see Father, but I don’t even know if he’s alive or not.”
Zhang Yue knew that Marquis Meng Shan of Baoding had died, and now it was Meng Ying, Zhang Qing’s father-in-law, who held the title. He had thought she must know more. But seeing her utterly heartbroken, his confidence wavered. Could this incident really be so sudden and unexpected that even a descendant of a meritorious official like the Marquis of Baoding was at a loss?
Despite his worries and attempts to comfort her, he quickly regained his composure and said, “Sister, please don’t say such things. If one keeps lamenting themselves, heaven won’t help.”
Seeing Zhang Jiu wiping her tears vigorously and not knowing what to say, Zhang Yue advised her again, “Sister, as the eldest among the third generation in our family and the wife of a young marquis, you must not lose your head. Letting outsiders make fun of our family would be shameful. Besides, Xiao Si is watching you! They say that when brothers work together, their strength is like cut steel. If we all pull together, we’ll surely find a solution! Sister, don’t you trust me?”
After getting married, Zhang Qing had managed the household as the eldest daughter-in-law of the younger generation, and her wisdom far surpassed that of her former self. Yet, hearing Zhang Yue’s obvious attempts to comfort her, she couldn’t help but recall the time before the flood when she had taken refuge at Daxiangguo Temple with Zhang Yue. Back then, he had also seemed to be speaking casually, but in the end, he had safely protected her and Zhang Yi.
“As long as it’s you who says it, Third Brother, I naturally trust you!”
Just as Zhang Fu was about to enter, he heard Zhang Qing’s firm reply and couldn’t help but smile. He thought it was fortunate he hadn’t sent for anyone else, otherwise he wouldn’t have heard such words from his niece, who was usually regarded as a wise housewife. On a whim, he decided to stay put and listen to what the younger generation had to say. But what he heard next was quite surprising.
“Then, Sister, you have to tell me one thing—were Uncle and the King of Han in close contact before?”

“At that time in the capital, the Prince of Han did invite our father to drink twice, but there weren’t many other interactions… Third brother, what does this have to do with our father’s imprisonment this time?”
“I only know that Ji Gang, the commander of the Jinyiwei, was executed, followed by news that the emperor had stripped the Prince of Han of his two bodyguards and intended to punish him. Then, unexpectedly, my uncle was also imprisoned…”
“But the Prince of Han mostly interacted with military generals like my grandfather. How could this matter involve our father?”
“I’m not sure either. Maybe it’s just revenge rather than a direct connection?”
At that moment, hearing no voices from inside, Zhang Fu had no interest in listening any longer. He cleared his throat lightly and stepped inside after lifting the curtain. Seeing the four siblings rushing over anxiously, with varying degrees of panic on their faces, he smiled slightly.
“This incident is nothing but a frame-up. Brother Yue is overthinking it.”