Chapter 693: Parental Love as Vast as the Sea

In one night, the whole city was draped in mourning attire, and the bustling streets and alleys that had been filled with chatter suddenly fell silent. People often panic at the unknown, but once the truth becomes clear, their reactions become simpler. Compared to the princes, nobles, officials, and commoners who had to go to Simian Gate to mourn, stay away from home overnight, and abide by numerous restrictions, they only needed to retrieve the plain clothes they had worn last year and endure twenty-seven days.

Although the late emperor had ordered that the funeral rites be kept simple—and in fact, the mausoleum had not yet been completed—he also ordered that marriages should not be prohibited. Still, households everywhere removed the red couplets and lanterns from their doors without coordination, and they restricted their servants and family members from going outside recklessly. After all, Zhu Gaochi had been the crown prince for over twenty years, and officials at all levels were quite familiar with his character. After finally getting a monarch with a fairly tolerable temper, who could have imagined he would leave so suddenly?

Zhang Yue arrived in the capital just one day after Zhu Zhanji. Since he was still the deputy magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture and came under the pretext of visiting his father, he had no other duties after the routine mourning ceremonies and did not need to stay at his office, so he naturally continued to live at home. Yet, he had not yet recovered from the tension of the journey when, that very noon, an unexpected visitor arrived at his home.

Seeing Yuan Fang dressed in a plain silk robe with black sashes, just like himself, Zhang Yue was confused about the current situation. After greeting him and inviting him into the main hall for tea, he asked half-jokingly, “Lord Yuan, have you been restored to your position?”

“A good horse doesn’t eat its own grass. It took me a long time to retire—why would I cling to power and hinder others’ opportunities?” With Zhang Yue’s servants sent away, Yuan Fang spoke more freely. “The crown prince has not yet ascended the throne, and the officials are currently pleading earnestly. It’s not yet time for rewards. But I have already asked the crown prince for a position at the Five Armies Command in the capital, and I hope to get it. No matter what position I hold, if the higher-ups assign me a task, I will obey it. Whether it’s taking back control of the Jinyiwei or not makes no difference.” He then recounted his ordeal on the canal and asked, “The crown prince heard that Wang Bin blocked your path on the way. He asked me to ask you—what did he say?”

In front of Yuan Fang, Zhang Yue knew that he would weigh his options carefully when the time came, so he recounted everything that had happened truthfully. His expression then darkened: “Seeing Wang Bin’s fearless attitude at that time, it’s likely that not only in Dezhou but also in Jinghai, Tianjin, and other places, there are countless officers who might be supporting him. And even if we knew who they are, it wouldn’t be easy to deal with them one by one at this critical moment.”

“So, I also know it’s not yet the right time to use your ultimate trump card. Besides, if you act too overtly, although that Tang sect leader might be able to escape unscathed, your sister-in-law’s master won’t be able to get away so easily. In this world, everyone needs doctors, but everyone also fears them the most—especially those deadly physicians.”

The two exchanged a knowing smile and stopped discussing the topic, instead picking up their teacups and chatting leisurely. As they talked, Yuan Fang suddenly changed the subject: “By the way, do you know where Princess Chenliu is now?”

Zhang Yue was wondering what his father, Zhang Zhuo, must be feeling after learning that Yuan Fang had come to his home. Hearing this question suddenly, he didn’t understand its meaning and felt uneasy. Since last year, when Zhu Ning went to pay respects to Zhu Di on his behalf, she hadn’t returned to Kaifeng. Before that, she often acted as a messenger between them. Now that the emperor had passed away, all he knew was that this noble princess was in the palace; he couldn’t get any further information.

“I heard the princess was summoned to the palace by the empress to accompany her?”

“She was summoned, but not for companionship.” Seeing Zhang Yue’s face tense up, Yuan Fang pondered for a moment before setting down his teacup. “I also heard about this indirectly. With the emperor seriously ill, the empress handles all major state affairs, leaving her little time to manage the palace affairs. So she asked the princess to take care of them. Under normal circumstances, that wouldn’t be a problem, but there are rumors in the palace that the concubines who will be buried with the emperor have already been chosen. Aside from a few who never had children, it’s very likely that Guo Guifei and Wang Shufei, who were among the first to be appointed, will also be included. News spreads quickly in the palace, and it’s likely that the princess is now facing a difficult situation with several people destined to die.”

Only three imperial concubines were appointed together when the empress was chosen—Guo Guifei, Wang Shufei, and Zhao Huifei. Now, two of them are to be buried with the emperor, and the reasons behind this are obvious. Thinking of how many people were also sacrificed after Zhu Di’s death, Zhang Yue felt horrified. He thought that although human sacrifice hadn’t been seen for hundreds of years since the Han, Tang, and Song dynasties, the Ming Dynasty, claiming to be a dynasty of rituals, still continued such barbaric practices. And thinking that Zhu Ning, still unmarried, had to go through such turmoil in the palace, he felt even more angry.

“If it weren’t for the longevity of King Zhou, the Princess of Chenliu would not have taken on this task. Even those with clear eyes can see the Empress’s intentions, and the princess, being extremely intelligent, surely understands them. Yet her determination to help the Daiwang Family overcome future hardships cannot be underestimated. In these times, it is indeed difficult for men to make a living, but even harder for women.”

After sitting for such a long time, Yuan Fang had no choice but to get up and take his leave. Zhang Yue personally saw him out. When they reached the second gate, Yuan Fang suddenly stopped: “The Crown Prince asks me to convey a message to you—he will lift the sea ban once he ascends the throne. Now that Wang Jinghong is leading a fleet out to sea, he can claim it is for diplomatic missions to Japan, giving him a legitimate reason, and the ministers won’t have anything to say. Also, if you want to know how the story I told you continues, you might as well ask your father.”

Having spent so many years in the Ming Dynasty, Zhang Yue knew that if Zhu Zhanji were to make promises through Yuan Fang—such as keeping his word or granting promotions—then he would truly be disappointed. But hearing that Zhu Zhanji intended to lift the sea ban filled him with joy. He thought that once peace was restored, he would finally be able to do something meaningful. However, Yuan Fang’s last words caught him off guard. After seeing him out, he went straight to his parents’ quarters.

Apart from Zhang Zhuo, who was in mourning, the younger generation of the Zhang family each had their own duties. The three young wives had different temperaments—some handled household chores, some read books indoors, and some visited neighbors. The large mansion was often quiet during the day. Lady Sun and her daughters-in-law maintained a normal relationship, mostly spending time indoors with their daughters and granddaughters, enjoying family time happily. At that moment, while playing with her granddaughter San San and talking to her daughter Zhang Jing, she didn’t notice her husband fidgeting anxiously nearby, with sweat on his forehead, and grew curious.

“Sir, is something on your mind?”
“Nothing,” Zhang Zhuo replied. Thinking of Yuan Fang outside made him uneasy, but he didn’t want to explain it to his wife. Instead, he patted Zhang Jing’s head. “During the national mourning period, there’s no need to go to school, but don’t slouch in your studies! That Mr. Liang wrote saying he’ll arrive in the capital by the end of the year. Don’t end up looking foolish by knowing nothing.”
“Dad, you underestimate people!” Zhang Jing frowned indignantly and said proudly, “I and Sister Tian know a lot of characters and read well—our teachers have all praised us! San San is still young. When she grows up, I can teach her to read too!”

“It seems our family is going to produce a young talent?” As he spoke, Zhang Yue pulled back the curtain and entered. Seeing Zhang Jing’s eyes light up, she rushed over quickly. He hurriedly stepped forward and said, “You’ve asked several times already. I told you before—your sister-in-law still needs to stay in Nanjing and won’t be able to return for a while.” Without paying attention to the disappointed look on the little girl’s face, he went to greet his parents. Seeing San San staring at him with her finger in her mouth, he felt a bit guilty. He stepped forward and gently touched her rosy cheeks, his heart filled with indescribable tenderness.

Mrs. Sun noticed her granddaughter wriggling restlessly in her arms and scolded Zhang Yue, “If you don’t come back soon, the child will forget you as her father… Sigh, you’ve been running around all these years with no end in sight. Maybe this time you can stay at home peacefully for a while? Hurry and bring your wife back—I’ve missed her for over a year. Also, every time I hold San San, I think of Jingguan. I wonder how he is now!”

Zhang Yue wasn’t afraid of anything except his mother’s complaints and nagging. He quickly offered an apologetic smile in response. Seeing his eldest son standing beside Mrs. Sun, smiling and talking to her in such harmony, Zhang Zhuo, though preoccupied with other things, didn’t want to disrupt this rare peaceful atmosphere. It wasn’t until Mrs. Sun sent Zhang Yue over that he asked a few questions with a smile before finding an excuse to take Zhang Yue outside to talk in the empty west wing room.

After asking what Yuan Fang had said earlier, Zhang Zhuo fell silent. It wasn’t until Zhang Yue brought up the old story that he suddenly snapped out of it, his face turning pale. “He actually told you all that?”

“Uncle Yuan only mentioned dying together.”

“Dying together, dying together…” Zhang Zhuo repeated those words softly twice, then let out a deep sigh. He slumped in his chair, staring at the high ceiling, and said in a hollow voice, “My mother passed away not long after I was born. I had no one to rely on in the Zhang family. Though I had no worries about food and clothing, I had older brothers who were both skilled in literature and martial arts. For over a decade, I was alone and lonely. It wasn’t until I married your mother that we fled to Beiping due to the Jingnan Campaign. Along the way, we got separated from the others and were attacked by bandits. Fortunately, he saved us. But at that time, I had no idea that he was not only a righteous hero but also a family member I could depend on.”

He paid no attention at all to Zhang Yue’s expression; the image of that heroic figure who had saved him in the past came to mind. Back then, he was almost in despair. He had always thought that as the third son born out of wedlock, with no great ambitions or skills, his future didn’t matter much—just relying on his wife to get by would suffice. But when faced with a life-or-death crisis, he realized that some things were not merely external possessions but also means to protect oneself in critical moments.

“It was he who saved me back then. After learning that he was heading to Beiping to join Prince Yan, I traveled with him. Because he was generous and upright, speaking to me without the pretense typical of aristocratic youths, I simply regarded him as my brother-in-arms. My sister-in-law and Mu Ning also traveled with us. My sister-in-law was not in good health but was kind-hearted; she even helped me mend my clothes while we were on the road. From her, I learned that Brother Yuan had relied on his mother for support in his early years. Later, when he fell seriously ill, his mother had to agree to remarry as a concubine. The family of that man not only hired a doctor to cure him but also left him enough money to live on.”

“People say it’s better to starve than to lose one’s chastity. I thought Brother Yuan would surely be haunted by this past. But one night while camping, he spoke openly about it without any reservation. From his father dying along with those bandits, to his mother burying the bodies and fleeing the village to end up in Kaifeng, to her having to marry into another family out of desperation just to keep him alive in those difficult times… As I listened, I thought it was remarkable not only that his parents were so admirable but also that he could maintain such a carefree attitude under such circumstances.”

Unlike Yuan Fang, who was completely drunk at that time, Zhang Zhuo was quite sober. As he spoke, he suddenly lowered his head and pulled out a length of red thread from his neck, with a jade ring tied to it. Seeing Zhang Yue staring curiously at it, he couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

“This is the only thing my mother left me. Brother Yuan also has one. On our journey, we encountered defeated soldiers from the south. After barely breaking through the encirclement and bandaging our wounds, we realized the two rings were identical in design. Because we had shared weal and woe together earlier, it wasn’t difficult to recognize each other. It was only later that I learned from Brother Yuan that it was because the words ‘Xiangxing Yubao’ were engraved on these rings that people mistook my mother for a descendant of the Song royal family, leading to the destruction of our family. We never bothered to investigate such matters about our backgrounds. To this day, the case of the Song royal descendants rebelling in Shaanxi remains unresolved. That’s why Brother Yuan took advantage of the chaos during the Jingnan Campaign to make alterations in the official records, always pretending to be from Yangwu, Henan.”

Only then did Zhang Yue understand the whole story. He couldn’t help asking, “Since Uncle Yuan saved Father and we are related like this, why did Father pretend not to know him later?”

“He wasn’t outstanding in combat but had developed skills in street fighting. He believed the Prince of Yan would surely seize the throne, but to intimidate the scholars, he would have to reestablish the Jinyiwei, so he focused on that path. He knew I had little influence at home and didn’t want to rely on this connection, so we parted ways when we arrived in Beiping. He said he would make his way through sheer effort. By the fourth year of Yongle, when I returned to Kaifeng with my grandmother, he had already become a centurion in the Jinyiwei. You were only four years old at that time. I took you to see him and his wife, and they both adored you. When we started doing business together, my share came from your mother’s dowry, while his came from the savings his wife had accumulated through frugality. Unexpectedly, his wife passed away at a young age.”

At this point, Zhang Zhuo looked at the thoughtful Zhang Yue and smiled bitterly. “Your Brother Yuan fell seriously ill in his youth and was unable to have children for the rest of his life, so he treated you as his own child. He had long said that everything left behind would belong to you. So even though the emperor granted hereditary privileges, he never considered adopting a child. Therefore, you must never forget that you have such an uncle out there!”

Zhang Yue nodded silently, but inwardly sighed deeply. He had received far too much in this life compared to what he had missed in his past life.