Chapter 763: Sudden Change

After passing the county, provincial, and imperial examinations to earn the status of a scholar, came the next rounds of exams—provincial, metropolitan, and final imperial exams. Each of these was like crossing a narrow bridge with a sea of competitors, often seen by those from humble backgrounds as a shortcut to success. Although Zhang Yue came from a wealthy family, he had also gone through these examinations himself; the only one he had missed was the provincial exam. Years ago, he had given up on it to rush to Beijing to care for his seriously ill father, Zhang Fu. As a result, he was granted the title of “juren” as a reward, eventually ranking in the second tier of the imperial examination results. Thus, when Shen Can mentioned this year’s provincial exam in Guangdong, he felt a sense of detachment before smiling slightly.

“Mr. Minwang is absolutely right. Since you are in charge of this year’s provincial exam, if there’s anything you need me to handle, just give the order.”

Compared to the elderly scholars in the Hanlin Academy, Shen Can, who was under fifty, was naturally very young. Yet, looking at Zhang Yue across from him, he felt himself to be quite old. Back when he first met Zhang Yue at Lady Gu’s birthday banquet, Zhang Yue was still just a child. More than a decade later, that child had become a high-ranking official with an unprecedented speed of promotion. Therefore, despite Zhang Yue still using his old title, Shen Can couldn’t entirely treat him as a junior.

So, he first inquired about the schools in Guangdong’s prefectures and counties, then listened carefully to Zhang Yue’s account of the many private schools established over the past year, as well as some talented scholars. Only then did he nod in approval. Although blind grading meant he couldn’t show favoritism, having an idea in mind would help him select more truly talented individuals when reviewing the papers. After discussing matters with Zhang Yue in his study for over an hour, he finally got up to leave, and Zhang Yue personally escorted him back to his room.

As Shen Can’s figure gradually disappeared, Zhang Yue turned and walked back. Guangdong was too far from the capital. Unless it was an urgent military matter requiring rapid dispatch, it would take at least a month for letters to travel. Even Zhang Fu, the Duke of Ying, wouldn’t frequently send his own people as messengers to avoid drawing attention. So, after resolving the matter involving Gu Xingzu earlier, he merely mentioned it to his father, Zhang Zhuo. Zhang Zhuo immediately contacted Yuan Fang in the capital. After much effort, they finally established a reliable communication route. Though it wasn’t as fast as those using the Jinyiwei or Dongchang channels like Zhang Qian, it was still much quicker than official channels.

That’s why he had already heard about Concubine Sun’s pregnancy, though he couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more behind it.

Although this year’s provincial examinations and next year’s imperial examinations are important, they pale in comparison to the fact that Concubine Sun is pregnant. Emperor Zhu Zhanji had a relatively small harem, but only Concubine Sun gave birth to a daughter; this time, it’s unknown whether it will be a boy or a girl. He couldn’t remember exactly how many times Concubine Sun had been pregnant in history, but he did recall that Emperor Yingzong Zhu Qizhen was not her biological son. It was precisely because Concubine Sun had a “biological son” that Zhu Zhanji quickly deposed her. Logically, whether to depose her or not should have nothing to do with him as an outsider, yet Empress Hu was innocent. Moreover, since it involved the issue of the crown prince’s succession, even if historical records didn’t mention it, who knew there wasn’t a fierce struggle behind the scenes?

Furthermore, currently, the cabinet and the six ministries were all in the hands of experienced officials. Many of the officials who were close to Zhu Zhanji in the past resorted to every trick possible to climb the ranks. The court seemed calm on the surface, but beneath it all, there were turbulent currents. Otherwise, how could Huang Huai withdraw from the cabinet so easily, and how could the cunning Lu Zhen die from drunkenness so casually?

“What’s wrong? You’re frowning so much as soon as you got back. Did Mr. Shen say something troubling again?”

In a daze, hearing these concerned words, Zhang Yue realized he had unconsciously returned to his room. Du Wan was looking at him worriedly. Shaking his head and saying it was nothing, he noticed that she had changed into another set of clothes, and Amber Qiuhen too. Then he remembered he should go greet his parents, so he left the room with them.

In Lady Sun’s main chamber, Hongluan and Zhang Fu, mother and son, were also there. Lady Sun was now older, and though she still nagged, her heart had softened a lot. She gradually stopped being harsh toward this couple. But as soon as she saw her son and daughter-in-law bringing their grandchildren, she immediately shifted her attention from casually asking Zhang Fu a few questions—scolding Zhang Yue not to work too hard, nagging that he should dress the children in more clothes at night, reminding Du Wan not to focus only on handling official documents but to teach the children more, and urging Amber Qiuhen to be more careful with letters and finances… In short, her voice filled the room. Eventually, Zhang Zhuo, unable to bear it any longer, found an excuse to stop her from talking.

Leaving the main chamber, Zhang Yue faintly heard his mother seemingly complaining about his father inside, which made him smile. After leaving the courtyard, seeing that although Zhang Fu was with Hongluan, his eyes kept drifting toward him as if he had something to say, he told Du Wan and walked over directly. Sure enough, Zhang Fu glanced at his mother, who was at a loss, then suddenly looked up at him.

“Third brother, I’ve thought about the question you asked before. Once I’ve mastered martial arts, I want to go to the border and earn merits!”

Hongluan was startled by Zhang Fu’s words. Just as she was about to scold her son for being reckless, Zhang Fu raised his head and said, “Back then, my second uncle also couldn’t do well in studies, so he turned to martial arts. It took him many years to achieve what he has today. I want to follow in my second uncle’s footsteps and strive for my own future! When I achieve something someday, Auntie will surely be happy…”

Seeing Hongluan standing there with trembling shoulders, Zhang Yue pulled Zhang Fu over before she could raise her right hand. Noting the determination on his young face, he smiled slightly and said, “Very good. Since you have such aspirations, then strive toward them from now on. Remember, my second uncle also overcame many difficulties to get where he is. Having a son like you makes Auntie very fortunate. Just keep working hard!”

Zhang Fu had thought about this day and night. Speaking it out made him feel relieved, but soon he became anxious again. Hearing Zhang Yue’s words of encouragement, his eyes reddened immediately. He nodded quickly and then reached out to take his mother Hongluan’s hand. By then, Hongluan had finally recovered from her shock and fear. Seeing Zhang Yue nod at her gently, she wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, thanked him softly, and then left with the child.

Only after walking a short distance did Zhang Yue realize that Mother Cui was waiting for him at the corner under the wall, holding a lantern. Although Mother Cui had initially been in charge of clothes in the courtyard, her prudence and competence had made her one of the most trusted household members around Du Wan over the years, even more respected than the maids. Hearing that she was waiting there on Du Wan’s orders, he didn’t take it too seriously after hearing all those words.

“It wasn’t anything important. I just listened.”

Under the dim light from Mother Cui’s lantern, noticing her hesitance, Zhang Yue casually asked, “Mother seems to have something to say?”

“I’m just an ignorant woman. What could I possibly say? I just think the young master is kind-hearted.”

“That’s not kindness. He’s my father’s son and my brother. If he has aspirations and perseverance, that’s naturally good. If it weren’t for the old lady back then, my second uncle might not have had the chance to prove himself and become a lord in charge of a region, nor would I be who I am today. It’s good that he doesn’t want to be a dissolute man. Otherwise, if he became like Uncle Ruan or Uncle Jie, he would be a disaster to our family.”

Now that Lady Gu had passed away, Zhang Yue would dream of her night after night, only to appreciate her kindness all the more. Although Lady Gu had shown favoritism in the past, she was still fairly just, doing her utmost to give opportunities to her descendants—a standard that was sufficient in such a large family. After his second uncle Zhang You was appointed as the Marquis of Yangwu, it was still Lady Gu who was titled as the Grand Lady by the imperial court. He had always been filial and respectful toward her, and although one was supposed to honor one’s legitimate mother according to propriety, who knew if Lady Gu hadn’t interceded on his behalf with Zhang Fu when he took up a military position, providing some support?

As he slowly walked through the small gate on the east side of the corridor, he suddenly saw a figure stumbling toward him. Vaguely, he could make out that it was a young girl. The girl rushed up to him, barely catching her breath before hurriedly saying, “Young master, outside—there’s a messenger! They… they came from Jiaozhi!”

Hearing this, Zhang Yue was instantly alarmed. He turned to Mother Cui and told her to go report to Zhang Zhuo right away, then rushed outside at full speed. As soon as he reached the main gate, Peng Shisan quickly stepped forward and whispered, “It’s one of the second master’s trusted men. He seems very panicked. He refused to say anything when I asked him. Something serious must have happened over there! It’s already night, and I suspect he used the general’s pass to get the city gates opened. I’ve arranged for him to be in the west-side room next to the study, and someone has already brought him tea and snacks.”

“There have been far fewer rebellions in Jiaozhi these past two years. The court no longer demands gold, silver, peacock feathers, ivory, and so on. Moreover, with Minister Huang Fu there to calm things down, what serious incident could possibly arise?” Zhang Yue murmured to himself as he walked forward. When he was almost at the destination, he suddenly stopped and turned to look at Peng Shisan. “Could it be my second uncle…?”

“If it were a major military matter, there would be no reason not to inform us here. So, it’s likely the second master himself…”

Peng Shisan didn’t say anything more, but Zhang Yue’s heart tightened. Upon entering the room, he saw the messenger walking back and forth inside, leaving the snacks and tea on the small table untouched. As soon as he saw someone enter, the messenger immediately turned his head and rushed over, kneeling on his knees and handing over a pass sealed with the general’s seal, his voice already tinged with tears.

“Third young master, my master has been struck by a poisoned arrow. The doctor says he probably won’t live much longer!”

Although guesses had already been made, hearing those words clearly made Zhang Yue gasp in shock. After finally calming down, he asked the messenger to stand up and pressed for details. Upon learning that it was caused by an assassin encountered during an inspection of his troops, his heart skipped again, and he quickly asked, “Is there no antidote for this poisonous arrow?”
“Over the years in Jiaozhi, Lord Zhang suppressed rebellions with firmness, working well alongside Minister Huang, one being strict and the other lenient. As a result, those rebels hated Lord Zhang deeply and used the most deadly poison. If the arrow hadn’t hit his shoulder instead of a vital spot, and if Lord Zhang hadn’t quickly cut off a large piece of flesh and taken an antidote, he wouldn’t have survived long. Although a messenger has been sent to the capital, the journey is long, so Lord Zhang sent me to Guangdong, hoping that the Third Lord could go there as well to keep an eye on him…”
The messenger had followed Zhang You for many years and, seeing Zhang Yue’s worried expression, knew right away that he was concerned about the danger Zhang Zhuo might face. But since he had been tasked with this urgent mission, he had no choice but to steel himself, kneel down again, and kowtow several times. “I know the Third Lord will be in danger, but I beg him to show mercy to my lord out of kinship.”
Just as Zhang Yue was struggling to make a decision, a voice came from outside: “Why would my second brother suddenly send someone to report? What exactly happened?”
Zhang Yue turned and saw his father, Zhang Zhuo, already stepping over the threshold. Perhaps due to his hasty departure, Zhang Zhuo was wearing only an old, light-blue home shirt, drenched in sweat. Seeing this, Zhang Yue quickly stepped forward to help him sit down and repeated what had been said earlier. Noticing his father’s pale face and furrowed brows, he said softly, “Such sudden news is unexpected for anyone. Father, please calm down first; I’ll ask more questions.”
Seeing that the messenger was still kneeling there in a daze, Zhang Yue didn’t hesitate and turned back to ask, “Since you’ve been sent here, I’ll ask you a few more questions. First, with my second uncle seriously injured, who is in charge of military affairs at the Jiaozhi Garrison? Second, has the Garrison traced the assassin’s origin? Third, apart from my second uncle, have there been any attempts on other people’s lives? What’s the public’s reaction, and what measures have the Garrison and the Three Ministries taken?”

“Why does the third young master ask this…” The messenger was already extremely anxious and blurted out the question involuntarily. Seeing Zhang Yue’s ashen face, he immediately remembered that this third young master was a high-ranking official, so he forced himself to answer despite his worry: “The military affairs of the Jiaozhi Garrison are currently under the control of the deputy commander, Lord Rongchang. He is also in charge of investigating the whereabouts of the assassin. Before I left, the Garrison was torturing the assassin, but it seems he refuses to speak and nothing has been learned yet. As for the assassinations of the others… such attacks happen three or five times a year, but almost all fail. Besides, the Garrison and the provincial authorities have tightened their security. As for the provincial governor’s office and the judicial office, I visited the provincial governor’s office before leaving the Garrison and happened to hear that Minister Huang is seriously ill, and now Chen Qia is in charge.”
“What did you say!” Zhang Yue stepped forward in an instant, staring at the messenger and asking sternly, “Minister Huang is seriously ill? Is that true?”
“I’m telling the truth. The provincial administration and the judicial department have already reported this to the imperial court!”
Misfortune never comes alone!
A heavy stone was added to Zhang Yue’s already burdened heart. Even when he went to ask again earlier, he had already figured it out—no matter how fast Zhang Chao and his brothers could travel, reaching Jiaozhi within a month was already the limit. His father had to go. Since he had to go, he naturally hoped the situation in Jiaozhi would still be under control. However, Lord Rongchang, Chen Zhi, had always gotten along poorly with his second uncle, Zhang You, and his military strategies were merely average. Coupled with Minister Huang’s serious illness, the previously stable situation in Jiaozhi might now face problems! If Zhang You passed away and chaos suddenly erupted in Jiaozhi, and his father, Zhang Zhuo, got involved again, what would happen then?
“Third master, third young master…”
“No need to say more. Go and rest first. I’ll set out with my men early tomorrow morning!”
Zhang Zhuo didn’t wait for the messenger to speak and simply said that. Seeing the messenger bow repeatedly in joy, he then got up and staggered out of the room. Only then did he turn to Zhang Yue. Seeing that Zhang Yue seemed not to have heard what he had just said and was walking back and forth with a furrowed brow, he stood up and stepped forward, saying, “Yue, since your second uncle is in critical condition, I have no choice but to go.”
“I understand father’s feelings,” Zhang Yue said seriously, lifting his head. “But the situation in Jiaozhi is uncertain. Even if we go, we need to be fully prepared. Father, please take more people with you. Take half of the capable men Uncle Yuan left here first!”