In the courtyard of the main house at the back of the Protector's Mansion, Zhang Yanling sat on the porch and meditated.
Xu Wanyi had just returned from a trip to her parents' home. Zhang Yi was already exhausted and fell asleep in her nanny's arms. Seeing Zhang Yanling sitting on the porch under the sunset, frowning, Xu Wanyi hurriedly stepped forward to ask.
"What's wrong, husband? You look worried."
Zhang Yanling raised his head and glanced at Xu Wanyi, stretched out his hand to pull open a round stool beside him, and motioned Xu Wanyi to sit down.
"What's wrong?" Xu Wanyi realized from Zhang Yanling's expression and movements that something had indeed happened.
Zhang Yanling hesitated to speak, not knowing whether to say something or where to start.
"Husband, if it's a major military or national matter that you can't tell me, then forget it. If it's something I can help with or relieve you of, you and I are husband and wife, so there's no need to hide it from me." Xu Wanyi said softly.
road.
Zhang Yanling sighed and looked around. Seeing that there was no one around, he whispered a few words in Xu Wanyi's ear.
Xu Wanyi's expression changed suddenly, and she said in shock: "Ah? Is there such a thing? This is incredible."
Zhang Yanling hurriedly waved her hands and said: "Don't shout randomly, no one can know about this matter."
Xu Wanyi looked horrified, sighed, and whispered: "Do you have evidence? Don't make random guesses."
Zhang Yanling whispered: "Are you confused? That's my biological sister, can I make up rumors about her? And that's the Queen Mother, am I bored?"
Xu Wanyi was stunned for a long time and said in a low voice: "What should we do? This is serious. You... have you seen someone?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "When I went there, I was stopped and stood in the middle hall for a while. When I entered, I saw a very familiar figure from behind. I didn't think of it at the time, but now... I remember it."
Xu Wanyi was even more surprised and whispered: "Do you know who it is? Who is that?"
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and said: "We can't make a conclusion at the moment. We need evidence. I have asked Zhang Zhong to come out of the palace to see me after dark. He must know. This matter has not happened in a day or two. In the autumn of last year, when I went to see the Queen Mother, the one in the corridor
The parrot said something like 'Mr. Sir'. I didn't pay attention at the time. Now that I think about it, it must be the parrot who learned how the Queen Mother speaks. The Queen Mother called that person Sir."
Xu Wanyi's mouth was half open and speechless, and she could only listen to Zhang Yanling's narration in a low voice.
"That time I saw the Queen Mother reading the Book of Songs, filling the paper with sentences from the Book of Songs. Hehe... What's the matter? There are bandit gentlemen, who are as good as cutting and polishing... There are bandit gentlemen, who are as good as gold as tin, as good as jade and jade...
...'Hey, I just thought it was just writing for fun, but now that I think about it, isn't that what it's like to be madly lovesick? Gentleman, sir, damn it."
Zhang Yanling reached out and hit the back of the chair, swearing.
Xu Wanyi is a person who has read many books, and Mao's poems are naturally familiar to him. After listening to these four sentences uttered by Zhang Yanling, I still don't know what they mean? It is the Huaichun woman expressing her love and secret love for a man.
Statements. It is definitely unusual for Her Majesty to write these.
"I also found a painting she painted, which showed the back of a man holding a folding fan. Although he could not see clearly clearly, it was definitely not the late emperor. At that time, I thought that the Queen Mother was depressed alone, so painting and reading would be very useful.
Good, it can adjust her mood. It doesn't matter what she writes or what she draws. What matters is that she is happy. But now it seems that this kind of thing has been happening since then, or even earlier." Zhang Yanling gritted her teeth and said.
"Husband, don't be anxious. This matter has not been verified yet, so don't jump to conclusions easily." Xu Wanyi consoled her.
"Hey, is this still not confirmed? Do you have to be caught by me? She is wearing a man's jade pendant, and there is a man's folding fan in the house. I deliberately asked for it, but she refused. The second sister didn't care what I asked for before.
, all taken in one sentence. How could one break it for a piece of broken jade pendant?
Are you rejecting me? That means this thing was given to her by someone else, and she regards it as a treasure. It’s such a shabby thing to give as a gift, and the gifts are all things that can be bought for a dozen or so on the street for one tael of silver. This way,
That shit can't be sincere." Zhang Yanling became angrier as he spoke and stamped his feet repeatedly.
Xu Wanyi said hurriedly: "Don't yell. Just now you said you can't be known to others, and you are yelling. Who are you?"
Zhang Yanling breathed a sigh of relief, dipped his hand in tea, wrote a name on the wooden strips on the back of the chair, and then quickly erased it.
"Ah? It's Yang... it's him? How is this possible? Isn't this a mess?" Now it was Xu Wanyi's turn to shout with pale face.
Zhang Yanling frowned and looked at the courtyard under the setting sun. There were flourishing flowers and trees there, and many flowers bloomed on the flower beds. They were very colorful and beautiful. But at this moment, he was not in the mood to appreciate it at all.
"What are you going to do about this matter? Have you made it clear to the Queen Mother? If this matter comes out, it will be terrible. The emperor will be furious. This matter may involve the Zhang family. You and
Your elder brother will be implicated." Xu Wanyi frowned and gasped.
Zhang Yanling said: "That's not what I'm worried about. After the death of the late emperor, the second sister was very depressed by herself. We couldn't accompany her all the time. How could she not be depressed when she was alone in the palace? The second sister was only thirty.
You know how hard it is to lose your husband at how young you are. If you really... have some needs, it's not a big deal. Ordinary women can remarry, but she can't. If she did something secretly, it would be reasonable.
among.”
Xu Wanyi looked at Zhang Yanling blankly and thought to herself: "What are you talking about? The Queen Mother stole someone, and you still said it was excusable? You protect your sister, but you can't talk like that."
But you can't say this with your mouth, you can only say it in your heart. Xu Wanyi knew that the relationship between the Queen Mother and her husband was very deep. It was not an ordinary brother-sister relationship, it was a mother-son relationship.
"If it's a bodyguard, a fake eunuch, that's fine. But it's him. As an important minister in the court, doesn't he know the consequences of doing this? Doesn't he know that if anyone knows about this, his reputation will be ruined?
Destroy and annihilate the nine tribes? He knew, but he still did it."
Xu Wanyi said: "Maybe... maybe it's because of love... that it's hard to control yourself?"
"Love is so far-fetched!" Zhang Yanling said angrily.
"If this matter is serious, there must be another motive. There must be another motive. There must be another motive." Zhang Yanling said a few words in succession about another motive. With each sentence he said, he became more convinced of his own judgment.
Xu Wanyi was not angry either. She had never seen Zhang Yanling so angry. Concern caused chaos. If it was not the Queen Mother's matter, how could her husband, who had always been calm and composed, be like this.
"What could he have planned?" Xu Wanyi said softly.
"That's the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother has the power to influence the political situation. If the Queen Mother wants to protect someone, she can definitely protect it. The Emperor also wants to give the Queen Mother face. By winning over the Queen Mother, you win over the power, and you can influence the political situation at critical moments.
. He also gave himself an insurance policy. His heart is abominable and his heart can be punished. He deceived the Queen Mother with false feelings and deceived the Queen Mother. This in itself deserves death." Zhang Yanling said fiercely.
Xu Wanyi thought to herself: "Maybe they really love each other." But thinking about it again, this is too ridiculous. I'm afraid it's impossible. It's a scandal for a minister and the Queen Mother to get together. What's the point of falling in love?
"Husband, don't be anxious. Why are you interrupting this matter?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and squinted and was about to speak, when he suddenly saw a figure flashing in the east corner of the room. Zhang Yanling jumped up, unsheathed the dagger in his boots, and rushed over in three or two steps. Under the cold light, the dagger was placed there.
on a person's neck.
"Ah, what are you doing?" Shiqing was stunned with shock. The tea tray she held in her hand was shaking. She was trembling with fear after being held by the dagger around her neck. The teapot and teacups rattled.
"When were you here? What did you hear?" Zhang Yanling shouted sharply.
Shi Qing was so frightened that she almost fainted and cried: "I just made tea. The young lady just bought new tea from outside. She asked me to make a pot for my uncle to drink. I just made it and brought it to you. What are you doing?"
Xu Wanyi also hurried over, and Zhang Yanling put away the dagger. Xu Wanyi hurriedly took the tea tray and comforted her in a low voice: "My uncle is joking with you, give me the things, and you can go and do your own work. Go and read the young master's letter.
Is there any more?”
Shiqing glanced at Zhang Yanling and left with weak hands and feet.
Xu Wanyi pulled Zhang Yanling back and said angrily: "What are you doing?"
Zhang Yanling said: "I'm sorry, I am indeed nervous. However, this matter must not be known to any unrelated person. As you said, once it is leaked, everyone will be in trouble. All unrelated people who know this matter,
I’m afraid I’ll have to check it out and put it on the register. I’m afraid those who are unreliable will be silenced.”
Xu Wanyi felt chills in her heart. This was the first time she had seen the ferocity of her husband. When Zhang Yanling said she was going to silence him, the muscles on her face were shaking, which was very scary.
But Xu Wanyi knew the seriousness of the matter. She comforted her in a low voice: "Husband, please don't mess around. This matter has not been leaked yet. If you are so nervous, it will arouse suspicion. The Queen Mother may have been blinded for a moment. If she knew the consequences
, it will be cut off immediately. If you don’t tell me about this, I will go to the palace to see the Queen Mother tomorrow and remind her in a subtle way. Can you say that?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and thought for a while, then shook his head and said: "No, the second sister is straightforward, but she is actually a bit stubborn. The more she is like this, the more disgusted she will be. Moreover, once a woman loses her head, she will be desperate."
Xu Wanyi nodded slightly. What Zhang Yanling said was not unreasonable. She was extremely disgusted with Zhang Yanling at first. But once she fell in love with this man, she felt that everything about him was good and she fell in love with him. She just settled down to being his wife.
, there is no one else in my eyes, and no other thoughts in my heart.
For a period of time, if I couldn't see Zhang Yanling, I would always think of him.
"Yes, women are as desperate for love as moths fly to the flame, unlike you men, who are ruthless and merciless." Xu Wanyi thought in her heart.
"Don't worry about this matter. I only told you. Ruqing and the others don't need to tell them. There are many people talking, and it is easy to cause chaos. Just understand it in your heart. I will handle this matter. If I
If I need your help, I will tell you." Zhang Yanling said.
Xu Wanyi nodded.
Zhang Yanling walked towards the vestibule, then turned around and said, "I apologize to Shiqing. She was probably really frightened just now."
Xu Wanyi smiled and said: "Don't worry. It's not the first day you've scared her. I'll go check on her later. She should be fine."
…
When it was getting dark, a figure came in from the corner door of the Protector's Mansion. Ma Quan immediately led the man to Zhang Yanling's study at the second entrance.
Zhang Yanling was sitting under the lamp, flipping through a book. When he saw the man coming in, he put down the book and stood up.
"My servant Zhang Zhong, please bow to the Lord Protector." The man knelt down and kowtowed in salute.
Zhang Yanling hurriedly stepped forward to help her and said in a deep voice: "Eunuch Zhang, please rise. How dare you accept such a great gift?"
Zhang Zhongdao: "It is right for me to kowtow to the Lord Protector. My life belongs to the Lord Protector. Kowtow is nothing."
Zhang Yanling laughed, turned to Ma Quan and said: "Go and close the courtyard door. You will personally guard the door. No one is allowed in, including you."
Ma Quan hurriedly agreed to go out, led a few servants out of the courtyard, closed the courtyard door, and stood guard at the door himself.
In the room, Zhang Yanling closed the door in the study room. When he turned around, he found Zhang Zhong standing there at a loss, looking at him.