The sun sets in the west. The spring scenery is in full bloom in the back garden of Guogong Mansion.
On the west side of the back garden, a tall jujube tree has leaves whirling and swaying in the wind.
The jujube flowers have passed their flowering period. When the evening wind blows, the flowers fall like rain, rustling down and falling on the shoulders of the man standing under the tree. His hair and clothes are covered with white petals.
Zhang Yanling has been standing here for a long time. After entering the palace in the afternoon, he came to the back garden and stood here in deep thought, not knowing what he was thinking.
Three days had passed since the incident in Jingren Palace. Zhang Yanling went to visit Empress Dowager Zhang the next day, but she was rejected by Empress Dowager Zhang. For three consecutive days, Zhang Yanling went to visit her, but Empress Dowager Zhang refused to see her.
This afternoon, Zhang Yanling still did not see Empress Dowager Zhang. Even though he stood in the front yard of Yanxi Palace for a long time, Empress Dowager Zhang still did not allow him to enter. Zhang Zhong went in to persuade him, but Empress Dowager Zhang slapped him twice.
Finally, the Queen Mother ordered someone to give Zhang Yanling a piece of brocade and tell her that everything was fine with her and that she didn't need to see her anymore and could just go about her own business.
Others don't know what it means, but Zhang Yanling understands it. It means "break", which means decisiveness. The Queen Mother told Zhang Yanling that the relationship between them as sister and brother was over.
Zhang Yanling came back with the satin in her hands, then went to the back garden and stayed alone, like a wooden man.
Xu Wanyi walked up the path with lush flowers and trees holding a pot of tea, came to Zhang Yanling's side, sighed and put down the tea tray, stepped forward and used her sleeves to gently brush Zhang Yanling's hair and clothes from the jujube stains.
petal.
Zhang Yanling looked away, frowning, clenching his fists, and seemed to be gritting his teeth.
"Sir, please sit down and have a sip of tea. You have been standing for a long time. The Queen Mother...may be angry, but she will be fine after a while. You don't have to worry," Xu Wanyi said softly.
Zhang Yanling frowned, not sure whether he was talking to himself or to Xu Wanyi.
"Did I do something wrong? The love between brother and sister is not worth this evil fate? The second sister is not an ignorant person. Even if she knew that it was me, she should also understand that this was what I had to do. Couldn't I
Should we do this?”
Xu Wanyi was silent for a moment and said softly: "Husband, don't think too much. The Queen Mother will understand your painstaking efforts. You are not harming her, but saving her."
Zhang Yanling turned around and looked at Xu Wanyi and said: "Wanyi, tell me if I did something wrong. I will solve this matter with thunderous means and kill those who know about it without leaving any further trouble. Let Zhang Yongqing purge the palace.
Outsiders are prohibited from entering at will. Did I do something wrong?"
Xu Wanyi smiled and said: "My husband is right, but... you are a bit cruel. Maybe... clarifying with the Queen Mother and being reasonable is the best way."
Zhang Yanling frowned and said: "Be reasonable? You can indeed be reasonable with the Queen Mother. But what about those insiders? Can they also be reasonable? Only dead people can't speak. Can those people around her be trusted? If such a scandal is in the hands of others, once it is in the hands of others,
Because of the coercion of others, the Queen Mother, my Zhang family, and even your Dingguo Palace. Everyone around us will be destroyed. How can I be soft on such a big matter?"
Xu Wanyi said awkwardly: "Hey, I'm a womanizer and don't understand the importance of things. Don't be angry. That's what I said. I don't blame you."
Zhang Yanling sighed and slowly sat on the bluestone under the tree. Xu Wanyi sat down next to him and poured a cup of tea for him.
Zhang Yanling took the tea and took a sip, and said in a deep voice: "I am not a wolf-hearted person. My second sister treats me like a mother, and I would die for her. I, Zhang Yanling, am what I am today, and my Zhang family is what it is today. In the final analysis, it is her contribution."
If the second sister hadn't married the late emperor, how could our Zhang family be where we are today? How could I hurt her heart?"
Xu Wanyi thought: "That's not necessarily the case. With your ability, you may not be able to accomplish anything."
Zhang Yanling continued: "I don't want to do this at all. For an ordinary woman, it would be extremely ordinary for an ordinary woman to find herself alone in an empty house after her husband dies, to get married and find a good partner. If we are just an ordinary family, the second sister
Even if she doesn’t look for her, I will advise her to think about it for the rest of her life. Will I stop her?"
Xu Wanyi nodded and said softly: "Yes, it is really difficult for a middle-aged woman who has lost her husband. Those outside said that chastity is the most important thing. They set up memorial arches for women and are not allowed to remarry. This is an act that destroys human relations. However,
She is the Queen Mother."
Zhang Yanling said: "This is the point. She is the Queen Mother, not an ordinary woman. When others take advantage of her identity, she rushes to them like a moth to a flame. How can this happen? Yang Ting and that bitch obviously have ulterior motives.
He has a purpose. The second sister should know it in her heart. Can't you understand this? I can't understand it."
"The Queen Mother will figure it out. Time will help her calm down. This matter will pass soon, so you don't have to worry too much. Ruqing and I will go to the palace to see her in a few days. You don't have to worry about her." Xu Wanyi
road.
Zhang Yanling thought for a while and said in a deep voice: "Maybe I should solve Yang Tinghe without leaving any future troubles. Otherwise, I'm afraid this matter will never be over."
Xu Wanyi was startled and said hurriedly: "Absolutely not, he is the chief minister of the cabinet. If you kill him, what will happen? It will definitely cause an uproar. Besides, if you do this, the Queen Mother will probably...
...hate you forever."
"Hate me forever?" Zhang Yanling glared at Xu Wanyi.
"Yes, the Queen Mother obviously likes Yang Shoufu very much, otherwise she would not be so confused that she would do such a thing. It is because she can't help herself. If you kill Yang Tinghe, won't you have to be hated by her for the rest of your life? I believe it.
I, I am a woman, and I know what women think. Perhaps the Queen Mother is grateful that you did not embarrass that person." Xu Wanyi whispered.
"I want her to be grateful to me for this? To be grateful to me for a thief?" Zhang Yanling jumped up.
"Don't yell, don't yell. Husband, listen to me. If nothing else, for the sake of your brother-sister relationship, don't completely break up the relationship between brother and sister. Who is Yang Tinghe? He is just a despicable and shameless person.
.But, you
How can the relationship between brother and sister with the Queen Mother be broken because of him? You killed Yang Tinghe, not to mention the consequences. I am afraid it will be difficult to repair the relationship between you and the Queen Mother. This is what you value, isn't it? "Xu
Wanyi said softly.
The bulging veins on Zhang Yanling's neck slowly recovered, and she let out a long sigh.
"You're right. Rats should be avoided. Just because of Yang Ting and this rat, the sibling relationship between my second sister and I cannot be ruined. What I cherish is not power, status, fame and fortune, but the relatives around me. Late
I mean, it’s not just the second sister, you are the same. Everything I do is to protect the people around me and myself. If I violate this original intention, then all achievements will lose their meaning." Zhang Yanling said softly.
"I know, we all know. That's why you are so tired. You are burdened with too many things. Things about your family and country, as well as your lofty ambitions. You have many big things to do, so you don't have to worry about this. Now
You have also dealt with all the people who know the truth and cannot be trusted. That person
There is no chance for you and the Queen Mother to meet again. You should also let this matter go. As for the Queen Mother, time will heal everything. Maybe one day, she will wake up and feel that what she did before was ridiculous.
The grudge will be solved easily." Xu Wanyi said softly.
Zhang Yanling nodded. He indeed had a lot to do. He was going to Yegouling to supervise the acceleration of the casting of cannons and the manufacture of cannon shells and other firearms. The various affairs of the Municipal Shipping Department's Yamen needed to be advanced. The deployment and equipment of the navy's troops and horses needed to be promoted.
Proceed quickly. Relevant proposals to encourage mulberry farming and various workshops must be approved and implemented, and preparations must be made for what will happen after the waterway is opened.
More importantly, he had to make plans for the upcoming expedition. He had to collect charts, plan routes, and do tactical thinking and drills for the naval battle with the Folangji.
He had too many things to do, and he had no time to dwell on this matter. Although the Queen Mother's matter made him depressed, fortunately it did not lead to uncontrollable consequences. He was strangled by himself before it worsened.
Even if the method is a bit rough, it doesn't take much care.
Many people may be innocent, but sometimes they have to become victims. Perhaps in the past, Zhang Yanling would have thought this idea was absurd. But the longer he stayed in this era, the more he realized how human lives are like ants.
If we say that some innocent people are sacrificed for the benefit of more people, maybe it is natural. It is said that everyone's life is precious. With the heart of the so-called Holy Mother, we look at it in a narrow sense.
Looking at the development of the times and looking at the torrent of history, it is obviously ridiculous.
Real life and real history are cruel and ruthless, with flesh and blood everywhere.
[Author's digression]: I have something to do in the countryside today, so I can't write until I get back. It may be very late, I hope you know.