Chapter 65: Unreasonable Tantrums

Chapter 65: Unreasonable Tantrums

Zhu Yan had witnessed the intrigues of the Zhu family's inner court from a young age.

Her stepmother, Madam Mo, was infertile. Afterward, her uncle from the Mo family, a wealthy merchant from Huaiyang, added a considerable dowry to secure the marriage. Her father, Zhu Qingyun, a government official, married into the merchant family for financial reasons, prompting the Mo family to invest half of their fortune to maintain this official-merchant alliance.

With her immense wealth, Madam Mo secured her position as the mistress of the Zhu family and obtained the right to raise the eldest son and daughter.

Zhu Yan's birth mother, Lady Lu, entered the family later and bore three sons and three daughters, along with two children who died young. During this time, other women also entered the Zhu household, but none could secure long-term favor or bear children. Lady Lu occasionally staged scenes of tragic devotion, content to be a concubine.

The women who entered the Zhu household faded away as quickly as spring flowers, eventually disappearing without a trace.

Zhu Yan's most vivid memory was of a woman named Zhao who had briefly been favored. Pregnant at the time, she failed to carry the child to term, resulting in both her and the baby's death. This incident enraged her father, Zhu Qingyun, leading him to neglect Lady Lu for half a year. However, their relationship improved again with the birth of the third sister.

That incident also led to a downfall for Madam Mo.

Afterwards, Madam Mo and Lady Lu seemed to reach an unspoken agreement.

Together, they couldn't stop Zhu Qingyun from taking other women, but there was never another incident like with Zhao.

Apart from the Zhu family, Zhu Yan observed that in other officials' households, including the Governor of Yingzhou, having concubines seemed like a fashion of the era. The frequency of changing concubines and their backgrounds depended on the character of the main wife.

For instance, Lady Pei of the Governor of Yingzhou's household didn't accept women of good family as concubines. If the governor brought home a courtesan with musical talents, Lady Pei would enjoy the performances with him before eventually selling the woman for profit, sometimes even making money from the transaction.

If the sale resulted in a loss, Lady Pei's mood would sour.

Every time this situation arose, her stepmother, Lady Mo, would avoid the other party for a while, feigning illness at home, fearing that Lady Pei would take her back and force her into marriage with the Zhu family again.

In Lady Pei's words, "After all, your lord and our young master have played together before, so taking turns is quite good."

The first time Ah Yan heard this, her entire worldview was shattered.

In such an environment, when Ah Yan learned that Uncle Mo's family only consisted of Aunt Mo, with no concubines, it felt like a clear stream in a dark and muddy swamp, finally allowing her to breathe freely.

It was then that her cousin Mo Wangzhi caught her attention.

Aunt Mo had three sons and five daughters, with Mo Wangzhi being the youngest son, two years older than her. The Mo family, wishing for him to pursue an academic and official career, not only adopted him out to shed the merchant status but also frequently had him study at the Zhu household.

Ah Yan, using her inherent wisdom, had been cultivating relationships with those around her from a young age.

She was very much doted on in her family.

Thus, her younger sister, ever since she became aware, not only felt that their father and both mothers favored Ah Yan, but even her twin brother, Zhu Jin, born with her as twins, also seemed to favor Ah Yan, which she always resented.

But Ah Yan never took these to heart.

After Mo Wangzhi came to the Zhu family, he had always been obedient and followed Ah Yan around. Seeing his good nature and willingness to learn, Ah Yan thought of nurturing him as her future husband.

At fifteen, having reached the age of maturity, Ah Yan persuaded her stepmother, and they became engaged.

Due to her insistence, they planned to marry when she turned eighteen.

However, when Ah Yan was sixteen, Zhu Qingyun encountered a fortune-telling Taoist who came to read the family's fortunes. Zhu Qingyun, as if possessed, believed the Taoist's words that she had the grace of a mother figure. Thus, he quickly called off her engagement with Mo Wangzhi, coinciding with the court's selection of consorts in Yingzhou. He promptly reported her name.

By the time Ah Yan knew about it, it was already too late.

Before entering the palace, Zhu Yan had not seen Mo Wangzhi again. Unexpectedly, they would reunite in such a place.

As Su Yiquan and Zhu Yan left the tavern, he noticed the young man following them. In Shanzhou, he didn’t act rashly, but if this had been outside the city, he would have had the man seized and interrogated for such sneaky behavior.

It was only when the calling started and Zhu Yan turned around, her face showing shock at seeing the person, that Su Yiquan became alert.

Frowning, Su Yiquan saw the clean-shaven young man approach quickly and was about to intervene when he heard the sound of galloping horses. Looking up, he saw the Emperor Dog riding towards them, quickly pulling up his horse in a cloud of dust.

"Do you two know each other?"

The Emperor Dog positioned his horse between Zhu Yan and Mo Wangzhi, looking back and forth at them.

After a moment of thought, Zhu Yan honestly replied, "He's my cousin from my mother's side." She didn’t elaborate, knowing the Emperor Dog had likely thoroughly investigated her family.

"The city gates are about to close. Let's go together," the Emperor Dog suggested, giving Mo Wangzhi a deliberate glance.

"No, he has business to attend to here."

Zhu Yan quickly declined, knowing Mo Wangzhi was likely in Shanzhou for the Mo family's trade. Hearing about the Mo family's extensive business, she guessed he had stopped pursuing his studies to engage in trade.

"You haven't even spoken a word, yet you know he's busy," the Emperor Dog said with a meaningful smile at Zhu Yan, then turned to Mo Wangzhi, "It's rare for old friends to meet. Would you like to join us?"

"Yes."

Hearing Mo Wangzhi agree, Zhu Yan inwardly sighed, thinking him a fool.

The Emperor Dog didn’t look at Zhu Yan again but ordered a horse for Mo Wangzhi. He then thanked the horse market owner Tie Liza with a bow, "Thank you. We part here."

"No need, no need. I hope to see you again, big brother," Tie Liza replied, his Mandarin still quite broken.

"We'll meet again," the Emperor Dog said casually yet with certainty. Looking back at Shanzhou city bathed in the slanting rays of the setting sun, casting a bloody hue over the city teeming with Huihe and barbarians, he turned and rode out of the east city gate with his party.

Once outside the city, Zhang Zhi felt a weight lift off his shoulders, nearly ready to shout with joy. Having safely exited Shanzhou, this part of the mission was largely accomplished, and he consciously avoided thinking about the harrowing experience in the animal fight arena.

Riding up to the Emperor, Zhang Zhi suggested, "Ninth Son, it's getting late. We should find a place to rest. I know of a lodge about thirty miles ahead where I often stayed while traveling."

"You handle the arrangements," the Emperor Dog nodded in agreement.

Led by Zhang Zhi, they reached Chen Zhuang as dusk fell.

Zhang Zhi and Lü Yu negotiated with the head of the lodge for food and accommodations.

Dismounting, the Emperor Dog turned to see Mo Wangzhi at the end of the line, looking pale after dismounting. The Emperor Dog signaled Su Yiquan with a glance and walked toward Mo Wangzhi.

Zhu Yan intended to follow but stopped as she saw Su Yiquan standing in front of her, clearly blocking her path.

"Let's talk over there," the Emperor Dog said with a smile, pointing towards a nearby bamboo grove.

Mo Wangzhi, gasping for breath, agreed. He remembered that Yuan Yuan had entered the palace. Yet, here in the land of barbarians and Huihe, why was she with this imposing man?

In the moonlight, the Emperor Dog scrutinized Mo Wangzhi, having heard his name before. The man looked decent enough. "Have you come of age yet?"

"I am twenty-two years old."

"Then why no beard? Trying to look younger on purpose?" the Emperor Dog was displeased. In their culture, adult men were expected to grow beards, with only eunuchs or minors being clean-shaven.

Mo Wangzhi's face flushed red. "Yuan Yuan doesn’t like beards on gentlemen, says it makes them look older."

"Yuan Yuan is Zhu Yan?" the Emperor Dog asked.

"Yes."

Realizing 'Yuan Yuan' was likely a pet name, the Emperor Dog chastised, "Grow up, will you? Stop with the 'Yuan Yuan'. Call her either Lady Zhu or Consort Zhu."

Mo Wangzhi widened his eyes in shock, "You are..." Slowly realizing who he was talking to, but how could it be? They weren't in Dayu's territory. A son of wealth does not sit under a falling roof – why was he here in such a place?

The Emperor Dog was surprised, narrowing his eyes. He had thought the other person had already guessed his identity. He called out to Su Yiquan, "Tie him up, gag him, and later have two men escort him back to Lanzhou overnight. We'll deal with the rest when I return to Lanzhou."

Mo Wangzhi was about to kneel when he heard this. He froze, only to see a towering figure approach, followed by two others, leaving him no chance to resist.

Zhu Yan was startled and ran up to the Emperor Dog, frowning in question, "What are you doing?"

"Why the rush? Some things shouldn't be ruined by a fool."

"Wangzhi wouldn't..."

"Shut up," the Emperor Dog snapped, his face cold, "Don’t worry, I have no interest in his life." A fool so weak, he's beneath my concern, but I can't let him spoil my plans tonight.

"We’re returning to Lanzhou tomorrow morning. Why the hurry tonight? I assure you, Wangzhi won’t ruin anything."

"How can you assure that?"

The Emperor Dog scoffed and stared at Zhu Yan, hands on hips, "You haven't seen each other for at least five years. In five years, a lot changes, including people. You've always been blind and naive."

Seeing the Emperor Dog suddenly becoming irrationally angry, Zhu Yan’s expression changed, "There’s no need to bind him like that. Rest assured, Wangzhi is not a troublemaker."

"Wangzhi, Wangzhi, you're like calling a dog. Do you really understand him that well?"

Hearing this, Zhu Yan was infuriated, never having found the Emperor Dog so unreasonable. She blurted out, "Of course, I understand him. He often stayed at our house. We've known each other for sixteen years."

The Emperor Dog's expression turned extremely dark. He turned to Su Yiquan, who had already tied up Mo Wangzhi, "What are you waiting for? Take him away now."

"As you command."

Just as Su Yiquan responded, Zhu Yan immediately said, "Fine, I'll go back to Lanzhou with him right now."

"You dare?" The Emperor Dog grabbed Zhu Yan, his teeth clenched, and ordered Su Yiquan, "Untie him, find a room, and have four men guard him tightly tonight."

Finished, he stared at Zhu Yan, "Are you satisfied now?"

The Emperor Dog suddenly relented, leaving Zhu Yan baffled. Her anger dissipated, feeling somewhat unreasonable in retrospect, especially since they were still on the way back. After the long horse ride, she realized that besides Mo Wangzhi, there was an extra person in their group.

Author's note:

Today's update, kisses~~~