Chapter 121

Chapter 121

Thanks to Han Zhang's popularity and Kang Zhanxun's status,

the family recognition banquet held by the Han family in the village attracted quite a few students from the Imperial Academy, as well as stewards sent by meritorious nobles and officials close to the Dingbei Marquis's household to deliver gifts.

The latter did not attend in person, only sending their stewards—not as a snub.

Rather, it was because they had no dealings with the Han family, and no matter how special Xiang Lian's position in the Marquis's household was, her official status was still that of a concubine. For the legitimate wives of these households to attend in person would have been a slap in the face to every legitimate wife.

So sending gifts to show goodwill sufficed. After all, the Dingbei Marquis's household was currently in decline and didn't have that kind of clout to demand that everyone disregard propriety to curry favor.

As for the Shen family, since they were related to the Han family by marriage, both of Shen's parents came in person.

As expected, Shen Huaizhi and Pan Taining, who had come along with them, wore looks of pent-up frustration and defiance when they saw Kang Zhanxun.

They never imagined that Xiang Lian would turn out to be Han Zhang's own aunt.

After all that running around in circles, they were still being outdone by this sworn enemy—and by a generational gap in seniority they could never catch up to. Who could they even complain to about this?

But soon, the four young dandies figured it out.

Being the elder had its perks, but being the younger had its benefits too.

For instance... when an elder meets a junior, shouldn't they give a meeting gift as a token of goodwill?

So the four of them decisively swarmed forward, launching into full robbery mode: "Godfather above, hand over the horse ranch!"

The horse ranch was Kang Zhanxun's pride and joy—no way in hell was he giving that up.

"Rebellious brats, how dare you covet your old man's horse ranch! Watch me teach you a lesson!"

Kang Zhanxun executed a single move—the Hidden Dragon Flip—and floored all four little pushovers.

The outcome was never in doubt.

Shen Huaizhi and the others refused to accept defeat, rolling on the ground and wailing dramatically: "This is outrageous! Where is Brother Han? Quick, close the door and unleash Brother Han!"

Han Zhang: "..."

These damn fools.

However, Shen's father watched his son hitting it off so well with Kang Zhanxun and felt deeply gratified and pleased.

Although the Dingbei Marquis's household was now in decline, the two generations of Dingbei Marquises had earned brilliant military achievements, and the connections and prestige they had accumulated over the years were nothing to sneeze at. Getting in good with them would definitely pay off big for the Shen family.

But what pleased Shen's father most was the Han family.

Not only did the Han family know how to handle themselves, not only had they raised a grandson with such a promising future as Han Zhang, but even their daughter who had been lost had managed to marry into the Marquis's household.

That kind of fortune really made one sigh in admiration.

Shen's father couldn't help but sigh to Shen's mother: "They say fortune favors fools. Our Lan Ge'er really does seem to have some luck on his side..."

"Of course! When Lan Ge'er was born, the master who happened to pass by said he was born under a lucky star. The fortunate naturally belong in fortunate households. The fact that his engagements kept falling through before only means those who were betrothed to our Lan Ge'er just weren't lucky enough!"

Shen's mother had some serious rose-colored glasses when it came to her own son, and she said this with utter confidence and without a hint of shame.

She also had absolute faith in the master who had read her child's fortune.

Shen's father: ...That master said the same thing to every family that had a newborn!

"Fine, whatever makes you happy, dear."

Shen's father sighed helplessly.

Oh well, his wife might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but a wife like this was easier to get along with. How can you have it all in this world? You can't be too greedy.

The family recognition banquet wrapped up perfectly.

And with this connection to the Dingbei Marquis's household, Han Zhang found his life at the Imperial Academy even smoother sailing.

After all, Kang Zhanxun's former reputation as the Little Tyrant at the Academy wasn't for nothing. Now that the Dingbei Marquis's household had handed over their military authority—just as the Emperor was showing them favor—no one would dare challenge Kang Zhanxun right now.

With such a godfather protecting him, plus the Crown Prince's appreciation, and Han Zhang's own smooth way of handling things, everyone was more than happy to befriend him and keep up relations.

Especially Jiang Wencheng, whose father was the Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince—a complete loyalist of the Crown Prince's faction.

Under his father's and the Crown Prince's instructions, and also because of An Ge'er, he had been drawing closer to Han Zhang recently.

And so, because Shen Qinglan, worn out from days of busy work on the Fifth Aunt's affairs, planned to go on an outing with Han Zhang to the outskirts, they sent word to invite An Ge'er and his husband, and Jiang Wencheng readily agreed to join.

Another monthly rest day arrived.

The two couples shared a carriage toward Beauty Mountain on the outskirts of the capital.

Inside the carriage,

An Ge'er looked relaxed: "Lan Ge'er, thank goodness you sent the invitation to our house, otherwise I don't know when I'd get another chance to get out and stretch my legs. Recently, Mother-in-law has had a physician come to help me get my health in order, and apart from banquets, I haven't had a chance to go out. I'm bored to death."

Shen Qinglan nodded in agreement: "Same here. These past days I've been helping tally congratulatory gifts and manage the banquet arrangements—I'm worn to a frazzle. Today I really need to get some fresh air."

Both of them were fun-loving by nature, and recently one had been busy preparing for pregnancy while the other was worn out by household affairs—they truly had been cooped up too long.

Han Zhang and Jiang Wencheng watched their respective husbands getting ready to cut loose and couldn't help but chuckle.

Han Zhang took Shen Qinglan's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze, smiling: "I know you've worked hard these days. Today I'll make sure you play to your heart's content. I made sure to have your favorite snacks prepared. When we get to the pavilion on the mountain, we can enjoy the view while we eat."

Jiang Wencheng also put his arm around An Ge'er's shoulder and said warmly: "I'll talk to Mother about the child matter. Whatever she says, just listen and don't take it to heart."

"It's rare to get out. The osmanthus forest on Beauty Mountain is at its finest right now—we should take a good look. I heard that Imperial Consort Rong of Emperor Taizong once danced in the osmanthus grove on this mountain and captivated everyone with her beauty, which is how the mountain got its name 'Beauty Mountain'..."

Imperial Consort Rong of Emperor Taizong was famously a breathtaking beauty whose reputation had endured for many years.

Hearing this, Shen Qinglan and An Ge'er became animated with excitement—after all, young ladies and lads alike all pursued beauty.

Shen Qinglan was full of longing: "I heard that when Consort Rong danced back then, she attracted a swarm of butterflies—even they were captivated by her beauty... I wonder what kind of celestial grace she must have possessed."

An Ge'er also rested his chin on his hand and sighed: "Yes, I think Qinglan is already beautiful enough. Just how stunning must Consort Rong have been to attract butterflies? Could she have been a goddess descended to earth?"

"Even if she wasn't a goddess, she was comparable to one. I heard that countless scholars and poets composed verses praising her, saying she had the appearance of the Luo River Goddess..."

Shen Qinglan was green with envy—he wished someone would write poems praising his looks too!

Han Zhang chuckled softly upon hearing this and immediately indulged his young husband, reciting: "Clouds yearn for her robe, flowers for her face; spring breeze brushes the railing, dew glistens thick. If not seen atop the jade mountain, then met beneath the moon on jasper terrace..."

After reciting, he gazed at Shen Qinglan with deep affection: "In my heart, no matter how beautiful Consort Rong was, she cannot compare to even half of my husband's beauty."

When the Immortal Poet's ode to beauty was recited, who in this world could rival it?

Jiang Wencheng immediately clapped his hands in admiration: "Brother Han, what a way with words!"

Since he wasn't showing off in any formal setting, Han Zhang shamelessly gazed deeply at Shen Qinglan and whispered sweet nothings: "It's not literary skill, truly just a heartfelt feeling upon seeing my husband."

Though it was cheesy, oily, and mushy, Shen Qinglan, being a hopeless romantic, ate it up.

Shen Qinglan instantly blushed, shyly burying his face in Han Zhang's chest, his voice joyful and bashful: "Husband, you're such a tease."

Seeing this, An Ge'er also looked at Jiang Wencheng with pleading eyes, drawling: "Husband—"

Jiang Wencheng: "..."

Brother Han, you've set the bar way too high for the rest of us husbands!

Not wanting to go home and be scolded by his own husband, Jiang Wencheng racked his brain to compose a poem for him as well, speaking with tender affection:

"Dimples swirl like wind-rippled water, clouds at your temples make the moon shy away. Starlight in your eyes swallows the universe—I've wandered into the moon palace by mistake... My husband is to me a breathtaking beauty of the mortal world, a guest of the moon palace. In this life, aside from you, all else is but rouge and bleached bones."

That finally satisfied An Ge'er, who hugged his husband and beamed with joy.

Seeing that the two young lads were interested in Consort Rong, Han Zhang saw how keen they were on "attracting butterflies" and smiled: "Actually, attracting butterflies doesn't necessarily require stunning looks—ordinary people can do it too."

"Really? Husband, I want to attract butterflies too!"

Shen Qinglan's admiration for Han Zhang was a thousand layers deep, and he didn't doubt it for a moment, immediately tugging at him excitedly, begging.

An Ge'er and Jiang Wencheng were skeptical but couldn't contain their curiosity: "Brother Han, is that true?"

"True or not, we'll see soon enough."

Han Zhang didn't say more, giving a mysterious smile, then told the servant outside the carriage: "Bring the rice paper and the needle and thread from the trunk..."

The rice paper was for painting whenever the mood struck;

The needle and thread were for emergency repairs, since clothes could easily snag on things during outings in the wild, in case they ran out of spare garments.

Under the curious gazes of Shen Qinglan and the others, Han Zhang cut the white rice paper into butterfly shapes, strung them together with thread, and then wove flower branches into a bracelet resembling a "Consort Xiang headdress."

Once they arrived at Beauty Mountain and found a flower grove swarming with butterflies,

Han Zhang had the two young lads put on the bracelets: "Go ahead, just spin around in the flower grove and let the paper butterflies on the bracelets flutter."

Shen Qinglan and An Ge'er didn't get it, but obediently did as they were told.

And then...

To everyone's astonishment, as the paper butterflies swayed, the real butterflies around them seemed to answer a call, swirling and dancing around the two.

"Husband, look! The butterflies really came!" Shen Qinglan exclaimed in surprise and delight, his voice as crisp as a bell.

An Ge'er was equally thrilled: "Husband, we're making fish sink and butterflies drop—that counts, right?"

This little butterfly-attracting game absolutely delighted the two young lads.

Jiang Wencheng: "..."

Brother Han, you can't just crank up the difficulty like this!

How am I supposed to sweet-talk my husband after this?

Still, Jiang Wencheng was just as curious: "Brother Han, how did you do it? Can people really attract butterflies?"

It was truly miraculous.

Not far away,

Several other finely dressed husbands and wives, who had also come for an outing, pricked up their ears, equally curious.