Chapter 123

Chapter 123

Tang Fujun's comparison of Han Zhang to the male consorts in Chang Gongjun Jiayou's household was, of course, not well-intentioned.

What were male consorts in those days?

Simply put, they were "male concubines" who traded on their looks.

Han Zhang was a scholar with official rank, studying at the Imperial Academy—how could he be compared to the likes of them!

However, Tang Fujun did it deliberately—and even more, Chang Gongjun Jiayou's presence here today was his doing.

And behind his actions, of course, someone was pulling the strings.

And that someone was none other than the Fifth Prince!

Back during the Imperial Academy's mounted archery exam, Shen Qinglan had clashed with the Fifth Prince's cousin, sparking a feud between them. (Refer to Chapter 107~)

Because Han Zhang had aligned himself with the Crown Prince, the Fifth Prince couldn't touch him for now, so he swallowed his anger and bided his time.

Recently, Fifth Aunt's true identity was exposed, giving Han Zhang the added backing of the Dingbei Marquis household. The Fifth Prince, still nursing his grudge, could no longer sit idle and set his sights on Chang Gongjun Jiayou.

Chang Gongjun Jiayou was also born of the Empress, born of the same mother as the Crown Prince.

Years ago, he was gravely injured saving the Crown Prince, which damaged his health and left him unable to father children.

This left the Crown Prince and Empress feeling deeply guilty toward him, spoiling and doting on him greatly. As a result, he grew increasingly extreme and violent in temperament.

Not only did he brutally kill his unfaithful consort, but he also openly kept male consorts, sending people far and wide to find handsome men to fill his household for daily amusement.

Such reckless indulgence was tolerated given his circumstances—the Crown Prince and Empress chose to shield him.

Even Emperor Taixuan felt that an imperial prince keeping a few male consorts for amusement was no big deal, and chose to turn a blind eye.

And that was exactly what the Fifth Prince was counting on!

If Chang Gongjun Jiayou set his sights on Han Zhang...

Then whether Han Zhang bowed to power and became Chang Gongjun's intimate companion,

Or stood proud and refused the imperial favor—either way, there was advantage to be gained and intrigue to be stirred.

As for whether Chang Gongjun Jiayou might not take a liking to Han Zhang?

Or, even if interested, might hold back because Han Zhang already had a spouse?

The former was impossible, because Han Zhang was truly striking, far more handsome than the bunch of male consorts in Chang Gongjun's household. A lover of beauty like Chang Gongjun Jiayou could never overlook him.

As for the latter... the Fifth Prince wouldn't stand for it.

Because he had planted plenty of scheming sycophants like Tang Fujun around Chang Gongjun Jiayou!

And it worked.

The beauty trap was indeed a masterstroke of a plan.

Though he vaguely sensed that Tang Fujun's line of talk was off, Chang Gongjun Jiayou was nonetheless deeply intrigued by Han Zhang's striking looks and his devotion to his husband.

However, having been raised in the imperial palace,

Even if his interest was piqued, Chang Gongjun Jiayou wouldn't act as recklessly as Zheng Yufu had back then—charging in boldly to pick a fight and snatch someone away over a few instigating words.

"A gentleman favored by my imperial brother—how could he be compared to those playthings in my household who serve with their bodies? Tang Fujun, you... seem to have said a bit too much today."

Chang Gongjun Jiayou cast a casual glance at the man beside him. His voice wasn't harsh, yet the oppressive weight of someone long used to wielding power over life and death instantly drained the color from Tang Fujun's face.

Cold sweat broke out on him instantly. He scrambled to his knees, pressing his forehead to the ground: "Please forgive me, Your Highness! Forgive me! This humble one was foolish and misspoke, offending Your Highness's ears. I beg Your Highness's mercy..."

The dull thuds of his kowtows echoed as his forehead hit the soft earth, and after just a few bows, his forehead was already bloody.

Yet even so, Chang Gongjun Jiayou showed no sign of letting it go, and continued his order: "Noisy. Drag him away, cut out his tongue, and let him know the price of scheming against me."

"No! Please, Your Highness, show mercy! Your Highness, this humble one truly spoke carelessly, with no ill intent, Your Highness... mmph..."

Tang Fujun cried out in panic, but the guards quickly gagged him and dragged him away.

The guards moved swiftly. There were plenty of people around enjoying the spring outing, and the noise and occasional clamor were nothing unusual.

Han Zhang and the others were deep in conversation, and though they heard some commotion, they paid it no mind.

Chang Gongjun Jiayou stood in place, watching Han Zhang make Shen Qinglan laugh, watching Han Zhang grill meat for Shen Qinglan, and the tender, doting look on Han Zhang's face when Shen Qinglan acted spoiled with him...

A flicker of predatory desire flashed through his eyes, but thinking of his brother's grand plans, he pushed the thought aside for now.

"Enough, he's just a man after all... Let's go, back to the residence."

...

On the other side.

Because there were many people around enjoying the outing, the noise was normal.

Han Zhang and the others were thoroughly engaged in their conversation, so they paid no attention to Chang Gongjun Jiayou's party nearby.

After finishing the grilled meat and strolling around to enjoy the scenery, Han Zhang and Jiang Wencheng laid out paper and ink, painting portraits of their husbands enjoying the view. As dusk fell, they packed up and headed down the mountain for home.

On the way back.

Shen Qinglan and An Ge'er clutched the portraits their husbands had painted for them, overjoyed.

Before they even got home, Shen Qinglan was already planning the next outing.

"Husband, in a few days the river delicacies will be at their finest. Next time you have a day off, shall we go to the estate to catch fish and eat? I'll bring plenty of extra clothes to change into, and you can paint me more pictures—okay?"

He tugged at Han Zhang's sleeve, coaxing softly as he spoke.

What could Han Zhang do? Agree, of course.

With such an adorable, spoiled little husband, even if he asked for the moon in the sky, Han Zhang would find a way to fetch it for him.

Han Zhang smiled like a lovesick tyrant utterly bewitched: "Alright, alright, whatever you say. I'll paint to my heart's content for you then."

"Husband, you're the best!"

Shen Qinglan got his wish, beaming with a radiant smile, having Han Zhang completely wrapped around his finger.

An Ge'er watched from the side, eyes sparkling: Noted, noted.

Jiang Wencheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly. The Crown Prince still suspected that Brother Han's feelings for his spouse were superficial, but after spending the day together, he felt that Brother Han's devotion to Lan Geer was truly profound.

The way he doted on and spoiled him was enough to make even someone like Jiang Wencheng, who prided himself on being deeply devoted, cringe.

Brother Han sure was a man of deep feelings!

Just as they were in the middle of chatting and laughing, the carriage suddenly came to a halt.

"Creak—" The harsh screech of the wheels cut through the air, followed by a wave of crying and shouting from outside the window.

"What's all the noise out there?" Han Zhang asked as he lifted the curtain to look.

The driver quickly wiped his sweat and answered, "Master, it's officials passing by with prisoners..."

On the road not far ahead, a prisoner cart rolled along, surrounded by soldiers.

Inside the cart were villagers with all kinds of deformities—some with boxy heads, some with chests sticking out like chicken breasts, some with swollen limbs, and some with bellies swollen like frog bellies... in short, they all looked seriously messed up.

The villagers were a mix of old and young.

They huddled in the cart, crying out in terror: "Please spare us, officers! We're not monsters, don't burn us..."

But the soldiers paid them no heed, all covering their faces with cloth like they were avoiding the plague, and viciously smacked the withered hands reaching through the bars with the flat of their blades: "Pull your hands back! Reach out again and we'll chop 'em off!"

"When an entire village looks like this, they're either monsters or possessed by evil spirits!"

"The high monk said your sins are so heavy that heaven sent demons to possess you. You've got to be burned to stop the disaster!"

Amid the soldiers' threats and yelling, the villagers didn't dare beg anymore, huddling in the cart, wailing in despair.

Behind them, villagers from other villages followed in small groups, pointing and whispering to each other.

Han Zhang and the others got out of the carriage and stopped a kind-looking farm woman to inquire: "Auntie, do you know what's up with those people in the prisoner cart?"

The woman loved to gossip, and getting stopped for a question got her all excited as she shared what she knew.

"Oh, young sirs, you've come to the right person!"

"Those people in the cart are villagers from Xiaohe Village. That village is poor and out of the way, never dealing with outsiders, and really closed off—they wouldn't even let tax collectors in, only bringing their grain and people to the village gate..."

"Over time, the nearby villagers found them hard to deal with and just left them alone. But this year, the government encouraged everyone to open up new land, and that means measuring out new fields."

"The day before yesterday, the land surveyors insisted on going in—and when they did—"

She lowered her voice, clutching her chest, still scared, "they found out it wasn't that they kept to themselves at all! The whole village was full of monsters who didn't dare show their faces!"

"You saw it yourselves, young sirs—one or two people looking weird is bad luck, but when the whole village, young and old, looks like that... they're either possessed by demons or cursed by the heavens!"