Volume 1 In the Countryside Chapter 5: What about the agreed cancellation of the engagement?
Zhang Shou was finally a little surprised. Looking at his mother Wu's expression before, it was clear that she knew about it but had been hiding it from him, the male party, but even the other female party didn't know about it, which showed that this marriage contract was really a rip-off!
It's true that parents' orders and matchmaker's words are true, but you should at least inform your children early on!
He sighed deeply, and lay down on the straw pile with his hands under his head. "I only knew that I had a mother since I was a child, and I didn't know who my father was. I thought I would finally know my life experience, but I didn't expect it to be all in vain... Alas!"
At this moment, Zhu Ying was also desperately blaming herself for being so outspoken.
Although it was her first time meeting Zhang Shou today, whether it was the chance encounter in the field, the meeting at his home, or the unprecedented lunch she had just had, she felt that the young man in front of her did not fit her previous idea of a rustic country fiancé.
But he was not like those rich and powerful children she met in her daily social activities. They were either like peacocks showing off or superficial geese. If one really wanted to describe him... he was like a clear spring flowing through the mountains and forests! Moreover, all the rich and powerful children in the capital usually thought highly of themselves, but there was not one who was better looking than Zhang Shousheng!
So, seeing that he seemed a little depressed, she almost subconsciously said: "Don't worry, I remember all the famous people with the surname Zhang in Beijing!"
"That's great!" Zhang Shou sat up immediately. "Miss, can you tell me some famous people with the surname Zhang in the capital?"
Zhang Shou's sincere look of seeking advice naturally touched Zhu Ying. She raised her eyebrows with a smile on her face and said, "You asked the right question!"
Zhu Ying completely forgot that she held Zhang Shou hostage in order to have a few more words with him alone, hoping to get the inside story of the so-called engagement. She actually sorted out her thoughts seriously, thinking about how to explain it clearly to Zhang Shou.
"In the officialdom of the capital, the most famous one is Duke of Chu, Zhang Rui, who is as famous as my father. His second brother, Xiangyang Earl Zhang Qiong, and third brother, Wuling Marquis Zhang Mao, are also generals with outstanding military exploits. Like my father, they are all meritorious officials who followed Emperor Ruizong in building his career. Duke of Chu is almost seventy years old, and he is still stationed in Xuanfu this time, and Marquis Wuling is on duty as a guard. However, my father and Duke of Chu do not have a very harmonious relationship."
When talking about her father who was impeached after a great defeat in a war, Zhu Ying's beautiful face showed a trace of sadness: "Dad never interacted with him. However, I actually met the Duke of Chu by chance. He is actually a very kind person, but I don't know why he doesn't get along with Dad."
The listener is interested, but the speaker is not. Zhang Shou could not help but boldly imagine a possibility. Could it be that the so-called hatred was fake? The two people were actually very close to each other, but on the surface they never interacted with each other, and the henpecked Duke of Chu also entrusted his concubine and illegitimate son to someone else?
Zhu Ying didn't know that Zhang Shou, who seemed to be concentrating, was actually concentrating on his imagination, so she continued talking.
"Then there is Duke of Qin Zhang Chuan. His father Zhang Yun was an adviser to Emperor Ruizong. He was said to be a good judge of strategy and was always a must-have in Emperor Ruizong's army. He is the second generation, with average military skills and wisdom. He is more interested in compiling books than being an official. He compiled the "Records of Ruizong."
Zhang Shou continued to think as he listened. Well, most counselors worry about being abandoned after the rabbit is dead. Maybe it's because the cunning rabbit has three burrows?
"Next, there are the brothers Zhang Jingzhou, Marquis of Huaiqing, and Zhang Hanzhou, Marquis of Nanyang. My father and Duke of Chu and Duke of Qin had military positions such as commanders before, but they rose from small soldiers after Emperor Ruizong ascended the throne, fighting against the northern barbarians, suppressing the rebellion of the southern barbarians, and fighting against the Japanese pirates, and were eventually granted titles of nobility. However, one of them is greedy for money and the other is lustful. My father used to be their superior, and he always feels sorry for them when he mentions them!"
"My father once scolded them, 'Do you know that those censors are like flies. Once good meat starts to stink, they will immediately flock to it. What's more, you two pieces of rotten meat? Grandfather Ruizong is gone. Do you think it's still the same as before? If you want women, go to a brothel. If you want money, buy a boat and go to sea. If you keep making trouble, I will castrate you, Zhang Lao Da, and beat you, Zhang Lao Er, to death!'"
As she spoke, in order to further express how her father, Duke Zhao, treated the brothers, Zhu Ying actually imitated her father's tone and repeated verbatim the exact words she had overheard.
However, how could she play her own father well at that age, not to mention that she said the word "castration" without any hesitation? Zhang Shou had actually tried to hold back his laughter until his stomach hurt, but in order to maintain a good image and allow Zhu Ying to continue speaking, it was very difficult for him to hold back his laughter.
"Duke Zhao is indeed wise, for he never forgets to reflect on himself despite his achievements!"
Zhang Shou managed to suppress the urge to burst out in laughter and complimented Duke Zhao. However, seeing that Zhu Ying was suddenly distracted, he, who was now far away from the world, could not help but come up with a guess.
Seeing that Zhu Ying looked unhappy when she mentioned Duke Zhao twice, could it be that her father is in a bad condition now?
This time, he actually forgot to think about whether the Zhang brothers had any relationship with him.
But soon, Zhu Ying recovered, cheered up and continued to list the famous people with the surname Zhang in the court.
"There is also Zhang Qian, the Earl of Dingtao. He was detained during his diplomatic mission to Mongolia in the early years of Emperor Ruizong's reign. He then managed to escape back when Emperor Ruizong won a great victory, and brought back many captive people. In order to promote such heroic deeds, Emperor Ruizong conferred him the title of Earl."
"Linfen Earl Zhang Wuxi was in charge of the Yellow River flood control and water conservancy inspections in various places. In addition, he had some military merits in the beginning, so Emperor Ruizong was very generous and gave him an earldom. The court was in an uproar at that time."
"Zhang Kang, the Earl of Weinan, was given that name by Emperor Ruizong. In fact, he was originally a barbarian who surrendered, and no one remembers his real name. He was brave in battle and led the troops by example. He was seriously injured several times in order to save Emperor Ruizong..."
"And the governor Zhang Xinling..."
"There are quite a few people with the surname Zhang among the civil servants. First of all, Grand Secretary Zhang Yu is one of them. Recently, a new Hanlin Bachelor with the surname Zhang was promoted. I can't remember his name at the moment. Hmm, among the six ministers, the Minister ..."
Even though Zhang Shou had a very good memory, he couldn't help but feel his scalp tingling as he found that there were more and more people, including a familiar name.
It was no problem for him to write down these names and official positions, but the problem was, with so many people with the surname Zhang, how could he be sure of his true origins? Yes, there were too many people with the surname Zhang in the world!
Only after she finished speaking did Zhu Ying realize that she had unknowingly introduced to Zhang Shou all the people with the surname Zhang that she knew in the court. When she came to her senses, she couldn't help but feel a little annoyed. She wanted to find out more about him, but why did she become the one who talked endlessly?
Seeing that the eldest lady suddenly became dazed, Zhang Shou pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up and left without saying a word.
Zhu Ying couldn't help but feel annoyed by his behavior.
After asking her the information she wanted to know, he just left her alone. How could Zhang Shou be so ungrateful!
After a short while, Zhang Shou returned with two large leaves in his hands. He went to the pond, cleaned the leaves, rinsed them with spring water, and made two small green leaf cups with the emerald green leaves. He then poured spring water from the jar into the cups and handed them to Zhu Ying.
"Are you thirsty? Have a cup of mountain spring water to moisten your throat. Thank you for your words just now. It is really worth ten years of reading."
Zhu Ying usually lived a life surrounded by maids and servants, and she would be served attentively without even having to look at them. But in this countryside setting, she had a unique meal, and Zhang Shou brought her a cup of timely rain. She took it in a daze, and her mood suddenly improved.
It turned out that she had wronged people... After all, the people in the capital are so cunning, and people in the countryside are naturally simple and honest.
While drinking the mountain spring water, Zhang Shou thought to himself that it was the right choice to pretend to be kidnapped successfully and then coax Zhu Ying here. A picnic resolved the embarrassment of the so-called engagement and he also got a lot of information.
Now that things have been made clear, the next step is to cancel the engagement.
He was thinking this when he suddenly felt something strange. He looked up and saw Zhu Ying holding the small and unique green leaf cup, sipping like a lady while looking at him. Even though he noticed her, she just smiled at him, and was very calm and generous, without any shyness at all.
He couldn't help but laugh at this fiery gaze. At this moment, he heard Miss Zhu's clear voice: "By the way, when is your birthday?"
Zhang Shou, of course, remembered the date Wu had often mentioned, and answered casually, "August 15, the tenth year of Yongchen."
"Huh?" Zhu Ying exclaimed in surprise, "We were born on the same day, on the Mid-Autumn Festival!"
Zhang Shou looked up suddenly. He stared at Zhu Ying for a moment. He had to admit that it was indeed possible in ancient times for the elders of both sides to arrange a marriage for two children born on the same day of the same month of the same year.
However, since this body was now controlled by his new soul, he certainly had no intention of going through with this arranged marriage and just laughed.
"That's really a coincidence... Anyway, if you are worried about the engagement, I will think of a way to see if mother really has this thing hidden, steal it out and burn it. As for your family, I think you should be able to find a way when you go back, right?"
Burn the marriage certificate? How can that be possible! I haven't found out the details yet! Besides, my grandmother's personality is not the kind of person who would just insist on my father's strange marriage. There must be something fishy here, she has to investigate it herself!
At this moment, Zhu Ying completely forgot that the purpose of her trip before this was to determine the authenticity of the engagement, hoping to negotiate the terms and cancel the marriage - she did not want to marry into Lu Shangshu's family, but that did not mean she would casually fulfill the strange engagement set by her father.
"How can that be possible? A man without integrity cannot stand. If this is the case, wouldn't my family become a family without integrity?"
Zhang Shou didn't expect that he was willing to cancel the engagement, but Zhu Ying disagreed. He couldn't help but feel a little surprised.
He is a country boy. Even if he has a good-looking face, he is poor. Zhu Ying would not really fall in love with him, right?
"If Miss is afraid of people criticizing your family for being snobbish, then I will cancel the marriage, so your family won't have to bear the blame."
Oh no, oh no, oh no! It was all because she didn't know how to speak. Now she had reached a dead end!
Zhu Ying was so anxious that she was about to get angry. Suddenly, she had an idea: "How about this! Grandmother hid the marriage certificate very well and never showed me the text before. If your mother really has a marriage certificate, then I will stay and look for it with you. I want to see what is written on it. When we find it, we can burn it, right?"
Zhang Shou had never expected the plot to unfold in such a dramatic way, and was caught off guard: "You? You want to stay at my house? This is inappropriate..."
Facing Zhang Shou, who looked somewhat embarrassed for the first time, Zhu Ying smiled brightly.
"This is your home, but it's also my home. Don't forget, Zhu Gongquan said before that all these fields and houses belong to my father, and I am considered half the owner. Therefore, I have a ready-made excuse to stay here. Just think of it as me inspecting the family property for my father!"
Seeing that the beautiful young lady, who had always been very reasonable, suddenly started to argue with unreasonable arguments, Zhang Shou was speechless.
We agreed to cancel the engagement, but how come you are staying at my house? Even if I can't refuse, will your Zhu Gongquan agree?
