Volume 1 In the Countryside Chapter 54: Green Lotus Gauze Dress, Benefits Are Shared
Facts have proved that Zhang Shou was the only one whose bad words worked. Although Zhu Ying and Yang Laoguan kept saying that they hoped for another group of rebel soldiers to come and let them satisfy their desire, the next half night was calm. If it were not for the dozen or so bloody captives hanging on the big trees in the village, even Zhang Shou would have thought that the experience of last night was a dream.
Early in the morning, when the dandy young men in Cuiyun's room who had been drugged by Miss Zhu without knowing anything woke up, they heard their followers' exaggerated stories of the dangers of last night. Most of them were skeptical, so many of them inevitably ran to the village to watch the chaos.
Seeing these half-dead captives tied with ropes and hanging on the trees, looking listless and ignoring them completely, the dandies could not help but get angry. If Hua Qi, who was sitting nonchalantly with a knife in his arms, was not too conspicuous, and Ah Liu, who was holding a short bow and looked so cold and murderous, they would definitely go up and teach those defenseless soldiers a lesson.
But not everyone is interested in beating up a fallen dog. For example, Zhang Wu wandered around the village in confusion and found that people were shouting in the houses everywhere, as if they were preparing something. He wanted to stop someone to ask what was going on without his followers. However, he stopped two people in a row, but they were too busy to answer him. Finally, he saw Zhang Shou from a distance and hurriedly ran forward.
"Little sir!"
When Zhang Shou saw Zhang Wu's anxious look, he knew what he was thinking, and immediately said with a smile: "There is strength in numbers, but too many people who can't work together will only cause trouble. Yingying is the one who is most afraid of trouble, so we cut the Gordian knot and let you all sleep together. As for Zhang Chen and Lu San, we keep them because the rebel army will think they are valuable to hold hostage."
"So, Miss Zhu is just doing this for...convenience?" Zhang Wu was a little confused when he said the last three words. When he saw Zhang Shou nod, he couldn't help but feel very frustrated. "If she just tells me, I can order my entourage and guards to obey her."
"It's an emergency, there's no time for that. At worst I can do it first and then apologize to you later!"
Zhang Wu was startled when he heard the voice behind him. He turned around and saw that it was Zhu Ying. He was so scared that he dared not vent his grievances anymore. However, what Zhu Ying said next made all his grievances vanish.
"A Shou and I are celebrating our birthday today, and there will be a buffet at noon. I was planning to go to Cui Yun's room to call them, but since you are here, you can go back and call them for me. If you have nothing to do, don't hang around those guys who have been tied up and hung like dried fish. Come and help if you have time. If you can't help, the people you brought with you can at least help out and set the table, right?"
"Besides, Ah Shou just told me that since we were able to capture those rebels last night, you will definitely get a share of the credit. Don't worry about those trivial matters. Go now! By the way, remember to keep it a secret and don't mention the credit for now!"
Zhang Shou saw Zhang Wu was stunned at first, and then he ran back as if he had been hit by a spinning top. Zhang Shou immediately laughed and said, "You are really amazing. With just one sentence, people are immediately motivated!"
Zhu Ying raised her chin slightly and said proudly, "He's just used to it because of the accumulated power. To be honest, your words about sharing the credit are the most realistic... Come on, follow me!"
Zhang Shou was stunned: "Where to go?"
"We are the birthday boys, so of course the birthday boys have birthday boys' clothes!" Zhu Ying said as if it was a matter of course. Seeing Zhang Shou still in a daze, she stepped forward and pushed him on the back without thinking, "Every year on my birthday, my grandmother gives me a set of new clothes. This year she also gave me yours! Aunt Wu asked me to come out and find you to change clothes. Let's go!"
The lady at the Duke Zhao's mansion was really too considerate...
Zhang Shou sighed deeply in his heart, but finally resigned himself to his fate and walked towards home.
At this moment, he prayed silently in his heart, please don't wear those festive colors of bright red or bright green. He is not like Miss Zhu who wears bright red as naturally as eating or drinking water. He can't resist such bright colors... and of course he doesn't want to wear them!
Although he admitted that he did have a crush on Zhu Ying, he would never agree if he was forced to dress like a groom!
Although it was a temporary arrangement, there were many people in the village, and the dandy brothers each brought a cook who could cook. Their followers worked very hard, and before noon, tables were already set up on the street. Some of them were just bed boards placed on bricks...
Of course, this time no one will bring out a coffin board to make up the numbers.
Lu Sanlang, who thought he had made a great contribution last night, smiled and dragged Zhang Chen to the gate of the Zhang family mansion, under the pretext of welcoming the birthday boy.
Although Zhang Chen still felt a little awkward, because of what Zhang Shou had said last night when he denounced Ding Hai, he no longer accepted this young gentleman just because of Ge Yong. The only thing left was a little confusion.
“Hey, it’s out!”
When Zhang Chen heard Lu Sanlang's shouting, he instinctively raised his head.
I saw two people coming out side by side from the door of Zhang's hall.
Zhu Ying was wearing a cherry-colored shirt and a pomegranate-red skirt with colorful hems. The slightly rosy rouge on her cheeks made her look as beautiful as the morning glow in the sky. Even her ruby earrings didn't seem so eye-catching.
Next to her, Zhang Shou was wearing a lotus-colored cross-collared gown, which looked much more plain than Zhu Ying's bright dress, but the lotus-colored gauze was woven with a swastika pattern of longevity and good fortune by skilled weavers, and a circle of cranes was embroidered on the edge of the gown. Zhang Chen recognized the material at the first glance and was stunned.
Zhang Shou certainly noticed Zhang Chen's complicated look. Although he was relieved that he didn't need to wear bright red, bright green, royal blue, or rose purple, he soon discovered that the lotus color was just as eye-catching, even brighter than the pure purple...
He has no achievements, no family background, and no official position. How can he wear such a purple robe?
However, from the moment he put on the clothes, he had noticed that they were almost tailor-made according to his body size. When he came out after changing his clothes, facing his mother Wu's expression of surprise and pride, he thought about how he had been unorthodox and how many things he had done in the past three years without consulting his mother. She had not tried to stop him, so he decided not to spoil her fun on such a happy day.
So, Zhang Shou pretended not to notice Zhang Chen's obviously subtle reaction. When he walked out of the gate of Zhang's house, he was greeted with a lot of birthday wishes, some of which even said "May you be as blessed as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains". He could only put on a stiff smile and keep reminding himself in his heart that he was sixteen, not sixty!
Zhu Ying didn't care whether these auspicious words were appropriate or not. She was already accustomed to facing a large group of people. She greeted everyone with a smile, taking care of everything.
Lu Sanlang took the opportunity to come forward and wish him a happy birthday. He then pushed Zhang Chen, who had a subtle expression on his face, aside and stood beside Zhang Shou in a dignified manner, helping to entertain the guests like a student.
In a moment of leisure, he whispered, "On the third day of the third lunar month this year, Miss Zhu won the game of pitching pots against Princess Yongping and asked the Queen Mother for a piece of green lotus yarn. It is said that Princess Yongping said she was arrogant behind her back. Although I didn't see it with my own eyes, I guess it was the piece on you, young master. Zhang Chen was there in person at the time, so he probably recognized it."
In other words, if I wear this outfit, the princess will definitely be unhappy, right?
Zhang Shou immediately understood what Lu Sanlang meant by this, and laughed, "It seems that the Madam is really generous. She didn't even ask her granddaughter, but directly made the clothes and gave them to me."
"Yes, yes." Lu Sanlang nodded repeatedly , lowering his voice even lower, as if afraid that someone would hear him. "Miss Zhu must think that you, young master, are the best match for this color, and she will only be happy. But some people may have bad intentions and gossip about it, so we have to be on guard."
As he spoke, he added righteously, "Zhang Chen thinks highly of himself, so he may not complain behind our backs, but there are many people in Cuiyun, and it is inevitable that some people will not agree with us! Don't worry, young sir, I will warn everyone!"
Zhang Shou suddenly felt that Lu Sanlang was definitely a good candidate to be a squad leader... This thought flashed through his mind, and he laughed it off, changing the subject.
When he and Zhu Ying squeezed out of the crowd and arrived at the head table at the entrance of the village, he clapped his hands, said a few words symbolically, and then signaled all the villagers, nobles, and their followers to take their seats. When a large group of people took their seats in a noisy manner, he smiled and took the pot to fill his cup.
"I pay my respects to heaven and earth, thanking them for blessing the village with good weather and a prosperous population."
"My fellow villagers, if it weren't for your hard work in the past and your concerted efforts last night, we wouldn't have such a good harvest this year, and we wouldn't have been able to capture this group of rebels without any danger last night."
After drinking two cups in a row, seeing everyone cheering and drinking together, Zhang Shou said with a smile: "This third cup is naturally for Yingying who celebrates her birthday with me today and everyone who has come to Rongshui Village by chance. We are gathered together by chance, and we should share the difficulties and happiness. We all shared the danger last night, and naturally we all share the credit for last night!"
Hearing this, because Zhang Wu was cautious and kept his mouth shut, the nobles, who had felt extremely annoyed that they had slept all night and had not caught up with anything, suddenly became excited as if they had been injected with chicken blood. Especially when they found that Zhu Ying did not object to Zhang Shou's words at all, they stood up one by one without hesitation in ecstasy.
Like Lu Sanlang, they also guessed the origin of Zhang Shou's clothes. With the support of the Duke of Zhao's Mansion and the Imperial Tutor Ge Yong as their teacher, how could they compete with others for Zhu Ying? Zhang Shou was willing to share the credit, so of course they accepted it!
As for those who are not happy or unwilling... they can't show it now! Anyway, standing on the side of the Duke of Zhao's Mansion is definitely the right thing to do now!
However, just as Zhang Shou finished toasting three times and sat down, and everyone was enjoying the food and wine in the noisy atmosphere, he suddenly heard a burst of hurried horse hooves, followed by a hand gently placed on his shoulder.
