Volume 1: Chang'an Wind and Cloud Chapter 8: Qujiang Pool Poetry and Wine Party (2)

  The next morning, after getting up and washing in the attendance of Ruoyu, he casually ate something and had Zhang Xun call out his attendant Zhang Li in the front yard. He then drove to Qujiangchi.

  Zhang Xuan had just left when Zhang Jiuyin and Zhang Jiu'gao entered immediately after.

  Zhang Jiuyin's face didn't look too good, and Zhang Jiu'gao was even more straightforwardly gloomy, with his eyebrows tightly locked, sitting in the Zhang Mansion living room without saying a word.

  Liu and Zhang Ning saw this momentum, guessed that the news brought by the two from the palace was not good, and their hearts also sank immediately.

  Liu's family was also silent and speechless, her heart was in a state of panic. After all, she was just an ordinary housewife, and when things had reached this point, she was still at a loss as to what to do next.

  In the end, Zhang Ning's brotherly affection ran deep, and he worried about the future and fate of the entire Zhang family clan. He stood up voluntarily and bowed to his two uncles, saying, "Uncle, do you know any news from the palace?"

  Zhang Jiugao waved his hand impatiently, but didn't make a sound.

  Zhang Jiuyi sighed, gazing at Zhang Ning who was lost in thought. He then turned his head to look at Liu Shi and forced a smile, "Elder sister, where is Xuan'er?"

  Liu was taken aback and immediately ordered someone to go call Zhang Xuan over.

  Before long, like smoke, footsteps lightly walked into the hall, and bowed to several masters in the hall, softly saying, "Old lady, third young master went out early to Qujiangchi, attending Guo Guofu's poetry and wine party."

  As soon as this was said, Mrs. Liu couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. She hastily waved her hand, signaling Ruyi to withdraw.

  Madam Guo's banquet at Qujiang Pool is a recent grand event in Chang'an City, and Zhang Jiuling naturally knows about it. If not for the incident with Zhang Huan, Zhang Jiuling might have gone to join in the excitement. But now, how can he be in the mood? Yet, Zhang Huan did go.

  Zhang Jiuyin couldn't help but shake his head and let out another sigh.

  He just thought that Zhang Xuan's performance yesterday was quite different from usual, his words were insightful, and his demeanor was dignified. He subconsciously thought that the prodigal son had really turned over a new leaf, so he wanted to let Zhang Xuan participate in the discussion at the Zhang residence... Unexpectedly, it was all just a false joy!

  Zhang Jiuyang raised an eyebrow, thinking to himself, "A leopard can't change its spots, a embroidered pillow will always be a embroidered pillow. At this time, he still has the leisure and elegance to run out and pretend to be refined, participating in poetry and wine parties! Alas, my elder brother's reputation for a lifetime of integrity, yet gave birth to such an unfilial son... truly pitiful and lamentable!"

  Although he was quite dissatisfied and emotional in his heart, things were urgent, and Zhang Jiuyi couldn't afford to continue entangling himself with Zhang Xuan.

  "He quietly said, 'Eldest sister, Yihe, someone entrusted to enter the palace to investigate... The current situation is extremely unfavorable. It's said that because of being implicated in the Eastern Palace again, the Emperor was enraged and issued three imperial edicts ordering the Ministry of Justice to thoroughly and quickly investigate. Looking at the Emperor's intention, it's likely that he wants to quickly cut off the chaos and calm down the situation...'"

  Zhang Jiugao also raised his head and said in a deep voice, "Xu Ze of the Grand Court is what kind of person, everyone in the court knows. This man is indeed mediocre and incompetent, but he is ruthless and cruel, and is also one of Ji Wen's loyal followers... If this time the crime is pinned on Xu Ze and Ji Wen, it's likely to be a disaster."

  Zhang Jiuyin slapped the case and stood up, "So now we can't hesitate anymore. We will immediately bring gifts, brazenly visit Li Xiao, and ask Li Xiao to introduce us to Prime Minister Li. In today's court, only one person can influence the emperor's decisions and suppress Xu Xuanwu's party - that is Prime Minister Li. As long as Prime Minister Li speaks out, there may still be a glimmer of hope."

  "The worst-case scenario..." Zhang Jiuyan's words reached the tip of his tongue but were swallowed back, some things are indeed facts, but in the end, they still can't be spoken.

  Zhang Jiugao's eyes flickered complexly as he glanced at his elder brother, and he secretly sighed in his heart. He understood Zhang Jiuying's meaning very well - Li Linfu was greedy for wealth, and as long as Li Linfu was willing to accept the heavy gifts from the Zhang family, Zhang Huan might not be able to protect himself, but the Zhang family would probably not be implicated.

  Liu and Zhang Ning exchanged a glance, stood up and came to pay their respects to Zhang Jiuyi and Zhang Jiu'ao, saying, "Just follow the two uncles' decision."

  "It's not suitable to delay, so let's hurry to Li Shang's mansion. I heard that Li Shang has been recuperating from illness in the mansion recently, and it just so happens that we can use visiting him as an excuse to enter." Zhang Jiuyin waved his hand, "Third brother, you're familiar with Li Xue, let's go together!"

  "Good." Zhang Jiugao nodded silently.

  The two walked shoulder to shoulder out of the Zhang's living room, and Zhang Jiuyi took a few steps before suddenly turning back, frowning and looking at Liu with a gentle tone, "Eldest sister-in-law, have someone go and call Xuan'er back to the manor. At this moment, it's not like before... our Zhang family members shouldn't be out in public, let alone provoke trouble..."

  Liu nodded.

  After Zhang Jiuyong and Zhang Jigao hastily left the Zhang Mansion with a horse-drawn carriage full of thick gifts to head to Li Linfu's residence, Liu called over a servant and instructed him to immediately go to Qujiangchi to find Third Master Zhang Xuan, ordering him to return home at once and not linger outside.

  The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is southeast, which is the Qujiang that Zhang Xuan has been longing for. This beautiful and magnificent royal garden, with songs and dances, echoes the entire prosperous Tang Dynasty.

  The spring list is announced, and a banquet is held at Qujiang. This is a grand event that the people of Chang'an delight in talking about. Apart from this, throughout the year, officials and nobles also linger here, forgetting to return, gathering friends for feasts, and staying up all night.

  "On the third day of March, the weather is new, and there are many beautiful people by the river in Chang'an. The whole country enjoys the fragrance of flowers, and horses' hooves echo with the sound of wheels."

  Today is July 18th, not a special festival. However, today is the day when Yang Guifei's sister, Madame Guo of the State of Guo, hosts a grand banquet for the nobles and scholars of Chang'an, with poetry and wine. With Madame Guo's power and unparalleled influence, the scale and level of this social event are almost comparable to the emperor's spring banquet.

  Upon arriving at Qujiangchi, Zhang Xuan finally understood what "wine-filled vessels and wine vessels, sheng songs and painted boats, colorful awnings and green curtains, surrounding the embankment. Fresh carriages and strong horses, shoulder to shoulder, competing in a chariot race." meant.

  High-ranking officials and their entourages walked into the Peony Garden with an air of arrogance, while scholars and literary men stood in groups of three or five on the banks of the river, reluctant to leave. Women wore low-cut long dresses, open-collared shirts, thin silk scarves, and high hairdos, singing softly and dancing lightly, their joyful voices and laughter filling the air.

  There are dragon boats cruising, the sound of singing and laughing geese, dancers with long sleeves fluttering, performers drilling into fire on poles, and vendors shouting to sell.

  Zhang Xuan stood at the entrance of Furong Garden, sighing in admiration for a while, with countless emotions, and did not enter the garden immediately.

  Just as he was looking around, a hoarse voice came from behind him, "Third Master... Third Master!"

  Zhang Xuan turned his head and took a glance, seeing Zhang Fu's servant Zhang Xiang running over from the riverbank, panting as he approached, "Third Master, Old Madame has ordered me to find you, saying there is an important matter at home and asking you to return quickly."

  Zhang Xuan furrowed his brow and gazed at Zhang Xiang faintly, saying, "What's going on?"

  Zhang Xiang stepped forward, lowering his voice and said softly, "Third Master, news from the palace says that His Majesty is enraged... The two elderly gentlemen have already taken gifts to Li Shang's residence to seek help. Old Madame wants you to return home immediately..."

  Zhang Xuan heard this and took a deep breath, involuntarily stomping her feet. In her heart, she felt anxious and secretly lamented, thinking to herself: "Wasn't it just agreed that we would calm down and wait for now? How did you suddenly change your mind?"

  He actually went to beg Li Linfu, what a ridiculous and childish behavior!

  Li Linfu was the one who started it, and now he can't wait to make a big deal out of this matter so that he can bring down Crown Prince Li Hen. How could he care about Zhang Huan's trivial matters?

  Whether or not Li Linfu is in charge is one thing, but Zhang's family actively surrendering to the Li family is another matter altogether. Regardless of the final outcome, the Zhang family may end up getting entangled with the nearly destroyed Li Linfu and become a thorn in the side of Yang Guozhong and others, suffering disastrous consequences!

  This is not an unnecessary worry. If Li Linfu can be called a powerful minister or a treacherous minister, he still has some rules to follow; but his "successor" Yang Guozhong is purely a petty person who does things without choosing means and following the law. Otherwise, Li Linfu in history would not have died without a good end, and his whole family was exiled and implicated many people.

  What a predicament! This way, Zhang Xuan was forced into a corner with no retreat, leaving only one path of desperate struggle.