Chapter 22: The Princess's Heart-to-Heart Talk

  Zhang Rui returned home, Xun Yu and Xun You both had a smile on their faces.

  "Zhi Bo brother, how's Wen Ji miss?"

  "What's wrong? You two, why are you still awake so late?"

  "Zhi Bo, as the saying goes, 'a virtuous woman is a good match for a gentleman'. Look at me and Gong Da, we're both married. You're a grown man, why fear what others might say?" Xun Yu said.

  "I don't understand what you're saying." Zhang Rui muttered to himself, shaking his head and returning to his room amidst the mocking smiles of Xun Shi's uncle and nephew.

  Nothing happened that night, and the next morning, Zhang Rui got up early to start his daily exercise. As for Xun Shu and his nephew, they were probably attending the early court session, as neither of them was at home.

  At this time, a sedan chair stopped outside the house. A handsome young man got out of the sedan chair, waved his hand, and the sedan bearers carried the sedan away.

  This handsome young man was Liu Min. She knocked on the door, and Yu Bo opened it, knowing that she was looking for Zhang Rui, so he invited her in.

  "Zhang Xiaorui, it's been so long since we last met, have you missed me?" Liu Min asked happily.

  "There is, how can there not be? I was thinking about it in the morning and at night." Liu Min heard this and was overjoyed, this guy still hadn't forgotten her. "I'm thinking when will Big Sister Liu Min repay my donkey."

  "It was all for nothing that I came to find you with such difficulty, and yet you treat me like this. How petty."

  "Alright, alright, I was wrong. You're a bigger person, so don't bother with me and my petty ways. So, what brings Miss Liu here to see me today?"

  "Nothing's wrong, can't you just come and see me? I'm so bored at home, I came to find you to chat with. What brings you to Luoyang?"

  "I don't know what purpose either. I just came to see my two good friends, maybe after a while I'll be leaving."

  "Can't you stay a bit longer? It's not often that I meet someone interesting, can't you just stay for a few more days and keep me company?"

  "With so many friends you have, don't I make a difference?"

  "Actually I said my identity is special, don't you believe me that there isn't a single friend around me?"

  "I believe that since so many people escorted you here, your background shouldn't be lowly, and it's even possible that you're royalty or nobility." Zhang Rui started acting arrogant (as if he hadn't already guessed).

  "I'm actually the youngest daughter of the Spirit Emperor, Princess Wan'er. Since I was born, I've never seen my own mother. Perhaps Father felt guilty towards me, so he spoiled me more than others. My brothers and sisters don't like me, and the servants are all afraid of me. Growing up this way, I've never had a single friend, nor do I know what it means to have one. If I continue staying in the palace, my fate will be no different from that of my sisters - marrying into some influential family's heir and living a life controlled by others."

  "You know? Since meeting you, I feel like my life has changed, it's filled with color, and my mood is joyful every day. I think it's all because of you. I've even thought about escaping the palace to stay by your side. Are you willing to take me away from this suffering?"

  Zhang Rui's head is now big, the Wenji who fell in love at first sight last night, and Liu Min who has a deep affection for herself now. Nowadays, girls are so simple, it's easy to get started, but the problem is that she doesn't have any experience with three mornings and four evenings. These two girls will eventually meet, what can be done?

  "I can take you away, but have you thought about your father? Can you bear to abandon your family? If I were to take you away, the Zhang family would probably be slaughtered. We can't live so selfishly, we also need to consider the people around us."

  "Alright, it's good that Father Emperor hasn't mentioned anything about marrying me off to someone yet. Hey, if you can't take me away, then try harder and let me marry you instead."

  Zhang Rui's head was full of black lines. After becoming a son-in-law, how could he take Wenji? This wasn't right. "Eldest sister, you're also a princess after all, while I'm just the young master of a small family. I'd like to marry you, but would your father agree?"

  "It doesn't matter, you just focus on your development. If not, I'll go ask my dad to give you a official position."

  "Please, big sister, don't do this. First, I never had any intention of becoming an official, and second, others will think that I'm a pretty boy who relies on women to get ahead."

  "Hmm, little white face, this word is used quite well, haha, it's very close to your temperament."

  "Excuse me, where on earth did you see the 'innocent face' quality in me? I'm so elegant and refined, with a face as beautiful as jade, how could I possibly be associated with those three words?"

  "Haha, I'm dying of laughter! Flowers bloom when they see each other, and cars burst their tires. Where did you come up with so many fresh phrases? But your face is quite pale, yet you say you're not a pretty boy."

  Zhang Rui's head was flying over a bunch of crows, "I really lost to you, I don't know whether to say you're too naive or too naive?"

  "This isn't naivety, it's childlike innocence, okay?"

  "Alright, alright, I give up."

  "Otherwise I'll recommend you to my father like he did for me. With your talent and eloquence, I'm sure my father will be very fond of you."

  "Stop it, miss. I have no intention of becoming an official."

  "Why don't you want to be an official? You're a scholar, after all. In this great Han dynasty, what can you do if you don't become an official?"

  Zhang Rui was very helpless, and couldn't tell you that the Yellow Turban Rebellion was about to break out, and the great Han dynasty would soon collapse. Couldn't tell you that your father favored Zhang Rang, Zhao Zhong and other eunuchs, and wouldn't listen to anything we scholars had to say. Couldn't tell you that your father didn't have much time left to live, and that he himself had already found a better backer.

  "Hmm, actually this time I came out of the academy, I discovered a force, they are secretly gathering strength, don't know what they want to do. I followed from Yingchuan and arrived here, to see if there's any discovery. This is the task given by the principal. After this matter passes, I can be an official in the court."

  Zhang Rui had no choice but to bring out Xun Shuang, and this was almost the truth. Zhang Rui did not believe that even Yongqiu had a base, while Luoyang did not have a Yellow Turban base. After thinking about it, Zhang Rui felt that finding evidence and exposing Zhang Jiao's plot was the best way to minimize casualties.

  After all, the shorter the time Zhang Jiao prepared, the less sufficient it was, and the less sufficient it was, the easier it would be to extinguish. In this way, people can suffer a little less from this setback.

  "Alright, I have to go. After all, I can't stay out for too long. Take this jade pendant with you, and when you reach the palace gate, show them this pendant and they'll find me. When I have time again, I'll come visit you again. Goodbye." Liu Min handed the jade pendant over to Zhang Rui.

  Liu Min has left, should I investigate the Huang Jin case now? Zhang Rui secretly asked himself, these two days have been too peaceful, indeed a gentle village is a hero's grave.