Chapter 10 Zhang Family, Zhang Zhaoyan

  Zhang Zuoyan, the son of Zhang Jia Taifu, has always been known as a romantic young master in the capital. In fact, just by walking around the night market and flower houses, one should understand...

  The oriole sings and the swallow speaks, the fragrant soft handkerchief. Wherever there is a new courtesan, his shadow can be seen. But strangely, all the girls' eyes seem to have malfunctioned at the same time, even the extraordinary woman Liu Yingying looks at him with different eyes.

  Speaking of Liu Yingying, it's another legend.

  Her father, the former Minister of Works, Liu Yun, was accused of embezzling disaster relief funds and was punished by having his family's property confiscated. The Emperor was outraged when he learned of this and ordered that all females in the Liu family be made into official courtesans, while males over 16 years old were to be executed, and those under 16 were to be enslaved for life. From then on, no descendant of the Liu family would ever again be allowed to enter the imperial city.

  This case was handled by Regent Liu, and later it is unknown who whispered that there was no real evidence, the Liu family was just a victim of the struggle for power. A month later, this incident was never mentioned again, and the Temple of Justice did not give any explanation to the outside world, all related public opinions were suppressed.

  And yet, Liu Xiangxian reappeared in front of people at this critical moment as the flower queen of Lanxiang Pavilion, which is really thought-provoking.

  Liu Yingying is the only flower that has been preserved intact in the muddy water. In addition to being a clean and elegant lady-in-waiting in the Lanxiang Pavilion, she can also fully display her petty temper, and those who don't meet her eye, from small rich merchants to the Prince of Jin'an, all get shut out, and yet she remains safe and sound, living a very comfortable life, which is indeed a rare occurrence.

  Zhang Zuoyan was one of the lucky few, he was one of the few guests who had entered Liu Yanyan's inner circle. Just being able to drink a few cups of wine with Miss Liu made countless men jealous, and even some pedantic scholars would glance at him sideways, exclaiming that it was an insult to the literary world, and that it was unbecoming. The rumors and gossip about Zhang Zuoyan were so numerous that they could fill a book and drown him in them.

  Who is Ke Zhang Zhaoyan? Even if his writings are compiled into a book, he can still tear it up and use it as toilet paper!!!

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  Fang Xiaoling was almost driven mad, she had given up expecting a clear answer from the old boss who seemed to be in a trance. As for Ah Zi, it was even more hopeless. Asking Xun Qing directly was also an option, but looking at how close he and Zhang Sao Yan were, she was afraid she wouldn't get anything out of him either. Thinking about the laughter and scolding behind his back, Fang Xiaoling suspected that there might be another face hidden beneath, and she started to tremble with fear.

  Most of what I know about Zhang Zuoying comes from rumors and Xun Qing's oral accounts, but there are too many superficial things, if you want to really understand, you may have to go in person.

  The music ended and the crowd dispersed, people left and the tea went cold. Xuan Qing hadn't even greeted herself before being dragged away by a drunken Zhang Zuoyan, so she could only smile apologetically at her.

  "Come on, come on, come on, Brother Xun, have another cup... Go away, I still want to drink, drink... Hiccup..." The drunkard was the most stubborn, and Xun Qing had no choice but to drag him away with great effort.

  Should he be thrown into the woodshed or directly onto the street? Anyway, one night won't kill him from freezing, especially with Zhang Suo Yan's abnormal physique, no one would get frostbite like him! However, Old Lady Fu will probably fight for herself, so it's better to throw him into the woodshed...

  Fang Xiaoling nodded slightly, and then disappeared into thin air. A gust of wind swept across the ground, blowing up fallen leaves that scattered in all directions, filling the spot where Fang Xiaoling had vanished.

  Xun Qing felt a sudden tightness in his chest, as if something very important had just disappeared. The man holding his arm, who reeked of wine, clearly didn't want him to think about it anymore and was loudly belching, each one louder than the last, really annoying. Xun Qing could only swallow the words he wanted to say, and let out a long sigh instead.

  "Ah..."

  Fang Xiaoling hadn't actually gone far, hiding in the tree and quietly watching the two of them. She still didn't believe that Zhang Zuoyan would participate in the tragic events three months later, but the seeds of suspicion had already been sown, waiting for it to take root and sprout.

  The boss had long taken Ah Zi back to sleep, and he slipped away quickly. The child was tired and was immediately released by Cui Niang to rest in the courtyard.

  But the night is still long.

  On the other side of the city, it was still brightly lit and bustling with activity.

  The eaves and gables are flying, the red lanterns are suspended in mid-air, and the somewhat chilly and gloomy weather is warmed up. The streets are not lacking in people dressed in bright clothes, and there are also girls wearing revealing clothes, chatting and laughing, waving silk handkerchiefs to attract customers.

  A dark shadow flashed across the street corner, but it was too fast. Even if you stared intently, all you could see was a glimpse of golden threads on black satin before it disappeared behind a dilapidated wooden door.

  "I didn't know that you, sir, have a habit of entering through the back door." A soft and charming female voice came, mixed with a hint of laziness and allure. The woman sitting in front of the mirror was slowly combing her raven hair, completely unbothered by the sudden appearance of someone behind her.

  He stared steadily at the woman's beautiful face in the mirror, his cold eyes devoid of any emotion, as if what was before him was just a slightly more attractive doll.

  "My whereabouts don't need to be reported to you." The icy words were like the frost that had already fallen, freezing to the bone. He walked forward, casually lifting a strand of black hair, slowly playing with it. "But do you still remember your mission here? I don't raise idle people, if you continue to be so lazy, I won't guarantee the safety of the Liu family..."

  The rest of the words were mutually understood, and the woman holding the Qingyu comb hesitated for a moment before retorting with a defiant smile, "You still dare to mention the Liu family? I really don't know who it was that promised me they would bring Yier out, but where is he now? Ha!"

  "Yi Zhi, I've already sent someone to escort him to a safe place, so you can rest assured. Although I'm not a gentleman, I'm also not the kind of person who speaks without keeping their word. You just need to stay here - close to the eldest son of the Xun family - and as for what I want, aren't you already well aware?"

  "Hey, want to hear some good news?" The woman turned her stunning face, boldly reached out and stroked the man's cold, stern cheek with her finger, satisfied to see a crack in his emotionless eyes at last, even though it wasn't the feeling she had been hoping for all along.

  But at least the distance has been shortened, right? Even if he's angry or disgusted, it doesn't matter. What she can't stand is that he treats her with such indifference, just like a chess piece, as if they've never been in the same world - that kind of despair.

  He stepped back with a cold face, somewhat disgustedly shaking off her hand, and said faintly, "Speak."

  The woman looked at her fingertips with a hint of regret, where there were still some residual warmth and coolness. "Do you know the Zhang family, Zhang Zuoyan?"

  Eleven