STOTTD | Chapter 23

Chapter 23

Upon hearing this, Shen Jibai asked, “Where is he now?”

“At the residence of Zhang Guangji, the richest man, I heard he took some elixir to visit Zhang Sheng.” The constable spoke while gasping for breath.

He had never heard that these two had any dealings in the past. In fact, even the matter of Zhang Qingqing going to the Tang residence to celebrate Tang Sanlang’s birthday had already surprised Shen Jibai.

The Tang family had generations of glory, and there had once been three Hanlin scholars from one family[2], so they had quite a reputation in the Eastern Capital. How could such a prominent aristocratic family have any dealings with merchants, whom they looked down on so much?

Could it be related to the recently widely spread matter of the “madman and the delicate beauty”?

He lowered his eyes and looked at the panting constable. “After you finish work every day, run ten laps around the training ground.”

After saying that, he gave Zhou Xin a glance and left first.

Zhou Xin followed closely behind, leaving only the constable standing there alone, his mouth wide open.

“This...?”

*

Zhang residence.

Probably because they had never had any contact with Zhang Qingqing in the past, after receiving news from the gatekeeper, the old steward came over in shock again and again to welcome them, leading the two of them toward Zhang Qingqing’s courtyard.

After all, it was the home of the richest man, very large, and the winding corridors seemed endless. The luxurious decorations made Zhou Xin feel a little dazed, and she kept wondering whether she had accidentally walked into the imperial palace.

Shen Jibai seemed to see through her thoughts, and explained in a low voice, “The Zhang residence covers half a township[3]. Zhang Sheng is the legitimate eldest son and is greatly favored by the old madam, so he lives in the largest courtyard, a little farther from the main gate.”

Half a block...

Zhou Xin took a sharp breath, thinking to herself, what unbelievable wealth.

A moment later, the two of them passed through the moon gate and stepped into the courtyard called “Changfeng Tavern (Changfeng Jiusi).”

As soon as they went in, they heard a heart-rending cry from the main room, “Dalang!”

Immediately after, a trembling female voice shouted, very emotionally too, “Zhou Xin! What exactly are you plotting? Why have you been scheming so hard to harm my brother?”

“A Zhou, this really is an elixir I begged for from Fengyun Temple.”

This muffled voice sounded very familiar.
Zhou Xin’s steps halted, and Shen Jibai, who had been walking beside her all along, noticed and turned his head to glance at her.

“Zhang Sili! Let go of my seventh sister!” This male voice was booming, obviously angry.

Shen Jibai asked, “Seventh Tang young lady came with Tang Sanlang?”

The old steward replied, “Yes, Seventh Tang young lady came to deliver medicine.”

“I truly did not know the Zhang and Tang families had any dealings.”

The old steward gave a strained smile. “What are you saying, vice minister, our Zhang family is just common folk, how would we dare try to build ties with the Tang residence.”

Shen Jibai said, “If there is no friendship, why would Zhang the eldest young master attend Tang Sanlang’s birthday banquet?”

The old steward tucked his sleeves up, “The exact situation, this old servant does not know. However, this year was still the first time we received an invitation sent over by the Tang residence. When the eldest young master received it, he had quite a headache for a while.”

Though he did not say it plainly, Zhou Xin understood.

For a merchant family like the Zhangs, looked down on by the noble clans, even if they were the richest family, they still were not liked by others and it was hard to curry favor with the powerful. Once that invitation was sent over, Zhang Qingqing would definitely be put in a difficult position.

If he went, then at the banquet he would inevitably suffer a round of cold stares.

If he did not go, then the Tang family’s status was not something a common man like him could afford to offend.

After weighing it again and again, no matter how unwilling he was, he still had to steel himself and bring a valuable birthday gift to congratulate Tang Yanjia on his birthday.

The room was in an uproar. It sounded like Seventh Tang young lady had gone to Fengyun Temple and begged for some elixir, then Madam Zhang fed it to Zhang Qingqing. Unexpectedly, not only did it fail to cure his madness, it nearly took half his life as well.

Big Brother, Big Sister, Zhang Sili, had a rather fiery temper and suspected that Zhou Xin had intentionally tried to harm Zhang Qingqing, so she grabbed her and questioned her at length.

Tang Sanlang naturally protected his own younger sister and argued with Zhang Sili, sounding like they were almost about to come to blows.

When Zhou Xin had just reached the door, she saw servants carrying out a basin of blood water. It made her pause, thinking, no way, why is there trouble wherever she goes?

Earlier, when the quarrel started in the room, the old steward’s face had already turned slightly pale, but because there were guests behind him, he had kept his steps steady.

This time, it seemed he could no longer hold steady. He did not care about manners anymore, and with a bloodless face he rushed into the room, his voice no lower than that of vice minister: “Eldest young master!”

Following that loud shout, Zhou Xin slowly walked into the room. Going around the screen, she was immediately stunned by the scene before her.

On the bed behind the screen lay a neatly featured, scholarly-looking youth, precisely the Zhang eldest young master who had fainted from fright at Changfeng Tavern that day, Zhang Qingqing.

His eyes were closed, his face was without color, and the blood at the corner of his lips had flowed down his cheek onto the soft pillow, where the woman sitting beside him gently wiped it away with a brocade handkerchief.

This woman wore a hundred flowers bun[4], with gold, jade, and pearl hairpins all over her head, dressed in a dignified and wealthy manner. She should be Madam Zhang.

She was holding the hand of the person lying on the bed, her face full of worry, and had not even noticed that someone else had entered the room.

The old steward stood bent over behind her, also looking at the bed with a face full of worry.

Beside him stood two women. The taller one had single eyelids, and her gaze was quite sharp, looking a little fierce as she glared at the shorter one beside her.

The shorter one’s gaze was fixed on Zhang Qingqing. Her hands were held in front of her body, tightly twisting the handkerchief, and although she had not said a word, her worry and concern were practically overflowing.

Her gaze fell on that gentle and lovely face, and Zhou Xin thought to herself, so it was her? She is Tang family seventh young lady Zhou Xin?

“Lingyun Jun?”
There was unmistakable joy in that voice.

Zhou Xin moved her eyes to look, and saw that the speaker was the youth standing by the window. Aside from the old steward, he was the only conscious man in the room, and should be the Tang family’s third young master, Tang Yanjia.

Unlike Zhang Qingqing’s refined elegance and Shen Jibai, his skin was a very healthy wheat color, with sword-like brows and bright eyes, strikingly handsome. When his clear eyes looked over, he gave off quite a bit of the feeling of a young man in fine clothes and on a spirited horse.

Zhou Xin gave him a slight nod, counting it as a return of the greeting.

She thought, this Tang Sanlang really looks not bad.

The person beside her glanced over, her voice cold. “Don’t forget the purpose of this trip.”

Zhou Xin: “...”
Only then did she realize that sshe had actually said her thoughts out loud, and could not help feeling a little awkward. “...Was I loud just now?”

Shen Jibai: “Mm.”

Zhou Xin glared at him. “What does ‘mm’ mean?”

Shen Jibai did not answer, only glanced over with an unreadable look.

Seeing her whispering lowly with the person beside her, Tang Yanjia only then seemed to notice Shen Jibai, and his eyes changed slightly as he asked, “How did vice minister come here?”

Everyone looked over one after another, and the old steward slapped his thigh hard, apologizing, “Look at this old servant’s memory, to think I forgot to announce it!”

He hurriedly explained that the two of them had come to visit Zhang Qingqing.

Madam Zhang and Zhou Xin’s faces both lit up at the same time, their eyes flashing with hopeful light.

“Lingyun Jun has profound Daoist arts, could I ask you to take a look and see whether there is anything wrong with this pill?”

Madam Zhang gave the old steward a look, and the old steward immediately presented a red sandalwood box. Inside the box lay a pitch-black pill.

Zhou Xin pretended to inspect it for a bit, sniffed it, then put it down, and said in a very serious tone, “Madam Zhang, could you inform me of the eldest young master’s birth date and time, so this lord can calculate how to break this calamity?”

Madam Zhang moved her lips, but did not say it, as if there was some concern.

Zhang Sili suddenly sneered, “Mother, don’t listen to her nonsense, she’s obviously trying to fool you!”

“Ali!”
Madam Zhang shot her a glare, the warning in her eyes fully exposed.

Zhang Sili originally still wanted to say something else, but after being cut by that look, she closed her mouth and could only glare at Zhou Xin with hostile eyes.

Zhou Xin asked in complete confusion, “Have I offended her?”

Shen Jibai was also very blank, and only shook his head, not saying anything.

Tang Yanjia’s attitude suddenly turned hard, carrying a strong, backing-someone-up sort of forcefulness: “Zhang二娘子 words are strange. Why would Lingyun Jun deceive Madam Zhang?”

Zhang Sili let out a sneer. “Lingyun Jun hasn’t even said anything yet, and Tang Sanlang is already so anxious. Your Tang family really does produce lovers[5]!”

At the sound of that, Zhou Xin’s expression changed, and she silently clenched the handkerchief in her hand.

Zhou Xin faintly sensed something was wrong, tilted her head and leaned closer to Shen Jibai, asking in a low voice, “What does she mean by that?”

Shen Jibai: “The literal meaning.”

Zhou Xin was puzzled. “Then what does it mean?”

Shen Jibai turned his head to look at her, his gaze carrying inquiry, as if confirming whether she truly did not understand or was pretending not to understand.

Zhou Xin said in disbelief, “Me and him... no way?”

Shen Jibai withdrew his gaze unhappily. “Everyone in the Eastern Capital knows.”

Zhou Xin’s voice could not help but rise. “What did I do, to actually make this known to the entire Eastern Capital?”

Shen Jibai: “Publicly refusing a marriage proposal.”

Zhou Xin: “......”
Even such a fresh-faced handsome boy was not wanted, so Chaonan Yi really did have eyes above the top of her head...

Tang Yanjia was so angered by these words that his ears turned red all the way to the back of his neck.

He stood up straight in great fury and shouted, “Zhang Sili! Say that again!”

“Say it again if I say it, do you think I’m afraid of you! You...”

“Slap!”

Before Zhang Sili could finish speaking, Madam Zhang slapped her dumbly silent.

“Arrogant! Hurry up and apologize to Lingyun Jun and Tang Sanlang!”

Zhang Sili covered her face, very unwillingly. “Mother.”

“Apologize!”

Zhang Sili lowered her head in unwillingness and gave a bow, saying stiffly, “I’m sorry!”

After saying that, she glared at Tang Yanjia, snorted, and turned around and ran off.

Madam Zhang was so angry that she clenched the brocade handkerchief in her hand, and said to the old granny standing by the side, “Second young lady has no propriety in speech, and slandered Tang Sanlang, disrespected Lingyun Jun, give her ten family strokes[6], and make her kneel in the ancestral hall. She is not allowed to leave without my permission!”

The old granny responded and backed out.

Only then did she bend slightly and give a bow to Tang Sanlang and Zhou Xin separately, saying, “It is all because this concubine has been lax in discipline on ordinary days, which is why I indulged her into not knowing her place, and she actually dared to offend the two of you like this. This is truly my fault, and I apologize on her behalf.”

Tang Yanjia turned his face away. “A dignified eight-foot man naturally would not bother with a mere woman. But Zhang二娘子 was reckless with her words and insulted my younger sister’s reputation. This matter must never be taken lightly!”

“What Tang Sanlang says is very true.”
Madam Zhang raised her clasped hands high and solemnly gave a deep bow to Zhou Xin. “Seventh Tang young lady was concerned about my son, and specially came to deliver the spiritual medicine, so she has done a kindness for the Zhang family. My daughter’s disrespect toward her benefactor is unkind, and her slanderous words are unvirtuous. Having committed such a grave mistake, this concubine truly finds it hard to forgive. Add ninety family strokes, to make up for the offensive words she has committed.”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xin slightly lifted her delicate hand, the silk handkerchief covering her lips, and said with barely concealed shock, “Zhang二娘子 was only speaking out of too much worry for her elder brother, Madam Zhang does not need to punish her so heavily.”

This move hit Madam Zhang’s sweet spot. She bowed again, saying, “Many thanks to Seventh Tang young lady for understanding.”

After speaking, she turned around and looked over.

Only then did Zhou Xin realize that the one whose reputation had been damaged was not just the Tang siblings.

Zhang Sili had hit three birds with one stone, and her skill at insulting people was clearly something to behold.

But she did not want to rush forward and take on this piece of scandal, so she raised her hand and pointed at Zhang Qingqing lying on the bed. “Madam Zhang, the most urgent matter right now is the eldest young master’s condition.”

At the sound of this, Tang Yanjia suddenly looked over, his eyes slightly wide, his entire face full of shock.

With such light handling of it, Madam Zhang was also very surprised.
She curtsied and said, “Lingyun Jun is broad-minded, this concubine is deeply grateful.”

At this moment, Zhou Xin finally seemed to come back to herself, and curtsied toward her, “vice minister, Lingyun Jun.”

Shen Jibai asked, “Fengyun Temple is hidden deep in the mountains and dense woods, and there are barriers set up around it. How did Seventh Tang young lady get into the dense woods, climb the steep cliff, and ask for this pill?”

“What do you mean by that, vice minister?” Tang Yanjia frowned, his gaze full of hostility.

[1]
term: 簪缨
pinyin: zān yīng
translation: high-ranking officials
explanation: Literally, this refers to ceremonial hair ornaments worn by noble officials. By extension, it means a powerful or aristocratic family.

[2]
term: 一门三翰林
pinyin: yī mén sān hàn lín
translation: three Hanlin scholars from one family
explanation: This refers to a family that produced three Hanlin Academy scholars. It is used to praise a family’s exceptional scholarly prestige.

[3]
term: 半坊
pinyin: bàn fāng
translation: half a block
explanation: A “fang” was a city ward or block in older Chinese cities. “Half a block” here emphasizes just how large the estate is.

[4]
term: 百花髻
pinyin: bǎi huā jì
translation: hundred flowers bun
explanation: A traditional female hairstyle decorated with many flowers or ornaments. It conveys a lavish and elegant look.

[5]
term: 情种
pinyin: qíng zhǒng
translation: lover
explanation: A slangy phrase for someone deeply devoted to romance. Here it is used sarcastically to mock the Tang family.

[6]
term: 十家棍
pinyin: shí jiā gùn
translation: ten family strokes
explanation: A household punishment of ten strokes with a rod. It refers to a private disciplinary beating within a family.