My Lord, your wife is spreading rumors about you again.

Chapter 72 The Path Each One Chooses

The sky darkened and the noise stopped. Inside the Zhang family ancestral hall, old Lord Zhang personally lit three incense sticks in front of an unknown tablet.

He stood there for a long time, and scenes from his youth flashed through his mind. He raised his hand and stroked his beard, shook his head and sighed, "No wonder time makes people grow old. In the blink of an eye, I have become an old man. But you are still as charming and beautiful as ever. Zhang Zhi is so lucky to marry Mingli. He really likes her. I think you must be happy to see her."

After saying this, Lord Zhang was silent for a long while, and then said in a muffled voice: "Ah Wan, I am about to die. Before I die, I will use my life to pave a path for my son and your daughter to become high officials, and also fight for a belated truth for you, for Old Master Wen, and for the two brothers Wen Ti and Wen Fu. Speaking of which, Qi Hui's mother has been gone for ten years. You have always gotten along well with her. She has always been cool, so you should remind her."

There were no windows in the ancestral hall, but a breeze suddenly blew, and the wicks of the lamps swayed, as if in response.

"Third sister has been a child all her life, it's amazing that you still remember these things."

Lin Wei's voice came from the entrance of the ancestral hall. Old Marquis Zhang turned around and asked with a smile: "Brother-in-law, why did you come to the ancestral hall instead of looking for Qi Hui?"

Speaking of this, Lin Wei became extremely angry.

"I just said a few words to Qi Hui. I wanted to meet my nephew's wife and leave. I didn't expect this guy to be so protective of her. He said that the wedding was complicated, busy and tiring, and she must be tired and exhausted, and it's not appropriate for her to meet outsiders." Thinking of this, Lin Wei felt angry. "So, I, the uncle, have become an outsider today?" He glanced at the old Marquis Zhang, "It's true that the father raises the same son. You and your son are the same. You use people to serve the people and don't use them to serve the people!"

Old Marquis Zhang turned around with a smile and walked over with his crutches: "Love your wife and you will be prosperous. This is a wise saying that has been passed down in our Zhang family for a hundred years. Please forgive me, brother-in-law."

"Yes, I forgot that you treated my third sister in the same way, spoiling her to the point of lawlessness!" Lin Wei said this in anger, and walked out with Old Marquis Zhang.

Outside the courtyard, the moon was bright and the stars were sparse. From time to time, groups of servants hurried past. Lin Wei knew that the old Marquis Zhang had poor legs and feet, so he deliberately slowed down his pace.

"She is Shen Yu's daughter?"

Lord Zhang was not surprised that Lin Wei could guess this. He nodded, "Yes."

Lin Wei asked again: "Is it the elder sister? Or the younger sister?"

"It's my younger sister." Old Marquis Zhang paused, then said, "The elder sister should have passed away."

"Who did it?"

"Still checking."

"Ming Boyuan, this beast!" Lin Wei cursed viciously. He frowned and said, "Then it seems that the murder of the Earl of Yong'an's mansion was also committed by this kid?"

Lord Zhang nodded.

Lin Wei's eyes were sharp, and his eyebrows moved: "She is ruthless and resourceful, worthy of being the child raised by Shen Yu. Perhaps, she can become the key to our overturning the case for the Wen family."

"Is it really that important whether it is the key or not?" Old Marquis Zhang glanced at Prime Minister Lin and said indifferently, "One of the sisters has died, and the cause of death is still unknown. Brother, let us walk our own path. The children should have their own lives and not become pawns in our hands."

Lin Wei paused, looked sideways and said sternly, "How foolish! You and I are now the thorns in His Majesty's eyes and flesh. We may be demoted to the ground and sent back to our hometown one day. The Wen family case directly points to the Second Prince and Imperial Concubine Yun. As long as the Second Prince falls, the Crown Prince will be safe. Once the Crown Prince is safe, our Xiangfu and Marquis' Mansion will prosper forever." He sighed again and softened his attitude, "You also know that I have no brothers or children. After I die, everything in the Xiangfu will be abandoned. I also understand that you can't stand me, but there is nothing we can do about it. We have shared honor and disgrace with the Crown Prince. I promise that no matter what, I will definitely protect the only bloodline of Wen Wan. How about it?"

Old Lord Zhang looked calm and didn't speak for a long time.

"It doesn't matter. I've said before, the path we're on is the one we chose, and the children have chosen their own path too. They will be the players, not the pawns!"

Old Marquis Zhang said firmly: "But, Qi Hui once said that this child is different from others. She is a phoenix, not a bird. If she is willing to step into the power struggle, then all this will naturally come to pass." Hearing this, Lin Wei seemed to understand.

After thinking for a long time, he said, "I want to meet her."

In the bridal chamber, Zhang Zhi was kneeling on the couch, carefully removing Mingli's complicated bun.

"Are you tired today?"

Zhang Zhi asked as he pulled out a hairpin. Mingli's neck had been pressed by the crown for a whole day and was already extremely sore. She didn't answer him, but asked him instead: "Does this look good on me?"

"You are graceful as a startled swan, gentle as a swimming dragon. You are as glorious as an autumn chrysanthemum, and as luxuriant as a spring pine." As he spoke, Zhang Zhi lowered his head, leaned close to Mingli's ear, and smiled softly, "You are so extraordinary and seductive. There is no other woman in the world who can compare to you."

Mingli listened and burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking slightly: "What's wrong with you today? Your mouth is as sweet as if it were dipped in honey?"

"I am happy today. I have never been so happy in the past ten years." Zhang Zhi said frankly. He suddenly looked at Mingli and asked her, "You told me before that the name Mingli belongs to your sister. What about yours? What is your own name?"

Mingli pursed her lips and said after a while: "I don't have a name, but I..." She lowered her eyes, as if wondering whether to tell Zhang Zhi.

"But I have a little word, Yangyang."

"Great."

Zhang Zhi recited the name softly, savoring it over and over again. He suddenly raised his eyes and said, "A country with a strong people. I heard my father say that this is a phrase that Grand Master Wen always says day and night."

Mingli nodded slightly, "That's what I mean."

"Can I shout this little word?"

"Since I'm willing to tell you, I'm willing to let you shout."

As soon as he said this, Zhang Zhi's mouth almost stretched to his ears. Since Mingli couldn't see his expression, he laughed even more wildly. He took off the sandalwood hairpin and felt something was wrong when he touched it for the first time, so he followed the pattern to examine it carefully: "Who gave you this hairpin?"

Mingli turned around to look and replied, "What Shancha brought should be the few things left by my sister."

Zhang Zhi hesitated for a moment and said, "There are dragon patterns on it."

"Dragon pattern?"

Mingli held the hairpin up to the candlelight and saw a dark pattern on the bottom of the hairpin, which was indeed a dragon pattern. This hairpin was not only a royal item, but also a thing of the emperor. But how could such an item be in my sister's hands?

Zhang Zhi got off the bed and went to the side to find a box. "Put it away first. I'll ask Shan Cha tomorrow."

"Okay," Mingli did as she was told. She said, "We have something else to do tonight."

Business?

Zhang Zhi froze in place. Was this the serious matter he was thinking about?
(End of this chapter)