Mrs. Zhang and her husband Yang Zhan had long reached a tacit understanding, with one accompanying Fu Zhen and the other accompanying Pei Zhan, and they separated into two paths upon entering the garden.
Along the way, Mrs. Zhang occasionally introduced so of the garden’s scenery, which was quite normal. After entering the garden, they gradually walked along the shady path by the lake, where Mrs. Zhang signaled to the servants to retreat, then pointed to a set of stone table and chairs by the lake, saying: "Let’s rest here for a while."
Fu Zhen followed her arrangents and sat down when told.
Mrs. Zhang glanced at her from the corner of her eye and said: "About what Princess Yongping said to you earlier, you didn’t take it to heart, did you?"
Fu Zhen replied: "Why does the princess say that? I didn’t feel the commandery princess was disrespectful in any way."
Mrs. Zhang curled her lips and said: "Yongping, as a person, was spoiled since childhood, inevitably possesses so arrogance, and even the Empress in the palace is helpless against her.
"Since the Emperor and Empress didn’t have a princess, our Prince Rong’s Mansion has only this one commandery princess, and she is truly a Heavenly Pride Girl.
"Before she got married, she spent three to four months each year living in the palace, where the Empress treated her extrely well."
Fu Zhen looked at her and played with a grass blade beside her.
Mrs. Zhang continued: "The reason I’m telling you this is to let you know, at Baihe Temple last ti, you indeed shouldn’t have hit her.
"She holds a grudge against you.
"Of course, who wouldn’t hold a grudge if it happened to them?
"That day in the temple, she made a complaint to our Prince and Princess, and it was who suppressed it after returning to the mansion.
"Otherwise, if the Empress knew that you, born of a rchant’s family, hit their precious niece—General’s wife, let alone whether General Pei could protect you, even the chance of your marriage with him would be slim."
Fu Zhen rembered every single word she said!
After all, it’s not easy to make it so believable!
Who wouldn’t know the Emperor and Empress’s attitude toward Yongping?
With Yongping’s deanor, how could the Empress and Emperor, who are solely focused on governing the empire, favor her?
In recent years, the Emperor has been troubled by state affairs and hasn’t been in good health, relying heavily on the Empress to handle many matters. How could the Empress have the ti to spend three or four months every year educating Yongping?
If there had truly been such a period, how could Yongping have had ti to frequently appear in front of Liang Ning? If Zhang hadn’t been dragged down as a scapegoat, Yongping might really have stirred things up in the palace, ultimately disgracing the Royal family, and the Empress and Emperor would certainly have intervened. But that day it was Yongping who first initiated the conflict, she must bear half of the bla. If punishnts were to be ted, it wouldn’t just be Fu Zhen alone bearing the brunt, right?
Fu Zhen understood it clearly.
Mrs. Zhang thought that she had slapped Yongping because she had Pei Zhan backing her up. The reason for bringing her here was rely to intimidate her since she was from a small, insignificant family and was deed impulsive and naive, easy to manipulate.
She said: "Thank you, Princely Heir’s Consort, for looking out for !"
Mrs. Zhang said: "Because of this matter, the Prince and Princess, as well as Yongping, still hold grudges against for siding with an outsider. Frankly, if not for General Pei, I wouldn’t necessarily withstand such pressure."
Fu Zhen hurriedly said: "I must properly thank the Princely Heir’s Consort later."
"No need for thanks," Mrs. Zhang smiled as she looked over, "I tell you all this, General’s wife, as a courtesy. If you can speak a few good words about the Zhang family to General Pei later, it would be worthwhile even if I am blad."
Fu Zhen asked: "What do you want to say to him?"
Mrs. Zhang said: "My elder brother was wrongly demoted because of a villain. General Pei manages the Capital Camp, and I would like to ask you to convey a ssage to General Pei to let my brother serve under him."
Fu Zhen looked at her for a mont: "Why not have the Princely Heir directly talk to General Pei about this?"
Mrs. Zhang said: "First, because there is a bond of the previous eting between you and , and second, since it’s a matter concerning the Zhang family, naturally it’s better for to speak on it."
She smiled: "You’re new to our circle, I assu it’s often dull. I’m a few years older than you and can treat you as a sister, guiding you through social events."
Fu Zhen twirled the grass blade in her hand.
This woman’s tactics are indeed plenty!
First, she frightens her, then tempts her, as if treating her like a three-year-old child. Thinking she would cling onto a candy? Even their Brother Xuan wouldn’t be so easily deceived!
If she needed guidance, wouldn’t she go to her own mother-in-law? There’s also Su Xing’er!
She twirled the grass blade around her finger and said: "Speaking of which, I’ve heard bits about General Zhang’s matter. What happened to him lately? He was accused during the drill, fought with He Qunying, got attacked, and was rebuked by the emperor, it’s quite a string of bad luck!
"Who exactly attacked him?"
Mrs. Zhang was quite displeased inside; she ca to return a favor, yet received ridicule in return?
She said: "These details need not be investigated. I believe if you say a word to General Pei, it will definitely be resolved.
"In our circle, friendship is about reciprocation. I help you today, you help tomorrow, and I will definitely help you in the future. More people, more paths, wouldn’t you agree?"
"You have a point. But if you don’t tell clearly, I won’t know what to say to General Pei. Do you think he is soone who carelessly transfers personnel to his command?"
Mrs. Zhang looked at her, pursing her lips.
Pei Zhan really isn’t, if he were easy to talk to, there wouldn’t be a need to invite both of them to the mansion today. Nor would there be a need to go through Fu Zhen!
She said: "Currently, we do not know who attacked, but it’s highly likely to be He Qunying!"
"How did it happen? What weapon was used?"
"A rod." Mrs. Zhang frowned, "It was a black rod. He usually doesn’t take that path, but that night he took a shortcut to buy sothing, and unexpectedly fell into an ambush!"
Fu Zhen asked: "What was he going to buy?"
Mrs. Zhang eyed her: "Is that necessary to know?"
Fu Zhen waved her hand: "You can certainly choose not to say."
Mrs. Zhang took a breath and said: "He had just taken a new concubine, who wanted so kind of pastry at midnight, so he went out to buy it; he’s always been considerate!"
Fu Zhen looked at him with incredulity.
This is absurd; even a pile of dung in their family is considered fragrant!
Zhang Damazi is a thorough scoundrel, blocking young girls in alleys since he was twelve or thirteen, with countless concubines coming and going in his mansion. Even committing vile acts against others’ concubines, yet he’s described as ’considerate’?
Mrs. Zhang could really say that!
But speaking of it, the beating Zhang Damazi took was actually with a rod?
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