Chapter 60

Chapter 60: Spring Fills the Room

Huo Zheng answered with a low “mm.”

Chun Zhi saw he did not look very happy, then asked him with a little blame in her voice: “With such good news, why didn’t you tell me earlier?”

It was because he himself was Prince Chang’an; if he told one more lie now, it would be even harder to explain later.

Huo Zheng did not want to deceive Chun Zhi, but because of his special status, he still could not reveal everything.

Before he spoke, Chun Zhi suddenly seemed to understand and asked with a smile: “Are you hiding a private stash of money?”

Huo Zheng paused and neither said yes nor no.

Chun Zhi laughed and said: “All right, keep your monthly pay for yourself. I will not eye your money.”

Huo Zheng acted as if it mattered and said: “Good.”

Chun Zhi looked the donkey over in the yard, feeling one part pain for the money and seven parts joy. She worked day and night to make tofu. People had advised her to buy a donkey so it could turn the mill and grind the soybeans, which would save her a lot of effort. But she loved saving silver and could never bring herself to buy one. Now that Huo Zheng had bought it for her, the cost still hurt, but she was also happy.

Huo Zheng opened the oiled-paper bundles. They were food packed from the biggest restaurant in town, Yunlai Restaurant. He went to get two pairs of chopsticks, handed one to Chun Zhi, and ate with her.

Chun Zhi sniffed and said: “It smells so good.”

She was already hungry, and the dishes made her mouth water. She ate fast. Huo Zheng ate slowly while he listened to her chatter about how Gu Yuan Jia had come by. Young Master Gu had insisted on finding Yu Zhu, but luckily she had sent Yu Zhu off by boat earlier and so on.

The Imperial Clan had many rules, such as not speaking while eating or in bed. Yet as Huo Zheng listened to Chun Zhi go on and on, he did not find it annoying at all. Instead, it felt like a home.

After she finished eating, Chun Zhi rested for a while, then hopped over to the new donkey to look it up and down. The donkey was not afraid of people at all and even came over to sniff her.

Huo Zheng wiped the table, then stood at the basin washing the chopsticks.

Chun Zhi called to him: “Huo Qi, did you give this donkey a name?”

Huo Zheng said: “No.”

Chun Zhi smiled and said: “Then I’ll give it one.”

She thought carefully, then asked: “What would be a good name? Lucky Fortune? Huo Qi, how about calling it Lucky Fortune?”

[This girl really has money on the brain; even the donkey is named Lucky Fortune.]

Huo Zheng put the clean chopsticks into the holder, turned back, and said: “Up to you.”

Chun Zhi clapped lightly and announced to the donkey: “From now on your name is Lucky Fortune!”

She liked the name she had chosen, raised her hand to rub the donkey’s head, and felt very pleased.

Lu Residence.

Since learning that Zhou Rong had gotten into trouble, Ji Ru Zhen had been unable to sleep well. Today she heard that the father and son of the Zhou Household were killed by Prince Chang’an in open court and that the Zhou Manor had been confiscated. Her heart trembled even more. She could not hold out and took a short nap at noon, only to fall into endless nightmares.

She woke with a start and told a maid to fetch Lu Jing Yun.

Lu Jing Yun had been in the study sorting out the whole story of the Zhou Household. When the maidservant asked him to return to the room, he found Ji Ru Zhen with her hair loose and cold sweat on her brow. He immediately asked for a brocade handkerchief and, with his own hands, wiped her forehead.

“Husband,” said Ji Ru Zhen as she leaned into his arms.

In a gentle voice, Lu Jing Yun asked: “Madam, what is it?”

“I had a nightmare,” said Ji Ru Zhen. “I dreamed that after Prince Chang’an killed my uncle and cousin, he wanted to kill me too.”

Lu Jing Yun knew she had sent Zhou Rong to defile Chun Zhi. A guilty heart brings such dreams. He did not expose her. He only patted her back and comforted her in a warm tone: “It was just a nightmare. Madam, don’t take it to heart.”

“But…” Ji Ru Zhen could not tell him the bad thing she had done. She stayed in his arms and said softly: “Husband, let’s return to the Capital sooner.”

After placing first as top scholar, Lu Jing Yun had entered the Hanlin Academy. Because he was the chancellor’s son-in-law, he was allowed a special three-month leave to return home in glory. At least, that was how Ji Ru Zhen saw it.

In truth, Lu Jing Yun was acting under a secret decree from the emperor, helping Prince Chang’an investigate Nanzhou in secret. Since he was from Nanzhou, he knew the region well. Back in Nanzhou, he openly showed goodwill to Prince Ning, moved among the local officials, and helped Prince Chang’an from the shadows.

Prince Chang’an was in the open; Lu Jing Yun worked in the dark.

But when Lu Jing Yun won first place, Prince Chang’an had been in Beizhou patrolling the border. After returning to the Capital, he was sent to Nanzhou again. To this day, Lu Jing Yun had not met him and did not even know what he looked like.

Today, Prince Chang’an executed the Zhou father and son at the Prefect’s Yamen in Nanzhou. Zhou He was a confidant of Prince Ning. Touching him meant that it would not be long before Prince Chang’an moved against Prince Ning.

At such a critical time, Lu Jing Yun could not return to the Capital. He could only soothe Ji Ru Zhen and say in a calm voice: “I have been back in Nanzhou only a short time and only just made friends with the Heir Apparent of Prince Ning. Going back to the Capital now would be a pity.”

Ji Ru Zhen said: “You are the chancellor’s son-in-law. Why befriend the son of a vassal prince? When we return to the Capital, Father can get you whatever post you want.”

“Madam,” said Lu Jing Yun, his face turning serious, “do not say that again.”

Ji Ru Zhen knew he had earned the top scholar title by his own talent and was not like those heirs who relied on family power. She also knew he disliked it when she kept bringing up her father. Feeling tired, she said: “I just want to return to the Capital soon.”

In a low voice he comforted her: “Rest easy. Once I finish the business in Nanzhou, I will take you back to the Capital at once.”

Ji Ru Zhen said softly: “All right.”

Lu Jing Yun held her, but in his heart he was already thinking that he must meet Prince Chang’an as soon as possible.

Peach Blossom Lane, tofu workshop.

Earlier, Chun Zhi had even told Huo Zheng to take the donkey back for a refund, but now she stroked its head and talked to it, completely unwilling to let it go. It went on like this until night, when Huo Zheng could no longer stand it and told her to go to bed.

Chun Zhi answered “oh,” and was about to hop on one foot to fetch water to wash her hands when Huo Zheng scooped her up and carried her to the well. He drew water, had her wash her hands clean, then carried her back into the room and set her on the bed.

The lamplight in the room was dim. The man stood at the bedside and did not seem ready to leave.

Chun Zhi quietly moved inward, leaving most of the outer side of the bed empty. She had almost silently agreed to let Huo Zheng share the bed.

Standing by the bed, Huo Zheng loosened his clothes and belt. His robe fell to the floor. He got onto the bed, reached out to wrap an arm around Chun Zhi’s waist, and drew her into his arms.

Chun Zhi whispered: “Careful… careful with my foot.”

Huo Zheng untied her gauze skirt and lifted one of her legs. In this way he would not touch her injury, and it also added to the fun.

Blushing hard, Chun Zhi said: “Put out… put out the lamp.”

Huo Zheng flicked his sleeve and put out the oil lamp on the table. Moonlight spilled over the window lattice, and spring filled the whole room.