Chapter 280
Unlike the hostility and hatred between Zhang Minhua and her concubine sister Zhang Yiyi, Zhang Minxian, as the eldest legitimate son of the Zhang family, had almost no interaction with Zhang Yiyi. He was ten years older than Zhang Yiyi, and by the time she was born, he was already studying in the front courtyard with his tutors.
By the time Zhang Yiyi reached an age where she could remember things, Zhang Minxian was already a fifteen or sixteen-year-old young man, studying at the academy and preparing for the imperial examinations. He only returned home once a month.
Besides visiting his mother and two legitimate sisters in the inner quarters, he would study in the front courtyard study with Prefect Zhang, who also analyzed official matters and court gazettes for Zhang Minxian.
Therefore, he only saw his concubine sister a few times a year. By the time Zhang Yiyi came of age, Zhang Minxian was already married and established, and had been appointed to an official post outside the capital.
Whether it was Zhang Yiyi marrying into the General's mansion as the young madam, or later when the Yang family fell into hardship and Zhang Yiyi sought refuge with the Marquis of Zhenbian's mansion, Zhang Minxian and the Zhang family's actions were all in line with the prevailing circumstances. He and Zhang Yiyi were not enemies, but they had indeed kicked the Yang family when they were down.
Putting down his teacup, Zhang Minxian pondered for a long time before finally speaking, "Given Old General Yang's style of conduct, he wouldn't stoop to retaliating against our Zhang family. Firstly, our Zhang family is not important enough for the Yang family to bother with. Secondly, the Yang family has just been reinstated, and if they were to seek revenge, it would be against those who framed them for colluding with the enemy."
Zhang Minhua's expression turned a bit ugly. Her marriage to the Zhou family was considered a good match, with both families being official households. Similarly, Zhang Minhua's father-in-law was now a fourth-rank prefect, and her husband was the eldest legitimate son of the Zhou family, now a fifth-rank Tongzhi like her elder brother.
However, once the General's mansion was reinstated, it would be a first-rank official! And a first-rank official with control over two hundred thousand troops. In comparison, the Zhang family was merely a humble existence like an ant, indeed not important enough for the Yang family to specifically retaliate against.
But upon thinking of that wretch Zhang Yiyi abandoning the General's mansion, only to now be imprisoned, and the Marquis of Zhenbian's mansion also abandoning her, a smile involuntarily appeared on Zhang Minhua's tightly controlled, dignified face, and her mood became extremely pleasant.
"Elder brother, it's always better to be overly polite than not enough! Our Zhang family did it for self-preservation. As in-laws of the Yang family, we would have definitely been implicated. Now, we come with full sincerity to apologize, not seeking to associate with the General's mansion, but merely for peace of mind."
Moreover, the reason the Zhang family had kicked the Yang family when they were down was because that wretch Zhang Yiyi had once used the name of the General's mansion to target the Zhang and Zhou families.
"Furthermore, Zhang Yiyi betrayed the General's mansion and cuckolded Yang Shoucheng. Our current action against Zhang Yiyi shows our utmost sincerity." A murderous glint quickly flashed in Zhang Minhua's eyes. After that wretch went to the Marquis's mansion, the Zhang family not only dared not seek revenge but also lived in fear, lest that wretch once again use the Marquis's mansion's name to target the Zhang and Zhou families.
Fortunately, that wretch followed the Marquis of Zhenbian without proper status or legitimacy, and in the past eight years, her belly had been uncooperative, giving birth to no offspring, which prevented her from falsely using the Marquis's mansion's name to act.
Zhang Minxian nodded in agreement, lowering his voice slightly, "You must act meticulously and leave no trace."
Zhang Minxian did not care about the life or death of a concubine sister. This was a gesture of sincerity to the General's mansion, but it would also indirectly offend the Marquis of Zhenbian's mansion. As the saying goes, a dead camel is still bigger than a horse. No matter how weakened the Marquis of Zhenbian's mansion was, dealing with the Zhang family was still easy.
"Don't worry, elder brother, I know what I'm doing. Even if the Marquis's mansion sends people to investigate, they won't find anything." Zhang Minhua's tone was calm. Which young lady from an official family didn't have some secret medicine hidden away? Otherwise, how could she maintain her position as the lady of the house for decades?
The siblings ended their conversation, waiting for Yang Shoucheng to arrive for their appointment. Regardless of anything else, they were Yang Xu's maternal uncle and aunt. Zhang Yiyi deserved to die, but this blood relation could not be severed.
At this moment, in the lobby downstairs.
"Wait!" Zhou Shuyao, who had returned with roasted chestnuts, suddenly spoke, saying to the maid beside her, "Qiao'er, go and see if that is the premium Red Sparrow tea that my mother loves the most."
Red tea was already rarer than green tea, and in Longyou Prefecture, any good tea was transported from Jiangnan Prefecture. The quantity was not large, and every year when tea went on the market, it was in short supply. Even with money, one might not be able to buy top-quality tea.
Red Sparrow was a treasure among red teas. Jiangnan was covered in tea gardens, but Red Sparrow was rare, let alone in Longyou Prefecture. Zhang Minhua, due to her health, could not drink green tea and loved Red Sparrow the most. Having traveled all the way to Xiangwu County, Zhang Minhua had not had any tea for seven or eight days.
"Yes, miss." Qiao'er, as Zhou Shuyao's head maid, was usually responsible for such matters. The can with the flying sparrow design was the unique mark of Red Sparrow. One can could only hold one liang of tea, selling for thirty taels in Jiangnan, and at least fifty taels per can when transported to Longyou Prefecture.
The tea house attendant paused, not even having a chance to speak before Qiao'er quickly walked over, snatched the tea can from his hand, and opened it. Upon seeing it, she exclaimed with joy, "Miss, it is indeed Red Sparrow. It's a pity there isn't much left, enough for at most one pot."
Zhou Shuyao nodded with satisfaction, "Just right for mother to satisfy her craving."
"Miss, the tea belongs to the guests at this table, and the money has already been paid," the attendant quickly replied, his gaze shifting towards Zhan Feiyu at the table by the window.
Since there was no need for a tea master to brew the tea, the attendant had brought the tea can over. A charcoal stove had already been lit on the table. Looking at the dried longan, red dates, and dried fruits placed on small plates, it was clear they were going to boil the tea.
Of course, in the attendant's opinion, boiling tea with this five-tael silver Red Sparrow was a waste of good things. However, this young lady was not short of money, so the tea house naturally wouldn't interfere with how she drank her tea.
Zhan Feiyu actually didn't care what kind of tea she drank. She wasn't particular and couldn't really tell the difference. Apart from those aristocratic families with deep heritage, whose younger generations had been educated from childhood, most people truly couldn't discern the subtle differences between medium-grade and high-grade teas.
However, Zhan Feiyu was currently using tea sent from the capital by Scholar Gu or Yin Wuyan, many of which were imperial tributes. Her taste had also improved a little, at most considered to be superficially elegant.
"What kind of country bumpkin is this, even worthy of drinking Red Sparrow? Don't ruin this tea," Zhou Shuyao sneered sarcastically.
Although she was a young girl, she only brought one maid out to the tea house. It was already shabby, but more importantly, it was against the rules. She must be from a merchant family, with the smell of money clinging to her. She probably didn't even know what Red Sparrow tea was, but just ordered whatever tea was expensive.
If the other party had spoken kindly, Zhan Feiyu wouldn't have minded changing the tea. But seeing Zhou Shuyao's face full of contempt and disdain, Zhan Feiyu spoke loudly, "Don't talk about ruining it or not. I bought this tea with my own money. Even if I feed it to a dog, it's my choice."
Zhou Shuyao's pretty face suddenly darkened, and her eyes flashed with coldness and anger, "Mama, slap her!"
"Yes, Eldest Miss." Mama Zhang, an old mama with a face full of wrinkles, walked towards the table with a grim expression. When she scowled, she looked fierce and harsh. The young maids in the Zhou mansion would often be scared to tears just by seeing Mama Zhang's stern face.
"Fine, I misspoke." Zhan Feiyu rolled her eyes. She really didn't mean to insult Madam Zhou, Zhang Minhua. It was purely a metaphor. Could she not feed what she bought to a dog? A thousand pieces of gold couldn't buy my willingness.
He Nuan stood up and blocked the fierce Mama Zhang. Let alone that her young lady had just spoken casually, even if she had truly cursed, what of it?
"Get out of the way! How dare you insult my madam! Not to mention you, a mere young girl, even if your madam were here, she would have to kowtow and apologize!" Mama Zhang said sharply, her sinister and vicious gaze falling on Zhan Feiyu. This little wretch was well-raised, her fair skin so tender that you could squeeze water out of it.
Mama Zhang had never married. The older she got, the more psychologically twisted she became, especially when she saw those tender young maids, she wished she could torment them to death. She had become an old woman, while they were young and tender, which made her sick.
He Nuan remained standing, suddenly wondering if she should also bring a mama when going out in the future. Otherwise, if she only went with her, ten people would still think she was from a merchant family and try to step on her.
"You don't know what's good for you!" Mama Zhang, who had no anger towards the ordinary-featured He Nuan, was instantly enraged when she dared to block her.
Normally, Mama Zhang was obeyed without question by the servants of the Zhou mansion. As the wet nurse of the lady of the house, she was considered half a mistress in the Zhou mansion, and everyone showed her some respect. Even the steward of the mansion called her Sister Zhang. Yet, a maid from a lowly merchant family dared to defy her.
As the angry reprimand fell, Mama Zhang suddenly raised her hand, and her palm, as large as a fan, swung towards He Nuan's face. Unlike those old women who liked to pinch and twist, Mama Zhang's favorite was to slap servants. With one slap, not only would there be a loud sound, but seeing the tender face turn red and swollen, Mama Zhang felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
He Nuan raised her hand to block, then pushed back, slapping Mama Zhang's rough, wrinkled old face directly.
Hmph! Not only was Mama Zhang stunned by the slap, but Zhou Shuyao and the two maids standing by were also dumbfounded. After all, she was Zhang Minhua's wet nurse, and Zhou Shuyao usually showed her some respect, treating her as half an elder.
But now? Regardless of whether it was in the Zhou mansion or the Linzhou Prefecture, Mama Zhang, who had some standing, had been slapped in the face. This was absolutely unprecedented. Hitting a dog meant looking at its owner, and hitting Mama Zhang meant slapping Zhang Minhua's face, which was equivalent to not putting the Zhang family of Linzhou Prefecture and the Zhou family in their eyes.
"You little wretch, how dare you lay a hand on me?" Enraged to the extreme, Mama Zhang's voice became sharp and piercing, like a provoked tigress. With a ferocious face, she then lunged at He Nuan.
Zhou Shuyao frowned. Mama Zhang's shrew-like behavior was a disgrace to the Zhou family, but she couldn't just watch her get beaten without retaliating. She said with a cold face, "Qiao'er, go and call a guard."
Zhou Shuyao would not personally take action, and neither could her personal maid. Such matters could only be handled by guards. Once they captured the person, let alone one slap, even if Mama Zhang beat the maid's face to a pulp, it would be fine. She was just a maid, at most worth fifty taels of silver in compensation.
It was indeed refreshing to come to the tea house. Not only could one see some excitement, but Zhan Feiyu slowly put the dried longan and red dates from the plate into the teapot to boil. She said to the stunned attendant, "Send some more red tea, I don't care about the quality, as long as it's red tea."
Suddenly snapping back to reality, the attendant looked at Zhan Feiyu blankly. How carefree this girl was, still in the mood to boil tea at this moment?
Zhan Feiyu grinned, "I paid five taels of silver, hurry up."
"Yes, I'll go right away." The attendant nodded repeatedly. The can of Red Sparrow was gone, but he had to send some tea to this young lady, and then return the money. Ordinary red tea would only cost two hundred wen per pot.
Even though Mama Zhang was tall, strong, and fierce, to a martial artist like He Nuan, one kick would be enough to knock her down, ensuring she couldn't get up without help.
Zhou Shuyao glanced towards the stairs, her stern face covered with frost. Although Mama Zhang's actions were a disgrace to the Zhou family, they were also understandable.
But for her to dare to kick Mama Zhang to the ground was to show no respect for the Zhou family. If this news reached Linzhou Prefecture, her father would have no face to speak of in the yamen.
"Do you know who I am? How dare you lay a hand on me? I think you're tired of living!" she reprimanded sharply. Zhou Shuyao stepped forward, looking at Zhan Feiyu, who was boiling tea, and said angrily, "If you don't want to bring great disaster upon your family, then obediently kowtow and apologize to Mama Zhang, otherwise don't blame me for being impolite!"
The Zhang and Zhou families were both official households, with relatives and friends spread throughout the officialdom of Longyou Prefecture. Moreover, because the truly powerful figures in Longyou Prefecture were the generals who led the army, the court officials in various prefectures were united as one, sharing prosperity and suffering together.
Therefore, in Zhou Shuyao's opinion, no matter what prefecture Zhan Feiyu was from or what business her family was in, she would absolutely not dare to offend the local officials. Thus, as long as the Zhou family sent a letter, someone would naturally come forward to deal with the other party on behalf of the Zhou family.
Similarly, if the other party had enemies in Linzhou Prefecture, they could also send a letter, and Prefect Zhang's father would help. This was a matter of mutual exchange and assistance.