The Imperial Guard’s Revenge

e.
Mother and sister, go back to the house as soon as you finish your fun, I’ll go first.”

Chen Shi’s eyes widened, but before she had time to speak, Fu Tingzhou had already walked up to Madam Yongping Marquis and paid his respect: “I have other business, so I will leave first.”

After that, without waiting for Madam Yongping Marquis’ reaction, he turned around and left.

The Madam Yongping Marquis was stunned together with the maids beside her.
After a while, Madam Yongping Marquis smiled and asked Chen Shi: “The Marquis of Zhenyuan left in a hurry, is there something wrong in the Mansion? If you have anything to do, Old Madam, just go, don’t let us delay your efforts.”

Chen Shi was embarrassed, she couldn’t explain, so she had to take advantage of the situation and leave.

As Madam Yongping Marquis and Fu Tingzhou were talking in front, the girls followed behind their first mother.
They were embarrassed to get in front of the foreign man, so they pulled Hong Wanqing to make fun of her.
The words of the concubine-born sisters seemed to be flattering, but in fact they had hidden scheming.
Usually Hong Wanqing pushed back when she heard these words, but today, she was inexplicably tired, and she couldn’t raise the strength to fight them.

A group of young ladies and maids were chatting, when they suddenly saw Fu Tingzhou leave and, then the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion also left.
The ladies of Yongping Marquis Mansion were puzzled and asked hurriedly: “What happened?”

The Madam Yongping Marquis asked someone to gather the young ladies to be careful not to get lost.
Hearing the ladies’ questions, Madam Yongping Marquis said lightly: “There is something in the Zhenyuan Marquis Mansion, so they left first.”

The ladies of the Yongping Marquis couldn’t hide their disappointment when they heard this.
They had been in the house for a long time, and they rarely saw foreign men, especially such a young and promising unmarried man like Fu Tingzhou, who was a good son-in-law in anyone’s eyes.
Fu Tingzhou left and walking around suddenly lost half of its fun.
The Madam Yongping Marquis pretended not to know the thoughts of the common ladies.
She pulled Hong Wanqing to her side and asked in a low voice: “How is it between you and the Zhenyuan Marquis?”

When Hong Wanqing heard her mother’s question, her eyes turned sour, and she almost burst into tears.
She raised her head and was about to say something when her eyes suddenly swept past two familiar figures not far away.

Hong Wanqing was stunned, and Madam Yongping Marquis turned back, only to see the rolling crowd, heavy lights, and shadows.
She turned her gaze and asked her daughter curiously: “What are you looking at?”

Hong Wanqing came back to her senses and quickly shook her head to say it was all right.
Seeing that Madam Yongping Marquis couldn’t ask anything, she didn’t remember and even forgot the topic just now.

After her mother left, Hong Wanqing was half a step behind, and she couldn’t help but look back in the direction where Fu Tingzhou had left.
She didn’t know if this counted as good luck, but Fu Tingzhou was in a hurry to find someone, and he didn’t have the patience to listen to them so he went back the same way he came.
However, if he stayed a little longer, or if he changed direction, he would meet the adopted sister he had been thinking of.

·

Lu Heng was also convinced.
Tonight, he seemed to have an indissoluble bond with Fu Tingzhou.
First, he accidentally bumped into him when he was wandering around.
Later, he changed directions urgently, and he almost bumped into him again.
Fortunately, Fu Tingzhou was one step ahead, and they just missed him.

Lu Heng seemed to go out alone, but in fact, he was always accompanied by his attendants.
The spies kept reporting the surrounding situation to Lu Heng.
Lu Heng planned the route, quietly preventing Wang Yanqing and Fu Tingzhou from meeting, and returned to the house without any disturbances.

After walking outside until the middle of the night, Wang Yanqing was also tired.
When she returned to the mansion, she breathed a sigh of relief, and with the help of the maid, she removed the heater, sheath and other items, revealing the light clothes inside.
Wang Yanqing cleaned her hands, walked to Lu Heng, who also changed into casual clothes, and asked: “Second brother, who is that person we met today?”

Lu Heng was wearing a light gray round neck robe, sitting under the lamp worthy of a long jade stand, shining brightly.
Lu Heng took a sip of tea and put down the tea cup.
He pulled Wang Yanqing to sit opposite him and said nonchalantly: “The Duke of Chang Guo, Zhang Heling, is a fool.”

“Second Brother.
Wang Yanqing stared at him and said truthfully, “To you, everyone is a fool.”

“To say he is a fool is to flatter him.”Lu Heng snorted lightly, and added, “He is the younger brother of Empress Zhang.”

When Wang Yanqing heard this, she blinked and understood.
Seeing her understanding, Lu Heng continued, “As a woman, Empress Zhang has been extrememly honored and favored in her life, which is unprecedented.
Her father was originally just a scholar, relying on his cousin’s official position, his daughter was able to participate in the draft.
Coincidentally, the daughter of the Zhang family was selected and became the crown princess in the palace.
In the same year, she became the queen smoothly.
Immediately afterwards, the Zhang family rode on her success.
Emperor Hongzhi…”

Lu Heng paused as he spoke, with an intriguing expression on his face.
Upon seeing this, Wang Yanqing asked: “What happened to Emperor Hongzhi?”

Lu Heng lowered his eyes and smiled.
He picked up the tea cup, leaned back on the chair and slowly swiped the tea foam: “His Majesty Hongzhi is a very filial emperor.
He was gentle and respectful, diligent and kind.
He did not miss a single day from the morning, afternoon, and classics banquets.
He only had Empress Zhang as his one wife and took no other concubine.
He also took special favor to the family behind Empress Zhang.
After Empress Zhang gave birth to the prince, Empress Zhang’s father, Zhang Luan, asked for the title of Marquis in the name of the empress’s merit.
Even when the officials objected, saying that there had never been such a precedent before, the Hongzhi Emperor still agreed.
Later, Zhang Luan died, and Empress Zhang’s younger brother, Zhang Heling, inherited the title of the Marquis of Shuning.
Another younger brother, Zhang Yanling, was named the Marquis of Jianchang.
The Zhang family’s clan, proteges and even adopted sons were all awarded high-ranking positions.
In the Hongzhi Dynasty, the Zhang family was full of glory and no one could stop them.”

When Wang Yanqing heard this, she couldn’t help but frown.
How a husband treats his wife is a matter of his own house, no one else’s business, but not for the emperor.
Because what the emperor gives out is often the blood, sweat, and tears of the people and the wealth and power of the state.

Wang Yanqing couldn’t help but ask: “Was there no objection?”

“Of course there was.” Lu Heng said, “People were dismissed by Emperor Hongzhi just because they refused to write articles for the Zhang brothers.
At a banquet, when Emperor Hongzhi changed his clothes, the brother Zhang Heling borrowed the emperor’s crown to wear.
When Emperor Hongzhi came back, he didn’t say anything.
A few days later, Zhang Heling wanted to wear the emperor’s crown again, but one eunuch couldn’t put up with it any longer so he reprimanded him and was actually blocked by Empress Zhang.”

Wang Yanqing frowned as she listened, and she couldn’t believe that this was actually happening in the palace: “Openly peeping into the imperial curtain at the banquet… If this spreads out, wouldn’t it be a big disaster?”

Lu Heng smiled lightly, playing with the taste: “What calamity could there be? On the contrary, the eunuch who reprimanded Zhang Heling’s brother fell into bad luck, Empress Zhang was offended, very angry, and c omplained to Emperor Hongzhi.
Emperor Hongzhi did not hold the brother Zhang Heling accountable, but ordered the Imperial Guards to imprison the troubled eunuch.
Within two days, the eunuch was instructed by Empress Zhang and was put to death in prison.”

It happened in the prison of the Imperial Guards, no wonder Lu Heng knew so well.
Wang Yanqing probably understood why Lu Heng’s attitude was subtle when he mentioned Emperor Hongzhi.
The crown was a ritual vessel and could not be worn casually.
The brother Zhang Heling wore the emperor’s crown.
Regardless of his parents’ family, how did Emperor Hongzhi do nothing in the face of the domineering descendants? Zhang Heling and his brothers did this in front of the emperor.
Would they be restrained when they treat ordinary officials and common people?

For Empress Zhang, Emperor Hongzhi only married her in this life, and he did not dote on other women all his life, so he was of course a good husband.
But for others, it was not determined whether the Hongzhi Emperor was good king.

Wang Yanqing understood why Zhang Heling was so unruly when he saw her today.
With such an Empress sister condoning him, there was nothing he couldn’t do.
After the death of Emperor Hongzhi, Empress Zhang’s own son ascended the throne.
It was completely predictable how lawless the Zhang family will be.

If it weren’t for the sudden death of the Emperor Zhengde, they would have been out of control forever.

Wang Yanqing thought for a while and asked: “After that, why did Zhang Heling’s title become Duke of Chang Guo again?”

“That was a matter of the court.
Lu Heng said, “When His Majesty first came to the capital, Zhang Heling welcomed the Holy Highness on behalf of the Empress Zhang.
In the first year of Your Majesty’s ascension to the throne, Empress Dowager Zhang mentioned the grace of his support.
In order to thank Zhang Heling for his work in welcoming the throne, His Majesty promoted Zhang Heling to the Duke of Changguo.”

Wang Yanqing replied softly and she looked closely at Lu Heng.
Lu Heng noticed her gaze and flicked her with a smile: “See what I do.”

Wang Yanqing knew that her guess was right.
At first, the Zhang family were able to live the dream of being an uncle of the country.
Today, it resided with the Empress Zhang.
How can the child emperor hold them with gratitude? As a result, the Zhang family and Empress Zhang hit the iron plate.

Lu Heng generally told Wang Yanqing about the cause and effect which were powerful, and he didn’t talk much about the rest.
He said this, firstly, because he met Zhang Heling, fearing that Wang Yanqing would suffer at the hands of that old lecher.
Secondly, because Empress Jiang was seriously ill, and the palace could not tell what was going to happen.
Lu Heng couldn’t take care of the family all the time, so he reminded Wang Yanqing now, so that she could prepare in advance.

In the end, Lu Heng said lightly: “The Zhang family is not a good, you should stay away from them.”

Lu Heng also told against Empress Zhang with these words.
Wang Yanqing felt helpless, thinking to herself that Second Brother really dared to say it.
At the same time, she also understood that the Lu family and the Zhang family were not the same.
No matter how Lu Heng actually felt about the Zhang family, on the bright side, he couldn’t have any good feelings towards the Zhang family, or he would poke a nail in the emperor’s eyes.

Wang Yanqing secretly reminded herself that in the future, when she sees the Zhang family, she will detour, and must not cause trouble to Second Brother.
Seeing her so serious, Lu Heng couldn’t help but smile.
He pinched her cheek and said: “It’s just a small matter, you don’t have to be nervous.
A mere member of the Zhang family can’t affect me.”

“Second Brother! ” Wang Yanqing tried to break his hold with a solemn face, “I’m not a child, why are you pinching my face?”

Lu Heng turned a deaf ear, Wang Yanqing’s strength was insignificant to him.
He still rubbed Wang Yanqing’s face, and slowly retracted his hand when he had satisfied himself enough: “You will always be a child in front of second Brother.
But you are too thin, and there is no meat on your face, you need to eat more in the future.
Otherwise, when you meet outsiders, others will think that I am treating you harshly.”

Wang Yanqing finally got rid of his hand, hurried away from Lu Heng, and rubbed her face.
When she heard Lu Heng’s words, she paused for a moment.
She hesitated for a moment, and then asked: “Second Brother, when you saw the Duke of Chang Guo today, why didn’t you just say that I’m your sister?”

Hearing this, Lu Heng looked at Wang Yanqing with a half-smile: “Qing Qing wants to be the lady of the Lu family so much?”

Wang Yanqing thought it was strange that he couldn’t say it: “Then what?”

|| Author’s Note:

Lu Heng: Tsk, my younger sister didn’t pursue it that much.