Sixty-five confused

  Han 12

  Upper Yuan

  Shangyuan is one of the most lively days of the year, and it just so happens that the rebellion in southern Huainan has been quelled, the borders of the Han Dynasty are at peace, and on this day, countless lanterns are hung up in Chang'an City to celebrate together.

  Zhang Yan walked through the eastern city, admiring the colorful lanterns hung out by various shops along the way, some of which were cleverly designed and delightful to behold.

  "Hey, look at that," she exclaimed, pointing to the top lantern in a row of lanterns hung slanting from the eaves of a shop, "Isn't that lantern beautiful?"

  "It's still a small skill even if it's beautiful. Can't compare to the young master spending a lot of money to hire a professional lantern maker to make it look good?" Xiangyun said with a pout, "If the young master wants to see beautiful palace lanterns, he can just see them in the mansion, why bother running out here?"

  Zhang Yan smiled and said, "No matter how good the lights at home are, they can't compare to the human touch outside." She ordered her servant to buy some lanterns and said, "It's just right to take them over to make Bo Yanyin's brother laugh."

  The Battle of Huainan has passed for some time, and the consolation to the soldiers has been issued. At that time, in the middle army account, one war dead country's Han army generals, Empress Lü even added a special example money, to express gratitude for the maintenance of the prince's kindness. Although it was finally divided into the hands of the deceased soldier's family members, only dozens of coins, everyone was already grateful and virtuous. It seems that everything is peaceful and happy, the Great Han dynasty is becoming more and more solid, the imperial capital Chang'an is celebrating the Lantern Festival with great fanfare.

  Zhang Yan let out a sigh.

  She thought of Zhang Xia.

  Guan Nei Marquis Zhang He's right eye was also injured in the Battle of Huai, and after returning to the capital, he had been recuperating at Liu Hou's mansion. The Emperor sent a royal physician to examine him, saying that there was no major problem, and with slow nursing, he would recover.

  It's just that everyone knows in their heart, no matter what, once your eyes are injured, your vision will be damaged to some extent afterwards.

  The sound of quarreling between family members and lamp vendors came over. Zhang Yan suddenly regained consciousness and asked, "What's going on?"

  "The young master has taken a liking to this lamp," said the family member, holding the lamp and turning around in discontent. "He said he wanted 100 coins for it, but when I paid him, he wouldn't sell."

  "She raised an eyebrow and asked curiously, 'Why isn't it for sale? Is this lamp already reserved by someone?'"

  "That's not it," said the lantern seller with a bitter smile. "It's just that your man gave me 150 coppers, but if it's coppers, then it should be 150."

  "What's wrong with the shell money? The shell money was also issued by Your Majesty's clear order." said the family member.

  "You know that too," said the lantern seller, standing his ground. "But if I accept your money, it won't be worth half a dime anywhere else."

  Zhang Yan took a Qin dynasty half-liang coin and a shell-shaped coin, weighed them in her hand, and saw that the shell-shaped coin was about three-tenths smaller than the half-liang coin in terms of size, and its weight was less than six-tenths. However, both coins had the same inscription on their surfaces, which read "half-liang".

  "The young master usually doesn't handle silver and money personally, so he probably doesn't know," Zuo Mo explained in a low voice from behind, "In fact, the Qin currency itself is not even half a tael, weighing only about four or five zhu. After the Han Dynasty was established, because the Qin currency was heavy, Your Majesty ordered the people to cast Huo currency, which was originally Your Majesty's intention to benefit the people, but the Huo currency weighs three zhu. With lighter coins and heavier texts, the common people feel they are at a disadvantage, so if they use Huo currency to buy things, they have to pay a higher price."

  Zhang Yan furrowed her brow. However, looking at the palace lantern in her hand, she really liked it and said, "The old man's words are reasonable. 150 coins is just 150 coins."

  She carried a palace lantern to the Liu Hou Mansion. As soon as the gate opened, the steward of the mansion had already seen her before and smiled, saying, "The young master has come to visit our Second Master."

  "Uh-huh." Zhang Yan jumped down from the car and said with a smile, "I can go in by myself."

  Suddenly, a red cloud floated out of the main gate, and a beautiful young girl with a lovely face appeared, her eyes flashing with tears. She stubbornly raised her head and refused to fall, turning back to shout at the Liu Hou Fu gate, "Who wants you?" As she came down from the steps, she ran into Zhang Yan, who was also known as the Chu Guo Weng Zhuang of the Liu family, Liu Xian.

  "Ah, Auntie is well." Zhang Yan called out awkwardly.

  Liu was taken aback for a moment, then remembered who she was. She snorted coldly and said, "Are you here to visit Zhang Da Gongzi? It's better not to go, he's used to taking other people's kindness as a joke." With a flick of her sleeve, she showed her disgust and said, "A good girl like you, why dress up like this? So tacky. What's wrong with being a girl that you have to be ashamed of yourself?" After scolding Zhang Yan in a loud voice, she didn't wait for an answer and got into the carriage, shouting at the driver to go faster, and soon disappeared into the distance.

  Zhang Yan was stunned for a while before turning to ask Zhang, the housekeeper, "What's wrong with the Princess of Chu?" As someone who could serve as the housekeeper of the Liu Hou Fu, the old man was also a seasoned person. He smiled subtly and said, "The thoughts of the Princess of Chu, I haven't been able to understand them after all these years." After thinking for a moment, he quietly reminded her, "Perhaps the Princess of Chu came with good intentions to visit the Second Young Master, but the Second Young Master didn't meet her expectations."

  She walked into the East Garden with ease, stood under the corridor and heard a soft voice coming from inside An's room, "The old master of Chu State is also ignorant, he just spoke nonsense earlier, don't mind it, big brother."

  Another low and husky voice said, "A He, are you blaming Big Brother in your heart?"

  "That's not going to happen." The voice was firm and cheerful.

  "Take good care of your injury----"

  Zhang Yan coughed softly outside the door and called out, "Yan Yin gege."

  After a while, the man in blue clothes lifted the curtain and bid farewell, saying "Mrs. Zhang". It was Zhang He's eldest brother, Liu Hou Shizi Zhang Bu Yi.

  "Yan Yin," Zhang Yan said with a sly smile as she poked her head in, "Am I disturbing you and your brother?"

  "There's nothing going on." Zhang He raised his head and said lightly, "I hate seeing him like this the most. Both of us are miserable when facing each other."

  He was wearing a white single garment in the house, with a brocade cloak draped over it, revealing the collar. Due to his injury, his right eye was bandaged with white gauze, leaving only one left pupil, which had a light amber color and was clear and bright. His profile was elegant and refined.

  "What a beauty." Zhang Yan muttered in a low voice, "No wonder Liu Xian'ai has been infatuated with him for so many years." "Brother Yanyi," she said with a smile after a moment of daze, "I saw a lamp at the market just now and bought it to give you. Isn't it beautiful?"

  "Hmm." Zhang Xie smiled slightly.

  She stood up with enthusiasm. "Then I'll help you hang the lamp, okay?"

  "Don't bother yourself," Zhang He smiled slightly and turned around to instruct, "Rui Ze, help Mrs. Zhang hang up the lanterns."

  Zhang Yan looked at Rui Ze with joy as he hung the butterfly palace lamp under the eaves of the An room, "It will be even more beautiful after it's lit. When night falls, let Rui Ze help you light the lamp and push open the door to see it. Ah," she suddenly remembered Zhang Xie's eyes and felt very sorry in her heart.

  "It's nothing." He himself didn't mind, "I can see with my other eye too."

  He stood up and stood with her under the corridor, hanging the palace lanterns with his hands behind his back. Zhang Yan raised her head, but could only see the side of his face. "Does your eye still hurt?"

  "It doesn't hurt anymore." He also smiled in response.

  With great effort, she pulled herself out of the daze, her eyes wandering aimlessly as she made small talk. "Just now, I saw Chu Guo's mother come out of the mansion, looking furious. This cousin-in-law of mine is not only beautiful but also so fond of Yan Yin, yet Yan Yin doesn't like her. Who else could she possibly like?"

  "We have different paths and shouldn't be together." Zhang said with a carefree tone, "A Qie is a good woman, but I don't get along with her. I hope she understands this soon, so as not to waste her youth."

  "Besides," he paused and said indifferently, "she is indeed a rare good woman. But there are also other good girls in this world. For example... Ah Yan?"

  "Huh?"

  She thought he was calling her and looked up in surprise.

  "You."

  It took her a while to piece together his two sentences. In that instant, her heart skipped a beat as Zhang Xuan stretched out his hand and slowly touched the tip of her cheek, causing her to hold her breath unintentionally.

  He gently patted her forehead, "Haven't had a headache lately?"

  "Ah----?" After reacting for a while, she suddenly turned red and shook her head. "It doesn't hurt anymore."

  When she left the Liu Hou Mansion, she looked up at the sun with a bitter expression. Was it that moment when the atmosphere in the room was too quiet? Or was it the beauty of the palace lanterns that had disturbed her thoughts.

  It's been three years since I arrived in Hanchu, and her figure has appeared less frequently in my dreams. However, only she knows that deep down in her heart, there is a place where his name is deeply engraved. Zhang Hui's appearance also gradually took shape, standing independently, but at the moment just now, the two figures overlapped, as if they were about to merge into one.

  "Daughter," Mu Yan smiled and said, "it's late, are you going back to the Marquis' residence?"

  "Goodness gracious," Zhang Yan touched her belly and said, "I'm starving, let's find a restaurant to eat something."

  "Gongzi said," Xianglian couldn't help but laugh and said, "You are the master, I am the servant, can I still stop you?"

  Qiongyang Restaurant

  As soon as Zhang Yan stepped inside, a young servant came up to greet him. "Is that Young Master Zhang?" he asked with a smile. "There's already a gentleman waiting for you in the elegant room on the second floor."

  The look of uncertainty on her face suddenly changed when she heard Zhang Yan's clear and crisp laughter, "Alright, I understand." She turned around and instructed the family members who had followed her, "You all go find something to eat downstairs by yourselves." Then she went upstairs with him.

  Pushing the door open, a faint scent of grass wafted in, filling the elegant room with fragrance. A man in white stood by the window, his slender figure elegant.

  "Zhang's wife." The man turned his head around.

  It turned out to be the fifth young master of the Hou Mansion's Ming Ji Pavilion.

  Xu Xiang bowed and smiled, saying, "I have been waiting for you, Duke Xiang."

  "Uh-huh." Zhang Yan nodded slightly and turned around to instruct softly, "Tong Wei, you take my place and guard the door, don't let anyone come in."

  She was dazed and confused, but managed to nod her head in agreement.

  "I heard that Mrs. Zhang was ill with a headache some days ago, is she better now?" asked Xu Xiang respectfully.

  Zhang Yan looked at him for a while, chuckled and said with self-mockery, "It seems that my headache is now known to everyone in Chang'an City. ---- It's nothing serious."

  "That's good."

  Xu Xiang carefully took out a four-colored brocade pouch from his bosom and spread it out on the table. One color was green, one purple, one dark blue, and one indigo. The stitches on the pouch were fine and dense, with an elegant pattern. Except for the colors, there were no other differences.

  "Thank you, young lady, for the clever plan before you left. Now, following Zhang's wife's idea, we have successfully returned the jade intact, but..." Xu Xiang hesitated and said, "the white silk pouch was lost on the battlefield during the Battle of Huai, and it can't be found."

  "Is that so?" Zhang Yan sat at the desk, smiling brightly. Ever since she had a headache last time, her mother had been treating her like a pig to be raised, wanting her to eat and sleep every day, without thinking about anything in between. As for herself, on the one hand, she felt her mother's loving care, and on the other hand, she was also afraid of falling ill again, so she followed her mother's wishes and tried to think less, and after a few months, unknowingly, her mind had become much duller than before. "It doesn't matter as long as it doesn't fall into someone else's hands."

  Xu Xiang was taken aback, gazing at the girl's lovely face for a long time before speaking in a complex tone, "Now I believe what my sister said that day, Zhang Niangzi is an extraordinary person who can turn the world around. Although Zhang Niangzi doesn't have the talent for battle and conquest, her words are ingenious and profound, often making people realize things deeply. Moreover, she understands the prince's thoughts as if they were in the palm of her hand, always hitting the mark with her words. Xiang only relies on these five brocade bags, even without any military achievements, after this Huainan battle, in the prince's heart, his position may not be inferior to Zhang Jie and Fan Qian --- but there is one thing that Xiang doesn't understand."

  "Since Zhang Niangzi has such talent, why doesn't she personally persuade the prince, but instead wants to borrow Xiang's mouth to speak?" Zhang Yan smiled slyly and said, "Xu Gongzi is only willing to listen to me seriously because of your sister's previous prophecy."

  Xu Xiang's face flushed slightly, and he turned his head away.

  She didn't think much of it and continued, "If it were someone else, they would probably take my words as a child's nonsense, how could they possibly listen to a single word." This is still good, if not only disbelieving, but also taking her as a demon possessed, she would be losing both wife and soldier.

  And between us, it's just a transaction. I use your body to speak my words and help my uncle walk out of his own world, step by step, to achieve his dreams. And you use the knowledge I've accumulated over 2,000 years to stand out in front of the Emperor and fulfill your ambition.

  Very fair.

  I'm not afraid of you betraying me. Because if you want to betray, at the same time it is the foundation of your achievements and contributions, lose it, and you are nothing.

  After Xu Xiang took his leave, Zhang Yan ordered the dishes and instructed Tuo Mei, "Bring over that incense burner from the other side."

  She brought a censer and asked in confusion, "Young lady, what are you going to do?"

  Zhang Yan threw the brocade pouch into the incense burner, watching as it slowly turned to ashes before she let out a breath.

  "Darling," she smiled sweetly and said, "You know I've always been closest to you. Promise me one thing, don't tell anyone about what happened today, okay?"

  He stared at her in a daze, for the first time feeling that this girl he had watched grow up since childhood had quietly grown new edges and corners in places he couldn't see.

  Spring is coming. The hearts of young boys and girls are stirring.

  By Han 12, Zhang Yan was 9 years old.

  Mutei, still 3 years away from getting married.