Da Han Yan Hua Fan Wai Ren Xu Bus

  This chapter has 2,000 words displayed, but actually there are over 6,000 words. I'll add 2,400 more for the May monthly ticket (uh, if I want to include the 2,800 additional words too... everyone, don't object, okay?)

  Since it's just opened for subscription, I'll give away 4,000 words as a gift to everyone.

  Happy Children's Day.

  Many many years later

  Emperor Hui of Jin's Zhongyuan 7th year (14th year of Emperor Hui). Fifth month, summer.

  Empress Xiaohui Zhang Yan sat quietly in the Pepper Chamber with her cheek supported by her hand.

  She was somewhat annoyed at this time.

  It all started like this: Early in the morning, Liu Ying got up from her bed to go to the early dynasty. She asked for a good morning kiss as usual, but failed.

  At noon, Liu Ying returned to the Peacock House for lunch. Between husband and wife, it was hard to avoid being intimate. Over the years, she would occasionally take advantage of him, and he had grown accustomed to it. This time, however, he unexpectedly refused her.

  Is this the seven-year itch of a popular legend in later generations?

  Zhang Yan pinched her fingers and calculated that it seemed to be seven years since she successfully kidnapped him in the seventh year of Yuan.

  The so-called seven-year itch, two people who were once passionately in love gradually wore away their passion and lost their freshness in life, and in the dull daily interactions, they became too familiar with each other's shortcomings or conflicting ideas. Eventually, they became tired of each other.

  But they are different from ordinary couples, starting from the closest relatives to the most loved ones. They know each other's character and personality clearly, without hiding anything. It is a common thing in the world for boiling water to gradually cool down into warm water. However, it takes constant addition of firewood to boil the warm water again. She believes that their feelings can withstand the test after going through so much together.

  Beside her, Princess Fanyang was just starting to learn how to play the zither, randomly plucking and strumming, ruining a good instrument. The sound she produced was dull and monotonous, and off-key by who-knows-how-many miles. Zhang Yan couldn't help but say to her own daughter, "Alright, alright, go practice your zither somewhere else! The Xuanhua Pavilion is empty, why don't you go there?"

  "But mother," she said with a bright smile, raising her eyes. She was only six years old, with apricot kernel-like eyes that looked just like Zhang Yan's, and lips similar to Liu Ying's.

  She pulled her mother's sleeve like a spoiled child, "I want to play the piano. I also want to stay by your side."

  Zhang Yan was speechless, in this world where a drop of water can make tofu set (nothing is impossible), one thing can subdue another. She could have Liu Yin eaten to death, and by the same token, this little girl could also be eaten to death by her. Since his daughter said so, he naturally had to accept it.

  At dusk, Liu Ying returned from the Xuan Shi Hall and personally taught her to play the zither, correcting her posture. In this era, playing the zither was a noble pursuit. Many young masters and ladies from wealthy families would learn it. Liu Ying had also learned it before, but as the heir, he focused more on state affairs and didn't spend much time on miscellaneous arts. His zither skills were average. He never scolded his children, making him almost a perfect father of the 24 filial exemplars.

  The problem is, what about me? A certain self-proclaimed neglected queen felt slightly resentful.

  After the evening meal was served in the Pepper House, the father and daughter finally stopped. Liu Ying rubbed her ears and saw Zhang Yan's calm and peaceful expression. She smiled and said, "I thought you didn't like listening to good music. Are you used to it now?"

  Zhang Yan pointed at her ear.

  Liu Ying carefully looked and only then discovered that she had stuffed a ball of cotton into each ear, couldn't help but laugh. "It's okay." He covered his mouth to cough, avoiding his daughter's gaze, "Playing the piano well is one thing, but it can't be that unbearable for you, right?"

  "That's because you're not as sensitive to music as I am." Zhang Yan glared at him with a bad temper. After listening to the monotonous and dull piano sound for so long, she only felt that a nerve in her brain was twitching constantly.

  "Hmm," Liu Ying thought for a moment, "I recall that when I first started learning to play the zither, it didn't seem like there was much difference between good and excellent."

  Zhang Yan was stunned for a moment, and her eyes became slightly dazed.

  Many years ago, when she was six years old, about the same age as Good Good now, she lived in the Pepper Chamber of Changle Palace. One day, she suddenly wanted to learn to play the zither. Liu Ying passed by and heard her playing, and had also "teased" her about her zither skills.

  Liu Ying then turned her head, hugged Hao Hao tightly and smiled, "Now accompanying her is just like accompanying you back then."

  He gave her a silk purse, she returned him a melody. Years passed like flowing water, secretly exchanging. In the blink of an eye, it seemed they had all grown old.

  Liu Ying gazed at her fingertips, which were as tender as a young onion, and her eyes darkened slightly.

  Drinking her favorite Mengding tea, glancing left at her father and right at her mother. Ah, getting sticky again.

  Mother said that's what husbands and wives are. When she grows up, she'll find someone she really, really likes and spend her whole life with him. But what does it mean to really, really like someone? The young girl bites the tip of her finger, suddenly remembering the plush wooden doll her little uncle gave her last time. She really, really likes it.

  "It's decided." Good suddenly slammed her hand on the table, speaking in a loud and heroic tone, "When I grow up, I'll marry Uncle too!" Her voice was soft and sweet, with some childishness.

  With a loud crash, Zhang Yan was startled and almost dropped the chopsticks in her hand. She turned around solemnly and said, "Not allowed."

  "Why?" she asked discontentedly.

  That year, Zhang Huan was eighteen years old, and it was the best time for a young man to be in his prime. His eyebrows and eyes were elegant, and every time he passed through Chang'an City, he wore a stylish side hat.

  Zhang Yan's face didn't turn red and she wasn't out of breath as she said, "Your little uncle is going to marry your little aunt during the New Year. You might as well give up on that idea."

  "Then... " She shrank her neck slightly, clenched her wrist, and with a heroic tone, said, "I'll marry Master Jia then."

  The master plays the piano well and speaks in a profound manner. It's also passable.

  "Not allowed."

  Zhang Yan said lightly.

  "Huh?" Good Good Stupid Eyes said, "Master's family doesn't have a master mother, right?"

  "It's not that there isn't one," Zhang Yan nodded, "But he is too old."

  "The empress is the most unfair. You're really getting on my nerves," he accused, "You allow only this county governor to set fires, but don't allow us common people to light lamps."

  "Hah——" Since the mother and daughter started discussing this matter, Emperor Hui had been sitting aside pretending not to see or hear anything, but he finally couldn't bear it anymore and burst out laughing.

  Then two pairs of identical apricot kernel eyes stared at him angrily at the same time. Zhang Yan was the first to accuse, "Look at your daughter."

  "Alright then, in exactly the same tone of voice, 'Your Majesty, look at your Empress.'"

  Huh, his daughter wasn't born by him alone.

  Zhang Yan lulled her daughter to sleep, thinking in her heart that later on, she should let more young men from Chang'an City come to the Weiyang Palace to socialize. Otherwise, if every day all she sees are just her parents and those two people, her horizons will be too narrow.

  "To find a young man who is even more outstanding than Ah Yan and Jiaxing, I can rest assured." Zhang Yan sighed.

  My family has a daughter who is about to grow up and she seems to have experienced it now. Although, it seems a bit early.

  "Hmm, hmm." Liu Ying rarely verbally refuted her, so she ambiguously said, "Just go with Ah Yan's idea then." But in her heart, she was thinking: Tomorrow morning, I'll send those two men away. Hmm, Ah Yan wants to pick one out? Let her slowly choose then. Although he valued those two people highly, as a father, he was extremely dissatisfied. However, he also had to admit that those two were exceptional young talents; if Ah Yan wanted to find someone even better than them, it wasn't something he could say was impossible. It's not easy though.

  Then it would be natural for his daughter to stay in the palace for a few more years.

  As a father, I have an innate hostility towards the man who is currently hiding in some corner but may take away my precious daughter someday.

  But... Hmm...

  The delicate body in her arms leaned over, and Ah Yan's hands and feet were quite dishonest.

  Liu Ying smiled wryly and took out her hands, holding them. "It's late today, go to sleep."

  Zhang Yan's heart sank rapidly.

  Since he stayed behind by himself that year, in all these years, he has never rejected his own advances.

  She couldn't help but feel wronged and kicked him in anger.

  "Hmm." Liu woke up to find his little wife looking stern, and immediately felt a big headache coming on. From experience, if he didn't clear things up right away, then for the next two days, he'd be in for a cold reception in the Peony Pavilion.

  So he plucked up his courage and asked, "What's wrong?"

  "You're ignoring me." She thought of Zhao Ke, Wang Kong and Ding Wu from many years ago, and couldn't help but feel a little sour in her heart. How much hardship had she endured for him back then? Now, occasionally making a scene to get something out of it was also considered earning some interest.

  "What's the point of bringing up old matters?" Liu Ying sighed and asked with a raised hand.

  "Do you think I want to bring up old scores?" Zhang Yan said angrily, "You usually wouldn't be so perfunctory with me. When things are contrary to normal, there must be a ghost. Tell me, did you secretly go see Mei Baizi or Jiang Meiren?"

  Emperor Tang Ming also once favored Yang Guifei, but still occasionally thought of old favors and went to see Mei Jiang's picking lotus.

  Liu Ying furrowed her brow and asked, "Are there eight sons with the surname Mei and a beauty with the surname Jiang in Weiyang Palace?"

  "Huh..." Zhang Yan was stunned, "That's not the point, whether it's Mei or Jiang, it's just a figure of speech. Oh, you're evading my question, you must have a guilty conscience."

  Liu Ying smiled bitterly, "What are you thinking of? I don't want to get close to you today, it's just because today is the day of Xu."

  What's wrong with you today? Zhang Yan was momentarily stunned.

  "Folk say," Liu Ying explained helplessly, "on the tenth of May every year, we must abstain from ***; otherwise, something bad will happen."

  This day is May 5th of the summer month, Renxu.

  Zhang Yan's eyes were dull and lifeless.

  One year, one month, and one day, her mother-in-law seemed to have mentioned this matter when teaching her the etiquette of a virtuous woman.

  Every year in the spring, during the season of multiple thunderstorms, and on the 10th day of May, it is forbidden. Otherwise, "The Red Emperor will bring disaster to the people, those who violate the ban and act recklessly will suffer calamity that will not end within the year, great and small will all arrive."

  However, she was absent-minded at that time, a little embarrassed, a little shy, and a little fluttered. What she wanted most was to return to his side immediately and never be separated again. As for what Ah Mu said, he didn't listen to much of it.

  But why? Why does the empress, who spends her days idly in the palace, not remember what day it is that she should avoid? Why does the emperor, who should be handling state affairs, remember it so clearly?

  Zhang Yan suddenly had an urge to burst into tears.

  "What's wrong?" Liu Ying couldn't help but laugh and say, "What is this little brain of yours thinking about again?"

  "Uh..." Zhang Yan was at a loss for words for a moment.

  "Alright." Liu Ying closed her eyes and hugged her, "We're old husband and wife now, we can both go make soy sauce. Since I promised you back then, I'll naturally do it. Alright. It's getting late. Let's really sleep."

  Liu Ying was in a daze, when she suddenly felt a pair of soft and delicate hands wrapped around her body. She woke up with a start, only to hear Zhang Yan's voice ringing out loudly. "It's already past midnight. Today is...

  He stared blankly and walked over to the bedside hourglass under the dim light, and indeed it had already flipped to one side.

  Someone said with a smile, "In other words, your reason no longer exists."

  She must get back her lost face.

  Hmmm, since his little wife is so enthusiastic, Liu Ying also didn't want to slow down.

  Zhang Yan suddenly remembered that she seemed to have forgotten something and said, "Wait a minute."

  Before being submerged by the tide, she stretched out one hand with great effort. She grabbed the oil lamp placed on the table in front of the bed and smashed it to the southwest with a loud crash.

  The little girl who was kneeling there shuddered all over with surprise.

  When Zhang Yan was confused and infatuated, it was natural that none of the objects she threw hit their mark. Moreover, she wasn't aiming at people in the first place. Xiao Nu Shi was frightened out of her wits, hastily picked up Tong Shi, and rushed out of the palace gates in three strides. By then, they could already hear the Empress's faint moan escaping from her throat.

  What's next?

  She stood in front of the temple gate. Suddenly she was stunned.

  Shen Auntie once said that as a great and dignified female historian, one should not fear "evil" forces and bravely guard one's duties. However, Shen Auntie taught her the way but forgot to teach her courage. Shen Auntie being fearless of Empress Zhang does not mean that this little new female historian would also dare to ignore Empress Zhang's obvious intentions as if they were just whispers in her ear.

  "Ah." Before the chief eunuch, Han Changyu saw a 15 or 16-year-old white-clad young girl holding onto Tong Shi and standing blankly in front of the Pepper Chamber. She looked simple and childlike. He couldn't help but ask, "You're the new female historian, huh? Shen Historian's apprentice."

  "Uh-huh." Little Miss nodded, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Hello, Mr. Han."

  "How did she choose you?" Han Changyu asked blankly. Shen Dongshou looked silly, but was actually very clever. How could she have chosen such an unqualified disciple?

  "I was personally selected by the Empress Dowager and entrusted to Shen Nüshi as an apprentice." The young historian couldn't help but say with a proud and reverent tone, "Empress Zhang said that I have a clear mind, am well-versed in literature, and am a rare good seedling."

  "Oh." Han Changyu nodded his head, seeming to understand.

  Empress Zhang probably thought that she had a good temper and was timid, and would not be as difficult to control as Shen Dongsu, so she chose her and forced Shen Dongsu to marry her, leaving him with no choice but to comply.

  "But my aunt always says I'm stupid." Little Shi said dejectedly, "I also know that I haven't learned all the skills, but my aunt left the palace a few days ago and I had to come alone. Now I've been driven out of the Pepper Chamber by Empress Zhang, how can I possibly remember tonight's schedule?"

  If it were Shen Dongshou, Han Changru couldn't help but think that she would remain calm and stay in the palace, anyway, as long as she could get through the opening ceremony, after a while, Empress Zhang would be too busy to bother with her.

  Empress Zhang was displeased with the presence of others when she was in a good mood, which was her small temper. However, recording the events of imperial consorts' outings was the duty of female historians. Empress Zhang remembered the kindness she had received from them in the past and couldn't bring herself to treat them harshly.

  But if it were this little girl, she would probably be eaten by that dark-hearted little queen inside, leaving nothing but dregs.

  On the imperial bed, amidst the red waves, Zhang Yan tightly hooked Liu Xuan's back, and sweat dripped down, wetting her hair. Sometimes she would wonder uncertainly if all these years were just a dream, and when she woke up, she was still that child standing in front of Chang Le Palace with no one to rely on.

  But he always stayed by her side, telling himself over and over again that they could rely on each other for a lifetime, growing old together.

  They were in the closest distance all over the world, gasping at each other's hearing.

  At that moment, she seemed to see a burst of colorful sparks in front of her eyes, and couldn't help but dig her fingernails deep into his back. She threw her head back, almost crying out in pain, and unconsciously called out the old nickname, "Uncle."

  "Don't." Liu Ying hugged her slender waist and let her sit on him, self-mockingly laughing, "Don't call me uncle."

  "What kind of uncle am I to you?"

  "In any case, Your Majesty has been staying in the Pepper Chamber almost every year, and Her Majesty the Empress is also well aware of this. As for this matter, just write it casually." He couldn't help but remind her.

  "Thank you, sir." The young woman let out a sigh of relief and picked up her brush to write a line of elegant characters on the red paper. "Sir is really a good person."

  Good man...... Han Changyu couldn't help but shiver. He had been following the Emperor for many years as the General Manager of the Imperial Front, and no one had ever called him a good person before. He caught sight of the female historian's note, which read "Zhongyuan 7th year, summer, May, Renxu day..." and hastily shook his head, saying, "No, it was Guihai day."

  The woman historian rewrote it.

  "In the seventh year of Zhongyuan, on a summer day in May, at three o'clock in the afternoon, he went to the Zhanghou Palace and had an affair with Empress Zhang."

  "Right, how many times?" she asked without raising an eyebrow.

  "How many times?" This time Han Changyu was stunned. "Does the history book still need to record the number of times I've been lucky?"

  "Uh-huh." Xiaonu nodded and gave him a disdainful look, "That's what Shen Auntie taught me. Time, place, people, frequency - not one can be missing."

  "That," Han Changyu uncertainly rubbed his chin, which was smooth and had nothing growing on it. "You just stand here and listen, Empress Zhang has begged for mercy from Your Majesty several times, that's all."

  "Oh." The little girl nodded as if she understood and yet didn't understand.

  The Annals of Emperor Xiaohui of Song

  "In the seventh year of Zhongyuan era, on a summer day in May, Gengzi day, the Emperor visited Empress Zhang in the Pepper Chamber for the first time... again... for the nth time."

  Female historian orders infant

  On the second day, Liu Ying woke up refreshed and got dressed in a deep black robe with the help of the palace attendants. He remembered that Zhang Yan always asked him to give her an "early morning kiss" every time he woke up. So he called out, "A Yan?"

  Zhang Yan murmured and turned over, instinctively wrapping herself in the warmth he had just left behind. It seemed that she was really exhausted last night and didn't even wake up with her eyes open.

  Liu Ying couldn't help but smile, and bent down to steal a small kiss on her lips.

  On the day of Gui Hai, Zhang Yan did get the good morning kiss she wanted, but unfortunately, she was sleeping soundly and didn't notice.

  Miss Dong, who re-entered the temple, remembered that her teacher, Shen, had repeatedly taught her that although the original historical records were dull, as a female historian, she should take it as a hobby and add her own colors to make it more interesting.

  He then picked up his pen and added a sentence to the Tong Shi:

  "On the morning of gui hai day, I got up and called Zhang Hou. She murmured without speaking, with a charming and lovely demeanor. I was delighted and kissed her on the cheek, alas, she didn't notice!"

  1: The actual performance is purely for entertainment purposes. It may or may not match what happens afterwards. No guarantees are provided.

  Two: If there is no accident, Emperor Hui's eldest daughter was enfeoffed as the Princess of Fan Yang, hence she was called the Eldest Princess of Fan Yang. Her childhood name was Hao Hao, and her adult name was temporarily kept secret.

  Three: Continue to canvass for pink votes in June.

  Four: Keywords, Gold Medal Reviewer, 150-word comment, Cheer-up post.

  Happy Children's Day.