Bai Li’s Dream – Chapter 93

Chapter 93: Behind You

“Madam of Dongyang added a medicinal primer.”

Madam Lin looked at the small piece of incense on the table.

The incense wasn’t big and didn’t smell pungent, would it really keep someone awake?

“Light it up after taking the third dose of medicine at night.”

Master Lin’s eyes held a hint of anticipation: “I asked, and the Imperial Medical Academy said Madam Xue suffered a stroke. Logically, she shouldn’t be able to wake up so soon. But Madam of Dongyang added this medicinal primer, and she woke up within two days.”

Madam Lin smiled gently: “Then I’ll use it too, hoping I won’t be in a constant slumber anymore.”

She said, lowering her head to look at the pair of children sleeping on the bed, gently patting them.

“It’s been so long since I’ve put them to sleep.”

Master Lin nodded: “Rou Niang, you will definitely get better.” He said, his eyes filled with excitement, “I will definitely be promoted next year. Then we can move to a bigger house and bring your parents to live with us. You can also relax a bit.”

Madam Lin looked at him: “Qilang, I am already very content that you were selected to be an official in the capital. Thanks to Empress Jiang back then—”

She stopped abruptly, swallowing the words that almost slipped out.

Master Lin understood what his wife wanted to say, subconsciously glanced outside, and whispered: “Don’t worry, although it was Empress Jiang who proposed the supplementary selection that year, it was originally a rule for selecting officials set by the late Emperor. It was just that the recommendation system led to chaos. This is still the late Emperor’s grace. And I have always been like this, selecting hundreds of officials. Now they are all doing well in their respective positions. We serve the country and the people. We won’t be judged as Empress Jiang’s faction just because of the year we became Jinshi.”

Madam Lin nodded: “It was just a woman’s perspective, I was being timid.” She quickly changed the subject, “Actually, when we were studying hard in the past, our life wasn’t bad, and I was very content.”

“How could it not be hard? Our family couldn’t even afford a maid, and you were still doing laundry while pregnant.” Master Lin said, recalling the past with a sad expression, “Now that the good days have come, you must take good care of yourself and enjoy happiness—”

As he spoke, he turned his head again, only to see Madam Lin, who had just been talking, already closing her eyes against the bed, a smile still lingering on her lips.

Master Lin froze for a moment, then reached out to check her breath. Her breathing was normal. He let out a sigh of relief, but with a hint of sorrow, he carefully helped his wife lie down with the children. He then stood up and looked at the box of incense on the table.

He hoped this medicinal primer could cure his wife’s illness.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

“What do you think of Madam Lin’s illness?”

Zhou Jingyun asked Zhuang Li on the carriage ride back.

Zhuang Li shook her head: “I need to observe more to know for sure.”

It was certain that Madam Lin was suffering from a heart ailment, something she hadn’t even revealed to Master Lin. Whether it was Zhang Shilin or a stranger like her, it was impossible to find out by asking. She could only go into her dreams to see.

Dreams were illusory, but they hid truths that even one dared not face oneself.

Zhou Jingyun nodded: “We’ve done what we can, the rest is up to fate. At least we’ve brought some comfort to Master and Madam Lin.” He couldn’t help but tell her about Master Lin, “Master Lin has had a difficult journey to get where he is today. He came from a poor family and passed the imperial examinations many times, but he was never able to enter officialdom.”

Zhuang Li didn’t understand these things and asked curiously why.

“Because prestigious families could recommend scholars, taking away his spot.” Zhou Jingyun said, pausing, “Until Empress Jiang abolished the practice of submitting recommendations and the number of scholars selected in the imperial examinations greatly increased, Master Lin was finally able to be chosen.”

Zhuang Li made a sound of understanding, blinking at Zhou Jingyun, inquiring with her eyes.

Zhou Jingyun almost laughed, understanding her look, he said with a smile: “The selection of scholars through the imperial examination was a rule set by Emperor Gaozu. Empress Jiang only implemented it more strictly. Therefore, people like Master Lin are still ministers of the Emperor, not of any one person.” He smiled and looked at the swaying carriage curtain, “So some things in this world are right because they are right, not because the person doing them is right or wrong.”

Zhuang Li smiled: “Master Zhou is right.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled again, about to say something, when Jiang Yun softly called out “Master Zhou” from outside.

Zhou Jingyun lifted the carriage curtain.

Jiang Yun leaned over and whispered: “Someone is following us.”

Zhou Jingyun’s expression remained unchanged, he pointed to the front: “Stop at Zeng Family Shop.” He lowered his voice, “Who is it?”

Jiang Yun nodded and whispered: “I can’t tell. They came out of the teahouse and disappeared at the intersection.”

Zhou Jingyun didn’t say anything more and sat back down.

“Is everything alright?” Zhuang Li asked softly.

Zhou Jingyun nodded at her: “It’s fine.”

Before he could comfort her further, Zhuang Li had already nodded.

“Don’t be afraid.” She whispered, smiling at him, “If they’re after me, I’ll pretend to hold Master Zhou hostage. I won’t let them implicate your family.”

Zhou Jingyun felt something was wrong with her words. How could she pretend? Everyone knew she was his newly wedded wife, not some stranger he’d just met.

Perhaps her mind was a bit flustered, causing her words to be a bit muddled.

Zhou Jingyun subconsciously reached out and held her hand: “Don’t be impulsive, I’ll handle everything, listen to me.”

Zhuang Li looked at her hand being held. Was he trying to stop her from moving first? Actually, she wouldn’t act rashly either.

However, to ease his worries, if he wanted to hold her hand, then let him.

The two sat inside the carriage, accompanied by the sound of the carriage wheels rolling on the street, listening to the sounds outside.

But all the way to the gate of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, there were no further incidents. Jiang Yun said the person who had been following and observing them didn’t reappear.

Zhou Jingyun breathed a sigh of relief and quickly let go of the hand he was holding.

Zhuang Li teased: “Perhaps it was someone who admires Master Zhou and wanted to take a few more glances at you.”

She was still in the mood to joke, truly courageous. Zhou Jingyun said with a smile: “I appreciate Madam’s kind words, I hope so.” He said and got out of the carriage first, “I’m going to the outer study to sort out some matters, you go back and rest first.”

Zhuang Li nodded and rode the carriage towards the inner residence.

Zhou Jingyun didn’t return for dinner, sending Feng’er to say he had a banquet to attend and would be out for a while.

It was normal for Zhou Jingyun, as the Marquis of Dongyang’s Heir and the newly appointed Assistant Secretary of the Ministry of Revenue, to be invited to banquets by colleagues and friends.

“Master Zhou said he doesn’t know when it will end, so Madam should rest on her own. He will be staying in the outer study tonight.”

This was even better. Zhuang Li was just thinking about how to find an excuse to sleep alone tonight. She immediately had Chun Yue pack Zhou Jingyun’s change of clothes and gave them to Feng’er to take to the outer study.

“Madam, I’ll sleep with you.” Chun Yue said with a hint of unease.

It hadn’t been long since Zhuang Li had fallen ill while sleeping alone.

Zhuang Li explained to her: “That time was really an accident. Didn’t I sleep alone before when Master Zhou wasn’t home? Everything was fine.”

Seeing the unconvinced look in Chun Yue’s eyes, Zhuang Li smiled again.

“Besides, this time Master Zhou is out for a social gathering, not… going to someone else’s place. What is there for me to worry about?”

After saying that, Zhuang Li even covered her face with her hands, appearing a bit shy under the lamplight.

Chun Yue couldn’t help but laugh, feeling a little wistful. Madam truly had deep feelings for Master Zhou.

✿✿✿

“Madam, you shouldn’t overthink things in the future. We can all see that Master Zhou is sincere towards you.” She advised.

Yes, although it wasn’t the kind of sincerity they imagined, Zhou Jingyun was indeed sincere towards her. Zhuang Li smiled and nodded: “I’ll listen to Chun Yue!”

Madam was becoming more and more fond of joking with them. Chun Yue gave her a playful glare and helped Zhuang Li into bed, lowering the bed curtains and extinguishing the lamps one by one. The room was plunged into darkness.

✿✿✿

✿✿✿

Zhou Jingyun stood on a balcony, reaching out to push open the window. The Sanqu Lane below was ablaze with lights, dazzling the eyes.

The scent of incense, the sounds of music and laughter, carried by the night wind, were like surging waves.

The door opened behind him.

“Master Zhou, you’ve been waiting long.” A voice said.

Zhou Jingyun turned around and saw a man in blue robes walk in, carrying a guqin in his hand.

“Shen Qing, it’s you.” Zhou Jingyun’s expression was slightly surprised, then he suddenly understood, “Were you the one following me during the day?”

If it hadn’t been for the messenger who delivered the message, saying that he had only glimpsed him by the roadside during the day and regretted not being able to speak to him, inviting him to meet in Sanqu Alley tonight, he wouldn’t have come at all.

He just wanted to see who it was.

Shen Qing was surprised to be called by his name by Zhou Jingyun, sighing: “Master Zhou still remembers me.”

Zhou Jingyun said: “You flatter me, Top Scorer Shen.”

Shen Qing laughed heartily: “Master Zhou, you’re the one flattering me with that title.”

Zhou Jingyun smiled: “How dare I joke with Master Shen, who played for Empress Jiang and had the world listen.”

Shen Qing looked at Zhou Jingyun, smiling faintly: “Her Majesty hid nothing from Master Zhou. Although you didn’t listen to her words, she told you everything.”

Zhou Jingyun’s expression was indifferent: “Perhaps because I’m good-looking.”

Shen Qing laughed, then his face turned serious: “Master Zhou can joke with others, but don’t joke about Her Majesty. Her character is known to all, don’t you know it?”

Zhou Jingyun smiled: “This is my character, Top Scorer Shen should know it too.”

Silence fell in the room for a moment.

Shen Qing sighed helplessly: “Your temper, really—” He stopped talking and bowed deeply to Zhou Jingyun, “In the second year of Chengtai, Master Zhou protected Liu Chengwang and Jiang from being arrested by the Censorate. Today, I can finally thank you in person.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at Shen Qing, who was bowing, and simply said: “They’ve already thanked me, Master Shen doesn’t need to.”

Shen Qing straightened up: “They had just met me then. If they had been caught, I wouldn’t be able to see Master Zhou today. You deserve this gratitude.”

Zhou Jingyun made a sound of acknowledgment, saying indifferently: “You’re welcome.”

Was he calmly accepting the gratitude, or was he just too lazy to talk to him? Shen Qing sat down, placing the guqin in front of him: “I know Master Zhou never does anything for Her Majesty, you only do what you want to do.”

He reached out and gently plucked the strings of the guqin, a clear sound resonated in the room.

“Her Majesty cherished you during her lifetime, never making things difficult for you, letting you do as you pleased. We naturally wouldn’t disturb you, let alone involve you in our risks.”

The hand hanging by Zhou Jingyun’s side clenched. What did he mean by Her Majesty cherishing him!

How did she cherish him?

He did as he pleased? Was he referring to him not entering the court as an official and going to be an Educational Inspector? That was his own business, what did it have to do with her!

But he soon let go of his hand powerlessly.

If she hadn’t let him go, he wouldn’t have been able to leave.

To put it bluntly, it was indeed because she didn’t make things difficult for him that he could do as he pleased.

Zhou Jingyun remained silent.

Only the sound of the guqin echoed in the room.

With a light twang, Shen Qing pressed both hands on the strings of the guqin.

“I came here today to tell you that we will also let you do as you please, to do what you want to do with peace of mind.”

Zhou Jingyun laughed, these words were truly ridiculous, what did he need them for…

The thought flashed through his mind as Shen Qing’s voice came again.

“Zhang Ze has become suspicious of Bai Li and has sent people to investigate the Huang family.”

Zhou Jingyun was startled.

Bai Li’s identity was hastily arranged by Master Zhuang after Bai Xun’s incident.

She had always been by his side, whether as a maid or a female disciple, it didn’t matter, as no one paid attention.

Although they had reminded Huang Shusheng’s close relatives and given them some money, who knew if it would be enough to withstand the Censorate’s investigation.

Not to mention other members of the Huang clan.

He had originally thought that after seeing her appearance and confirming there was no doubt, they wouldn’t pursue it further.

This Zhang Ze really was…

Shen Qing smiled: “You don’t have to worry, I’ve already made arrangements.”

Zhou Jingyun’s face didn’t show any relief, Shen Qing’s words were shocking.

He looked at Shen Qing: “How do you know about Bai Li?”

Countless members of Empress Jiang’s faction had been raided in recent years.

And Bai Xun wasn’t even a particularly important member, perhaps not even a member at all, just caught in the crossfire.

Moreover, Bai Xun’s daughter had long been raised by Master Zhuang, her name wasn’t even on the family register. Zhang Ze didn’t even know Bai Li existed at first.

How did Shen Qing know?

And he even knew the background and origin Master Zhuang and his wife had arranged for Bai Li.

Shen Qing looked at Zhou Jingyun and smiled: “Actually, if you hadn’t gone to the academy, I would have been the one to take Bai Li away.”