History of Women in the Wei Dynasty

Chapter 98 There is one more thing I need from the General
Zhang Wenzhi's extremely satisfied thoughts had barely left his forehead when Hu Wuwu's words blasted him back to reality.

"Even the smallest things are turned into rumors by people like you!"

Someone is offering a handle to divert attention from the conflict. If Hu Wuwu doesn't seize this opportunity, how can she live up to the nickname "Hu the Slanderer" that others gave her in Chang'an! "I've only heard that a parrot has learned the three words 'eavesdropping,' but those three words don't have 'Zhang the Female Teacher' in front of them."

Xin Chun: "But..."

"My fellow disciples!"

Hu Wu shouted swiftly, his voice echoing throughout the entire room: "We study in this classroom every day, so we can be called fellow disciples, right? May I ask if any of you have heard the same rumors as Xin Chun? If so, please step forward, and we'll go find that parrot and see what it's saying. I have an open mind, and I'm not afraid of confrontation!"

Xin Chun was speechless: Of course, the parrot could only say the three words "eavesdropping," but what the servants were saying to each other was "Zhang the female teacher is eavesdropping"!

She didn't make it up!!
With pleading eyes, she looked at her close friends one by one: "Come on, are you all mute? I only started spreading the word because I heard you all saying it!"

Xu Jiaoqing and the others sat upright, unanimously avoiding Xin Chun.

Zhang Wenzhi cursed the idiot under her breath, trying to smooth things over: "Hu Wuwu..."

We've been waiting for you!

Hu Wuwu: "Ms. Zhang, when did you ever see me teaching a parrot to swear?"

“You come to my Buddhist hall almost every day to scatter grains to feed the parrots.”

"Is it that the parrot can't fly to the Buddhist hall? Or that I can't go there? Was the Buddhist hall built just for you, and so is the courtyard in front of it? If the nun really saw or heard me teaching the parrot to use foul language, why didn't she stop me on the spot?"

Sharp-tongued! Zhang Wenzhi truly hated her identity as a female teacher at this moment. The little Suo Lu could argue and make trouble, but she, as his teacher, could only maintain a facade of understanding and reason. "Alright, Xin Chun always speaks like this. You're a smart child! Be more understanding."

Seeing that things were going well, Hu Wu took the bundle of cattails from Xu Jiaoqing's hand and said with a sob, "I've dragged you into this today. You had to weave so many grass crickets. I'll make more myself. If any of you fellow disciples can't weave them, give them to me, boohoo..."

Zhang Wenzhi suppressed her irritation: "Xin Chun, come out with me."

"No, wait? Female teacher, she..."

"Come out with me!"

The conflict between the grasshoppers thus came to an end. Hu Wuwu wasn't afraid of falling out with Xin Chun; losing a foolish partner was nothing, he could just find another one.

Let me first describe one of the many flowers in bloom.

The final hunting activity of the Great Hunt concluded successfully at Baideng Mountain.

Governor Yuan and Zhao Zhi, along with a group of elite warriors, finally returned to Pingcheng on the afternoon of the last day of May.

Zhao Zhi originally wanted to find a secluded place on Baideng Mountain to hand over her horse and change clothes, but unexpectedly, Governor Yuan asked her to do him a small favor.

Here's the thing.

The Prince of Rencheng, who was stationed in Luoyang, sent an envoy to Pingcheng to commend Governor Yuan for his meritorious service in teaching rites and music. Those commended included not only renowned scholars from various academies who taught the Book of Poetry, the Book of Documents, the Book of Changes, the Book of Rites, and the Spring and Autumn Annals, but also several outstanding students from the new school regulations.

This is a joyous occasion.

To everyone's displeasure, two other groups of people accompanied the delegation. Due to time constraints, Chief Clerk Gou first reported to Governor Yuan about the group sent by Crown Prince Yuan Ke.

"There was a strongman named Zhao Xiu, a former attendant of the Crown Prince who followed him to the Eastern Palace after the capital was moved. That fellow was incredibly strong! From the moment he arrived at the prefectural government office, he challenged the officers to a strength contest with him, and he broke the wrists of several officers..."

"What?!" Yuan Zhi was furious!
The registrar looked sullen: "That fellow is a rare scoundrel! He gets up early and goes to bed late all day, wandering around the government office. Even the guards on normal patrols get kicked and cursed by him. The chief of the delegation sent by the Crown Prince is named Xue Zhixiao, who is honest and kind, but he can't control Zhao Xiu! Governor, Zhao Xiu is demanding that ten guards come out to arm wrestle with him tomorrow. What are we going to do?"

Governor Yuan pondered, "He can hurt us, but we can't hurt him, otherwise it will look bad for the Crown Prince."

“That makes sense. And also,” Chief Clerk Gou said quietly, “I questioned each of the guards in the manor, and they are indeed no match for Zhao Xiu in strength; they didn’t intentionally lose.” “Hmm…then I’ll go myself?”

"That's not what I meant," Chief Clerk Gou shook his head, as if a phantom image was forming.

Zhao Zhi came out dressed in ordinary clothes, still using a hood to cover her forehead and a veil to partially cover her face. "Prefect, Clerk, I shall take my leave now."

An official and a clerk blinked at her. "General Zhao, I have another request."

Cui Xueguan.

Confucius returned before dark and instructed his servant to tell all his disciples to pack their bags, eat lunch early the next day, and set off at noon. Their first destination was Gaoliu County.

There was one more thing to tell Wei Yao.

Wei Yao ran as fast as she could. Her mother had arrived and was waiting for her outside the hall. The worries she had held for so many days finally surfaced at this moment, and as she ran, tears streamed down her face, soaking the dark road.

A man walked towards them; it was Xi Jiao. He was also going on a trip with Xunyi Academy. After leaving Baideng Mountain, he hurriedly returned home, packed a few clothes, and came to Cui Academy.

He saw Wei Yao clearly, but Wei Yao didn't notice him.

Outside the museum.

"Mother!" Wei Yao rushed over.

Zhao Zhi held her daughter in her arms, holding her loosely to ease her longing, and holding her tightly to avoid hurting her. "Confucius told me that you should leave the city tomorrow."

"Yes, I'm leaving again for another month. Mother, growing up is so annoying! When I was little, I wanted to put myself in your pockets, now I really want to put you in my pockets."

Zhao Zhi let her daughter indulge in her whining before instructing her: "Don't get lost or wander off while you're out this time. Stay close to your teacher and fellow disciples. No matter how hot it is, don't drink unboiled water. If you go into the river, don't go into the deep parts. Don't give alms to beggars, and don't be the first to intervene in injustices..."

The mother's nagging and gentle murmurs could not express all her worries.

This time, Wei Yao let her mother go first, and only reluctantly moved on when her mother was out of sight.

Xi Jiao stepped back and hid behind a tree by the roadside. He had thought something had happened to Wei Yao, so he turned around and followed her. Since nothing was wrong, he didn't want her to see him and cause a misunderstanding.

After Zhao Zhi returned home, she and her husband did not talk about their long separation.

She mentioned that she had to go to the prefectural government the next day: "Prefect Yuan said that a strongman named Zhao Xiu came from Luoyang. He was a soldier and is now a close attendant of the Crown Prince. This man is very vicious. After arriving at the prefectural government, he would challenge warriors to arm wrestling every day. He wouldn't let go until he broke someone's wrist bone. He has already crippled the tendons and bones of nearly ten people."

"Prefect Yuan told me that if I beat him, I must not hurt him."

Wei Yin put his arm around his wife's shoulder and sighed after listening, "The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease. If you want a peaceful life, you must either avoid the wind or cut it off."

"Understood, Feng is Prefect Yuan."

"Haha, my wife is smart."

"My husband, do you think I should take this opportunity to cripple that wicked Zhao Xiu?"

"Evil doesn't lie with such petty people. If we cripple Zhao Xiu, tomorrow there will be Zhang Xiu and Li Xiu. Listen to Governor Yuan. Also, and most importantly, protect yourself. If you are in danger or entangled and can't escape, then kill Feng."

"I understand, this time the wind is Zhao Xiu's."

Early morning, in the backyard of the state government building.

Zhao Xiu sat up, full of energy.

(End of this chapter)