Ming Dynasty: My Father Zhang Juzheng

Chapter 171 The wedding is coming
The scorching heat of July scorches the earth.

The red flames poured down from the silver-white dome without reservation, pouring down on the uncovered earth.

The leaves of the flowers, plants and trees in the capital were wilted by the sun, and they stood with their heads drooped on both sides of the road. Deep in the woods, the midsummer cicadas chirped more and more urgently, making the already hot summer day even more restless.

In a small pavilion in the garden of Grand Secretary Zhang, Zheng Xier rested her chin on her hands on the stone table.

His eyes were dull as he stared at the dome, not knowing what he was thinking about.

Today, she was wearing a blood-red pleated long skirt with a tasselled texture. Her hair was tied up into a beautiful bun with two jade hairpins given to her by Zhang Yunxiu.

Just a little bit of makeup on a pretty face makes it indescribably beautiful.

Somehow, she had been feeling very anxious recently. In the middle of the night, she would always be surprised and get cold sweats on her back.

This went on for four or five days, causing her to feel listless during the day and unable to sleep at night.

Although she was reluctant to admit it, Xu Ruoxi's arrival did put a lot of pressure on her.

The daughter of a scholarly family, well-educated, younger and prettier than her. It seemed that when my husband and Miss Xu stood together, they were a perfect match made in heaven.

Just as I was thinking about it, I suddenly heard light footsteps behind me.

Zheng Xier looked back and saw Zhang Yunxiu approaching with a chubby white child in his arms. The child was fair and round, with a pair of big watery eyes, like a clear spring in summer.

Refreshing.

It was their eldest daughter Zhang Xuan.

As soon as she saw her mother, Zhang Xuan started babbling loudly.

Zhang Yunxiu was in a panic. He ran forward quickly and teased Zheng Xier, "You are so good at hiding that you came here. You didn't hear how loudly this guy yelled just now."

With a slap on her forehead, Zheng Xier took her daughter from her husband's arms, then turned her back and gently unbuttoned her collar.

After a while, Zhang Xuan stopped crying and lay obediently in her mother's arms.

Zheng Xier's lips curled up, and her fair face exuded the radiance of motherhood.

After Zhang Xuan fell into a deep sleep, Zheng Xier waved her hand, and the maid in the distance saw her and came forward to take Zhang Xuan away.

Zhang Yunxiu hadn't seen her smile like this in the past few days, and he couldn't help but feel distressed, so he hugged Zheng Xier from behind and asked softly, "What's wrong with you recently? You look listless. How about finding a doctor to see you?"

Shaking her head, Zheng Xier said with all her might, "I'm fine. It's just that the weather is too hot and I can't sleep well."

"Then should I ask someone to bring some more ice?" Zhang Yunxiu suggested.

"No need." Zheng Xier refused softly, and then pretended to ask casually, "By the way, my husband's wedding is in half a month, and my wife has been in the capital for almost a month. Why don't you go and see it in advance?"

Smiling and shaking his head, Zhang Yunxiu turned Zheng Xier's body over, stared at her twinkling almond eyes and said jokingly: "What are you looking at? It's not like you haven't seen it before. Anyway, you will soon enter the door, and there will be plenty of opportunities to see it in the future."

"It's some people. If I don't come to see her, she won't be able to sleep every night."

"what?!"

Zheng Xier screamed, and her pretty face instantly turned red as blood.

She bit her lip, her eyelids drooped, staring at her embroidered shoes. Her white and tender hands had nowhere to rest, so she could only fiddle with the hem of her skirt.

She looked like a young girl who had just begun to fall in love and whose secrets were suddenly exposed.

"Husband, husband, do you know everything?"

Zhang Yunxiu nodded.

Now Zheng Xier became even more nervous. She stood in front of Zhang Yunxiu with her hands hanging down, like a child who had done something wrong.

No matter what, she was just a concubine. If Zhang Yunxiu was cruel, he could just give her to someone else.

Now, I, a mere concubine, am jealous of my mistress.

Isn't this making things difficult for my husband?
Seeing Xi'er's cautious look, Zhang Yunxiu got straight to the point and said, "After Ruoxi comes in, the business will still be under your management. She is too thin-skinned, and her brain is not as smart as yours when it comes to doing business, so you don't have to worry about her taking the business away from you."

"Xier never worries about business." Zheng Xier suddenly became playful again.

"Are you so confident? Do you think I can't live without you?" Zhang Yunxiu asked her with a smile.

Zheng Xier shook her head without saying anything. She just stood on tiptoe, hooked her hands around Zhang Yunxiu's neck, and looked at him with seductive eyes.

Because she had just fed Zhang Xuan, the buttons on her collar were not buttoned.

From Zhang Yunxiu's point of view, the fair skin was clearly visible.

The body fragrance of a mature young woman, mixed with a faint milky scent, penetrated into Zhang Yunxiu's nostrils. In just a moment, Zhang Yunxiu's breathing changed from exhalation to sharp gasps.

"It seems like I really can't leave you." Zhang Yunxiu murmured, then picked her up by the waist amid Zheng Xier's exclamations.

The maids watching the show around stroked their lips and smiled, then left shyly.

The wedding is getting closer.

In the blink of an eye, there are only five days left.

Zhang Juzheng was seriously ill, and his elder brother was like a father and his elder sister-in-law was like a mother. Zhang Yunxiu's elder brother Zhang Jingxiu and his elder sister-in-law Gao Lan became the elders of this wedding.

On the other side, the people coming from the Xu family were also old friends.

Xu Ruoxi's elder brother Xu Yuanchun and sister-in-law Zhu Ling.

Because the woman cannot have any contact with the man before marriage, she can avoid the process of meeting the parents. Anyway, both sides know each other well, so just a simple banquet is enough.

At the hour of You on that day, the lights on the streets were as bright as day.

Two figures walked out of the Tianxian Tower.

Walking on the left was Zhang Yunxiu, and on the right was Xu Yuanchun, whose face was flushed and looked drunk.

He grabbed Zhang Yunxiu's arm and said half seriously and half jokingly, "Brother-in-law, my sister has been weak since she was a child. You must not bully her after she gets married."

"Don't worry, brother. I will treat Ruoxi well."

"Your concubine."

"Everyone will be treated well."

Staring into his eyes, Zhang Yunxiu answered word by word.

Xu Yuanchun originally wanted to give his brother-in-law a warning, but he didn't expect him to be so strong, which made him a little embarrassed for a moment.

Fortunately, Xu Yuanchun was very good at cultivating his Qi, so he immediately changed the subject and said, "Beijing is really big. It's worthy of being the imperial capital."

"My brother's mourning period will soon be over. Now is the time for you to realize your ambitions."

"I can't do that. I just want to keep my little piece of land in Jiangnan. Unlike my brother-in-law Jian, who is in the emperor's heart, his future prospects and smooth road are limitless."

While the two were flattering each other, Zhang Jingxiu chased out from the building.

He asked why he couldn't find the two people, and it turned out that they had gone out to have some free time.

Zhang Jingxiu smiled and grabbed the two men's arms, saying, "You two are good at hiding. Come on, come on, the dishes haven't even been served yet, why are you two hiding?!"

(End of this chapter)