Wanjin Lady

The door of the Jiaofangsi was open.

The old and faded nanny patted the young girl's shoulders with a willow branch and said with a smile, "You've found a noble man! In all these years, I've never seen a girl redeemed from the Jiaofang Bureau. From now on, you will be free..."

The old woman's eyes turned red as she spoke. "Ever since you came into this building, I've seen that you're smart and will definitely have a bright future."

Sun Lanzhi bowed politely and modestly, "Madam, you're not right. Madam, you've taken good care of me over the past six months and taught me the skills to make a living. I've long considered you a family member."

"Oh, you're talking like that!" She pushed him and waved at him, "Go away! Leave this unlucky place and don't look back!"

Sun Lanzhi walked out of the gate of the Jiaofangsi with her bag on her back, looking at the bustling streets in front of her, not knowing where to go.

The world is so big, but she has no home.

In the Jiaofangsi, constraints and rules became the norm. When she suddenly became free, she felt empty inside.

All the male members of the Sun family were beheaded, their mother and others were exiled to the north, and their sisters were assigned to various local music schools, and they could not be found because their names were missing from the roster.

Her freedom seemed to have lost its meaning.

After walking two steps, she saw a familiar figure at a stall. Her eyes lit up and she quickened her pace. Before she could speak, her eyes were red, "Sister Wen!"

She never felt wronged even though she was stranded in the Jiaofangsi.

But when she met Wen Wan at this moment, Sun Lanzhi realized that she had many grievances in her heart.

Without waiting for Wen Wan's answer, she knelt down and kowtowed to Wen Wan, "Thank you, Sister Wen, for saving me."

"What are you doing?" Wen Wan smiled and helped her up. Sun Lanzhi then saw that Wen Wan was accompanied by a young and handsome man. She wiped her tears and bowed, "Master Wei."

She fixed her sight and saw a man standing next to the awning. She blinked, "Mr. Cheng."

The couple both turned around and saw Cheng Yunzhang approaching with a smile in a jade-white brocade robe.

Cheng Yunzhang's gaze immediately fell on Wen Wan's slightly bulging belly. A slight pain passed through his heart. He bowed and said, "Brother Wei..."

When he saw Wen Wan, he paused, then smiled, "Junior sister."

Don’t call me sister-in-law?

Wei Zheng raised his eyebrows, smiled and waved at him, "Come, come and sit next to me and your sister-in-law."

Wen Wan pinched him calmly, but Wei Zheng took her wrist and smiled at her.

Cheng Yunzhang naturally saw the couple's intimate behavior. Seeing Wei Zheng's face as if facing a great enemy, he felt amused. He deliberately chose a seat close to Wen Wan and took a seat. He greeted Sun Lanzhi, "Miss Sun, congratulations."

Cheng Yunzhang has lost a lot of weight. Wen Wan has been in Kyoto for several months, but she only knows that Cheng Yunzhang is studying in the Imperial College. The two have never met.

Wen Wan had experienced life and death twice and had become indifferent to the previous disputes with the Yuan family. Thinking of Cheng Yunzhang's final step back, she felt grateful, "Senior Brother Xiuwen has lost a lot of weight, but is it hard studying?"

Wei Zheng said, "Junior brother will take the Spring Imperial Examination in a year, so it's only right that you work hard now."

Wen Wan glared at Wei Zheng.

Wei Zheng looked innocent as he pushed the bowl of wontons towards Wen Wan. He then carefully helped her with the chopsticks and the dishes. He said calmly, "Your sister-in-law is pregnant now. Her appetite is bigger than before and she gets hungry quickly. She needs to be carefully looked after. Please feel free to help yourself to what you two eat."

Cheng Yunzhang chuckled, then suddenly frowned, "What's that smell?"

Sun Lanzhi was bewildered: "What's wrong?"

Cheng Yunzhang stared at Wei Zheng again, "What a strong sour smell."

Sun Lanzhi curled her lips slightly, trying hard to suppress her smile.

Wen Wan patted Wei Zheng's hand, signaling him to behave himself. Sun Lanzhi's gaze fell on Wen Wan's slightly bulging belly. She didn't know the whole story, but after Wen Wan and Wei Zheng returned to the capital, rumors spread everywhere, and even she had heard about it at the Music Bureau.

It was then that she found out that Lord Wei Zheng, Marquis of Huai'an, was actually Sister Wen's deceased ex-husband!

While she was happy, she was also worried.

Sister Wen is a merchant's daughter and she has deceived the Marquis. I'm afraid Queen Wei will not agree to their marriage.

What's more, Sister Wen loves freedom by nature and doesn't like being restricted. If she really marries into the Duke's Mansion, I don't know if she can deal with the group of Kyoto noble ladies who are eyeing her covetously.

Before the shock of this incident had subsided, they heard that His Majesty had personally decreed a marriage for the two.

Next month, the Duke's Mansion will hold a grand wedding banquet.

The wedding was presided over by the female officials around the Empress, and the Empress herself added makeup to Wen Wan. This honor and dignity... was enough to make the people of Kyoto talk about it for three to five years!

"Sister Wen...congratulations. When I was at the Music Bureau, I heard that the Duke would be getting married next month..." Sun Lanzhi suppressed a smile as she looked at Wei Zheng, who was staring at Cheng Yunzhang. She felt that this Lord Wei had changed a lot. He used to have a cold and indifferent aura, but now it seemed like-

Sun Lanzhi pursed her lips.

A very outrageous idea flashed through my mind.

Lord Wei... looks like the little dog she used to raise on her farm.

With just a look from Sister Wen, the puppy knew what to do.

Sun Lanzhi suppressed this thought and smiled sweetly, "Congratulations, Master Wei. It turns out that the ex-husband that Sister Wen was deeply in love with was actually you. No wonder Sister Wen refused to remarry, it turned out she was waiting for you."

Wei Zheng remained calm, but a hint of pride lingered between his brows. "Your sister...is in the Jiaofang Division in Pingzhou. Take my letter to a certain Lord Liu, and he will take care of the second young lady of the Sun family."

Sun Lanzhi was stunned for a moment, then stood up and saluted Wei Zheng solemnly, "Thank you... Thank you, brother-in-law!"

Brother-in-law?

Wei Zheng's brows suddenly relaxed, and this time even the corners of his eyes and eyebrows were smiling.

Oh no, he looks even more like a puppy now. Sun Lanzhi's mind stirred with this outrageous thought once more.

Instead, Cheng Yunzhang asked her, "Miss Sun, the roads are not safe right now, and it's not easy for a girl like you to travel. If you trust me, I can arrange for one or two people to escort you."

Sun Lanzhi shook her head, her face firm. "My father is dead, my mother is exiled to the north, and I'm the only one left in the family. I have Mr. Cheng's help today, but what about tomorrow? It's not good to rely on others for everything."

Cheng Yunzhang's mind moved, "What is that girl's plan?"

Sun Lanzhi looked at Wen Wan, as if she only listened to Wen Wan's advice. "Sister Wen, I want to... go to my brother-in-law's military camp and find a skilled female general to learn some martial arts. In the future, whether it's Pingzhou or the north, I... I... must stand on my own feet."

Wenwan touched her head.

Perhaps because of her pregnancy, Sister Wen looked more gentle than before. She had her hair combed like a woman, and her whole face seemed to be soaked in honey, exuding sweetness and peace from the inside out. Her eyes were calmer than before, which gradually calmed her originally anxious heart.

Sister Wen has a calming power.

Wen Wan recalled Wei Zheng's martial arts lessons and smiled, "Learning martial arts... will be very hard."

Sun Lanzhi shook her head, "I can endure hardship." She smiled bitterly, "After joining the Jiaofangsi, I can endure any kind of hardship in the world."

She smiled gently, "You've just stepped out of the Jiaofangsi gate, so there's no need to rush into making a decision. Whether you're going to Pingzhou to find your sister, or heading north to look for your family, there's no need to rush into anything right now. I'm getting married next month, so why don't you stay and help me while I slowly figure out my future plans."

Sun Lanzhi thought that since Sister Wen was pregnant, there would definitely be a shortage of people at the wedding, and she could help with things within her ability, so she simply agreed.

"What are your plans after the wedding, brother?"

Wei Zheng and Wen Wan exchanged a glance and said, "I'm going to take your sister-in-law back to Tianshui Prefecture."

Cheng Yunzhang was slightly stunned. Going to Bozhou... meant not being under the Queen's watchful eye. By then, the sky would be high and the sea would be vast, and Wenwan would be like a fish leaping into the sea, no longer bound by any constraints!

He couldn't help but glance at Wei Zheng beside him.

When Wen Wan wanted to eat wontons, he handed her chopsticks; when Wen Wan drank water, he helped her cool it down; when Wen Wan's eyes moved, his hands followed.

The dignified Duke of Wei was so considerate and attentive in serving his wife. He did not show any impatience from beginning to end, but rather enjoyed it.

The two of them were right in front of him, looking at each other, with only deep affection in their eyes, as if no one or anything in the world could come between them.

Not one more, not one less.

Just right.

This senior brother... is indeed capable... and even more decisive.

He deserved to lose!
Maybe one day, he will be able to find someone like this to be with forever.

In May, the Duke of Wei held a grand wedding. Although the bride was pregnant and a daughter of a merchant from the countryside, she carried dozens of dowries, including ten for the Empress's dowry. The wedding procession stretched for five or six miles, a truly magnificent spectacle.

In June, Wenwan's pregnancy was stable and strong as an ox. The entire Wei family set off for Bozhou, stopping and starting along the way, and did not return to Bozhou until autumn.

During the New Year, Wen Wan gave birth to another son.

In order to commend Wen Wan for her contribution in the smuggling case, His Majesty bestowed upon her the title of Second Rank Lady.

For the next twenty years, Wei Zheng and his wife were stationed in Tianshui Prefecture. The couple worked together to kill pirates, maintain peace, promote education, increase food grains, and expand the population.

The eldest son Wei Yan inherited his father's ambition and wiped out the Japanese pirates along the southeast coast. From then on, the sea was peaceful.

The eldest daughter, Wei Zhaohua, ran away from home because she could not stand her father's discipline. She disguised herself as a man and went to the north to join the army, where she killed so many barbarian tribes that they dared not cause any trouble.

A few years later.

Wei Zhaohua was arrested by her father, who had traveled a long way to the north, and brought back to Tianshui Prefecture. Her colleagues impeached her several times on the grounds that "a woman joining the army is a crime of deceiving the emperor." However, the new emperor issued an imperial edict to confer upon Wei Zhaohua the title of "Marquis of Ding'an".

Later, in order to avoid Wei Zheng who came to ask for an explanation, the new emperor did not dare to go to court for three days and did not dare to leave the palace for half a month. After two months of fear, he was finally blocked by Wei Zheng in the imperial garden one day.

No one knows what happened to the cousins ​​that day.

But according to the recollections of officials who kept the daily records, the emperor went in smiling and came out crying that day, with wails and pleas for mercy mixed in, as well as the queen's silvery laughter.

Of course. Since this concerns His Majesty's reputation, the official, who did not want to be named, was not in a position to elaborate further.

However, Wei Zhaohua became the only woman in the history of the Great Chen Dynasty to be granted the title of Marquis and Prime Minister. She was also the dream goddess of many women in the Great Chen Dynasty. Her mother, Wen Wan, personally painted a portrait of her daughter, which was sold out throughout the country. Even the rubbings were sold at exorbitant prices.

Many years later, the eldest aunt of the Wei family remained unmarried and childless.

Even after her parents died, her two brothers never interfered with her marriage.

One reason is that the eldest aunt of the Wei family has strong opinions and will not listen no matter what you say.

Secondly, the eldest aunt of the Wei family holds a title, and others cannot interfere.

The third is that the Wei family has an ancestral precept that if a daughter can earn her own way, the Wei family members shall not interfere with her freedom of marriage.

He rejected his third brother Wei Yuan's idea of ​​adopting a child, and instead adopted more than a dozen daughters from the orphanage founded by his mother.

Wei Zhaohua died alone under the peach tree in his yard.

He died of old age in his sleep.

When she was found, she was still holding her mother Wenwan's tablet in her hands.

A servant said that the eldest aunt held the old lady's tablet and kept muttering for the whole morning. No one knew what the mother and daughter said, but in short, the eldest aunt died peacefully in the end.

In the following century, women no longer considered docility and obedience as beauty. They hung portraits of Wei Zhaohua in their homes, carried swords when they went out, and even followed Wei Zhaohua's example by joining the army to serve their country. (End of Chapter)