Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 172 How Can the Emperor's Daughter Be Allowed to Be a Concubine's Child?
Zhang Dai immediately forgot Zhang Shuo's admonition. What did he mean by not easily offending Prince Zhong? What difference would it make if he did?
His grandfather, based solely on his political acumen and speculation, believed that Prince Zhong was very likely to replace the current crown prince as the new heir apparent. Zhang Dai, however, had a clearer understanding of this, which didn't stop him from disregarding Prince Zhong.

He wasn't a hedgehog covered in thorns, constantly provoking people with his thorns. Besides, even a hedgehog would only bristle after being frightened or threatened.

Although Zhang Dai was unclear about how the situation would change as he became more and more involved in the Kaiyuan era, one thing was certain: as long as Emperor Xuanzong himself remained suspicious, all of Emperor Ruizong's descendants, young and old, would be useless!
As the nephew of Consort Wu Hui, he entered the daily life and social circles of the royal family, which meant he was destined to never gain their favor.

Although these people were also descendants of Wu Zetian, they were still very wary and cautious of the Wu clan. After all, the lessons of the past were not far off. If Consort Wu Hui really came to power and became empress, they would probably be the first to suffer.
Fortunately, his relationship with Consort Wu Hui was not too close before. It was mainly because the emperor allowed Consort Hui to join the flying money business and he held shares on her behalf that their relationship truly became close.

If the relationship between aunt and nephew had been this close before, I'm afraid Princess Yunyang would not have chosen me to be the Prince Qi's attendant, and Princess Yuzhen probably wouldn't have helped me participate in the affairs of the prefecture.

Of course, interacting with these members of the royal family was not the focus of Zhang Dai's daily life, since these people did not have much influence on the political situation.

Aside from some royal family festivals and gatherings, they rarely had the chance to meet. So even if these people harbored resentment and wanted revenge, they had no direct means and could only exert some indirect personal influence.

During the days around the Lunar New Year, Zhang Dai did not go out. He stayed at home to help entertain relatives and friends who came to pay their respects, and spent his days eating and drinking.

This was his first time experiencing a medieval New Year festival, and he found it both novel and somewhat tedious. The ancients had far more elaborate rituals and customs for festivals than later generations, and some of the rules were very serious and could not be taken lightly.

Especially on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, Zhang Dai was busy with his brothers in the family mansion until midnight the night before. He had only gone back to his room to sleep for a short while when he had to get up again to pay his respects to his grandparents. He didn't even have time to eat a hot meal before he had to send them out of the neighborhood to the palace to pay their respects to the emperor.

On New Year's Day, the host is not at home to preside over the sacrificial ceremony, and the family members do not dare to light the stove. They move between rooms to exchange New Year's greetings, and can only eat the cold food snacks and dried fruit prepared the day before to fill their stomachs.

It was only during the New Year celebrations that Zhang Dai learned that besides him and Zhang Yi, his grandfather had other grandchildren. These were the children of his uncle Zhang Ji's concubine; the boy was already over three years old, and the girl was just over one year old.

Zhang Ji is now in his twenties, and by all accounts, he should have been married and had children long ago.

However, in ancient times, marriage was always about matching social status. The five forbidden families were obviously forbidden from marrying each other. In addition to intermarrying within their own families, other families who wanted to enter their marriage circle not only needed to be powerful and influential, but also had to offer generous dowries and betrothal gifts.

Although newly established families like the Zhang family have suddenly risen to prominence, they also have very clear objectives regarding their children's marriages. They hope to integrate into the old money circle and maintain their current political resources as much as possible. Marriage plays a more significant supporting role for them.

Zhang Dai's grandmother had always feared that his legal parents would be confused and ruin his marriage, so she simply forbade Zhang Jun and Zheng Shi from choosing a marriage partner for Zhang Dai on their own.

Because the pool of potential wives was limited, and the lifespan of people in ancient times was uncertain, some scions of wealthy families would often take concubines before marrying a wife. Zhang Dai's father, Zhang Jun, and Zhang Ji were examples of this. Some people didn't marry until they were in their thirties or forties, and some even died before finding a suitable wife.

It must be said that the Zhang brothers were both cold-hearted. Zhang Dai himself, as an illegitimate son, was neglected at home in his early years. Even when his predecessor fell into the water and died of fright, his family members were indifferent to it.

As for Zhang Ji, he went even further, keeping his concubine outside for several years without even his family knowing of her and her two children's existence. It wasn't until the New Year was approaching that he secretly brought the concubine and her two children home to settle them down.

It was probably because Zhang Ji saw that Zhang Dai, an illegitimate son, was also very outstanding that he brought his children home, wanting to see if they were worth nurturing.

Zhang Dai wasn't particularly interested in family matters until A-Ying reminded him that he had gained a pair of cousins.

Although Zhang Ji and he had been at odds for the past few days and disliked each other, there was no need to involve others. Moreover, after hearing about this, Zhang Dai couldn't help but feel a sense of sympathy, so he asked A Ying to prepare some gifts and go with him to visit the new family member.

Zhang Ji himself was not married, so he did not have a private courtyard in the mansion. Instead, he occupied a row of halls and pavilions in the southwest of the mansion. He had his servants build a wall around it to form a small courtyard, and opened a small gate on the west side that led directly to a winding alley for easy access.

This guy is already a fifth-rank official, serving as the Crown Prince's tutor, so he has to go to court this morning to congratulate the New Year and is not at home right now.

As Zhang Dai entered the small courtyard, a servant who had been left behind hurriedly came forward and bowed, saying, "Sixth Master has arrived. The Master has gone to court and has not yet returned..."

"I heard that Uncle has recently brought his younger cousins ​​back home, so I came to visit them during this festive season."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai smiled and walked straight inside. The servant, unaware of his master's instructions, looked troubled but dared not stop him.

At present, all the officials and ladies of the court with official rank have gone to court to pay New Year's respects. Among the family members left at home, Zhang Dai is the most unruly. If he dares to cause trouble, he will be making a scene during the New Year. So, we can only let Zhang Dai go in and hurriedly go in to report.

In the small courtyard, there was a pavilion where Zhang Ji lived and entertained guests. Several maids hurriedly came out to greet him. Zhang Dai turned his gaze and saw the servant go to a slightly simple annex in the corner of the wall to report. After that, a woman carrying a girl and holding a boy hurriedly came out.

Even though Zhang Ji brought his children and concubines back home, he didn't actually live with them. It seems these brothers are all the same kind of scumbag.

"This servant greets Sixth Master and wishes you a prosperous and auspicious New Year! I have heard of your virtuous reputation since I entered your household, but... but I have never dared to pay you a visit..."

The woman looked to be only in her early twenties, with a beautiful face and a plump figure. No wonder Zhang Ji had taken her in and kept her hidden away. However, she was a little uneasy when facing Zhang Dai. She bowed slightly to greet him and gestured to her children, saying, "Quickly, quickly greet Sixth Brother!"

When Zhang Dai saw the anxious woman and the two children staring wide-eyed in bewilderment and fear, his nose suddenly tingled with emotion.

He has become very familiar with his current identity and can't help but think that his birth mother, Lady Wu, was probably just as cautious and submissive when she was alive, but ultimately she still died young and disappointed.

"Auntie, there's no need to be nervous. Since we live together, we're not outsiders. I just found out that my younger brother and sister-in-law have come home, so I came to visit them."

As he spoke, he pulled up the older boy and asked with a smile, "What's your name? How old are you?"

Although the boy was chubby-faced, he was a little shy and dared not answer Zhang Dai's questions. He just cautiously moved closer to his mother.

His mother, however, was still extremely nervous. She pushed the child toward Zhang Dai while smiling obsequiously and saying, "His nickname is Alan. He was born in September of the eleventh year of the Kaiyuan era. His upbringing is not very proper, but he is somewhat like Liu Lang... Bah, bah, how dare he compare to Liu Lang? Liu Lang, please don't be offended!"

"There's no need to compare with anyone, as long as you can grow up strong, have your own style, and know how to respect your elders, that's enough!"

Zhang Dai took two pure gold amulets, each weighing several ounces, from A Ying and hung them around the necks of the two dolls.

"How could I possibly accept such a generous gift!"

Upon seeing this, the woman quickly tried to take off the amulet and return it to Zhang Dai. Zhang Dai did not refuse, but took a few steps back and waved his hand with a smile, saying, "Auntie, there's no need to be so polite. My uncle and I are like brothers, so it's only right that I befriend him. Since my uncle isn't here right now, I'll take my leave and visit again another day."

Zhang Dai pinched the little girl's pigtails again, made a face at her, and made the little girl giggle. She seemed more lively than her brother. Then he waved his hand and walked out of the courtyard with Aying. The woman could only bow repeatedly to thank him.

Just then, the sound of horses' hooves rang out from outside the wall, and soon Zhang Ji, dressed in a scarlet robe, rushed into the gate. When he saw Zhang Dai appear in his courtyard, his face immediately darkened and he shouted, "Who told you to come to my place?"

"Reporting to the Lord, the Sixth Prince has come to see the children and has brought a gift for them."

The woman hurried forward and pointed to the gold ornaments hanging around the necks of the two children, saying to Zhang Ji.

Zhang Ji's expression didn't change much. He first dismounted, then waved his hand and lightly scolded the woman, "Get out of here! Don't come in front of people!"

After dismissing his concubines and children, he walked up to Zhang Dai and looked at him warily, saying in a deep voice, "What are you doing here?"

Seeing his unfriendly demeanor, Zhang Dai didn't bother to pay him any more attention and strode straight out of the courtyard. But then he heard Zhang Ji shout angrily behind him: "Don't think that just because you've gained favor with Consort Hui, you can do whatever you want! Have you ever heard of an emperor's daughter giving up the son of a high-ranking official to marry a concubine's son?"

That was a rather convoluted statement. After listening to it, Zhang Dai pondered for a moment before realizing what it meant. Then, he turned back to Zhang Ji and said unhappily, "Are you sick?"

(End of this chapter)