Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 274 Misfortune Befalls the Family
The atmosphere in the Zhang family mansion in Kangsufang was heavy. The servants moving around inside and outside were all very careful, for fear of making any noise that would anger their master.

People were constantly coming and going in the east wing of the mansion, while someone was crying and sobbing inside the main hall.

"Madam has just given birth to a baby girl, please don't grieve! The family has been searching all over the city for the best doctors, and they will surely be able to properly heal Qilang's injuries!"

Inside the room, some women sat around the bed, offering quiet words of comfort.

The woman lying on the bed was Zhang Jun's wife, Madam Zheng. She was covering her face and weeping uncontrollably. Hearing the comforting voices of the women in the clan, Madam Zheng's cries grew louder: "My poor son, what crime has he committed to deserve such cruel punishment! If his leg is crippled and he can't walk from now on, how will he ever become an official, a leader, or inherit the title and head of the family in the future..."

Those around, hearing the wailing, looked somewhat uncomfortable, feeling that Madam Zheng had gone a bit too far. Even if the current head of the household, Zhang Shuo, were dead, there was still his son, Zhang Jun. To consider the issue of succession and household management now that the child was injured seemed rather absurd.

However, Zheng had only been pregnant for ten months and had just given birth when her son's leg was broken outside. She was inevitably heartbroken and agitated, so naturally no one dared to argue with or correct her at this moment.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. Qilang is blessed with good fortune and is protected by the spirits of our ancestors. As long as he receives proper treatment and rests in peace, he will definitely recover completely and will not be lame or ridiculed by others!"

A young woman, not very old, sat down beside him and gently comforted him. She was Zhang Shuo's youngest daughter, married to the Lu family of Fanyang. She had been away from the area because of a funeral in her husband's family. After the mourning period, she returned to visit her husband's family, and that's when she encountered this situation.

“Sister, you don’t know, I used to think this child was lucky and had a bright future, but… but ever since… I’ve always felt that someone wanted to harm him. Now that he’s suffered this misfortune, it must be… it must be someone’s doing…”

Zheng's words were so cryptic that her sister-in-law, sitting to the side, was at a loss for words.

Just then, a maidservant rushed in and whispered to Madam Zheng, who was weeping on the bed, "Mistress, Sixth Master has returned."

"He's back? Quickly, bring that bastard to me here! He's caused a huge disaster, made enemies, and fled in fear, causing his family in the capital to live in fear, and even leading to my son being killed by the soldiers at the North Gate..."

Upon hearing this, Zheng's sorrowful expression turned to anger. She clenched her fists and pounded the bed while shouting angrily.

Upon hearing this, the women around couldn't help but show a hint of embarrassment on their faces, while some also looked on with schadenfreude. At the same time, one of them frowned and said, "Madam, I'm afraid what you said is inappropriate. Sixth Brother also has love..."

"What's wrong with that? Isn't it because he has a feud with the Beimen Jiang family, and my son was killed by Beimen soldiers!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Zheng flew into a rage. Pointing at the woman, she shouted, "Get out! Get out of here! You dog-eyed rat, all you see is that bastard child becoming the top scholar in the imperial examination. You can't even distinguish right from wrong, you just blindly flatter and fawn over him. Why don't you and your whole family become his slaves!"

The woman, suddenly subjected to such insults, was filled with shame and anger, and left weeping, covering her face.

Still seething with anger, Madam Zheng glared at the assembled clansmen and roared, "I know what you're all thinking. You're all just hoping to see my illegitimate son bully the legitimate heir, and you're all trying to curry favor with that bastard and gain some benefits. But as long as I'm alive, you're dreaming! Even if my son is seriously injured and can't recover, he is still the legitimate grandson of the Duke of Yan and the rightful heir of the family!"

Her outburst of anger left everyone feeling embarrassed and ashamed, and several people couldn't help but storm off. Seeing this, Madam Zheng became even more furious. Before she could utter another rebuke, Zhang Dai had already walked in.

"Madam, I heard that Qilang..."

Before Zhang Dai could finish speaking as he entered the room, something came hurtling towards him with a gust of wind. He quickly dodged to the side and discovered it was a copper hook used to hang the bed curtains. The copper hook gleamed from being rubbed against the curtains; if it had hit him squarely, it might have left him disfigured.

"You bastard, you must be overjoyed, aren't you? What hatred has my son held for you! His leg was broken by the soldiers at the North Gate, all because of the evil deeds you committed outside..."

When Zheng saw Zhang Dai, she was so angry that her face turned pale and her whole body trembled. She even wanted to rush forward and tear him apart, which shows that she hated him to the extreme.

Zhang Dai was attacked and insulted as soon as he entered the door, so he was in a very bad mood. He didn't go any further inside, but turned to the maid standing to the side and said, "Where is Qi Lang recuperating from his injuries? Take me to see him!"

"How dare you be so rude! Your mother is still scolding you, how can you turn around and leave?"

Sitting by the couch, Madam Zhang was startled to see Madam Zheng so agitated. Most of the others had already left the room. Seeing Zhang Dai turn to leave, she was afraid to face her almost mad sister-in-law alone, so she frowned and scolded her.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai frowned, glanced back at the young woman, and although she looked somewhat familiar, he couldn't immediately recall their relationship. He was in a terrible mood and didn't bother with her, so he simply glanced at her and left.

Left standing there, Zhang Shi was immediately filled with shame and anger. When she saw Zheng Shi still leaning on the bedside, pointing at Zhang Dai's back and cursing, she couldn't help but feel a sense of shared hatred.

Many people were also standing outside the south corridor of the east wing. Upon seeing Zhang Dai approach, they all stepped forward, nodding and asking, "When did Sixth Brother return? Has the Prefect of Zhengzhou learned of the family's situation?" "I just returned today. Father should still be unaware. How is Seventh Brother's injury? What should be done with him? Has Grandfather given any instructions?"

Zhang Dai walked over and asked in a deep voice. He only knew about this matter from Ding Cang's vague account and did not know the specific details.

“Alas, we are not certain about this matter either. Last night, Qilang went out for a walk and was suddenly brought back by someone in the evening. They said that he was surrounded and beaten by soldiers at the North Gate. Not only was his horse killed, but Qilang's leg was also broken, and he was unconscious. After returning, Uncle was unable to ask for details. He only instructed his family to immediately seek medical treatment. He left early this morning and has not returned yet.”

Upon hearing the explanation from his clansmen, Zhang Dai couldn't help but frown, wondering if Zhang Yi was truly implicated by him.
Although this kid acts like a spoiled brat, he's actually all bark and no bite. He might put on airs at home, but when he meets someone he can't afford to offend outside, he'll never glare at them or try to cause trouble for himself.

It was the soldiers from the North Gate who took action. Considering the whole family, he was the only one with a deep grudge against the North Gate. Perhaps the soldiers from the North Gate couldn't find him and blocked his brother, so they took their anger out on him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Dai couldn't help but feel a surge of anger. He didn't say anything more and immediately stepped into the room. A strong smell of medicine hit him, accompanied by Zhang Yi's hoarse cries.

Zhang Dai went inside and saw that the young man's upper body was wrapped in cloth and he was tied to a wooden board. His eyes were blurry with tears and he looked haggard. So he asked in a deep voice, "Do you know who did this?"

"Brother, brother...am I going to be lame? Will I never be able to walk again? Please save me, save me, brother!"

Upon seeing Zhang Dai, Zhang Yi immediately began to sob again: "They were all a vicious group of people. The leader was Wang Chongjun, the son of General Wang Sixian, and I didn't recognize the others..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai frowned and pondered. He did not know this General of Ten Thousand Cavalry, Wang Sixian, but he vaguely remembered hearing about his son, Wang Chongjun. He had seen him at a banquet at Wang Maozhong's house a few days ago, and he seemed to be one of Ge Yanchang's companions.

So, Ge Yanchang was resentful that his wife had been taken away by him, so he colluded with these second-generation scions of the Northern Army to surround Zhang Yi and beat him to vent his anger?

Where did they hit you? What caused the conflict?

Zhang Dai asked again. He and Zhang Yu weren't exactly on good terms, but the boy was still his younger brother. If he had truly suffered because of him, even if Madam Zheng didn't scold or make a scene, he still had to give Zhang Yu an explanation.

"Don't ask anymore, brother, don't ask anymore... My leg hurts so much, boohoo..."

Zhang Zi was still in very bad condition, and she covered her face and cried loudly again.

Seeing this, Zhang Dai stopped bothering him. He then went to the doctor who was treating him and quietly asked about the boy's injuries. He learned that the boy's right leg bone had been broken and that even if he recovered properly after bone setting, his mobility would definitely be affected in the future.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai's mood worsened further, and he slowly left the room.

When he left the east wing and returned to Jicui Tower, several of Zheng's servants came to him again, looking troubled, and said to Zhang Dai, "Sixth Brother, we dare not offend you, but the mistress is really angry. She is still recovering from childbirth, and now Seventh Brother has suffered this misfortune. Could you please go to the villa for a few days and not stay in the house to continue to provoke the mistress..."

Zhang Dai wasn't particularly angry when he heard this, but he asked again, "How is the newborn girl? The lord is not at home, so you must take good care of her. If there is anything lacking, just tell me. I won't go to the east wing to anger the lady; I still need to stay home and discuss matters with my grandfather. Go now."

Zheng had always harbored hostility towards him, and after this incident, her hatred would likely only intensify. Zhang Dai didn't want to stay and invite trouble. Although his villa in Huixunfang hadn't been rebuilt after the fire, his grandfather had given him another residence after he finished the imperial examinations, so he could temporarily move there.

So he told Yingniang and Aying to pack their luggage first, while he prepared to go to the inner hall to visit a grandmother. Just as he stepped out, he saw his grandfather coming from outside with a stern expression, so he quickly went up to him and said, "Grandfather."

"Going out again?"

Zhang glanced at the luggage being carried out of the building and frowned as he asked a question.

Zhang Dai nodded and said, “With something like this happening, Madam will surely be even more reluctant to see me. I plan to move to Wenluofang for a few days to think about how to get justice for my brother. Father is not home now, so there’s no need to disturb him and make him feel uneasy.”

"No need to move out, just stay at home. That foolish woman, that... she has the nerve to take her anger out on my grandson, how infuriating and hateful!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Shuo's face immediately turned angry. He glared at the east wing and gritted his teeth as he spoke hatefully.

(End of this chapter)