After leaving Lao's house, Zong Qi went to Han's house again. He told Mrs. Han the good news of his engagement."Are you getting engaged? Which girl is it?" asked Mrs. Han. Zong Qi said, "She is a girl from the Wu'an Marquis's Mansion. Her surname is Lu and her given name is Chang. She is seven years younger than me and is a good girl with both talent and beauty." Without waiting for Mrs. Han to ask in detail, Zong Qi told her everything about Lu Chang. Mrs. Han's smile reached her eyes, and there was a hint of relief in that smile. "My dear lady from the Duke's Mansion, this is really wonderful, really wonderful. Unfortunately, I am an unlucky person and cannot help you with your marriage. Madam Shangguan will have to trouble you with this." Zong Qi smiled and said, "Grandma, please come to play cards when you are free. She has recently learned to play mahjong and is addicted to it. When I went there today, I was forcibly dragged to the card table and played a round before I was allowed to leave." Mrs. Han was curious: "Playing mahjong? Is this a popular thing in Beijing? I haven't seen it in Yangzhou." "Yes, it is said that the ladies of the noble families in the capital all like it. My grandmother learned it from the third wife of the Marquis of Wu'an." As Zong Qi spoke, his heart moved slightly. He had heard from Lu Chang that the women in the Marquis of Wu'an's mansion started playing mahjong since the loyal and brave Lady Li Jinxiu. At that time, Zong Qi did not think much about it and just thought that it was He Ran who taught him. Now thinking about it, listening to the tone of Lu Chang's words at that time, it seemed that he had known it since he was a child. Lu Chang was only two years younger than He Ran. When she was young, He Ran was still a child. In this way, it is very likely that He Ran did not teach Li Jinxiu to play mahjong.
However, this thought only flashed through his mind as a greeting came from outside the door, and then Zhu Yanmin ran in with a horrified look on her face. Without bothering to salute Madam Han, Zhu Yanmin grabbed Zong Qi's sleeve and said, "Qi, please save Cong Cong." Madam Han and Zong Qi were both startled. They ignored Zhu Yanmin's impoliteness and asked in unison: "What's wrong with Cong Cong?" Zhu Yanmin cried bitterly: "In the past two days, Congcong would cry non-stop at night, and no matter how we comforted him, it would not stop. I heard that children can see things that adults cannot see, and those evil spirits love to scare children. Our house has been vacant for many years, and we don't have any male children in the family. The yang energy is too weak to suppress those evil spirits." Mrs. Han had heard this before, and she had indeed heard Congcong crying these past two nights. She said to Zhu Yanmin, "If that's the case, let's ask a witch to come to our house and take a look." Zhu Yanmin cried and nodded, but still tightly grasped Zong Qi's sleeve. Zong Qi was about to break free, but heard Zhu Yanmin say: "Qi, you are the only man in our family. You know martial arts and have strong yang energy. With you at home, those evil spirits will definitely not dare to come. No wonder Cong Cong likes to look for you every day." This means that Zong Qi will stay in the mansion to keep watch at night. Mrs. Han was startled and rebuked, "Nonsense, Ah Qi is about to get engaged and is very busy. Besides, we are all women in our family, how can we let Ah Qi stay?" "Ah!" Zhu Yanmin exclaimed, and hurriedly said, "Ah Qi is getting engaged? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have spoiled the fun on such a happy day. It's my fault. I was desperate and tried all kinds of methods. I only have Cong Cong." Zong Qi's gaze slowly moved downwards. Zhu Yanmin's hand was still holding his sleeve, and her knuckles had turned slightly white due to the force. Zong Qi remembered He Ran's reminder, Cong Cong "Don't worry, sister-in-law. The abbot of Hongluo Temple gave me a string of Buddhist beads. It is said that they should be offered in front of the Buddha for 49 days to ward off evil spirits. Hang the string of Buddhist beads on the head of Congcong's bed, and the evil spirits will not dare to approach. I will have someone send it to you when I get back." After saying that, he pulled hard, and Zhu Yanmin was caught off guard. With a "hissing" sound, Zong Qi's sleeve was torn. Zong Qi didn't look at her and said to Madam Han, "Mother, I will go back now and have someone send the Buddhist beads over later." Mrs. Han forced a smile and said, "Okay, you have a lot of things to do, so don't come to see me so often. If there is anything, just send someone to tell me." Zong Qi smiled, said goodbye and left. When Zong Qi left, the smile on Mrs. Han's face disappeared. She glared at Zhu Yanmin and said, "As the eldest sister-in-law, how can you grab your brother-in-law's sleeve?" Zhu Yanmin knelt down quickly, sobbing, "Mother, it's all my fault. Today, I heard the maids talking about the evil spirit and was frightened. When I learned that Ah Qi was coming, I hurried over and lost my composure for a moment. It's all my fault. I can't even take care of the only flesh and blood left by Dalang." When Mrs. Han heard Zhu Yanmin mention her son who died young, she was filled with grief and waved her hand at Zhu Yanmin, "Alright, go ahead. Don't do this again next time. We should avoid being in the same place as each other, even if we are family members." "Yes, my wife knows she was wrong."
Before she finished speaking, the sound of a baby crying came from the side room. Zhu Yanmin stood up hurriedly and said to Madam Han, "Cong Cong is crying again. Let me go and see her." "Go, go." Mrs. Han said helplessly. As soon as Zhu Yanmin left, Han Yuzhu came back from outside. "Why didn't you invite Brother Qi to have dinner at home?" She heard about it from the old women after she entered the house, and only then did she know that Zong Qi had just left. She wanted to chase him, but she didn't dare, so she could only blame her mother. Mrs. Han just felt tired, so she simply told Han Yuzhu about Zong Qi's engagement, so that Han Yuzhu would completely give up. Hearing this, Han Yuzhu widened her eyes and said in disbelief, "Impossible, how could it be possible? Brother Qi has such high standards, he doesn't like so many Jiangnan women, how could he be interested in a crude northern woman?" With a slap, Madam Han slapped the table and said, "What are you talking about? Miss Lu is from a famous family and is extremely noble. Ah Qi is marrying her, which is beyond his reach. If you keep talking nonsense, I will send you back to Yangzhou!" Han Yuzhu was shocked. Send back to Yangzhou? The reason why their family of four went north to the capital was to avoid their relatives in Yangzhou, especially her, because those relatives wanted to use her marriage to control them, an orphan and a widow. "I'm not going back!" Letting her go back to Yangzhou would be like a sheep walking into a tiger's mouth. Unless she marries Brother Aqi and returns in glory, she will never go back to Yangzhou in her life. However, Han Yuzhu immediately realized another thing: "You said that woman's last name is Lu? Is it Lu Chang, the Lu Chang from Jinghong Tower?" Zong Qi only said that Lu Chang was born in Wu'an Marquis Mansion, but did not say that she was the head manager of Jinghong Tower. Therefore, Mrs. Han did not know the relationship between Lu Chang and Jinghong Tower. But Han Yuzhu knew. That day, Zong Qi invited Lu Chang to go shopping with her. Although she didn't go out of spite, she secretly went to Jinghong Tower afterwards, pretending to choose jewelry, but actually wanted to inquire about the relationship between Lu Chang and Zong Qi. But she didn't get to see Lu Chang. The guys at Jinghonglou were smarter than monkeys and didn't know anything. She didn't get to know anything. But she remembered the name Lu Chang firmly in her heart. All the young women who have appeared around Zong Qi are her imaginary enemies. In addition, she also knew that Lu Chang's brother was Lu Zhen and her grandmother was the loyal and brave Lady Li Jinxiu. Therefore, Han Yuzhu quietly comforted herself: Brother Aqi had just come to the capital, and he met Lu Chang in order to do business with the court through the Wu'an Marquis Mansion. Then she told herself to relax. Brother Aqi would definitely not like a daughter of an official family like Lu Chang. It was written in the storybook that these daughters of officials were domineering, ugly and bad. But now, hearing the three words "Miss Lu", Han Yuzhu's heart suddenly rose to her throat. She yelled at Madam Han: "No, Brother Qi will not get engaged to her, you lied to me!" Mrs. Han felt dizzy and shook her head. "I didn't lie to you. Ah Qi and Miss Lu are in love with each other. They have already verbally engaged. After the engagement party, they will propose marriage. They will get married next year at the latest." "No, this marriage is not okay, I don't agree!" Han Yuzhu yelled, how could Zong Qi get engaged to someone else? What should she do? If Zong Qi doesn't marry her, no one will be able to shock the relatives in the family, and she will not be able to return to Yangzhou. She will have to stay in the dry and cold capital for the rest of her life. She doesn't know anyone here, and she doesn't like it here! Seeing her daughter's facial features distorted by anger, Mrs. Han felt distressed and helpless. She blamed her. It was all her fault. From the moment she discovered the signs, she should have locked up her daughter and prevented her from seeing Zong Qi. Over time, she would slowly forget about it. "My mother has asked Madam Shangguan for help. She knows many people in the capital and will definitely be able to find a good marriage for you." Before Madam Han finished her words, Han Yuzhu screamed loudly: "It's the parents' order and the matchmaker's words. Brother Qi also calls you mother, why don't you stop him? You are his mother, and our family saved his life. If you don't agree, he will definitely not marry Lu Chang!"
Mrs. Han could hardly believe her ears. What did she hear? Zong Qi was not her biological son. She was just his adoptive mother. What right did she have to make decisions? "Don't say that. Although your father saved Ah Qi, Ah Qi has already repaid his debt of gratitude for what he has done for our family over the years. He..." Han Yuzhu shook her head vigorously: "This is a life-saving favor, he can't repay it, he can't repay it! If he had repaid it, how could my father and elder brother die? Where was he when they got into trouble? He owes our family this, he owes it. You are his mother, he has to take care of you, and his marriage is also up to you. Tell him not to marry Lu Chang, go and tell him, he will definitely listen!" Madam Han was so angry that she was shaking all over. She looked at Han Yuzhu in astonishment: "Yuzhu, are you crazy? Why do you think like this? If it weren't for Ah Qi, our widow and orphan would have died in Yangzhou long ago. Ah Qi avenged our Han family. He avenged your brother and eldest brother. He doesn't owe us anything, he doesn't owe us anything!" Han Yuzhu was not going to listen. She pointed at Madam Han and said viciously, "If you don't care, then I will go by myself. I will kill Lu Chang and I will kill her!" After saying that, she turned around and ran out. Mrs. Han's body was crumbling. She was worried that Han Yuzhu would get into trouble and affect Zongqi's marriage. She forced herself not to faint and asked her maid to go and get Han Yuzhu back. When the old woman chased to the gate, Han Yuzhu had already disappeared. The old woman could only come back to report to Madam Han, who could no longer hold on and fainted. Zong Qi was in high spirits because of the good news. He went to a jewelry store and ordered a set of headwear. In fact, the Jinghonglou in the capital is a silver shop, but Lu Chang is the manager of Jinghonglou. Zong Qi wanted to give her a surprise, so he went to another silver shop. He came out of the silver shop and ran into Zhong Yi head-on. Zong Qi was stunned. How could it be such a coincidence? Zhong Yi said expressionlessly: "Come with me." Zong Qi: Okay, I said it wasn’t such a coincidence. This is a busy city, and Zhong Yi did not ride a horse. He actually came in a carriage. Zong Qi followed Zhong Yi to a black carriage. There were no emblems or decorations on the carriage. The whole carriage was painted black. Even the strong horses pulling it were black. The coachman was also dressed in black and wore a black hat on his head. It was spring, flowers were blooming, and the sun was shining brightly, but this carriage seemed to have come from Fengdu, exuding the breath of death. Zong Qi had no choice but to follow Zhong Yi into the carriage. Along the way, Zhong Yi had the same icy face that hadn't changed for thousands of years, and didn't say a word. Zong Qi should make the best of it now that he is here. Being able to sit in the legendary Jinyiwei and have a cup of tea is also a kind of life experience. However, Zong Qi had a vague guess that He Ran said that he had handed over the matter of the missing ship to the Jinyiwei, so Zhong Yi might be looking for him because of this matter. Zong Qi was not wrong in his guess. Zhong Yi was indeed doing this because after investigating the matter, he actually found out that the person was from the Cao Gang. Among the four newly promoted officials, there was one named Su Cheng, who was Fu Yansheng’s nephew! When the Ran army entered Jinyang, Fu Yansheng's wife committed suicide. She did so in order to prevent Fu Yansheng from having any worries. Therefore, Fu Yansheng felt guilty towards Madam Fu. After he was reinstated, he took good care of Madam Fu's family. When his father-in-law was seriously ill, he wrote to He Ran and asked two imperial doctors to see his father-in-law. When the Su family members were going to Beijing to take the official examination, he not only sent someone to send them travel expenses, but also asked someone to find a famous teacher in Beijing to teach them academic knowledge. The Su family is a scholarly family, and their children are very ambitious. Including Su Cheng, three people in the Su family have embarked on official careers after passing the official examination. Among the four young officials who came to Beijing from Yuhang this time, only Su Cheng has completed his internship and he was evaluated as excellent. After reporting on his work in Beijing this time, he will officially embark on his official career. The other three people traveling with him are still in internship. The Northwest is short of people now. After they arrive in Beijing, they will go to the Northwest with the others for a new round of internship experience. Moreover, these three people are all from poor families, and only Su Cheng has connections in the court. Therefore, it is hard not to suspect that this kind of thing is aimed at Su Cheng, or in other words, at Fu Yansheng.
Fu Yansheng is now in Yulin! Of course, Zhong Yi would not tell Zong Qi these details. He only asked about some things about the Cao Gang. At the end, he said to Zong Qi: "You are not allowed to leave the capital within three months. Otherwise, you will not be able to leave next time you come." Zong Qi: I had no plan to leave the capital. I’m getting engaged! When Zong Qi came out of the Jinyiwei, the sky was already full of stars. He didn't know that Han Yuzhu had been looking for him for the entire afternoon. Han Yuzhu would never have dreamed that Zong Qi would be in the Jinyiwei yamen. (End of this chapter)
