Chapter 80: Taking a Stroll

Chapter 80: Taking a Stroll

Zhang Youcai walked out of the market square sullenly, holding the reins of the horse, and said to the Weary Marquis on horseback, “I was a laughingstock.”

“Why? Didn’t I give you money?” Han Ruzi was surprised. He had intended to stroll in the market himself, but the Manor Marshal who had come with him strongly disagreed. He thought that it was already inappropriate for the Weary Marquis to leave the manor at this time; personally going into the market would be even worse. So Han Ruzi had to wait outside the market with a few of his followers.

Zhang Youcai pointed at the snow on the roadside, “I was told that there are no chicks or ducklings in winter, only live chickens and ducks for slaughter. But I remember there were chicks in the palace even in the coldest times.”

“Did we come to the wrong place? Should we go elsewhere to buy them?” Han Ruzi had heard that there was another large market in the city.

The Manor Marshal had not known the purpose of the Weary Marquis’s trip. Upon hearing this, he shook his head and said, “The palace has heated rooms, with charcoal fires burning day and night. It would feel like spring or summer even in the winter, so naturally, chicks and ducklings can be hatched. Who among the common people has the financial means to do this?”

Han Ruzi smiled embarrassingly, “It seems like I do not understand the hardships of the common people.”

The Manor Marshal gave a dry laugh, “As Your Lordship comes from the imperial clan, it’s normal not to know these things.”

It was the first time Han Ruzi had been out in ten days, and he had made a promise to Cui Xiaojun. He didn’t want to return empty-handed, so he said to Zhang Youcai, “Buy some live chickens and ducks to raise. By spring they will be able to lay eggs, right?”

“Can chickens and ducks used for cooking also lay eggs?” Zhang Youcai, although a child from a poor family, entered the palace at a very young age, and similarly, he did not know the “hardships of the common people”.

Both of them looked towards the Manor Marshal.

The Manor Marshal already regretted getting himself into the embarrassing topic of reproduction. He answered vaguely, “They should be able to, I guess.”Updated chapters at novelhall.com

Zhang Youcai happily went back to the market square. He came back shortly, followed by two men, each holding two bamboo cages, each cage containing five or six chickens and ducks.

“We bought them!” Zhang Youcai said enthusiastically.

The two followers of the Weary Marquis came forward to take the bamboo cages. The merchant, having made a good deal, was also very happy. He didn’t recognize the deposed emperor, thinking it was just an ordinary nobleman. He gave a flattering smile and said, “If the young master’s family is not in a hurry to hold a feast, these chickens and ducks can be kept for two or three days. Just feed them grains, they can gain a bit more fat.”

Zhang Youcai asked, “That’s not why we bought them. Can these chickens and ducks hatch chicks and ducklings?”

The merchant was taken aback, “Uh... of course they can, as long as...”

“We wait until spring. I know.” Zhang Youcai led the way in front, leading the Weary Marquis back to the manor.

Watching their departing figures, the merchant’s assistant whispered, “But all we sold were hens and female ducks...”

“Maybe they already have males.” The merchant didn’t care about these details. “These young nobles are like this, seeking a moment’s novelty. In a few days, they will kill them for meat. Would they really have the patience to wait until spring?”

When Han Ruzi returned to the manor, it was already dusk. He was in a good mood, but when he saw Yang Feng standing at the front door, he felt slightly uneasy.

Yang Feng looked at the chickens and ducks in the cage and asked indifferently, “Are there no chickens or ducks to eat in the manor?”

Zhang Youcai shook his head and said, “These are not for eating. We shall wait until spring to hatch chicks and ducklings. It’s a gift for the lady.”

Yang Feng nodded with a smile and followed the Weary Marquis into the manor.

Han Ruzi nodded in agreement but he had a small question in his heart. The question was eventually asked by Du Chuanyun, who was as agile as a monkey, “What does getting up early or late have to do with the lady? If I had to sleep with grandfather, I would get up even earlier...”

Du Motian slapped out a palm, and Du Chuanyun was pushed back a dozen steps.

Yang Feng took the Dus to find a suitable martial arts practice ground. Han Ruzi went into the study. He found Yang Feng’s calm reaction a bit strange and couldn’t help but feel uneasy. He originally planned to the private quarters of the manor to see his wife, but he changed his mind and ordered Zhang Youcai to call He Yi from the accounting room. He planned to do something before dinner.

There were fifteen eunuchs and eight palace maids who had voluntarily followed the deposed emperor out of the palace, most of them were the Unfortunates. Han Ruzi felt that he ought to satisfy their wishes as much as possible.

He Yi had already made his enquiries and had written down everyone’s wishes. He gave them to the Weary Marquis.

Their wishes were all very simple: five eunuchs and four palace maids wanted to go back to their hometown, but they had no money, and did not know whether their families were still alive; six eunuchs and two palace maids were older, they just wanted a place to enjoy the sun often, which was a luxury in the palace; Zhang Youcai wished to learn martial arts; and He Yi and another eunuch were satisfied as long as they had wine; the last eunuch honestly admitted that he had offended his superiors in the palace and left the palace out of fear, only asking for a peaceful life, and wine and meat would be a plus; there were also two younger palace maids who followed everyone out of the palace on a whim, and did not express any wishes even after thinking about.

Han Ruzi agreed to these wishes. He Yi reminded his master, “People in the palace are all registerd, and they must be removed from the register before they can leave the capital and return home. There is no rush for this, every spring the palace will release a group of people to return home. These requests can be handled together at that time.”

Finally, one thing was done, and He Yi excused himself. Han Ruzi sat for a while and asked Zhang Youcai, “Are you still in touch with the other Unfortunates?”

“Not really, just Brother Cai.”

“Do you think that Shen Sanhua, the one you mentioned, will give you away?” Han Ruzi remembered clearly that Shen Sanhua was also one of the Unfortunates who was implicated in his assassination and imprisoned. If he had confessed, the other Unfortunates might have gotten into trouble. That’s why people like Zhang Youcai were willing to risk helping the emperor. But now the emperor had abdicated and couldn’t help them in this matter.

Zhang Youcai’s expression darkened, “Shen Sanhua and the assassin Qiu Jizu died several months ago, Shen Sanhua did not give us away, and the Empress Dowager does not know he was also an Unfortunate. So we are safe.”

The once notorious assassination attempt thus ended quietly, without a sound. Han Ruzi hadn’t even heard about it.

Yang Feng came back alone, “The new instructors have already chosen a practice location in the back courtyard. You can start training tomorrow. If nothing else, at least it will help build up your health.”

Han Ruzi signaled Zhang Youcai to leave, then said to Yang Feng, “I went out for a stroll today to ease my mind, not to experience the hardships of the people.”

“I know.” Yang Feng was still completely calm.

“Don’t you want to say something?”

Yang Feng thought for a moment, “You are still young, and there’s nothing urgent that needs to be done right now. Going out to get some fresh air is not a bad thing.”

“I am still waiting for an opportunity.” Han Ruzi said, suddenly realizing that this was the first time he had discussed the matter of his reascension to the throne with Yang Feng after his abdication. Although the two would have daily discussions about the political situation in court, they had never discussed future plans.

Yang Feng walked to the desk, and pressed one hand on it. He said slowly, “It is sufficient for you to have that intention. But do not speak it out loud. If possible, don’t even think about it.”

“I should not even think about it?” Han Ruzi found this quite difficult.

“Don’t presume that your thoughts are safe. There are some who can easily tell what you are thinking.” Yang Feng paused for a moment and said casually, “When you were not here, the manor received a visiting card. The newly appointed Grand Marshal of the Northern Army and the Crowned Marquis, Han Shi, wishes to visit tomorrow morning. I have agreed, and the visit is arranged after martial arts training.”

Han Ruzi was taken aback, not knowing what the orphan of the former crown prince would come to see him for. He also did not know why Yang Feng took the matter so lightly.

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