Chapter 155: Jealousy

To be honest, although Zhang Zhe's time in the Ministry of Justice may not be too long, anyone with eyes can tell what kind of personality he has.

Last year, Lord Chen Ying, the attendant, treated guests at the Xichen Pavilion.

On such occasions, it is inevitable to summon some beautiful women to come in and serve the drinks. Some officials, who were promiscuous and accustomed to their behavior, immediately began to fiddle and tease these girls.

This Mr. Zhang has upright facial features and a cold appearance, but sitting among the crowd is out of place.

The dusty woman couldn't help but be moved when she saw it.

After all, some seemingly righteous people are actually a bit inferior to those who are straightforward. In such an occasion, it is impossible for mud to emerge unscathed. Taking a step back, even if he is a true gentleman, wouldn't teasing him be more interesting?

So, there were two girls who seemed to have no bones and wanted to stick to him.

But before he could get closer, he stood up.

The others immediately laughed and made a scene.

However, Mr. Zhang lowered his eyebrows and eyes, stating that he was not strong enough to drink and would not be able to disturb everyone's interest. He said goodbye first.

After speaking, turn around and leave.

At that time, everyone in the Xichen Pavilion looked at each other in confusion.

Chen Shilang's face was not very good.

After that incident, the Ministry of Justice secretly spread rumors that Zhang Zhe was neither interesting nor sensible.

Of course, the two attendants have also heard about it.

And they have also heard of Zhang Zhe's divorce from the daughter of the Yao family.

Originally, the eight characters were only waiting for one apostrophe, but one day they turned yellow. Although I don't know which side is going to step down first, but the Yao family is wealthy and Zhang Zhe comes from a humble family. It's not like Zhang Zhe himself was foolish enough to step down, right? After all, when the marriage was arranged, he himself also agreed. So it was mostly that noble and beautiful young lady Yao Xi, who despised this person for being dull and uninteresting, with a dull and lifeless face, that led to her withdrawal from the marriage.

They are very clear about what Mr. Zhang's style is.

There is no trace of a smile on my face all day long.

In the yamen of the Ministry of Justice, he often arrives earliest and leaves last. He deals with files, murder cases, prison, and laws all day long, and some small families like him. However, due to his unfriendly and unruly demeanor, he often encounters obstacles, and over time, no one pays attention to him.

But right now

The two servants couldn't believe their eyes!

When they were at the Shuxiang Inn just now, they had already seen Jiang Xuening. After all, such a beautiful girl was extremely stunning. With just a glance, it was difficult to move one's gaze away, more beautiful than any woman they had ever seen!

Compared to her, the delicate moth leaning against the Red Chamber and the willow eyebrows nestling against the Cui Pavilion are all inferior among the inferior!

If it weren't for their official duties, they would definitely be greedy and unwilling to leave.

Unexpectedly, shortly after they left, this girl caught up with them.

And he stopped

Mr. Zhang?!

The two attendants looked at Jiang Xuening's gaze and quickly changed from initial shock to pity: what a pity! Such a beautiful girl, her brain is not working! Who wouldn't marry someone with such a good appearance if they flew up to the branch? Why did they limp and look at Zhang Zhe? They even gave something as a gift on New Year's Eve?!

The streets are bustling with pedestrians and cars and horses.

The two stood opposite each other, motionless.

Like two sunken stones in a gentle stream.

Zhang Zhe thought he had made a decision and repeatedly warned himself, but when he saw her again, the high wall in his heart began to shake and collapse bit by bit.

A calm body is difficult to calm the mind.

He never even thought that Jiang Xuening would pursue him, let alone that she would abandon her reserved and straightforward questioning. But on second thought, isn't this just her temperament? Proud, domineering, bright, not likely to be taken in. If she is timid and worried about gains and losses, it is not like her.

Jiang Xuening looked up at him slightly, with a hint of frustration and grievance in her glowing eyes. However, she didn't express it in her mouth, and even repeated the previous question with a hint of domineering tone: "Did Mr. Zhang receive it?"

Although every sentence is about caring, Zhang Zhe feels like every word is cut by a knife.

He appeared to be standing in front of her unscathed, but his heart was covered in bruises and blood flowed profusely. He had to forcefully grip the scroll of portrait paper in his hand to ensure his voice remained steady as usual: "Got it."

The two servants next to each other glanced at each other, almost suspecting that they had heard the wrong thing. Looking at Mr. Zhang's seemingly normal expression, he suddenly sensed an unusual feeling.

Zhang Zhe is currently blessed by the Holy Family.

If they unknowingly listen to people's private matters, how can they know that people will not be afraid or guarded in the future?

These two people bowed and silently retreated. I just couldn't help but turn back and take a look when I walked out a long way, obviously with uncontrollable curiosity.

Jiang Xuening, however, was completely unaware. When she heard Zhang Zhe's affirmative answer, her heart suddenly quickened a bit, but with it came a faint ominous feeling that made her feel a piercing pain like a dark needle.

A voice shouted in her mind, "Don't ask, don't ask again.".

That's all for now, what else don't you understand?

But the continuous stabbing pain had already made her feel like she couldn't breathe, and she stubbornly ignored the voice: "What was written inside? Mr. Zhang also saw it?"

Zhang Zhedao said, "I see."

Jiang Xuening also smiled and was unprecedentedly honest, "Others say that adults are cold faced and indifferent, making it difficult to get along with each other. However, during the trip to Tongzhou, Xuening was fortunate to have been taken care of by adults all the way. In fact, she knows that you are a clear and guarded jade pot in an icy valley. Zhang Zhe, I belong to you."

Zhang Zhe, I belong to you.

There is no shyness like an ordinary woman, only a solitary courage that does not bump into the southern wall and does not turn back.

Zhang Zhe felt as if she was about to cry, but on her slightly pale face, that smile never faded, as if she believed she would definitely get the answer she wanted.

Tugu Market is bustling with the hustle and bustle of the secular world.

He was suddenly pulled back to his past life by this sentence.

In the previous life, Jiang Xuening also said such words.

However, at that time she still couldn't stand him because he was a mortal enemy of Zhou Yinzhi. Whenever there was an opportunity, she would play tricks on him recklessly inside and outside the palace, causing him to feel angry; Joking at him made him feel embarrassed.

Knowing that he was rigid and conservative, he deliberately teased him.

If she accidentally reveals a moment of embarrassment, it often makes her burst into laughter, as if she has won some battle.

Although he has a persevering and silent nature, he has been teased for a long time, but it is inevitable that he may lose his composure.

That day was deep winter, and the courtiers were ordered to enter the palace to discuss matters.

He lives further away from the palace, the road is slippery, and he comes later. When they arrived at the Qianqing Palace, they saw a group of important officials, including Xie Wei, who was already the Crown Prince and Grand Tutor, waiting in the side hall.

As is well known, Xie Wei was an imperial teacher and had a chilly physique.

The emperor summoned all the ministers, and it was not uncommon for anyone to wait outside. However, let Xie Wei wait outside, as he had never heard of or seen before.

An old man walked in and exclaimed, "Isn't it that the Holy Spirit has called us to come and discuss matters at this time? Why are so many people waiting outside?"

Xie Wei stood on the stairs, still indifferent, and turned around to answer, "The Empress is inside."

Everyone immediately looked at each other.

The old man choked for a moment, lowered his head and murmured, but after all, he didn't say anything more.

Zhang Zhe glanced into the Qianqing Palace and felt inexplicably agitated.

After waiting for more than half an hour, eunuch Zheng Bao, the eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, personally bent over and escorted one person out.

It's Jiang Xuening.

Dressed in a luxurious high bun, holding a delicate gold-plated handmade stove, her pink cheeks shone brightly, adorned with cherry colored lips, but the color seemed lighter than usual, as if she had rubbed off her original lip fat somewhere.

She first saw Xie Wei on the steps when she came out, and a hint of disgust flashed through her eyes, turning her gaze away.

I only saw him when I stepped down the stairs.

So the hint of brilliance in his eyes became playful, deliberately raising his eyebrows and drawing a smile. It was the gate of the Qianqing Palace, and he didn't dare to embarrass him in front of many ministers. He walked briskly with a group of palace maids.

Later, Shen Jie summoned them to the palace for discussion.

When Zhang Zhe stood up after bowing, he happened to see the young and elegant emperor. He tidied up a piece of sleeves that had been turned over, and a little cherry blossom powder was not very obvious on the transparent edge of the fingernail cover of his right ring finger, as if there was still a lingering warmth of tenderness.

He doesn't know if anyone else has noticed.

But during the hour long discussion, although he answered fluently, when he didn't speak, there was a little more imperceptible dullness compared to his usual silence.

As everyone retreated and left the Qianqing Palace, Xie Wei suddenly stopped and glanced at him, saying, "The case of fraud in the Jiangnan imperial examination is widely involved. Mr. Zhang's words today are even less than before."

Zhang Zhe is not familiar with this imperial teacher.

But at that moment, I still felt a chill in my heart.

He replied, "The matter is grand, and I am naturally reticent, and I dare not speak recklessly."

Xie Wei always wears a slight smile on his face, and he is very familiar with people. Even in winter, he often gives people a feeling of basking in spring breeze.

After hearing these words, he did not answer.

The old man next to him happened to come over and invite him to join the cabinet. Xie Wei, as if he had never mentioned anything, went to the duty room with the other auxiliary ministers.

Zhang Zhe stood at the foot of the stairs for a moment before walking towards the Wenyuan Pavilion to the east.

The case of academic fraud is complex and even involves several past CEOs in the imperial examination. It is necessary to ask relevant people for information.

Just a little absent-minded along the way.

He never even saw when Jiang Xuening came with the palace attendants from afar, so he couldn't avoid it.

She seemed to have gone to the imperial garden, with several palace maids behind her holding scissors at one end, while the others each held several plum blossoms in their hands.

The weather is cold, and the plum blossoms are blooming vigorously.

Some are red, some are white, and some are yellow.

The slender and slanted branch in Dujiang Xuening's hand, which was about a foot long, was surprisingly a light green color like a bean, which was very rare.

I heard that there is a rare green plum tree planted in the east corner of the imperial garden in the palace. It was planted by the monk Yuanji, a national teacher, and the imperial teacher Xie Wei after losing a bet with the former emperor Shen Lang one year after he ascended the throne. Every winter when it blooms, the plum petals are light green in color.

The palace people cherish it very much and dare not act recklessly.

But when it fell into Jiang Xuening's hands, it was casually folded, gently and skillfully pinched to enjoy, and its preciousness was not visible at all.

He knew that encountering Jiang Xuening was not a good thing, and after bowing and bowing, he didn't want to cause trouble, so he gave way to the left side and left from the side.

===Kunning Section 201===

Not wanting him to walk to the left, Jiang Xuening stood to the left;

He walked to the right, and Jiang Xuening stood to the right.

Anyway, it's just right to block him.

Zhang Zhe then knew that she was being teased again, and her already dull and cold face became increasingly expressionless. When he caught sight of her curling her pink lips and looking at him with a smile, he felt even more restless.

He said, "I have something to attend to, Empress, please let me know."

Jiang Xuening waved her hand and asked the palace attendants to stay away, blocking his way. Looking at his cold and stern eyebrows, she held onto the green plum tree and lifted his sharp jawline to examine his face. Yuzang teased, "Mr. Zhang has a bad temper and a hard temper, but his eyebrows are beautiful. What if this palace doesn't allow you to pass?"

Where does such words and actions seem like the empress of the maternal world?

Zhang Zhe finally brushed her away, with a solemn expression on his face, and said coldly, "Madam is the mother of a country, with a very peaceful position. Her actions should be appropriate, and the emperor is both husband and ruler. Such frivolous words are afraid of causing criticism from the court and the public."

Jiang Xuening seemed surprised that he could speak.

At first, he was stunned for a moment, and then as if he had discovered something fun, he clapped his hands and said, "I even thought you were a silent gourd with a sawtooth mouth. I've been bothering you many times, thinking that you've become the second best cultivator in Xie Ju'an. I just realized it's not interesting. I can't help but feel angry sometimes!"

Zhang Zhe remained unmoved and only said, "Empress, where do you place the Holy One, where do you place the Lower Officials, and where do you place the Rites, Righteousness, and Shame?"

When he first saw Jiang Xuening at the summer resort, it was like this.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Jiang Xuening's joking expression did not change. However, a hint of anger was suppressed in her eyes, which made her face even more vibrant. As she walked up to him, she almost pressed her toes against his toes and tugged at the corner of her lips, saying, "Who would say that the head of this palace is seeing you again? It belongs to Mr. Zhang."

Such words were supposed to be lingering and affectionate, but when they were spoken from her mouth, they were frivolous and sarcastic, secretly very sharp!

At that moment, Zhang Zhe's patience reached an extreme.

He knew that the other party was teasing him, so he took a step back and lowered his eyes, saying, "I stand upright and not afraid of rumors. The words and actions of the Empress may not be afraid of rumors. The criticism from the court and the public may not be what you like. Please be careful, Empress."

With a lowered gaze, one could only see the corner of Jiang Xuening's clothes embroidered with phoenix tails.

There was a moment of silence.

Then a few green plums came into view, and to his surprise, Jiang Xuening's green plum was spotted at the corner of his eye. As he lifted his eyes lightly, there were slightly cold sharp wooden thorns at the end of the thin branch, leaving a faint and delicate bloodstain at the corner of his eye.

The pain is very faint but real.

Jiang Xuening changed her pensive expression and looked at him, saying, "Mr. Zhang abides by propriety and righteousness, and is naturally patient. How could you be so infuriated by a few random words from our palace today?"

Zhang Zhe didn't speak.

Jiang Xuening's plum blossom branch did not retract, still shining at the corner of his eye, and his gaze shifted to his cold and silent eyes. After exploring for a long time, a smile suddenly burst into her lips, as if she couldn't even believe herself. She asked, "Are you jealous?"

At that moment, Zhang Zhe's patience seemed to have reached its limit and he walked away with a brush of his sleeve.

Jiang Xuening smiled and bent over behind him.

Returning to his own mansion, he thought that Jiang Xuening was disturbing his mind with his usual nonsense. After flipping through the files, he couldn't shake off the absurd two words in his mind. Jiang Xuening secretly supports Zhou Yinzhi, but Zhou Yinzhi is a major disaster in the court. How could he be fascinated by his appearance and even feel jealous?

It was just that she deliberately insulted him with words.

But he flipped through the pages of the file without even sorting out half a clue.

A solitary lamp shone through the night, and what came to mind was the thin colored lipstick, cherry blossom powder stained on the emperor's nails.

Zhang Zhe once regretted his limited insight.

Even the slightest trace of clues could make him glimpse the tip of the iceberg, causing him to become restless and unable to read any more. He only thought: How could there be such a bad woman in the world?

However, after a long, long time, he was imprisoned. When he looked out of the small iron window at the clouds, he forgot all the bad things around him. Instead, he always remembered that day when she had a sarcastic and sharp smile on her face and said the same joke to him——

Who said that if the head of this palace sees you again, it means it belongs to Mr. Zhang?

At that time, ridicule and sharpness, malice and mockery all faded from the face in memories, leaving only a refreshing breeze and a light green snow plum.

She has played tricks on him and pleaded with him;

She has squeezed him and occasionally showed her softness.

She pulled him into the vortex, but in the end, the person who was afraid of death gave up that life to repay him

At this moment, after two lifetimes, she stood in front of herself, no longer jokingly calling him "Mr. Zhang", but calling him "Zhang Zhe" with utmost seriousness, openly admitting that she was interested in him.

She is not a queen in this life, he is not a vassal.

They were supposed to be together.

Zhang Zhe seemed to have been cut in half by a dull knife of fate, half of whom was exposed, cold and rational; Half of him sank into hell, with no hope of success.

In a daze, it was the day of the Shangqing Temple in Tongzhou.

Xie Wei, dressed in a Taoist robe and hunting, stood on the rugged rocks and asked him, "Do you also follow her?"

He stopped, remained silent for a long time, and said word by word, "I love her."

That was truly the most candid moment of his two lives, even throwing away all the burdens and obtaining a complete release.

Xie Wei's corner of his eye twitched slightly and he only smiled, as if curious, asking, "That's really strange. How did Xie feel that Mr. Zhang is more honest with others than with his crush?"

He stood there for a long time, staring at Xie Wei.

Xie Wei sneered lightly, showing no gentleness towards him, and said calmly, "Ning Er is a fool. If you have any concerns, it's better not to provoke her."

The breeze is no longer cold, and people in the capital have changed into newly made spring clothes. The weeping willows on the street also emit a faint green hue.

A hundred flowers are about to bloom, but the plum blossoms have all withered, right?

Zhang Zhe regained his senses.

Jiang Xuening looked at him, feeling as if the eternal struggle had passed through her eyes, and a faint sense of familiarity had permeated.

But she didn't have time to delve deeper.

Because in the next moment, Zhang Zhe's words made her head go blank, causing a buzzing earthquake and a feeling of being lightly stepped on cotton.

Zhang Zhe stared at her and slowly said, "Miss Jiang, please forgive me. I already have a crush in my heart."