Spring Courtyard Forbidden Pet

Dong Zhang couldn't sleep all night because of Ye Zhen's words. He asked Zhu Ci to investigate everything that happened between Ye Zhen and Li Xuan'an, and then kept the magnolia hairpin in his pocket until dawn.

"General, what Miss Ye said was not an excuse. When she and General Li were breaking off the engagement, the Imperial Preceptor had been protecting her." Zhu Ci knew what Dong Zhang was thinking. Seeing how much he was thinking about it, he felt that since he couldn't get it, he might as well see it clearly sooner.

So he continued, "People around Prince Yu have said that the Imperial Master caused lightning to strike General Li. Although we don't know if it's true or not, there is always smoke without fire."

"The Imperial Master and Miss Ye stayed in Baiyun Temple for one night. Taoist Master Yuchenzi rushed over when it was almost dawn..."

Before she could finish, Dong Zhang stopped her in a stern voice, "This concerns the reputation of a woman, you cannot speak carelessly."

Zhu Ci was anxious. "If I don't mention it, will others just pretend it didn't happen? General, you were worried that the Imperial Master's actions would implicate the Second Miss, but have you ever thought that maybe the Second Miss is willing to have an ambiguous relationship with the Imperial Master?"

"shut up!"

Dong Zhang looked very unhappy, and he carefully put the hairpin back into the brocade box. "Go down and accept the punishment. Let Liu Ting come and serve you in the next few days. When you figure it out, you can come back to this general."

"Great General!" Zhu Ci was unwilling, but helpless, "I obey your orders."

Dong Zhang thought about it and planned to find a chance to ask Ye Zhen in person, but suddenly he felt a little fearful and uneasy.

Thinking back to when Dong Yuan had urged him to buy a hairpin, he had hesitated, "What if she has someone she likes..."

"As long as you're not married, you have a chance!"

"Brother, you are already twenty-five! Defending the country and continuing the family line do not conflict. His Majesty summoned you back to the capital ahead of schedule this time, and he seems to be planning to keep you. What if he randomly assigns you someone you don't like?"

"It's better to get what you like before your majesty opens his mouth!"

"Ah Zhen was harmed by Cui and Ye Rong, and she missed her best marriage age. Don't you know that people who usually envy her are now mocking her as an old aunt?"

"Ah Zhen and my eldest brother are three years apart in age, so it's perfect for them."

Thinking of this, Dong Zhang took out the hairpin again and carried it with him.

Yes, Li Xuan is a Taoist priest and cannot make promises to her. But I am different. I will love her for the rest of her life. Even if I die on the battlefield, I will protect her glory for the rest of her life.

Dong Zhang went out with full confidence, but he didn't expect to be ordered by the emperor to train the North Camp in the morning court. Since Prince Yu left Beijing, Li Chengge had no moral integrity and had taken charge of the North Camp. Yesterday, there was another scandal of drunk soldiers harassing the people. The emperor was very angry and ordered Dong Zhang to rectify military discipline in one month.

With the imperial edict, Dong Zhang had to stay in the North Camp day and night.

When Dong Yuan saw this, he realized that this was not possible and begged Concubine Xian to speak well of him in front of the emperor, but he was scolded by Concubine Xian instead.

"Nonsense! How can military discipline be delayed because of personal matters? Besides, the harem is not allowed to interfere in government affairs."

Concubine Xian glared at Dong Yuan angrily, "You have been with me for nothing these years. It's ok if you act foolishly on weekdays, but if you dare to smear the name Dong, I will definitely not forgive you."

Concubine Xian was worried, so she ordered people to watch Dong Yuan and not allow her to leave the palace for the time being.

*

Ye Zhen slept until noon and while eating, he listened to Xiaonian talking about Dong Zhang going to Beiying. He knew that the emperor would most likely keep Dong Zhang in Beijing and make use of him.

Dong Zhang has been guarding the border for ten years, and there has been no further invasion from the northwest. It is time to take away his power.

The throne is cold, and even a flesh-and-blood person will become cold and heartless if he sits on it for too long.

A hero, after all, is nothing more than a flag in the hands of those in power. The Dong and Meng families exchanged their flesh and blood and their souls for the peace and prosperity of the country, but in the writings of historians, only the glorious achievements of the rulers are recorded.

Ye Zhen felt sorry for the Dong family, but feeling sorry for them was the most useless thing.

She drank a cup of tea to calm herself down, and prepared to continue making clothes from last night's stitches. Just as she was threading the thread, Yu Lu ran in breathlessly, "Second Miss, something happened!"

"The treasured black jade in our jade shop is bleeding!"

Ye Zhen frowned, "What do you mean by bleeding?"

Yu Lu took a breath, "The shop has been slow recently, and Uncle Chang put out the black jade the size of a bronze mirror to attract customers, and it worked."

"This morning, the shop across the street opened and shouted that someone had died. It turned out that the waiter who was guarding the shop was already stiff, with no blood on his body. It was very strange."

"But the black jade in our shop is bleeding."

"Right now, soldiers have surrounded the shop, waiting for the coroner to perform an autopsy."

When Ye Zhen stood up, she was pricked by a needle on her index finger, and she felt more and more uneasy.

"Prepare the car, I'll go take a look."

Ye Zhen asked Liuxia to prepare some banknotes so that they could take care of the government officials when they got there, and asked Rongfei to pick a few skilled servants to go out with him.

Dong Zhang came running over and saw that she looked unhappy. "What happened?"

Before Ye Zhen could speak, he turned over and dismounted, intentionally protecting his chest, "Do you want my help?"

Seeing him approach, Ye Zhen silently stepped back half a step, "It's nothing serious, just something happened in the shop, I'll go take a look."

"General, do you have something to ask me?"

Dong Zhang had been thinking about how to send the hairpin all the way, and now he was speechless when he saw her. "A Yuan is not convenient to leave the palace these two days, so I'm afraid we will have to postpone the discussion we made earlier."

"She was worried that you were anxious, so she asked me to tell her."

Ye Zhen nodded, "Okay, I understand."

Seeing that Dong Zhang did not move, Ye Zhen said again, "General..."

"There is one more thing." Dong Zhang took a deep breath, his starry eyes met Ye Zhen's black grape-like eyes. He was even more nervous and at a loss than the first time he went to the battlefield.

But he had to say it today, otherwise he would have to wait at least a month before he could see her again.

He reached into his bosom and tightly grasped the magnolia hairpin. Although his voice was tense, he was still calm, "Thank you for choosing the purse. I, I like it very much, so..."

One end of the hairpin was exposed, and Shen Du suddenly descended from the sky in a flying fish robe, "Second Miss Ye, the Imperial Master has already known about the jade shop. He is on his way and has ordered me to pick you up."

Shen Du looked emotionlessly between Dong Zhang and Ye Zhen before he said, "Do you want to go over now, or...wait?"

Ye Zhen didn't think about it, "Now."

After taking two steps, he suddenly felt a little rude, so he turned around and saluted Dong Zhang, "General, please forgive me. I have to go to the shop first."

Her straight nose shone with a gentle and beautiful light, and the way she lowered her eyes made Dong Zhang unable to take his eyes away.

But he couldn't help but smile, and he pushed the hairpin into his clothes little by little, "Second Miss, please take care of something first. This general... has nothing important to do."

Ye Zhen could tell that his tone was not very good, but she really didn't have the time or energy to ask more questions. "Thank you, General."

She got on the carriage impatiently without even looking back.

Dong Zhang just felt a bitter taste in his throat. Never mind, he would talk to her after returning from Beiying.