Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

Just as they were waiting for Huangfu Ling to finish school, a voice suddenly rang out from the stairs behind them. The voice was not loud, and even had a hint of deliberate gentleness: "Zhang Lang."

Zhang Jingwei's whole body stiffened, and he slowly turned around, his movements feeling sluggish as if he was being pulled by an invisible thread.

In the shadows at the stairwell stood a figure. She was no longer the flamboyant, glamorous courtesan of Yunzhou in my memory. Instead, she wore a simple, elegant moon-white skirt, a smoky blue gauze jacket, and her hair was simply tied up, with only a white jade hairpin tucked in. Her makeup was minimal, yet perfectly accentuated her still delicate features.

She walked down the last two steps, each step silent and imperceptible, like a cat treading on moonlight. The dim light in the hallway outlined her slender yet still attractive figure. A faint smile played at the corner of her mouth, and her scrutinizing gaze was fixed on Zhang Jingwei's face.

"It's been a long time since we last met," she said softly, but every word was clear and struck a chord with the heart, "You're still so high-spirited."

Zhang Jingwei's Adam's apple rolled, and he barely suppressed the turmoil in his heart, trying to use a businesslike tone to cover up his sudden embarrassment: "Ning... Miss Wei." He changed the words abruptly, his eyes subconsciously avoiding her scorching gaze and falling on the vague shadow behind her, "On New Year's Eve, I wanted to... send someone to send you a box of dimes. But... the brothel is closed, and I... really can't find your residence." He spoke a little quickly, with a panic-stricken look in his eyes, "If you count carefully, it's been a month since we last met, right?" Even he felt dry and powerless when he said this.

The hint of a smile on Wei Jiajia's face vanished in an instant, like spring snow melting, leaving only cold rock. She took a step forward, and the familiar scent of cold fragrance and sweetness enveloped Zhang Jingwei again, bringing with it an inescapable sense of oppression. "Zhang Lang," her voice was still gentle, but it carried a piercing chill. "I don't want to hear these empty words. Why did you keep avoiding me when we were in Yunzhou?" She emphasized the word "hidden" with a strong emphasis, carrying with it a long-simmering resentment.

Zhang Jingwei was forced to take a half step back subconsciously. He felt a suffocating embarrassment, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. He defended himself calmly, "That's not true... Miss Wei misunderstood. I already have a virtuous wife at home, so naturally... naturally I don't have the time to socialize at brothels anymore."

"Good wife..." Wei Jiajia repeated in a low voice, with a mocking arc on the corner of her mouth. The next second, all the cold resentment in her eyes instantly turned into a surging, heart-trembling sorrow and a desperate eagerness! "Then I have redeemed myself now! Cleanly!" Her voice suddenly rose, with a crying tone, and she slammed into Zhang Jingwei's arms with a gust of fragrant wind! Her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, her soft body pressed tightly against Zhang Jingwei, and her hot tears instantly wet the lapels on his chest, "Zhang Lang! Look at me! I am alone, coming from Yunzhou to Gaoyang, a place I am unfamiliar with, just to find you! Just for you!" She raised her tear-stained face, with almost crazy begging and desperate love in her eyes, "Zhang Lang, you...are you willing to stay with me forever? I don't ask for a name, I just want to stay by your side, serve tea and water, and be willing to be your slave!"

This sudden embrace and hot tears made Zhang Jingwei feel like he was struck by lightning! His mind was blank, and he felt like he was holding a red-hot iron in his arms, burning him so much that he was flustered. He tried to push Wei Jiajia away in a panic, his voice changing: "This...this...Miss Wei! You...you calm down! Taking a concubine is a serious matter...I still...I still need to ask my wife..." He spoke incoherently, and used both hands to pry her arms around her waist.

"Zhang Lang..." Wei Jiajia held him tightly, tears streaming down her face, her voice mournful and heartbroken, as if he was the only piece of driftwood she was drowning with.

Just as Zhang Jingwei was about to lose control of the situation during this suffocating struggle—

At the corner of the corridor, Wang Ergou deliberately raised his voice and reminded: "Master! The young mistress is out of school!"

Zhang Jingwei shuddered and slammed Wei Jiajia, who was clinging to him, away! The force was so great that Wei Jiajia stumbled back several steps and bumped into the carved railing behind her with a dull thud.

Zhang Jingwei quickly straightened his wrinkled clothes and crooked square hat, glanced at the chaotic classroom in panic, and then quickly glanced at Wei Jiajia, who was holding the railing, her face turned pale in an instant, and staring at him with resentment.

He spoke faster and apologized: "Miss Wei! I'm sorry! I...I'm here to pick up my wife from school! I'm sorry...I'm sorry for not chatting any longer!" Then he immediately ran to the classroom door.

Wei Jiajia steadied herself by holding onto the cold railing. The sorrowful, tearful expression on her face vanished in an instant. She watched Zhang Jingwei's hurried escape, raised her hand, and with her fingertips, very slowly and gracefully, wiped away the remaining tears from her cheeks. Then, the corners of her mouth curved upwards, forming an incredibly strange smile.

……

In the classroom, a dozen young women of different ages, all dressed in rich attire, were sitting together, some talking in low voices, others adjusting the silk threads in their hands.

But when Zhang Jingwei appeared at the door, the originally quiet atmosphere suddenly exploded like water surface after a stone was thrown into it!

Whispers merged into clear waves of sound, and eyes of curiosity, surprise, or envy were all focused on the young man at the door, who was dressed in a brocade robe, looked dignified, but with a barely noticeable hint of haste.

"Look, look!" A round-faced girl excitedly nudged her companion with her elbow, her voice unable to contain her excitement, "It's Huangfu's husband! Lord Zhang came to pick her up personally! How thoughtful!"

"Is that Master Zhang Jingwei?" Another young woman in a goose-yellow gown's eyes widened, her silk fan half covering her mouth as she exclaimed in a dreamy voice, "He's truly a handsome man with an extraordinary bearing! No wonder... no wonder Huangfu always smiles when she mentions her husband. It turns out she has such a godlike husband who loves her so much. I'm a little envious!"

"It's more than just envy?" An older and more composed woman next to her said, her tone full of emotion, "You are young and probably don't know, but when Huangfu married into the Zhang family, the ceremony was of royal standard! Phoenix cape and crown, gold and silver threads, eight-man sedan chair, ten miles of red makeup! The whole Yunzhou city was in an uproar! Not to mention our Yunzhou, even in the aristocratic families in Hedong and the north, how many ladies have received such honor and dignity when they got married?" Her words were like a boulder thrown into the lake, causing a low exclamation and gasps.

"He has a distinguished family background, outstanding looks, and he became an official at a young age. He also dotes on his wife so much..." A woman with a fairy bun murmured with a dazed look in her eyes, "This... who wouldn't be moved by this?"

"Hey! Stop drooling!" Her best friend next to her poked her lightly with the embroidery frame in annoyance, and reminded her while suppressing a smile, "Pay attention to your manners! Don't forget whose daughter you are! If you are obsessed with other people's husbands all day long, what will happen if this gets out?" Having said that, she looked towards the door with admiration that was hard to conceal.