CH 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.”

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.

He didn’t say a word of blame, which made Han Ruzi feel even more guilty. As they walked, he said, “I suddenly wanted to go out for a stroll and ease my mind. And… learn the hardships of the common people.”

“Good.” Yang Feng still seemed extremely calm, “So what did you learn?”

Of course, he couldn’t say he had learned that chicks or ducklings were not sold in winter. Han Ruzi thought for a moment and when they were near the door of the study said, “The disputes in the imperial court do not seem to have much impact on the common people. People go about their business on the street. They don’t seem to care whether the Southern Army is going to attack the city, nor do they care about—” he lowered his voice, “who becomes the emperor.”

“That is just the appearance on the surface. You should go out more often and see more of the world,” Yang Feng said, stopping in his tracks.

“Ah?” Han Ruzi was taken aback. “Are you serious?”

“Of course.” Yang Feng smiled, “Sitting in the study all day is not a good thing. I have invited two martial arts instructors and bodyguards for the Weary Marquis.”

So that was what Yang Feng was up to today.

Two people walked out of the study, whom Han Ruzi recognized. They were the grandfather and grandson, Du Motian and Du Chuanyun, who had previously been driven out of the manor by the Manor Clerk. Now they were invited back with a formal position in the household.

Du Motian greeted the Weary Marquis with a smile and bow, while Du Chuanyun was not very happy. He felt that being a mere guard was an insult to the reputation of a hero of the pugilist world. He said to Yang Feng, “How many times do we have to save the Marquis before we can be said to have repaid your favor?”

“If the Marquis is constantly in danger, it means that you are not protecting him effectively and have not identified the risks in advance. You would be deserving of punishment instead. How can there be a repayment of my favor?”

Du Chuanyun’s eyes widened, and it took him a while to say, “A scholar can speak articulately, while a eunuch is ruthless. A scholar who is a eunuch…”

Du Motian pushed his grandson aside and smiled at the Weary Marquis, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. We will definitely protect Your Lordship with all our heart. If Your Lordship wishes to learn some of our modest skills, we will be happy to teach.”

“I am grateful for your kind instruction,” Han Ruzi returned the courtesy. He did indeed want to learn martial arts, but Meng E was elusive and never appeared in front of him.

“He seems weak and unable to endure tough training. I don’t think he would be able to practice our Du family martial arts.” Du Chuanyun returned to his grandfather’s side, taking measure of the Weary Marquis.

Zhang Youcai had delivered the chickens and ducks to the backyard and just returned, catching sight of Du Chuanyun. Immediately, all his good mood vanished instantly, and he blurted out, “Why are you here?”

“We were invited back,” Du Chuanyun retorted, puffing up his chest.

“Invited back… to be eunuchs? Have you been castrated? Have you been registered?”

“Tsk, I would never be a eunuch. My grandfather and I are instructors and bodyguards.”

Han Ruzi said to Zhang Youcai, “Didn’t you want to learn martial arts? You can learn with me. These two are well-known experts in the pugilist world. It’s our good fortune to be taught martial arts by them.”

Du Chuanyun puffed up his chest, very fond of the title “expert”. “Learning martial arts with us can be very tough. You have to…”

Before he could finish his sentence, his grandfather pushed him a few steps away. Du Motian said, “Don’t listen to his nonsense. It’s late today. Are you able get up early tomorrow?”

“Yes, I usually get up before dawn. It’s just these two days I’ve been a bit late.” Han Ruzi had always gone to bed early and woken up early in the palace.

“You have just reunited with your wife, so it’s only natural to sleep in a little,” Du Motian laughed. “How about this, half an hour before breakfast, and two hours after breakfast for training. In the afternoon, if there is time, we’ll do another two hours. How does that sound?”

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.