Among the so-called methods that are not really methods, which require luck and patience, the absolute most important thing is luck.
Lord Zhuang said:
First Madam Zhang, if I were you, the best thing to do right now is not to let anyone mention your husband in front of the Emperor. It is best if the Emperor forgets about him entirely. Next month is the time for the autumn executions. If the Emperor does not issue a clear decree for his execution before then, your husband will at least be able to live well until the next autumn executions. During this year, if there is an opportunity—for example, the late Emperor's great memorial ceremony next May when the Emperor ends his mourning period, or if the Emperor's first prince is born—the Emperor might issue a general amnesty across the world. If Zhang Jingyan is lucky enough, he could use this amnesty to get out of the imperial prison. Therefore, First Madam Zhang, be patient and wait for an opportunity.
Although the solution Lord Zhuang offered was somewhat illusory, to Zhu Qingyu, it undoubtedly revealed another path to survival.
This path relied on luck, but if it could truly be achieved, it would at least be better than the option Shen Xu had given her, which required Zhang Shen to live in hiding for the rest of his life.
Before leaving, Zhu Qingyu presented the box containing the beautiful jade to Miss Zhuang:
Your character, Miss, is as bright as the moon and as noble as jade. It is my great fortune to meet you today. I wish to offer this item as a meeting gift to commemorate our acquaintance. Please, Miss, you absolutely must not decline.
Miss Zhuang blushed from the praise:
I will accept your compliments, but this jade is too precious for me to accept.
Zhu Qingyu forced it into her carriage:
Miss Zhuang, my husband is currently in the imperial prison. Even if I have to spend all my family's wealth, I must save him. If this jade remains in my hands, it will eventually be given away anyway. Furthermore, if the Emperor issues a decree, I fear the entire Zhang family's assets will be confiscated, and it still wouldn't stay with me for long. It is better to give it to you as a dowry. If one day I become destitute, I ask that you remember the affection of today's gift and allow me to visit your home to ask for a little financial help. If you could support me with some spare silver to get by, I would be endlessly grateful.
Miss Zhuang had just been blushing from her praise, and now her eyes were turning red from her words. She finally accepted the beautiful jade and replied:
Since you trust me enough to entrust such a precious thing to me, I will temporarily keep it for you. Whenever you need to use it, come find me and take it back.
Zhu Qingyu nodded and saw the two of them onto the carriage.
Just as they were about to leave, Miss Zhuang opened the carriage window and waved to her.
Zhu Qingyu approached, and Miss Zhuang leaned in closer, asking in a soft whisper:
First Madam Zhang, is he really not forcing you? Are you doing this because your husband is in the imperial prison, so you have no choice but to... I am not blaming you, I am just a little worried about you.
After all, she was an unmarried maiden, and when it came to private matters between men and women, Miss Zhuang did not dare to speak too explicitly.
Zhu Qingyu smiled:
No, nothing like that. I am doing this willingly. Thank you for your concern.
Watching the carriage slowly fade into the distance, Zhu Qingyu thought to herself that she was indeed willing. She willingly boarded Gu Zhao's boat that day, and she willingly went to Gu Zhao's villa today.
No one had forced her. Whoever asked, her answer would always be the same.
Even if Zhang Shen came to ask.
Especially if Zhang Shen came to ask.
And one day, as long as Zhang Shen got out of the imperial prison, he would definitely ask her this question.
She had already prepared her answer, and she was prepared to face it.
As long as he could get out, nothing else mattered.
He had once risked his life and fortune for her to drag a powerful noble down from power. She would never let such a thing happen again.
...
As autumn transitioned into winter, the weather in the capital grew colder day by day, and the time for the autumn executions drew nearer as well.
Zhu Qingyu took Lord Zhuang's advice and kept a low profile. She did not seek anyone out and even began to rely on psychological comfort, burning three sticks of incense to the Bodhisattva every day. She prayed that before the autumn executions, the busy Emperor would be tied up with government affairs or engrossed in his harem, and that he absolutely must not suddenly remember the insignificant Zhang Jingyan.
She did not go out, but the Zhang residence in Qingyi Alley was by no means quiet.
Xie Ze ran over every few days, and this time he came specifically to bring her news of Zhang Shen in prison:
The Imperial Guardsman I know is a subordinate of Shen Chongshu. He said that Shen Chongshu recently, for some unknown reason, suddenly moved your husband to a different cell. He was moved upstairs. It has a window, a bed, a table, and even books. They even had someone clean it specially. It is much better than before. Did you send him money?
Ever since Shen Xu suddenly came to propose that day, telling her to find him at the Imperial Guard office when she thought it through, he had vanished without a trace.
So regarding this man she had only met twice, Zhu Qingyu did not understand him at all, let alone why he had suddenly changed his attitude.
Moreover, he was completely different from Gu Zhao. Gu Zhao was full of hostility towards Zhang Shen; although he did not personally act against Zhang Shen, his attitude was mostly to let him fend for himself.
But Shen Xu seemed to have no hostility towards Zhang Shen, and even showed a rare bit of kindness?
People take advantage of the kind-hearted. Even though he was an Imperial Guardsman, Zhu Qingyu, who knew how to adapt to different people, wanted to take this opportunity to push her luck a little, so she asked Xie Ze:
Then can you help me ask if I can go in to see him again and bring him some things? It is getting cold, and I want to send him some thick clothes.
As the two were talking, Xie Ze's attendant rushed to the door in a panic:
Little Marquis, I think I just saw Nanny Qiu at the street corner.
Xie Ze looked utterly speechless:
My mother cannot be serious, she actually sent someone to follow me all the way here! Alright, alright, I will go back immediately.
Seeing Zhu Qingyu's confused expression, Xie Ze explained:
Because I refused the marriage with the Wen family, my mother has become paranoid. She keeps suspecting that I have someone on the outside, which is why I refused the marriage, so she sent someone to follow me. I will head back first so I do not bring trouble to your place. As for sending the clothes, once I have news, I will have my servant bring you a message.
Zhu Qingyu was confused by his words:
Did you not say last time that you liked Elder Miss Wen? Why do you suddenly not like her anymore?
Speaking of this sad matter, Xie Ze's face filled with sorrow:
The falling flowers yearn for love, but the heartless brook babbles on. I went to express my feelings to her, but she scolded me. She said I was clearly discussing marriage with her younger sister, yet I came to provoke her and sow discord between them. She called me a frivolous lecher and a womanizer. I am truly wronged. What could I do? I could not possibly actually marry her sister.
Well, the noble ladies of the capital even inherited the same vocabulary for scolding people. Zhu Qingyu felt deep sympathy for Xie Ze.
While Zhu Qingyu stayed at home preparing seasonal clothes for Zhang Shen and waiting for an opportunity, the Huiyi Temple that Gu Zhao desperately wanted to build found its opportunity first.
Grand General Wen of the Northern Frontier sent an urgent eight-hundred-mile military report to the Emperor.
An epidemic was suspected to have broken out in the Northern Frontier. Grand General Wen implored the Emperor to dispatch imperial physicians to the north to oversee the medical treatment.
