Chapter 555 Biting the Tongue

By the time Zhu Ping’an returned from Zhang Siwei’s residence to the Marquis of Linhuai’s Residence, the sky had already dimmed into a dusky haze.

The last traces of sunset lingered faintly at the horizon, while the streets of the capital gradually fell under the quiet pressure of approaching curfew.

Zhu Ping’an had deliberately calculated the time carefully so he could return before the night restrictions took effect. As a mere sixth-rank official, he had no intention whatsoever of challenging the capital’s curfew laws.

The person accompanying him on the journey back was none other than Wang Shizhen. A portion of the route toward their residences overlapped, so the two naturally traveled together.

“Zihou, next time you come, you absolutely must bring more of the pickled cucumbers your mother made,” Wang Shizhen said while clutching a small ceramic jar protectively in his arms as though it contained priceless treasure. “They’re crisp, refreshing, and absurdly delicious. Honestly, they taste better than the meat dishes prepared by Ziwei’s chefs.”

Then he looked at Zhu Ping’an accusingly.

“With something this delicious, you only shared such a tiny amount with us? How stingy.”

Earlier, while the three of them drank and talked at Zhang Siwei’s residence, Zhu Ping’an had divided the local specialties he brought from home between them.

The smoked rabbit had been well received.

But the pickled cucumbers?

Those had utterly conquered both men on the spot.

Accustomed to rich delicacies and heavy feasts, Wang Shizhen and Zhang Siwei had nearly been stunned speechless after tasting the humble village pickles for the first time. The refreshing crunch, the balance of sourness and salt, the faint fragrance of garlic and sesame oil—it struck their palates with shocking force after years of greasy banquet food.

The two had immediately begun complaining that Zhu Ping’an was “unethical” for hiding such marvelous food from them until now.

“I already divided up everything I brought from home between the two of you…” Zhu Ping’an stretched lazily before glancing toward the little jar in Wang Shizhen’s arms, his face showing visible reluctance.

Seeing that expression, Wang Shizhen hugged the jar even tighter.

Tonight, once he returned home, he fully intended to try the method Zhu Ping’an praised so highly—

Pickled cucumbers with plain rice porridge.

Of course, Zhu Ping’an had not returned empty-handed either.

Both Wang Shizhen and Zhang Siwei had presented him with gifts in return, each being “local specialties” from their own households.

Wang Shizhen came from the illustrious Taicang Wang clan. Knowing Zhu Ping’an’s love for calligraphy, he had specially brought out a treasured rare copybook from his private collection. Within it was a preserved calligraphic work by the Song dynasty master Mi Fu.

The value of such a thing was extraordinary.

As for Zhang Siwei, whose family belonged to Shanxi’s great salt merchant lineage, the “specialty” he gifted was a treasured Chengni inkstone from Jiangzhou.

It had been personally crafted by the famed master craftsman known as Old Mo.

Jiangzhou Chengni inkstones were counted among the Four Great Inkstones of history, alongside the Duan inkstones of Guangdong, the She inkstones of Anhui, and the Tao River inkstones of Gansu.

And Old Mo himself was regarded as a once-in-a-generation master among Chengni artisans.

If not for the Zhang family once having done him a great favor, such an inkstone would never have appeared on the market at any price.

The more local specialties like these, the better…

Zhu Ping’an placed the gifts carefully upon his saddle and could not help revealing a mischievous grin.

Along the road, Wang Shizhen tirelessly continued reminding him not to lower his guard.

“I only recently became acquainted with Li Panlong at the Ministry of Justice,” he said. “Mostly we just exchange poetry and drink together. Besides, he’s only a sixth-rank Ministry Secretary himself—not someone particularly influential within the ministry—so he couldn’t uncover much internal information.”

“Still, it wasn’t entirely fruitless.”

Wang Shizhen lowered his voice slightly.

“I heard the Right Vice Minister of Justice seems to have rather deep ties with Zhao Daying. When you go to the Ministry to present your case, be especially careful.”

After accompanying Zhu Ping’an as far as the Wang residence, the two exchanged farewells.

Then Zhu Ping’an mounted his rather flamboyant black horse and headed directly back toward the marquis manor.

The moment he entered Tingyu Pavilion, two servant girls immediately curtsied in perfect unison.

“Greetings, Young Master-in-law.”

Their movements were synchronized so neatly that Zhu Ping’an nearly jumped.

Good grief…

Every time this happened, he still could not adapt to the treatment enjoyed by noble young masters in great aristocratic households.

“You two go about your work. No need to fuss over me,” Zhu Ping’an said helplessly with a wave of his hand, signaling them to rise.

Though he said so, the two maids still busied themselves immediately.

One hurried into the bedchamber to prepare the bedding.

The other brewed tea, poured water, and even prepared a basin of hot water for washing his feet.

“I can do it myself.”

Zhu Ping’an quickly stopped the maid who had already crouched down intending to wash his feet personally, then rolled up his sleeves and washed them on his own.

“Young Master-in-law, please drink some honey water to sober up,” the maid who had been making the bed said as she returned carrying an exquisite porcelain bowl. “Sister Zijuan specifically sent someone to deliver it.”

A faint fragrance of roses drifted from the steaming liquid.

“Just set it there. I’ll drink it in a moment,” Zhu Ping’an replied while washing his feet. “Please thank Miss Zijuan for me.”

“Sister Zijuan instructed that it should be drunk while still warm,” the maid answered softly.

As she spoke, she lifted the porcelain bowl with delicate pale fingers and brought it directly to Zhu Ping’an’s lips.

Zhu Ping’an had only just opened his mouth, intending to politely refuse, when the experienced maid smoothly tilted the bowl and fed him the honey water before he could speak.

Warm sweetness flowed down his throat.

The faint floral fragrance lingered pleasantly upon his tongue.

The rich, sweet liquid spread warmth through his body, and the slight haze of drunkenness lingering in his mind immediately faded considerably.

Seeing her companion successfully serve the Young Master-in-law, the other maid was unwilling to fall behind.

She quietly moved behind Zhu Ping’an and began massaging his shoulders with slender, delicate hands.

Her technique was surprisingly professional.

Clearly, she had received formal training.

The pressure and rhythm were perfectly balanced, her fingers kneading the acupuncture points with practiced precision. The exhaustion buried deep within his muscles gradually melted away beneath her touch, leaving behind only warmth and comfort.

Yet even so—

After finishing the honey water, Zhu Ping’an still politely dismissed the two maids.

“You should both go rest. I still have matters to attend to.”

The two servant girls exchanged startled glances before obediently bowing and withdrawing to the side room.

Once they returned and shut the door, they immediately began whispering quietly among themselves.

“Young Master-in-law really isn’t lustful at all,” one girl whispered in confusion. “Why does he seem completely uninterested in women?”

“Exactly!” the other agreed immediately. “When I was serving him just now, he didn’t even look at me once. He was like a block of wood.”

“Could it be… Young Master-in-law thinks we’re unattractive?”

“How could that be?” the round-faced maid protested softly. “Young Master Zhou and several young masters from the Second Master’s branch have been eyeing us for ages. The Second Master even begged the Old Madam for you twice already.”

Then one maid suddenly leaned close to the other’s ear, her cheeks flushing crimson.

“Could it be…” she whispered shyly, stumbling over the words for a long while before finally forcing them out in a near-inaudible voice, “…that Young Master-in-law can’t… do that?”

“You’re asking for death!” the round-faced girl squealed, her entire face instantly turning bright red as she lightly slapped the other girl several times in embarrassment.

The two tumbled laughing onto the bed in a tangled mess.

Only after they finally calmed down did the round-faced maid hesitate for a long while before leaning close again, her face now so red it looked ready to drip blood.

“Actually… today when Young Master-in-law was bathing, I went to bring hot water and secretly peeked…”

She swallowed nervously.

“Young Master-in-law’s… that thing…”

The girl timidly stretched out her hand to demonstrate the size.

The other maid’s eyes widened instantly.

“How could it be that big?!”

Then, before she could stop herself, she blurted out:

“How would we even survive that?!”

“Shhh! Lower your voice!” the round-faced girl panicked immediately. “How can you say something so shameless?”

“You’re calling me shameless? You’re the one who secretly peeked at Young Master-in-law bathing!”

The two bickered quietly for another moment before eventually falling silent again.

Then one of them spoke more softly.

“The Old Madam plans to assign us, along with Xier and Yan’er, as dowry maids for Fifth Miss. They say two of us may even be chosen as tongfang maids.”

At those words, both girls fell quiet.

“And at a time like this,” the maid continued softly, “sending the two of us over here specifically to serve Young Master-in-law… who doesn’t understand what that means?”

“Hmph. Yan’er and Xier are probably already spreading rumors behind our backs.”

“If they dare, I’ll tear their mouths apart.”

While the two girls whispered blushingly beneath the lamplight—

In the main room, Zhu Ping’an had already spread fresh xuan paper across the desk.

His expression was calm and focused.

By candlelight, he carefully organized all the information he had gathered today from Zhang Siwei and Wang Shizhen, analyzing every detail while refining the preparations and countermeasures he had already made long before submitting his memorial.

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