The bedroom Zhang was familiar with was where she had lived when she first came to the Fu family. The difference was that many years ago, the windows were pasted with red paper, which was cut into the shape of "happiness" characters, and red candles were lit in the room.
At this time, Fu Zhaoxu was sitting on a chair in front of the window and told Zhang about King Wei's decision.
The teacup fell to the ground and broke into pieces. Zhang looked at Fu Zhaoxu in shock. My husband is going to divorce me with just one sentence.
Zhao Xu said: You can take your dowry with you, and the Fu family doesn’t want the betrothal gifts.
Zhang was very excited and shook her head, saying: We have been married for many years, but we don't have any gratitude towards each other. We have to use these money and other things to weigh them. Then what is the difference between me and an object
Zhao Xu sighed, and after a moment of silence, he said: To the Fu family, that little bit of private affection is really insignificant. There is a difference between the important and the unimportant.
Zhang was stunned as if struck by lightning. After a moment, she said: I am just a thing of the Fu family, husband, have you ever thought about how I can survive
Fu Zhaoxu stood up and said: Get ready.
Then Zhang stood up suddenly, but lost her balance and fell to the ground.
Fu Zhaoxu stopped and looked back, but did not help her. He asked: What else do you want
Zhang burst into tears. In your heart, is there anything more important than family background
Fu Zhaoxu shook his head slightly, pondered for a moment and said: Of course, the country and the people.
Zhang sometimes cried and sometimes laughed. The sun was dazzling outside the window, but in her eyes, the world seemed to be filled with miserable rain and wind. The courtyard in early summer was green and the pavilions were colorful, but in her eyes, this rich and beautiful place seemed like a dead thing without a soul, full of cruelty.
She finally calmed down and went out to where Madam Fu was.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he entered the moon-shaped door, he met the eunuch Cao Tai, who was holding a stick. Cao Tai looked Zhang up and down with a smile on his face: Madam, come to ask for mercy
When Zhang heard the cold words, she felt annoyed and ashamed.
However, Cao Tai looked up at the sky and sighed: An abandoned woman is much more shameful than a widow.
You Zhang was furious.
Cao Tai said earnestly: Madam, I advise you to accept your fate and stop begging. You came here to ask for humiliation. Why do you want to humiliate yourself
You, a slave, are worse than a dog, and you are the one who dares to speak! Zhang was furious.
Cao Tai didn't seem angry, he just sneered: "Madam is a noble lady, it's not my turn to speak in front of you, but you asked for it today, who can I blame? If I were you, I would be ashamed to live. If you were divorced and sent back to your parents' home because of your unvirtuousness, your parents would think that you had invited a Buddha back."
This servant is so mean that she actually used what Zhang said to humiliate herself.
Cao Tai whispered again: Bai Ling, poisoned wine, or jumping into a well, it's all fine. Death will be in vain, and living will be suffering.
Zhang pointed at Cao Tai's nose, her fingers trembling: Get out of here!
Oh, the eldest lady is still in charge of the Fu family, and her words are final. I am serving the eldest lady, so let me tell her for you that the mistress of the Fu family wants us to get out of Cao Taidao.
Zhang suddenly felt that it was useless to ask the eldest lady for help, so she turned around and left. Cao Tai's voice behind her shrilly said: I don't know who wants to get out of the Fu family.
Zhang thought about it and went to the outside of the emperor's palace to see Fu Ermei. She couldn't go in directly, even though this place was in the outer courtyard of the Fu family. She could only report her identity and purpose first, and let the servant go in to report.
The guards couldn't enter the house, so they told the eunuch Wang Zhong about the matter first.
Wang Zhong went inside to see the queen and reported that his eldest sister-in-law wanted to see him and greet him. After hearing this, Fu Ermei said without hesitation: "Hurry up and ask the eldest lady to come in and talk."
I will go and pass on the imperial decree. Wang Zhong bowed and said, he paused slightly, then lowered his head and said, "Empress, I am too talkative. People don't come to the temple for no reason. You don't have to be in charge of everything."
Fu Ermei frowned and looked at him.
Soon, Zhang was brought in, and Wang Zhong stood by the wall. Fu Ermei did not put on airs, but called her sister-in-law affectionately, which made Zhang burst into tears immediately.
Seeing this, Fu Ermei was a little flustered, and hurriedly took out a handkerchief to wipe Zhang's tears: "Sister-in-law, why are you crying? Have you been wronged?"
Zhang choked up and said: "Now I am still the queen's sister-in-law. I don't know if I will be the queen in a while."
Fu Ermei hurriedly tried to comfort her and asked her if she had quarreled with her eldest brother. Then Zhang told her that the Fu family blamed her for being unvirtuous and wanted to divorce her.
The second sister felt sad when she heard this, and she sighed and expressed deep sympathy.
While wiping her tears, Zhang looked at her second sister with heartbroken pity and took the opportunity to say: "Queen, please beg the emperor for me. My husband will definitely listen to him."
Fu Ermei said: "It is difficult for an honest official to judge family affairs, but it is not appropriate for us to ask for your Majesty's decree for our Fu family's affairs. I will go to see my eldest brother later and I will persuade him."
Zhang said: The Queen really wants to help me
Fu Ermei said: Of course, the Fu family can't be so heartless
When Wang Zhong heard this, he felt that the queen was really not good at political tactics. This matter was not that simple. The queen had vowed to persuade Fu Zhaoxu. If it didn't work, the queen's authority would be put to rest. People who knew about this matter would take the queen's words seriously in the future.
Eunuch Cao Tai hurried to the place where the medicine was decocted and saw Lu Lan and two imperial doctors guarding there, as well as palace maids and servants from the Fu family.
"Why is Eunuch Cao here?" Lu Lan greeted him.
Cao Tai smiled and said: Madam Lu, do you still remember me
Lu Lan smiled and said: "What are you talking about, Eunuch Cao? You took care of me in the palace, how could I forget it?"
Cao Tai said: Madam Lu is a noble daughter of the Privy Councilor. She is beautiful and generous, and she values friendship and loyalty. You still remember the little favors I have given you. It is hard to find a good lady like her in this world.
Lu Lan blushed when she heard this, and said embarrassedly: It's not as good as you say.
Cao Tai lied and tried to fool Lu Lan when she asked him what he was doing here. People always care about their own affairs the most.
He then helped with some trivial matters nearby, but Lu Lan was not confused. Although he no longer asked what Cao Tailai was doing, he kept paying close attention to the medicine that the King of Wei drank. After all, Lu Lan seemed to understand that this was a matter of great importance.
After waiting for half an hour, Lu Lan and the two imperial doctors went to bring the medicine. Cao Tai rushed to serve the medicine.
As soon as the group saw Fu Yanqing, Fu Yanqing was helped up and quickly glanced at Cao Tai. Just a servant, could it be that because Cao Tai could see the emperor directly? Cao Tai felt for a moment that the King of Wei did not seem to be stupid.
Lu Lan said: The King of Wei is not seriously ill, he is just old and weak. After some recuperation, he should be fine when the weather warms up.
Fu Yanqing sighed: Age is not forgiving, birth, aging, sickness and death are common to all people. But I, an old minister, cannot afford to have the emperor personally ask the imperial physician to treat my illness.
An imperial physician bowed and said: The King of Wei is the father-in-law of the emperor, and all my colleagues respect and care about him.
The imperial doctors saw Fu Yanqing taking the medicine and putting away the medicine containers before leaving. However, Cao Tai stayed behind.
Fu Zhaoxu asked: "Eunuch Cao has something to say?"
Cao Tai said: King Wei is wise, the first lady is being divorced because of the emperor's will.
Neither the Fu family father or son said a word.
Cao Tai, with a look of sudden realization, stepped forward and lowered his voice and said: Madam, you still hold a grudge against the emperor. How can anyone in this world hold a grudge against the emperor
Fu Zhaoxu frowned.
Cao Tai said: If the eldest lady returns to the Zhang family alive, she will certainly resent the Fu family and say bad things about them. The marriage between the King of Wei and the Zhang family was originally intended to bring the two families together. Wouldn't this be counterproductive
Fu Zhaoxu asked in a deep voice: The government asked you to speak
Cao Tai hurriedly said: "No, no. The emperor cares about the world, and he only needs to say a word about such matters, and will not interfere any more."
When he heard Fu Zhaoxu's question, he knew that his plan would not work because he was just a eunuch and his words carried little weight.
After Cao Tai left, Fu Zhaoxu said in front of the bed: "It's just a eunuch's words, don't pay attention to it. Although Zhang is not a virtuous person, her crime is not punishable by death, and we should not be too harsh and ungrateful."
Fu Yanqing said: "She is your wife. Since Dalang said so, we have the grace of husband and wife after all. Dalang is a loyal and honest man. As a father, I will follow you."
Zhao Xu bowed and said: "I, your son, thank you for your kindness on behalf of my wife."
Fu Yanqing waved his hand and said: "Since the official has spoken, we should respond immediately and truthfully. That's enough, there is no need to do anything more."
Cao Tai went out, still not satisfied. He thought to himself, "That blind bitch, you think you are great just because you are a noble lady. I want to see how noble a lady can be. If I don't kill you, you don't know what is good and what is bad."
However, Cao Tai thought hard and still could not figure out how to throw another stone into the well.
He thought that once Zhang left the Fu family, she would have no power, no status, and no one to rely on. At that time, she would be at her most vulnerable. Sending her a cup of poisoned wine should be enough.
However, Cao Tai did not dare to forge an imperial edict in the name of whom the poisoned wine was delivered. He found that without the emperor's statement, he could not even deal with an abandoned woman.
He really wanted to vent Jinzhan's anger, but it would not be worth it if it cost him his own life.
Cao Tai thought for a while and went into the yard to see Jinzhan. He saw Jinzhan was still practicing needlework. She was very quiet, with a calm and smiling face, as if she had no desires or requests.
Cao Tai went in and stood aside, not daring to say a word to disturb her.
Jinzhan spoke up instead: After being beaten up, it is reasonable to want revenge.
Cao Tai hurriedly bent down and said: I told the truth in front of the emperor and told him about the grievances suffered by the lady. The emperor must be angry.
Jinzhan said without looking back: In addition to putting her to death, showing kindness is also a way. Having power without kindness will not last long. There is already resentment between the two of them. Now just forgive her when you can, and she will be grateful to you.
Cao Tai was surprised and asked: "Madam, don't you hate her for bullying you like this?"
Jinzhan smiled and said: It's too easy for you to hate her. She can't really threaten us, is she really worthy of my hatred