Chapter 41: Queenly Demeanor

"‘What is sought when fate is overcast, to stumble before one can even turn around? With a tattered hat shading the face, one passes through the bustling market; on a leaking boat, one carries wine, drifting in midstream. With brows knit in cold defiance against the pointing fingers of the multitude, I bow my head, willing to serve as a beast of burden for the young.’ This poem is excellent, Young Master Zhang. There is no need for such pessimism; the officials of Dengzhou Prefecture cannot cover the sky with a single hand."

Xu Zihan’s exquisite, delicate face was lightly made up, complemented by crystal-clear earrings that gave her an ethereal, fairy-like aura. "It is common knowledge that Futou Village is a pirate village. The ships and valuables of the Qishan Thousand-Household Office were seized from the Japanese pirates by the Zhangzhuang Militia; by what right does Qi Dazhi demand them from Zhangzhuang?"

Xu Zihan’s beauty and allure seemed to seep from her very bones. Just standing there, her slender, fragile frame, her willow-thin waist, her delicately curved eyebrows, and her pitiable, charming demeanor would stir a sense of both affection and desire in anyone. At the same time, it gave Zhang Chen the urge to tear away her clothes and ravage her roughly.

At this moment, the young woman steeled her heart. Her beautiful, gentle temperament carried a sharp edge, mixed with a hint of cold charm—the quintessential queenly air.

Unable to suppress his itch, Zhang Chen secretly touched Xu Zihan’s small hand. "Although your father is the Governor of Shandong, a local official is no match for the one in charge. Miss Xu, don't worry about these matters; I can handle them!"

"Mm!" Zhang Chen had actually touched her hand in public. Xu Zihan swallowed her gasp, glaring at him. First, he was teasing her with words, and now he was moving on to physical contact. Young Master Zhang—hmm, he really was wicked!

"To rout over two thousand Japanese pirates or bandits in a single battle—the 'Heartless Cannon' you concocted is truly powerful!" After walking over, Zhu Weijin scolded Zhang Chen, "You did well to come up with the term 'temporary worker.' Let the temporary workers take the blame for Futou Village. Zhang Chen, I am here to collect a debt. The gold and silver treasures you seized last night are enough to cover the payment for the goods you ordered from the Qingzhou Trading Firm."

"That suits me perfectly, Princess!" Zhang Chen laughed. "It's not good to eat alone, and one shouldn't be stingy. I plan to take copper blocks and silks worth fifty thousand taels of silver to trade for some things."

After changing the dressing, the Xu siblings took their leave.

Once they were out of Zhangzhuang, Xu Zize boarded his sister’s carriage. "In last night's battle, the Zhangzhuang Militia established their military prestige. The bandits of Mount Ci under 'Baldy Qiang' should no longer dare to attack Zhangzhuang. Zhang Chen has talent, and the strength of the militia will only grow. From now on, Zhangzhuang will be secure."

"Tian Xuewen actually wrote a letter of divorce, forcing his second daughter, Tian Yachun, to separate from Zhang Chen. But Zhang Chen is only a scholar; our father will not let you marry Zhang Chen as his legal wife." Xu Zize reprimanded him, "Until Zhang Chen passes the imperial examinations, he does not dare, nor is he qualified, to ask for your hand in our home."

"Young Master Zhang promised to marry me as a secondary wife within two years; I believe him."

Xu Zihan’s face flushed. She scolded Zhang Chen under her breath, then said, "A legal wife is certainly better than a secondary one, but there are too many unfavorable factors. If I gain it, it is my luck; if I lose it, it is my fate. Let it be as destiny wills. Actually, being a secondary wife isn't bad either. The Princess also has designs on Zhang Chen; she wants to marry him as his legal wife."

"Princess Zhu Weijin wants to marry Zhang Chen as his legal wife?" Xu Zize was so shocked he stumbled. He glared at Xu Zihan. "Nonsense!"

"I am a woman; I am observant, and I can feel it." Xu Zihan mentally chided Zhu Weijin. She had rushed to Zhangzhuang in such a hurry to help Zhang Chen resolve the trouble at Futou Village—how could Zhu Weijin, who had always been cold and aloof toward men, lack the reserve of a princess? It would be strange if she didn't have feelings for Zhang Chen!

...

Zhang Family Manor.

There were over a dozen maids and female servants in Zhang Chen’s backyard, some of whom had quite good memories.

Dozens of minutes ago, the poem Zhang Chen recited had already spread to every corner of the household, and beyond.

The Xu siblings knew Zhang Chen had composed a poem, and Zhu Weijin knew as well. She kicked Zhang Chen. "The poem you composed today is not bad. 'With brows knit in cold defiance against the pointing fingers of the multitude, I bow my head, willing to serve as a beast of burden for the young.' These two lines are the best. Although you aren't a bookworm, I've never seen you read; you must be a slacker among scholars. Zhang Chen, put in some effort and pass the provincial examination this autumn."

"Our Prince says the Princess must at least marry a scholar with good looks and a suitable age."

Zhu Qingzhu, Zhu Weijin’s personal guard, glanced at Zhang Chen. "Our Prince will give the Princess a dowry of at least three hundred thousand taels of silver. Young Master Zhang, do not get any ideas; it is impossible for our Princess to marry a lowly scholar like you."

"My greatest virtue is self-awareness. Even if you lent me the courage, I wouldn't dare covet the Princess." Zhang Chen looked regretful. "The main thing is the age difference; I am only sixteen, and the Princess must be older than me."

"Twenty in lunar age, I am only nineteen." Zhu Weijin scolded him, "You must be laughing at me in your heart for being an old maid."

"Three years older, a golden brick," Zhu Qingzhu retorted. "Zhang Chen, even if you and the Princess are of a suitable age, you mustn't harbor wild thoughts."

"I guarantee I won't have wild thoughts. After fighting all night, I'm dying of sleepiness and have no energy to imagine things." Zhang Chen yawned.

"Go to sleep then."

Zhu Weijin stood up. "We are heading to the Futou Village pier to take a boat back to Qingzhou. Zhang Chen, the caustic soda, animal oil, iron, and other materials your Zhangzhuang needs will be transported to the Futou Village pier by our large Qingzhou Trading Firm ships. By the way, the Futou Village pier is currently ownerless; whoever seizes it owns it. Zhang Chen, you should send men there quickly."

"I think I'll go get some sleep first." Zhang Chen smiled. Encountering Old Tian this morning, he had a dark face—he must have failed to seize the pier, which is why he was glaring at me with knitted brows.

"Princess, Zhang Chen had already seized the Futou Village pier long ago." Zhu Qingzhu watched Zhang Chen walk away and muttered.

Having skipped lunch, Zhang Chen slept until late afternoon. After waking up, he ate a large bowl of braised noodles.

Then, Zhang Chen went to the community school to teach the dozens of thirteen- and fourteen-year-old boys and girls recruited by Qi Guoshu.

Zhangzhuang currently had two doctors, both skilled in treating external wounds.

Doctor Li would clean the patient's wound with strong grain liquor before applying his ancestral gold-wound medicine, finally wrapping it in clean white cotton cloth.

Doctor Ye’s method, however, involved pressing a red-hot iron onto the wound to stop the bleeding and sterilize it, then applying his special medicine and wrapping it in clean white cotton cloth.

Most doctors in the Great Ming treated wounds like Doctor Li or Doctor Ye. Clearly, such methods were highly unscientific!

That morning, Zhang Chen had Qi Guoshu recruit or buy eighty literate teenagers from the labor market.

Thirteen- and fourteen-year-olds absorbed new knowledge quickly. Zhang Chen intended to teach them debridement and suturing, along with some basic medical skills.

That morning, Zheng Eryou, sent by Qi Guoshu to the county seat, had managed to recruit over eighty literate teenagers from the refugees in less than an hour—he had even recruited a few extra.