When Zhang Run received the news, it was already late at night. He threw on his clothes and got up to open the door for Han Zhi. At first glance, he saw Han Zhi with bloodshot eyes looking as if he wanted to devour someone, and behind him, Wei Yanxi with his perpetually rigid expression.
Han Zhi rarely appeared like this. Zhang Run remembered when they studied together as classmates for three years—he had only lost composure like this once before. That time was because his mother had fallen so ill she nearly died. He had heard that Han Zhengqing searched far and wide across the realm for famous physicians and doctors, but there was never any improvement. That night, Han Zhi had stood just like this, with bloodshot eyes, in the courtyard of the academy for the entire night.
Thinking about it this way, Han Zhi wasn’t entirely heartless after all. Zhang Run tugged at the corners of his mouth in a smile, then immediately forced that smile back down. He frowned and asked: “What’s wrong?”
Han Zhi didn’t answer. He stumbled and grabbed Zhang Run, pulling him into the room.
Wei Yanxi stood outside the window for half the day, then stood woodenly in the courtyard for another half day. It wasn’t until the moonlight was almost invisible that he finally saw Zhang Run emerge from inside with an ashen complexion. Wei Yanxi moved his lips but didn’t know what to say, so he could only sigh heavily.
Instead, it was Zhang Run who took it more philosophically. His family was already destroyed and everyone dead—what did it matter if he was used as a plaything? After all, he was no longer the eldest young master of the Imperial Textile Commissioner’s household, but a merchant who was nothing at all.
He sat down by the stone table. Seeing Wei Yanxi staring at him with a pained expression, he laughed self-deprecatingly and poured himself a cup of wine: “Why are you looking at me? Given my current state, I should be grateful just to have a place to settle down and make a living. I’m no longer the young master from before—what respect can I expect from others?”
Wei Yanxi felt something blocking his throat. Looking at the marks on Zhang Run’s face, he clenched his fists even tighter: “Young Master… why don’t you leave… go as far away as possible. The Zhang family still has at least a little bloodline left…”
Zhang Run’s motion of reaching for the wine stopped. For a very long time he made no movement. After a long while, he finally raised his eyes to look at Wei Yanxi, his tone carrying resentment and regret: “Leave?! Where could I go?! The Zhang family has long been beyond redemption. My father is now suffering inhuman treatment in the Imperial Guard Prison. My mother and my sister hanged themselves together with a single rope. Only I remain, clinging to life like a dog. What’s the point of being alive?! Being alive—it’s worse than death!”
He turned back to look at Wei Yanxi again, the corners of his mouth revealing a trace of mocking smile: “When I gave you two to Han Zhi back then, I never expected you would become his right and left arms. In the end, I still underestimated him.”
Wei Yanxi struggled and struggled, finally sitting down across from Zhang Run, his eyes looking directly into Zhang Run’s: “I’ve always remembered who saved me, who saved me and my younger brother…”
If not for Zhang Run’s momentary kindness, after the great flood that took their parents, he and Wei Yanjun would have long since died among the starving corpses everywhere. He had always remembered this. That’s why he willingly followed the Zhang family for so many years.
Zhang Run tugged at the corners of his mouth: “I know you’ve always been conscientious.”
He paused, glanced toward the pitch-black room, and lowered his voice to ask Wei Yanxi across from him: “Why is he like this?”
Since coming to the capital, he had never seen Han Zhi so distracted and devastated, as if he had suffered a tremendous blow.
Wei Yanxi dipped his hand in wine and slowly wrote a name on the table surface, replying softly: “It’s still related to this Sixth Miss Song. Two years ago, the Heir Apparent was schemed against by this Sixth Miss Song. With great difficulty this year he found clues and caught the person who killed Yanjun. But when he went to negotiate with this Sixth Miss Song, the person he caught disappeared. It’s likely this Sixth Miss Song rescued him.”
Han Zhi had sworn confidently that he would definitely find a noble lady to serve as a shield between them, to help him advance his career and make his fortune while continuing the family line. At the time, Zhang Run had learned from Wei Yanxi that the person he spoke of was this Sixth Miss Song.
Now hearing Wei Yanxi say this, the desire in his heart to meet this Sixth Miss Song became even stronger—a pampered noblewoman from a prominent family who could toy with Han Zhi in the palm of her hand, who had both money and people at her disposal—would she really be willing to be a puppet as Han Zhi claimed? He didn’t believe it.
“Think of a way to help me. I want to meet this Sixth Miss Song.” Zhang Run raised his head to look at Wei Yanxi, his gaze firm and brooking no refusal: “I’m begging you.”
He knew this Sixth Miss Song was the apple of the Earl of Changning’s household’s eye. He also knew that currently His Majesty was forcing Old Master Song to try his father’s case. This made it even more convenient. He clenched his fists, his face flushed, his whole person looking like a drunk who had had too much.
Wei Yanxi’s face showed difficulty. How could a noble young lady like Song Chuyi be so easily met? Even Han Zhi, except at the flower banquet held at his own home and today at Tongzhou, couldn’t see her at all. What more could he, who was just a servant?
He was different from Wei Yanjun. He always did things based on facts and rarely made promises he couldn’t keep. Zhang Run also saw his difficulty. Thinking carefully, he knew he was indeed making things difficult for him. But now that he had finally seen a clear path, how could he possibly give up? He sat there blankly for a while, then suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked: “After suffering such a huge loss this time, he can’t possibly do nothing, right? If I follow him, would I have a chance to meet that Sixth Miss Song?”
Even if he met her, trying to say something to Sixth Miss Song right under Han Zhi’s nose would be harder than ascending to heaven. Wei Yanxi spoke honestly: “Although the Heir Apparent no longer has that important witness in hand, he still has one advantageous bargaining chip. I see that Sixth Miss Song seems to care very much about that child and shouldn’t be able to ignore it. Logically speaking, if the Heir Apparent is willing to bring you along, you should be able to meet her. But Young Master, as you know, it may be limited to just meeting face to face…”
Where there’s a will, there’s a way. He didn’t believe there wasn’t a single crack he could exploit.
What he needed to worry about now was how to convince Han Zhi to let him come along to meet this Sixth Miss Song—Han Zhi had always treated him like a thief who might flee at any moment, watching him extremely closely. To get him to agree would probably take considerable effort.
The two had only been sitting for a short while when thunderous knocking sounded from outside. When Zhang Run entered the room, Han Zhi was already sitting up. He stared blankly at the furnishings in the room. After a long time, he finally spoke: “Who’s here?”
Zhang Run avoided his hand and sat down heavily on the edge of the bed, his tone cold with a touch of mockery: “Guan Shan. I heard the Marquis’s wife has been waiting for you for a long time. Guan Shan traveled through the night to find you.”
The expression on Han Zhi’s face became even more unpleasant. He moved efficiently to get up and dress, pursing his lips as if not knowing what to say to Zhang Run. After a long moment, he sighed and turned to go out the door.