Chapter 148: A Gift

Although he looked angry on the surface, Zhang Yue still felt a mild sense of schadenfreude deep down.

My own marriages in both of my past lives are still unsettled, yet you are getting married already, and into such an advantageous match at that. Hearing this, Zhang Yue had initially felt a pang of jealousy.

However, upon learning that Huang Haoyi was suffering because of a kept mistress, Zhang Yue's heart instantly achieved equilibrium.

Look at that, you refused to listen to your elders.

I told you long ago that the so-called Yulian was actually just 'Bilian'. Because of such a woman, you almost ruined a fine marriage prospect.

Scolded fiercely by Zhang Yue, Huang Haoyi was left both ashamed and embarrassed.

Seeing this, Zhang Yue felt a secret thrill. He had long wanted to scold him on ordinary days, but refrained for fear of creating a rift between them. Now, using this pretext to tear into him not only vented his frustration, but would also make the other party endlessly grateful to him.

After taking a fierce tongue-lashing from Zhang Yue, Huang Haoyi drooped his head, then looked up with a blank expression and asked, "Third Brother, what did you mean just now when you said the eastern window had opened?"

Zhang Yue could not help but freeze. Good heavens, the eastern windowing has been uncovered, and your focus is right there? Did you not listen to a single word of my scolding? Instead, you are pondering what an exposed secret means? You are simply beyond saving.

"Never mind whether the eastern window or the western window has opened! This trouble is entirely of your own making. I am tired and wish to rest!"

With that, Zhang Yue flicked his sleeve and strode into his study room.

Upon returning to his study, Zhang Yue saw that Huang Haoyi had followed him in and was now sitting beside his bed, letting out long sighs.

Every other word was 'What is to be done?'

'What is to be done?'

"Third Brother, for the sake of my sister-in-law, you must help me out somehow. This was all arranged by her."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue kept his mouth shut and asked no questions.

From the side, Liu Zuo asked, "You are saying your marriage was arranged by your sister-in-law?"

Huang Haoyi’s sister-in-law was the wife of Huang Haoqian and the nominal elder sister of Zhang Dun, but what did that have to do with him?

Huang Haoyi said, "Indeed. If not for the standing of my brother and sister-in-law, how could I have secured such a splendid match? Assistant Administrator Liu and his wife took an immediate liking to me upon first sight and even promised a dowry of five thousand strings of cash. They also revealed the matter of the mistress to me alone, letting me handle it myself without informing my brother and sister-in-law."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue thought to himself that Huang Haoyi was actually getting a five-thousand-string dowry.

Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi both wore envious expressions as they exclaimed, "Five thousand strings of cash, truly?"

In history, when Qin Hui and his wife were taken captive, the Jurchens intended to separate them. Qin Hui's wife cried out, "Back then I brought twenty thousand strings of cash in dowry when I married you, and now you mean to cast me aside?"

Upon hearing this, the Jurchen captor promptly advised her husband to keep them together.

Qin Hui's wife was the granddaughter of Wang Gui, the 'Three-Decree Chancellor'. Facing his wife's powerful maternal family and her massive dowry, Qin Hui obeyed her every word, which eventually led to the couple kneeling together before the tomb of Yue Fei.

With a wife who could bring a dowry of five thousand strings of cash, no wonder Huang Haoyi was 'tempted'. Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi also kindly chimed in to help him brainstorm.

"Third Brother, these twenty strings of cash are truly a life-saving sum. As long as the marriage goes through, I will surely repay you tenfold in the future."

Zhang Yue resolutely replied, "Forget ten times, I wouldn't lend it even if it were a hundred times."

Huang Haoyi patted his chest and said, "Third Brother, can you not trust my character?"

"I truly cannot!"

Huang Haoyi’s smile instantly froze on his face.

"Third Brother, you and I are classmates and fellow provincials, and your elder sister is my sister-in-law... You simply must help me with this favor."

Zhang Yue remained silent. Liu Zuo, standing nearby, felt tempted and asked, "What does Fourth Brother need twenty strings of cash from Third Brother for? If it is to appease her or add to the betrothal gifts, twenty strings of cash is merely a drop in the bucket."

Huang Haoyi said, "I am not worried about the betrothal gifts; my family has already arranged that properly. It is just that Assistant Administrator Liu explicitly demanded that I sever ties with my mistress... Though I cannot bear to part with Yulian, I had no choice but to agree..."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue sneered and remarked, "You must have suffered for days over it!"

Huang Haoyi sighed heavily. "What else could be done? Even among imperial officials and nobles, when concubines fall out of favor, there is the practice of giving them away to others, let alone a mere kept mistress. I was already deeply affectionate toward Yulian previously, but alas, fortune plays with mortals."

Zhang Yue’s expression shifted for a moment as he thought that concubines and maidservants could indeed be given away or even presented to friends back then, so he had no real grounds to blame Huang Haoyi.

"However, Yulian made a tremendous fuss, threatening death and claiming she would make the whole city know of my faithlessness—telling the instructors and masters at the Imperial Academy that I spent nights away from quarters. This matter is first and foremost my failing toward Yulian, so I wish to take twenty strings of cash first to... settle Yulian properly, or find her a good match."

Zhang Yue sneered inwardly, thinking that given how greedy and insatiable a woman Yulian was, if she found out Huang Haoyi had secured such a glorious marriage, she would certainly not let the matter rest. Did he really think twenty strings of cash could dismiss her? He was simply dreaming.

Zhang Yue was certainly not going to help with this favor. Liu Zuo chimed in, "Fourth Brother, I happen to have some money on hand. I will advance these twenty strings of cash for you."

Huang Haoyi’s face lit up with pleasant surprise. "Really? Thank you so much, Dorm Head. I will definitely repay you tenfold when the time comes."

Liu Zuo laughed and said, "Why mention such a paltry sum? The important thing is that Fourth Brother is making such a wonderful match, and we, your fellow dorm-mates, get to share in the glory!"

Hearing this, Xiang Qi laughed heartily and said, "Naturally."

Zhang Yue, however, had no interest in meddling in this affair and decided to finish carving the two chops for Master Sima the Twelfth first.

As for Huang Haoyi, Liu Zuo, and Xiang Qi nearby, they were chatting animatedly, grandly discussing his future bride’s family.

How strict Assistant Administrator Liu’s household rules were, how luxurious his estate, and how well-mannered his servants and attendants were.

They also touched upon how extensive Assistant Administrator Liu’s political connections at court were, how favorably he viewed Huang Haoyi, and how much effort his own older brother and sister-in-law had expended to arrange this match for him.

They went on to mention that the five thousand strings of cash in dowry included a manor spanning dozens of mu in the suburbs of Bianjing, and once he became the son-in-law, the title deeds to the manor and the indentures of dozens of stewards and farmhands would all be handed over to him.

Listening to this, both Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi felt immense admiration tinged with secret jealousy.

Zhang Yue merely shook his head and continued with his work.

The next day, Zhang Yue carved seals whenever he had leisure.

Usually, carving seals during his spare time from studying served as a fine form of recreation, allowing him to shift gears outside of his academics.

Three days later, he packed up the two finished seals and headed to the Collecting Studio, handing the items over to the shopkeeper and settling the accounts on the spot. Since he had also successfully sold another seal he had previously left on consignment, Zhang Yue received a total of eight strings of cash.

Calculating his finances, Zhang Yue realized he now had over twenty strings of cash on hand. Combined with the money his elder brother had sent from home, he was now a man of thirty strings of wealth, bringing him one step closer to purchasing a home in Bianjing.

Once he bought a house, he could bring his elder brother and sister-in-law, along with Zhang Qiu, from their hometown to live with him.

Or perhaps he could open a shop of his own, securing a steady source of livelihood for the future.

Zhang Yue pondered these possibilities as he walked.

Carrying such a hefty sum of cash, Zhang Yue stopped by the market and spent ten-odd strings of cash on some top-grade Shoushan stone.

Previously, worried about sales and finding it difficult to market his work, he had not dared to buy too much. Now, with financial backing, he had the confidence to carve more.

Lost in these thoughts, Zhang Yue walked back to his dormitory, only to find Huang Haoyi waiting anxiously by the doorway once again.

The sight of him gave Zhang Yue the sudden urge to take a detour.

"Third Brother, only you can help me with this favor now!"

"What favor?" Zhang Yue asked with displeasure.

Huang Haoyi said, "Third Brother, I will speak plainly. Yulian said that although she has twenty strings of cash to settle down, how is she to survive in Bianjing living such a drifting, unsettled life? She said if she is given another thirty strings of cash..."

"Handle this matter yourself."

Zhang Yue flicked his sleeve and made to leave, but Huang Haoyi added, "Thirty strings of cash is a minor issue; I can borrow it here and there. But she claims that she is destitute and alone, with no one to rely on, and wishes to find a good man to settle down with. She says after much thought, she is willing to yield herself to you. Third Brother, I can only entrust this to you."

Hearing this, Zhang Yue stood dumbfounded, pointing at himself as he asked Huang Haoyi, "Are you asking me to take your leftovers?"

When his second brother had fled his wedding, neighbors had intended for him to take over his second brother's leftovers.

Now Huang Haoyi had come to him with the same thing; was he really viewed by others as such an embodiment of 'public-spirited helpfulness'?

Huang Haoyi asked curiously, "Third Brother, what does taking leftovers mean?"

Zhang Yue shook his head and said, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, say no more. There is no need to involve me in the practice of regifting mistresses. If you say one more word of this, you and I will break off our sworn friendship! Such a wonderful opportunity, you had best invite someone more capable!"

With that, Zhang Yue shook off his sleeve and walked away, ignoring Huang Haoyi entirely as he stepped back into his study.

Huang Haoyi chased after him to the doorway, calling out, "Third Brother, just think about Yulian’s beauty! Can you not be moved by such a delicate, lovely beauty? Besides, there is fifty strings of cash involved! Yulian said that if she yields herself to you in the future, she is willing to let you use all fifty strings."

Zhang Yue did not know whether to laugh or cry; wouldn't this make him a kept boy-toy?

Suddenly, he recalled the day he and Huang Haoyi had been drinking with Yulian—her flirtatious gestures and the lingering glances passersby had cast at her outside the inn.

Zhang Yue found it amusing that his mind had even wandered there for a moment.

Liu Zuo chuckled and teased, "Third Brother, you should just agree to Fourth Brother. Not only do you get a beauty and money to spend, but you also help Fourth Brother out of a massive bind."

With that, Liu Zuo and Xiang Qi burst into laughter.

Anxious now, Huang Haoyi pressed, "Third Brother, give me a straight answer today: will you help me with this favor or not?"

Zhang Yue said to Huang Haoyi, "Fourth Brother, if I help you, how am I to marry a wife in the future? I would also bear the stigma of keeping a mistress. I know you are marrying the daughter of an official family, which demands strict standards, and I may not be able to climb that high myself. But even if I marry the daughter of an ordinary family in the future, what fairness would this show to her? How would she view me in her heart? Such a rift could probably never be healed for a lifetime. By helping you, I would be ruining myself. Can such a thing be done?"

"Fourth Brother, let me offer you some advice: this woman Yulian is ten times more astute and formidable than you are; you are no match for her. Rather than being led around by the nose, you would do far better to go back, report this to your elder brother and sister-in-law, confess the whole truth to your family, and let them decide for you. You cannot drag this out. In my view, Assistant Administrator Liu is an official after all—how could he be easy to deal with? The fact that he deliberately kept this from your brother and sister-in-law is a test of your character."

"And now, looking as you do, even planning to scrape together money to let me settle Yulian for you—if word of this reaches Assistant Administrator Liu, not only will Yulian look down on you, but I fear this marriage will be impossible to preserve!"

At Zhang Yue's words, the color drained entirely from Huang Haoyi's face.