Chapter 72: Zhang Sanfeng—Is He the Legendary Master?

Zhang Sanfeng?

As soon as Xu Da heard this name, he sensed that this person was one of great virtue.

When Xu Yungong blurted out the name, Xu Miaoyun immediately flushed with embarrassment and annoyance.

“Be quiet!”

She could never have imagined that her brother would suddenly bring up that name at such a moment, and it was already too late for the Xu family's daughter to stop him!

“Miaoyun, don’t say anything…”

Xu Da set the two children down and looked seriously at Xu Yungong.

“Where have you seen Zhang Sanfeng…”

“Elder sister said it was a brothel! We were in the brothel, and Zhang Sanfeng saved us…”

Xu Yungong replied quickly, as if eager to claim credit before his father.

Upon hearing this, the Xu couple’s expressions changed slightly!

A brothel?

Never mind Xu Da’s reaction—Madam Xie’s face went pale in an instant. When had these two children ever set foot in a brothel?

Since the Southern Song, Neo-Confucianism had dominated, and the Ming Dynasty placed tremendous importance on a woman's reputation. Though the children were only children, if they truly had been to a brothel, setting aside the impact on Xu Miaoyun herself, Madam Xie would not be able to hold her head high before Xu Da.

Although most of Ming’s founding brothers who fought alongside Zhu Yuanzhang were of humble origins and didn’t have strict family rules, Madam Xie was nonetheless terrified, afraid Xu Da would blame her.

“If you two ever dare mention having been to a brothel again, I’ll—”

Before Madam Xie could finish, Xu Da stopped her.

A brothel… a Daoist…

Could it be a high Daoist master training his heart amidst the dust of the mortal world?

Xu Da recalled the storytellers he’d listened to as a child in the taverns, and immediately conjured up an image of an immortal-like Daoist.

But as a father, he quickly focused on the heart of the matter: Why had his daughter and son been in a brothel, and needed rescue?

Xu Da’s face darkened instantly!

“Father, Mother, it’s not what you think. That day, we were saved by a lecherous young Daoist…”

Xu Miaoyun grew anxious. With the way her brother was speaking, even if she jumped into the Yellow River, she could not clear her name…

She dared not conceal anything and hurried to recount the day’s events to Xu Da and his wife in detail.

The Xu couple exchanged glances, only now realizing that the truth was nothing like what they had imagined.

“Zhang Sanfeng is a child?”

“A seven- or eight-year-old child, frequenting brothels to listen to music?”

“Heavens, what kind of Daoist is this, so lacking in propriety!”

After hearing her daughter’s account, Madam Xie was furious. She hadn’t expected that, in the short time she’d stepped out to try on clothes, something like this could happen.

It was true that a stranger had returned the children to the Xu residence that day, but he had said nothing. Madam Xie had known nothing of their ordeal.

Neither of the siblings had told her, and only today did she learn what had truly happened!

Though not a major incident, if someone with malice used it to create a scandal, the reputation of the Marquis of Faith’s household would suffer all the same. As the marquis’s wife, Madam Xie would be deeply embarrassed.

“From now on, never speak of this outside, even if you’re beaten!”

Startled and flustered, Madam Xie lost her composure.

Xu Da waved her off, stopping her words. He asked,

“Are you certain the young Daoist’s servant recognized you?”

Xu Miaoyun replied, “Yes, Father!”

“And how did he treat you?”

“He was neither arrogant nor servile—respectful, but not obsequious!”

Xu Miaoyun thought for a moment before answering.

“In Yingtian Prefecture, there are very few who can afford to keep such a servant! While I, Xu Da, am not someone of extraordinary rank, I am still the Marquis of Faith under the Ming. Even if a colleague in the capital wished to do the Xu family a favor, they would not send someone so quietly and without word—unless, of course, that person simply did not care…”

Xu Da was not a simple man of war; even with the scant clues provided by Xu Miaoyun, he seized upon the one anomaly in this chance event.

Yingtian Prefecture was small. Since the Emperor had taken the city, there were only a handful of households with the means to hire such capable guards.

Even as a marshal of the army, with trusted followers and family, Xu Da himself could not support such protection.

And yet, there was a man who, as a servant, recognized the Xu siblings and was protecting a young Daoist.

If Xu Da could not guess the identity of that man’s master, he would not be known as the God of War, nor the Emperor’s childhood companion.

“Zhang Sanfeng is that master—or at least a junior of his!”

“You two, kneel!”

Xu Da suddenly put on a stern face, and the siblings hurriedly dropped to their knees.

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

The two exchanged a glance. Xu Miaoyun replied,

“Father, we shouldn’t have hidden the truth from Mother, and we shouldn’t have run off without permission…”

“Wrong!”

Xu Da had Xu Miaoyun extend her palm and slapped it.

The little girl winced but did not withdraw her hand, though tears welled in her eyes.

“That Zhang Sanfeng, whatever he was doing at the brothel, what is that to you? He saved you; he is your benefactor. And yet you call him a lecherous Daoist? Is that how you repay kindness? Is this what you have learned from all the books I have paid to have you taught? If that is the result of your learning, I should have listened to your mother and let you be ‘virtuous in ignorance’ instead!”

Only then did Xu Miaoyun understand why her father was truly angry, and her tears could no longer be held back, streaming down her face as she kowtowed to her father.

“The ways of a cultivator are rarely as they appear. What you see may not be the truth. Even if his private morals are lacking, what concern is that of yours? If you are fated to cross paths with that young Daoist again, you must treat him with utmost respect. First, because he is your savior, and second, because it may be destiny…”

Anyone whom the Emperor trusted so deeply must be a man of immortal bearing.

Xu Da had deduced Zhang Yi’s identity but dared not speak of it openly to his children.

“Yes, Father!”

The Xu siblings answered softly.

Xu Da said no more, merely stroked their heads in silence, and the family turned their conversation to lighter matters.

On the other side, Zhang Zhengchang and his son, along with their disciples, left the palace and strolled slowly toward their lodging.

Zhang Yuchu, having just left the palace, was still reeling from the shock of meeting the Hongwu Emperor.

To think the present Emperor was actually Uncle Huang, who had shared meals with him! The transformation of identities was too much for young Yuchu’s mind to process.

“Still thinking about the Emperor’s identity?”

“Father, why did Uncle Emperor pretend to be a merchant…”

Zhang Yuchu at last spoke the question that had been puzzling him.

Zhang Zhengchang patted his head, saying,

“Did you really believe your brother was exiled to the capital by me?”

Zhang Yuchu was jolted to the core. He was a studious child, more mature than most his age, and his father’s words made him realize at once: Uncle Emperor had become Uncle Huang not because of anyone else, but because of his brother, Zhang Yi.

“People say I, Zhang Zhengchang, am a cruel father, but in truth, it was Heaven that kept the guest…”

Zhang Zhengchang sighed.

“You are an understanding child and know what must not be spoken. His Majesty bears no ill will, it’s just that… ignorance is bliss.”

Zhang Zhengchang left it at that.

Zhang Yuchu said, “Father, I want to see my brother!”

“It’s almost curfew. If we head to the Pure Mind Temple, we won’t make it back tonight, and tomorrow both of us must enter the palace again—it would only waste time!”

Their carriage stopped at the Daoist temple where Zhang Zhengchang was staying, and he ushered Zhang Yuchu out.

When they returned, they found Deng Zhongxiu already there.

“Master!”

“What are you doing here? What about your junior brother at the Pure Mind Temple?”

Zhang Zhengchang’s face darkened at the sight of Deng Zhongxiu.

Deng Zhongxiu replied, “Master, Junior Brother is here too. He’s been waiting for you in your room and fell asleep!”

Father and son exchanged a knowing glance and smiled.

That rascal, who last night had seemed so clever and calculating, secretly worrying about them after all…

(The end of this chapter)