Climbing on the Sparrow Branch – CH 674

Chapter 674: Compromise

Yong’an Temple was some distance from An Zhi’s estate.

An Zhi’s carriage took an hour to reach the foot of Yong’an Temple.

Yu Yao’s carriage was already waiting.

“Sister An, you’ve arrived!” Yu Yao quickly got off the carriage, grabbed An Zhi’s hand, and urged with a smile, “We need to hurry, or we will miss the vegetarian meal at Yong’an Temple.”

An Zhi didn’t particularly want to eat the vegetarian meal at Yong’an Temple. She went out because she thought Yu Yao was a good person and that they could support each other in the future, so she wanted to make friends.

After walking up the mountain for half an hour, An Zhi couldn’t keep up anymore. She didn’t do much physical labor and couldn’t keep up with Yu Yao’s pace at all.

When Yu Yao noticed An Zhi’s panting, she said somewhat apologetically, “Let’s stop and rest for a while; there’s a pavilion nearby.”

“Don’t worry about me,” An Zhi said. “I’m really exhausted. Go to the temple and save me some vegetarian food; otherwise, neither of us will get anything.”

Yu Yao had called for her; although she was carefree, she had served Zhang Huai’an for over ten years and knew the proper etiquette. “I will go with you; just have the servant go up.”

An Zhi had no objections.

The two arrived at a nearby pavilion. A gentle breeze brushed against their cheeks, carrying a cool, pleasant touch.

Yinzhu handed Yu Yao a handkerchief, giving her a meaningful look.

Yu Yao opened her mouth, hesitated for a moment, then forced herself to ask, “Sister An, I have something I’d like to ask you. Please don’t laugh at me.”

Hearing this, An Zhi glanced at Binglu beside her.

Binglu immediately took Yinzhu away, saying she wanted to go look around nearby.

Once only Yu Yao and An Zhi remained in the pavilion, Yu Yao’s expression relaxed a bit. “It’s like this,” she said, “I’m not from your Central Plains. In our tribe, a man can only marry one wife. If a couple’s relationship is strained, divorce is a very common thing.”

An Zhi knew Yu Yao was from a tribe, but she didn’t know that such a rule existed. Her eyes lit up, and she quietly waited for Yu Yao to continue.

“As for me, I only gave birth to three daughters for Zhang Huai’an,” Yu Yao said, then gave a cold snort. “At my age, it’s unlikely I will have any more children. I only have a slight regret, but I don’t particularly want a son. But you Central Plains people value carrying on the family line; you must have a son to take over the family business. I’m getting old, but Zhang Huai’an’s official position is getting higher and higher…”

“Is Minister Zhang thinking of taking a concubine?” An Zhi couldn’t help but ask.

“He wouldn’t dare!” Yu Yao’s eyes widened immediately. “If he dares to take a concubine, I will break his legs. He promised my father he wouldn’t have any other woman in his heart.”

Sighing, Yu Yao continued, “Zhang Huai’an didn’t say anything, but there are so many busybodies. Someone even wanted to secretly arrange a young lady for him, saying he’d bring her home after she gave birth to a son. When I heard about that, I smashed up that house.”

An Zhi applauded Yu Yao, “Good job!”

“It felt good to smash it, but it also attracted a lot of criticism,” Yu Yao said, distressed. “Many people say behind my back that Zhang Huai’an’s afraid of his wife and has no backbone. I don’t want them to say that about him, but I don’t want him to take a concubine either.”

Yu Yao liked Zhang Huai’an very much, and their relationship had been very good over the years.

Even though Yu Yao hadn’t given birth to a son, Zhang Huai’an hadn’t complained at all; instead, he taught the three girls to read.

“Then don’t take a concubine.” An Zhi understood Yu Yao’s feelings. “Look at me, I also forbade Pei Que from taking a concubine.”

“But rumors are terrible. Everyone outside says I’m jealous, and that my daughter will be the same. No one dares to propose marriage to my family.” Yu Yao sat forward a little. “Sister An, tell me, should I compromise?”