Chapter 90
Ever since receiving the military report about the Northern Mansion's ambush of the Northern Di army below the Wushe Ridge, Li Wenjian had been on edge.
In the evening, a confidential message from Wang Yanhe and others came back, revealing that Wang Yanhe couldn't resist sneaking into Luojia City to find Wei Wanyu. He unexpectedly discovered irregularities in the Northern Mansion's granary.
Despite the annual allocation of grain by the court, there was a shortage of remaining grain in the storage, not matching the allocated amount. He suspected that someone within the Northern Mansion's army had tampered with the supplies.
Li Wenjian found it difficult to accept, standing there in a daze for a moment before recalling the morning's military report. Ziren had only taken two thousand elite soldiers to set an ambush at the Wushe Ridge, but the Northern Di vanguard consisted of thirty thousand troops.
How could two thousand men withstand such a force?
"I understand..." Half a moment later, Li Wenjian suddenly stood up, bracing himself against the table.
With a hundred thousand soldiers in the Northern Mansion, they should be capable of facing the enemy head-on. Perhaps Ziren had also discovered spies within the army, prompting him to secretly lead his troops to the Wushe Ridge. If he could repel the Northern Di vanguard, it would be ideal; even if he couldn't, he could buy time for the hundred thousand Northern Mansion troops.
"Quickly, have Ning Yuan deliver supplies to support the Northern Mansion immediately," Li Wenjian nearly lost his composure, grabbing pen and paper, hastily scribbling a note which he promptly handed to Mu Gui.
Mu Gui took the note and ran off swiftly.
Alone in the room under the window, Li Wenjian unfolded his hands, looking at the military report in his palm. The report received that morning had been sent back from the Northern Mansion three days prior.
Three days were too long, especially on the battlefield where situations changed in an instant.
Two thousand against thirty thousand was like hitting a rock with an egg; whether they could hold out for two hours was a question. Ziren's resolute approach to facing the enemy likely indicated his resolve...to death.
His fingers holding the military report curled inward, the joints almost pale.
The cold wind of early spring, mixed with snow from the branches, blew in through the window, chilling him with snowflakes fluttering against his face. A tickling sensation rose in his throat, uncontrollably triggering a light cough.
His straightened back bent down, his palm supporting his body against the table as he continued coughing, as if his lungs were about to explode. After a violent fit of coughing, he released his hand, the palm tinged with crimson.
He seemed to grow a bit faint, a sudden headache overwhelming him, his mind clouded for a moment as he staggered back a few steps.
"Your Highness."
Zhao Heng pushed open the door to the study and saw him swaying unsteadily. Hastening forward, she supported him. Li Wenjian leaned on Zhao Heng's shoulder, barely standing upright, his black hair tousled by the wind, he could barely hear his own voice: "Zi...Ziren."
*
After receiving Wang Yanhe's report, heavy snowfall blanketed the capital city.
The next day, Li Wenjian woke up to severe chest pain. Zhao Heng, her eyes red, sat beside the bed, trembling as she raised her hand bit by bit, gently touching his face, brushing away the sweat-dampened hair on his forehead, choked up as she asked, "Are you awake?"
"You didn't sleep?" Li Wenjian gazed at her eyes, bloodshot from staying awake, and asked in a hoarse voice.
She moved her hand from under the blanket, holding his large hand in hers, softly saying, "The imperial physician said you suffered from a sudden rush of heat to your heart, not knowing when you would wake up. I was afraid you wouldn't want to call out for me when you woke, enduring the discomfort by yourself."
"I wanted to be by your side. Being able to sit here with you is a happy thing for me."
She was always like this, so gentle and yet firm in soothing his wounds, never sparing her love, making him feel how important he was in her eyes.
Enhanced English Translation:
Every word she spoke was deeply imprinted on Li Wenjian's heart, but the headache couldn't be ignored. Turbulent scenes from the fierce battle below the Wushe Ridge kept surfacing in his mind, alternating with the image of Ziren's bloodied face, making it difficult for him to breathe.
His knuckles gradually tightened, clutching her soft hand tightly, like a dying man grasping at life-saving straw.
"Don't worry." Zhao Heng's voice became so gentle. "I've sent a message to General Ning, instructing him to go support, we must save the Second Prince at all costs."
"I've committed a grave sin, forging your handwriting, using your seal without permission. If anyone finds out, it will be disastrous."
"You are me, and I am you." His voice was somewhat weak. "We are husband and wife..."
Zhao Heng noticed a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead, his complexion appearing even paler. Physician Xu had said that he had experienced sudden hemoptysis and fainting, requiring a slow recovery.
She didn't let him speak any further, pulling out her hand to tuck in the corners of the blanket firmly. "Rest a little longer. I'll have the kitchen prepare some chicken soup for you when you wake."
She earnestly gazed at his face, the dim light casting a somewhat yellowish frailty on his features.
Zhao Heng's voice was extremely gentle, causing a slight stir in Li Wenjian.
He didn't want her to worry like this, it wasn't good for her or the child.
Struggling to force a smile, he said, "You accompany me to sleep for a while."
Zhao Heng hesitated for a moment. She didn't want to sleep. Seeing him in such a severe condition, she should bear some of the burden for him.
But seeing his pale lips struggling to smile, her heart felt like it was being pricked by a multitude of fine needles, making it difficult to refuse.
"Alright."
Kicking off her shoes, she slowly lowered the bed curtain, removing her outer robe to lie beside him.
Li Wenjian turned over, stretching out his long arm to pull her into his embrace, then closed his eyes.
His embrace was warm, the night quiet with snow falling gently. She had intended to just rest her eyes for a while by leaning against him, but when she woke up again, it was already daylight.
By late morning, Zhao Heng only slowly awakened. She gazed at the pomegranate flower embroidered canopy, suddenly remembering the events before falling asleep. Hastily getting up, she put on her clothes and walked out of the room.
Lian Zhou had been waiting in front of the door since early morning. Seeing Zhao Heng come out, she greeted her, "You're awake, My Lady?"
Ever since becoming pregnant, Zhao Heng had grown increasingly sleepy, much like when she first moved to the Eastern Palace not long ago. Li Wenjian had specifically instructed not to disturb her unless it was necessary.
"Where is His Highness?" Zhao Heng asked anxiously.
Lian Zhou replied, "He's in the study, had breakfast in the morning and took his medicine."
Zhao Heng stood in front of the study for a long time, the heavy snow falling silently on the umbrella above her head. Occasionally, snowflakes would drift inside the canopy, resting on her long eyelashes, like tiny sparkling frost on pine branches.
Inside the hall, he was reviewing official documents, with a charcoal fire burning, wrapped in a cloak. The weariness and paleness from yesterday's illness had faded, replaced by a renewed vigor, only occasionally covering his lips to stifle a light cough.
After observing silently for a while, Zhao Heng turned and took Lian Zhou's hand, softly saying, "Let's go."
Lian Zhou was surprised, "Weren't you here to see His Highness? Why not go in?"
"He probably just wants to be left alone right now." Zhao Heng smiled and said, "As long as I know he's eating well and taking care of his health, that's enough for me. Let's go back."
Lian Zhou didn't understand why they had reached the door but she hesitated to go inside. She asked Zhao Heng again, "Are you still planning to go to the Duke's Mansion today?"
Zhao Heng couldn't resist looking back at Li Wenjian's figure in the study, then she glanced at the footprints in the snow behind her. "Let Fei Yu tells Old Duke that I won't be going to the Duke's Mansion for the next few days."
The military reports from the Northern Mansion could come at any time, with any possible outcome.
She didn't want to be away when he needed her the most.
Lian Zhou nodded, smiling at her, revealing her white rice teeth. "You should take a good rest lately. Since you started going to the Duke's Mansion, you've been busier than when you were at the Academy."
Zhao Heng chuckled lightly. "Having such an opportunity is already great luck. If we don't cherish it, who knows when fate will take it away."
The most important thing in life is to be grateful.
Although she wasn't going to the Duke's Mansion, she was still occupied when she returned to the chamber, having Tingyun Mama bring in the palace's account books from the past few years.
Before the Empress left, she entrusted all matters in the palace to her, so she couldn't slack off.
Looking through the recent account books, Zhao Heng discovered that the Empress had spent a large sum of silver on the education of the Princes and princesses.
She had noticed during her time at the Academy that the teachers there were all experts in their fields. Some renowned scholars who had withdrawn from society had even been invited to teach and cultivate the princes and princesses.
The Academy was open to both civil and military officials, and any official's children, regardless of rank, could be sent to the palace for education.
However, many officials believed in the saying "A woman without talent is virtue" and saw no need for their daughters to attend the Academy, which had a curriculum similar to that of the princes and lacked subjects suitable for young ladies.
As a result, very few daughters were sent to the Academy, which was a waste of the Empress's good intentions.
"The Empress said that it's too difficult for women to survive in this world. They rely on their fathers when young, their husbands after marriage, and their sons after their husbands die. Even though they are humans too, they cannot be independent like men." Tingyun Mama explained to her. "So she established the Academy in the palace to let the princesses learn the fundamentals of survival in this world."
Zhao Heng sat by the window, contemplating Tingyun's words, almost entranced.
It wasn't until she heard the crisp sound of the pearl curtains being drawn back behind her that she snapped out of her thoughts and turned around.
Li Wenjian's shoulders were dusted with snow, holding a few branches of red plum blossoms in his arms as he entered the dimly lit chamber bathed in the light from the door.
"You're back?" Joy filled her brow.
Li Wenjian's smile was still gentle on his lips. He handed the red plum blossoms to Zhao Heng, who took the flowers and lowered her eyes to admire the bright red flower buds.
"Spring has come, and the plum blossoms have bloomed."
"Indeed," his gaze fell upon her face, "Plucking a plum blossom, gifting a plum blossom."
The wind carried the fragrance of plum blossoms into the hall, adding a touch of ethereal sweetness to the air. His eyes fixed on the woman intently admiring the flowers, he watched as she shyly raised her head, her eyes filled with playful reproach.
"You..." Zhao Heng gently bit her lip, her cheeks suddenly flushed with a rosy hue.
During their first encounter, amidst the ruins of the Qingliang Hall, he had asked her name.
She had replied, "My name is Chunmei."
Zhao Heng rose and slowly placed the plum blossom in a vase, meticulously arranging the branches. Yet, her heart was in turmoil.
He remained silent, leaning against the soft couch, watching her flustered expression with amusement.
"I apologize," Zhao Heng said after a moment of deliberation, "Can you forget that name?"
Li Wenshan couldn't hide the smile on his lips. He stifled his laughter, "I'll try my best."
Zhao Heng could detect the insincerity in his tone. She plucked a flower, her lips pursed, ready to retort, when she heard Mu Gui's voice from outside the hall.
"Your Highness, victory!" Mu Gui, usually composed, couldn't conceal his excitement, his voice echoing from outside, "The Second Prince has won the battle!"
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Author's Note:
Li Gouzi: Phew, I'm not the only one who's terrible at naming things~~
Aheng: Oops, I should have known we'd have a story together, I would have chosen a better stage name, wuwuwu~~
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TNote:
Literally, æ¥æ¢ (chÅ«n méi) translates to "spring plum."