Chapter 92
In the early spring season, the gradually warming spring days shed the cold of winter.
On this clear morning, after a night of rain, Liang Xingyan finally stopped at the door and was inadvertently hit in the face by the moist morning breeze.
The scar by his ear had scabbed over, and the damp spring wind gently tousled the strands of hair around his temple, revealing a brown scar.
Dozens of guards were scattered throughout the courtyard. Upon hearing him open the door, they hurried over, stepping through the rainwater. "Young Master, where are you going?"
"Nowhere, just coming out for some fresh air," Liang Xingyan replied. Standing at the threshold, he glanced at the birdcages on the corridor. Several brightly colored finches were frolicking inside.
Since returning to the capital, he had been confined to this small courtyard, much like the birds in the cages at this moment. Plucking a few slender, fresh green reeds from a pot beneath a flower rack, he sat on the threshold and began weaving slowly.
Beside him, Wei Shan watched for a while as the grass leaves moved up and down in Liang Xingyan's hands, resembling a bird. "You are weaving a bird."
"An eagle," Liang Xingyan replied, folding the tail of the grass leaf into the body, holding it in his palm, squinting to examine the hollow belly of the bird in the light.
Wei Shan, curious, watched for a moment, tilting his head. The sunlight filtering through the strands of his hair made his skin look pale and frail. Remembering General Wang's words about talking more with Liang Xingyan when he had the chance, Wei Shan curiously asked, "You're surprisingly skilled at this rustic craft."
"This is the only thing I can do better than Li Wenjian," Liang Xingyan chuckled. "His hands are clumsy, he can't learn no matter how hard he tries."
Wei Shan, still young and curious about everything, followed General Wang's strict and traditional ways since childhood. He was about to take a closer look, but Liang Xingyan dismantled his work.
âWhy did you undo it?â Wei Shan asked.
Liang Xingyan smiled and smoothed out a few reed leaves before starting to weave something else. âA fake eagle, even if it grows wings, might not necessarily soar into the sky."
After sitting on the corridor for a while, a maid brought breakfast. Liang Xingyan moved to the living quarters to eat. Just as he picked up his chopsticks, he heard a commotion outside the door. His chopsticks froze in the air.
When he saw Wei Shan about to lift the curtain to go out, he called out, "Wei Shan."
Wei Shan turned back to see Liang Xingyan gesturing for him to stop. Wei Shan pursed his lips, adjusted the knife at his waist, then retreated.
Wang Zhao pushed the door open and saw Liang Xingyan sitting at the table eating. He hesitated for a moment before a smile appeared on his face, and he respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Emperor's Grandson."
When Wang Zhao entered the room, Liang Xingyan saw the man's silhouette as if he had traveled back to many years ago through his brows and eyes, a time when he didn't know this man yet, who would later accompany him through life-threatening situations.
"Uncle, please join me for a meal." Liang Xingyan motioned for him to come closer. The man's arm had bandages, his untrimmed stubble lacking the former glory of the nation's unparalleled scholar: âHow did it go? Did they agree?"
Wei Shan brought a chair, and Wang Zhao sat down, scrutinizing Liang Xingyan for a moment. "We need to leave the capital."
If this had been a few months earlier, Liang Xingyan might have argued with him, but now he didn't want to waste his energy and didn't want to upset this former court scholar who had dedicated himself to him.
Taking a sip of hot porridge, Liang Xingyan even smirked, "When Li Yu suffered a big defeat in Shu, I knew the outcome was sealed. It seems you couldn't let it go and had to come to the capital."
"Are you still upset about my decision to take you away from the south?" Wang Zhao's hoarse voice carried a sense of desolation and melancholy, âYour Royal Highness, you and the Li family have been at odds since birth."
"I regret now that I let you replace me and return to the capital. To achieve greatness, you shouldn't have been all mercy. Your father back then suffered a tragic fate because of excessive kindness, bringing about such disastrous consequences."
"Is that so?" Liang Xingyan looked at the man's face and almost mockingly replied, "I think my father was unlucky. With the end of the former dynasty, lost trust among the people, and invasion of enemies, due to my grandfather's constraints and suspicions, he lacked the courage and determination to change the old ways. Even if there were no treacherous courtiers, as long as my grandfather was there, he would never have a chance to stand out."
Wang Zhao's face showed a slight blank expression. He stood up, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes deepening. "I don't want to discuss this matter with Your Royal Highness again."
They had argued over this countless times, but never reached a resolution.
"I went to inquire about Jiang He and his followers today. The northern barbarians have been forced to retreat, the uprising in Shu failed, and they are probably still hesitant, not agreeing to help me," Wang Zhao glanced at Liang Xingyan sitting behind the dining table, then continued, "Since they are unwilling to assist, to prevent any changes over time, we must leave the capital as soon as possible."
"Where to?" Liang Xingyan set down his chopsticks and asked.
"To the north. Yan Chi and the northern barbarians have suffered defeats at the hands of Dong Li recently, and they hold deep grudges. I will head west and north, seek help from Dan Xu and Qiu Yu. As long as we can borrow troops, there will be a day of resurgence."
"A day of resurgence?" Liang Xingyan found it almost laughable and chuckled, expressing some bewilderment. "From Jiangnan to Shu, and now to the capital, we've been defeated all the way like lost dogs. Uncle, why do you think they would believe in our resurgence?"
"Your Royal Highness!" Wang Zhao suddenly raised his voice, "Do not let others diminish your own authority and pride! We have toiled and hidden for years, waiting to uphold the state and reclaim the Wei territory! Even if it means sacrificing everything, including our lives and dignity. Your Royal Highness, please pack up quickly and leave the capital with me."
"No," Liang Xingyan replied, "Jiang He and his followers won't help us because they see no hope in us. If we leave the capital at this time, it will be nearly impossible to return."
Meeting the stern gaze of the young man, Wang Zhao heard him say, "But if Li Wenjian dies, the court will surely fall into chaos. That will be our opportunity."
Hearing this, Wang Zhao's expression turned to regret. Of course, he wished to rid himself of Li Wenjian as soon as possible. After years of planning, his luck had been too good, always managing to escape the dangers.
Wang Zhao's face showed a sense of sorrow and loss. "I am powerless."
"I have a secluded villa on the eastern outskirts by the river. When I was young, a few of us used to skip school and get drunk there," Liang Xingyan poured himself another cup of wine, brought it to his lips, and continued, "This villa was where Liang Ji stored grain and provisions. Beneath the villa, there are several secret warehouses and tunnels leading to different places."
"If you bury a large amount of gunpowder in those warehouses and somehow lure Li Wenjian into the villa, you can blow him to pieces," Liang Xingyan said with a hint of sarcasm in his cold smile.
Wang Zhao's eyes lit up at the idea. "Is that possible?"
The young man's eyes dripped with a mocking smile, "Absolutely. When I was eighteen, Liang Ji implemented new policies in the south. He was afraid of the southern gentry causing harm to me, so he took me to the villa. That was the escape route he left for me."
Ironically, he killed Liang Ji's wife and children, staying by his side for years. Yet Liang Ji never knew, treating him as his own child.
Wang Zhao laughed heartily, "There's always a way out, Your Royal Highness. If you had such a brilliant plan, why didn't you tell me before?"
A cluster of light and shadow fell through the window, causing Liang Xingyan to squint his eyes. Tilting his face away from the beam of light, he gazed quietly for a moment, but he never revealed the truth.
Since he was destined to be at odds with Li Wenjian, he might as well settle the score early on.
He had had enough of this life of hiding and evading like a rat.
*
As Zhao Heng emerged from the bath, her body still carried the lingering moisture. She stood before the bronze mirror, examining her figure. Her pregnancy was becoming quite evident, her belly resembling a ripe melon, and her body appearing fuller than before.
The sound of pearl curtains colliding resonated from behind, causing Zhao Heng to curve her lips slightly as she turned to look at the person approaching leisurely.
"Your Highness, you're back?" Li Wenjian picked up a towel from a nearby stand, walking over to wrap her in it from head to toe, his hand gently smoothing down her hair.
"Didn't I ask you to wait for me to help you bathe?"
Zhao Heng tilted her head slightly, a damp strand of hair falling from her forehead as droplets of water landed on his wrist. As she wiped the water droplets off his hand with her fingertips, she said, "Mu Gui said you were busy today, afraid you would come back too late."
Her belly was growing larger, making it increasingly difficult for her to move around. Even simple tasks like bathing and washing her feet were becoming challenging for her to do alone.
Li Wenjian took on the task willingly, helping her bathe and groom herself every day when he returned from court.
While she was delighted, she also felt sorry for him for all the effort he put into caring for her.
Li Wenjian dried the water off her body, dressed her in a nightgown with meticulous care, wrapped her hair in a towel, then bent down to lift her up and carried her back to the bedroom, placing her gently on the soft bed.
Her feet dangled off the edge of the bed, with water droplets dripping from her fingertips, dampening a large portion of the Persian carpet beside the bed.
Zhao Heng picked up a half-turned book from the dressing table and Li Wenjian sat on a small stool in front of the bed, holding her feet while using the towel to wipe away the water stains from her delicate white ankles.
"It seems a bit swollen again," Li Wenjian frowned lightly. Being with Zhao Heng day and night, caring for her intimately as she went through pregnancy, made him realize how arduous the process of bearing a child truly was.
In recent days, she had started to swell up, changing shoe sizes twice within a short period of half a month. Her belly was growing larger, making it difficult for her to sleep at night.
Zhao Heng gathered her robe, lowered her head, in the dimly lit room, Li Wenjian's frown deepened. After gazing at him a little longer, she lifted her hand to stroke his temple.
"You make me feel that bearing a little life with you is a very worthwhile and happy thing," Zhao Heng said softly.
Most men in the world considered giving birth as part of nature's course, like the rising and setting of the sun and the ebb and flow of the tides, a natural occurrence. However, he understood her pain, believed in it, and protected her physically and emotionally.
Zhao Heng gradually lowered her gaze, cupping his face in her hands and lightly pecking his lips, "You are a very good husband, and you will be a very good father."
Li Wenjian smiled and leaned down, pressing his ear against Zhao Heng's belly, listening closely to the movements of the child. He turned his head slightly, "I think I heard him calling for his father."
Unable to contain her laughter, Zhao Heng held his head in her hands, running her fingertips through his hair, teasingly asked, "Could it be that I'm carrying a little monster?"
Li Wenjian gently lifted Zhao Heng's hand and placed a tender kiss on her wrist. "Haven't you always wanted to visit the Daxiangguo Temple for blessings? I've been quite busy lately, but how about I accompany you tomorrow?"
Zhao Heng's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Oh, wonderful!"
It had been a while since they had embarked on an outing together. Tomorrow was the height of spring, and the blossoms would be in full bloom.
It was the perfect time of year to enjoy the vibrant beauty of nature.
To share such a splendid occasion with the one you love most was a true blessing in life.
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Author's Note:
Ah Heng: My husband is so amazing, and there's even a throne to inherit in the family... I'm going to have babies until I can't have any more!