Chapter 102.1
Li Wenjian locked eyes with Zhao Heng through the crowd and the chaotic courtyard, watching apricot blossoms fall gently upon her.
Suddenly, he remembered the last snow they had watched together in the spring of the fifty-fourth year of Cheng'an.
At that time, they had just returned from Jiangnan. She had not paid much attention to gods and Buddhas when she was young, but in her old age, she found faith in them. After returning from Jiangnan, she had lived with him in a temple on Yunwu Mountain, spending their days reading scriptures and discussing the teachings.
The spring of the fifty-fourth year of Cheng'an arrived early, and by the beginning of February, the capital was adorned with flowers in full bloom. Half a month later, a sudden snowfall left most of the beautiful blossoms withered and fallen.
That night, while translating scriptures in the temple, they heard the sound of wind and snow outside. On a whim, she dragged him out to walk in the snow.
He carried a glass lamp as they wandered around the temple in the snow. They even built a snowman on the golden peak. Before returning to the meditation room, Zhao Heng held his arm, walking on the gently falling snow, and said with a smile, "I must have done a lot of good deeds in my past life to meet you in this life."
Her silver hair glistened in the snow, her eyes as bright and clear as they were in her youth. "So in this life, I strive to do good deeds, so in the next life, I can meet you again."
Li Wenjian never believed in reincarnation; he focused only on the present. But for Zhao Heng, he was willing to believe in a future life.
Facing the heavens and Buddhas, he said to her, "I acknowledge the infinite goodness of my life. I wish to exchange the accomplishments of this life to ensure our safety in the remaining years and to meet again in the next life, continuing the bond we share in this life."
Half a year later, she passed away in her sleep, ending her tumultuous and legendary life.
By then, they were already parents to five children and grandparents to more than twenty. He personally took care of her affairs, allowing her to leave without worries in the presence of her cherished loved ones.
The following spring, he followed her in his sleep.
When he opened his eyes again, Li Wenjian found himself back in his youth, just fourteen years old.
*
Zhao Heng's eyes welled up with tears as she nearly shed them, how could the lame doctor betray her like this?
She had helped him, but she had no idea he was a murderer, let alone the purpose of the strange concoctions he had her drink.
All eyes were fixed on her, and her words of defense choked in her throat.
She remembered the officials who caused havoc in the village two years ago, rubbed her reddened eyes, turned around, and ran outside.
But the path was slippery, and she stumbled and fell into the muddy ground after just a few steps.
Mu Gui quickly caught up, lifted her by the collar like a chick, and brought her to Li Wenjian, raising his eyebrows as if seeking approval, "She tried to escape."
Seeing Zhao Heng rise and dust off her knees, Li Wenjian's gentle expression turned slightly cold, adding a hint of severity to his usually mild demeanor.
"She looks like she's only six or seven, what could she possibly do?" An Yuanqing stood behind Li Wenjian, watching Zhao Heng with furrowed brows, pressing harder on the back of the lame doctor's shoulder, "You want her to cover for you?"
"Uncle." Li Wenjian reminded him, "Staying too long might cause panic."
An Yuanqing gestured for the people to take Wang Zhong away. Then he looked at Zhao Heng and asked, "What about this child?"
Li Wenjian pursed his lips, resisting the urge to look at her, "Since she was named by Wang Zhong as an accomplice, let's take her back to the mansion for further questioning."
Zhao Heng suddenly raised her eyes, looking at him in panic, "I didn't do anything wrong!"
Seeing her guarded and wary eyes, Li Wenjian felt a pang of bitterness. He longed to hold her in his arms, to tell her that he knew she was a good person and had done nothing wrong.
But he couldn't do that; they were strangers now, and she was just an eight-year-old child.
Those beautiful memories that belonged to them were only remembered by him.
She didn't remember anything between them and hadn't experienced the inhuman suffering they had endured together.
For him, it was both unfortunate and fortunate.
"Don't be afraid, come with us, if everything is fine, I will send you back." Li Wenjian squatted down, taking out a handkerchief to wipe the dirt off her face.
Zhao Heng's eyes were red, holding back tears from falling, she wiped her eyes, feeling embarrassed to dirty his white silk handkerchief, so she turned her head to avoid his touch.
"Really, really?"
Li Wenjian smiled and ruffled her fluffy hair, "Really."
*
Zhao Heng sat alone in the empty room, perched on a high stool, her round eyes curious as they wandered around.
The house was beautiful, adorned with intricate patterns on the doors and windows, the window paper as thin as a cicada's wings, and the fluttering shadows of flowers floated gracefully in. The soft bed near the window was clean and fragrant, emitting a light scent.
Beside the bed was a small round table with an octagonal copper incense burner, emitting a tantalizing fragrance. To top it off, there were several plates of snacks, exuding a unique aroma, making her stomach growl with hunger.
She had only drunk a bowl of soybean soup noodles in the morning before heading up the mountain, and by now, she had not eaten anything. She was starving. Looking at the pastries on the table, she subconsciously licked her dry lips.
She reached out to grab a piece to taste, then suddenly remembered her grandmother's teachings about not touching other people's things without permission. Swallowing her saliva, she obediently sat back down.
Just then, footsteps approached the door, and Zhao Heng immediately turned her gaze towards it, seeing the person who had come to take her back.
Li Wenjian entered, immediately noticing Zhao Heng sitting on the high stool. Her eyes were slightly red, a blush still on her nose, indicating she had been crying. When their eyes met, she quickly looked away.
Her timid appearance resembled a startled deer in the woods.
Li Wenjian paused before walking towards her. He was already tall when he was young, standing in front of her in a way that made it impossible for her to see his face without looking up.
Seeing her nervously jump off the stool, tears welling up in her eyes before she could speak, streaming down her cheeks.
In the past, when the officials came to capture people in the village, those taken away often ended up dead soon after.
She did not want to die.
Seeing her crying and trembling, tightly gripping her clothes, her sleeves already two inches too short, revealing a thin, weak arm.
Li Wenjian noticed the red rash on her face, dirtied by mud. He lifted her chin, using the handkerchief to wipe away the stains, noticing two red rashes that had broken the skin, stirring up a surge of anger in his heart.
He was too late; the medicines she had ingested had already taken effect in her body.
He would never forget the night she, in the past life, had plotted to kill Concubine An and cried to him, unwilling to meet him early and regretting it, as she had many sores all over her body, oozing pus.
"Does it hurt?" Li Wenjian asked.
Just those two words made Zhao Heng's eyes even redder. She hesitated, then said, "I-I didn't help him commit murder, I just tested the medicine for him."
"I know," Li Wenjian looked at her, raising an eyebrow, "I'm asking, does it hurt?"
Meeting his gaze, Zhao Heng saw the deep and enigmatic eyes of the young man, engulfed in emotions she couldn't understand. Instinctively shrinking back, she shook her head to say it didn't hurt.
She could endure pain well and did not want to worry her grandmother. Even if it hurt, she would bear it without complaint.
Especially in front of strangers, she wanted to show a bit of stubbornness. However, his gaze seemed to carry an inexplicable allure, prompting her to finally admit in a low voice, "A little."
Li Wenjian lowered his eyes and pressed a hand to his chest. His heart beat slowly and heavily in his chest; he knew how stubborn this young girl could be, enduring everything on her own.
For her to say "it hurts," it must have been excruciating.
He lowered his hand, huskily calling out, "Mu Gui."
Mu Gui felt that the young master had been off ever since he returned from the temple a few days ago, displaying a precocious wisdom. Despite being the same age, the young master radiated an unusual sense of maturity.
He waited outside with ears perked for a while before Li Wenjian called him, and he quickly entered, bowing his head, "What are your orders, Young Master?"
Li Wenjian's mind throbbed, and his throat felt dry and scratchy. Rising, he gazed at Mu Gui and said, "Go fetch Physician Xu."
Mu Gui hurriedly agreed, then rushed out. Li Wenjian went to a nearby table, grabbing a copper basin and warming water to wash Zhao Heng's face.
As the warm cloth neared Zhao Heng's face, she blinked in surprise, then turned her head to avoid his touch. Li Wenjian asked her softly, "What's wrong?"
In a low voice, Zhao Heng said, "Master, let me do it myself."
Li Wenjian's eyebrows furrowed, his slender and fair fingers holding the still-steaming cloth, slightly hesitating. Something that used to be so ordinary now felt out of place.
Just as he hesitated, he heard Zhao Heng's soft voice again, saying, "I'm dirty. I don't want to dirty your hands."
The setting sun cast a golden glow on her slender face.
Li Wenjian placed the cloth on her face, gently wiping away the dirt with his fingers. She was so thin, her body delicate like a small bamboo shoot.
After cleaning her face, Li Wenjian had just set down the cloth when he heard Zhao Heng's stomach growl.
Turning to look at her, Zhao Heng felt embarrassed and lowered her head.
Li Wenjian turned his head, seeing that she hadn't touched any of the pastries on the table, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Zhao Heng's beautiful amber eyes peeked out from beneath her thick lashes, a hint of shyness in them as she nodded.
"There are so many pastries here, why haven't you eaten?" Li Wenjian asked.
Swallowing her saliva, Zhao Heng glanced at him tentatively, "Can I eat them?"
"Of course you can, these are all prepared for you."
Zhao Heng glanced at the table full of snacks, still not quite believing his words. She had never seen such beautiful pastries before, let alone tasted them.
Just as she was about to ask, the man suddenly leaned forward, picked up a pastry and brought it to her lips, smiling as he said, "Go ahead, eat."
Zhao Heng was stunned.
After a moment, she took a small bite, the sweet flavor spreading in her mouth. Li Wenjian asked, "Is it good?"
Her eyes curved into a smile as she nodded enthusiastically, "Mm!"
Looking up at Li Wenjian, she said, "I've never eaten such delicious pastries before."
Li Wenjian smiled and shifted his gaze elsewhere.
Those words, just one more word from her, made him feel even more heartbroken.
After Zhao Heng finished the pastries, Li Wenjian handed her a cup of honey water, a sweet sensation soothing her stomach. She licked the crumbs off her lips and was about to ask when she could go back when Mu Gui arrived with the doctor at the door, reporting to Li Wenjian, "Young Master."
Li Wenjian nodded, signaling for Physician Xu to come in.
Physician Xu entered, greeted them, and began examining the rash on Zhao Heng's face.
The rash was not typical, and upon closer inspection, Physician Xu was shocked to find that it was due to poisoning.
The rash had spread toxins, not lethal, but the risk of scarring from broken skin and pus was high. In addition, Zhao Heng pulse was erratic. After questioning her, he found out she was eight years old but looked more like six or seven due to her frail appearance.
After Physician Xu examined her pulse and prescribed medication, he took his leave.
Zhao Heng sat on the stool, pursing her lips as she glanced at Li Wenjian. Seeing his unsettling expression, she felt a pang of fear and finally mustered the courage to ask, "Can I go back now?"
Li Wenjian stared at her for a while before finally speaking, "The third miss in our house needs a companion to study with. Would you like to stay?"
Zhao Heng looked at him in surprise, finding this person rather strange. He had captured her, treated her kindly, and now suggested she stay.
Especially... his strange gaze towards her.
Remembering the stories she heard while selling flowers in front of the theater, about rich people who would trick children to extract their hearts for longevity elixirs, she wondered if he was being too nice to her because he wanted to take her heart for some medicine.
She looked at Li Wenjian with caution and fear, shaking her head quickly. After a moment of thought, she shook her head more firmly.
"I don't want to."
"Why?" Li Wenjian raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Heng saw his gaze dim for a moment, reinforcing her decision, she pursed her lips and said, "I don't like studying."
Li Wenjian raised an eyebrow.
Zhao Heng glanced at him, watching as he lowered his head, his eyes closing, a shadow casting over his disappointingly expressive face.
Was he disappointed because the medication had flown away from his grasp?
Zhao Heng picked at her nails, "I want to go back."
Li Wenjian frowned, watching her guarded and nervous movements, taking his time to persuade himself.
He couldn't rush things; the eight-year-old child was confused and fearful about an unknown life. He shouldn't rush to keep her by his side.
Step by step, slowly.
He stood up and patted her head, "Alright, after you drink the medicine, I'll send you back."
Zhao Heng lowered her eyelashes, fidgeting with her fingers and remaining silent.
*
Zhao Heng carried a basket of pastries in her arm.
It was something the strange man insisted on giving her before she left. She refused, so he said he had mistaken her for someone else and gave it to her as compensation.
She couldn't figure out what he was up to.
He seemed like a good person.
But how could such a good person appear out of nowhere in front of her? Her grandmother often said that hidden beneath unearned gains were big traps.
Those who were greedy would fall right in.
As they approached the village, the road became rough. Even the spacious carriage rocked unsteadily. She knew they were close, so she carefully lifted the corner of the curtain to look outside and caught sight of a figure leaning on a crutch under the apricot tree at the village entrance.
"Stop the carriage, stop," she exclaimed.
The coachman stopped the carriage upon hearing her call. As he was about to bring a stool for her to step down from the carriage, she agilely jumped down, one hand holding the pastries, the other supporting her body as she landed neatly.
"Thank you for bringing me back, my grandmother has come to pick me up." She bowed deeply to the coachman, then ran towards the figure under the apricot tree.
Today, her spirits were better, as she had gone to the Lin household in town to wash clothes. When she returned and heard that the lame doctor was a murderer, her eyes widened in shock, and she nearly fainted.
After waking up, it was already sunset. Ignoring the villagers' advice, she set off towards the city to search for someone.
Just as she reached the village entrance, she saw Zhao Heng jumping down from a horse carriage and running towards her.
"Grandmother, why are you out here?" Zhaohui's beautiful eyes widened.
Xue shi was taken aback, quickly pulling her into a hug to check on her. Concerned, she asked, "Are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
Zhao Heng, who usually walked lightly, shook her head, "No, that handsome uncle..."
She paused before continuing, "They said the lame doctor confessed everything, that he tricked me into helping him with the medicinal garden to prove my innocence. So... they let me go."
Xue shi looked at the clean and tidy Zhao Heng, relieved that she was unharmed. Only then did she relax, releasing a breath she had been holding.
"Grandmother..." Zhao Heng looked up at Xue shi, tears shimmering in her beautiful eyes. She choked up before saying, "The lame doctor passed away."
Xue shi hesitated but understood what Zhao Heng wanted to say. Her frail body was sustained solely by the medication from the lame doctor. With him gone, they couldn't afford the medicine.
She knew how much Zhao Heng had suffered to persuade the lame doctor to treat her. He had a difficult personality and was often difficult to deal with.
She never expected that the lame doctor was actually a murderer seeking refuge in the village of the Xue family. She was grateful that they had encountered reasonable soldiers this time, as the consequences could have been dire.
She felt useless for dragging this child into this situation.
Xue shi held Zhao Heng in her arms, stroking her dry hair, "It's okay, my health is much better now, I can go out and earn money."
*
On that moonlit night, a wisp of light smoke drifted into the house through the broken window.
Zhao Heng, who was not sleeping soundly, gradually relaxed her furrowed brow. Before long, a clear and graceful figure quietly entered Zhao Heng's home.
Li Wenjian found the pill he had given her under her pillow, glanced at it after unscrewing the lid, then silently approached her bed to inspect the rash on her face.
She had indeed not been obedient by not taking the medicine he had given her, and he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Li Wenjian took out a pill and placed it in her mouth, then sat by the bed, watching Zhao Heng as she slept.
He had so much to tell her, but he couldn't say anything now.
He couldn't say anything at all.
It took him a long time to accept the absurd reality of his rebirth.
She remembered nothing, forgetting all the beautiful memories they once shared.
He was brought back by the heavens to heal her childhood wounds, not to instill new fears in her.
He reached out to touch her face, raised the blanket a little higher, and tucked her in at the corners.