Chapter 113.1
Amidst the relentless snowfall, the palace gates were about to close, the hurried footsteps of palace maids echoing through the empty, long corridors.
Li Wenzheng seemed to be deaf to the commotion, his gaze fixed on Yingque as he inquired, "How can we improve her behavior?"
Ying Que finally grasped the gravity of his question, carefully weighing her response.
"As you know, the young lady has always been fond of playing," Yingque explained. "Now that Miss Yue Li is married and Miss Wei is constantly occupied at the Ministry of Agriculture, she needs companions."
Li Wenjian's expression remained grim.
Ying Que hastily attempted to rectify the situation, subtly observing Li Wenjian's demeanor while actively brainstorming solutions. "However, the young lady is aware of her limits," she continued, "always bringing Miss Wei or the Eighth Princess along when she goes out. Even if she harbors feelings for him, she would never..."
At Zhao Heng's age, it's natural for her to develop romantic interests, as long as she maintains decorum and avoids causing a scandal, Ying Que reasoned.
"Impossible," Li Wenjian declared. "She wouldn't."
Ying Que was taken aback. "Ah?"
"This Chen Ke?" Li Wenzheng pressed, "Who is he?"
Chen Ke, the eldest son of the Marquis of Dongyang, was frail since childhood. A fortune teller predicted that he would not live past sixteen. His parents raised him in a Taoist temple.
This year, he turned seventeen, and the Chen family, seeing that he had survived, brought him back to the capital. At the beginning of the year, Master Chen sent him to Guanghua Hall to attend lectures and study.
Due to his chronic illness, he was small and often bullied. Once, the young lady came across a few people teasing him and stepped forward to help him out. That's how they got to know each other.
Ying Que carefully recalled the relationship between Zhao Heng and Chen Ke. "Although this young master is physically weak, he has loved reading since childhood and has traveled with the Taoist priest in his early years, so he is very knowledgeable and has a lot to talk about with the young lady. Over time, the two of them often played together and gradually became familiar with each other."
Zhao Heng has always admired scholars, and it was the same in her previous life. Every time he talked to her about poetry and literature, she would look up to and admire her.
Li Wenjian repeated, "Very familiar?"
"Yes, very familiar," Ying Que said. "Guanghua Hall is not far from the Xiyiguan, and after school, the two of them often went to Langhuan Pavilion to read books together."
Li Wenjian remained silent for a moment and nodded, "I understand."
Ying Que withdrew, leaving Li Wenjian alone in the west hall.
Li Wenjian entered Zhao Heng's bedchamber. The room was adorned with an array of trinkets, the floor covered with Persian carpets he had requested Wei Zhan to bring back from the northwest. The windows were made of large, translucent jade, and the candlelight shone on the gleaming jade, casting a dazzling glow.
Her room had always been a riot of colors and patterns. She liked to be surrounded by an abundance of things - ever since the year she had come of age, stained her dress with menstrual blood, and run to the East Hall in the middle of the night to find Li Wenjian, he had never entered her bedchamber again.
The bedchamber was silent and still.
Night deepened, and some of the palace chambers turned off their lights.
He surveyed the familiar room. The strings of the wind chime hanging on the windowsill were tangled together, the brush holder on the desk had fallen over, and several brushes lay scattered across the table. The paperweight was missing, and the half-finished paper was weighed down by a teacup lid.
Li Wenshan watched for a long time, without a word, he untangled the tangled colored strings of the wind chime on the windowsill, picked up the brush holder on the desk, and picked up her brushes one by one, carefully cleaning them.
The fine sheep's hair brushes needed to have their moisture wrung out, the wolf's hair brushes needed to be hung on the side, her favorite was the jade one, which needed to be hung in a place where she could easily reach it.
The paperweight was thrown into the wastebasket, he picked it up, pressed it into the corner of the paper, and replaced the lid on the teacup.
After everything was packed neatly, Li Wenjian looked up at the hourglass. It was not yet time to lock the gates.
Today was the ninety-eighth day since he left the capital.
What was Zhaoheng doing now?
The young woman were fond of playing and had finally escaped the control of their elders. Perhaps they were still playing cards or backgammon together at this moment...
Why hadn't Ah Heng told him about this Chen Ke?
Her letters never mentioned this person, nor did she tell him that she was going out all night to attend his birthday banquet.
Was this person more important to her than he was?
Li Wenzhao couldn't think about this question rationally.
Ah Heng, whom he had raised himself, had gone out overnight without telling him to celebrate the birthday of another man?
And then there was Chen Ke. He had just come out of the Taoist temple and met a girl like Ah Heng. In what kind of emotional state was he frequently approaching her?
Or could it be that he had deliberately lured Ah Heng into staying out all night?
Li Wenzhao couldn't think anymore. He couldn't imagine such a scene in his mind. The mere thought of someone plotting against her made him fall painfully into a rattan chair.
He closed his eyes, his temples throbbing as if something was gripping his heart.
After a long silence, he ordered Mu Gui to prepare the horses.
He galloped out of the palace.
*
The night wind blew softly.
Zhao Heng emerged from the Wei Residence, wrapped in a thick cloak. She hurried towards the carriage parked outside, and before she could reach it, the curtain was lifted.
Chen Ke smiled, "Has she fallen asleep?"
"She has," Zhao Heng smiled back at her, helping her maid onto the carriage. She apologized to Chen Ke, "I'm sorry for interrupting your birthday banquet."
Today, Chen Ke turned eighteen and hosted a feast for his friends at Que Mountain. Zhao Hong and Wei Wanyu went together, and the wine at the table was a fruity wine brought by Chen Ke from the Daoist temple, not strong but sweet and pleasant. Wei Wanyu indulged and drank from a small jar.
As the night went on and they played a board game, Wei Wanyu became tipsy, singing, dancing, crying, and causing a scene. She kept changing her mind, wanting to go home to sleep one moment and then feeling hot and wanting to jump in a pond the next.
It frightened everyone.
Zhao Heng had to quickly send her back to the residence. When the two girls returned from Que Mountain, Chen Ke couldn't rest assured. He immediately arranged for a group of friends to escort them back to the capital.
"You coming to my birthday means everything to me," the young man said to her.
"I always enjoy being where the action is. Where there's fun, you'll find me," Zhao Heng explained. "I've attended parties for Xiao Silang, Li Sanlang, and the Du family's Miss."
Chen Ke said, "You're different from other noble ladies, Ah Heng."
Surprised, Zhao Heng asked, "Oh?"
"When I first arrived in the capital, everyone thought I came from the wilderness and looked down on me," Chen Ke said. "They took pleasure in mocking me, but you were the first to step in and defend me..."
"I knew you were different the moment I saw you. Your eyes are beautiful, revealing all emotions, like stars in the sky. You live so freelyâlaughing when happy, crying when sad," the young man said with a touch of red on his face due to excitement and nervousness. "I really enjoy playing with you."
"I enjoy playing with you too," Zhao Heng laughed. "You're the best storyteller in the capital."
After a moment of silence, the young man nervously asked, "What about... besides that?"
Zhao Heng was taken aback, not sure how to answer that question. As Chen Ke warned her to be careful, she grabbed onto the carriage wall, but suddenly a horse galloped towards them, startling the horse. The coachman hastily pulled the reins, bringing the carriage to a stop.
The snowfall was heavy that night. Zhao Heng angrily raised the curtain and peeked out, only to see a familiar face reflected in the snow, surprising and delighting her.
Unable to hold back, she called out, "Brother Shulang."
The man was dismounting his horse in heavy snow, the light from the carriage roof pouring over him, revealing his dignified and gentle face. The straight and crisp round-necked robe wrapped around his slender body.
Chen Ke noticed his majestic and elegant demeanor.
At this moment, he did not yet know that the person before him was the heir to the throne, but just from his bearing, he left him speechless and his mind blank.
Some people in this world don't need to wield swords or impose authority; their mere presence can make others feel small and willingly bow down.
The person before them was such a figure, prompting Chen Ke to instinctively bow in respect.
Li Wenjian elegantly extended his hand, gentle and amiable, just as he appeared to courtiers. He kindly said, "You must be the heir of the Marquis of Dongyang, Chen Ke, right? I've heard much about you and finally meet you in person."
Chen Ke felt a sense of inferiority and awe, like looking up at a mountain from the foot of a green hill. Surprised by Li Wenjian's kind words, he reached out to shake his hand, but hesitated, feeling the firm yet gentle grip of an adult man, a stark contrast to his own frail and youthful hands.
"Have you heard of me before?" Chen Ke asked in surprise. "Forgive my ignorance, but where have you acquired such high regard?"
Li Wenjian looked at him for a moment, then smiled lightly and said casually, "Your father, the Marquis of Dongyang, has praised you many times to me, saying that though you may be physically weak, your intellect is abundant, and you write excellent articles."
The young man couldn't help but feel flattered by the praise. He modestly replied, downplaying his achievements, but he couldn't contain the smile that tugged at his lips.
Observing Li Wenjian, Zhao Heng was perplexed, "Brother Shulang, when did you hear about Chen Ke?"
Li Wenjian maintained his smile, "Forgot? You mentioned it back in early spring at the Yanzi Pavilion, saying there was a person in Guanghua Palace who was always bullied. You even told me that if given the opportunity, you'd teach those bullies a lesson."
It seemed like a familiar story.
Recalling the conversation, Zhao Heng remembered mentioning it to Li Wenjian in the early months. However, he had been busy back then, often dismissing her words, maybe offering only superficial replies, leading her to forget about the incident entirely.
Chen Ke hurriedly explained, "I had just returned to the capital at that time and was unfamiliar..."
Li Wenjian interrupted him gently, "The children in Guanghua Hall are still young, mostly immature in judgment, prone to mischief, and they may have offended you. I'll talk to Li Xuezheng and ensure a stricter discipline."
"You're thoughtful, but it's been a long time ago, and I didn't take it to heart," Chen Ke said.
"I know you're a good kid," Li Wenjian praised him, looking approvingly at Chen Ke. He said, "You overlook their faults, showing a broad-mindedness. No wonder Ah Heng is willing to be friends with you, and I believe she recognizes your character. With a friend like you, I can rest assured."
Emphasizing the words "friend" and "companion," he subtly reminded Chen Ke of his position.
Momentarily taken aback, Chen Ke glanced at Zhao Heng and softly said, "Thank you."
With the pleasantries exchanged, Li Wenjian finally turned to the long-lost Zhao Heng.
"It's so cold, why didn't you bring a hand warmer?" Li Wenjian lowered his head, his gaze landing on her snow-reddened hand.
"I forgot," Zhao Heng replied.
"And why didn't you bring Ying Que when leaving the palace?" Li Wenjian asked. "Seeing the letter you left under the pillow nearly drove her crazy."
"I did come back, didn't I?" Zhao Hong snorted, feeling slighted. "Besides, whether I bring her along or not is none of your business."
Li Wenjian was about to brush off the snow accumulated on her hat when he heard her words and looked up in surprise, "What?"
"Nothing," Zhao Hong knew she shouldn't be acting petulant, but she couldn't help it now. "If you didn't want to return to the capital, why did you come back?"
Li Wenjian fell silent for a moment, letting out a sigh. "Still upset? It was wrong of me to break our appointment; I apologize. I brought you many gifts to make amends."
"Your apology won't change anything," Zhao Heng said, feeling wronged. She had planned to accompany him south so he wouldn't miss her Coming-of-Age ceremony, but he had vowed to return in time. "I can't turn backe the Coming-of-Age ceremony again."
"It's all my fault, I didn't think things through properly," Li Wenjian lowered his eyes, gazing quietly at her flushed eyes under the lamplight, looking very aggrieved. The pleasant surprise from earlier in the carriage probably hadn't fully sunk in yet.
He rubbed her hair gently, his voice soft, "It's cold outside, shall we go back first, okay?"
Zhao Heng tugged at the fox fur on her cloak.
It was strange, just moments ago, even when Wei Wanyu stuffed a snowball down her neck, she didn't feel cold. But now, seeing Li Wenjian, she felt unbearable cold, wanting to immediately warm up by the fire.
But she didn't want to obey everything Li Wenjian said. Why should she have to listen to him obediently all the time?
Especially when he could break his promises to her without consequence.
Chen Ke turned to Zhao Heng, puzzled. Ah Heng had always been rational and calm in their presence, always smiling. Why was she acting petulant now?
He noticed the tip of Zhao Heng's nose turning scarlet from the snow wind, and the snowflakes glistening on her dark lashes.
After a moment's hesitation, he spoke up, "You've just recovered from a fever, perhaps it's best not to stay out in the snow and wind too long."
Zhao Heng remained silent. She didn't want to quarrel with Li Wenjian in front of others.
"Considering the time, the palace gate must have been locked already. Do you have somewhere else to go?" He asked.
"I have a private estate in the east," Li Wenjian replied.
"That's good," Chen Ke said earnestly. "The snowstorm is severe, let me escort you both there."
"It's too late, I'm sorry to trouble you," Li Wenjian paused.
"Not a bother at all," Chen Ke explained. "Ah Heng is my guest today, it's only right for me to see her safely back."
Li Wenjian politely responded, "Thank you for your help, Chen Ke. But my guards will be here shortlyâ"
"I'm not waiting, I can't bear the cold," Zhao Heng insisted stubbornly. "Qiu Bai, please take me to the estate."
Chen Ke hesitated, then offered a sincere suggestion, "If your carriage is nearby, you can seek shelter from the snow and wind in my carriage for a while. My charcoal fire is running low, and you might be cold later."
"I'm not afraid," Zhao Heng mumbled. "I don't want to wait anymore, who knows how long we'll have to wait? What if we wait and nothing happens? I'm a bit tired today and just want to go back and rest early."
"Alright," Li Wenjian no longer insisted.
Chen Ke and Zhao Heng boarded the carriage together, and after a momentâs hesitation, Li Wenjian handed the reins to his attendant and pulled down the felt curtain to join them inside.