Chapter 28.2
On a summer afternoon, cicadas chirped incessantly on the willow branches. A stone pavilion stood tall amidst lush greenery, with luxuriant tree branches and leaves, making it the most prosperous season of the year.
On the stone table in the pavilion lay paper and brushes.
The calligraphy paper was spread out, the brush was soaked in ink, placed on the brush rest, and the ink on the brush tip formed a thick droplet.
It was about to fall.
Next to it was a waist-high stone platform, holding a basin of fragrant snow orchids. Beside it was a square Ba Bao incense burner, the fragrance drifting in the air mingling with the scent of the snow orchids, creating a unique flavor.
And in the next moment, the snow-white calligraphy paper and high-grade inkstone were angrily swept off, falling to the ground.
The jet-black ink splattered everywhere, meandering like a river, staining the Han Baiyu floorboards a shocking black.
The angry person was still not satisfied, turning around and sweeping off the incense burner from the stone platform.
With a few clangs.
The furnace lid rolled down, making a crisp sound like jade beads hitting a silver plate. The incense ash in the censer seeped into the ink, forming into chunks.
Li Wenjian sat opposite the emperor, watching his anger flare up, and said helplessly, "Father, calm down. I have finally recovered, don't let it spoil your mood."
The emperor's normally calm voice turned icy cold, like a block of ice emanating a chilling air from the ground.
The emperor made an effort to control his emotions, "They killed my sister, brother-in-law, uncle, and grandmother. Now they want to kill my son!"
He squeezed out his words with anger, "They are truly pushing it too far."
Li Wenjian spoke slowly, "Thanks to Jian Ning this time. He recognized that the person was not sent by us and blocked the fatal arrow meant for me."
The emperor also broke out in a cold sweat upon hearing this. Li Wenjian was his most outstanding son, their eldest son, whom he had placed his love and expectations as a king on.
The remnants of the previous dynasty were stirring up under the guise of seeking justice, causing unrest and attempting to shake the people's loyalty.
It had been seven or eight years since the tyrant emperor had passed away, yet his name was still used as a cover for all kinds of mischief.
To quell the unrest in the court, Li Wenjian made a bold decision this time. He arranged for an assassination attempt on the way to the imperial tomb during the spring sacrifice journey, using the name of the tyrant emperor.
The plan was foolproof, but they didn't expect a real assassin to sneak in among the arranged attackers, targeting his life.
These assassins were all prepared to die, with poison hidden in their teeth. After the plan failed, they all chose to take the poison and died, leaving no one alive.
Both their martial arts skills and methods were similar to the dead soldiers raised by the tyrant emperor.
A real demon mingling among the fake demons, with remnants of the previous dynasty still lurking in the shadows, always ready to plot mischief.
Li Wenjian asked, "When the tyrant emperor committed suicide and set fire to the palace, did anyone escape? I suspect that the tyrant emperor's descendants may still be alive."
When the emperor resided in Yanju Palace, he often wore a pale yellow robe.
This color may look bulky on ordinary people, but on him, it exuded an undeniable sense of nobility. However, at this moment, the noble air was mixed with a hint of coldness.
The emperor's sleeve was smeared with ink. He raised his finger and gently brushed it. The ink dispersed, spreading even further.
"The bodies of the tyranny emperor and his seventy-one descendants were all found in Yuhang Palace, without any omissions," the emperor said. "Ming Guang personally inspected and confirmed it."
"Moreover, if the tyrant emperor truly had descendants missing, the people in Wan'an Village would not remain so peaceful."
Wan'an Village housed the imperial family of the former dynasty.
After the fall of the previous dynasty, the emperor did not completely eradicate the remnants of the old regime. He hadn't even considered executing the tyrant emperor and his descendants.
However, for the sake of so-called dignity, the tyrant emperor committed suicide and set fire to Yuhang Palace, burning all his descendants alive. His cruelty was evident.
"Let's forget about it. There's no use dwelling on it. We are in the light, they are in the dark," Li Wenjian sighed. "Let's deal with the fake remnants first."
"What do you plan to do?" the emperor asked.
Li Wenjian said, "According to the plan, we will bestow him the title of Marquis Yan'en."
"In what capacity?" asked the emperor.
"As the orphan of Prince Wuyou."
All the imperial family members of the former dynasty were gathered in Wan'an Village, and the descendants of the tyrant emperor were burned to death by himself.
The legitimate bloodline of the former dynasty had a controversial figure - the orphan of Prince Wuyou. Prince Wuyou had two princes consorts; the first one was deposed by Prince Wuyou due to her cruelty and jealousy.
When she left the palace while pregnant, it was rumored that they brought the child back to the palace after birth.
However, there was no record of this child in the royal family records, but there were frequent mentions of the child in the daily records of the former emperor. According to the records, this child was intelligent and clever, pleasing both the tyrant emperor and Prince Wuyou.
If this child truly existed, he would be around twenty years old by now.
However, his existence remained a mystery, and it was unclear whether he was real or not.
Various dark forces were causing trouble using his name. Why couldn't they?
The orphan of Prince Wuyou attempted to assassinate Li Wenjian but was captured. The court showed mercy, granted him amnesty, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis Yan'en.
With the court's reward, the false became the truth.
In the future, if any rebel forces dared to cause trouble in his name, the court would not hesitate to eliminate them, without worrying about public backlash.
His blood was not shed in vain.
His suffering was not in vain.
*
After Li Wenjian recovered, Zhao Heng moved back to Changqiu Palace from Chengming Hall.
Unexpectedly, she had a restless night and kept having nightmares. The next day, she woke up with a severe headache, feeling groggy and lacking energy.
She thought the incense in the prince's palace must have had a calming effect, allowing her to sleep soundly.
She planned to inquire about the type of incense used by the prince later.
While sitting in front of the mirror, drawing her eyebrows, she couldn't help but yawn. She thought to herself as she yawned.
After having breakfast, she went to Chengming Hall.
She happened to meet Li Wenjian and Liang Xingyan coming out from inside.
Liang Xingyan recognized Zhao Heng at a glance, stopped in his tracks, and said to Li Wenjian with a smile, "I suddenly remembered that my fan was left on the tea table. I'll go back to retrieve it. Your Highness, please go ahead."
With that, he turned back.
Li Wenjian seemed surprised that she had come to Chengming Hall so early and asked, "What's the matter?"
Zhao Heng stood in the morning light, looking up at him slightly, "I wanted to ask Your Highness what kind of incense you use in the palace. I wanted Lin Mama to help me prepare some."
She had trouble sleeping last night and had faint dark circles under her eyes due to her fair complexion. Li Wenjian raised his hand, pressed it against her under-eye area, his Adam's apple bobbing, his voice deep, "Just one night away, and you're already this dark."
Zhao Heng found his words strange, and his touch on her under-eye area made it itch, igniting an inexplicable sensation in her heart.
She lowered her head and said, "I haven't been sleeping well for a long time, but I slept soundly in your palace. I think it must be the incense's effect."
"Yes, my incense is specially prepared by someone," Li Wenjian said. "It has a calming effect."
"Who prepared it? I'd like to ask them to prepare some for me too." Zhao Heng asked gently.
The sound of Liang Xingyan's footsteps returning could be heard behind them.
"He is currently not in the capital," Li Wenjian let go of her hand and said, "I will have Fei Yu send some to Changqiu Palace later. You should go back for now."
Zhao Heng smiled and nodded in gratitude before turning to leave.
Her lake-blue skirt swayed like gentle waves.
It was only after watching her disappear beyond the palace walls that Liang Xingyan walked up to Li Wenjian and asked, "Why wasn't I aware of any sleep-inducing components in the incense I prepared for Your Highness?"
Li Wenjian glanced at him, "You know now?"
Liang Xingyan lowered his voice with a hint of teasing, "Yes, I know now."
Ignoring the playful tone, Li Wenjian walked towards the palace gates.
Liang Xingyan smiled and followed him as they left.
In the afternoon, something happened in the palace.
Zhao Heng woke up from a nap, and Lian Zhou told her that the Sixth Prince Li Chengxuan had gone missing.
"Missing?" Zhao Heng move put down her cool blanket and at Lian Zhou in surprise.
"Yes!" Lian Zhou nodded vigorously, "He disappeared on the way back from the Imperial College. One of the palace attendants had stomach issues and went to use the restroom. When they returned, the Sixth Prince was gone. Everyone in the palace is currently searching high and low. They say Concubine An, the prince's mother, has fainted several times from crying."
Zhao Heng put on her shoes and decided to go to the Yongning Palace where Concubine An resided.
After all, when the prince was injured, Concubine An was the first to rush to visit him.
She took Lian Zhou with her and halfway there, they heard that the prince had been found. It turned out he had woken up early for school, felt too tired, and had found a secluded place to nap during a break.
Zhao Heng breathed a sigh of relief.
Lian Zhou found it unbelievable, "Is studying so exhausting? To be able to sleep for two or three hours undisturbed by the commotion of the palace."
Zhao Heng explained, "It's a relief that he's been found. Children love to sleep, and it's normal for them to sleep deeply and not hear anything."
In the evening, Fei Yu delivered the incense.
Zhao Heng lit a stick of incense before bedtime, inhaling the familiar scent as she drifted off to sleep.
However, surreal dreams continued to haunt her, causing her to mumble in her sleep with furrowed brows.
Late at night, Li Wenjian's sturdy figure appeared silently outside Zhao Heng's room.
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The author's note: Li Dog: My wife can't go a day without me! (Proudly stands with hands on hips)