Chapter 29.2
In the evening, Li Wenjian appeared in Zhao Heng's room on time.
She was curling up shivering in her sleep.
He quickly pressed an acupoint to help her fall asleep.
As he was about to leave, his gaze fell on a red object under her pillow.
A red agate bell intertwined with her fair fingertips.
Her fingertips like snow, the agate like plum.
Delicate and beautiful.
He recognized it as something belonging to Ning Wanzhi, the one she used to wear on her head, he used to find it tacky.
Although Li Wenjian didn't judge beauty, he thought Zhao Heng made the bright red color look ethereal.
- In a few days, the Qixi Festival will be here.
Which young girl doesn't love beauty?
If she were to dress up, what would she look like?
The next morning, when Zhao Heng woke up, she heard a lot of movement outside. Calling for Lian Zhou, she found out that Li Wenjian had sent many things to her, and Lin Mama was currently counting them.
"What things?" Zhao Heng's voice was lazy as she slowly got up, her dark hair draped loosely, her snow-white nightgown slipping slightly to one side, revealing a large expanse of snow-white collarbones.
Lian Zhou was shocked, "So many things! Everything is here!"
Zhao Heng walked into the outer room and saw the flower hall filled to the brim with jewelry, fabrics, and silk... the list was endless.
"A courtier requests an audience with Lady Zhaoxun." A palace maid came into the flower hall to report.
Zhao Heng instructed the person to be brought in. Several palace maids from the tailoring department entered in succession, led by a senior maid who greeted Zhao Heng with a smile, "When the new clothes were being tailored, the master had not yet entered the palace. His Highness ordered the maidservants to take measurements for the summer outfits."
Zhao Heng spread her arms and allowed the palace maids to measure her, her gaze passing over their shoulders, looking at the dazzling jewelry in the flower hall, casting a radiant glow.
This person, truly!
She chuckled.
After the measurements were taken, the palace maids from the tailoring department left, while the palace staff continued to move things around. Finding the noise disturbing as she read inside, Zhao Heng decided to visit the imperial physician to inquire about how Li Wenjian's injuries were to be treated.
Physician Zheng gave detailed instructions on various treatment procedures.
Zhao Heng mentioned that she had been having trouble sleeping lately, only being able to fall asleep with the help of calming incense. Physician Zheng then took her pulse and diagnosed her with mental fatigue caused by spleen and stomach weakness, prescribing her tonifying medicines.
The weather in April was pleasant, warm but not too hot.
Exiting the medical clinic, they went to the Spring Garden. Zhao Heng wanted to pick some flowers to make flower garlands for Ning Wanzhi and Li Nanxi.
Young girls always love bright and colorful things.
In the Spring Garden, flowers were blooming in full force, creating a lively scene.
Borrowing a basket and flower scissors from the flower house, Zhao Heng walked deep into the garden to pick flowers. Soon, the small basket was filled with lilacs, peonies, and smilesâ¦
Feeling tired, sweat dripped down her forehead. She sat with Lian Zhou at a stone table, fanning herself with a handkerchief.
They would return when they had rested and cooled down.
"In a little while, the locust flowers will bloom, and we can come back to pick some to make locust flower honey." Zhao Heng wiped her sweat and told Lian Zhou.
However, Lian Zhou's expression turned grim, furrowing her brows and holding her stomach.
"What's wrong? Lian Zhou?" Zhaoxing asked in confusion.
Rubbing her stomach, Lian Zhou replied with a mournful face, "I ate too many cherries this morning, my stomach has been rumbling, and I can feel the water sloshing around as I walk."
Zhao Heng chuckled, poked her forehead, and teased, "You're being greedy, now your stomach's upset. Let's go back quickly."
Before Lian Zhou could respond, her face suddenly changed color, "Ah! It's not good, Mistressâ¦"
"Wait for me here for a while, I'll be back soon." She spoke quickly, holding her stomach, and ran towards the direction of the garden's clean room.
Zhao Heng shook her head with a smile, turned around, and took out the prescription Zheng had given her, slowly reading it. These days of effort had not been in vain, she had already learned many charactersâ¦
When she was in the village, she was the herbalist's assistant, and he taught her about herbs but not how to read...
This had always been a regret for her.
As footsteps approached from behind, Zhao Heng's gaze remained on the paper, casually asking, "You're back so soon?"
"Zhaoxun," the man's voice was almost fawning.
Zhao Heng was surprised and turned around abruptly to see a man in ethnic clothing, his features were smooth, with prominent eyebrows and a sharp nose, giving him an exotic beauty.
But his eyes were unclean, causing Zhao Heng to be on guard. She stood up from the stone table, moving a few steps to the side to create distance, and coldly asked, "Who are you?"
Ruo Zhen stepped forward, his beautiful and profound gaze scanning Zhaoxing from head to toe, his intense and scorching eyes making her uncomfortable.
"Zhaoxun, don't be afraid. I am Ruo Zhen, the Prince of the Yuezhi. I just saw you outside the peach forest and felt a connection, so I wanted to... be friends with you."
The Prince of the Yuezhi?
The man who was engaged to Wei Wanyu?
Spring Garden was secluded, with no one around. Zhao Heng steadied her mind, her voice deep as she asked, "If it's our first meeting, how do you know my identity?"
Ruo Zhen laughed loudly, "Word has been spreading inside and outside the palace. The crown prince has bestowed the title of Zhaoxun upon a woman with unparalleled beauty. I thought it was an exaggeration until just now... through the thickets of flowers, I saw you walking through the flower sea, more beautiful than the flowers themselves, like a heavenly goddess. I then knew the rumors were not false... your crown prince is truly fortunate..."
As he spoke, his voice deliberately elongated, his deep voice carrying a hint of ambiguity. His direct gaze made Zhao Heng queasy, but she had to endure the discomfort and calmly replied, "You are exaggerating. My appearance can't compare to Wei Wanyu's. If you have no urgent matters, I will take my leave."
"She is not worthy of being compared to you."
A woman's gentle voice sounded, causing Ruo Zhen to go weak, smiling as he said, "Zhao Heng, don't be afraid. I just want to speak with you, no need to rush off."
Maintaining a calm demeanor, Zhao Heng asked, "What do you wish to speak to me about?"
Ruo Zhen couldn't help but take a step forward, lowering his voice, "I wanted to tell you that your crown prince is busy with official duties. If you ever feel bored and wish for company, you can always find me... I reside in the capital, a man of leisure... always available. I am more valiant and heroic than your prince, I will not disappoint you."
His words were extremely suggestive, making Zhao Heng feel nauseated.
After speaking, Ruo Zhen turned and left, occasionally looking back from afar. She was truly beautiful, he couldn't forget her since that glimpse by the lake, dreaming of her every night.
Wei Wanyu had warned him not to act recklessly, as she belonged to the crown prince. But Aril was undeterred, believing that this prince from the Dongli might appear frail but had deep intentions and prioritized the bigger picture.
Since the bigger picture mattered, he wouldn't fret over a woman like her. After all, they didn't care about such things on the grasslands, and people in the Central Plains shouldn't either.
Feeling weak, Zhao Heng sat back in her chair, sweat forming on her back, staring blankly at the prescription on the table.
She rarely left the house, how did she attract Ruo Zhen's attention?
Wei Wanyu.
Could she be involved in this?
Should she tell the prince about this?
How would he view her?
She was torn.
The sound of footsteps interrupted Zhao Heng's thoughts. The incident at the Qingliang Palace had left Lian Zhou with lingering fear, causing her to almost run back.
Gasping for breath, she reached Zhao Heng, saying, "Master, I'm back."
When Zhao Heng looked up, her eyes were calm as a tranquil lake. "Let's go."
In the evening, the sunset hung on the horizon, setting the sky ablaze.
Zhao Heng inquired about Wei Wanyu from Lin Mama.
As the wet nurse of the prince, Lin Mama knew everything about him and shared every detail about Wei Zhan with Zhaoxing.
Zhao Heng remarked, "So that's why I always heard about the prince and Miss Wei being childhood sweethearts with a deep affection. I was always curious..."
If their affection was deep, why hadn't they married after so many years?
Lin Mama shook her head, "The prince and General Wei were close friends. After the general's death, he mourned for a long time before moving on. Miss Wei is the general's biological sister, and the prince treated her as his own sister. But, to speak frankly, Miss Wei was spoiled and extreme in her actions, leading to the current situation."
Feeling unsettled, Zhao Heng furrowed her brows and asked, "Will the prince really stand by and watch Miss Wei marry into the Yuezhi?"
"He can't bear it but has no choice. The crown prince has grand ambitions and wonât vacillate for her sake."
Someone who treated her like a sister from childhood meant nothing compared to his grand ambitions. She couldn't even be compared to Wei Wanyu.
It was better to avoid Ruo Zhen in the future to avoid unnecessary complications.
That night, Zhao Heng finished her grooming early and sat by the window writing.
She completed her writing late into the night, gazing at the moonlight outside the window.
The book "Shan Weng Yun" she had borrowed was still on the desk, easily visible.
She picked up the book, gently running her fingers over the cover before placing it back down soundlessly.
Lian Zhou came over with a bowl of silver ear soup and suddenly saw the prince standing handsomely in the corner of the dimly lit room. Startled, she peered closer, realizing it was the crown prince standing there without prior announcement.
Why didn't he announce his arrival?
About to speak, Li Wenjian turned around, raising his hand to indicate she need not bow.
His gaze fell on the brightly lit room not far away where Zhao Heng's shadow flickered before the window. He asked Lian Zhou, "Why is she still awake?"
Surprised, Lian Zhou followed his gaze towards Zhao Heng and replied, "In the afternoon, Miss Ning and Eight Princess came to play with her, so she didn't finish her writing and is still at it."
She had principles â she set tasks for herself and stayed up to finish them.
"Oh." Li Wenjian nodded, his expression seemingly a little displeased.
What did that "Oh" mean?
Lian Zhou blinked and said, "I'll go inform her."
"No need." Li Wenjian's gaze returned, turning to leave. "Don't tell anyone I was here."
Watching his silhouette fade into the darkness, Lian Zhou felt puzzled. Why did the prince wait until Zhao Heng was asleep to come?
She sniffed the air, catching a whiff of strong alcohol.
It turns out that His Highness is drunk.
The next day, a gust of wind blew through the window, causing a "clatter" sound that woke Zhao Heng.
She rose leisurely, turning her head towards the window.
The window had blown open, signaling imminent rain as dark clouds loomed in the sky. Worried about the rain wetting her writing supplies, she got out of bed, donned her shoes, and walked to the window. Closing it shut against the dark clouds outside.
As she turned back, she caught a faint aroma of alcohol in the air, leaving her puzzled.
Lin Mama entered with a cheerful smile, informing Zhao Heng, "Fei Yu came to convey the crown prince's message. He wants you to have dinner and then go to the Chengming Hall every evening to study and practice calligraphy. He will personally oversee your studies."
Zhao Heng was truly surprised.
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The author's note:
Li Xiaogou: Darling, fall in love with me quickly. I want to cuddle and lull you to sleep.
Li Xiaogou: So annoyed, came back after socializing, wanted to help my wife sleep early, but she decided to work overtime on her assignments!