Chapter 66
Marquis Xie had the guards who were at the residence the previous day bound and kneel outside the Ning residence overnight. Ning Wanzhi, still furious from the humiliation she endured at the Marquis's residence, refused to let him in and left him standing outside, humiliating him in return.
However, all kinds of rumors were spreading throughout the capital. Some said that Ning Wanzhi was engaged to Xiao Silang of the An family and was humiliated at the Xie residence, hence Marquis Xie's current humble pleading.
Others even went as far as to suggest that Ning Wanzhi had an affair with the guards from the Xie residence, leading to Marquis Xie caught them in an adulterous act on the day of his daughter's wedding, causing her great shame and embarrassment, even driving her to consider suicide by jumping into a lake...
The rumors escalated, becoming more absurd, but there was no way to clarify such scandalous gossip, so they could only be ignored.
"She is fine," Li Wenjian frowned, looking at An Xuzhi and said, "But her reputation in the capital has been tarnished."
Ning Wanzhi had grown up in Meizhou and was influenced by its local customs. Moreover, General Ning was never reliable, raising his daughter as if she were a son, lacking the grace and tact of a noble lady in the capital, making her stand out among the noble ladies of the capital.
"I understand," An Xuzhi replied absentmindedly, his gaze flickering from Zhao Heng sitting beside him, his right hand clenched into a fist under the covers.
Some things should not be dwelled upon, and some things should not be pretended to be ignorant of.
"Your Highness,â An Xuzhi suddenly remembered something and faced Li Wenjian, âYesterday at the Xie residence, someone helped us."
For some reason, Li Wenjian blurted out, "Taller than me, wearing a deep blue embroidered robe, wielding a jade sword."
"How did you know?" An Xuzhi asked in surprise, looking at Li Wenjian.
"He is one of Marquis Xie's guards," Li Wenjian explained, "At the banquet yesterday, he kept stealthily glancing at me."
An Xuzhi relaxed his brows, then quickly averted his gaze, "Yesterday, Fei Yu led me astray at the Xie residence, and from afar, I saw him. He gestured for us to retreat. We hid behind a wall, then a group of men came out of the Moon Gate. If it weren't for his warning, we would have run into that group of guards."
Still, he was puzzled, "Since he is one of Marquis Xie's guards, why would he help us?"
Li Wenjian was equally perplexed.
*
As dusk approached, Zhao Heng and Li Wenjian emerged from the secluded courtyard.
The rich golden sunset bathed the land, with the sky tinged with purple and gold at the horizon, and pedestrians hurriedly making their way home.
As the carriage passed by Rongji Pastry Shop, Zhao Heng caught a whiff of the familiar fragrance of chestnut pastries. She lifted the corner of the curtain with her finger to peek outside, seeing a long line outside Rongji, waiting to buy freshly baked chestnut pastries.
On the other hand, Li Wenjian was still pondering about the Xie residence. The scent caught his attention too, and he looked over to see Zhao Heng eagerly looking at the entrance of Rongji.
"Fei Yu," Li Wenjian raised the curtain and instructed, "Buy some chestnut pastries."
Fei Yu acknowledged and turned the horse towards Rongji.
"I'm not hungry, there's no need for him to go out of his way," Zhao Heng said.
Li Wenjian chuckled lightly, his eyes softening with an indescribable tenderness, "It's okay. Save them for tomorrow when you can have them with Xiao Ba at the Pearl Mirror Palace."
Zhao Heng stared at his fair as porcelain profile, then suddenly noticed his furrowed brows as he gazed out of the window.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
"Strong-winged bird,â Li Wenjian whispered softly.
Zhao Heng followed his gaze and indeed saw a fierce-looking bird with a silver beak and golden talons perched on a mast of a street side pastry stand. She blinked, then quirked a corner of her mouth, speaking softly as if to herself, "How come there's a strong-winged bird in the capital."
She had seen this bird in a book she read with His Highness before. It was said that they mostly lived in high mountain forests and had exceptional tracking abilities. However, they were stubborn creatures with a wild temperament that made them nearly impossible to domesticate.
"I don't know," Li Wenjian's tone was uncertain, "The appearance of this creature in the capital, I wonder whom it has come for."
As the curtain fell, he poured a bowl of tea and handed it to her.
Zhao Heng took the tea as she withdrew her gaze, reaching out to receive it, only to suddenly notice his sleeve. She furrowed her brows slightly, "Your wound has reopened."
Li Wenjian lowered his head to glance and indeed saw some bright fresh blood staining his sleeve.
Zhao Heng untied the cuff of his narrow sleeve, where the wound from the blood extraction that morning had started bleeding again, soaking the bandage through and dyeing a large patch red.
"Your Highness..." Zhao Heng opened her mouth but couldn't say anything. He had to endure this pain to save his family, and she couldn't dissuade him from saving them or alleviate his pain. Any words of comfort would only seem futile.
He lowered his head to look at Zhao Heng, his voice softened, with a hint of consolation, "It's nothing, not painful."
How could it not be painful?
The scars on her arm still faintly ached to this day.
From her waist pouch, Zhao Heng took out a small porcelain bottle, her eyes downcast as she used a tiny silver spoon to apply some yellow powder, then approached him, gently applying it to his arm.
His skin was very fair, and the areas grazed by the blade looked even redder.
"Lately, His Majesty's spirits have improved a lot. When he gets better, you won't have to endure this pain," Zhao Heng said as she applied the medicine.
The golden powder quickly turned red with blood, forcing her to dig out more powder with a bamboo stick, her hands trembling slightly, some of the powder spilling onto her skirt.
"That's enough, Ah Heng," Li Wenjian took hold of her hand, speaking gently.
Zhao Heng looked up at him before saying, "I'll make sure to tell Physician Xu to wrap your wound with more layers of bandages to prevent it from seeping through so easily."
Sitting beside her, Li Wenjian reached towards the corner of her eye, "When the wounds were tended to, was someone there to apply the medicine and bandage them for you?"
As their fingers brushed, her eyelashes fluttered, her dark eyes meeting his, and after a moment, she realized what time he was referring to.
She shook her head, no.
In a place where everyone was too preoccupied to care for others' well-being, who would bother with another's life or death?
Zhao Heng pursed her lips, rewrapping the bandage herself, then forced a smile towards him, "I don't want anyone else to go through the pain I've experienced, especially not you."
The warmth of a smile gradually appearing on Li Wenjian's jade-like face, he gazed at her intently, holding her face in his hands and lightly kissing her lips, "Your heart is very tender."
"Master," Fei Yu called through the window, "the chestnut pastry has been bought."
Zhao Heng withdrew her hand from his grasp, bit her lip, and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, the tips of her ears slightly reddening. His warmth still lingered on her cheeks where his hand had been.
Li Wenjian casually smoothed out his clothes, extending his slender fingers to pull back the carriage curtain, his gaze fixed straight ahead.
Fei Yu, draped in a cloak, held the oil paper bundle under Li Wenjian's eyes, a bright smile on his face, "It's still warm, Your Highness, taste it while it's hot."
Li Wenjian expressionlessly took the oil paper bundle, and without a hint of attachment, lowered the curtain with a flick of his fingers, blocking Fei Yu's overly radiant face outside.
Fei Yu scratched his head, feeling a tightness in his chest. He wondered if it was his imagination, but recently, His Highness had been quite unfriendly towards him.
*
After returning to the palace, Li Wenjian first met with the Emperor and then returned to the East Palace for discussions.
Seated at the head of the table, Li Wenjian listened to the report from Jian Ning on the recent reforms in the Shenji Camp. About half of the officers in the Shenji Camp were inherited from the previous dynasty, and they were more united than the new officers from the current dynasty.
Those who understood the situation knew that this was the Crown Prince's effort to purge the remnants of the previous dynasty's influence from the court. Some willingly stepped aside, while others, unwilling to see their years of hard work go to waste, stirred up trouble in secret.
"Your Highness, news from Jiangdu reports that the wedding convoy from Jiangdu that the Yue tribe, en route to Yanchi, was ambushed in the city of Lecheng within Yanchi territory. The whereabouts of Wei's daughter, who was to marry into the Yue tribe, are currently unknown. General Chen suspects that it was likely a scheme by the Yanchi forces to covet the dowry meant for the marriage, leading to the ambush on the convoy." Liu Yi stood up, reporting with a serious tone.
His words sparked a flurry of discussions in the council chamber.
Since the Wei Chuan drove the Northern Di tribes into the depths of the Wusi grasslands five years ago, they hadn't shown themselves for a long time, prompting the incitement of Yanchi to provoke trouble in the Eastern borders.
Counting on the Northern Di tribes for support, Yanchi had caused many disturbances in the Northern territory in recent years, even intercepting a batch of food supplies this spring. Now, they had even raided the convoy of a royal marriage procession, trampling upon the dignity of the East.
Li Wenjian's hand rested on the arm of his chair, unconsciously rubbing his fingers as he asked, in a low voice, "Gentlemen, what do you think we should do?"
The council chamber was filled with fervor, as the East had long endured the harassment of the Northern barbarians.
In recent years, the Northern tribes had remained hidden in the Wusi grasslands, inciting Yanchi to cause trouble while secretly offering support in terms of supplies and troops.
"Declare war and push them back! The measly Yanchi is a bunch of cowards relying on their allies," one nobleman exclaimed.
"The old Khan of the Northern Di tribes recently suffered a stroke and may not have long to live. The eight major tribes are currently fighting for the throne and causing chaos. They are too preoccupied to deal with Yanchi, making it the perfect time to attack," another military general suggested.
"Damn it! We have all the advantages in our favor now. Even the goddamn Yanchi dares to show disrespect. Let's teach them a lesson," General Zheng slammed his chair as he stood up, filled with anger.
General Zheng Ji was a former blacksmith, rough around the edges from his background, with a tendency for coarse language compared to the civil officials. His cursing was straightforward and direct, starting with insults towards fathers and ending with curses towards mothers.
Liu Yi glanced at him but refrained from rebuking him for his rude speech. Instead, he rested his head on his hand for a moment before acknowledging, "General Zheng's words may be rough, but the meaning is solid."
Liu Yi and Zheng Ji often argued fiercely over their differing political views, but this time, the two surprisingly found common ground.
Everyone shared a deep hatred towards both Yanchi and the Northern Di tribes.
Li Wenjian immediately issued a military order to send troops from Jiangdu to attack Yanchi and retrieve the stolen convoy meant for the royal marriage.
His signed command was urgently dispatched to Jiangdu, spanning eight hundred miles.
Li Wenjian left the council chamber on the spot, and An Yuanqing hurriedly caught up with him.
"Has His Majesty's condition improved?" An Yuanqing asked, walking down the white jade steps next to Li Wenjian.
"It's getting better," Li Wenjian responded lightly.
"Considering his health, he may not be able to participate in the winter hunt this year," An Yuanqing remarked.
Since the first year of Xuanhe, the Emperor had led the courtiers on a winter hunt during early winter every year. Though not officially mandated, it had become a customary tradition.
Li Wenjian's expression was indifferent.
An Yuanqing sighed and added, "By the way, it's Grandfather's birthday this year. He asked me to inquire if Your Highness would like to come over for a gathering?"
The wind rustled Li Wenjian's hair as he turned to him, saying, "Yes, tell him that I'll come with Ah Heng."
An Yuanqing took a moment to recall who Ah Heng was.
Suddenly remembering that this lady was the one who had come to their house to care for their father's illness, leading to their acquaintance, he shot Li Wenjian a slightly strange look.
"Very well, Ah Weng will surely be delighted," An Yuanqing chuckled.
Before this lady had arrived, his father had constantly worried about His Highness unwed status at his age. It had been almost half a year since the lady had been ennobled, but they had yet to have any children.
Old folks always had endless worries.
He couldn't bear hearing his father fret about these matters every day. It was time for His Highness to bring the lady back to the house so his father could inquire at his own pace.
*
The grass on the horse training ground had turned yellow, with Zhao Heng riding on horseback, coughing from the dust kicked up.
"Didn't I tell you that it's torture to ride horses in this weather here?" Yueli heard her cough and put her index and thumb fingers in her mouth to whistle loudly. Hearing the whistle, the horse ignored Zhao Heng's reins, turning its head and galloping towards Yueli.
"It's being overly obedient," Zhao Heng grumbled as she dismounted from the horse, handing the reins back to Yueli.
Yueli patted the horse's back, removed its saddle, stroked its mane, fed it some hay, and then signaled for it to leave.
The horse trotted away.
Yueli fetched a ladle of water for Zhao Heng to wash her hands. She scrubbed them a few times, leaving large patches of red on her palms from the reins' pressure.
"Of course, every horse here listens to me," Yueli said, looking up at the sky.
Zhao Heng took a sip of hot tea, feeling the coarse sand blowing across her face, leaving it still flushed.
"Ah Li, you're truly amazing," Zhao Heng praised her with a smile.
Yue Li set down the ladle, facing the setting sun, and said, "According to tradition, the winter hunt should be happening in these next few days."
Her voice fell on Zhao Heng's ear, instantly reminding her of Concubine An's face. She tightly gripped the teacup, lowered her head, and said softly, "Hmm, it seems a bit later this year compared to previous years."
Yueli looked at her, her expression no longer as gentle as before, with a hint of sharpness in her eyes. Everyone has their sensitive spots, and Zhao Heng's sensitive spot was her beloved family member - Concubine An shouldn't not touched her.
"Have you made up your mind?" Yueli asked.
Zhao Heng replied, word by word, "She must die."
Her murderous intent had never been so intense, almost every time she met her, every breath was filled with a strong intent to kill.
"I am also prepared." Yueli patted her shoulder, with a smile in her eyes.
Perhaps catching a glimpse of a figure in shimmering gold outside the dusty fence, Yueli carried the hay into the stable. "Someone's here to pick you up, so I won't accompany you."
Zhao Heng followed her gaze outside the fence, where the silver ginkgo leaves shimmered in the sunset, and the figure in shimmering gold faintly appeared.
"I'm leaving, I'll come to see you again tomorrow." Zhao Heng hurriedly said goodbye to Yueli across the stable, afraid of keeping Li Wenjian waiting.
Yueli stood up straight, watching her rush through the dust, and couldn't help but shake her head and smile lightly.
In this cold and freezing palace, pure and beautiful affection was so moving.
"It's so dusty here, why did you come over?" A soft and gentle voice came from afar, causing Yueli to look outside again through the stable. The woman who was cold and full of killing intent a moment ago had already reached the edge of the fence, smiling at the person outside before stepping out.
She suddenly remembered many years ago when a young man came to the horse ranch, followed by several sneaky onlookers. Furious, he beat them up and chased them away. When he came in, she couldn't wait to go through the main door, and instead climbed over the fence to approach him, taking out a newly bloomed begonia flower from her pocket.
"The first begonia blooming in the Imperial Garden this year, for you."
Li Wenjian had been there for a while. Seeing her riding fast, kicking up dust that made her eyes slightly closed, she charged forward in the wind and sand.
With a soft call from Zhao Heng, his rigid face lit up with vitality.
"I came to pick you up on my way back after seeing the Emperor." Li Wenjian reached out his hand to her.
Zhao Heng had just been riding, covered in dust and sweat, feeling sticky and uncomfortable. She raised her eyes to look at him, and he was wearing a golden brocade robe, clean and spotless, like a fairy under the moonlight.
Feeling embarrassed to shake hands with him, she whispered, "Dirty, covered in dust."
Before she could finish speaking, Li Wenjian hugged her waist and pulled her into his arms.
Her dusty body rubbed against his clothes.
Zhao Heng quickly blinked, pursing her lips and lowering her head with a gentle smile.
"What are you laughing at?" Li Wenjian absentmindedly played with the ring on his finger, his back straight and his finger joints curling into her soft waist.
Zhao Heng sidestepped, the rays of light from the palace walls reflecting off her smiling face, making it hard for him to ignore.
"Aren't you afraid of itching even when you're wearing clothes?" He jokingly tugged at the corner of his lips.
âââ
Author's note:
Li Wenjian: My wife is so strange, how can she be afraid of itching even when she's wearing clothes?