Chapter 75
Lian Zhou waited outside for a long time but did not see Zhao Heng. Li Wenjian was inside, and she hesitated to call her. She could only wait outside.
It was almost noon when An Yuanqing came to personally invite them, forcing her to go knock on the door.
The curtains half-covered, the faint light of the sky seeped through the pink curtains, quietly falling on the sleeping woman's face.
Zhao Heng heard the knocking, suddenly remembered the important matters of the day, and lifted her weak hand to slightly lift the curtains. She saw the light, quickly waking up the person beside her.
They had not rested all night, and when dawn approached, she was extremely tired. With a pitiful tone and watery eyes, she begged him, charming and pitiful.
Li Wenjian could not bear it and finally embraced her until she fell asleep deeply.
"My Lady, the banquet is about to start," Lian Zhou reminded softly.
"I'm up," Zhao Heng responded absentmindedly, quickly getting up and finding the clothes they were going to wear that day. She helped Li Wenjian change and headed towards the main hall.
In the main hall, the banquet table was already set, but Li Wenjian had not arrived yet, so no one had started eating.
Apart from the children and grandchildren serving in other places, the Duke's family were gathered in the mansion, looking quite complete. The Duke glanced at the empty seat next to him and then at An Yuanqing. "Why hasn't your elder brother invited Lang'er back yet?"
An Yuanqing was at a loss for words. The Crown Prince was always punctual, and on this day of the Duke's grand birthday celebration, he shouldn't have been late. Just as he was about to send someone to Langshan Residence to invite them, two figures in apricot-yellow robes entered the room.
Li Wenjian was a slender and elegant person, with a celestial aura. The woman had black hair piled on top of her head, and her cloak was dusted with snowflakes, giving her a cold and mysterious charm.
Standing next to the crown prince like a divine being, she not only didn't pale in comparison but also complemented his beauty.
"Grandpa, we are late," Li Wenjian's gentle voice apologized to the old Duke.
"Why are you so late today?" The old Duke had not spoken yet when Liu shi stepped forward and took the cloak from Zhao Heng's hand, smiling and asking.
Zhao Heng couldn't tell the truth, and just as she was about to lie, Li Wenjian pulled back her chair, gesturing for her to sit down, and explained to the old Duke, "Please forgive us. Ah Heng caught a cold at the hunting grounds and had a fever until almost dawn last night, so she overslept today."
Seeing the unusual flush on her cheeks, very different from her usual fair complexion, Liu shi felt a surge of affection and held her hand, saying, "Why didn't you call for a doctor? Just enduring it like that?"
Zhao Heng quickly shook her head, placing a handkerchief on her lips. Just as she was about to speak, Li Wenjian took over, "She saw a doctor at the hunting grounds. It's not a serious illness. Originally, she was supposed to be moved back to the East Palace for recuperation, but she insisted on staying to celebrate with Grandpa."
The old Duke comforted her, "It's touching that Ah Heng thought of me even when she's unwell. Take care of yourself, so I can be at ease as well."
Zhao Heng's face blushed even more, lowering her head softly, making a sound of agreement.
Li Wenjian discreetly held his cup, sipping slowly, his eyes glancing at Zhao Heng with a smile that was not a smile.
Feeling the gaze of those around her, Zhao Heng clenched her handkerchief tightly, unable to do anything under their scrutiny. Quietly, she pinched his hand back firmly under the table.
He expressionlessly held her hand back, fingers stroking hers in her palm, stirring up another pool of emotions.
Unlike the family banquet the night before, today's feast was full of lively chatter and clinking of glasses.
The old Duke couldn't drink due to medication, so after a short while, he apologized to the guests and retired to rest in the tranquil abode. As he got up, he accidentally hit his leg on the table, almost stumbling.
Li Wenjian, An Yuanqing, and others sitting nearby immediately stood up to support him.
"It's nothing, you all stay here with the guests," the old Duke rubbed his sore leg and turned to Zhao Heng, "Ah Heng, can you accompany me back?"
Zhao Heng gazed at him for a moment and nodded softly, "I will accompany you, Sir."
As they walked along the corridor towards the tranquil abode, the old Duke turned to Zhao Heng, "Do you find these scenes boring?"
Zhao Heng bit her lip lightly, unsure of how to respond, so she remained silent.
"I've heard the same old flattery for decades, it's boring," the old Duke turned his face, his white beard contrasting against his bright, youthful eyes, laughing.
Zhao Heng sneezed, rubbing her nose, then whispered, "They all say the same things..."
Every year, it was the same routine of blessings with no creativity in the precious gifts.
Back at the tranquil abode, the old Duke didn't rush to rest and asked Zhao Heng to help him to the study.
Before, Zhao Heng came to Jing'an Cottage to nurse his illness, she had never set foot in the study.
This used to be the family's library, but after the old master came here to recuperate, it became his study. The room was filled with countless books, layer upon layer, vast like the ocean.
The furnishings in the room were extremely simple, with a qin case and a writing desk placed near the window. On the writing desk, there was an incense burner emitting a delicate fragrance.
The old master asked Zhao Heng, "Can you play the qin?"
"Um...I can," Zhao Heng replied softly, bowing her head.
"Play a song," the old master said.
Zhao Heng glanced at the old master and hesitantly asked, "Master, I'm not very good at playing the qin. Please don't laugh at me."
"I won't."
The study was brightly lit, casting a warm glow on the exquisite qin. Zhao Heng was not being modest about her qin skills - she truly did not have much talent in playing the instrument. However, she played earnestly, concentrating intently as she followed the music score and plucked the strings.
She was almost lost in her own qin playing and did not notice the heavy snow falling outside.
As the last note faded, Zhao Heng finally let out a sigh of relief. The charcoal in the brazier crackled, and she looked towards the elderly man listening with closed eyes by the writing desk.
"Ah Heng, your qin playing is even worse than that of a beginner," the old master suddenly remarked.
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhao Heng pursed her lips and said, "I really have no talent in this."
"Did Liu Chaosheng teach you like this?" The old man's voice held a hint of amusement.
Feeling a bit awkward, Zhao Heng said, "Playing the qin requires constant practice. My foundation is not good, and after entering the palace, I had to learn many other things, so I had even less time to devote to this. It's my lack of skill, not Mr. Liu's fault."
"You remember the music score very accurately," he remarked, somewhat surprised.
"Is that good?" Zhao Heng's eyes lit up at his praise.
"Remembering the music score is the most basic thing in learning the qin."
Zhao Heng hung her head and said softly, "I apologize, Master, for wasting your time."
"I have been accustomed to listening to the music of the hermit from Wuling since I was young, so my standards for musicality are already high. Even the sounds of renowned qin players may not be pleasing to my ears. Furthermore, you have only been learning the qin for a little over half a year and have not mastered the basics."
"If you know your qin skills are average, why were you willing to play the qin in front of me?" the old man asked, tilting his head towards her.
Smiling back at him, Zhao Heng revealed her pearly white teeth, "I heard His Highness praise your qin playing, and even if it's like showing a sword to a master swordsman, receiving guidance from you is worth it. Besides, you are my elder, and performing poorly in front of you is not embarrassing. So, I'm not afraid of losing face."
The old master's gentle voice resonated with a smile, "Ling'er is right indeed. Even when you fall into a pit of mud, you can still build a high tower on it."
"His Highness flatters me, I don't have much talent," Zhao Heng whispered.
"How can you say you have no talent? For survival, at a young age in turbulent times, you stood firm, single-handedly eliminated a venomous physician that the whole realm was searching for, and calmly maneuvered through treacherous officials. Even if you didn't know it, your achievements are commendable," the old man said, noticing the look of astonishment on the girl's face as she stared at him.
"Did His Highness tell you about this?" Zhao Heng asked in surprise.
"He wanted to bring you to see me, so naturally, I was curious about what kind of girl you were, for him to bring you before me so solemnly," the old man said, resting his hand on the writing desk, his indigo sleeve gently swaying. "Although you are not the person I have been speculating for years who could stand by Ling'er's side, seeing you here today also puts my mind at ease."
Zhao Heng was dumbfounded by the old master's words, not fully understanding them, but she heard the sound of footsteps crunching on the snow-covered courtyard outside.
"Ah Heng." The footsteps echoed from the courtyard to the door before the person even entered, his voice reaching her first.
Turning her head, Zhao Heng saw Li Wenjian, covered in snow, entering the room. She couldn't help but smile at him and called out, "Your Highness."
Li Wenjian walked straight to Zhao Heng, shaking off the snow from his clothes and warming his hands by the brazier. He asked the old master, "Grandpa, how was it?"
"Average in aptitude," the old man said, noticing the man's sudden frown and then glancing at Zhao Heng beside him. "But what's valuable is her authenticity, openness, a genuine heart for seeking truth, and the courage to face embarrassment."
Zhao Heng felt a mixture of embarrassment and appreciation. Li Wenjian's hands warmed up slightly, and he turned to Zhao Heng, saying, "You'd better thank Grandpa now."
Not sure why she needed to thank him, Zhao Heng obediently stood up and respectfully bowed to the old master, "Thank you, Sir."
"Go back now. You don't want to catch a cold, do you? Take some medicine, take care of your health, and then come back to the mansion," the old master said with a smile.
Feeling her cheeks flush at his words, Zhao Heng turned and bowed again before taking her leave.
Li Wenjian followed her out of the study.
"It's all your fault," as soon as they turned the corner out of the corridor, Zhao Heng couldn't help but complain to him, "It was so embarrassing."
With a smile on his lips, Li Wenjian bent down to her and gazed at her eyes glistening with moisture, "Blame me for what? Wasn't it you who asked me? Have you forgotten?"
Startled for a moment, Zhao Heng remembered her pleading expression from last night, clinging to his neck, and shook her head firmly, "I've forgotten, I can't remember anything."
But Li Wenjian's eyes, still smiling, looked at her intently, and he said calmly, "You're lying. You remember."
Zhao Heng was caught off guard by his piercing observation. After staring at him for a moment, she suddenly changed the subject, "By the way, what did the old master mean when he said I should come back to the mansion once I'm healthy?"
Li Wenjian did not look at her but continued to stare at the accumulated snow at the edge of the eaves, and his long lashes fluttered slightly, "I asked Grandpa to teach you the art of understanding the world, to know all things, to understand all principles."
Zhao Heng had only diverted the conversation, feeling a bit unsteady, but then she heard him speak suddenly.
She snapped back to reality and saw him turn his face towards her, his eyes as beautiful as if they had been immersed in a spring, "Isn't this what you've always wished for? To learn many many books, understand many many principles. I asked the most renowned scholar in the realm to give you private lessons. Are you happy with this birthday gift?"
His voice was gentle and captivating.
Zhao Heng froze for a moment.
She couldn't remember her own birthday, and neither did her grandmother. In the past, when life was hand-to-mouth, it was a luxury to have enough to eat, so who would care about such trivial matters?
To enter the palace as a maid, one needed a household registration, but hers had been lost. When she went to the government office to apply for a new one, the clerk asked her for her date of birth.
The Ministry of Revenue, which had just been through a war, was not about to go through old records to find the birthday of an ordinary orphan girl. She couldn't remember, so she just made up a date.
A date that even she couldn't remember.
But he remembered.
"Happy." Zhao Heng nodded, her eyes welling up. She couldn't help but reach out and hug him, burying her head in his chest.
Li Wenshan's thin lips pursed, and he simply used his slightly warm fingers to pinch the corners of her mouth: "Why aren't you smiling if you're happy?"
Zhao Heng obediently raised her head and forced a tearful smile at him.
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Author's Note:
Li Gouzi's performance is as stable as ever today~~