Chapter 78
Snowflakes began falling outside the window once again, gently drifting in and landing on the table by the window. Zhao Heng set aside the book in her hand, reaching out her fingers to melt the snowflakes on the table with the warmth of her fingertips.
Quiet willows stood in front of the window, also holding a handful of snow. An Jingliu smiled faintly, with a few deep wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. "The world's vitality lies underground, and the heavy snow seals in that vitality. All things receive nourishment from the vitality, allowing them to rest and strengthen their roots. When the roots are strong, there will be a bountiful harvest next year. A bountiful year will keep us busy."
"Yes," Zhao Heng's lips curved with a smile as she listened to his words and nodded. She then said, "I have a question for you."
An Jingliu adjusted his beard and replied, "Go ahead."
Zhao Heng pulled out a map from the desk and pointed to the location of Meizhou. She looked at him and said, "Master, this is Meizhou. Yanchi is here, and Wei Wanyu went missing in Yanchi. Instead of sending troops from Chuzhou to search for her, His Highness quietly sent troops from Meizhou to find her."
"So, it wasn't the Yanchi army who took Wei Wanyu, but His Highness. He used this as a pretext to openly declare war on Yanchi," Zhao Heng looked up at him. "Am I right in saying this?"
An Jingliu's eyes sparkled with amusement as he turned to look at her. "Why didn't you just ask Lang'er directly?"
"Because I don't necessarily need to know," Zhao Heng smiled a little shyly. "So, there's no need to ask him."
An Jingliu picked up the tea bowl on the table and took a slow sip, the smile fading from his face. "Then why ask me?"
"Master, you taught me to be wise and knowledgeable, so I thought you could help me understand," Zhao Heng's expression was a bit cheerful, showing a hint of youthful playfulness. "Besides, you've been teaching me for so long, it's time to test my learning."
"I haven't been involved in court affairs for many years. I don't know if the disappearance of Wei Wanyu is as you said," An Jingliu said.
He gazed quietly at the snow outside. "But my guess aligns with yours. I believe Lang'er's actions serve more than just declaring war on Yanchi. There are deeper implications."
Facing the cold snowflakes, Zhao Heng took a deep breath and thought for a moment. "Yanchi and the Northern Barbarians have colluded, causing chaos in the North. In recent years, the East has been prosperous, with ample food reserves, while the Northern Barbarians are in turmoil. Therefore, His Highness's decision to march on Yanchi now is not only to eliminate the threat for future conflict with the Northern Barbarians, but also has another layer of meaning."
She pointed to the map and analyzed it for An Jingliu. "Meizhou is a must-pass route to Luojia, and Wei Wanyu is the only sister of General Wei. Therefore, His Highness sent her north to find the Second Prince and inform him of someone's attempt to sow discord."
An Jingliu observed her for a moment, and the hot steam rising from the tea cup was quickly dispersed by the snow. He praised, "Zhao Heng, you are very clever."
Zhao Heng smiled at his praise. "You didn't teach me in vain."
"The current situation in the East may seem calm, but there are threats from the Northern Barbarians on the outside, lingering issues from the previous dynasty on the inside, and various forces within the court stirring in the shadows. His path forward is fraught with challenges," An Jingliu expressed his concerns.
Zhao Heng heard his worries in his words. "Master, I understand what you're worried about."
With her hand on the window sill, snowflakes fell onto her back, carrying a bit of chill. "But I believe, no matter how harsh the winter, it will pass."
"The current situation is indeed very unfavorable for His Highness, but the people have a heart of flesh and blood, and they know what kind of king to support." Zhao Heng turned to meet An Jingliu's gaze. "The will of the people is the trend of the times, and he will surely prevail."
Zhao Heng had absolute trust in him.
"You're right," An Jingliu suddenly smiled. "As long as one walks on the path towards light, unafraid of twists and turns, walking steadfastly and calmly, one will always reach the dawn."
"Yes," Zhao Heng gazed at the snowflakes in the dim sky. "I hope Wei Wanyu can safely reach Luojia and meet the Second Prince smoothly to clarify everything."
"I heard you had some conflicts with Wei Wanyu," An Jingliu noted her hope, narrowing his eyes slightly, his tone calm but carrying deep meaning.
Zhao Heng lightly bit her lip and replied, "Master, I am not one to hold grudges."
An Jingliu chuckled.
"Lian Zhou once asked me, as a crown Prince's concubine in the East Palace, I could live a life of luxury, so why go to the academy early in the morning to study hard. Do you know why?" Zhao Heng looked up at him, her voice soft.
"Why?"
Zhao Heng's eyes sparkled, "The East Palace is the largest vortex of power in the world, and the knowledge I learn there is like driftwood. It may not be useful when the weather is calm, but when the tide comes in, they are the foundation that gives me confidence to navigate the storm."
"The teachings of you and His Highness have taught me that in the face of right and wrong, personal grievances are insignificant, and personal gains and losses should not override the interests of the nation."
An Jingliu burst into laughter, and through the varying intensity of the snow, he caught a glimpse of a figure shining in gold. He teasingly pointed towards the approaching figure, "Thanks to you, my grandson has come to see me again."
Zhao Heng followed his finger and saw Li Wenjian approaching through the courtyard where the pear blossoms were falling. He was clad in black armor, and the snow had accumulated lightly on the glossy armor, braving the wind and snow.
"His Highness has always been filial..." Zhao Heng said softly, feeling a bit embarrassed. Seeing Li Wenjian without an umbrella, she became worried and turned to fetch him a handkerchief.
An Jingliu stopped her, saying, "I am a bit tired, and he always talks endlessly when he comes. Go ahead, there's no need for him to come in and greet me. I want to rest."
Zhao Heng nodded and rose to bid Qingli farewell. "Master, I will come to see you again tomorrow."
"Don't forget to dig up the wine under the pear tree."
"Alright."
An Jingliu watched her leave, shaking his head with a light laughter.
The pure and genuine affection was cleaner and more beautiful than the endless snow outside.
"Your Highness," Zhao Heng ran to Li Wenjian with an umbrella, raising it over his head to shield him from the falling snowflakes.
As Li Wenjian's face showed an unusual paleness, a moment he laid eyes on Zhao Heng, a lively joy bloomed on his normally white face.
"Master said you don't need to come in, he has already fallen asleep."
Li Wenjian casually took the umbrella from her hand, reached out to grasp her shoulder, and led her towards the door, saying, "Then I won't go in."
"I thought we agreed you wouldn't come to pick me up? Why did you come?" Zhao Heng didn't want to cause him trouble and had already set ground rules with him, forbidding him from coming to escort her.
"I was passing by from the Shenji Camp today," Li Wenjian explained.
Zhao Heng asked in surprise, "Hasn't the matter at the Shenji Camp been resolved yet?"
It had been almost three months since the decision on military reform had been made.
"Well," Li Wenjian's eyes betrayed some fatigue, but he still calmly explained to her, "Perhaps it's nearing completion."
"Perhaps?" Zhao Heng blinked.
Li Wenjian hooked her shoulder and pulled her back from the fork in the road.
"We took the wrong path," he reminded her.
Zhao Heng, held in his embrace, cheerfully said, "I'm going to Yanshan Residence. Will you accompany me?"
"You're just asking for the sake of it," Li Wenjian's finger toyed with the tassel on her temple, then rested his chin on her shoulder. "Let's go together."
Zhaohuang's eyelashes trembled slightly, leading him to Yanshan Residence.
In the courtyard of Yanshan Residence, there was an ancient pear tree covered with snow on its branches, the bare branches trembling in the cold wind.
Zhao Heng instructed a maid to bring a small hoe and then squatted down to dig into the frozen ground beneath the tree.
Li Wenjian watched her actions intently, somewhat puzzled.
She dug laboriously, uncovered a cave, suddenly smiled, and turned to wave at Li Wenjian, "I've found it."
Having lived in Yanshan Residence for over a decade, Li Wenjian had seen this pear tree since his birth, but he was unaware of what lay buried beneath it.
Walking through the snow to the tree, Zhao Heng was holding an old wine barrel she had just dug up from the cave.
"Master buried ten barrels of wine under the pear tree for you, asking me to dig it up for you to drink," Zhao Heng said modestly, taking out one barrel and then covering the hole with the overturned frozen soil. "Today, with the heavy snowfall, we can enjoy a warm drink by the fire tonight. One barrel will suffice, we can dig up the rest next time."
Looking at the faded wine barrel, blurry memories suddenly flooded Li Wenjian's mind.
"Do you know what kind of wine Grandpa sealed in these barrels?"
"What kind of wine?" Zhao Heng turned and looked at him while holding the wine barrel.
It was an incident from over a decade ago when he was still a teenager. In the An Clan, there was an elder brother who was close to them.
The elder brother, much older than them, had married early. After his marriage, he seldom played with Li Wenjian and the other kids, citing his strict and powerful wife who forbade him from having fun outside.
At that time, though still young, Li Wenjian felt a sense of emotional connection with him, voiced his worries to Grandpa, afraid that he might also end up marrying a strict wife who would control him, making him unable to enjoy life as freely. From then on, he refrained from drinking alcohol.
Grandpa laughed so hard that tears streaming down his face as he promised to secretly help him seal ten barrels of wine.
So many past memories seemed like just yesterday, those cherished and simple teenage years never to return.
The wine buried by old Duke had passed through the long river of time, sealing memories in the barrel, allowing him to still catch a glimpse of the silly worries of his youth.
"Your Highness?" Zhao Heng saw him motionless for a long time, but his lips involuntarily twitched, and she called out to him.
Li Wenjian brought his thoughts back, lifting his eyes to look at the woman in the snow.
Grandpa had her dig up the wine because he hadn't married a strict wife and had plenty of wine to spare.
"Mm."
Snowflakes piled on Zhao Heng's eyelashes, sparkling like the wings of a swan, as she looked at him curiously, tilting her head, "Why did Master seal the wine?"
He couldn't tell her the silly reason, so he met her eyes without changing his expression, "It's a custom in Longxi to seal and present wine for young men, praying for abundant offspring."
Zhao Heng was surprised.
Li Wenjian nodded earnestly, "Let's go, it's time to drink."
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The author has something to say:
Li Gouzi: Let's go, it's time to go back and have children.