Chapter 80
Yang Po sat in front of the fire, dozing off. The warm glow of the fire made her round face blush, as she squinted her eyes, trying not to fall asleep too deeply. When footsteps outside the courtyard rang out, she quickly opened her eyes, awkwardly stood up, and the brocade quilt covering her legs slipped off in front of the fire.
She hurriedly bent down to pick it up and placed it on the nearby chair. She had never used something so precious in her life and couldn't afford to have it damaged by anyone.
When she looked at the door, she saw Yao Qin walking towards her. Her heart skipped a beat, and she nervously asked in a loud voice, "Miss, how is the third princess?"
"Great joy," Yao Qin said. She felt a sense of relief from surviving a disaster.
Regardless of their respective statuses, she grabbed Yang Po's elbow, thanked her with a bow, and said, "The bleeding in the third princess has stopped, and she has fallen asleep. The doctor has checked her pulse, and it has gradually stabilized."
Upon hearing this, a smile spread across Yang Po's round face, and she felt some relief in her heart.
She had not dared to sleep all night; now that her mind was finally at ease, a yawn escaped from her mouth.
With no manners, her large mouth emitted a long, continuous sound from her throat. Seeing the beautiful woman in front of her cover her mouth and chuckle, she awkwardly chuckled twice at Yao Qin, "I'm a country bumpkin, forgive me for any offense."
"Auntie, you have worked hard last night. The third princess is now safe. Let me have someone take you back," Yao Qin said softly, pulling out a red envelope from her sleeve and handing it to Yang Po, saying, "Here is some silver, keep it to buy tea and food."
Yang Po held the red envelope, feeling it was too thick. She quickly declined, "I can't accept this; it's too much. When we provide medicine to people, we can't charge this much."
"Just take it," Yao Qin said with a smile. "Lady Liangyuan instructed before leaving that if the physician saves the third princess and her child, there will be a heavy reward. Your medical skill saved the princess, and you deserve this."
Bashful and flustered, Yang Po said, "You are too kind. My medical skills are nothing special, just some basic techniques."
Yao Qin continued to smile and said slowly, "The Lady said that medical skills have no distinction between high and low, as long as it can save lives. You shouldn't underestimate yourself. When I sent someone to invite you, I also heard about your numerous years of helping people. These are all great merits."
Yang Po was speechless. In her practicing medicine for over thirty to forty years since the age of sixteen, it was the first time she had heard that there was no distinction between high and low in medical skills.
Despite treating many patients, she had not received the respect that a healer deserved. Many of her patients who had benefited from her treatments even looked down on her. They would take her medicine but then turn around and insult her, saying she was not a reputable doctor.
At temple fairs, people like her had to stand at the back and not dirty the Buddha's discerning eyes. Just because she treated women's private illnesses, the world viewed her as dirty. Why should that be the case?
She stammered, "Was it that noble person in the room just now?"
"Yes," replied Yao Qin, her voice tinged with gratitude.
She was thankful that she had called her over that afternoon; otherwise, she wouldn't have thought to invite the medicine lady. She had spent the night in the bedchamber calming the third princess's emotions. Without her help, who knows what the situation would be like now.
"What is the background of that noble person?" Yang Po couldn't help but ask. She had heard her calling the third princess by name last night, indicating that she was a person of great importance.
Yao Qin answered, "That person is the Crown Prince's Lady Liangyuan."
*
When Zhao Heng arrived at the palace gates, she had to wait nearly a quarter of an hour before they opened. The heavy red doors creaked open, and she made her way through the silent palace alleys.
As the days neared the New Year, the daylight was getting shorter and shorter. The lanterns hanging on both sides of the palace road swayed in the morning breeze, casting flickering shadows. Her shadow stretched long as she walked, startling the winter birds perched on the bare branches. The birds flew away, shaking off a dusting of snow that fell gently to the ground.
Mu Gui, holding a lantern, was waiting in the courtyard for Zhao Heng. He had received word from the palace attendants that she had returned to the palace.
Since Jian Ning seeing the Crown Prince yesterday, he had locked himself in his chamber, neither returning to his bedchamber nor taking any meals.
The dim light illuminated his figure cast upon the folding screen as he sat there all night.
Having served alongside Li Wenjian for many years, Mu Gui was well aware of his moods. Although he wasn't sure what had happened, he could vaguely tell that it was something significant. The last time the Crown Prince had refused to eat or sleep like this was when news of General Wei's death arrived.
He had planned to ask Zhao Heng to persuade him, but unfortunately, she hadn't returned to the palace due to the Third Princess's matters.
From afar, Zhao Heng saw Mugui standing under the white jade steps. She adjusted her heavy cloak and quickened her pace towards him.
Mu Gui approached her, greeted her with a bow, and said, "Lady Liangyuan, you're back."
"Yes," Zhao Heng replied. She glanced at the study room, rubbed her eyes, and asked, "Is the Crown Prince still inside?"
"Yes," Mu Gui confirmed.
Zhao Heng stared at the faint figure behind the window screen and inquired hoarsely, "How is he?"
Mu Gui sighed softly, paused for a moment, and furrowed his brows before saying, "Since Jian Ning visited him yesterday afternoon, he hasn't touched a drop of water. Please go inside and try to persuade him."
Lowering her eyelids, Zhao Heng finally looked away from the window and turned to Mu Gui with a forced smile. "Yesterday afternoon, I brought back a few fish. Have the kitchen steam them and prepare some porridge and side dishes to be sent over."
As he returned to the kitchen, Zhao Heng took a glance towards the sky. The early morning sun cast a light golden hue on the glazed tiles, as melting snow dripped from the eaves and sparkled in the sunlight.
Lifting her skirts, she ascended the white jade steps and gently pushed open the heavy door of the study.
Li Wenjian sat at the desk, his back to the window where the early light shone in. His thick, black hair was elegantly tied up with a white jade crown, but his face was pale and his long lashes hung slightly down, casting a faint shadow on his lower eyelids.
He sat there, lost in thought, his gaze unfocused and drifting aimlessly.
The charcoal in the room had long been extinguished, leaving it as cold as an ice cave. Zhao Heng felt a sudden twinge in her nose for no apparent reason. She stood at the doorway for a moment, suppressing the warmth in her eyes before approaching him.
"Your Highness."
Li Wenjian heard her voice and his gaze seemed unfocused. After a moment, he slowly raised his eyes to look at the approaching figure.
"You're back?" he asked softly.
Zhao Heng opened her mouth, picked up the large cloak on the wooden stool, walked over to him, and wrapped her arms tightly around him, enveloping him in the cloak, with a thick layer between them.
"I'm back," she said with a slight tremor in her voice, wrapping the cloak around his shoulders before standing up and walking to the stove. She added charcoal to the extinguished fire, lit it with a match, and watched as the flames slowly caught on.
The warmth crept back into Zhao Heng's stiffened face, finally thawing from the cold of the snowstorm. She boiled some hot water and poured it into a bowl, handing it to Li Wenjian. "To warm your hands."
Li Wenjian fell silent, lips pressed together.
But when Zhao Heng sat down beside him, he reached out and pulled her into his arms.
Zhao Heng, caught off guard, nestled close to him, feeling the man's arms tighten around her. She obediently embraced him, gently patting his back as she had done countless times before, offering silent comfort.
"It's Xingyan," his voice, usually gentle, now carried a hint of vulnerability.
Zhao Heng was briefly taken aback.
Li Wenjian held her tightly, his chin resting on her shoulder, his eyes red as he stared at the dim light on the desk.
Zhao Heng rubbed his back with her hand, returning his embrace. She didn't say anything, just held him quietly.
She suddenly wondered, was he like this when General Wei passed away? Not eating or drinking, shutting himself away in his room.
Alone, utterly alone.
How much pain must he have been in then?
"I don't understand," Li Wenjian's voice suddenly sounded in her ear, heavy with emotion.
She sat up slightly and saw his hollow eyes, then heard him say, "I don't understand why it had to be him."
They had been childhood friends, close companions, practically family.
And yet, at some point, a friend you trusted with your whole heart could turn on you with such malice.
From that spring five years ago to this deep winter night, Liang Xingyan had schemed and manipulated in the darkest of ways, throwing his world into disarray.
Colluding with the northern barbarians, betraying A Zhan's whereabouts, leading to his gruesome death in the northern borders.
He drugged his wine, attempting to fabricate a scandal between him and Wei Wanyu, in order to shatter the peace treaty between Dongli and Yuezhi, tarnish his reputation, and further destabilize the fragile situation.
He had sent assassins multiple times, seeking to eliminate him once and for all.
For over a decade of acquaintance, he had never known that beneath that person's facade lay such malevolence.
Chilled to the bone, he had never faced betrayal so directly in his life.
The sudden, unexpected knife thrust into his heart from behind.
Unexpected, yet agonizingly painful.
"Your Highness." Zhao Heng lifted her eyes, gazing at him softly. "When you first met him, he was only seven or eight years old. What can a child of seven or eight understand? It's simply how he was taught by those around him."
Cradling his face in her palm, her voice gentle, she said, "They want to shake your confidence, crush your spirits, that's why they resort to such malicious tactics to severely wound you. You're so clever, you must not fall for their schemes."
Li Wenjian looked at her, nodding slowly after a pause.
Zhao Heng's palm was warm, her fingertips touching his cold skin bringing comfort. Her voice carried a deliberate lightness. "It should be him feeling regret for losing a precious gem like you."
With the meal prepared, Mu Gui stood outside with the tray, calling, "Lady Liangyuan."
Smiling towards Li Wenjian, Zhao Heng said, "Last night, Junning had an issue. I stayed by her side at the Third Princess's residence all night, didn't even close my eyes. Will you join me for breakfast, and then I'll go rest? Is that alright?"
Gently shaking his sleeve in her hands, she led him towards the dining table. On the table were light dishes. She picked up a steaming piece of fish, carefully removing the bones before placing it in his bowl. "This is the fish that old Duke and I worked hard to catch for you yesterday. Eat it all, don't let our efforts go to waste."
Li Wenjian expressionlessly picked up the fish and slowly chewed on it, savoring the tender texture. "Okay."
Not feeling hungry herself, Zhao Heng's furrowed brows gradually relaxed into a gentle smile. Quietly watching him eat, she served him the food.
She suddenly understood why Li Wenjian had always treated her with such tenderness.
It turned out, there really could be someone in this world whose emotions mirrored yours. His kindness and patience had pulled her out of the shadows of her past, allowing her to sleep soundly, eat well, and face the new day in the bright sunlight.
And now, she wanted to treat him the same way, to soothe his wounds, ensure he ate well, dressed warmly, and had no worries or anxieties on his mind.
She wanted to protect him just as he protected her.
Sensing the gentle gaze of the person beside her, Li Wenjian turned his face. After a long while, he picked up his chopsticks and also picked up a piece of fish, slowly removing the small bones. He placed the entire piece of fish in her bowl. "Ah Heng, you should eat more too."
She picked up her chopsticks again and brought the piece of fish to her lips. However, for some reason, she felt a wave of nausea rising in her stomach as if it was triggered by the smell of the fish.
She frowned.
"What's wrong?" Li Wenjian's eyes fell on her face.
Zhao Heng didn't want to worry him, so she frowned and swallowed the meat into her stomach.
"I'm full." She put down her chopsticks, the nausea in her chest was even worse.
It was probably because she had caught a cold from guarding the Third Princess last night. She should go back and ask Imperial Physician Xiao Zheng to prescribe some medicine for her later. It was almost Chinese New Year, and it would be a bit troublesome to get sick at this time.
She brought the steaming teacup to her lips and took a sip, barely suppressing the discomfort.
Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she heard him call her name, "Ah Heng."
Zhao Heng regained her composure and looked up at him, apologizing sincerely, "I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something. What did you say?"
"I said," Li Wenjian's voice was completely devoid of emotion, he said calmly, "I'll be going on a patrol to Tongzhou in a few days. I probably won't be back for Chinese New Year."
Zhao Heng had seen Tongzhou on the map, it was a large fortress near the capital.
The round trip was quite far, and it was only about ten days away. If it was just a patrol, he might still be able to make it back for Chinese New Year.
But if he had to do something else along the way, the time would be tight.
Liang Xingyan had been by his side for many years and knew everything about his affairs.
And the remnants of the old ministers of the previous dynasty were hiding in dark corners, like rats that couldn't see the light of day, just waiting for an opportunity to pounce.
Naturally, they couldn't just sit around and wait for them to strike.
Zhao Heng quickly lowered her eyes, hiding the disappointment that had welled up in her eyes in an instant. She curved her eyebrows and said softly to him, "Go ahead, I'll celebrate Chinese New Year with His Majesty and the Empress."
Li Wenzhang took her hand and rubbed his face with her fingertips. "Good girl, I'll be back to celebrate the Lantern Festival with you."