Chapter 104.1
Since Zhao Heng refused to go to the clan school to study, Yingque was anxious, with a string of blisters forming at the corners of her mouth. She urged Zhao Heng to focus and continue her studies at the school from morning till night.
But Zhao Heng refused, and as soon as she finished her meals every day, she would run off to the northwest corner of the estate.
In the northwest corner of the mansion, Li Wenjian had set up a small vegetable garden for her. Taking advantage of the good weather, he had assigned two servants to clean up the garden.
The barren corner was surrounded by a low, small wall. Baskets of soil were brought in from outside to cover the originally infertile ground, and the small garden was starting to take shape.
Zhao Heng had asked her grandmother and learned that March was suitable for planting green beans and eggplants, while April was suitable for planting potatoes. Counting the days on her fingers, she decided to start with green beans and then switch to potatoes in a while.
On this day, she toiled under the sun, planting the green beans, watering and fertilizing them. When she returned to Qingyuan, sweating profusely, she heard Yingque's slightly anxious voice coming from the courtyard, "Young Master, you can't let her continue to behave like this. Her mind is completely taken up by her little vegetable garden, neglecting her studies. If this continues, it may delay her progress."
Zhao Heng blinked in confusion. Why would planting be a hindrance to her?
Planting would enable her to feed herself.
After a moment, she heard Li Wenjian's clear and mild voice, "It's okay. She's still young now. Let her do what she likes. Ah Heng is a smart child, she just hasn't started studying yet. Once she opens up, it will be fine."
"But she can't even write her own name now, she may be looked down upon in the future." Yingque frowned.
She observed Li Wenjian's attitude towards the young girl. Although he didn't disclose her background or how she would be arranged, he seemed to be involved in every detail, as if he intended to keep her for a long time.
In two years, the young girl would have to socialize outside, not knowing anything about the arts women in capital were adept in.
How would she fit in then?
"No one will look down on her." Li Wenjian affirmed.
"Young Master..." Yingque felt helpless.
Li Wenjian waved his hand, indicating she need not say more, "I know you mean well for her. I understand it all. I care about her more than you do."
Hearing this, Zhao Heng felt a warm sweetness in her heart, like eating honey. She rolled up her sleeves and wiped the sweat off her face, as if the scorching sun didn't bother her.
She intentionally took two steps back, then ran forward cheerfully, pushed open the courtyard door, and looked at Li Wenjian, who stood under the eaves in plain and clean clothes, untouched by dust.
She slightly parted her lips and sweetly called out, "Brother Shulang."
Li Wenjian chuckled and took out a handkerchief to wipe her sweat, "Slow down."
"The green beans have been planted." Zhao Heng looked up with a smiling face, her round apricot eyes shining with innocence. "Brother Shulang, I will definitely learn to farm well. If there's a famine, I won't let you go hungry."
Yingque couldn't help but feel that this young girl was a bit naive. With the An family's background, even if there were ten famines, the young master would never go hungry.
Li Wenjian seemed to understand the crux of the issue. He asked Yingque to fetch water for Zhao Heng to wash her face, and then sat with her in the corridor, holding her hand. He picked up a fan and gently fanned her.
"Are you afraid of famine in the future, so you want to learn farming?" he asked as he lowered his head.
Digging the mud out from between her fingers, Zhaoming replied, "What's the use of studying? It doesn't fill your stomach."
Li Wenjian didn't expect Zhao Heng, who was once deeply devoted to her studies, to say such things and couldn't help but chuckle.
Seeing the smile on his lips, Zhao Heng felt like he was teasing her. She took a sip of water and couldn't help but glance at Li Wenjian, who was smiling. She wondered if she had said something wrong.
"Am I wrong?" she asked softly.
Li Wenjian stopped smiling, patted her head, and said, "No, you're right. Studying doesn't fill your stomach, and it's not very useful. Farming is better."
Zhao Heng shook her head, "It's not."
"What isn't?" Li Wenjian looked at her.
Zhao Heng met his gaze and said, "Studying is useful. When I was selling flowers in front of the theater, I heard in a play that studying can lead to becoming an official, being ennobled, and improving the livelihood of the people."
"I can't become an official, nor can I be ennobled. So, studying is useless for me. But Brother Shulang, everyone says you're the best student taught by the old master. You should study well to become a great official, a good official, and bring peace to the world. As for me, I will learn to farm well so that everyone can have cheap rice to eat and no longer go hungry."
Li Wenjian suddenly realized.
He recalled the events of the past when An Xuzhi pleaded for the title of General Ning Wanzhi, only to be criticized by the officials in the court.
At that time, Zhao Heng was promoting women's education, and those old scholars were causing a commotion. When he returned to his chambers at night, she sat under the window, staring at the incense rising from the six-arc censer on the desk, lost in thought.
He embraced her from behind, a smile on his lips, "Are you still troubled by the matter of women's education and Xiao Ning?"
"I don't understand why things have to be so complicated. They want Ning Wanzhi to guard the border, yet they refuse to give her the appropriate status and respect." Zhao Heng frowned in thought, "They say it's against the natural order and the laws of the kingdom, but why should women be naturally relegated to an inferior position, obedient and subservient?"
"The heavens don't always speak the truth, it's humans who interpret it," Li Wenjian said.
"Since ancient times, women have had no right to speak. It's all words spoken by you men," Zhao Heng narrowed her eyes at him, "So, it's your family's words."
Li Wenjian lightly brushed his sleeve and smiled, "I am not from their group. I am with you, that's what matters, it's 'us'."
Zhao Heng raised her eyebrows lightly.
Seeing her displeased expression, Li Wenjian's smile deepened. He calmly sat down with her on the couch and said, "You know, because of the incident with Ning Wanzhi's title, those old men have been giving me a headache. Tomorrow, you will accompany me to the court and help me reprimand them properly."
The frustration in Zhao Heng's heart remained unresolved, but after some thought, she nodded.
During the morning court session, An Xuzhi once again proposed to confer the title of Third Rank General Ning Wanzhi, the guardian of Meizhou, which was met with strong opposition from the officials.
"Minister An, men represent the heavens, while women represent the earthâit has always been this way. For a mere woman like Ning Wanzhi to step onto the battlefield is already improper, and now you want to elevate her to the rank of a Wang (prince), do you want to turn the world upside down?"
Seated on the dragon throne, Li Wenjian rubbed his forehead and saw Zhao Heng being led into the court by Mu Gui. He put down his teacup and only when Zhao Heng nodded and greeted him as "Your Majesty," did a faint smile appear on his face.
"Her Majesty has arrived."
The officials whispered among themselves, but Zhao Heng paid them no attention.
"Minister Ji," she smiled, slowly approaching the man who had said, "Do you want to turn the world upside down?" She fixed her gaze on him, "You are a skilled official in charge of observing the heavenly phenomena. With your vast knowledge, I have a question for you."
Zhao Heng smiled, but her smile was sharp as a knife, cutting through him like ice. Minister Ji felt a chill down his spine, sweat dripping coldly down his back. He hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "I dare not... I..."
"Dare not, or unwilling?" Zhao Heng interrupted him, staring at him.
"I... " Minister Ji hesitated, his beard twitching. After a moment of silence, he awkwardly said, "Your Majesty, please go ahead."
"What nurtures and sustains all living beings, encompassing myriad creatures?" Zhaoming asked.
"The earth, the great earth," Minister Ji answered quickly.
Zhao Heng turned her head slowly, her eyes silently scanning each court official. "And what generously gives warmth and light to humanity?"
Minister Ji thought quickly, "The sun and the moon."
"As we all know, the sky is yang, the earth is yin, the sun is yang, and the moon is yin. The vast sky shelters the mountains and rivers, while the land carries them. The sun illuminates the day, bestowing brightness upon the world, and the moon hangs in the darkness, providing solace to the world. This has always been the way." Zhao Heng's eyes softened slightly, and after a moment, she seemed to think of something.
A hint of hurt appeared in her eyes, "Yin and yang complement each other, mutually supporting each other. Minister Ji, by what right do you look down upon women?"
The Empress was very young and of humble origins, but her bold words startled Minister Ji, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. He immediately stepped forward and apologized, "Your Majesty, forgive me, I never meant any disrespect."
Li Wenjian remained calm, his eyes as clear as a moonlit lake.
Zhao Heng had a beautiful face, with a delicate and petite nose, thick and long eyebrows, but the most stunning feature was her eyes. They sparkled with starlight, reflecting the colors of the lake and mountains, radiating the most dazzling brilliance.
Just like her, calm and gentle, but will burst out with a sharp brilliance when you least expect it.
At this moment, Li Wenjian was quite fascinated by her.
Everyone was stunned, unsure of how to respond to her questioning.
But, she didn't need their answers at all.
"Apart from being a woman, what can Ning Wanzhi not bear as the title of a general?"
"With her own abilities, defending the border for nearly ten years, the people of Meizhou have seen it, and people all over the world have seen it too. Isn't this genuine? "
"She has driven away the northern barbarians and defended the border, her achievements, if they were on any of you, you would probably have already risen to greatness, enfeoffed as nobles. But because she is a woman, you strip away her achievements, unwilling to give her the position she deserves, why?"
"Are the hearts of you seven-foot men so narrow-minded?"
"Are you afraid that women will surpass you and go further?"
"Ning Wanzhi is first and foremost a citizen of Dongli. She is the pillar that guards the national gate. Only then is she a woman. Her achievements were earned through real hard work." She turned her face and looked at the officials again, "It is not something that can be easily erased by a wave of your hand while standing in this hall. I only hope that you can open your eyes and look at the world, instead of staring at a woman, trying to erase her achievements."
Li Wenjian's jaw tightened, his mind filled with the dazzling brilliance she displayed in the hall that day. But he didn't realize that the young girl in front of him was looking up at him.
Seeing that he had not responded for a long time, she gently tugged at his sleeve, "Brother Shulang?"
Li Wenjian snapped back to reality, his hand holding the fan paused, his eyes downcast.
After a moment of reflection, he carefully examined her face, and in the noisy cicada chirping, his voice was soft, "You will help many people, you will be a very good person."
Zhao Heng blinked, scratched her head in confusion.
But Brother Shulang praised her, so she still smiled happily.
Li Wenjian called a doctor for Xue shi. She no longer had to worry about her livelihood every day, her condition gradually improved, her complexion getting better, and she could do some simple tasks.
Grateful for Li Wenjian's kindness towards her and her grandmother, she never stayed idle and would help out in the kitchen whenever she had free time.
Zhao Heng was happy as she could now focus on tending to her vegetable garden.
Ying Que, however, was not as carefree as her. She refused to learn the arts of calligraphy, painting, and music, spending her days only tending to the vegetable garden. She worried about how she would grow up like this.
As for this young master, he seemed indifferent to Zhao Heng's affairs. He would be involved in all the matters big and small in Qingyuan.
If he cared, every time she mentioned sending Zhao Huan back to school, he would say she could do whatever she liked.
Ying Que felt frustrated. The young master was so reasonable, how could he not know the principle of spoiling people like killing them?
He even used to teach the dog manners.
One morning, before the sun had risen, Qingyuan welcomed an unexpected guest.
Zhao Heng, dressed in loose narrow-sleeved clothes, was about to go to the vegetable garden to work with a hoe when she ran into Wei Wanyu, who was sniffling and teary-eyed.
Zhao Heng had met Wei Wanyu at the family school before. She sat behind her and even helped her cheat during tests when the teacher turned his back, but she was not good at studying, so even with reminders, she couldn't remember.
"Why are you crying?" Zhao Heng was a little confused as she looked at Wei Wanyu, who only reached up to her chin. She asked softly.
Wei Wanyu looked Zhao Huan up and down. She was brought to the family school by Brother Shulang, and even though she had only stayed for a few days, everyone knew that she didn't study and instead went to work in the fields.
Everyone envied her deeply.
She sniffled and with a baby voice said, "I don't want to study anymore, can I go with you to work in the fields?"
"No, you can't." Zhao Heng shook her head.
"Why can't you help me when I helped you with your studies?" Wei Wanyu pouted and asked, full of grievances.
Zhao Heng was speechless.
Wei Wanyu's voice lowered, "If you teach me how to work in the fields, we can be friends. Don't you want friends?"
"Why do I need friends?" Zhao Heng blinked.
Wei Wanyu rolled her eyes in frustration, "My brother said that everyone needs friends, so they can write poetry, ride horses, and drink together."
These words seemed too distant for Zhao Heng. She couldn't write poetry, ride horses, or drink.
"Who is your brother?" Zhao Huan asked.
Wei Wanyu said, "Wei Zhan, he is Brother Shulang's best friend. They often skip school together to ride horses, drink and write poetry."
Zhao Heng looked at her in disbelief, "I haven't heard him mention that."
"Are you saying that I am lying?" Wei Wanyu said with an innocent face, trying to explain urgently, her voice raising slightly, "Everything I said is true."
Zhao Heng quickly covered her mouth and shushed her, "Speak softly, don't let Ying Que hear you."
Ying Que personally supervised her studies, making her read for half an hour every morning. She didn't want to read, so she sneaked out while Ying Que was away. She was afraid that Wei Wanyu would accidentally give her away.
"If you take me to work in the fields, I won't make a fuss." Wei Wanyu tilted her head.
Zhao Heng puffed up her cheeks, looking like an inflated pufferfish, "You're even more cunning than a dog." Wei Wanyu chuckled.
Zhao Heng had no choice but to take Wei Wanyu with her to the vegetable garden.
"But you have to listen to me and not step on the plants." Zhao Heng reminded her.
"I will." Wei Wanyu nodded quickly.