Chapter 112
When the news of Wei Zhan and Yue Li's marriage spread, it caused a sensation in the capital, with many people gossiping about it.
It was later revealed that Wei Zhan often traveled with a woman while on military expeditions, spending all his time with her day and night. She became jealous and caused a scene at the hunting camp, embarrassing Yue Li and causing controversy.
Despite this, she was selected as a palace maid a month later and entered the palace.
The Empress chose only women of noble character, and she did not find any flaws in the relationship between Wei Zhan and the woman entering the palace. Many believed that after Wei Zhan led his troops to the border, they would no longer have any contact, but to everyone's surprise, they reconciled.
Their wedding was approaching, and Zhao Heng and Wei Wanyu went to the Beast (Wanshou) Garden to prepare, making it a busy and lively scene.
The wedding date is approaching.
Zhao Heng held a lotus lamp and asked enthusiastically, dragging Wei Wanyu along, and complimenting her on her appearance. Wei Wanyu's, nodded, and commented, "It's okay."
Since childhood, Wei Wanyu had no interest in studying and preferred to work in the fields. When she was around ten years old, she started learning needlework, but she was more interested in farming.
Those hands, felt clumsy fumbling with a needle. The dainty thing, barely bigger than a toothpick in her grip, seemed to mock her.
Stuck in the yard, far from the juicy tomatoes and plump cabbages she loved, she felt like a caged bird. But this wasn't gonna hold her down.
Not this woman.
With a mischievous grin, she hoisted herself over the wall, those hands finding easy grips on the bricks. In a flash, she was over and gone, disappearing into the happy chaos of her vegetable patch.
With tireless hands, she not only convinced Mrs. Wei on her behalf, but also secured a placement for her in the Sinong Division, dedicated to agriculture.
The Empress was kind and understanding towards these children, believing that agricultural skills were valuable. "Farming is a vital skill. People need food in both good and bad times. While the royal family and officials play their roles, farmers are absolutely essential."
Despite others' disapproval, Wei Wanyu continued to indulge in her passion for farming, spending her days in the fields and gardens.
She would sometimes not return home, staying overnight in the East Palace with Zhao Heng or in the Beast Park with Yue Li.
Despite the lavish gifts presented to her, she always felt that something was missing.
"My winter wheat patch will soon be harvested, and I'll send you a bunch of them, sister-in-law,," She promised to gift some winter wheat from her fields to Yue Li, showing her unconventional nature.
"Thank you." Yue Li blushed and smiled, grateful for the thoughtful gesture.
With a rustle of her skirt, she sat. Her gaze drifted through the shimmering crystal beads of the curtain, landing on the ornate box resting on the table. A memory flickered â just a few days ago, she'd seen her brother clutching the same box, his face etched with urgency as he dashed out the door.
What was he thinking?
The unanswered questions gnawed at her. She'd tried calling him repeatedly, but her attempts were met with a chilling silence.
Wei Wanyu's curiosity was piqued when she saw a box on the table.
She tilted her head, a growing smile gracing her lips as her gaze fell on the bodhi wood box. "Sister-in-law," she inquired, "is that your betrothal gift from my brother?"
Yue Li offered a gentle explanation. "Yes, it is."
Wei Wanyu gave Yue Li a playful wink. "May I have a peek?"
Yue Li nodded.
Upon opening the box, they found a hand-copied Buddhist scripture inside, which surprised and angered Wei Wanyu.
"Such a betrothal gift for my sister-in-law? And our parents agreed to it? Unbelievable!" Wei Wanyu fumed. Money itself wasn't an issue for her, but the meagerness of the gift her brother offered for his bride-to-be was humiliating.
Yue Li, sensing her anger, gently interjected, "Please, Wanyu. This is what I truly desire." She cherished the gift, revealing her true desires.
Yue Li had been seeking a way to bind Wei Zhan to her, and she found solace in the Buddhist scriptures.
Within the temple stood a Guanyin Pagoda, enshrining the Buddha's relics. She vowed to dedicate her life to worshipping the relics, praying for Wei Zhan's safety and prosperity.
That night, she dreamt of the boy's skeletal remains regaining flesh and blood, severing the rope that bound his neck.
Yue Li interpreted it as a divine blessing, agreeing to accept her devotion.
To keep Wei Li by her side, she could no longer be able to accompany the army. Hesitating over how to broach the subject, Jiang Yu intervened, declaring her unwillingness to bear an unjust accusation.
Wei Zhan, ever supportive of her decisions, and further moved by the ostracism she endured on his behalf, could not refuse her request. With a heavy heart, he agreed to her staying behind.
As they bid farewell at the city gates, Yue Li held his hand, repeatedly remind him not to act recklessly as before. Once the situation stabilized and he returned to the court, she would leave the palace to marry him.
Every day, she copied scriptures, burned incense, and performed acts of kindness. Together with the Empress, she established charitable institutions and orphanages, accumulating merit for his well-being and the nation. For him, she transformed.
The calloused fingertips of a mountain village girl, once accustomed to hunting, grew thick calluses from years of writing.
Once, in Xiaotao Village, she gazed across the river at that mountain.
Now, her eyes observed the world, witnessing the lives of others.
All this began at the age of fourteen, when she met Wei Zhan. She hoped for their years to come, filled with peace and tranquility.
She sought no wealth, no status, only peace.
"This is again effective," she smelling the faint exotic scent emanating from the tall boxes stacked next to it. "How come it smells like the incense in the temple?"
Long, slender fingers gently tapped on the face. 'That... is a secret.'
On a snowy night, the shameless general once again splashed wine on his clothes, and she accommodated him, dividing the blanket and bed, but he still occupied half without content.
In the middle of the night, he pushed her to the corner of the wall, burying his prominent nose in her neck, taking a deep breath and muttering discontentedly, "I've only been away for two years, and you've turned into a nun? Reciting scriptures is one thing, but you're covered in incense ash..."
Despite his disdain, on the first day, he personally delivered several boxes of high-quality incense to her.
For him, as long as it was something she loved, he spared no effort to find it for her, even if it meant turning the world upside down.
*
When Zhao Heng's came of age ceremonies, the empress hosted a grand ceremony for her.
In Li Wenjian's eyes, the period of the coming of age ceremony coincided with a month of continuous heavy rain in the south, causing flooding.
The court allocated generous relief supplies, but in early autumn, a county magistrate from the south quietly entered the capital, submitting a memorial, exposing a large number of corrupt officials who embezzled relief supplies.
Li Wenjian, furious, personally oversaw the case, thinking he could return in just over a month, but the case proved to be intricate, with numerous ties to the gentry of Jiangnan. He left the capital in early autumn, returning only in deep winter.
During the snowy season, the palace expected Li Wenjian to return in a few days, but he arrived several days earlier than expected. Although the Eastern Palace knew of Li Wenjian's imminent return, they were taken by surprise by his early arrival.
They were busy preparing, removing his cloaks and handing it to the servant at the door. With a seemingly casual glance, they did not see the familiar figure kneeling before them.
Yun feng said, "The Marquis of Dongyang is hosting a birthday banquet for the eldest son of the house, and our Miss went there."
Li Wenjian doesn't remember him, and it seems he doesn't regularly visit the palace, so he doesn't recognize him. Zhao Heng has already reached marriageable age, and as she begins to have youthful feelings, it's normal for her to have a few friends and secrets he doesn't know about.
Zhao Heng is not his caged bird, so he didn't pay attention to these trivial matters. He first went to the imperial palace to pay his respects to the emperor and empress.
The emperor asked him to stay for dinner, assuming Zhao Heng would return from the banquet and not be back so soon, so he left the meal. Li Yicheng also came, much to the emperor's delight, who poured wine and drank with his two sons.
Going to the north to join the army, despite the emperor's disagreed. Li Yicheng grew up in the Duke's residence like a prized horse in the courtyard, handsome but well-groomed.
Reflecting on it, Li Wenjian really didn't want Li Yicheng to experience the same things as in his previous life. But thinking of that young general who once commanded the Northern Army with thousands of troops, terrifying the northern barbarians on the battlefield with his bravery and agility, he couldn't decide what kind of life he should have.
Ultimately, he asked him to follow General Xu, trained under him, and only when he had adapted to the northern customs and familiarized himself with military affairs, was he allowed to join the army.
It was a compromise.
Having returned from Jiangnan with gifts in tow, Emperor Li Yicheng, along with Li Wenjian, headed for the Western Consort Hall to see Zhao Heng. However, they were informed that she wasn't back yet. Li Wenjian decided to wait for her arrival, occupying himself with reading the memorials.
The night was short, the wicks clicking softly as he finished reading the memorial by the bright light in the west hall. Snowflakes danced outside the door, the silence broken only by their gentle whisper.
Ying Que entered, added tea silently, poured warm water into the cup.
Li Wenjian asked, "You've seemed troubled since you came in. Has something happened?"
Hearing the crackling sound of burning charcoal, she looked around uneasily and lowered her voice, "Your Highness, you should go back first. The young lady may not return today."
"What? Where did she go?"
"Que Mountain,' she said, bowing her head. 'The Marquis of Dongyang's son's birthday banquet is being held at a villa on Que Mountain."
Que Mountain was several dozen miles from the capital and now no one was in sight. It was indeed impossible to come back in time at this hour.
Why didn't she go to the banquet with him today?
Ying Que lowered her head even more, saying after a moment, "The young lady asked Miss Wei to come and fetch her, and forbade us from following. We only knew she was going to attend the birthday banquet, but we didn't know she was going to Que Mountain... If we had known, we would have followed her no matter what."
"If she's being reckless, why do you guys follow her and cause misunderstandings?"
"'The young lady has been very close with the Marquis' son Chen lately, almost playing together every day. It's only natural for her to have some secrets that I don't know about."
She hesitated and glanced at Li Wenjian from the corner of her eye, noticing his grim expression!