Chapter 3
In high-ranking households, medications were strictly managed by designated individuals to prevent sabotage and facilitate easy tracking in case of emergencies.
Zhao Heng walked over to Madam Liu with a tray, offering a slight bow and softly saying, "Madam, the medicine has been brewed."
"Follow me inside," Madam Liu ordered.
Zhao Heng accompanied her into the courtyard.
The construction of the tranquil Anning Pavilion was originally intended for the education of the family's children. Duke An didn't approve of extravagance among the younger generations, hence the furnishings inside the courtyard were simple, with just a table, a clock, and clusters of lush bamboo exuding vitality in the snow.
The corridors were adorned with calligraphy and paintings, emanating a rich scent of ink. As Zhao Heng walked through the corridors, the fragrance of literature filled her senses, prompting her to imagine the scene of the elderly master leading the younger generation in scholarly discussions and brushwork in the courtyard on a breezy spring day.
Grateful for the kindness she had received, Zhao Heng had remembered Duke An for many years, often quietly picturing his demeanor in her mind.
Now that she was about to meet him in person, she felt a strange nervousness creeping in, the fingers carrying the medicine cup subtly tightening.
"The medicine is here," Madam Liu announced as she led Zhao Heng into the room.
The room was quite crowded, with all of Duke An's children returning from Huizhou except for the fourth branch and the empress in the palace, filling the spacious room to capacity. As Zhao Heng entered with the medicine, they made way and created a path for her to pass through.
As Zhao Heng approached, Li Wenjian was seated at the bedside, looking towards Duke An on the bed and saying, "Elder, I will stay with you for a few more days this time."
For a brief moment, Zhao Heng felt a sense of déjà vu upon hearing the prince's voice.
Duke An, who had been ill for some time, smiled faintly at Li Wenjian's offer, expressing his gratitude but also advising him not to worry too much about him. "Lang'er is thoughtful, but you shoulder the weight of state affairs for His Majesty. You're laden with chores, so don't fret over every detail for me. Having your Uncle and the others around is a comfort. They treat me with such warmth, you needn't burden yourself further."
When the prince was born, a storm raged across the empire. The late emperor, consumed by his conquest. His father, the eldest son, and his mother, the eldest daughter-in-law, were dragged along on the bloody campaigns, had no time for a newborn baby, leaving their son to be fostered by the An family.
Years bled into one another, marked by the clang of armor and the cries of distant battles. Finally, the late emperor returned, triumphant, and claimed the throne. His parents ascended to their rightful place as crown prince and crown princess.
Despite their royal blood, the prince's upbringing mirrored that of an ordinary child. He played in dusty courtyards, not gilded halls, and learned life's lessons not only from tutors but from weathered hands. Though a prince, a strong bond, forged in the crucible of shared experiences, thrummed between him and the An family.
Lineage, though important, often buckles under the weight of genuine affection. Recognizing this, Li Wenjian, granted the old Duke special permission, a rare privilege.
Unburdened by courtly formalities, the Duke could address him by name, a testament to the deep connection that transcended titles.
Li Wenjian, aware of his uncles' unwavering loyalty, ensured his grandfather wouldn't be ostracizized for their unconventional bond.
However, Li Wenjian noting the recent decline in Duke An's health, wished to spend more time with him. "It's okay," he reassured him. "Lately, I've found myself with a lot of free time on my hands."
Duke An chuckled at Li Wenjian's words, knowing that his grandson genuinely cared for him and cherished the time spent together.
Li Wenjian glanced towards the door and asked, "Where's the medicine?"
At the mention of the medicine, all eyes in the room turned towards Zhao Heng.
However, as if struck dumb, Zhao Heng stood there motionless as if her soul had been suddenly extracted, unable to even glance towards the bed.
Seeing her frozen in place, Madam Liu lightly coughed as a gentle reminder, but Zhao Heng remained unresponsive, her mind blank.
"The prince is calling for you," Madam Liu turned to Zhao Heng, noticing the unusual paleness in her complexion.
Realizing that it would be inappropriate for the prince's attendant to show any disrespect, Madam Liu refrained from scolding her, reminding herself that Zhao Heng was just a palace maid sent by the Eastern Palace to attend to the master's illness.
As the maid responsible for household affairs and familiar with nobility and royalty, Madam Liu had encountered countless women, even the most stunning beauties. Nevertheless, Zhao Heng's natural beauty, unadorned by luxury, impressed Madam Liu, causing her to subconsciously inhale.
As a member of the prince's household, Zhao Heng would not be reprimanded, but Madam Liu gently tapped her hand and reminded her once again. Madam Liu's cold fingers touched Zhao Heng's rough hand, feeling how chilly and trembling it was.
Startled from a deep dream, Zhao Heng couldn't help but shiver.
After taking a deep breath, she slowly raised her head, looking towards Li Wenjian at the bedside.
He was dressed in a bright yellow brocade robe, exuding a commanding presence even while casually seated on a small stool. Even the golden dragon with angry eyes embroidered on his robe seemed to be showing off its power, as if it could tear her to shreds at any moment.
Having served in the laundry for many years, she knew that only one person in the world was worthy of wearing such fabric.
However, on that day, he was not wearing the dragon robe. Because of this, Zhao Heng mistook him for a nobleman attending the palace celebration.
As their eyes met, the image of the man in her mind overlapped with the face before her, causing her heart to skip a beat and her breath to momentarily cease.
But Li Wenjian merely gave her a glance, as if not remembering who she was, then turned his head and reached out his hand towards her, saying, "The medicine."
Steadying her mind, Zhao Heng tried her best not to make any more mistakes and carefully walked towards him. With each step forward, the pressure on her feet seemed to increase, making the short distance feel like a long and arduous journey.
"Your Highness," Zhao Heng stood before him, bowing her body and holding the tray high above her head as she presented it to him.
Lowering her eyes, the corner of her eye caught sight of his hands, clearly defined with knuckles, holding the medicine cup, with a vivid crimson spot standing out in her palm.
While faces and voices may become blurred with time, she would never forget that distinctive red birthmark in his palm.
Not wanting him to see her tears, he covered her eyes with his hand.
Before darkness fell, she saw the birthmark clearly.
"Are you from the Eastern Palace?" Li Wenjian suddenly asked.
Once again, Zhao Heng's heart rose to her throat, and in a dry, resigned voice, she answered, "Yes."
"What's your name?"
This was the second time he had asked for her name.
However, at that time, he was still groggy from waking up after a night of drinking, and Zhao Heng made up a name to deceive him, "Chunmei, my name is Chunmei."
"I am Zhao Heng." Zhaoxiang could hardly hear her own voice.
Li Wenjian turned to feed the medication to Duke An, and Zhao Heng stiffly retreated to the side, finally able to catch her breath for a moment.
The room regained its earlier lively atmosphere, with Li Wenjian chatting with Duke An as he fed him the medicine.
After all the commotion, Zhao Heng no longer had the heart to look at Duke An and only wished for Li Wenjian to finish giving the medicine so she could escape as soon as possible.
"Why isn't Ah Lin here today? Isn't he fond of festivities?" Duke An looked around, not seeing his beloved great-grandson, and remarked with a smile, "He has always liked you. If he knew you were here, he would have come earlier for sure."
"He's been running back and forth to the Eastern Palace every few days recently, always bothering Your Highness," An Yuanqing said. "The other day, he insisted on going to consult with Your Highness about his studies, but I stopped him. He argued back, saying it was Your Highness's permission to ask whenever he didn't understand."
Li Wenjian smiled and said, "Ah Lin has made great progress in recent years. Next month, he will accompany Minister Ye on a salt inspection tour down south. After he returns, I plan to send him to the Hanlin Academy for further training."
Upon hearing this, An Yuanqing and Madam Liu were overjoyed, immediately kowtowing in gratitude, "Thank you for your grace, Your Highness."
"It's not all favoritism," Li Wenjian explained. "Your son has topped every class at the Imperial Academy for the past few years, far surpassing his classmates. This clearly shows that he is a capable individual. However, life in the Hanlin Academy can be harsh, and he may have to endure some hardships."
An Yuanqing protested, "My An family comes from a lineage of warriors, and our veins run with martial blood. A true man should not be wielding a pen in the Hanlin Academy instead of a sword or spear!"
The old Duke rubbed his temples. The An family could, at best, be considered half-trained warriors. During the previous emperor's reign, the imperial army was besieged in Huai Creek Valley, facing certain death.
With no reinforcements in sight, An Yuanqing's six sons gathered local volunteers and reluctantly took up arms. It was a true hardship for these once-scholarly men, forced to mount horses and lead three thousand villagers armed with crude farming tools to the rescue of Huai Creek Valley.
Li Wenjian assured, "Since my uncle doesn't mind, I will leave his training in the capable hands of Master Ye."
An Yuanqing expressed his gratitude, "Thank you, Your Highness, for your concern."
Li Wenjian nodded slightly.
"Ah Lin, we owe you a debt of gratitude," the old Duke sighed.
Li Wenshan's hand, poised to administer the medicine, faltered. "This whole mess began with me. He suffered for so many years because of me," he confessed, his voice heavy with remorse.
An Guogong, the Duke of An, waved his hand dismissively. "Those events are long past. Why dwell on them?"
"Speaking of the past, Your Highness, have they apprehended the assassin who attempted your assassination before the New Year?" An Yuanqing hastily changed the subject.
An Yuanqing's words sent a shockwave through Zhao Heng's mind.
"No," Li Wenjian replied.
An Yuanqing's voice rose in indignation. "Such audacity! To dare to poison Your Highness on Dragon Boat Festival Day, within the palace walls! Once caught, they should be flayed alive, drawn and quartered, to serve as a stark warning."
Li Wenjian nodded in agreement, his gaze lingering on Zhao Heng with a knowing glint. "Indeed, they deserve severe punishment."
Zhao Heng's heart sank like a stone.
She knew she was the so-called assassin An Yuanqing spoke of, the one who deserved to be flayed alive and drawn and quartered.
Back then, Li Wenjian had gripped her wrist tightly, refusing to let go, demanding her identity. In a desperate bid to escape, she had seized the porcelain vase on the table and struck him on the back of the head, catching him off guard...
As if echoing that fateful moment, the distant porcelain vase crashed against her mind's eye, shattering into a million pieces. A cacophony of ringing filled her ears, her blood surging to her eardrums, blocking out all external sounds.
Her body frozen in place, she could barely muster the strength to grip the tray. Madam Liu, noticing her slender figure teetering precariously, as if on the verge of collapse, inquired, "Has the apothecary been too hectic? Are you exhausted?"
Zhao Heng managed a feeble bow, a sudden chill coursing down her spine as she replied, "Thank you for your concern, Madam Liu."
The impulse to deny welled up, but she found herself nodding unconsciously, "Indeed, I am a bit weary."
Madam Liu, known for her gentle and considerate nature, especially towards the Crown Prince's maidservants, spoke softly, "If you're feeling worn out, retire for now. I'll have someone deliver the medicine bowl to the apothecary later."
Zhao Heng, a stickler for rules, would never have dared to entrust her duties to another under normal circumstances. However, she couldn't bear to remain in this room any longer, every passing moment amplifying her sense of dread.
Her face pale and drained, she offered a feeble bow to Madam Liu. Noticing that no one was paying attention to her, she clutched the tray and retreated through the crowd, her steps hesitant.
Their voices were barely a whisper, yet Li Wenjian could hear them clearly. He stirred the remaining medicinal broth in his bowl, the delicate handle of the spoon twirling gently between his fingertips.
Li Wenjian's gaze shifted from the dark liquid to the direction where Zhaoheng had disappeared. A sudden chuckle escaped his lips, replacing his earlier anger.