Chapter 40
Zhao Heng was taken by surprise at how effective the medicine was. Following Yue Li's dosage instructions, Li Wenjian had barely taken a sip before he fell into a deep slumber.
Suddenly, she was hit full force, stumbling backward and nearly falling to the ground with him. With one hand supporting Li Wenjian's head, she bent over, hitting her knee hard against the edge of the couch, causing a sharp pain that made her gasp and involuntarily cry out.
Outside the door, Lin Mama heard the commotion and anxiously asked, "Madam, what's happening?"
"It's nothing," Zhao Heng hurriedly replied, bending to rub her knee and giving Li Wenjian a passing glance. "Mama, you can rest first."
Curiously, Lin Mama glanced into the room and caught sight of Zhao Heng's back in the lamplight. Though she couldn't see His Highness, she saw his embroidered robe draped over the couch and half of a jade crown peeking out of Zhao Heng's embrace.
That postureâHis Highness was lying in Zhao Heng's arms.
This Highness! He hadn't even closed the door!
Lin Mama blushed with embarrassment, quickly turned away, and closed the door behind her.
Fei Yu approached with hot water and was about to push the door open with his foot.
Lin Mama grabbed his arm, causing the water basin he was holding to splash water. He blinked in confusion, "What's the matter, Lin Mama?"
"Why are you going in now?" Lin Mama pulled him back.
Fei Yu explained, "His Highness just returned and needs hot water for bathing."
After a brief thought, Lin Mama agreed that water was needed. She instructed Fei Yu to leave the water outside the door and called through the door, "Master, the hot water is outside. Fei Yu and I will leave first."
Meanwhile, Zhao Heng was moving Li Wenjian to the bed, her voice slightly breathless from exhaustion. Upon hearing Lin Mama's voice, she clenched her fists against her chest to feel her own heartbeat and then calmly responded to Lin Mama, "Yes, you two go rest. I will attend to His Highness's bathing later."
Lin Mama happily led Fei Yu away as he rubbed the back of his head, puzzled. "Did I do something wrong? Why won't Lin Mama let me attend to His Highness's bathing?"
"You'll understand when you have a daughter-in-law," Lin Mama replied with a chuckle, pulling out a piece of candy from her pocket and handing it to him. "Go play somewhere else and stay away from His Highness's room."
"Why?" Fei Yu unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth, enjoying the sweet taste melting on his tongue.
Lin Mama shooed him away, "Off you go, just listen to Lin Mama."
Standing by the bed, Zhao Heng was breathing heavily, feeling utterly drained. She gazed at him, knowing he couldn't hear her at the moment, yet couldn't resist muttering to herself, "Are you really that defenseless? If there had been poison in that cup, you would be gone by now."
As her voice fell, she was in a daze, feeling that something in her mind was on the verge of breaking. It seemed to be gradually becoming clear, as she looked at Li Wenjian, her brows furrowed.
After standing for a while, she walked to the door and brought in warm water. In the midst of summer, he loved cleanliness, and after coming back from outside, he needed a wash. Normally, she would have asked Feiyu or Mu Gui to do this, but she was afraid of them noticing something unusual at the moment, so she reluctantly brought the water to the bedside and did it herself.
She lifted her skirt, sat on the edge of the bed, and reached out to undo his belt, taking off his outer robe. Then she wrung out the cloth soaked in hot water and carefully wiped him down. After unbuttoning his clothes, she saw many small wounds on his body, none very deep, but there was one that grazed past his heart, looking hauntingly shocking.
Being the crown prince was truly a dangerous thing.
After wiping his chest and arms clean, Zhao Hong carefully helped him up and washed his back by reaching under his armpits. He was weak all over, with his head drooping, leaning softly against her shoulder, his breath like a feather, brushing lightly and absentmindedly against her neck.
She suddenly froze, then almost jumped up straight when she came to her senses.
Her heart couldn't help but beat wildly, embarrassed and flustered, she sneaked a look at Li Wenjian.
What's wrong with this medicine! Isn't he supposed to be asleep!
She sighed in relief, trying to calm herself down, and with slightly trembling hands, quickly wiped his back. After washing him, she changed him into clean clothes, laid him down on the bed, and covered him with a thin blanket.
After finishing everything, she smoothed out the wrinkles on her skirt, her breathing slowly returning to normal, and she found a small stool to sit at the bedside.
She wanted to know how long the effects of this medicine would last, so she sat in front of the bed, watching over Li Wenjian. Maybe she had given him too much medicine, as it worked surprisingly fast, but the time it took for the effects to wear off was unusually slow, and he hadn't woken up for a long time.
The time passed slowly, until it was almost midnight, and he had been asleep for nearly two hours.
Zhao Hong was exhausted, and the shadows under the lamp became blurry before her eyes. She yawned and tears couldn't help but trickle down.
In a blur, she saw Li Wenjian slowly open his eyes.
When Li Wenjian woke up, he felt groggy. With his eyes slightly open, he saw a pair of bright eyes under the candlelight, staring at him intently, lips curving in a slight smile, asking him, "Your Highness, are you awake?"
He tried to remember, recalling that yesterday afternoon he had scolded the Minister of Rites and others in the Mingguang Hall, and he had wanted to console Zhao Heng in the evening. But he couldn't remember anything after that.
He opened his eyes and looked at the smiling face in front of him, his gaze lingering a bit on her laughing lips.
"Your Highness, are you too tired recently? Yesterday you drank my calming tea." Zhao Heng asked softly, "I closed the window and you fell asleep."
"Calming tea?" he was puzzled.
"Yes," Zhao Heng blinked slowly, her tone deliberately slow, "It was prescribed by physician Zheng."
Li Wenjian didn't expect to sleep so deeply, he rubbed his temples, slowly regaining his energy.
"I've been too tired recently," he said weakly. Memories resurfaced, and the unpleasant and worrying thoughts flooded back into his mind.
Zhao Heng glanced at his weary face, lifted her skirt, and slipped inside the bed canopy. Pulling the curtains down, they shielded most of the candlelight from outside. Kneeling beside Li Wenjian, her eyes, reminiscent of autumn water, sparkled like stars.
She understood the difficult situation he was facing now and spoke, "Your Highness, do not worry. After the storm comes calm, everything will be better."
Her smile did not fade, a lotus blooming on her snowy cheek, "If Your Highness can't sleep, I can give you a massage."
Li Wenjian's heart skipped a beat, and he nodded slightly.
With limited space on the bed, Zhao Heng sat at the head of the bed, lifted Li Wenjian's head onto her lap, and began massaging him, moving her fingers skillfully.
Resting against Zhao Heng's soft thighs, a faint scent unique to her briefly invaded his senses, making his breath hitch. He tightened his breath, calming himself internally.
"Zhao Heng." Li Wenjian, with closed eyes, suddenly called her name.
She gazed down at him quietly, patiently waiting, the dim light casting a gentle glow on his face. His solemn brows slightly furrowed, eyes closed as if he was more exhausted than relaxed.
After waiting for a while, Zhao Heng did not hear him continue speaking.
"Is there something you want to say to me?" she asked softly.
"Your Highness, illness stems from excessive worrying. Please, do not think about anything," Zhao Heng whispered.
Li Wenjian opened his eyes, looked up at her, meeting her smiling gaze. It seemed that today's events didn't affect her at all. She was like a tortoise carrying a heavy shell, no matter what happened, that shell was both her armor and her sanctuary.
If he asked further, she would be embarrassed. Li Wenjian chuckled lightly and closed his eyes again.
That night, Li Wenjian slept very well. His mind had been burdened lately, and his sleep was shallow, easily disturbed by even the slightest noise. But tonight, Zhao Heng, who had been crying and seeking solace in his arms, was now cuddled up against him, and he fell asleep again soon after.
When he woke up in the morning, Zhao Heng was still sleeping. Li Wenjian gently pulled back the blanket, got out of bed, and decided to take a bath since he hadn't bathed the night before.
In the bath, he hesitated for a moment. He hadn't changed into clean clothes before falling asleep last night, so were these clothes... changed by Zhao Heng?
Shortly after he got up, Zhao Heng woke up. She heard the sound of water running in the bath, memories of last night flooding her mind unexpectedly. She quickly pulled the blanket over her head and closed her eyes.
Li Wenjian showered with cold water, then went back to the bedroom. Seeing Zhao Heng still asleep, he approached the wardrobe and dressed in clean clothes, before leaving the room.
Most of Zhao Heng's body was hidden behind the curtain, she pulled the covers down slightly, watching him disappear through the door, before frowning and getting out of bed to walk to the dressing table.
"Master, you're awake." Lin Mama stepped into the bedroom, smiling, "Let me help you with your hair."
Zhao Heng handed the comb to Lin Mama, who skillfully styled her hair into a bun.
"In the morning, Concubine An and Concubine Mei sent over some food again." Lin Mama smiled, "Concubine An sent some Bi Sha fruits, and Concubine Mei sent almond cheese, both sweet treats that you like, perfect for breakfast."
Zhao Heng loved sweets, but her family couldn't afford much sugar for her. Her grandmother would earn a little extra money by doing laundry for others and then buy a small pack of sugar for Zhao Heng at the market, keeping it in a jar for her to have a spoonful each day, not allowing her to have too much.
When she was tempted, she would sneak onto a stool and dip her fingers in the sugar to eat, often spilling a couple of granules on the cabinet. Her grandmother would then jokingly ask her, "Is there a little mouse stealing sugar in our house again?"
With a mischievous smile, she would reply, "Yes."
"Master?" Lin Mama asked in confusion.
Coming back to reality, Zhao Heng looked at herself in the mirror. The delicate pearl hairpins gently swayed against her temples, reminding her that her grandmother was no longer with her. She had left the impoverished village and entered the splendid palace, where her grandmother would never return.
"Let's go." Zhao Heng diverted her gaze, adjusted the folds of her skirt, and led Lin Mama to the dining area.
Just after breakfast, Lian Zhou returned. She rushed to Zhao Heng, beads of sweat dotted her forehead due to the hurry.
Zhao Heng smiled and asked, "Did you get what I asked for?"
"Yes!" Lian Zhou handed her a silk-wrapped package from her sleeve, "I went to see Physician Zheng as you instructed. I told him that my wrist was injured and it aches terribly whenever it rains. He prescribed me two White Jade Pills without hesitation!"
"You're learning to lie from me now, Lian Zhou." Zhao Heng stuffed the silk package into her own sleeve, smiling.
Blushing slightly, Lian Zhou retorted, "No, I'm not."
After a pause, she asked, "What do you need the White Jade Pills for, Master?"
Zhao Heng just chuckled and didn't answer her question.
In the afternoon, Mu Gui stood outside the study, holding a stack of papers.
He informed her from outside, "Zhaoxun, His Highness asked me to bring something for you."
Curious, Zhao Heng hadn't asked for anything from him, wondering why he was bringing something now. She got up and walked to the door, where Mu Gui handed her the stack of papers.
"What is this?" Zhao Hong asked.
Mu Gui simply smiled and urged her to open it, "Look for yourself, Zhaoxun."
Reluctantly, Zhao Heng unfolded the papers and was taken aback.
It was a collection of self-reproach letters, not a single noblewoman from Lin'an Pond had missed out, even their fathers had written confession letters.
Suppressing a smile, Zhao Heng said, "So, His Highness knows all about this?"
"He found out yesterday afternoon." Mu Gui stood upright, speaking formally, "Upon learning about it, he immediately summoned several officials to the palace and conducted a lesson on moral conduct for them."
The lesson lasted until the early hours of this morning.
After suffering in the palace, the old men returned home only to find out the cause of their troubles. They were furious.
Even the Chief Minister Wang, who always doted on his daughter, angrily slapped Wang Ruoyu in front of the servants, demanding her to write a self-reproach letter and to reflect in the ancestral hall for a month. It was said that she was already scared from the incident and her mother scolded her all night. The entire household didn't get much sleep.
His Highness summoned the officials to the palace and held them there all night, causing anxiety and search for information among their families.
But no one found anything.
The next morning, her father finally returned home. However, instead of consoling her, he slapped her twice.
Chief Minister Wang was livid. After living half his life with integrity and decency, he had never been accused of misconduct before.
When Wang Ruoyu fainted twice while writing the self-reproach letters, her father didn't show any mercy. He had the maids wake her with cold water and continue writing. After she finished, he threw them into the ancestral hall without a second thought.
Seeing how Chief Minister Wang took the lead, other families didn't dare to show favoritism either. They all punished their disobedient daughters severely.
Zhao Heng didn't care about all this. Those people never gained any advantage over her, neither through words nor through actions.
Wang Ruoyu was so foolish, unable to win an argument with her. Instead, she pushed them into the water. Zhao Heng felt a sense of relief.
Moreover, the cloak given to her by the Empress secretly supported her. She felt there was nothing more to worry about.
She didn't want to make a big deal out of this matter. Besides, His Highness already had plenty on his mind. She didn't want to bother him with such trivial things.
Seeing the stack of self-reproach letters in her hand, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
To be valued like this, many things didn't need to be spoken out loud.
*
Two days remained until the true fifteenth day of Ruo Zhen's deadline. Zhao Heng's foot injury had almost healed. With Lian Zhou, she took a walk outside. They strolled around the Spring Garden and ultimately arrived at the Phoenix (Fengming) Terrace.
The Phoenix Terrace was where the Dragon Boat Festival night banquet was held, and Li Wenjian took her to see the fireworks. This area was built by the previous ruthless emperor to watch performances daily.
However, as the current emperor didn't share his tastes, it had been deserted for a long time, surrounded by ancient trees, quiet and serene. Walking here in summer provided shade from the sun, away from the scorching heat.
After being frightened by Ruo Zhen in the Beast Garden last time, Lian Zhou felt uneasy in less crowded places and urged Zhao Heng to leave. After circling the Phoenix Terrace, they found it desolate and eventually left.
As they descended from the Phoenix Terrace and passed through the Imperial Garden on their way back to the Eastern Palace, they encountered the Empress and Ye Chaoyang.
The Empress sat on a stone bench near a peony bush, with a variety of pastries on the stone table in front of her. Ye Chaoyang sat opposite her, dressed simply, with a string of Bodhi prayer beads wrapped around her hand. She stood up to pour hot tea into the Empress' cup from a teapot.
The Empress, being an elder, it wouldn't be appropriate for Zhao Heng to turn and leave when they met in the garden. She walked up gracefully, respectfully greeting, "Your Majesty, I wish you peace."
The Empress nodded slightly, casually glancing at her and inquiring, "Is your injury better now?"
Zhao Heng replied meekly, "Your Majesty, it's almost completely healed."
"Be more cautious next time." The Empress lifted the tea in front of her, took a sip, and then placed the cup down. "Were you frightened that night?"
Zhao Heng shook her head, meeting the Empress' gentle gaze and nodded firmly.
A faint smile broke through the Empress' solemn expression, just for a moment, before she regained her usual grace and composure. She advised, "The changes of fate, the thunder and fire, are inevitable natural phenomena. Don't be afraid. Be more alert when encountering extreme weather like that next time."
Raising her eyes, Zhao Heng cast a grateful glance at the Empress. After the incident at Lin Anchi, although no one dared to speak openly, there were whispers of ill omens associated with her. But the Empress calmly assured her that it was just a normal natural phenomenon, neither auspicious nor ominous.
"Okay!" She forced a smile, with a hint of barely noticeable joy in her voice.
Ye Chaoyang smiled, "Zhaoxun is blessed, and surely can turn misfortune into blessings, everything will go smoothly."
She picked up a teacup on the table, poured a cup of tea and pushed it towards Zhao Heng, "Try the tea I brought back from Qingxu Mountain."
"Thank you." Zhao Heng adjusted her dress and sat down on the Empress' left.
The Empress spoke softly, "By the way, when will Changqiu Hall be repaired?"
"The Ministry of Works said it will probably take another six months." Zhao Heng tasted Ye Chaoyang's tea and reported back.
The Empress nodded, then asked, "Where are you living now? Many rooms in the Eastern Palace have been abandoned for a long time. Remember to remind His Highness to have the Ministry of Works thoroughly inspect and repair them, to prevent such incidents from happening again."
Zhao Heng looked up at her, then slightly lowered her gaze, speaking softly, "I'm temporarily staying in Chengming Hall by His Highness's gracious permission."
The Empress just said, "Oh," and didn't say anything more.
Zhao Heng sighed softly in relief.
A light remark made Ye Chaoyang's hand tremble slightly. Chengming Hall was where His Highness resided daily. If she moved there to live with him, wouldn't they be facing each other day and night?
Her hand, hidden in her sleeve, clenched lightly.
"Your Majesty." Ye Chaoyang forced a smile, addressing the Empress, "The donations collected by Guangji Institute, besides using a portion to purchase daily necessities for the children, I also want to establish a charity school in the Children's Welfare Bureau."
Her voice was steady, trying to make it sound as normal as possible.
The Empress pondered for a moment before approving her idea, "Establishing a charity school is a great idea, teaching literacy and imparting virtues. However, it shouldn't just focus on teaching academics. Some people are not inclined towards scholarly pursuits, and forcing them might not yield fruitful results. For these children, it's best to offer vocational courses, such as embroidery or blacksmithing, to provide them with a skill for life."
Ye Chaoyang nodded in agreement, "Your Majesty, your foresight is truly admirable."
Zhao Heng gazed at the Empress with admiration. If there had been an institution like the Children's Welfare Bureau during the reign of the ruthless emperor, providing care and compassion for the weak, and planning for their future livelihoods, she wouldn't have suffered so much and endured so many hardships during her childhood.
"Chaoyang, I entrust the Children's Welfare Bureau to you. You can take charge and make decisions freely. As long as it's for the benefit of the children, I will support your choices." The Empress' expression softened.
Ye Chaoyang replied respectfully, "Yes, I will not disappoint the trust of Your Majesty."
Not engaging in their conversation, Zhao Heng sipped her tea quietly, finding its refreshing taste quite pleasing. After drinking a couple of sips, she suddenly heard the Empress calling her, "Zhao Heng, if you have some free time, you can also visit the Children's Welfare Bureau."
Zhao Heng turned to the Empress, somewhat surprised, "Can I?"
The Empress smiled, "Of course you can, it's just that the Children's Welfare Bureau is quite far from the palace, and the journey might be a bit bumpy."
Ye Chaoyang hesitated for a moment, then forced a faint smile, "In the future, if there's anything at the Children's Welfare Bureau, I will ask Zhaoxun to accompany me."
Zhao Heng nodded firmly.
After a while, a palace maid came forward to report, "Your Highness is here."
The Empress gazed at the peony flowers as Li Wenjian approached from the other end, couldn't help but sigh at how swiftly time passed, so many years had gone by, and she now saw the son of her and Yuan Qing all grown up.
They had just met around noon, but now she found herself thinking of him again.
"Mother." Li Wenjian clasped his hands in front of him and bowed to the Empress.
Ye Chaoyang stood up, "Your Highness is here? Please taste the tea I made myself, I personally went to the tea mountain this spring to pick and roast the tea leaves, toiled for nearly half a month, and only made a jin of tea."
Li Wenjian waved it off, "I happened to pass by, and have to leave soon."
Seeing the two of them together, Zhao Heng couldn't help but remember Li Wenjian's rather acerbic assessment of her - seeking fame, deep in thought, too calculating. She discreetly glanced at Ye Chaoyang and noticed the dignified smile on her lips.
"Mother, the weather has been hot lately, please take care to avoid the summer heat. Don't skimp on using ice just to be thrifty, it might lead to bigger troubles in the long run," Li Wenjian turned to the Empress with concern.
The Empress nodded in agreement, "You've been busy with state affairs, remember to take care of yourself and avoid overworking. You can head back now since you're busy."
Li Wenjian smiled and agreed, then glanced at Zhao Heng, "Are you leaving now?"
Zhao Heng nodded and rose to her feet, bowing deeply to bid farewell to the Empress before walking out of the pavilion with Li Wenjian.
The peony flowers bloomed brightly on either side of the path, creating a colorful and elegant scene. Their silhouettes cast against the vibrant flowers, swaying in the twilight shadows, sometimes drawing close, sometimes drifting apart.
Memories from the past suddenly flooded her mind.
"Take your medicine obediently. Once you're better, I'll take you to see the peonies in Luoyang." Yuan Qing sat by her sickbed, cupping a bowl of medicine in his hands, soothing her with gentle words.
"Luoyang is so far away," the girl coughed lightly, sounding a bit disappointed.
Yuan Qing rubbed her head and joked, "Then after we get married, I'll plant peonies all over the courtyard for you."
That year she was sixteen, and he was eighteen, a time of prime youth in their lives.
The Empress watched them disappear at the end of the flower path, snapping out of her distant thoughts. She felt she had been overly sentimental lately.
*
Li Wenjian strode ahead, his long legs taking large steps, while Zhao Heng almost had to jog to keep up. Even though it was late afternoon and the sun had moved well into the west, half of his face was hidden behind the distant palace. However, it was still the height of summer, and she was sweating profusely.
The dusk was serene at the Linâan Pond, the breeze from the pond blowing cool on their faces. Li Wenjian slowed down his pace, and when Zhao Heng approached, he suddenly turned and asked, "Feeling hot?"
Zhao Heng wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief and nodded earnestly.
"Follow me." Li Wenjian walked ahead with hands behind his back, taking much smaller steps. Zhao Heng followed him down the path away from the East Palace, and she asked, looking at his back, "Aren't you returning to the East Palace, Your Highness?"
He didn't answer, just walked ahead with a resolute expression.
Feeling dizzy from the heat, Zhao Heng didn't dare leave him alone and had to quicken her pace to keep up.
After walking a short distance, they arrived at a pavilion. Several single-person rowboats were tied near the pavilion, used by lotus pickers to navigate the pond.
Li Wenjian was nimble, he jumped off the rowboat after leaning on the railing of the pavilion. He untied the rope fastened to the pillar and extended his hand towards Zhao Heng, "Come down."
Startled for a moment, Zhao Heng slowly crouched down, took his hand, leaped gracefully, landing steadily at the bow of the boat. The boat rocked gently, splashing water and wetting her skirt.
"Stay steady." Li Wenjian held her arm, guided her to the stern, and had her sit on a small stool. "Sit tight."
The lotus boat stood at the shore, and Zhao Heng, pondering whether she needed to accompany him anymore.
As she hesitated about boarding the boat, Li Wenjian started rowing, and the boat slowly drifted away from the shore.
"Your Highness, where are we going?" Zhao Heng asked, looking up at Li Wenjian at the bow of the boat.
"To pick lotus," Li Wenjian replied succinctly.
Zhao Heng was briefly stunned but didn't ask further, indifferent to their destination.
The single-person boat moved through the water, disturbing the frogs resting on the lily pads. The frogs with their long legs quickly leaped into the water with a splashing noise.
The gentle breeze carrying the fragrance of lotus leaves blew refreshingly on their faces.
As the lotus leaves and flowers extended over thousands of acres, shimmering in the twilight glow that covered the entire lotus pond, Zhao Heng couldn't help but sigh, "The tranquil lake is filled with the fragrance of lotus, with the flowers blooming in the red glow of the setting sun."
Li Wenjian looked at her and smiled lightly, "You know how to use poetry and prose."
Zhao Heng blushed slightly and lowered her head, "I can't write poetry myself, I can only quote from the classics."
Li Wenjian turned his head to look at the clouds in the sky.
Leaning forward, Zhao Heng reached her hand into the water, selected a lotus flower, grasped the stem, and plucked the flower.
Li Wenjian noticed her action and gradually slowed down the rowing to make it easier for her to pick.
She piled the plucked lotus flowers on the boat, soon forming a tall stack.
Raising her head again, she realized the boat had sailed into the center of the lake, surrounded by towering lotus leaves, where silence reigned, with only the two of them in the vast expanse of the water.
âââ
The author's notes:
Zhao Heng: "What's wrong with this person, they can't even take a bath without...!
Next time: What's wrong with this person, they can't even hold hands, pass a washcloth, or even have a snack...!"