Chapter 49.2
After walking for a long while, Zhao Heng noticed that the street was not only filled with Central Plains people but also with many foreign merchants.
Many of the shops along the way were run by foreign merchants, with exotic and beautiful foreign courtesans standing behind the counters selling wine, twisting their waists to attract customers.
The foreign courtesans were fiery and uninhibited. When they saw a handsome single man, they would approach and try to flirt with him.
The last time Zhao Heng had strolled through such a lively and bustling street was ten years ago. Coming out, she found everything new and exciting. She walked and looked around, unknowingly falling far behind him.
"Young Master, would you like to come in for a drink?" By the side of the road, a beautiful foreign courtesan holding a luminous cup blocked Li Wenjian's path, reached out to grab his wide sleeve, her eyes sending flirtatious glances, full of charm.
Zhao Heng hesitated, standing still, her gaze falling on the courtesan's hand holding His Highness's finger, wondering whether or not she should step forward.
"No, thank you." Li Wenjian brushed her hand away, turned to find Zhao Heng, took two steps back, took her wrist, and smiled at the courtesan, "My wife is quite jealous, so I must decline your kind offer."
The courtesan's gaze lingered on Li Wenjian, it would be a pity to let go a handsome young man just like that. However, when she looked at the person beside him, with a face like a fairy under the moonlight hat, she felt that these two people were like divine couple walking out of a painting, not someone that ordinary folks could interfere with.
Reluctantly, she had to let them go.
As they walked past the courtesan the two continued walking forward. Zhao Heng lowered her eyes and watched as the two held hands. She wanted to pull away, but instead, he opened his palm and his fingers slipped through hers, interlocking tightly.
"Help me, there's still another courtesans ahead," Li Wenjian leaned in and whispered in her ear with a smile.
Strange, this person hadn't been drinking, but his words carried a hint of intoxication, making her ears flush.
Many vendors were selling food along the road.
Zhao Heng saw a Hu person with a basket covered in white cloth, calling out in broken Central Plains dialect, "Sour milk cake, sour milk cake from the west bank."
Seeing her standing still, Li Wenjian pulled her to the vendor.
The basket was almost empty due to the high number of buyers.
The Hu person, seeing their fine attire, smiled and promoted, "Made from milk from the west bank, good for your health."
Li Wenjian glanced and asked, "With the recent migration of people from the north to the south, there's chaos in the west bank. How did the west bank's milk make it to the capital? Are they from the cow farm?"
The Hu person immediately laughed embarrassedly, "You have sharp eyes, nobleman. But try it. The taste is not inferior to that of the west bank's milk."
Li Wenjian smiled and bought two pieces, paid, and gave one to Zhao Heng.
With her arms full of trinkets bought along the way, Zhao Heng used one hand to hold the sour milk cake, sticking out her tongue to take a small bite.
It was cold, making her tongue shiver.
The two walked and ate until they finally grew tired, and Li Wenjian led her to sit at the entrance of a temple.
There was a tall locust tree in front of the temple, with a wide canopy that resembled a huge umbrella.
The wind filtered through the dense leaves, providing a cool breeze.
Li Wenjian sat next to Zhao Heng, turning to look at her.
As she sat on the steps, eating the sour milk cake with concentration, some milk trickled down from her lips. He raised his hand and gently wiped the milk from her lip.
The warmth of his fingertips spread at the corner of her lips, making her earlobes inexplicably warm.
Li Wenjian adjusted his robe collar and said with a smile, "I remember when I was young, I once went out with Wei Zhan. The streets were crowded like today, and we got separated in the crowd. I was pushed to a riddle stall by the crowd, and I impulsively guessed several items, causing the vendor to lose money. He got angry, started causing a scene, and was about to kick me out. Just as we were arguing, Wei Zhan came over, thinking I was wronged. Without a word, he punched the vendor in the face."
"They got into a scuffle, causing a commotion in the bustling market, attracting a crowd to watch. People were pushing and knocking over the nearby lantern stall. The bamboo strips with colored paper used for making lanterns caught fire and turned the lantern festival into a fire in the capital. Because of this incident, the local magistrate was reprimanded by the Emperor for failing to manage the situation. The magistrate felt unjustly blamed and investigated thoroughly. In the end, it was found that it was Wei Zhan who caused trouble with me. A summons was sent to the Wei family, and that night, Wei Zhan was hung in front of his ancestors and whipped."
Zhao Heng couldn't imagine the usually composed Li Wenjian being mischievous.
She couldn't help but smile.
"Was His Highness also mischievous when he was young?" Zhao Heng asked.
"Yes, very mischievous. But Wei Zhan was even more mischievous, and he always got the most beatings." Li Wenjian had finished his sour milk cake, and he was holding a small drum in his hands, gently moving the handle, creating a crisp and pleasant drum sound. "He was very loyal, no matter the trouble we got into, whether he was involved or not, he always took responsibility for it and often ended up getting punished."
Zhao Heng glanced at him, and her snowy white hand gently rested on the back of his hand. "Your Highness is also a good person, deserving of General Wei's kindness towards you."
Not wanting to dwell in low spirits, Li Wenjian stood up and took her hand, saying, "Let's go."
"Back to the palace?" Zhao Heng asked him.
Without looking back, Li Wenjian said, "Not going back."
"Not going back?" Zhao Heng was surprised.
However, Li Wenjian didn't say anything more. He led her through the bustling crowd, and they finally stopped after a long while.
In front of them was a tavern run by a Hu person, with a sign written in Hu script. Inside, all the servers were Hu people, and the landlady was a plump Hu woman.
Li Wenjian must have been a frequent visitor as the landlady hurried over upon seeing him. "Li Young Master is here! Long time no see, where have you been lately?"
Li Wenjian nodded, "Just came back from the northwest yesterday, and thinking of having a drink here on Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Come in and have a seat." The landlady quickly wiped a chair and invited them to sit down, then she turned and shouted loudly towards the back room, "Boss, Li Young Master is here, come out quickly."
It was an opportunity for Zhao Heng to ask Li Wenjian, "Have you been here before?"
"I used to skip school to come here often and play."
Looking around, Zhao Heng realized the environment wasn't upscale. It was mostly wandering merchants drinking here, all flushed with alcohol, sometimes standing on the tables to play drinking games.
It wasn't a sophisticated place, and Li Wenjian, with his refined demeanor, stood out like a white crane among ducks, looking out of place.
Before long, the boss emerged from the back room and upon seeing Li Wenjian, greeted him warmly, "It's really Young Master."
He then turned to Zhao Heng and asked with a smile, "Is this the esteemed lady your wife?"
Li Wenjian glanced at Zhao Heng and replied with a smile, "Yes, she is."
"What a beautiful young lady," the landlady couldn't stop smiling, "Such a perfect couple."
"It's a good day. I'll treat the drinks for Young Master and the esteemed lady today!" The boss said cheerfully, "Make sure you enjoy the food and drinks!"
Li Wenjian was not at all polite, "Well then, thank you."
Quietly sitting on the side, Zhao Heng stole a glance at Li Wenjian, who was receiving a jug of wine from the boss.
Today, His Highness was so unexpected to her. She didn't expect him to come to such a chaotic place, to be friends with the owner of a Hu people's tavern, and to even falsely claim that she was his wife.
"Do you drink alcohol?" Li Wenjian asked her.
She shook her head, indicating she didn't know how to.
Li Wenjian then didn't pour her any alcohol but instead gave her some slices of beef jerky, saying, "You must be hungry after not eating much in the evening and walking this long road."
Feeling a bit hungry, she didn't hesitate to pick up the chopsticks and slowly eat the food.
In the tavern, there were Hu women dancing, and the guests either stood or sat, chatting loudly. Some who had drunk too much even imitated the dancers, causing laughter throughout the room.
Zhao Heng saw it too and raised a bowl to her lips, pretending to be cheerful.
"Nowadays, the world is becoming better and better!" A Hu merchant at the next table spoke up, "The court reduced the trade tax, so we can earn thirty percent more from a trip than before!"
After his remark, someone at another table immediately agreed, "Yes! Not only have they reduced the taxes, but the security on the border has also improved a lot! I heard that the court is going to crack down on the bandits, so we will feel even safer on the roads."
"Remember the period when the previous dynasty was in charge, people were living like animals. I remember one year when I visited the Great Qin country, I even encountered soldiers pretending to be bandits robbing. Damn it, they left me with nothing but my underpants!"
Laughter erupted in the crowd.
People in the market were straightforward and righteous, without much subtlety. Quickly, they all bonded together.
"The current Emperor is a benevolent ruler. That's why we can live like decent human beings."
"I heard that most of the current politics are managed by His Highness the Crown Prince!"
"Whether it's His Majesty or His Highness, we sons are all under their care, they are all good people!" Someone held up a cup and stood on the table, proposing, "Let's all raise our glasses in honor of our King! May the prosperity of the Dongli last forever!"
Led by him, everyone stood up, and the drumbeats behind the curtain became more and more intense, with the musicians playing a joyful song.
Amidst the singing, everyone in the room spoke words of blessings, including Zhao Heng and Li Wenjian.
Her eyes slightly teared up, feeling proud and honored by the compliments received. She poured herself a bowl of wine, brought it to Li Wenjian, and in a voice only they could hear, she said, "I toast to His Highness with this bowl."
"I thought you didn't drink?" Li Wenjian raised an eyebrow.
Hearing the praise from everyone, she even had a sense of pride, looking at him with slightly flushed eyes, she said, "To this peaceful and prosperous era."
"Good." He smiled and clinked their bowls, "To this peaceful and prosperous era."
After finishing the wine, everyone indulged in singing and dancing. The fiery Hu women even came over to pull Zhao Heng and Li Wenjian into the dancing crowd.
Reluctantly, Zhao Heng was pulled into the dance by the Hu woman, her movements stiff and awkward.
The joyous laughter and chatter of the people around filled the room, penetrating everyone's hearts, as if it could reach the skies.
At that moment, Zhao Heng probably understood why Li Wenjian had brought her to this place.
Being with these simple and generous people was truly joyful, so joyful that all worries seemed to be forgotten.
She saw His Highness sitting under the lantern light, his smiling face radiating a continuous warmth that burst open from her chest like a spring water, enveloping her completely.
Every day of knowing him, his tolerance, generosity, and care were like the best medicine, slowly healing all her wounds.
As they left the tavern towards the end, Zhao Heng felt like she was quite drunk, unable to stand steady.
A broad hand from behind held her waist, and Li Wenjian chuckled, "You've really done it, getting so drunk from just one bowl of wine."
He asked the landlady to support Zhao Heng's body, then he walked in front of her and crouched down.
"Come up."
Staring at his back, she hesitated to climb up, "No, I'm heavy. What if I fall?"
"Aheng." Li Wenjian's temper was exceptionally good, and he gently said, "Come up."
She then slowly climbed onto his back.
In the August night, dew had started to descend, and there was a misty moisture on the branches and leaves along the road.
Zhao Heng lay on his back, completely different from her usual obedient self. Tilting her head, she looked at the light shadows through the trees and took the opportunity to grab a branch when Li Wenjian wasn't paying attention.
"What are you doing?" Li Wenjian asked.
Zhao Heng spread her hands, turning the branch over and over, muttering, "Picking osmanthus flowers for you."
Li Wenjian said, "This is a locust tree."
Zhao Heng blinked in confusion, then whispered, "Then I'll pick locust flowers for you."
"Be good."
She indeed behaved for a while, reaching out to hug his neck and obediently resting her head on his shoulder.
Not long after, she became restless again, and mumbled, "Where are you taking me on your back?"
"Home."