Chapter 65
Today, the Xie Mansion was bustling with guests. It was said that when Ning Wanzhi was attending someone else's celebration, she made a scene and attracted a crowd. Curious onlookers and concerned individuals all rushed into the courtyard upon hearing the commotion.
Zhao Heng hurried with her people to the garden of the Xie Mansion. Even from a distance, they could hear Ning Wanzhi's cries. People saw Ning Wanzhi by the pond, wearing only a snow-white undergarment, struggling to jump into the lake while a few maidservants desperately tried to stop her.
"What... what... What kind of behavior is this from the Ning family? Indecent in broad daylight in front of everyone!" a woman exclaimed in disbelief.
"Where are her clothes?"
The Xie Mansion's maidservant, seeing the guests flocking in, had to plead in a low voice, "Miss Ning, please calm down and come up."
Marquis Xie's wife also frowned and begged, "Miss Ning, it was our servants who offended you. I apologize to you. Please come back, I will have those worthless guards from the Marquis Mansion tied up at the Ning Mansion. You can do as you wish with them. Please come here first."
Ning Wanzhi cried out loudly, "Is this how the Marquis Mansion treats its guests? I came here with good intentions to offer my congratulations. My clothes got dirty during the banquet, so I went to the guest room to change. But your house guards barged in. Aren't you trying to force me to death? Well, I'll die and show you."
"Xiao Ning." Zhao Heng pushed through the crowd to approach her, and Ning Wanzhi looked up at her, tears glistening on her face. Her eyes were red from crying, and Zhao Heng felt a pang in her heart. She beckoned to her, "Xiao Ning, come here."
Ning Wanzhi stood up unsteadily, ran towards Zhao Heng in the glow of lanterns, her snow-white clothes fluttering. She threw herself into Zhao Heng's arms, clutching onto her clothing, trembling as she sobbed, "Aunt, they are bullying me."
Zhao Heng hugged her, noticing how cold she was in her thin undergarment. She quickly took off her cloak and draped it over Ning Wanzhi, covering her securely.
She hugged her tightly and asked, "Who bullied you? What happened exactly?"
"My dress was spilled with tea just now. I went to the inner court to change. But as soon as I took off my outer garment, a few Marquis Mansion guards suddenly burst in... I..." She cried in Zhao Heng's arms, her voice trembling with fear but each word uttered clearly.
"Marquis Xie," Li Wenjian remained composed on the surface as he asked in a calm tone, "What exactly happened here?"
On this late autumn day, Marquis Xie even had beads of sweat on his forehead. He said with a forced tone, "Your Highness, it's all a misunderstanding. Earlier, there was an assassin in the mansion, those incompetent fools chased into the inner court, which led to the collision with Miss Ning."
Ning Wanzhi slowly turned her head towards Marquis Xie, her tear-filled eyes filled with sorrow, "But it was your maids who led me into that room. Surely they knew? Are you now accusing me of harboring an assassin? My father is not in the capital, and your Marquis Mansion is mistreating people like this. I was foolish in the past, indeed, I had a few disagreements with Miss Xie in the palace, but today I came sincerely to congratulate her on finding a good husband. You don't need to..."
As Ning Wanzhi spoke, she couldn't stop trembling. Zhao Heng reached for her hand, feeling how icy cold it was. She handed her the hot stove, saying with concern, "Xiao Ning, warm up quickly."
Tears kept falling, and she buried her face in Zhao Heng's shoulder, trembling as she spoke, "Aunt, I'm so scared. He bled a lot."
The surrounding noise drowned out her trembling voice. Zhao Heng held her tightly, her own hands shaking uncontrollably.
The onlookers started whispering about the Marquis Mansion's questionable actions.
"What? An assassin?" A voice suddenly questioned in the crowd, "Today, with so many guests in the mansion and His Highness personally here to congratulate, why would someone dare to come here at such a time? Are they after money or lives?"
"It seems like they have a death wish."
...
Marquis Xie vaguely sensed that something was amiss and said with a forced tone, "Miss Ning, we never intended this. It was an urgent situation at the time, which led to the offense against you..."
"Marquis Xie," Li Wenjian chuckled coldly. He slowly took off his cloak and placed it on Zhao Heng in front of him. The firelight illuminated his features, his sharp gaze scanning over, causing Marquis Xie to feel a pang of unease.
Indeed, then he heard Li Wenjian continue, "An assassin dared to offend the Marquis Mansion today? It seems that the security is lax here, giving criminals an opportunity. Since I am at fault for this, I shall correct it."
"It's not... I... " Marquis Xie struggled to find words, his hands trembling slightly.
"Jian Ning!" Li Wenjian commanded, "Have the Imperial Guards guard the Xie Mansion and help Marquis Xie catch the assassin."
Jian Ning shook his long sword and stepped out of the Xie Mansion.
"All right, Xiao Ning, His Highness will help you, don't cry," Zhao Heng couldn't find a handkerchief, so she pulled up her sleeves to wipe her tears.
Ning Wanzhi clutched Zhao Heng's clothes and sobbed softly, "Aunt, I don't want to stay here, I want to go home."
When they heard her call Zhao Heng "aunt," everyone suddenly remembered the close relationship between Ning Wanzhi and Xiao Silang of the An family. According to seniority, she should address Zhao Heng as "auntie."
Did Ning Wanzhi and the An family have some secret activities going on?
"Marquis Xie, please provide an explanation as soon as possible. Don't think that General Ning is far away in Meizhou and you can bully Ning Wanzhi recklessly," Zhao Heng's gaze swept through the crowd.
She noticed a pair of cold and deep eyes looking at her from the crowd, but when she looked over, the person quickly averted his gaze, which was strange.
Marquis Xie was sweating profusely and could only make consecutive affirmations.
Helping Ning Wanzhi to her feet, Zhao Heng walked out, and the crowd automatically made way for them. Li Wenjian gave Marquis Xie a deep look before following them.
The carriage outside the mansion was ready. Zhao Heng helped Ning Wanzhi into the carriage, and she wiped the tears from her face impatiently, asking, "Will Xiao Silang be all right?"
Li Wenjian lightly shook his head, "Feiyu just reported to me. Silang has been safely taken to a secure location."
Ning Wanzhi's clenched hands loosened slightly as she grabbed Zhao Heng's cloak tightly around herself, her tear-stained face feeling cool from the wind.
Gently wiping the water on her face with a handkerchief, Zhao Heng asked softly, "What happened? Why were you like that?"
Ning Wanzhi sniffled, her voice still choked with tears, "I... I followed your advice to go to the inner courtyard and saw a few drops of blood on the windowsill of a room. I had a bad feeling and went in. Xiao Silang was indeed inside, bleeding a lot, and I heard the guards from Xie Mansion coming. In my haste, I had to temporarily stop the bleeding with my outer shirt and then went out to distract the guards from Xie Mansion."
She was young and had never seen such a bloody scene before. Her eyes were red from crying, and her body trembled slightly.
Zhao Heng held her tightly, soothing her emotions.
"Aunt," Ning Wanzhi suddenly looked up at Zhao Heng.
Zhao Heng lowered her head to look at her, "Hmm? What's wrong?"
"Can you help me go see Xiao Silang?" Ning Wanzhi looked at her pleadingly, "He's seriously injured."
âWhy don't you go yourself?â Zhao Heng smiled gently, "You just helped him. It might not be appropriate to go see him now..."
"Isn't this just repaying kindness?" Ning Wanzhi blinked and said, "Besides, you told me to help him, I helped you, so you should help me too."
Zhao Heng pursed her lips and looked at Li Wenjian. He had a slight smile on his lips as he took Zhao Heng's hand, caressing her fingertips, "Come with me to the other mansion tomorrow, to put her mind at ease."
Zhao Heng tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and softly said, "Oh, okay."
*
On a night of drizzling autumn rain, the maids on night duty hung lanterns high under the eaves. Their movements were light and careful. The situation at the Xie Mansion today was chaotic, with a joyous occasion turning out like this. The master and mistress were all smoldering inside, everyone being cautious, fearing to unintentionally cause any trouble.
As the maids were picking up broken pieces of porcelain, Marquis Xie approached the hall. His face was extremely gloomy, but he still politely greeted Concubine An and called out softly, "Niangniang."
"I told you to stop earlier, didn't I? Why are you still doing this?" Concubine An's anger couldn't be contained upon seeing him, "It seems you won't stop until you ruin our entire family!"
"I am not doing this personally. Do you think the meager salary that Tingzheng and I earn can sustain the expenses of the marquisate? I am now at least a marquis; social interactions, daily expenses, don't they all require money?" Marquis Xie furrowed his brow, "Not to mention, those spices sent to the Jinyuan Palace every year cost hundreds of taels of silver."
"What do you mean by that? Are you now complaining that my expenses in the palace are burdening you?" Concubine An was already bursting with anger, and her cold eyes and tone didn't help.
"Second Sister." Hearing her words, Marquis Xie's eyes showed a hint of helplessness, "We rely on each other as siblings. It's my duty to take care of you. Now is not the time for harsh words. Fortunately, Ren Zhongchun discovered someone tampering with Xi Garden before today, and I was prepared, which prevented that thief from succeeding today. It's just a pity that we didn't capture him publicly."
Concubine An's gaze towards Marquis Xie became somewhat rigid, "Do you know who's behind it?"
Marquis Xie took a sip of the now-cold tea on the table, "It might be from the Ministry of Justice or the Ministry of Punishments... Anyway, they have traced it back to me, so it seems ominous."
"That barbarian slaves cannot stay any longer, and we cannot let them find evidence."
Outside, the drizzling rain continued softly. Marquis Xie met Concubine An's eyes and asked, "What do you mean?"
"Dispose of those barbarian slaves, pin it on Ren Zhongchun, and clean up this mess."
"But... with three to four hundred of them, it might not be easy to handle..." Having hundreds of barbarian slaves meant a lot of silver would be spent.
After a moment of contemplation, Concubine An spoke coldly, "To the south of Xi Garden, there's a clay pit left over from the construction of the palace, which can accommodate hundreds or even thousands of people. Lure those barbarian slaves in batches, kill them, then quietly burn them to ash."
Marquis Xie was shocked by her words, causing the teacup lid in his hand to fall to the ground.
Glancing at the trembling lid, Concubine An said coldly, "What are you afraid of, brother? Either they die, or we do. You choose."
Back in the Eastern Palace, this heart-stopping day finally came to an end. Lin Mama prepared a hot bath for Zhao Heng to relax. After bathing, she found out that Li Wenjian was still in the study.
Holding a lantern, she walked through the intricately-carved corridors to the study in the midst of complete silence.
The study was illuminated, and in the darkness, Li Wenjian's figure appeared even more gloomy as he read with his head down.
"Ah Heng," he looked up and saw her, beckoning her to come over.
Zhao Heng entered with the lantern, the candlelight illuminating her soft face.
"Why are you still not sleeping?" Li Wenjian gently caressed her face.
"I can't fall asleep."
"Would you like to come and help me go through these papers?" Li Wenjian asked.
Zhao Heng focused her eyes on him, "Can I?"
Li Wenjian moved aside, offering her a part of the long bench. Obediently, Zhao Heng sat next to him, bent over to carefully read, revealing a slender and fair neck.
Having just bathed, a faint mist clung to her body. Li Wenjian held her with his left hand and read with his right.
There were only a few papers to go through today, and they finished quickly.
Li Wenjian put down the pen, but he felt no desire to sleep. In the serene night, the light and shadows on the desk were like wisps of clouds. Suddenly, Li Wenjian embraced her without a word.
Zhao Heng didn't know why he was holding her, but she quietly and gently stroked his back.
"Are you afraid, Ah Heng?" In this damp and chilly night, she heard him ask.
"What am I afraid of?" Zhao Heng smiled faintly, her graceful and delicate demeanor adding a touch of elegance.
The study was quiet, with occasional raindrops falling outside the eaves.
"Are you afraid of the hidden dangers and treacheries around me?" Li Wenjian rested his head on her shoulder.
A simple sentence, but Zhao Heng keenly sensed his cautiousness, tinged with a touch of self-doubt.
Zhao Heng was slightly stunned, feeling a hint of pity in her heart.
Why was he so self-doubting when he was so good?
"Why be afraid?" After hesitating for a moment, Zhao Heng hugged his hand tightly, "In the last years of the previous dynasty, famine was rampant. Sometimes when I washed clothes by the river, nameless bodies would float downstream. Turmoil harms people, ultimately the small folk suffer. You are already in a high position, able to live this life comfortably and prosperously. Your aspiration for a prosperous age is for the people of the world. Your compassionate heart fills me with courage. The path to seeking a peaceful and prosperous era is not smooth sailing but with countless people persevering. Your Highness, I know how hard your path is, and though I am insignificant, I may not be able to do much for you, but I will always strive to keep pace with you and make this journey less lonely for you."
The window shutters seemed closed, yet a night breeze and a hint of cold rain slipped in through the cracks.
"Zhao Heng."
Li Wenjian cupped her face with both hands, making her look up at him.
Amidst the sound of the gentle rain, the dim light of the lamp, her face exuded a softness, "Is this your promise? That you will always be with me."
Zhao Heng looked at him and after a moment, nodded slowly, "Yes."
"Remember your words." Li Wenjian gently caressed her cheek with his fingertips, trying to keep his tone ordinary, not letting her sense anything unusual, but his slightly hoarse voice couldn't hide the emotions, "You must always be with me, helping me build a new prosperous era."
"Yes!" The determination shone in her clear eyes, as she told herself to remain steadfast forever.
After watching her quietly for a long time, Li Wenjian gently touched the back of her head and then embraced her again.
*
The next day, Li Wenjian and Zhao Heng went together to the secluded courtyard to check on An Xuzhi.
The day before, Fei Yu helped him escape from the Xie residence as he had been injured in the abdomen by a sword. To avoid alarming the old man by sending him back to the Duke's mansion, they temporarily placed him in the secluded courtyard, where Qin Zhao was currently guarding.
It was a drizzly autumn afternoon.
With the window shutters closed, the room was cast in dim light. An Xuzhi opened his eyes, still a bit disoriented. Seeing the person standing by his bedside, he instinctively tried to sit up by propping himself up with his forearm.
"Don't move," Li Wenjian's eyes were clouded with a layer of ash.
"Your Highness," perhaps still in a weakened state, his cold voice took on a hint of hoarseness.
An Xuzhi had just woken up, leaning against the bed with a sluggish expression, "The Xie residence was well-prepared, with traps set in the study. I was discovered as soon as I entered."
"Ah Lin, if that sword had deviated even slightly, you would have been gone," Li Wenjian stood in front of the bed, his brows furrowed.
But An Xuzhi, with very little color left in his lips, said, "I couldn't find the account book."
"It must have been when you went to the Xi Garden earlier, and you were discovered, so he deliberately set a trap waiting for you," Li Wenjian furrowed his brows.
An Xuzhi fell silent for a moment before saying, "This time he will be even more cautious, it will be harder to catch him if we want to find evidence."
"Let's not rush, focus on recovering from your injuries first."
"Understood."
An Xuzhi lay back on the bed, his face extremely pale. Suddenly, he heard footsteps approaching, and as he looked up, he saw Zhao Heng entering the room.
Her emerald-colored dress was stained with some mud, and her hair was slightly damp with sweat.
He hastily averted his gaze, and his clear eyes gradually lost their focus. Running his fingers over his green ring, he suppressed all his emotions.
Meeting his eyes, Zhao Heng also breathed a sigh of relief. She placed the medicine she had brought on the desk, "The medicine is ready."
An Xuzhi picked up the porcelain bowl without needing a spoon and drank it all at once.
Without even furrowing his brow, he seemed unable to taste the bitter medicine.
"What about Xiao Ning?" An Xuzhi looked towards Li Wenjian. If it hadn't been for Ning Wanzhi yesterday, he wouldn't have been able to escape the pursuit of the Xie residence's servants.
Thinking about what happened at the Marquis's residence yesterday, he felt overwhelmed with guilt.
He had triggered the mechanism in the study and had been chased by the guards. With the front yard filled with guests, he had no choice but to sneak into the inner courtyard.
Little did he know that Marquis Xie had trapped him, so he ended up hiding in a guest room, even squeezing into a wardrobe.
He never expected Ning Wanzhi to come in, let alone use such a risky method to save him.
He had hoped she would come, but he didn't catch sight of her figure.