Chapter 9
At the dusk by the lake, it was extremely peaceful.
Willow trees hung down slender branches.
The setting sun cast a rosy light like a light veil on the surface of the lake and the roadside.
"My great-grandfather was bedridden, and my grandmother is busy managing household affairs now. Since I don't have anyone in mind, I don't want to bother her with unnecessary matters."
Perhaps feeling guilty, he lowered his eyes to the gleaming lake surface and continued, "I also don't like the noble ladies from the aristocratic families in the capital."
Li Wenjian nodded, "In matters of marriage, it's natural to choose someone you like."
An Xuzhi's fingers at his side twitched nervously, he hesitated in his words as he asked Li Wenjian, "Your Highness, if the person I like comes from humble origins, not from a prestigious family, do you think my grandparents will approve?"
The sincere and warm gaze of the young man hid a cautious fervor.
Li Wenjian replied, "My paternal grandfather came from a humble background, once just a butcher in the mountains. Although he was from the countryside, he was straightforward and upright. When the wicked emperor oppressed the world and pushed the people into misery, my great-grandfather raised his arms, and the heroes of the world followed suit, defeating the emperor and establishing the Dongli. My father, also the son of a butcher, studied diligently, treated people with sincerity, and was recognized by my maternal grandfather, who then took him as a son-in-law. This shows that precious gems do not have to come from the famous rivers. If the person you like has noble character and the ability to be a lady of the aristocratic family, they will not be obstructed by your grandparents."
An Xuzhi was taken aback before his lips curled up slightly.
This question had troubled him for a long time, as next year Zhao Heng would be leaving the palace.
Zhao Heng had no grand ambitions, she entered the palace just to make a living in troubled times, her biggest dream was to live a peaceful life after leaving the palace and care for her grandmother until the end.
She feared trouble.
If he wanted to propose to her, he had to dispel her worries.
Therefore, acceptance by the An family was crucial for him.
Li Wenjian's words gave him great confidence, joy evident in the young man's eyes. He calmed his emotions and suppressed his joy, but it still leaked out from his eyes and a nod, "I understand."
After a pause, he added, "Miss Wei is here again."
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Wenjian's expression, seeing his frown and impatience.
"Never mind her," Li Wenjian said.
An Xuzhi withdrew his gaze and asked tentatively, "Are you really willing to watch her marry into the Xiongnu?"
Wei Wanyu had been too spoiled.
Li Wenjian had always favored Wei Wanyu due to his guilt towards Wei Zhan, allowing her spoiled and unruly behavior to continue. Minor mischief was one thing, but this time she dared to use marriage as a bargaining chip to threaten him.
"She seeks her own path, and will naturally get what she desires," Li Wenjian said leisurely.
In the end, An Xuzhi did not ask for Wei Wanyu's forgiveness, knowing Li Wenjian's firm and unyielding nature, not something to be easily swayed.
Back at his residence, An Xuzhi carefully held the jade hairpin from his embrace in his hand, gently playing with it. She was gentle and not fond of showing off, she would surely appreciate this hairpin.
Imagining Zhao Heng with her hair held up, adorned with this hairpin, a smile tugged at his lips.
The warm orange light cast his figure on the wall, swaying gently with the breeze blowing in through the window.
After chuckling at the hairpin for a while, he turned around to take out a piece of silk from the box, gently wrapping the jade hairpin to protect it from any knocks, then placed it under his pillow.
These days, Zhao Heng was not in the Eastern Palace, perhaps sent somewhere else for duties. In a few days, he would give it to her again.
As he bid farewell, the thought of heading south to Jiangnan and possibly not seeing Zhao Heng for several months filled him with worry and reluctance. The smile that was once on his lips unexpectedly drooped.
However, the words from His Highness today gave him great encouragement and prompted him to make a firm decision. When he returned from Jiangnan, he would discuss marriage with her.
After four or five years of companionship, emotions had developed even if unspoken. He understood that some feelings, though never voiced, didn't require many words for him to comprehend.
He believed she understood too.
Yet, there was a faint worry.
She may be willing to be a wife to Bai Yu, but would she be willing to be a wife to An Xuzhi?
How could he dispel her concerns and make her agree to marry him without any worries?
Resting on the bed with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, he whispered Zhao Heng's name repeatedly in his heart before drifting off with a sense of uncertainty.
At the same time, the person he cherished was in her room, looking at different patterns, finding none that suited Bai Yu's style.
These were the first pair of shoes she had made for Bai Yu and likely the last.
She had already planned to make the soles loose and soft, ensuring his future path was smooth and safe. The paste must be applied in layers for durability over time.
He had worn that pair of shoes for a long time, how long exactly?
Perhaps two years, maybe three...
She remembered clearly because a few years ago he came in winter to bring her something, and she had chestnuts roasting in the stove. As she handed him some before leaving, a spark flew out of the stove and burned a big hole on the shoe surface.
Since then, she had always paid attention to his shoes, almost always that same pair.
Therefore, it was only natural for her to think of giving him a pair of shoes.
She regretted not preparing for him sooner by making many pairs to last him a long time.
She and the Crown Prince had spoken, and she temporarily had her life spared by His Highness.
But there was one matter the Crown Prince hadn't mentioned, and she didn't know how to broach the subject.
The Crown Prince hadn't decided how to arrange for her.
Surprised by the favor she received, with her background of low birth and a declining family, how far could she go in the palace hierarchy of high and low?
Most importantly, she wanted to leave the palace, and her grandmother awaited their reunion.
But this matter was beyond her control, her comings and goings were never up to her.
So Li Wenjian didn't mention it, and neither did she.
It seemed as though everything would be fine if she stayed quiet and obedient, she could still leave the palace next year as scheduled.
However, her fantasies were shattered the next day.
Before the morning sun had fully risen, Zhao Heng got up early, freshened up, and was about to go to the medicine room.
As she pushed the door open, she saw Mu Gui standing in the courtyard.
"Moving to Changqiu Hall?" Zhao Heng's heart skipped a beat, looking to Mu Gui for help.
"Just not far west of Chengming Hall, the Fourth Princess insisted on staying in the Eastern Palace for a while, so His Highness just had it cleaned up," Mu Gui explained.
Zhao Heng didn't say anything, her eyes anxiously watching Mu Gui. The tightly wound string in her heart suddenly snapped, filled with confusion and nervousness. The worry she had harbored for a long time was finally coming to fruition.
After seeing off Mu Gui, Zhao Heng furrowed her brows and returned to her room. With spring coming in, her chilblains were gradually healing, the wounds itching. Her hand had been burnt on the back the day before, making it impossible to scratch, so she endured the slow creeping itch.
When it itched badly, she unwrapped the bandage and soaked her hand in warm water.
Her heavily scarred and swollen hand appeared magnified in the water.
It was the mark left behind by years of labor.