Chapter 143 Arrogance Abounds (Part 5) What are your thoughts on Wei Yuanzhan? ...

After seeing Su Du off, Zhi Rou turned around, glanced at Jing Yao who was standing respectfully to her side with her head bowed for a while, and said to Xing Hui, "Sister Xing Hui, could you go to Xixiang Garden for me and see what Mother is doing? I'll go see Father first."

Upon hearing this, Xinghui's leisurely gaze sharpened as she looked at Zhirou: "I..." She only managed to utter one word before her breath hitched, her head hanging low, "I'll go right now."

She pursed her lips and glanced past Jing Yao, no longer needing to ponder; the Fourth Miss must have sent her away for this "outsider."

After Xinghui left, only the two of them remained, and neither of them rushed to speak.

Strolling onto the veranda, surrounded by lush greenery, with the occasional sway of clothing, Jingyao walked beside Zhirou with her eyes downcast. Only when the surroundings quieted down did she step forward slightly.

"Zhirou".

The wind blew up Zhi Rou's soft silk robe. Hearing this, she turned her head and stopped walking.

Jing Yao wasn't very tall, so when facing her, she could only look up, her eyes sometimes meeting her directly and sometimes darting away as she said, "General Su Du... he met you at the Song residence, and I won't reveal a single word. His Highness forced me onto you... if I can't serve by your side..."

“I understand.” Zhi Rou picked up where she left off. “Do you think I don’t know what kind of temper that prince has? I won’t ask if you don’t want to talk about it. I know that you want me to have a smooth life, and I believe you.”

Last time at the hunting grounds, although neither of them explicitly stated the purpose of Huai Xian's actions, they had made their words very clear. Zhi Rou immediately placed her trust in him and would not easily waver.

She continued, "I'm the one who put my sister in this difficult position. Don't worry, I will definitely help her."

Jing Yao hurriedly said, "Just let me stay by your side, that's enough. Please don't worry about me anymore. You've already helped me a lot back in Bei Li."

"In Beili, that's called mutual care. I've also received a lot of kindness from my sister. How can there be any distinction between us?"

Zhi Rou didn't seem to find her troublesome at all. Her warm and straightforward eyes shone on her, and Jing Yao felt a surge of warmth.

Gradually, she suddenly saw another person through those eyes.

...

After leaving Song Congzhao's study, Zhi Rou's doubts had not yet dissipated.

According to my father, the people who searched the mansion last night were only suspected that thieves had escaped into the Song residence and were being tracked down by imperial decree, not that the Song family was harboring traitors.

Su Du was so certain that Song Lang was behind last night's events. What exactly did he do behind her back?

As Zhi Rou pondered this, she headed towards Xixiang Garden.

Just as she entered the house, footsteps sounded behind her. Xinghui came over carrying a bowl of plain porridge. When she saw Zhirou, she whispered, "Aunt Lin didn't eat much this morning, but she drank several cups of strong tea. She's drunk from the tea and is feeling nauseous."

Zhi Rou hurried to the bedside, looking at Ling Xi's slightly haggard face, her chest ached, and she reached out to touch her: "Mother, have some porridge."

Knowing she was coming, Ling Xi sat up in bed, her stomach churning. She couldn't pretend to be okay, so she just nodded obediently and said, "Okay."

Zhi Rou took the bowl from Xing Hui and fed Ling Xi spoonful by spoonful. Xing Hui stood by for a moment, then led the others outside and closed the door.

“There’s nothing wrong with your mother’s fondness for tea, but I’ve repeatedly told you to have some snacks with it, and you never listen.”

After everyone left, Zhi Rou looked up and complained. Seeing Zhi Rou's helpless drooping forehead, she put down her bowl and her tone softened, "Are you feeling better?"

It was midday, and a layer of shimmering gold enveloped the room. Wiping it through Zhi Rou's hair, it revealed a few glittering traces.

Ling Xi nodded slightly, holding her fallen strands of hair in her palm and twisting them: "Your hair... isn't dry again."

"If he had been any more cunning, I might never have met Su Du again." She sat down on the bed and casually asked, "What did he say when he came to see Mother?"

"I brought over a basket of spring peaches. There are some washed ones on the table, go and eat them."

Zhi Rou glanced to the side and said, "He just came to deliver peaches?"

He mumbled these words, revealing no emotion, and then asked curiously, "What was the cause of all the commotion in the mansion last night, Mother?"

After Ling Xi revealed her background to her, she began to refer to Song Congzhao by his courtesy name: "What Xianzhi told you is what he told me."

She glanced at Zhirou, "But you, Rou'er, where did you go last night?"

With the Imperial Guards in such a formation, if Zhi Rou were still in the mansion, she would have jumped to Xixiang Garden long ago. Why would she need to do it now?

Caught off guard, Zhi Rou was stunned for a moment before turning her head away guiltily: "I... went to find Wei Yuanzhan, but happened to run into curfew... so I came back a little late."

She had been saying the name "Wei Yuanzhan" since she was a child, and Ling Xi was already used to hearing it.

Previously, there were concerns that her close association with the Wei family would inevitably attract attention, but now there are other considerations.

"What are your thoughts on Wei Yuanzhan?"

A sparrow perched on the windowsill, chirping softly, its calls echoing Zhirou's disordered heartbeat.

She never expected her mother to ask her so directly about her feelings. After a moment of surprise, she said honestly, "I want to be able to see him all the time."

Does he think so too?

"yes."

Ling Xi's gaze lingered on her face for a moment before she said, "Okay." She didn't say anything more after that one word.

After waiting for a while, Zhi Rou looked up in surprise: "Mother, aren't you going to scold me?"

Ling Xi smiled and said, "Why am I scolding you? In the end, it's because I raised you to be like this. You know your limits and you know what you're doing without me having to tell you."

The scene from last night flashed through Zhi Rou's mind, making her feel a little embarrassed. She got up, picked up a peach from the table, and ate it slowly for a while.

Taking advantage of the bright sunlight, she carefully examined Ling Xi's clothes.

Her complexion was much brighter than before, and she seemed to have regained her energy. Her back was slightly straightened, and she noticed my gaze as I looked over from several feet away.

Zhi Rou put down the peach she had half-eaten.

"Mother, there's something I've been wondering about for a long time."

She met Ling Xi's gaze frankly and walked back to the tent.

"You guessed that I wanted to go to Qinyang, yet you did not stop me. Why is that?"

Ling Xi stared at her for a moment, then said without surprise, "You've already met them."

Zhi Rou frowned slightly, indicating she wouldn't respond to that statement.

The windows inside the room were closed, and the sunlight filtering in was somewhat hazy, like the eerie glow of the seabed.

When Ling Xi spoke of the past, her voice was soft and slow, and a glint of light flashed in her eyes.

“Back then, I wanted to marry your father, but your maternal grandfather strongly opposed it, saying that he was too upright and proud, and that a pure person could only be a tool for an emperor to expand his territory. I thought he was wrong, and my heart was already given, so how could I change it? Your maternal grandfather could not persuade me, so he had no choice but to agree.”

She rarely spoke of her past. After Zhi Rou understood her origins, she became even less willing to pry into her past as she had in her childhood, for fear of upsetting her.

At this moment, she brought it up herself, and Zhi Rou subconsciously looked at her with protective and careful eyes.

She slowly said, "After I arrived at the Chang family, your maternal grandfather became increasingly distant from the Chang family, seemingly intentionally avoiding them. Later, when your father was attacked in court, I returned to the Ling family to find your maternal grandfather. To protect the Ling family's innocence, he pretended to be deaf and dumb, but secretly sent someone to meet me outside Woyun Temple, which allowed me to safely cross the Yangtze River with you."

"I don't know why he went to such lengths to protect me, but I am indeed grateful to him for you, but I..." He gradually pursed his lips, a strong sense of contradiction swirling in his chest.

She leaned against the pillows, looking back at Zhirou, "Zhou Ling and the others were brought back from the border when I was young. They were cared for by my mother and grew up with me. I originally planned to call them back after you got married..."

"What does Mother mean by this?" Zhi Rou interrupted, frowning.

Ling Xi looked at her young and spirited face, sighed, and after a long while, said gently, "Rou'er, some things, if left unresolved for too long, will leave a deeper and deeper mark on your heart. The only way to remove the mark is to take the matter out of your heart."

Almost revealing her intentions, Zhi Rou immediately understood her purpose, her fingers digging into the thin mattress beneath her palm.

"Can't I help you?"

She can do just as well as Zhou Ling and the others. Why abandon her?

"Because I don't regard him as my father, and I refuse to trust him? You've taught me that the world is full of confusion and that too much talk can be misleading. I'm just trying to discern things for myself based on what you've said. Give me some more time, and I'll surely be able to see things clearly..."

As Zhi Rou spoke, her hands clenched tighter and tighter, and her voice began to become somewhat incoherent.

Ling Xi looked down at her clenched fingers and took her hand in his: "Silly girl."

He parted her fingers and said, "Didn't I tell you? You've never benefited in the slightest from being a member of the Chang family. This responsibility shouldn't fall on your shoulders. I only hope that you can live a happy and healthy life."

"Who says I don't? Didn't I get my mother back?"

The words fluttered like the wings of a fledgling bird, scratching at her heart. Ling Xi's throat tightened slightly, and she looked at her speechlessly.

She is still like a child, her emotions changing without any concealment; she will do everything in her power to protect the people and things she has decided on.

How much like him is his pure and innocent heart?

However, what I least wanted to see was that she harbored such a heart.

"Do you know why I named you 'Zhirou'?" Ling Xi suddenly asked.

As soon as she heard the words, Zhi Rou's pale knuckles gently released their pressure in her palm.

"...My mother saw me as a reed, which could stand firm even in the wind and rain; though soft, it could not be broken."

Ling Xi did not answer.

After an unknown amount of time, Zhi Rou heard her voice again. Her tone was still calm and gentle, with a hint of pleading.

"Rou'er, be good, give Zhou Ling and the others back to me."

In the private room of Yufeng Pavilion, Sun Siren looked at the table full of delicacies, but felt utterly bored.

The first time she escaped was fine; the caravan she was sent out disappeared without a trace. But yesterday, Song Zhirou actually returned to the capital unharmed. She was truly lucky.

Sun Siren used the lid of his teapot to skim off the foam from the bowl and took a small sip.

Song Lang sat opposite him, and ever since he was invited, he had maintained a cautious smile and had not uttered a word.

Setting down his teacup, Sun Siren said, "Is what Physician Song has done recently inappropriate? If it has caused any trouble for His Highness the Imperial Grandson... I advise you to be impartial and think carefully, and not to do anything that will implicate you."

Yesterday was the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival.

After the banquet in the palace ended, the Crown Prince suddenly felt inspired and, accompanied by his attendants, went to the marketplace to stroll around incognito. Song Lang accompanied him all the way. When they reached Chengping Street, an arrow suddenly flew down and grazed the Crown Prince's hair ornament.

Although only one arrow was shot, screams continued to erupt around him. Attendants immediately stepped forward to protect His Highness, while another group of imperial guards searched for and captured the assassin.

Upon hearing this, Song Lang abruptly stood up, took a half-step back, and hurriedly retorted, "Minister Sun, I truly dare not accept your words!"

He bowed and lowered his eyes, saying, "Your Highness's safety is a matter of national importance. Even if I were to be ground to dust, I would not dare to have a single biased thought. If Your Excellency is speaking jokingly, please forgive my ignorance, I cannot accept such a compliment."

"Really? I heard that a few days ago, a thief broke into Doctor Song's residence but was not caught. Instead, he tracked the thief to my residence?"

Sun Siren's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he scrutinized him and said slowly, "I thought Physician Song was powerless to capture anyone and wanted to use His Majesty's power to divert attention from his own private affairs."

Upon hearing this, Song Langyuan's already pale face looked even more ashen.

A few days ago, he received an unsigned letter, which made him very uneasy. He immediately ordered his men to investigate its origin, but they only found a shop and then the trail went cold.

Unable to eat or sleep for days, Song Lang received another letter just as Song Zhirou returned to the capital. The words in the letter seemed to allude to the old case of the Chang family, making Song Lang feel uneasy and increasing his suspicion of Song Zhirou.

It happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, and the Crown Prince usually went on an outing. So he staged a disturbance to lure the Imperial Guards to Song Congzhao’s residence, while his own men secretly guarded outside the residence.

If anyone escapes from the mansion, he will seize them and pin the blame for the assassination on them; even if no one shows up, this bluff will plant a seed of suspicion in the emperor's mind.

Even if Song Zhirou is truly the orphan of Changyu, if Song Congzhao loses power, she will simply be a woman who has lost her identity once again, and there is nothing to fear.

Sun Siren's words were a reference to his secret dispatch of people to keep an eye on the Sun residence.

Song Lang had always looked down on people like Sun Siren who relied on their family background and nepotism to hold positions without doing any work, but in the face of power, he had no choice but to bow his head.

Seeing his alarmed expression, Sun Siren smiled with satisfaction and said, "I was just joking."

After saying that, she raised her heavy hand and beckoned him, "Come on, have some food."

Song Lang wiped the thin layer of sweat from his forehead and sat down again.

"I'm sure you can handle things properly, Physician Song?" Sun Siren glanced at him a few times, his narrow eyes glued to him, making Song Lang feel nauseous.

He gave a perfunctory reply: "This humble official will do his best, no need for you to worry about it, sir."

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a commotion outside. A moment later, the door was pushed open from the outside, and a figure dressed in black walked in.

Song Lang recognized him earlier than Sun Siren, and although he was slightly taken aback, his expression remained calm.

He appeared to have just drunk some alcohol; his exposed neck and ears were slightly flushed, but his clothes were neat. Upon seeing them, his excited demeanor instantly vanished, and he regained his usual composed expression, bowing to the two of them.

"I was unaware that you two gentlemen were here. I apologize for my abruptness and hope you will forgive me."

After saying this, he uttered another farewell remark, turned around, and left.

Sun Siren opened his mouth and said, "Young Master Wei, please wait."

Wei Yuanzhan stopped and turned back to look at him.

He continued, "Since we've met, why don't we sit down and have a few drinks together? I've heard that Prince Wei handled the Rongqing Princess's case very well, earning His Majesty's favor. He's truly young and promising, a sight to behold."

"It was merely my duty, and fortunately I handled it without error. I do not deserve Minister Sun's high praise."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Sun Siren, seeing his handsome appearance, became interested in the matter of finding a son-in-law again and said with a smile, "Young Master Wei is too modest." He stood up and invited him to sit down.

Wei Yuanzhan bypassed Song Lang and sat down to Sun Siren's left.

He was taller than both of them, and his physique resembled a majestic mountain peak. Despite being young, he exuded an invisible sense of oppression.

Sun Siren, that good-for-nothing, probably didn't notice him at all. He pulled Wei Yuanzhan aside and drank a few cups of wine with him in a friendly manner, and his address to him changed from "Young Master Wei" to "Nephew Wei".

Song Lang watched silently from the side, inwardly chuckling.

The Crown Princess's order for him to investigate Song Zhirou's background indicates her suspicion of her. If the case from back then were to be reopened, the first family to lose their heads and be exterminated would be his Sun family.

Although Wei Yuanzhan was related to the Empress and the Crown Prince's wife by marriage, he was close to Song Zhirou.

At that time, Song Lang also did not believe Wei Yuanzhan's nonsense about accidentally wandering into this place while slightly drunk, and was full of vigilance.

“Nephew Wei, there have been frequent troop movements at the border recently. I heard that your former superior, Gao Hongyu, submitted a memorial to His Majesty a few days ago, intending to ask you to return. If you ask me, although you are young, you have already gained considerable experience in the army. General Gao hopes you will return, which shows that he values ​​you. However, seeing you confined to a corner, I truly feel that your talents are being wasted.”

Sun Siren secretly observed Wei Yuanzhan and said to him, "There are many important matters in the court, where you might have a better chance to demonstrate your abilities. I wonder if my nephew has considered this? Whether in court or out of office, it's all for the sake of the country and the people's livelihood; there's no real difference."

Since he intended to marry his daughter to him, he naturally hoped that the young couple would stay in the capital.

The border appears peaceful now, but every autumn, the tribes of the grasslands, in search of food for the winter, often raid and plunder southwards. He has witnessed it all. How could he bear to send his own daughter to the distant frontier with her husband, to suffer such anxiety and sleepless nights?

Whether Wei Yuanzhan was genuinely honest or feigning dullness, he replied, "Although there are many places in the capital that require talent, they are not my forte. I am already at peace with myself as I can do my part for the country in border affairs."

Sun Siren glanced at him inquisitively a few times: "Could it be that my nephew really intends to follow General Gao?"

"I will obey Your Majesty's orders. If I am granted the imperial decree, I will immediately return to the border to guard the frontier and will not dare to slacken my duties."

At the age of nineteen or twenty, and having spent a long time in the military, he was adept at using official jargon.

Song Lang sat calmly across from him, his expression almost entirely hidden behind his goatee. When he met Wei Yuanzhan's gaze, he paused briefly, then nodded with a smile.

Sun Siren felt great regret, but his thoughts didn't settle down so quickly.

She thought to herself, "Madam and Lady Hou got along very well before. Although the Hou family has not explicitly agreed to the marriage between the two families, they have not refused either. As long as we can win over the son-in-law in front of us first, we can make plans for the affairs of the court later."

The once exquisite feast has been reduced to scraps; the sun outside is blazing white, casting shadows at one's feet, as the hour of Shen (3-5 PM) approaches.

Sun Siren swayed as he stood up, having long forgotten about Song Lang. He said to Wei Yuanzhan, "I had a very pleasant time drinking with my nephew Wei. If there is a good opportunity another day, we will definitely meet again."

His eyes showed a hint of drunkenness. Song Lang stood watching him, but Wei Yuanzhan stepped forward to help him up, saying, "I'll escort you downstairs, sir."

Upon reaching the street, the Sun family's carriage stopped ten paces away. Wei Yuanzhan's words and actions were all warm and gentle, but if one looked closely at his face, it was actually quite indifferent.

Sun Siren was still pleased to have made connections with the Yining Marquis's mansion, and kept talking incessantly. Before he knew it, he stumbled, and a force in his arm caught him. He heard a concerned voice in his ear: "Be careful, sir."

The servants of the Sun family took Wei Yuanzhan's arm from him and used it to straighten his upper body.

"Nephew, go back now. You've had a good time today... We'll talk again sometime!" Sun Siren waved his hand and got into the carriage.

The clattering sound of the carriage wheels rolling over the stone pavement was gradually swallowed up by the hustle and bustle of the street. Wei Yuanzhan watched the carriage travel in the distance, his expression growing colder and colder.

Warm light shone on his upright figure, his sleeves fluttered slightly in the wind, and in his palm, he held a stone seal.

Changhuai led Wei Yuanzhan's horse to him and asked in a low voice, "Did you succeed, Master?"

Wei Yuanzhan took the reins, and with alternating hands, Chang Huai pressed an object into his palm.

He clenched his fist and lowered it, listening to Wei Yuanzhan's instructions: "Make a replica, and send the original back to Yufeng Pavilion tonight. Remember, don't let anyone see it."

It is Sun Siren's seal.

He was quite drunk, and by the time he discovered the seal was missing, it was already evening.

"Changhuai should be right," Wei Yuanzhan said, turning around, mounting his horse, and heading back to the Marquis's residence alone.

He planned to go see Zhirou.

She reeked of alcohol last night, which made her unhappy. She needs to change her clothes and take a bath today.

As I approached my home, the setting sun cast dappled shadows of bamboo against the wall.

A graceful figure stood amidst the light, with a beautiful and strong horse beside her.

She stroked the horse's mane with her fingers. From Wei Yuanzhan's perspective, her face was slightly turned to the side, as if she were whispering to it. Sunlight shone on the brocade, revealing a bony hand.

Wei Yuanzhan reined in the horse, and Yueying's pace slowed down. The horse's hooves struck the bluestone with a rhythmic sound like drums.

As the sound grew closer, Zhi Rou turned around.

Before long, a man and a horse arrived in front of her.