Chapter 26: Glimpse of the Conspiracy
Before she could find an opportunity, the prince suddenly became free these days and always liked to move memorials to Zhilan Residence and occupy her desk to read them.
Liang Hanzhang was already weak and cold, and her periods were usually irregular. She pondered this carefully, hoping that her worries of the past few days were unnecessary.
If it weren't for the prince that day, she would have almost forgotten about contraception.
When I have time, I'll find an excuse to go to the stall at Taoranju to buy contraceptive pills. With something on my mind, I can't concentrate on anything. Looking at the man absorbed in official business not far away, for the first time in his life, Liang Hanzhang wasn't too excited about him heading to Zhilanju.
After hesitating for a long time, she asked, "Your Highness, don't you have to go to court to handle official business these days?" You have been staying here for several days in a row. Are you looking for a comfortable and enjoyable life?
Li Cheng did not look up, and kept writing with a red pen: "Have you forgotten? You don't have to go to court during the next two days."
"But, you've been here for several days..." Liang Hanzhang muttered softly.
The prince smiled lightly: "Why, do you feel annoyed when you see me?"
"I don't feel annoyed," she got off the bed barefoot, walked to sit next to him, and said in a soft voice: "Your Highness is a king and you are busy with all kinds of affairs. I am afraid that I will delay your work."
Li Chenghui held her hand and patted it gently, comforting her: "Don't worry, I won't slack off in government affairs." But his father, the emperor, was always thinking about quitting his duties. The huge burden of official duties weighed on his shoulders, and he felt a headache just thinking about it.
"I have important business to attend to today," he explained, a look of tenderness on his face that was carved with an axe and a knife. "I'll take you to visit Grand Tutor Di's house later."
"Master Di, Master Di" Liang Hanzhang was puzzled. Why did they bring her along for such an occasion? It didn't make sense.
"I see you're stuck at home all day, and I just happened to need help from the Grand Tutor, so I thought I'd take you with me." He paused, as if afraid she'd be shy, "I grew up in the Di Mansion, Lord Di is a gentle and kind person, he'll like you too."
His tone left no room for argument, and Liang Hanzhang had no choice but to agree.
After breakfast, the carriage with the Eastern Palace emblem slowly drove towards the southeast of the imperial city, heading towards Di Mansion.
It was summer, willow branches twirling in the wind, the sky clear and cloudless, with the occasional speck of clouds, as if they had been inlaid with willow catkins. The cicadas chirped along the way, and if it weren't for the carriage, the heat from outside would have rolled in.
Liang Hanzhang was drowsy in the carriage. The road was smooth, and there was no chance of her being shaken awake. Still worried, Li Cheng pulled her into his arms, wrapping his arm around her waist as he looked down at the memorials.
After a long time, the ice in the car had melted a lot, and Li Fu's voice finally came from outside: "Your Highness, we have arrived at Master Di's residence."
This voice naturally woke up Liang Hanzhang. She opened her eyes in a daze and found that it was the prince's face above her head, and she was nestled in his arms.
Thinking that she had approached him on her own initiative, she was startled and quickly stepped back to apologize: "Your Highness, I am really sorry for disturbing your official duties."
Li Cheng wanted to say it was okay, but then he saw that she had woken up with a distant look on her face, which was completely different from her usual self. He felt a little unhappy and didn't reply.
After a while, he put down the memorial in his hand, stood up and said, "Let's go."
When His Highness came out, he gave Li Fu a glare. The old steward remained where he was, bewildered. He thought wildly about what had happened today. He had done nothing to anger His Highness.
His Highness's thoughts are becoming increasingly unpredictable.
Because there was no prior notification, the Di family did not know that the prince was visiting their home. Only after hearing the servants report did they hurried to greet him.
The old master was over 80 years old and needed help to walk. His eyes were already cloudy. He had a circle of white beard on his chin and long, white eyebrows. From a distance, he looked like a highly accomplished monk.
He staggered over to pay his respects, but the Crown Prince held him up and asked with a smile, "Grand Master, how have you been feeling lately?"
Grand Tutor Di smiled and said, "Thanks to Your Highness, the old man has always been in good health."
"This is because the Grand Tutor has sufficient cultivation and it is a statue of a man who is enjoying his old age. What does it have to do with me?" He patted Grand Tutor Di on the shoulder and introduced him to the side: "This is the offering ceremony from the Prince's Mansion."
Grand Tutor Di narrowed his eyes slightly, trying hard to see clearly the woman standing next to the prince, and then smiled and said: "I am old, and my vision is getting worse and worse. But I think the queen is a beautiful person, and standing with His Highness, they are really a good match."
The Di family, with its dozen or so members, was very friendly and didn't have many rules. Liang Hanzhang could clearly sense that the prince had become much more relaxed since entering the Di residence than he had been in Changchun Palace, probably because he had grown up there.
Mrs. Di smiled and suggested, "Your Highness, please go in and talk. It's so hot here, I'm afraid the Queen can't stand it." Mrs. Di was the wife of Grand Tutor Di's eldest son. She was now gray-haired. She looked plump, but had a kind face.
Li Cheng looked back and saw beads of sweat on Liang Hanzhang's forehead. With her small body, she was afraid of both cold and heat. If she hadn't come to the Eastern Palace, she really didn't know who could serve her.
He nodded immediately and the group walked towards the East Flower Hall.
Li Cheng chatted with Grand Tutor Di from time to time in the front, making the old man smile. Liang Hanzhang looked at his tall figure supporting the old man and was stunned for a moment. He didn't expect him to be so talkative.
Mrs. Di passed away very early. She gave birth to three children, two sons and one daughter, who are now old enough to be grandparents.
The eldest lady appeared more composed. She and Liang Hanzhang walked behind, occasionally introducing the Di Mansion's sights and attractions. "It's a pity that my sister-in-law is bedridden now. If she were here, she would definitely be able to introduce it better than I could," the old lady said with a smile. Two children, about seven or eight years old, chattered beside them, presumably the family's grandchildren.
The younger brothers and sisters she was referring to were naturally the second branch of the Di family. The Di family had strict rules and regulations, with respect for elders and younger siblings, and no instances of unfilial behavior had ever occurred. Therefore, the eldest lady had a very close relationship with her sisters-in-law.
Liang Hanzhang waved his hand: "It's okay, Zhang Niang is a junior, she should visit the elders in person, how can the elders personally welcome her?"
After hearing this, the eldest lady's face became even more kind. She sighed and said, "My dear child, I also watched the prince grow up. Today, you two are standing in front of me, like a pair of people standing against the wall. I hope that this relationship can last forever."
She had also heard that the Crown Prince had taken in a concubine named Fengyi, whose status was so low that she had assumed she was not favored. Unexpectedly, when he came to visit her today, His Highness actually brought her along personally. This showed that Fengyi held an extraordinary position in the Crown Prince's heart.
Strangely enough, Liang Hanzhang felt more relaxed than ever while strolling through the Di Mansion. This was completely different from the last time he was at the Boyi Marquis Mansion.
When mentioning the Marquis Boyi's Mansion, Liang Hanzhang couldn't help but think of what the prince had told her a few days ago.
Out of jealousy, Zhuang Yue, the second daughter of the Zhuang family, secretly placed poisonous spices on the incense burner in her wet nurse's room. The spices were harmless to adults, but the newborn baby could not stand them.
The child, after drinking the nurse's milk, soon fell into convulsions and a persistent fever. When the medical officer arrived, the child had curled up into a tiny ball, looking incredibly pitiful. Numerous doctors examined and treated the child, but all said there was no cure. They could only rely on medication to keep the child alive, but even if he managed to survive, he would likely become a mentally retarded lunatic.
The emperor, mindful of the child's tragedy, did not severely punish the Second Branch's family. However, he decreed that the Second Branch's descendants return to their hometown, and that the Marquis' Mansion in the capital no longer had anything to do with them.
Even if the emperor didn't punish her, the second wife's affairs would be ruined. Second wife Yin went to the government office and sued her daughter for intentional homicide. Her behavior was erratic and she was probably mentally disturbed due to excessive stimulation.
The second master, feeling ashamed, dragged the mad woman home, cursing and dragging the old lady along. The family reluctantly returned to their hometown from Chang'an. Although Zhuang Yue was not sent to prison, her deeds were known to everyone, and she was afraid that her future life would be uncertain.
Speaking of it, there must be something hateful about a pitiful person.
After having tea in the East Flower Hall, the group chatted casually. Grand Tutor Di looked at the women with cloudy eyes and said to the Crown Prince in a teasing tone, "I wonder if I can live to see the birth of a little prince in the East Palace."
Li Cheng's hand holding the teacup paused slightly, but he didn't answer. He had wanted to send the imperial physician to take good care of Feng Yi these past few days, but whenever he brought up the matter, the doctor would evade the question and talk about other things.
Although the prince was puzzled, he didn't want to force the issue any further, so he put the matter aside for the time being. Even though he had been so calm, he couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed and uneasy when he was asked so openly by the old Grand Tutor today.
The old Grand Tutor stroked his beard and said meaningfully: "It has been more than two years since Your Highness was crowned. It is time for the Eastern Palace to have a little prince."
Li Cheng knew that as the crown prince, almost everyone in the world would be watching what was happening in his backyard, so he took a sip of tea and said, "Don't worry, old sir, there will be good news soon."
Grand Tutor Di laughed heartily, "Then I will respectfully await Your Highness's wedding!" His words were filled with anticipation, "Don't forget to treat me to a full moon toast then!"
He is now over 80 years old. The Di family has four generations living under one roof. He has attended the full moon banquets of many grandchildren and great-grandchildren, but the one he looks forward to most is the full moon banquet at the Prince's Mansion.
In his opinion, His Highness had been adrift for the first half of his life and had a distant relationship with the Emperor and Empress. He could only be truly at ease if he had a child related by blood.
He sighed deeply and taught earnestly: "Your Highness, please don't blame the Emperor and the Empress. They were helpless in that situation back then."
Li Cheng didn't want to talk about anything else today, and quickly changed the subject: "The square melons in the old Grand Tutor's house are sweet. I have never tasted such good ones in the Eastern Palace."
Master Di knew he was evading him and sighed helplessly. But he still agreed with him, saying, "This melon was grown by Yan Ge'er's wife in the backyard of our mansion. I find it truly sweet and delicious. If Your Highness likes it, you can bring some back to the Eastern Palace to try." Yan Ge'er was his grandson, and he now worked at the Imperial Censorate.
"Then I would be disrespectful to refuse." Li Cheng didn't refuse at all. He didn't worry that his joke would make the other person feel intimidated. Perhaps those few years in the Di Mansion were indeed the most comfortable days of his life.
Liang Hanzhang felt uncomfortable in the flower hall and wanted to go out to change clothes. She had originally planned to ask the maid to take her there, but unexpectedly, the eldest lady also felt that the East Flower Hall was too stuffy and offered to take her there herself.
Liang Hanzhang felt embarrassed that the other person, who was so old, still had to accompany him through such a difficult journey.
Li Cheng noticed the movement from the female relatives and ordered Chunfen, who was accompanying them, to take good care of Fengyi.
After changing clothes, I walked around the corridor and followed a quiet path. A few green bamboos rustled in the gentle breeze. There was a lake next to it. The breeze with water vapor brushed my face, which relieved the summer heat a little.
At this moment, a maid arrived to inform the Madam that there was an important matter that needed her personal attention. The situation was urgent, and the Madam had no choice but to apologize profusely.
It just so happened that Liang Hanzhang wanted to take a walk by himself, and having Chunfen by his side was enough. He would feel embarrassed to have someone accompany him all the time, but he didn't feel offended either.
After passing through the secluded path, there was a vast field of grape racks in front of us, which seemed to stretch endlessly. Bunches of tempting green grapes hung on the racks, heavy and lovely.
The chirping of cicadas and the rolling heat heralded the arrival of summer. Liang Hanzhang crouched down and slid under the grape trellis, not noticing that the nearby Spring Equinox had vanished.
As she walked deeper and deeper, her mouth began to dry out when she caught sight of a stone table and chairs not far away. Unable to reach the sun, it seemed much cooler. Leaning against the grape trellis, gazing at the bunches of grapes overhead, while sipping wine and tea in the gentle breeze, how pleasant it would be.
The reason she had this idea was that when the prince was in a good mood during his free time, he would invite her to drink tea with him and occasionally play the piano to entertain him.
Liang Hanzhang fantasized countless times that if she had not carried Yan Guang's hatred, if she had the same stance as the prince, she would not have been willing to deceive such a man as precious as a jade.
Just as he was staring at something not far away in a daze, he heard a rustling sound nearby. Before Liang Hanzhang could react, a pair of big hands firmly grasped his mouth.
Liang Hanzhang was startled, but the man held her down tightly, preventing her from moving. This vineyard was remote, likely rarely visited. Realizing no one would notice her even if she shouted, she tried to remain calm and focus on the person behind her.
The hands in front of his mouth were covered with blue veins and had a slightly darker complexion, suggesting he belonged to a man. Liang Hanzhang didn't dare to provoke him, so he could only keep his composure.
At the same time, she thought quickly in her mind, is this her enemy, or the prince's enemy, someone from the Di Mansion, using her to threaten the prince. He knows the whereabouts of the Eastern Palace so well, so he must be someone powerful.
Seeing that she had calmed down, the man quickly loosened the shackles and said in a teasing tone, "Mother Zhang, right?" His palms gently stroked her fair skin.
Suddenly hearing her own name, she shuddered and asked in a trembling voice, "Who are you?" She had no martial arts skills and her strategies were mediocre. If the people of the Liang Dynasty hadn't pushed her into this position, she would probably be just one of the millions of mediocre people. Therefore, faced with such a terrifying situation, she was unusually at a loss.
The person behind him smiled happily: "You are a spy sent by Liang State, am I right?"
"Not long ago, General Zhu Xiaowen escaped. Wasn't it thanks to your contribution?" The poor prince thought he was in control of the situation, but he didn't know that Zhu Xiaowen was not Yan Guang's man from the beginning to the end.
Liang Hanzhang was shocked again, his heart almost stopped: "Who are you? What do you want to do?" The other party knew his situation so well, could he be a friendly force? But he didn't look like one.
Feeling a chill under her neck, she carefully eyed the dagger, not daring to breathe. Her mind raced. This was the residence of the Grand Tutor, and the Grand Tutor had a close relationship with the Crown Prince. If the Di family wasn't suspected of collaborating with the enemy, could it be that... the Crown Prince was deliberately testing her?
When he thought of this possibility, Liang Hanzhang's heart almost jumped out of his throat, and he asked tremblingly: "Who are you? What do you mean by a spy from Liang State? I don't understand."
The man behind her sighed, his rough fingers gently stroking her fair, slender neck, reaching under her collar, causing a shudder. Liang Hanzhang bit her lip tightly. She knew the prince's character well; if he truly intended to test her, he wouldn't allow anyone to humiliate her like this.
So, he is not the prince's man.
"Don't panic, I won't reveal your identity." He laughed recklessly. After all, wouldn't it be fun to let the prince find out that the woman he loved was actually a spy sent by someone else? He found the prince's reaction at that time quite amusing.
"I just want to see how beautiful the prince's favorite concubine is." The man put his nose to her neck and took a deep breath, his voice in fascination, "She is indeed beautiful."
It felt like a poisonous snake's tongue was licking his neck, and Liang Hanzhang felt a chill.
"You, what on earth do you want to do?" Realizing that the dagger on her neck was gradually loosening, she found the right moment to break free. Unexpectedly, the man stretched out his iron arm and embraced her again. Sen Sen smiled and said, "Don't go."
Liang Hanzhang was really scared. Tears welled up in his eyes and he asked with sobs, "What on earth are you going to do?"
The man seemed to sigh, "Everyone says, let's see what the prince's woman looks like." He gently bit her earlobe and said in an ambiguous voice, "This prince looks dignified and solemn, but I didn't expect he knows how to enjoy himself. Tsk tsk."
He then pulled the black cloth covering her face away, and faced her. He placed his index finger on her chin, applying slight pressure, forcing her to look him in the eye. His dark eyes seemed to pierce right into her heart, sending chills down her spine.
Seeing that familiar expression, Liang Hanzhang seemed to realize something, and then his head went dark. His legs went limp, and he let out a low cry before quickly losing consciousness.
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