Chapter 7 Chapter 7 Heartache
As soon as Li Rongfu entered the room, Liang Hanzhang came up to him, his face clearly showing nervousness.
Her willow-shaped brows were slightly furrowed, her eyes filled with water, shrouded in a layer of transparent mist. Like the layers of fog that shroud the mountains in the early morning, it always makes people feel melancholy for no reason.
She was truly afraid that the Crown Prince, preoccupied with official duties, would forget her here. Although this was unlikely, she felt inexplicably anxious, and when she saw someone enter, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing how pitiful she looked, Li Cheng couldn't help but feel soft in his heart, and the slight unhappiness left from the conversation with the emperor in Qianyuan Hall just now disappeared in an instant.
However, as the crown prince, he managed his expression very well, not showing any trace of emotion on his face. He said softly, "Let's go."
"Yes," the woman stood timidly beside him with her head lowered as usual. From his angle, he could only see the hairpin swaying slowly with the movements.
It was obvious that Qiufen had already told her the rules for meeting Fengyan, as could be seen from the way she walked cautiously as if facing a great enemy.
"The Queen Mother is a very good person. She has been living in Changchun Palace for a long time. Although Luo Hua often brings Yu'er to the palace to visit her, she doesn't stay for long. As she gets older, she hopes to enjoy the happiness of having children and grandchildren around her, so you don't have to be too nervous."
Li Luohua is the prince's younger sister and the only supreme princess in the Jin Dynasty. When she was fifteen years old and came of age, she married her childhood sweetheart, General Zhao Wen, the Right Army Commander, as her husband. Now she and her husband have a son named Zhao Yu, who is three years old.
"I understand," Liang Hanzhang looked up and smiled sweetly at him. Her lips curled slightly, her eyebrows curved, and two faint ripples seemed to ripple at the corners of her eyes. Her clear eyes seemed to contain a small spring, bubbling out.
Li Cheng spent very little time with her, and most of the time he saw her was her pitiful look with tears in her eyes. Such a bright smile bloomed before his eyes, like the most luxuriant pink peach blossoms in the imperial garden in early spring.
Even though it is not as gorgeous and fragrant as the peony, it still has a refreshing fragrance.
He was slightly stunned. His hand, which had been hanging naturally, suddenly touched the hilt of the sword at his waist and gripped it tightly, his fingertips turning slightly white. He coughed lightly and said, "Let's go."
Swords and knives are not allowed in the inner court. Logically, even he, as a favored prince, is no exception, but the emperor does not seem to stop it and has been letting it go.
Liang Hanzhang glanced at his slender, white fingertips. She hadn't met the Crown Prince properly many times, and she wanted to leave a good impression. She'd been acting so weak and timid for too long, and she was worried the Crown Prince would get bored. Not only did she feel annoyed, but she herself was also annoyed.
But what is the result now?
Liang Hanzhang glanced up at the man striding forward, a faint blush forming around his ears. He secretly rejoiced: This is working really well.
At the same time, he was secretly wondering, this prince was so uneasy in front of women, could it be that he had never been with a woman in all his years?
Even if he was chaste and didn't want to take a concubine before the Crown Princess came into the family, wasn't it said that when royal children were in their teens, they would have a teacher who would teach them about the yin and yang of men and women? He hadn't even touched that.
However, thinking back to their first time at Fengle Building that day, the man ejaculated in less than half a cup of tea.
Well, it must have been his first time. She saw the embarrassment, shock, and confusion on his face, all mixed together, and it was truly fascinating.
Thinking of this, Liang Hanzhang suddenly felt that this deal wasn't such a bad one. By lurking in the Eastern Palace, she could not only save her brother's life, but also sleep with the virginity of the dignified and handsome prince, the Crown Prince.
A virgin! Who could have imagined this?
It’s not that you don’t lose much, it’s that you can make money without losing!
Li Cheng naturally had no idea what was going on in the woman's head behind him, but he noticed that she seemed a little out of breath and couldn't keep up with his pace, so he unconsciously slowed down his pace.
Li Fu was standing by and his wrinkles were revealed from laughing, wow.
The old eunuch's job rarely required him to be in the sun, so his skin was white with a rosy glow, and he sweated as he walked.
It reminds people of the lychees that are grown in abundance in Lingnan - after peeling off the thorny red skin, the flesh with such charming colors blooms before your eyes.
The two reached Changchun Palace. Nanny Song, the Empress's attendant, had been waiting at the palace gate for a long time. From a distance, they saw a pair of figures approaching hand in hand. The prince walked in front, holding the hilt of his sword, while Feng Yiren, a petite figure, followed behind, head slightly lowered.
The hairpin on the woman's head swayed slowly with her steps, a rouge flower on her forehead like red plum blossoms falling in the snow, and her Xiang-colored skirt rippled with the woman's light lotus steps. Her eyes were beautiful and her skin was whiter than snow.
She is a rare beauty in the world.
Nanny Song was stunned for a moment, then quickly smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening as she smiled. "Your Highness is finally here! The Empress has been nagging about this several times this morning, even wanting to send someone to the front court to sound out the situation! This old servant said there's no need to worry, Your Highness must have been delayed by a court meeting. Will Your Highness go back on his word on what he promised the Empress?"
When he arrived at Changchun Palace, Li Cheng was like a piece of ice standing on the top of a lonely snowy mountain, emitting coldness. When he got close to the fire, he finally showed signs of melting - but only a little.
There was still some stiffness and alienation in his movements, but he did not want to offend Nanny Song, and said with a smile: "It is my fault. I will personally apologize to the Queen Mother later."
"Yes, yes! Although the Queen loves His Highness, in this situation, it would be unreasonable not to accompany the Queen for a good meal!"
Nanny Song had practically watched the Crown Prince grow up, and she knew the real reason for the alienated relationship between the Crown Prince and the Empress. Therefore, she wanted to act as a mediator and help ease the relationship.
Li Cheng smiled but didn't answer. Liang Hanzhang was shocked. "What? I have to dine with the Queen? Didn't we just chat about family matters?"
Isn't this just roasting her on the fire? She really doesn't want to do that! Before she could cry in her heart, Nanny Song had already shifted the topic to her, "This is Empress Fengyi, right? She is really beautiful, with bright eyes and a kind look."
As he spoke, he glanced at Li Cheng with a hint of meaning and said, "No wonder Your Highness never took her to heart when the Empress selected the noble ladies from Chang'an for Your Highness. Today, I realized that all the noble ladies in Kyoto combined are not even one ten-thousandth as good as Empress Fengyi."
This statement was somewhat exaggerated, and Liang Hanzhang was at a loss for words. He could only smile awkwardly and say, "Madam, you are too kind..."
Li Cheng glanced at her subtly, neither nodding nor denying. But those who knew him well, such as Li Fu, knew that he was agreeing.
Queen Wang rushed out quickly after hearing the noise, and the group met in the secluded path in the bamboo forest in the courtyard.
The woman opposite was about forty years old, dressed in a purple-yellow phoenix robe, with a phoenix patterned in gold thread on the lapel, its wings spread, ready to take flight. The woman was about the same age as the emperor, but her complexion was much better. Her hair was jet black, her steps were steady, and a hint of heroism lingered between her brows.
It was undoubtedly the queen.
Queen Wang stumbled slightly upon seeing her long-lost son. She covered her mouth with her hand to hide her loss of composure, her voice visibly choked with sobs, "Ying'er is here..."
Although her fingernails were stained with rouge and cardamom, they did not resemble the hands of an ordinary pampered woman. The back of her hand was rough and dark, with several obvious scars.
Liang Hanzhang couldn't help but think of what Qiufen had told her about the heroic scene when Queen Wang was young and rode alone to lead the army to meet the enemy, and a little admiration filled her heart.
Li Cheng knelt down without saying a word and said, "Your son greets the Queen Mother." Liang Hanzhang was nervous for fear of making any mistakes in etiquette, so he also saluted in a hurry.
Fortunately, the queen was not a person who cared about details. She personally stepped forward to help the prince up, then walked to Liang Hanzhang, took her hand and greeted her: "Is this Fengyi from the East Palace?" She asked towards Li Rong.
Li Cheng lowered his head and answered: "Yes."
"She's so pretty, no wonder the prince fell in love with her at first sight. I can't wait to keep her by my side to enjoy her every day! Alas, it's a pity I wasn't born a man, otherwise I would never let such a beauty wander around!"
Queen Wang's every move was like that of a young girl, and even Liang Hanzhang couldn't help laughing. But she suppressed her laughter because of the occasion.
"Poor child," Queen Wang stroked the calluses on her hands, her face showing heartache. "I've wronged you over the years. Now that you're a member of the Eastern Palace's backyard, if Cheng'er does anything wrong in the future, just come to Changchun Palace and tell me. I'll teach him a lesson for you!"
Liang Hanzhang glanced cautiously at the man next to her and said timidly: "Your Highness is very good to me."
Queen Wang glanced back and forth between the couple, as if she had discovered something remarkable. A smile crossed her face, as if she was extremely satisfied. "That's good! That's good! I can rest assured now!"
Liang Hanzhang saw how kind the Empress treated others, and it was exactly as the Crown Prince and the others had described. She didn't look down on her background or use her status to oppress others. She breathed a sigh of relief, and her favor for the Empress grew even stronger.
But what was the subtle relationship between the Crown Prince and the Empress? Even after entering Changchun Palace and sitting on the chair, Liang Hanzhang was still puzzled.
"You must have a proper lunch here at noon," the Queen instructed Nanny Song beside her, "Is the roasted rabbit meat in the kitchen ready? Rong'er likes rabbit meat the most."
Li Cheng's expression stiffened slightly, but he hid it perfectly, hiding it only for a moment as he sipped his tea. By the time the teacup was placed on the table, he still looked like the usual aloof, exiled prince.
Nanny Song smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Your Majesty. I don't know how many times you've reminded me this morning. I've personally been watching over the kitchen, preparing everything and waiting for Your Majesty to come!"
"Very good!" Queen Wang was in high spirits. When the maids brought in all kinds of delicacies, she personally picked up a few pieces of roasted rabbit meat for Li Cheng:
"Try it. This is the wild rabbit that my mother ordered people to hunt on Leyouyuan. The meat is firm and crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It is most delicious if you add some pepper on it."
Li Cheng took it and ate it without changing his expression. Queen Wang then asked Liang Hanzhang to eat. The more the young couple looked at each other, the more they liked each other. She couldn't help but say:
"With someone in my backyard, it finally feels like home. I just don't know when I'll give birth to a little grandson, but I'm looking forward to it!"
Li Cheng felt really bored.
Did the Emperor and Empress instigate this? Why can't they talk about the royal heir in every sentence? If you give birth but don't raise it and regard it as a burden, it's better not to have it at all. The child has no right to choose whether to be born or not. It's really pitiful.
He had never felt fatherly love and didn't know how to raise a child. He was afraid that if the child was born, he would not do well and that little life would suffer.
The queen's face suddenly looked sad, her voice became hoarse, and her eyes looked into the distance as if she was missing something. "Your second brother is the same. He is all alone in the frontier without anyone close to him. If mother wants to see him, she has to wait until New Year's Day."
She said with a melancholy tone, "You three have grown up so quickly, like birds that have left their nests and haven't returned for a long time. Your mother and your father have been waiting in the palace every day, longing for the day when you can have your children by your side and enjoy the happiness of family..."
"It was best when you and your siblings were little. Even though there was war and the political situation was turbulent, you were all so small and you were always by my side. When I looked at you, my heart melted..."
Li Rong was eating quietly with his jade chopsticks, but Liang Hanzhang could sense that he was somewhat absent-minded.
"Your Majesty, His Highness has finally come to visit, why are you saying such sad things?" Nanny Song reminded in a low voice.
Queen Wang's face faltered. She glanced at her silent son, her melancholy buried deep in her heart. She took a deep breath and apologized, "My Queen Mother was overly emotional for a moment. Please don't be offended, Rong'er."
"Your Majesty Mother misses my second brother so much that she is heartbroken. I wish I could suffer the same pain myself. How could you be surprised?" Li Cheng seemed very puzzled.
Liang Hanzhang watched the interaction between the mother and the son as a bystander, and finally understood what Li Fu meant by "kinship is delicate".
It was very strange, really very strange. Normally, a mother and son wouldn't be as distant as the Crown Prince, nor as cautious as the Queen.
Aside from the initial encounter, the Queen carefully observed the Crown Prince's every word and action. If the Crown Prince showed even the slightest sign of displeasure, she would immediately stop what was going on.
How could it be that the Empress wasn't quite satisfied with the Crown Prince as the heir? Otherwise, they wouldn't have delegated power to him over the past few years, and even granted him the Azure Dragon Guard, a symbol of his imperial status.
The Qinglong Guards were private soldiers raised by the previous emperor. They were fierce, strong, well-trained, and loyal to their superiors. Later, they became dedicated soldiers dedicated to protecting the emperor's safety and serving him.
The name is still used today.
Yet, the emperor gave such a powerful army to the crown prince without blinking an eye. Such trust is something that few emperors throughout history could have found.
What caused the prince and the empress to become alienated, and the empress had to be cautious with the prince?
Queen Wang quickly turned the topic to her, "I heard that Fengyi had been staying in Fengle Tower before she met the Crown Prince."
"To answer your Majesty's question, that's right."
"Do you have a name? I don't know what to call you." The prince undoubtedly resembled the queen, especially his eyebrows and eyes, which were exactly the same. However, the queen's eyebrows and eyes were a little sharp, while the prince's were more gentle.
"I don't have a name, and I don't know who my parents are, but people have always called me Zhang Niang since I was a child. If Your Majesty doesn't mind, you can call me that."
"You don't know who your parents are? But I heard that maids in all restaurants are required to show proof of household registration if they are hired." The Queen asked in confusion.
"Your Majesty, it's like this." Liang Hanzhang didn't dare to look up at the Queen from beginning to end, and her voice was even more delicate and soft, like a spring breeze blowing on willow branches, which made the listeners feel happy.
"I was sold by my family when I was very young, and then I was moved to several wealthy families as a maid. Perhaps it was God's mercy that when I was ten years old, I was bought home by an old woman. The old woman had no children, and she had treated me as her own son for so many years. My household registration is with her."
"So that's how it is," the queen felt distressed and couldn't help but hold her hand to comfort her, "You were sold at such a young age, you can see how much suffering you have endured. Fortunately, now you have finally gained the favor of Rong'er and come to the East Palace to become Fengyi. If Rong'er becomes emperor in the future, and you have a son or daughter in your belly, you will be the biological mother of a prince or princess, and your status will naturally be extremely noble."
"I dare not indulge in wishful thinking. Being able to come to the Eastern Palace is a great fortune. I am deeply grateful to Your Highness, and I will never forget this kindness." Liang Hanzhang's face flushed, and she truly felt the feelings of the people around the crown prince.
The crown prince is the foundation of the nation, and his offspring are a topic of great concern to the government and the public. Liang Hanzhang had only been in Changchun Palace for a short time, but he had already been nagged several times.
I really don't know how the prince endured it on a daily basis, and why he was so reluctant to marry or take a concubine. Liang Hanzhang firmly believed that his charm was far from high enough to influence His Highness, but he broke the rules in front of him.
Could it be that the love poison of that day had reached the point of disturbing the mind and exhausting the heart?
Li Cheng had little to talk about with her mother and thought they would just have a meal at Changchun Palace and leave. Unexpectedly, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law held hands and had a good relationship, chatting happily.
Most of the time, it was the Queen who asked questions and Fengyi who answered them, and she talked more about her wandering life as a slave for more than ten years.
The Queen was heartbroken upon hearing this, and Li Fu, standing behind her, also looked distressed. Li Cheng only now realized that his Fengyi, who was always trembling with fear like a frightened bird, had actually lived such a hard life as a child.
On the contrary, when he was held hostage by the traitor who threatened his father, at least he was able to live a decent life with no worries about food and clothing.
You can even meet the little girl who is like the little sun.
Comparing the two, he seemed a bit ungrateful and complaining without reason. Li Cheng smiled bitterly, but it was a rare moment. It was the first time he looked seriously at the woman who nominally belonged to him.
Her brows were furrowed, her teeth constantly biting her lower lip, her misty eyes perpetually shrouded in endless sorrow. Her small hands, which had managed to maintain a fair complexion, were unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes, revealing her extreme fear and anxiety.
Those hands must still have the old calluses from years of hard work. The reason he knew it so clearly was that when the two of them were making love that day, he pressed on the woman, and her weak and powerless hands kept pushing him away. He had no choice but to put his two palms on her, interlocking their fingers, and at that moment he touched the calluses on the palms of her hands.
Zhang Niang—the name lingered unconsciously on his lips, and even he wasn't sure what he was feeling at the moment. Was it really the poison of love that had taken over that day?
It's unknown. He will never be able to answer this question in his lifetime.
He only knew that as a bystander, he listened to her emotionless recounting of her past experiences: being abandoned, beaten, and forced to kneel in the snow. These distant and unfamiliar words could actually be spoken by a weak little woman.
She's been gone for so many years, she must have been living in extreme pain, right? Li Cheng thought.
Unconsciously, the two words "Zhang Niang" that were whispered softly were filled with bitterness, and my heart ached slightly.
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