The horse galloped swiftly, its footsteps treading through the snow as it left the palace road and headed straight for the Prince's residence.
Amidst the constant strife, the Prince's Mansion became the quietest place. With the master absent, no one dared to disturb him, and instead, they all avoided the area. Therefore, when someone arrived, the guards at the gate were startled.
In their panic, they recognized the newcomer's face and immediately knelt down, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Xie Lang ignored them, brushed the snow off his body, and walked straight inside.
No one dared to stop him before, and no one dares to now. Uncle Lu and Qingyun exchanged a glance and helplessly stepped aside, watching Xie Lang's figure disappear before their eyes.
Huo Ping, who had rushed over, sighed upon seeing this. He couldn't say much, but dared to offer a few words of advice: "His Majesty has not been in a good mood lately. Please keep watch outside and do not let anyone get close."
The guards of the Prince's mansion understood immediately: "Yes."
Even though it had been a long time since I last visited, the Prince's Mansion still looked familiar. The newly planted loquat tree in the courtyard had taken root, its branches covered with snow, looking serene and cold.
Xie Lang glanced at them and went into the study without looking back.
When he slipped out of the palace, Wen Hemian would call him to the study to practice calligraphy or discuss matters. Sometimes Wen Hemian would watch him, and sometimes he would watch Wen Hemian. It was quiet and peaceful.
This place holds so much significance for him; it is the most special place for him, apart from the Taiji Hall.
Now, because no one has been inside for a long time, although it is still cleaned, it looks particularly desolate, with the cold wind banging against the windows and making a whooshing sound.
The wind that swept in when the door was opened made the books on the table rustle loudly.
Having just ridden his horse through the snow, Xie Lang was almost frozen stiff. He stood at the door for a long time to recover before lighting the candles. Then, his gaze swept lightly across the table before he slowly walked over and began to search through the items on it, moving his stiff, cold fingers.
A moment later, their gazes froze.
He saw a stack of neatly written policy essays, pressed under the dossier, the handwriting was neat and beautiful, each stroke with a familiar curve.
It was written by Wen Hemian.
I took a quick look and found that the policy essays were quite varied. The top section was about promoting women's education, and further down, it covered policy reforms in various fields such as scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, as well as analyses of the advantages and disadvantages. The language was concise, clear, and easy to understand.
It looked like it was specially prepared for someone.
Xie Lang couldn't imagine when or what feelings Wen Hemian had when she wrote these policy essays, but every word and sentence revealed her painstaking efforts and her deep concern for the peace and tranquility of the Great Zhao.
Perhaps she had made plans but hadn't had time to implement them, or perhaps there were other reasons... In any case, she wrote these down. No matter what happens to her in the future, as long as Xie Lang can come here and see these, there will be an opportunity to continue promoting them.
Xie Lang felt a stinging sensation in his nose. He bit his lip hard, almost tasting the blood. He covered his chest with his right hand but didn't make a sound. Suddenly, he felt a little resentful of Wen Hemian's ruthlessness. She thought about the people of the world so carefully, but when had she ever thought about herself, or even him?
My breathing became rapid and involuntarily quickened, mixed with the cold air and a piercing pain. It felt as if I had been doused with cold water again, and I couldn't help but shiver.
Suddenly, Xie Lang seemed to remember something. He reached for the drawer with trembling breaths, and after a long while, he finally opened the second drawer.
Apart from the clumsy little trinkets he had once given to Wen Heming, there was only a letter on display.
It was originally agreed that it would be given to him on his birthday.
The words were written above, the words Wen Hemian had written for him.
Xie Lang couldn't wait any longer. He carefully took it out and opened it with trembling fingertips.
At that time, they had not yet fallen out. He was still a well-behaved and obedient student in Wen Hemian's eyes. Perhaps in order not to be solemn on his birthday, the letter was not long and not so formal. It was written in a humorous tone, as if he were talking to him gently face to face.
"Like a beautiful jade, it is a perfect match for Your Majesty."
"I once read in a book that a mountain shines because it contains jade, and a river is beautiful because it holds pearls. I think it would be better to use the two characters 'Huaichuan' (怀川). Holding pearls and jade, one can bring peace and stability to the world."
"Your Majesty ascended the throne at a young age. Although he has a temper at times, he is truly a wise and virtuous ruler, which brings me great comfort. I am also pleased to be able to choose a courtesy name for Your Majesty."
"On this auspicious day, may everything go smoothly for Huaichuan."
May you live ten thousand years, and may every year bring you spring.
Huai Chuan, Xie Huai Chuan.
In his memory, Wen Hemian had said many times that the name Xie Lang had a very good meaning. He didn't care, but he still couldn't help but feel secretly happy about it, though he hardly felt it.
Only now did Xie Lang truly realize how wonderful this name was in her heart, and how it reflected her past self. That's why she chose this name for him, hoping he would always be this good.
But what did he do soon after?
Taking advantage of Wen Hemian's indulgence and concessions, he arrogantly revealed his feelings and allowed his dark possessiveness to grow. Without her consent, he forcibly left traces and even planned how to take advantage of her soft heart to go further.
She regarded him as an excellent student. In her surprise and astonishment, did she ever feel disappointed in him?
Xie Lang was unsure, but he guessed that it probably was.
After the haze fades, when I recall the scene on the cliff side, I always feel that the figure there carried a sense of resolute determination.
He should have realized that she was extremely cautious and would never make such a mistake.
Unless, of course, he intentionally seeks death, or simply wants to leave him.
I won't dwell on the reasons.
Therefore, she left behind these strategies, and in any case, the court would continue to function.
Therefore, she had rumors spread beforehand to further disrupt the situation in the capital, help him catch those who had slipped through the net, and also use this to advance the goals she wanted to achieve.
Each and every item is interconnected.
It had been planted silently long ago, and Xie Lang never noticed it.
The more Xie Lang thought about it, the more dizzy he became. Suddenly, he seemed to lose his strength and buried his head on the table. His usually straight back bent, his teeth clenched, and he trembled slightly.
After a long while, until his clothes were soaked and he felt a bone-chilling cold, Xie Lang belatedly realized that he had been crying.
The sour, bitter, and astringent taste, along with the sadness and grievances of the past few days, finally poured out at this moment.
His fingers seemed to be gripping the letter so tightly that the corners were wrinkled, and his low, hoarse voice was accompanied by a sob: "I regret it..."
"Wen Hemian, Grand Tutor... I miss you."
In the past, he would only pretend to have his eyes red, and before the tears even fell, Wen Heming would stop and comfort him. But now that's no longer the case.
There's nothing left.
He brought it on himself.
It was him too...
She personally drove away the person she loved.
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