Zhao Xiheng lunged forward suddenly, and Wei Li's heart skipped a beat, as if someone had grabbed him. His eyelids twitched, and before he could react, he instinctively grabbed the hem of his clothes to wipe himself.
Realizing that the action seemed too timid, he hurriedly let go, regaining his composure, and then, like a guilty thief, furtively ran his hand through Zhao Xiheng's hair.
Zhao Xiheng snuggled closer to him, ignoring Chen Ruonan's crying.
Although the young lady is crying quite pitifully right now, it's a shame she had to fall for that old dog Wei Li of all people. But now, besides Wei Li, she really has nowhere else to go. No matter how much of a scoundrel Wei Li is, she can't let him go now; she has to keep currying favor with him.
Once she left Pingzhou, she was surrounded by foreign countries on three sides. Zhao Mingxin, who disliked her intensely, had now become the Queen of Goguryeo. The Xianbei had a blood feud with her for killing her father. There was also a war going on to the south, and across the sea to the east was Japan. In the dead of winter, the water was frozen, so even if she went to Japan, she couldn't take a ship.
The Crown Prince is now overseeing the state in Jinyang. He is Zhao Mingxin's half-brother, and they have never gotten along well. He is the kind of person who is unwilling to even give her face.
Zhao Xiheng secretly spat in her heart. Her luck had been terrible from childhood to adulthood.
She originally thought that nowhere was better than being by Wei Li's side, but now, in reality, nowhere was better than being by Wei Li's side.
Wei Li is now her provider, the guarantee of her life and health. At least she's Wei Li's wife now, and given Wei Li's temper, he can't let anyone bully her... right?
Zhao Xiheng's conjecture.
"Stop being so lovey-dovey. Just say what you want. Don't give me this nonsense." The more Zhao Xiheng thought about it, the tighter she hugged Wei Li. Wei Li's heart pounded. She poked Zhao Xiheng's forehead to push her away, her earlobes turning slightly red.
Fortunately, his nails were neatly trimmed and he didn't use much force, so Zhao Xiheng didn't feel any pain. However, as usual, she cursed Wei Li as a bastard in her heart.
Zhao Xiheng looked up and was surprised to find that Wei Li's hands were not beautiful. They were not like the long and elegant hands of the pampered men she had seen in Jinyang, nor were they like her father's rough hands from years of holding weapons, which, though rough, were still strong.
His hands were large and wide, with long fingers, but the knuckles were thick and the fingers were crooked, not straight and slender. His palms were covered with calluses, which was very different from his handsome but gloomy face.
Zhao Xiheng's gaze lingered for a moment longer, but then she felt it was impolite to keep focusing on other people's shortcomings, so she turned her gaze away.
Wei Li also noticed that Zhao Xiheng's gaze lingered on his hands for a while, so he subconsciously withdrew his hand and lowered his gaze to Zhao Xiheng's hands.
Her fingers were fair and slender, like jade carvings. Her ten fingers were delicate, with a beautiful pink tinge at the tips. Her nails were about an inch long, neatly trimmed and rounded, neither too long nor too short, making her fingers appear even more slender and soft. If he were to hold her, he could probably completely enclose her in his palm.
In short, she was very beautiful, and looked like a pampered young lady.
She is completely different from him.
It looks so appealing that you'd want to take a bite and taste it.
Zhao Xiheng's stomach growled softly, but it made her blush from her neck to her ears. She weakly raised her hand and said, "I want to eat. I'm so hungry, my lord."
She hasn't eaten since that meal yesterday morning, and that old dog Wei Li isn't hungry himself and doesn't even bother to find her anything to eat.
If she hadn't brought it up, Wei Li wouldn't have realized that the two of them hadn't eaten all day. He licked his slightly dry lips and said in a slightly stiff tone, "You're such a nuisance." He then looked away from her hands and pushed the door open to leave.
In the past, Chen Ruojiang had been responsible for all his needs, including food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.
As the deputy general, Chen Ruojiang not only had to follow Wei Lidong around, but also had to take care of his food, clothing, and shelter like a mother hen. But now that the deputy general has been dismissed, he has to rely on himself for food.
Wei Li left, and Zhao Xiheng kicked his retreating back, mouthing "old dog." Did he think she was made of iron? Just wanting a meal was too much trouble? Someone like him should be wished to always have wives running away! Marry one, and one will run away!
After Zhao Xiheng finished cursing, she sat down on the couch by the stove with her arms crossed, feeling so hungry that her head and stomach were cramping—a feeling she had never experienced before.
She began to reflect on her short fifteen years. For the first nine years, she enjoyed boundless glory and was showered with love. The last six years were worse than the last. At least when she was in the palace, even though she was treated coldly, she still had all the necessities of life. But since she came to Pingzhou and followed Wei Li, even though he was clearly wealthy, she still didn't know where her next meal would come from, and she suffered from hunger and cold.
I don't know how long this will last.
Zhao Xiheng felt increasingly frustrated. In the past few years, she had been so flexible and adaptable that she was practically a tortoise that could stretch and contract at will.
How did such a princess end up like this?
If only her father were still alive, she would surely be the happiest person in the entire Great Zhou Dynasty. Following the proper path, she would descend to the Xie family and marry Xie Qingyu, the husband her father had carefully chosen for her. Even if the two of them had no feelings for each other, she wouldn't suffer, and the Xie family would still treat her well.
There wasn't much charcoal in the stove, and Chen Ruonan was interrupted by Wei Li when he came in before she could add more. Right now, there were only a few trembling flames left, looking like they were about to collapse and were in imminent danger.
Zhao Xiheng felt that wallowing in self-pity was useless and would only bring her trouble, so she rubbed her eyes and stood up. Afraid that the charcoal fire would go out and plunge the room into cold again, she picked up the fire tongs to add charcoal to the stove.
She was still figuring out where to put the piece of coal in the pliers so that it wouldn't damage the weak flame, but would still allow the flame to touch it and ignite.
Wei Li pushed the door open and came back just in time to see her studying the stove. His heart skipped a beat. He took two or three steps forward, snatched the fire tongs from her hands, and scolded, "Who told you to touch it? I'll burn your face and see if you cry then!"
That little idiot just poured water on the stove when I asked her to turn it off last time, which shows she doesn't understand these things.
The fire in the stove is easily ignited; even a small piece of coal can set it ablaze. She's timid and clumsy, and she's prone to burning herself.
This time, when Zhao Xiheng was scolded by him, she didn't cry and talk to him as usual. Instead, she quietly squatted down, holding her stomach, with her head down, and didn't say a word.
Wei Li lit the fire in the stove, threw in chestnuts, sweet potatoes, and potatoes, and then realized that she was being unusually quiet.
He squatted down and stiffly touched Zhao Xiheng's arm, "I got some food. Weren't you hungry?"
Zhao Xiheng nodded slightly, but still didn't speak.
Wei Li pursed his lips into a straight line, thinking to himself, why should he care about her? Seeing her so downcast, he should be happy, so he patted his clothes and stood up.
But he didn't laugh. He sat down to the side, not knowing why he couldn't laugh. Instead, his heart felt like it was being pricked with needles.
Zhao Xiheng squatted on the ground, her shoulders starting to tremble. Wei Li knew she was crying.
The fire in the stove was still crackling, and Zhao Xiheng cried silently; her thin figure looked heartbreaking.
"Why are you crying? I'm doing this for your own good." Wei Li couldn't stand the atmosphere, so he squatted down and spoke to her curtly.
Zhao Xiheng raised her head, her eyes filled with glistening tears, like shattered crystals, her nose red, looking as charming as a young deer in the mountains.
She rushed over and suddenly hugged Wei Li's neck, then continued to cry, "I miss my father, sob sob sob." She sobbed twice, "My father never treats me so harshly. You say I'm your wife, but you're not nice to me at all, you only scold me. I haven't slept well, my body aches so much, I'm so cold, I'm so hungry, and now my stomach hurts so much too."
The scent of gardenias emanating from Zhao Xiheng wafted through the gradually warming environment. It was hard to tell whether it was the alluring fragrance or the dizzying sound of her crying that was causing the discomfort.
Before Wei Li could even think, he lowered his voice and said, "I'll be good to you from now on."
As he said those words, he suddenly felt a deep sense of self-loathing, realizing that he had lost his mind and had said such things without thinking.
He hated Zhao Xiheng so much that he wished he could make her cry every day, and he wished he could destroy her little by little, watching her wither away and lose her brilliance.
He was a very filthy person; there was no one more filthy than him in the world. Therefore, he felt that to bring anyone to his side and associate them with his name was a great insult and disgust to that person, especially a proud woman like Zhao Xiheng.
He said he was dirty, not in a literal sense, but because he was filthy and base, from the inside out, from his bones to his flesh.
Given his background, even the powerful and wealthy would find it an eyesore to look at him.
Even if he has power and influence now, it can never change how despicable he was in the past. Bloodlines are something that rot and stink, and no amount of money or power can cover it up.
Wei Li is the world's number one ingrate; he brought Zhao Xiheng to his side, letting everyone know that Zhao Xiheng was entangled with him. She, too, got caught in this filthy mess.
Wei Li felt nauseous, yet at the same time, a strange thrill rose within him, a thrill that reached the very top of his head, making his scalp tingle. To taint something beautiful, to brand it with his own mark, to defile its purity, to render it unclean, was something that excited him, especially since Zhao Xiheng wasn't an object, but a person.
It seemed that something longed for inexplicably in her heart was broken through by Zhao Xiheng's cry, like some kind of great taboo.
It was too late for Wei Li to take back his words.
Then he told himself that he really hated Zhao Xiheng.
While crying, Zhao Xiheng grabbed Wei Li's clothes and wiped her tears and snot on them. A real woman should dare to take revenge, and she should seize the opportunity to make him be fierce to her!
She's mentally strong; she wouldn't let a few harsh words from Wei Li, that old dog, make her burst into tears. She's suffered far more severe harassment in the past.
But it seems to be quite useful.
Wei Li is indeed easy to talk to sometimes. For example, if you trigger the keyword, you can say to him: Please.
At this moment, although Wei Li said no, his actions betrayed his words.
However, Zhao Xiheng felt that she couldn't keep begging him forever. Talking too much would be useless. She had to win his heart and make him realize how badly he had treated her. She was now his little wife! The kind of delicate little wife who couldn't stand hardship!
Although she had never been in a relationship with a man, she had learned some lessons from observing her uncle's concubines in the palace. Most men were more responsive to gentleness than force. As long as a delicate, young, and beautiful woman knew how to be charming, they would never be able to say no to her.
She used to think she could leave Pingzhou, so she didn't think it was a big deal to go hungry for a few days or be cold for a few days. Now that she can't leave, she has to make her life as good as possible. It would be best if that old dog Wei Li could remember that she can't go hungry, because going hungry will cause her stomach to hurt, and she can't be cold, otherwise her whole body will ache.
Zhao Xiheng cried for a while, then, thinking that the sweet potatoes and potatoes in the oven should be ready, and having wiped her snot and tears all over Wei Li, she climbed out of Wei Li's arms and said, "My lord, I want to eat something."
Wei Li didn't know what to say, so he could only let go of her and silently take the roasted chestnuts out of the oven to cool down beside her.
Zhao Xiheng reached out to grab him, and Wei Li was about to scold her, but remembering how much she had cried earlier, he swallowed his words and grabbed her hand, saying, "Hey, wait a minute, did a starving ghost reincarnate?" Although his tone was still unfriendly, it was much better than his previous fierce tone.
"Oh." Zhao Xiheng tilted her head. What's wrong with this person? He was fine just now, but now he's acting like this again.
A man's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea.
So did her crying just now have any effect?
When Chen Ruonan cried, she wailed loudly, unlike Zhao Xiheng who had to put on airs and cry in a delicate, pitiful way. Her tears and snot fell down her face, which disgusted Chen Ruojiang, who quickly shook off his sister.
"Cry, cry, all you do is cry! I told you not to come, but you insisted!" He then poked her forehead again. "Look at what you just said! Does it even sound right? Sooner or later when you die, I won't even have anywhere to collect your corpse!"
Chen Ruonan tugged at Chen Ruojiang's sleeve and blew a snot bubble. "Brother, people have been talking about me like this, and you don't even try to comfort me."
"Comfort you? What do you have to comfort me about?" Chen Ruojiang pulled his sleeve back with disgust. "You're useless at everything, and you eat everything. I've been home for less than half a month, and you've eaten all the rice."
Chen Ruonan suddenly remembered her beautiful rival princess, who was not only beautiful but also gentle, and she would praise her so much that she could sing her praises even for something as simple as lighting a stove.
She felt wronged again, and her lips trembled as if she was about to cry.
Her rivals all praised her, but her brother never did!
Nothing could have broken her heart more.
She was heartbroken several times today; there is probably no one in the world more miserable than her.
Chen Ruojiang pinched her mouth, squeezing her like a duck, "Don't cry, go buy rice, we're out of rice to cook."
Deputy General Chen was very efficient. In less than half a day, he had prepared the largest and most comfortable courtyard in the palace at the foot of Changbai Mountain. Although it was a bit empty, it was at least fully equipped with daily necessities, and even thoughtfully provided with maids and servants.
When Wei Li went out, the chickens and dogs were in turmoil.
All the shops either closed down or hid themselves, afraid that Wei Li would even see their faces.
Zhao Xiheng nestled in the palanquin, a small, warm hand warmer in her hand, her eyes squinting happily. Through her tireless efforts, she had finally gone from riding horses with Wei Li in the freezing cold to being able to ride in a warm palanquin.
Well done, Zhao Xiheng!
The treatment has improved!
Don't be arrogant, keep up the good work!
She realized that no matter what Wei Li was thinking, his mouth was like a dead duck; he would never speak properly. But he didn't need to be sweet-talking; he just needed to keep quiet with her.
Do more and talk less.
Not long after, the carriage stopped. Zhao Xiheng lifted the curtain to look and saw that all around was a vast expanse of white snow, pressing down on an exquisite gate.
The outline of Changbai Mountain was clearly visible in the distance, covered in snow, its peaks emerging hazily from the clouds. Unlike the landscape of Jinyang, it possessed a breathtaking yet serene beauty, its ripples spreading across the heart. She had heard that there was a Heavenly Lake on Changbai Mountain, and a monster living in it, but she had never seen it.
Wei Li turned around and saw her staring blankly. He said to her, "In spring, the snow will start to melt from the foot of the mountain. The mountain is split in two. One section begins to revive, while the other is still covered in snow. Sometimes it even snows on the mountaintop in June."
Zhao Xiheng could hardly imagine that snow fell in June; that was a scene only seen in the tragic story of Dou E.
Her hometown, Jinyang, is a place with spring-like weather all year round, and even in winter, the cold only lasts for a short while.
The men assigned by the deputy general were clearly also afraid of Wei Li. When they saw him, they all lowered their heads and trembled as they called out, "My lord."
Wei Li didn't care about this. The more people feared him, the more his humble and secretive feelings would be soothed.
As the group passed by the lotus pond, the lotus leaves were withered, and a layer of snow covered the lake surface, bending the lotus leaves. Zhao Xiheng took a few more glances at it.
This lotus pond is so big, it should be very beautiful when the flowers bloom next year.
When Wei Li saw her gaze, he stopped, raised his chin, and said, "Take a few more glances, you won't have another chance later."
After he locked Zhao Xiheng up, she probably wouldn't have much of a chance to leave the house.
The lotus flowers here bloomed beautifully last year; it's a real pity she won't be able to see them.
Zhao Xiheng turned her head and looked at him with a slightly disapproving look. "Are you going to dig up the lotus pond and plant crops?"
Young man, you have no future. Lotus roots and lotus seeds are edible; you don't necessarily have to grow cabbages.
She said in a consultative tone, "I think lotus flowers are also quite nice, why don't you think about it some more?"
"Even if I think about it eight hundred times, you still won't see me." Wei Li left with those words and stopped arguing with her.
Zhao Xiheng shook her head, glancing at the lotus pond with a hint of regret.
Wei Li has no future.
But this is someone else's land, they can plant whatever they want, and if she meddles too much, she'll get beaten up.
Zhao Xiheng was led into a magnificent little courtyard.
It was truly magnificent and resplendent.
Adorned with gold and paved with white jade.
It was so rustic, like the peony flowers embroidered by her great-great-grandmother.
Despite their wealth and status, they couldn't cover up the earth.
In summary, earth represents wealth and prosperity.
She thought that going inside might be better, but she was wrong. There is no such thing as the richest; there is only the richest.
At first glance, there's a golden candlestick gleaming in the sunlight. If a thief breaks in, he could probably live a life of comfort and ease with just that candlestick.
Zhao Xiheng frowned and shifted her gaze elsewhere: the gilded couch, the gilded vase, the gilded floor tiles, the gilded window frames...
And standing in front of her was Wei Li, adorned with gold.
She then noticed that Wei Li's hair ornament was made of gold, and the clasp on his cloak was also gold, perfectly complementing the glittering room. It was clear that he was the owner of this house.
Indeed, as long as you have a good-looking face, even if you have a gold brick on your head, it will only enhance your appearance instead of making you look like a nouveau riche.
Wei Li's temperament and voice are unpleasant, always giving people a chill, but if you look closely at his face, he is beautiful, almost eerily beautiful.
Her hair and eyes were pure black, dark and deep.
"Isn't it beautiful?" Wei Li suppressed the smile on his lips, trying his best to appear calm, waiting for Zhao Xiheng to praise it.
Zhao Xiheng suddenly remembered that last night, when he touched someone's golden candlestick and said to her, "How about I build you a house like this to live in?"
Seeing the opulent decor, she realized that Wei Li was a man of his word, always keeping his promises.
It truly achieved the goal of "golden house, hidden treasure, and beautiful woman"!
Wei Li was still waiting for her praise, but his smile was already on the verge of crumbling. Zhao Xiheng was convinced that if she didn't praise him soon, Wei Li would turn on her on the spot.
We still have to rely on Wei Li for our livelihood, so we have to give him face.
She still remembered what her mother had told her: "Men need to be coaxed; they're just like little children."
This was an experience her mother had learned from coaxing her father.
Zhao Xiheng closed her eyes, adjusting to the golden light, then nodded solemnly to Wei Li and said in a tearful tone, "My lord, this house must be very expensive."
You can't bring yourself to praise it directly, she just can't bring herself to say anything about the decor.
While it's inevitable to be hypocritical in life, it's best to lie less, otherwise you'll feel guilty walking alone at night.
Wei Li curled his lips into a smile. "It's alright, I can easily support you."
He didn't know what the imperial palace in Jinyang was like, but he figured it was probably made of gold tiles and jade walls. Since Zhao Xiheng had come to his territory, he couldn't show his inferiority and let her think he was poor and stingy.
The house was warm and spotless. Fruits, snacks, and tea were laid out on the table. Zhao Xiheng stood opposite him and spoke to him, while several maids stood quietly in the corner.
This place is bustling with people.
Wei Li couldn't quite put his finger on what was wrong, but he felt that he could stay in this kind of atmosphere, which could even be described as boring, for a long time.
A short while later, Wei Li was called away.
Qingchang Zhao Xiheng couldn't wait to have hot water changed for her. She wanted to take a bath and wash her hair. After days of traveling, every part of her body ached, and she needed a bath to relax her muscles and bones.
Pingzhou winters are too dry. Even if she doesn't shower for two days, she doesn't feel sticky at all. In fact, she feels like her skin is about to crack.
The reason why the Prince of Zhenbei chose this place as the site of his temporary palace was largely because there were two hot springs here, one of which was a sulfur hot spring.
Soaking in a hot spring with a view of Changbai Mountain right outside the window—that's practically the life of an immortal. But who would have thought that it would all benefit that old dog, Wei Li?
The bath in Zhao Xiheng's room was fed by hot spring water and was divided into two parts, one being sulfur hot spring water and the other being ordinary hot spring water.
Made of white jade, it is warm and delicate like mutton fat.
She was moved to tears looking at the ethereal hot spring; she had finally found a place she loved in this courtyard.
Zhao Xiheng took off her clothes and slid into the hot spring. The moment she touched the hot water, she let out a comfortable sigh.
She felt so comfortable that she could instantly ascend to heaven while sitting on the ground.
The maids stood to one side. With Wei Li not around, they were a little bolder. After all, even if Zhao Xiheng was arrogant and domineering, she was definitely more kind than Wei Li.
"Madam, would you like a scrub?" the maid asked her.
Zhao Xiheng had never tried this traditional northern bathing culture before, so she nodded with great curiosity.
The maid ran out and returned a short while later, pushing a small cart full of bottles and jars.
Zhao Xiheng's eyes widened. Is bathing this meticulous?
"Madam, would you like to rub with wine, vinegar, milk, salt, or just dry?" The maid placed the bottles and jars on the ground one by one and introduced them to Zhao Xiheng.
"I..." Zhao Xiheng was at a loss for words. She opened the bottles and jars and found that they contained fruit wine, milk, salt, white vinegar, and so on.
She ruled out white vinegar and salt first, because she always felt that if those things were poured on her, she wouldn't feel like she was being scrubbed, but rather like fish on a cutting board being marinated.
Seeing Zhao Xiheng hesitate, the maid suggested, "Madam, how about we make the milk and wine in equal parts?"
Zhao Xiheng nodded. "That's a brilliant idea!"
At first, Zhao Xiheng felt extremely uncomfortable when these people called her "Madam." A perfectly fine fifteen-year-old girl was suddenly made to look several years older. But as they continued to call her that, Zhao Xiheng got used to it and even strangely sensed a hint of nobility in the title.
For example, now, a maid peeled a grape and fed it to Zhao Xiheng, saying, "Madam, eat a grape."
Then I gave her a shoulder massage and gently rubbed her body with fruit wine and milk.
Zhao Xiheng's skin, steamed by the hot spring water, was fair and pinkish, as clear as jade. Even though they were both women, the maid swallowed hard when she saw Zhao Xiheng's delicate exposed collarbone and milky white skin.
The lady has a slender waist, a beautiful face, and fair skin that feels like the finest silk. Most importantly, she has a good temper and speaks gently and pleasantly. It's a pity that such a tyrannical man as our lord is a good match for her.
Zhao Xiheng's current happiness is something that ordinary people simply cannot comprehend.
A beautiful maid massaged her shoulders, fed her fruit in a gentle voice, and even scrubbed her back until she felt drowsy.
Sure enough, there's a reason why every tyrant is foolish. Who doesn't love the joy of being surrounded by beautiful young women?
Wei Li was summoned because the governor of Ji'an Prefecture had sent something over.
It wasn't a bribe; it was Zhao Xiheng and Zhao Mingxin's dowry.
When Zhao Mingxin was sent to Goguryeo, Wei Li confiscated all her dowry, leaving her with nothing. The princess went to marry him with nothing.
Now the two dowries have been combined into one, which is extremely generous.
When Wei Li returned to Bu Xian, he found all the things he carried in a lot of way to be cumbersome and didn't take them with him on the journey, leaving them behind in Ji'an.
But he didn't say how to deal with it, and the governor of Ji'an felt that this was a hot potato.
What if something goes wrong, and something is lost or missing? How will he explain it to Wei Li? With his head?
So they simply packed it up and had it escorted to Bu Xian, along with an extremely heartfelt letter.
Wei Li got a headache just looking at those densely packed little characters, so he crumpled them up and threw them away without even glancing at them.
It's nothing important in the end, just some sycophantic and pretentious nonsense, and it's not even as nice as Zhao Xiheng's words.
The governor of Ji'an Commandery must have known what kind of person Wei Li was, so he didn't rely on letters for everything. Instead, he sent a messenger to convey some important information to Wei Li.
"The prefect said that he has checked the dowry item by item and ensured that nothing was damaged. He has made a clear list. If my lord has some free time and is interested, he may do me the honor of taking a look..."
"If this is all just rambling on and on, you can get out of here right now." Wei Li rubbed his temples impatiently.
The envoy bowed even lower and spoke faster, "The prefect also said that when he was counting the dowry, he found a new box, and the inscription on it was from the previous emperor and Princess Jingcheng..."
"Call me Madam," Wei Li corrected him, his ears turning slightly red, before he could finish speaking.
The envoy was now in a real bind, thinking that Wei Li was really hard to please. Did people in high positions like him change their minds every day? Just a few days ago in Ji'an County, he was unhappy when he was called Princess Jingcheng's Little Madam. And now, after only a few days, less than a month, he wanted people to change their address to Madam.
These days, it's getting harder and harder to do the job of serving others.
He thought so, but he still changed his words to "The letter is between the Prince and his wife. It must be very important, but since it concerns the wife's private affairs, the prefect dared not look at it too much. The prefect also specifically instructed me to inform the lord that the letter is easily affected by moisture, especially since Pingzhou has a lot of snow in winter. If the letter is covered with snow, the writing will be completely ruined. So when I came, I was holding it in my arms. If the wife cherishes it, this letter must be taken good care of so that it can be preserved for a long time."
Letters between the Primordial Emperor and Zhao Xiheng?
Wei Li frowned and asked him, "Let me see it."
When Zhao Xinglie died, Zhao Xiheng was only nine years old. At nine years old, she was still a child. What could she possibly write?
Wei Li considered himself to be devoid of morality, yet he felt perfectly justified in reading other people's letters, without any sense of guilt. The messenger handed him the box, and after opening it, he casually picked up a letter with two lines of large characters on it.
'Ayeqi'
'Wanning Three Years'
Wei Li calculated the days. Wanning was the reign title of the late Emperor Zhao Xinglie. Zhao Xiheng was fifteen years old this year. She should not have been born in the third year of Wanning. How could she have written a letter to her father?
The letter paper was yellowed, looked old, and even appeared somewhat fragile.
Wei Li subconsciously tightened his grip, fearing that if he tore it, Zhao Xiheng's tears would probably drown him.
I don't know where this little brat got so many tears.
Wei Li unconsciously curled the corners of his lips.
The moment he opened the letter, his head started throbbing again. The neat and elegant black characters on it were not dense, but in Wei Li's eyes they looked like tiny ants huddled together.
He was fortunate to still have a conscience and knew that he couldn't let someone else read this for him, so he patiently began to read it word by word. Although there were difficulties in the reading process, he managed to piece it together completely with his efforts.
"I felt the baby move in my womb today, so I thought I'd write to you. Perhaps because you're not here, the baby misses you and has been unusually restless lately. So I'm writing this for his father. I don't yet know if it's a boy or a girl, but if it's a girl, I've already chosen a name: Xi Heng. I hope you won't blame me when you write the name, and you mustn't reject my suggestion. But I really can't think of a name for a boy. I'll wait for your reply..."
This was originally a letter written by Zhao Xiheng's mother to her father in her name.
Wei Li felt a sharp pain in his teeth, and the pain made everyone around him tremble.
If you miss someone, just say so. Why do you have to say the child misses his father? People from Jinyang, are you all so roundabout in your speech?
Below is Zhao Xinglie's reply. Wei Li thought to himself that Zhao Xiheng's father was, after all, an emperor, and couldn't be as slow and indecisive as her mother, so he continued to read it.
"I'll listen to you in everything, whatever you say. You say your child misses me, but you don't say whether you miss me or not. Even if you don't miss me, I'll still say I miss you very much..."
Wei Li hurriedly folded the paper before he had even finished reading it. His hands were even shaking a little, and he almost couldn't put the letter back in.
He rested his chin on his hand, feeling that his teeth were so sore he probably couldn't even bite into a piece of tofu.
Is it just Zhao Xiheng and her parents who are so sour, or are all the people in Jinyang so sour?
For the sake of his teeth, Wei Li decided not to continue watching.
It is immoral to read other people's letters. Now that he has realized his mistake, he should consider it as accumulating good karma for himself.
Zhao Xiheng's parents are so sour, does she also like those sour men?
Although these letters are old, they are well preserved, which shows that Zhao Xiheng values them very much. Wei Li felt that he had Zhao Xiheng's weakness again and could use these letters to blackmail her.
"My lord, do you have a toothache?" Deputy General Chen asked cautiously.
Wei Li shook his head. "Put everything else into the storeroom. No one is allowed to touch it."
He wasn't short of money, and even if he were, he wouldn't be so cowardly as to touch a woman's dowry. He would simply put Zhao Xiheng's things away for her.
After saying that, he took the small box containing the letter and left.
Zhao Xiheng emerged from the hot spring, satisfied, the steam making her drowsy. A maid dried her off, put on her bodice and shorts, and led her to the outer room to fetch ointment to apply to her body. The inner room was shrouded in mist, making it difficult to see clearly.
In Pingzhou, where the weather is dry, oily balms are indispensable in wealthy households.
It's fine to have someone rub your back, but it's not acceptable to have someone touch your body. As for applying ointments to her body, Zhao Xiheng prefers to do it herself. She sits on the couch with one leg propped up on the small table in front of her.
Her legs were slender, straight, and long, radiating a luminous glow, almost shining white. Her knees and toes were a beautiful pale pink. Half-dry black hair cascaded down her smooth, delicate back. The stark contrast between black and white created a striking visual impact, and amidst the various gold ornaments, there was an indescribable sense of extravagance. Several maids almost couldn't help but shed tears.
She scooped out a dollop of perfume and rubbed it on her leg. Suddenly, the door was pushed open, and Wei Li, carrying a small box, rushed in without a care in the world, only to be met with this scene.
A subtle fragrance wafts through the air, and a beauty as lovely as jade graces the scene.
When Zhao Xiheng looked up and met Wei Li's face, the horrified "fuck" got stuck in her throat and she forced it into a scream. Her face turned red, and she frantically searched for something to cover herself.
Wei Li's Adam's apple bobbed, a white light flashed before his eyes, and he felt that both his thoughts and breathing were not flowing smoothly.
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