Chapter 9 "Wait for me to come back, I'll take you to pick plum blossoms..."
A gentle breeze blows by, and the intoxicating fragrance of flowers fills the air.
In the empty covered walkway, Wen Lingzheng turned her head and looked at Pei Lin.
He had changed out of his official robes into plain clothes, and his deep-set eyes seemed relaxed, revealing a hint of fatigue.
The garden was full of pleasant spring colors, but Pei Lin's gaze remained fixed on the person in front of him.
A feeling of déjà vu lingered in his heart, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.
"I haven't had a chance to thank you for what happened to Ning'er last time."
After a pause, Pei Lin continued, "And then there's the matter of Congping today."
Pei Lin bowed to Wen Lingzheng.
Wen Lingzheng shook her head slightly: "My lord, there's no need for that. It's just a small favor."
As she spoke, her gaze kept drifting towards his knees.
Yao Guang stood to one side, warily looking around, sighing inwardly.
"I'm leaving."
"Go to the North."
Pei Lin's voice pulled Wen Lingzheng back to reality.
She paused, as if struck in the heart, the pain surging from distant memories overlapping with her once more.
That autumn, he stood under the veranda and casually said, "I'm going to the North."
But when he left, all that returned was a cold, lifeless coffin.
Wen Lingzheng looked up in a panic, her hands clasped tightly together in front of her. Even though she knew the outcome of this battle, she was still overwhelmed by a vast ocean of emotions.
When did this happen?
Pei Lin smiled, a hint of triumph in his eyes, and he did resemble a mischievous young man.
"this morning."
Wen Lingzheng's gaze slowly moved down, finally settling on his knees.
The doubts that arose in the banquet hall earlier seem to have been explained.
What promises did he make to the government?
Wen Lingzheng was somewhat annoyed.
"How long were you kneeling?"
Pei Lin was taken aback for a moment, then laughed and said, "Then you need to kneel..."
Despite the lighthearted tone, Wen Lingzheng felt a sudden pang of sadness.
You can't fool me.
With her eyes slightly reddening, Wen Lingzheng quickly looked away.
Pei Lin's knee injury had been with him for a long time, and he would always feel pain when the weather turned cold.
Although he never said it, how could she not know as his bedmate!
She had seen him wake up in pain in the middle of the night. She originally thought it was a hidden injury left by his years of fighting, but she never expected that the root of the problem was actually in Shengjing!
Despite being injured, he still doesn't take care of himself!
Wen Lingzheng was furious. She suddenly found a surge of strength and forced Pei Lin to sit down on the veranda.
Why are you demeaning yourself like this?
"You're going to the North, which will inevitably involve a lot of horseback riding. Do you really not know the impact of a knee injury?"
As she spoke, she grew increasingly angry, and before she knew it, tears were already streaming down her face.
Seemingly realizing the inappropriateness of her words, she paused, composed herself, and spoke very softly.
"Now, the only person the Marquis of Dingbei can rely on is you."
Coming back to his senses from his daze, Pei Lin felt a pang of sadness as he looked at the young girl in front of him.
He instinctively reached out to wipe away the little girl's tears, but then stopped just inches away.
Yao Guang gasped in surprise.
"I, I, I'm sorry."
Pei Lin's apology clearly failed to calm Wen Lingzheng's turbulent emotions.
She pushed Pei Lin's hand away and sat down on the porch as well.
The spring breeze was gentle, swirling past the two of them.
Petals fell and clung to the little girl's hair, and Pei Lin couldn't help but reach out and remove them.
As her emotions gradually calmed down, Wen Lingzheng lowered her eyes to look at the ground, as if she wanted to stare through the bluestone slab.
Why did you specifically tell me this?
"For no reason."
"I just felt I should tell you."
Pei Lin's answer was simple, yet illogical.
In a daze, countless fragments of memories flashed before her eyes.
Horse hooves pounded over fallen leaves as the imperial army marched straight north, its dark blue banners fluttering in the wind, and the clear, warm sunlight lengthening the general's shadow.
From departure to return.
After a moment of silence, Wen Lingzheng said softly, "I've heard that the plum blossoms in Lingyuan are the best in Shengjing. I'd like to pick one."
That was something he had promised her before, but that time, he broke his promise.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to come back this year."
Pei Lin looked at Wen Lingzheng.
The little girl's figure was reflected in his clear eyes; he didn't want to lie to her.
"Then next year."
"If not next year, there's always the year after next and the year after that."
Stubborn and obstinate, she reminded Pei Lin of the snow pine trees in the northern border, but she should have been a delicate girl, nurtured like a tender flower.
Pei Lin subconsciously took off the jade pendant he had worn since childhood and handed it to the little girl, his expression solemn.
"Here, consider this a token."
"When I come back, I'll take you to pick plum blossoms."
A thrilling polo match came to an end.
As expected, the victor was in Princess Mingzhu's camp, namely Luo Xu.
"Well done, Luo Congping! Looks like you've been practicing a lot lately!"
Zheng Kaique's teasing voice made Luo Xu turn around.
He wiped his sweat and said with a grin, "You're not bad either."
Princess Mingzhu, Chen Lingwen, emerged from the crowd at some unknown time.
She stood on the high place, looking around for a long time, before finally coming to Luo Xu's side: "Luo Wu, have you seen Brother Pei Er?"
Luo Xu, who was drinking water, choked and glanced around the stands.
Is Miss Wen not here?
Luo Xu had a guess in his mind.
He turned around with a grin, trying to dodge the question in front of her.
"The princess knows Pei Erge's temperament well. There are no gambling games in Jinghua Garden, so why would he come?"
Yes, Pei Lin never attended banquets like this before, so his attendance this time was unprecedented.
Chen Lingwen sighed, a hint of melancholy in his eyes.
Seeing that Chen Lingwen was no longer dwelling on the matter, Luo Xu couldn't help but secretly admire his own intelligence.
He lingered and chatted with Wen Shizhen until he caught a glimpse of Wen Lingzheng appearing on the stands, and only then did he let the Wen brothers go.
As night deepened, the crowd dispersed, and the bustling Jinghua Garden returned to tranquility after a day of noise.
Inside the residence of the Grand Princess, Grand Princess Yongqing, Li Xin, was sitting at the table preparing tea.
"If we keep fighting, even the Cloud Legs will fall apart."
Prince Consort Chen entered the room at some point. He sat down beside Li Xin, his words filled with both doting affection and helplessness.
"What's wrong with me? Why am I struggling with these inanimate objects?"
"It's not something that's been widely discussed."
Li Xin sighed and tossed the tea whisk aside: "Don't tell me you don't understand this child's thoughts."
Li Xin glanced at Chen Ye and sighed, "But it seems the Emperor doesn't agree."
Chen gently placed the book in his hand on the table: "That's a trusted confidant of the emperor."
Li Xin felt somewhat disappointed.
In the past, when Emperor Taizu was critically ill, Emperor Taizong, although the crown prince, was physically weak and frail.
Although Prince Xiang was the second son of Emperor Taizu, he was also a legitimate son and Emperor Taizong's younger brother from the same mother. He followed Emperor Taizu in his campaigns from a young age and made great contributions in battle.
At that time, many officials in the court supported the succession of King Xiang, and the Chen family, to which the prince consort belonged, was one of them.
If it weren't for the fact that the King of Xiang himself had no interest in the throne, there would likely have been another bloody upheaval.
After Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, the Chen family was not completely purged, but they were ultimately neglected.
"The ruler's will cannot be defied."
Li Xin shook her head helplessly: "I really think that child is a good match for our Mingzhu."
In the flickering candlelight, Chen Yefu picked up the book again.
He gently turned the pages: "Being worthy is one thing, but being suitable is another."
Chen knows Li Xin too well.
Emperor Taizong was suspicious by nature, and even the Dingbei Marquis's family, which had strongly supported his ascension to the throne, could not escape his suspicion.
In the first year of the Qinghe era, immediately after Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he issued an edict ordering the son of the Marquis of Dingbei and the son of the Duke of Jing to enter the palace as tutors to the Crown Prince.
Anyone with eyes can see that.
This isn't a tutoring companion, it's clearly a hostage!
Pei Lin was only eight years old at the time. He volunteered to travel from the border to the capital to replace his elder brother and enter the palace as a hostage.
It's not surprising that Li Xin praised such courage and character.
How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside one's own bed?
Although the Chen family has fallen out of favor, its foundation remains intact; and although the Marquis of Dingbei's mansion has suffered calamity, the emperor's heart still remains with them, and they are still at the height of their power.
How could such two families come together?
Moreover, Pei Lin had absolutely no interest in Mingzhu.
Chen also turned to look at Li Xin, his gaze carrying a hidden meaning.
"The fourth daughter of the Wen family..."
"Is this the Emperor's intention?"
When Li Xin saw that he had changed the subject, she just smiled and didn't refute him.
"What in this world can be hidden from the authorities?"
"But speaking of which, that girl is really bold to say such things in Yuqing Temple! Today she even spilled a pot of wine on the fifth young master of the Luo family!"
Chen didn't say anything more, he just looked at Li Xin.
Li Xin blinked, then realized what he meant: "You mean someone is protecting her?"
Li Xin's expression froze; she clearly had a guess about that person.
Chen also lowered his head and started reading.
"Mingzhu's personality doesn't seem outwardly impressive on the surface, but she's actually quite arrogant!"
"If something is clearly impossible, then you should cut it off decisively, so as not to end up hurting her in the end."
Warm steam rose slowly, and the screen near the door was slightly damp.
Wen Lingzheng let her body sink into the water until her thoughts gradually returned before she suddenly stood up.
Crystal-clear water droplets rolled down her fair skin, like rain falling into rivers and leaves returning to their roots.
Yao Guang sat beside the bathtub, silently adding warm water.
She traced the girl's features and carefully recalled everything that had happened since she came to serve the girl.
"girl."
Yao Guang hesitated for a moment: "You and..."
With a slight smile, Wen Lingzheng splashed a handful of water: "I don't know you."
Yao Guang breathed a sigh of relief, but soon, a deeper cloud of doubt drifted over her.
Noticing Yao Guang's momentary pause, Wen Lingzheng sighed.
She rested her hand on the edge of the bathtub, propping her chin up: "You think he's no good?"
Yao Guang put down what he was holding and tidied the girl's hair that was sticking to her cheek.
"It's not that it's bad, it's that it's too good."
After drying her hair, Wen Lingzheng sat on the couch.
Outside the window, the moonlight was hazy, and twinkling starlight emerged from the darkness.
The lush pine and cypress trees in the courtyard were edged with silver under the moonlight, as if they were rooted in a distant dream.
Yuheng leaned against the side, yawning, his head bobbing up and down, almost hitting the table.
Perhaps she had just been startled awake, she rubbed her forehead and mumbled something, but soon she changed her position and fell asleep again.
Her thoughts quickly returned to normal. Wen Lingzheng carefully covered Yuheng with a thin quilt and sighed with a smile.
"He even said he'd keep watch for me!"
"Now I'm sleeping soundly."
The flickering candlelight in the room gradually went out, leaving only a wisp of smoke.
Yao Guang tiptoed to the bedside and sat down: "Go to sleep, young lady! I'll stay here and watch over you."
Crawling into the quilt, Wen Lingzheng looked at the bed curtains, completely wide awake.
Yao Guang's words echoed in her mind again and again.
"Yaoguang..."
Yao Guang had long since discerned Wen Lingzheng's obvious intentions.
"When things reach their extreme, they reverse; when prosperity reaches its peak, decline follows. Throughout history, even the changing dynasties have followed the same pattern."
"If anything is too perfect or too prosperous, it will inevitably lead to trouble."
Yao Guang sighed, “My mother always said that in life, one must have some disappointments in order to have a smooth life and avoid being envied by the heavens.”
"But that young master not only has a good family background and good looks, but his opportunities and abilities are also beyond the reach of others."
Yao Guang reached out and tucked the girl's quilt in, looking somewhat wistful.
"Do you still remember the little tree we planted in Lin'an, young lady?"
"Even a slender sapling has roots that are already intertwined beneath the dust; how much more so a towering tree?"
Remembering Old Madam Wen's expectations for the young ladies in the manor, Yao Guang's bright eyes darkened.
"How many sordid things happen in wealthy families!"
“The eldest daughter still has the old lady’s protection, but the eldest daughter-in-law is no longer here.”
A note from the author:
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I'll be taking a break on the 22nd to focus on the rankings~~~ Love you~~~
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