Winters in the Eastern Kingdom are always bitterly cold; even the warm afternoon sun cannot ward off the bone-chilling cold.
Qingying was already frail, and the horse farm was open and windy. Sitting on her tall horse, she soon shivered from the cold and coughed.
Wei Dongchen was startled and quickly helped her down, taking off his own outer robe and draping it over her shoulders.
"It's my fault for being careless. I should have had someone prepare a warmer cloak for you."
Qingying did not refuse. She pulled her outer robe to cover herself and whispered a thank you.
Wei Dongchen's gaze fell on her wrist, and he frowned. "Why is it that whenever I see you lately, you always have a ribbon tied around your wrist?"
Qingying subconsciously hid her hands in her sleeves. "It's nothing, I just think it looks nice."
The wound on her palm was inflicted by herself with a hairpin. She knew how much force to use, so the wound healed almost without leaving a trace. Only the wound on her wrist, after the scab fell off, left a clear and ugly scar.
She felt that it would be most damaging to say this at the right time, and also about her lungs, the pain and suffering she had endured for so many years...
She will get her revenge one day, for every single one of these things.
Wei Dongchen was somewhat skeptical, but since she wouldn't say, he didn't press her further.
The two walked slowly forward side by side, Wei Dongchen holding Zhaoxue's hand as she followed beside him. Occasionally, noble ladies or gentlemen on horseback would pass by, and they would exchange greetings.
"My mother has chosen an auspicious day, saying that three days from now would be perfect for discussing marriage. What do you think?" Wei Dongchen asked cautiously.
Qingying nodded. "I'm fine on my end."
"In that case, I will go back and tell my mother to find a reliable matchmaker for the General's Mansion."
"Um."
When Wei Dongchen heard her agree, he was so excited that he almost danced with joy. "Don't worry, the betrothal gifts will definitely not be less than what you receive. However, according to the rules, they cannot exceed the Crown Prince's regulations, so they will be less than what he gives you. But we will definitely not lose face for the General's Mansion. After you enter the Prince's Mansion, I will definitely compensate you double."
Qingying shook her head and said, "The betrothal gifts should be in accordance with the usual customs."
After all, those things never reached her hands, and ultimately benefited Pan Shi and other members of the Liu family for nothing.
Seeing her attitude, Wei Dongchen thought of the recent situation at the General's Mansion and readily agreed, "Okay, I'll do whatever you say."
After walking for a while, they felt tired. There happened to be a large, protruding rock in front of them, so they went over and sat down. The spot was high up, on a small hillside, and the view from there was very expansive.
Wei Dongchen turned his head to look at her and suddenly said, "May I ask what you did at the clinic yesterday?"
Qingying stared straight ahead, motionless, and remained silent for a long time.
"It's okay, if you don't want to talk about it, then..."
Just when Wei Dongchen thought she wouldn't answer, she interrupted him: "Someone told me that I wasn't sick when I was born."
Wei Dongchen was stunned for a moment, "What...does this mean?"
“I’m not sick. It was Pan who stabbed me in the back.” Qingying pointed to her left lung and said softly, “She didn’t find me a good doctor and let my injury worsen. She only sent someone to save me when I was about to collapse. I was so young then… She was saved, but my body was ruined.”
“Over the years, she often had Granny Zhang tamper with my food and stuff willow catkins into my pillow, which caused my illness to recur repeatedly… They told me it was a problem I had from birth, and I always believed it…”
Qingying's expression changed, and the mist that filled her eyes gradually concealed the hatred beneath. She grabbed Wei Dongchen's sleeve, her voice trembling slightly: "Tell me, how can I not hate him?"
Wei Dongchen was clearly shocked by the truth, and his gaze towards her gradually turned to sympathy and pity. "...Is this true?"
“It’s absolutely true. I’ve been investigating this matter all this time.”
"So you went to the clinic yesterday because..."
"To confirm the location of her stab wound."
Wei Dongchen paused for a moment, then frowned and said seriously, "Wouldn't it be very dangerous for you to stay in the General's Mansion? I'll go and talk to my father and mother and ask them to come and propose marriage as soon as possible."
Qingying shook her head and refused, "This matter has nothing to do with you, I will handle it myself."
"How can it be unrelated? You and I are going to be husband and wife. Shouldn't husband and wife share joys and sorrows?"
"That's for the future, Wei Dongchen. I'm telling you this not to gain sympathy, but so you can understand my future actions. I don't want you to misunderstand me and abandon me like others have..."
"No, I will never abandon you in this lifetime."
He spoke so resolutely that Qingying was momentarily stunned, and she didn't continue speaking.
...
The two strolled back slowly, and Wei Dongchen happily shared with her things about the Prince Yu's Mansion.
“My father and mother were both very easy to get along with. They were very loving. Even though my mother had no more children after giving birth to me, my father never thought of taking a concubine. He said that the Wei family did not need his branch to continue the family line.”
"Back when those princes were busy vying for power, my father withdrew early on. It wasn't that he lacked ambition, but rather that he was very clear about his own abilities and knew what he wanted. So he fully supported the current emperor, which is why he enjoys his carefree life today."
“From childhood to adulthood, my father has always supported whatever I do. He said that as long as I like it and have a clear conscience before heaven and earth and our ancestors, then it is a meaningful thing. So, if you marry into the Yu Prince’s Mansion in the future, you don’t need to worry that they will mistreat you, because you are the person I, Wei Dongchen, admire.”
After they opened their hearts to each other, Qingying's inner defenses gradually began to crumble.
She had to admit that her agreement to marry Wei Dongchen was merely a temporary measure. She didn't want to enter the palace, yet she wanted to leave the Liu family; the Prince Yu's residence was undoubtedly the best choice.
Moreover, even though the fault did not lie with the woman who was rejected by the Crown Prince, she would still inevitably be criticized by others, and probably no noble young master in the entire capital would dare to marry her again.
She actually had no other choice.
But now it seems that being with Wei Dongchen might not be so bad.
Persimmons that you couldn't eat before become a lifesaver when you're starving, and they might even taste better than your favorite peaches.
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