An unexpected encounter in the city, the warmth of everyday life gradually spreading (1)
Jiang Wanzhi munched on melon seeds, holding the storybook Heng Wang had given her, inhaling the elegant fragrance of a hundred flowers, but her mind kept replaying the whole incident.
The more she thought about it, the more uneasy she felt. Rumors rise and fall quickly, and the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion soon suffered a major setback...
This efficiency, this precision—if it weren't for the work of that icy, powerful figure behind it, she'd be ashamed to admit it!
"Chuntao..." She bit her pen, trying to draw a detective mind map for herself. Although it looked like an abstract doodle, she suddenly asked, "You know, that Zongzheng Hengyu... even though he's a villain, sometimes... he's actually quite a nice person?"
Chun Tao was peeling an orange for her when she heard this and chuckled, "Miss, you're only just realizing it? His Highness is incredibly good to you! Although he doesn't talk much, whenever you're in trouble, His Highness has always secretly taken care of things for you. If you ask me, His Highness is cold on the outside but warm on the inside!"
Qiuju also chimed in, whispering, "That's right! And I heard that His Highness really punished the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion this time to avenge you! That Miss Su is having a hard time in the mansion now!"
Jiang Wanzhi's heart skipped a beat; it really was him!
Although she had guessed it, being confirmed still gave her a strange feeling. She remembered how afraid of him, how wary of him, and even how suspicious she had been of him before... and suddenly felt a little guilty.
"But...why did he help me?" She still couldn't understand. "Just because I'm his fiancée in name only? Is he afraid I'll embarrass him?"
"Oh, my lady!" Chun Tao popped a segment of orange into her mouth. "Is there even a question? His Highness definitely cares about you! It's just that someone like His Highness isn't good at expressing himself! Didn't you see the storybooks His Highness gave you? They were all stories about chivalrous heroines. Maybe he just wanted you to be happier and stronger!"
Jiang Wanzhi chewed on the sweet orange, a sweet feeling rising in her heart, but she still stubbornly said, "Who, who cares about him... However, considering that he performed quite well this time, let's just call it even for all those times he used to scare me with his cold face!"
Prime Minister Jiang has visited her several times in the past two days, and his words seem to reveal tacit approval or even a hint of satisfaction with Prince Heng's actions. After all, what father wouldn't be happy if his future son-in-law protected his daughter?
She was simply reminded again to keep a low profile and avoid causing any more trouble. Jiang Wanzhi obediently agreed. After this incident, she was indeed a little scared and decided to temporarily put aside her little "storybook-style investigation" thoughts and relax for a few days.
However, the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease.
That day, she was taking a walk in the garden to get some fresh air when she overheard two old women who were in charge of tending the flowers and trees chatting quietly in a corner.
One said, "...It's truly a blessing from heaven! Those heartless and rotten-hearted bastards deserve to be punished like this!"
Another chimed in, "That's right! If it weren't for His Highness Prince Heng's meticulousness and shrewd methods, who knows how many soldiers would have been harmed by those embezzled military funds!"
"Alas, it's those soldiers' families who were previously misled... no, implicated that have suffered. I heard that His Highness Prince Heng not only cleared their names but also secretly subsidized many of them with his own personal funds..."
"Shh! Keep your voice down! Don't spread this around!"
The two old women, seemingly realizing they were talking too loudly, quickly fell silent, looked around, and then went back to their work.
What was said in jest was taken seriously by the listener. Jiang Wanzhi stood there, stunned.
Military pay? Soldiers' families? Private subsidies? She immediately thought of the previous incident where Prince Heng was falsely accused of embezzling military pay, and the key witness, Wang, the widow of Commandant Zhou.
Could it be that... Prince Heng not only cleared his name in court, but also secretly compensated the soldiers and their families affected by the incident? Did he even use his own private funds?
This discovery was like a ray of light that suddenly shone into Jiang Wanzhi's heart.
She always believed that what Prince Heng did was to find the murderer, take revenge, and maintain his own power and innocence. This was perfectly justifiable, and could even be considered a satisfying act of revenge.
But she never imagined that beneath that cold and ruthless exterior, he would do such meticulous and almost tender things.
He is not just breaking the deadlock, but also making amends and taking responsibility.
What kind of person is that man?
Jiang Wanzhi's heart felt as if it had been gently bumped by something, and an unprecedented, complex and tender emotion slowly spread through her.
The labels previously attached to him as a "cold-blooded villain" are becoming increasingly blurred.
She suddenly longed to see him again. It wasn't out of fear, scheming, or simple gratitude; it was just... a desire to see him again, to see if there were any other emotions hidden in those deep, cold eyes, emotions she had never understood before.
Once the thought arises, it can never be suppressed.
She began to inquire about Heng Wang from Chun Tao and Qiu Ju, intentionally or unintentionally.
I learned that he was busy with official duties, that he would occasionally inspect the military camps on the outskirts of Beijing, and even that he liked to drink strong tea and disliked being disturbed when reviewing official documents...
She found herself paying more and more attention to him, and this attention seemed to have gone beyond the realm of "clinging to someone's coattails."
…………
Hengwang Mansion Study
When Zongzheng Hengyu listened to Yan Cheng's report that Jiang Wanzhi seemed to have become much more "well-behaved" recently, and even started to secretly inquire about his preferences, the corners of his lips slightly curved upwards.
"It seems those books and perfumes weren't a waste of money," he said casually, his tone still steady, but Yan Cheng, who knew him well, could detect a faint hint of pleasure.
"Your Highness's plans are flawless," Yan Cheng said, bowing his head. "Miss Jiang seems to have... a much different opinion of Your Highness."
"Hmm," Hengyu responded, his gaze returning to the official document in his hand, but he didn't seem to immediately focus on it.
He naturally noticed her little actions, but he wasn't bothered by them.
…………
The more Jiang Wanzhi thought about it, the more she felt that since the other party had comforted her by sending her storybooks and secretly helped her take revenge, she couldn't just keep taking advantage of them for free, could she? Even a lazy bum has dignity!
So she began to prepare carefully, which was actually just having Chun Tao make some of her signature pastries. Mustering her courage, she first sent a letter to the Prince Heng's residence to sound out his intentions, saying, "Thank you for your help, Your Highness. I have prepared a small gift in hopes that Your Highness will accept it as a token of my gratitude."
She hadn't expected Heng Wang to even acknowledge her; the post might never even reach him. Unexpectedly, she received a reply that afternoon—extremely concise, containing only one word: "Okay."
Jiang Wanzhi: "???"
That's it? That's all? This person is incredibly stingy with words!
In the end, Yan Cheng came over in person, conveying the message with a blank expression: "His Highness said that he appreciates the sentiment. If Miss Jiang is free, tomorrow at noon, His Highness will be inspecting the defenses of the West City and will be passing through the West Market. You may stop by the 'Yipin Mingxiang Tea House' for a while."
Jiang Wanzhi was stunned for a while before she realized that this meant he was passing through Xishi on a business trip tomorrow afternoon and they could meet at the teahouse.
What kind of date is this?! It's clearly just him giving her a free ride!
But... at least you agreed to meet, right?
"Go! Of course I'll go!" Jiang Wanzhi nodded immediately. If she could thank her in person and deliver the pastries, her mission would be complete!
The next day, Jiang Wanzhi dressed up a little, mainly to make herself look healthier, and had absolutely no other intentions!
Carrying spring peaches and a box of pastries, I arrived early at the rather elegant-looking "Yipin Mingxiang" teahouse in the West Market. I asked for a private room facing the street and waited anxiously.
Below the window, the West Market bustled with people, its noise making the quiet in the private room all the more unsettling. She fidgeted with the ribbon on the food box for a moment, then peered out the window, her palms slightly sweaty with nervousness.
Just after 1 p.m., a slight commotion and the sound of horses' hooves came from downstairs.
Jiang Wanzhi peeked out and saw a team of black-armored guards protecting a low-key yet undeniably imposing carriage parked at the entrance of the teahouse.
The car door opened, and Zongzheng Hengyu, dressed in a black casual suit and wearing a dark cloak, stepped out of the car.
He stood tall and straight like a pine tree; simply by standing there, everything around him seemed to automatically become a blurred backdrop. Sunlight fell on his sharply defined profile, but it couldn't dispel the innate coldness about him.
He didn't look upstairs, but only slightly turned his head to give Yan Cheng a word of instruction before taking a step up the steps of the teahouse at a leisurely pace.
The moment he appeared, the entire teahouse seemed to fall silent, and an invisible sense of oppression spread out.
With each step he took, Jiang Wanzhi felt her heart pound even harder. She could even clearly hear the steady, rhythmic creaking of the wooden stairs beneath his feet.
Jiang Wanzhi's heart began to beat faster involuntarily.
Soon, the door to the private room was pushed open, and Zongzheng Hengyu walked in. His gaze swept over the slightly uneasy Jiang Wanzhi and the box of pastries on the table, and he nodded slightly: "Miss Jiang, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."
"No...no! Your Highness is busy with official duties, I'm sorry to have bothered you." Jiang Wanzhi quickly stood up and bowed somewhat awkwardly.
“Um… thank you Your Highness for the book and perfume last time. I… I made some snacks as a token of my gratitude. I hope Your Highness won’t mind.” She gestured for Chun Tao to hand over the box.
Zongzheng Hengyu glanced at the gilded and carved food box, then looked at Jiang Wanzhi's eyes, which were filled with a mixture of nervousness and anticipation. After a moment of silence, he gave Yan Chengwei a subtle nod behind him.
Yan Cheng immediately stepped forward, took the food box, but did not open it right away; instead, he stepped aside.
"Okay," he replied, accepting it. And then, that was it.
The atmosphere in the private room was quite awkward for a moment.
Jiang Wanzhi racked her brains to find a topic: "Your Highness... you must be tired from your inspection..."
"It's my duty."
"The West Market... is quite lively..."
"Um."
"That cosmetics shop looks pretty good..."
"..."
Jiang Wanzhi: "..." Help! This conversation is impossible!
Just as she was about to freeze in the awkward atmosphere, Zongzheng Hengyu suddenly turned his head and looked at her: "Sit down."
Jiang Wanzhi felt as if she had been granted a pardon and quickly sat down.
"Are you feeling much better?" he suddenly asked. "Ah? Oh! I'm all better! I'm completely healed! All thanks to the tonics Your Highness sent."
"Hmm." He responded again, turning his gaze back to the window. "Now that you're better, stop overthinking."
Jiang Wanzhi blinked. Was he... concerned about her? Or was he annoyed that she had caused trouble by asking around before? "I... I wasn't thinking anything..." she muttered softly.
Another silence fell. But strangely, after the initial awkwardness, Jiang Wanzhi found that even without speaking, just being in the same room with him didn't seem so scary anymore.
He is like a silent mountain, with a strong presence, yet surprisingly reassuring.
In this eerie tranquility, her courage quietly grew a little.
She began to secretly and quickly glance at him.
He stood by the window, his posture as upright as a pine or cypress. The dark fabric of his clothes made his skin appear even paler, and the lines of his profile were sharp and distinct, from his brow bone to his nose and jawline, every feature looking as if it had been meticulously sculpted by the most skilled craftsman.
His thin lips were always habitually pursed, exuding an undeniable air of authority. Looking down, one could see his hand gripping the window frame, his fingers long and distinct, clean and strong, with faint blue veins visible beneath his skin.
Her gaze finally settled on his long, thick eyelashes. At that moment, he was looking down at the building with his eyes slightly lowered, and the eyelashes cast a faint shadow under his eyes, which inexplicably softened his overly cold and hard temperament.
This is a kind of aggressive, powerful, and distant kind of handsomeness!
Just then, a burst of unusually loud noise and cheers suddenly came from downstairs, instantly attracting Jiang Wanzhi's attention.
She instinctively peeked out and saw a troupe of acrobats performing energetically, breathing fire, balancing bowls, and forming human pyramids, drawing cheers from the onlookers.
"Wow! It's fire-breathing and bowl-balancing!" She was immediately captivated and watched with great interest.
Especially the girl balancing the bowls on her head; the bowls were stacked higher and higher, incredibly dangerous yet perfectly steady.
She was so engrossed in watching that she momentarily forgot who was beside her, and forgot all her restraint and inhibitions. Completely subconsciously and habitually, she reached out and tugged at the sleeve of the person next to her, her tone filled with excitement and a desire to share that she herself was unaware of: "Your Highness, look! Those bowls are stacked so high! They're almost touching the eaves! How did she do that?"
The moment she finished speaking, Jiang Wanzhi froze.
The sensation of the fabric against her fingertips—cool and smooth, made of the finest brocade—along with the strong, powerful outline of the arms beneath, struck her like a thunderbolt, instantly waking her up!
What did she just do?! She actually tugged at His Highness Prince Heng's sleeve?!
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