Ripples (2)
On the carriage ride back, Jiang Wanzhi's emotions remained unsettled for a long time. Looking at Zongzheng Hengyu, who was resting with his eyes closed opposite her, she couldn't help but whisper, "Your Highness, thank you."
Zongzheng Hengyu opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Thank you for helping so many people," she said sincerely.
"Hmm." He responded, his gaze lingering for a moment on her slightly tired yet radiant face before closing it again. "It's just what I can do."
The carriage continued its unhurried journey, and silence returned to the interior. But this time, the silence was no longer awkward; instead, it carried an indescribable, gentle, and serene atmosphere.
Jiang Wanzhi leaned against the car wall, savoring the day's sights and feelings. She suddenly felt as if she had gotten a little closer to that iceberg, glimpsing the deep, ocean-like interior beneath his cold surface.
This discovery made her heart flutter, yet also inexplicably made her feel at ease and attracted.
Just as her thoughts were racing, the carriage suddenly came to a screeching halt, followed by the neighing of horses and the coachman's shouts from outside!
"What happened?" Zongzheng Hengyu opened his eyes instantly, a sharp glint in them. His first reaction was to reach out and support Jiang Wanzhi's arm as she fell forward due to inertia.
His hands were steady and strong, and I could feel their warmth through the fabric.
Still shaken, Jiang Wanzhi instinctively grabbed his wrist: "Your Highness..."
Jiang Wanzhi muttered to herself: Why does this always happen every time we ride in a carriage together?! I'm really fed up with this ridiculous scene!
"It's alright." His voice was steady, carrying a reassuring strength. He released her hand, lifted a corner of the carriage curtain, and asked Yan Cheng outside in a cold voice, "What is it?"
Yan Cheng's voice came through: "Your Highness, a carriage ahead suddenly went out of control and crashed wildly, startling our horses, but we have brought it under control."
Zongzheng Hengyu's cold gaze swept over the ornately decorated carriage in front of him and the several panicked servants beside it, his brows furrowing slightly.
Just then, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing a handsome and gentle face, with a hint of anxiety and apology.
"I'm so sorry to have disturbed you all... Oh? Ninth Brother? Miss Jiang? What are you doing here?"
It was King Zhao, whose rule was clearly established.
Jiang Wanzhi's heart hadn't fully calmed down when she encountered this unexpected meeting. Her ears burned slightly, and she quickly lowered her head, saying, "Your Highness Prince Zhao."
Zongzheng Hengyu's expression remained unchanged; he merely nodded slightly and said, "Brother Zhaowang," as if to acknowledge the greeting. His tone was flat and emotionless.
King Zhao quickly regained his usual gentle and refined demeanor, but his gaze swept back and forth between Zongzheng Hengyu and Jiang Wanzhi in a very short time. His smile was still warm, but it seemed to have a hint of inquiry in it.
"What a coincidence. Ninth Brother, you... just returned from outside the city? And what's this about you and Miss Jiang...?" He asked with concern, "Your horse was startled earlier, were you alright?"
"It's alright." Zongzheng Hengyu said succinctly, clearly not intending to elaborate further.
Jiang Wanzhi felt the atmosphere was a bit awkward, especially with the two princes present at the same time, making her presence seem very abrupt. She could only add, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness, I am fine."
King Zhao smiled, his gaze falling on Jiang Wanzhi's simple clothes and unadorned hair, then glancing at King Heng's inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage, a knowing look flashing in his eyes.
"It's good that you're alright. That was truly a close call. If I had offended Miss Jiang, I would have been in grave danger. I will certainly punish those careless servants severely later." His words sounded like self-reproach, yet also like an explanation to Prince Heng.
"It was just an accident, Your Majesty need not worry about it." Zongzheng Hengyu finally spoke again, his tone still calm. "Since there's nothing else, then I'll take my leave."
He clearly had no interest in further discussion and directly told them to leave.
King Zhao's smile remained unchanged, and he nodded readily, "What Ninth Brother says is true."
He then turned to Jiang Wanzhi and said gently, "Miss Jiang, you've been frightened. Go back and get some rest."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness," Jiang Wanzhi replied, bowing her head.
King Zhao's carriage slowly made way. Yan Cheng drove his carriage smoothly past. In the instant they passed each other, Jiang Wanzhi seemed to feel King Zhao's gaze linger on her for a moment through the carriage window. His gaze was still gentle, but it made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
The carriage returned to silence, even more so than before.
Zongzheng Hengyu closed his eyes again to rest, as if the little incident had never happened. But Jiang Wanzhi keenly sensed that the surrounding air seemed a few degrees colder than before.
Although he didn't speak, his tightly pursed lips and the subtle, oppressive aura around him indicated that he was not in a good mood at the moment.
Was it because they were startled by an unexpected event? Or because they encountered King Zhao? Or perhaps because King Zhao saw them riding in the same carriage?
Jiang Wanzhi was filled with anxiety and wild guesses, and dared not utter a sound, only silently clutching her sleeve.
Zongzheng Hengyu only opened his eyes when the carriage came to a steady stop in the quiet alley behind the Prime Minister's residence.
"There's no need to say anything about what happened today," he said calmly, looking at her.
Jiang Wanzhi nodded immediately: "Your subject understands." He probably didn't want to publicize the matter of Ci'an Hall. As for her chance encounter with Prince Zhao, she certainly wouldn't go around telling everyone.
"Mm," he responded.
Jiang Wanzhi got off the carriage and stood at the door with Chun Tao, watching the green-canopied carriage silently drive away from the alley entrance until it disappeared from sight. Only then did she let out a long sigh of relief.
Today's trip was packed with information. The dilapidated and desolate Ci'an Hall, the stern yet responsible attitude of Prince Heng, and that unexpected encounter full of coincidences... all left her deeply troubled.
"Miss, do you think His Highness Prince Zhao will..." Chun Tao helped her mistress walk back, and couldn't help but mutter to herself with worry on her face.
When His Highness Prince Zhao saw his young lady and His Highness Prince Heng returning from outside the city in the same carriage, it was a thought that stirred up all sorts of speculation.
"Don't make wild guesses." Jiang Wanzhi interrupted her, but her mind was also in turmoil. "His Highness said that we don't need to say anything to outsiders. We just need to keep our mouths shut."
Even so, when she returned to her small courtyard and was alone, she couldn't help but repeatedly recall the strength with which Zongzheng Hengyu supported her in the carriage, and his last words of advice, which were devoid of emotion.
Is he... concerned about King Zhao's opinion?
…………
Prince Zhao's residence, study.
Zongzheng Zhaoran lost his gentle smile in front of outsiders, and lightly tapped his fingertips on the rosewood desk as he listened to the servant's report.
"Your Highness, we've found out. His Highness Prince Heng's carriage left the city early this morning, heading towards the western suburbs."
"We dare not follow them too closely to their exact destination in the western suburbs, for fear of being discovered by the guards around Prince Heng."
“The western suburbs…” Zongzheng Zhaoran pondered, a meaningful smile curving his lips. “When did my ninth brother acquire such leisure to personally accompany a young lady to the western suburbs for a stroll? And in such a clandestine manner?”
He recalled seeing Jiang Wanzhi earlier that day; her simple and plain attire was definitely not that of someone attending a banquet or outing. He also remembered Zongzheng Hengyu's overly unassuming carriage.
Something unusual must be going on!
"Keep an eye on things, be careful, and don't leave any trace," he instructed calmly.
"Yes." The servant withdrew silently.
Zongzheng Zhaoran picked up a book beside him, but didn't turn a single page for a long time. A subtle, almost imperceptible calculation flashed deep within his gentle eyes.
…………
The study of Prince Heng's residence.
Zongzheng Hengyu removed his cloak, revealing his dark everyday clothes underneath. He walked behind his desk and sat down, where a stack of official documents awaited processing.
Yan Cheng walked in silently, served a cup of hot tea, and then stood to the side with his hands at his sides.
"Has today's matter been thoroughly investigated?" Zongzheng Hengyu asked without raising his head, his voice cold and deep.
"Your Highness, it has been investigated. It was indeed an accident. The bridle of the horse in the Zhao Prince's carriage suddenly broke off, and the coachman lost control in time," Yan Cheng replied, pausing before adding, "A coincidence."
Zongzheng Hengyu paused slightly as he reviewed the official documents, then resumed his work as usual.
"Keep the news of the matter in the western suburbs under wraps. All supplies for Ci'an Hall will proceed as planned. Have someone evaluate the items proposed by Jiang Wanzhi. If they are feasible, let her communicate with the manager. You can assist her from the side, but don't interfere too much."
"Yes." Yan Cheng replied, then hesitated for a moment before adding, "Your Highness, today Prince Zhao seemed to be paying quite a bit of attention to Miss Jiang."
Zongzheng Hengyu finally raised his eyes, his gaze as deep and cold as a still pool, revealing no emotion: "I know."
He naturally saw through Zongzheng Zhaoran's probing beneath his gentle facade. His elder brother, seemingly unassuming and courteous to scholars, was in reality shrewd and adept at winning people over. His sudden, unusual attention to Jiang Wanzhi was no accident.
Was it because of Prime Minister Jiang? Or because of her?
Thinking of the feeling of her instinctively grabbing his wrist when she was startled in the carriage today, and the glint in her eyes when she talked about the "teaching a man to fish" methods of Ci'an Hall, Zongzheng Hengyu's fingertips unconsciously caressed the warm teacup.
"Ignore it," he finally said coldly, lowering his head again to focus on the official documents in his hands.
"Yes." Yan Cheng said no more and respectfully withdrew.
Only the soft crackling of the candlelight and the rustling of papers remained in the study.
Zongzheng Hengyu's gaze fell on the official document, but his mind flashed back to the slightly red tips of her ears when she held the sugar figurine earlier today, and the glance she secretly gave in the direction the carriage disappeared when she got off at the alley entrance.
He picked up his teacup and took a sip of the slightly cooled tea.
It seems that some things are starting to deviate from their intended course.
Inside the Wanzhi Pavilion of the Prime Minister's residence, Jiang Wanzhi was facing a lamp, unconsciously playing with the Da Sheng sugar figurine she had brought back from the teahouse that day, which she hadn't been able to finish and which was now dry, cracked, and shrunken.
With her other hand, she scribbled on a piece of paper, writing down fragmented ideas about how Ci'an Hall could increase revenue and reduce expenditure. Sometimes she frowned in thought, sometimes a slight smile played on her lips, completely absorbed in her work.
Only occasionally, when she glances up and sees the bright moonlight outside the window, she inexplicably recalls those unfathomable black eyes and that steady, strong arm that held her.
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