Chapter 88 Heart Knot Can you speak?
Lu Tingwan avoided the uninvited light. The windows inside and outside the main room of Yansheng Hall were wide open. Lu Tingwan couldn't avoid it at first and half of her head was buried in the thin quilt.
But when the breeze from outside the house slowly came in, it dispersed the long-standing medicinal smell and rolled it up into the clouds, replacing it with the fragrance of flowers from outside the yard. Occasionally, birds chirped in the ears. The fragrance of flowers and the breeze were refreshing, and she seemed to find herself in this fresh breath.
She began to stick her head out and observe the outside world. At some point, Feng Xin came back from the side hall and saw through the corridor that there was a figure standing in front of the window sill of the main bedroom that she had not seen for a long time. She stretched out her hand, and the sunlight fell on the lines on her palm. A cool breeze rolled over her fingertips, and vitality rolled in.
Feng Xin was surprised but also happy. Her wife was finally willing to stay with her.
Feng Xin held the medicine bowl and took several steps at a time. Fearing to startle the person on the windowsill, he tried to control his pace. His voice was filled with tenderness: "Second Madam, you, you are not afraid of the light anymore..."
Lu Tingwan's eyes showed a hint of surprise. He tilted his head to look at her, pursed his lips and said nothing.
Feng Xin burst into tears of joy. He sniffed and walked through the corridor into the bedroom. When he stood behind Lu Tingwan, he put down the medicine bowl and said, "Second Madam, since you are willing to see the light of day, I believe your heart knot has been untied. The imperial physician said that you need to go out more often and get in touch with the outside world to heal your heart knot."
Lu Tingwan didn't respond, but simply raised her arm and pointed toward the grape trellis in the courtyard. Feng Xin walked over, following her gaze, and guessing her intention, asked, "Second Madam, do you want to sit under the grape vines?"
She stared back at Feng Xin again, then nodded heavily.
The sun's shadow was warm, and Feng Xin suddenly seemed to see a hint of smile between his brows.
It was like seeing a withered and fallen flower, which came back to life after the rain. Feng Xin raised the corners of his lips and nodded in agreement.
"Okay, okay, Feng Xin will clean up the wooden table under the shelf right away."
Under the grape vine trellis, Feng Xin had packed up the discarded blueprints since Lu Tingwan was escorted to prison by the imperial guards last time. However, the equipment parts were still piled there. She didn't know which ones were useful and which ones were useless, so she didn't dare to move them.
Until she heard that the entire Lu family was executed, she thought Lu Tingwan was dead and no longer cared about these woods.
For several days in a row, except for sleeping, Lu Tingwan either took a walk in the yard, sat for a long time, or lay in a rattan chair and stared at the clouds.
But she was unwilling to take a single step out of Yansheng Hall. Even so, Feng Xin was already content. The knot in her heart had to be healed step by step, and she must not be impatient for success. Although Lu Tingwan did not speak, she gradually responded more to Feng Xin's words.
Ever since Gongsun Xue returned home, Cheng Xianzhi never came to Yansheng Hall again. Instead, Gongsun Xue came every now and then, exchanged a few words and then left. Most of her words were answered by Feng Xin, and Lu Tingwan rarely responded.
That night, dark clouds covered the moonlight, and a cool breeze swept across the entire Kyoto. The light took the opportunity to penetrate the clouds torn apart by the wind, and the silver moon spread out in the dark night, adding some brightness.
Gongsun Xue walked into the study under the moonlight. Cheng Xianzhi was studying by candlelight when he suddenly smelled the scent of rouge coming in with the wind. He quietly put down his book. These days, Gongsun Xue would come to the study around this time every day to report to Cheng Xianzhi on the latest developments in Yansheng Hall.
Upon learning that Lu Tingwan's condition had improved, Gongsun Xue's care was indispensable. She ordered people to force open the window to allow Lu Tingwan to receive external objects, which shows that her condition has improved today.
"Master," Gongsun Xue personally brought a bowl of chilled lotus seed and lily soup. "It's hot and dry, and this lily soup is good for cooling down. Xue'er made it herself. Please try it."
Cheng Xianzhi glanced at it but didn't touch it. "Well, Xue'er, you've worked hard. I'll let the servants handle such trivial matters."
"My lord has worked so hard for state affairs, and my father has repeatedly instructed Xue'er to serve him wholeheartedly. If I can't even do the little things, how can I manage the household for my lord?"
"Xue'er has been working very hard on Yanshengtang's affairs recently," Cheng Xianzhi said vaguely, looking at Gongsun Xue. "Sir, have you asked Xue'er about anyone else?"
Cheng Xianzhi meant something, and Gongsun Xue seemed to have noticed it. When she nodded, her cheeks flushed. Gongsun Yin repeatedly reminded her to give birth to a child for Cheng Xianzhi as soon as possible. The fact that they had been married for a year without any news made Gongsun Yin suspicious. He also sent many imperial doctors and folk doctors to take Gongsun Xue's pulse and treat her. Gongsun Xue found it difficult to speak, but could not tell him frankly.
Cheng Xianzhi had never touched her, so how could she have conceived a child...
"Father, he..." Gongsun Xue looked embarrassed and troubled.
Cheng Xianzhi knew she had asked before. Gongsun Xue was quite tight-lipped, so she probably knew the secret herself. If this boudoir secret were to reach the inner chambers of a prominent family in Kyoto, it would inevitably lead to endless rumors. After all, she was a noblewoman from an aristocratic family, and they were what everyone else called a loving couple, deeply in love...
Gongsun Xue had also wondered if he had any hidden illness. She had been on the tip of her tongue several times, but seeing Cheng Xianzhi's cold face, she dared not say a word.
"Xue'er knows that you have just secured the position of Shangshu and should focus on official duties. Xue'er only hopes to manage the household for you, and I will be satisfied." After this incident, she was more certain that if she wanted Cheng Xianzhi to treat her as before, she just had to do what he wanted and treat her with respect.
Lu Tingwan's existence was ultimately a slight threat to her. If she had said it wasn't there before, she would have accepted it. But Cheng Xianzhi had repeatedly crossed her line because of her. Although he said it was for the greater good, she still felt a lingering fear and had to be wary of Lu Tingwan.
"Has she been feeling better these days?" Cheng Xianzhi couldn't help but ask.
"Well, the Second Madam has been spending more and more time in the courtyard. She's still unable to speak, but her energy and spirit are much better than when Xue'er came back. With time, she will surely recover."
"Imperial Physician, how many days have you not come?" Cheng Xianzhi looked up at the door, and the moonlight fell in.
"I've already sent someone to the palace to invite him. Tomorrow is the day for the follow-up consultation."
"Um."
Cheng Xianzhi asked a few more questions about the affairs of the mansion. If it were such a trivial matter on a normal day, he would not ask too many questions and would leave it entirely to Gongsun Xue.
However, his attention had been focused on Yansheng Hall these days. In order to prevent Gongsun Xue from becoming suspicious, he asked a few more questions about unimportant matters.
While the two were talking, the silence outside the study was broken by the sound of footsteps. The footsteps were not actually heavy, but the study was too quiet, so the sound seemed heavier.
The solitary moon accompanied the cold figure until it disappeared under the eaves. The moon then seemed to be still, shedding light.
The shadow brought up a breeze, and the candlelight in the study swayed. The two people who were talking looked up at the same time. The man was only wearing a light blue shirt. He was lonely and thin, like a flower bud struggling to survive after being ravaged by a rainstorm.
That’s Lu Tingwan!
Gongsun Xue looked surprised and turned her gaze away to look at Cheng Xianzhi. Cheng Xianzhi's eyes fell on her, and the tenderness in his deep eyes poured out at this moment, leaving no room for doubt. Gongsun Xue caught it. It was the first time she had seen him look like this.
The gentleness in the eyes spread out from the bottom of the eyes, always shrouding the approaching shadow. A gentle light flowed between the eyebrows, implicitly containing tenderness, and a burning heat gradually spread from the corners of the eyes.
Gongsun Xue frowned, and the uneasy emotion she had felt burst out like a hurricane at this moment.
Cheng Xianzhi momentarily forgot about the person beside him and slowly stood up. His voice was originally cold, and it was particularly pleasant in its low tone. At this moment, when he spoke softly, it could almost soften people.
"You..." Cheng Xianzhi was delighted. Although his expression was different from usual, his face remained calm. "Do you have something to talk to me about?"
The question was asked gently. Lu Tingwan nodded silently, without returning his gaze, but looked at Gongsun Xue beside her.
Cheng Xianzhi understood immediately, and while speaking, he still kept his gaze fixed on her: "Xue'er, go back first."
Gongsun Xue gritted her teeth, the long nail in the dark had already embedded into her palm and was almost broken.
But she still had to smile, be polite, and bow as she left.
There were only two people left in the room. Cheng Xianzhi knew that she had never left Yansheng Hall since she came back from the execution ground. She must have come tonight to discuss something important. Since it was an important matter, it meant that her mind had already returned to normal.
Cheng Xianzhi came in front of her, the candlelight fell clearly on her face, and she looked much thinner.
"I heard that you've been getting better these past few days. What brings you here tonight to see me?"
Lu Tingwan was still for a moment, her starry eyes relaxed, not as bright as before, but still clear and bright. Candlelight flickered in the room, and Cheng Xianzhi waited for her patiently. He knew that her aphasia had not yet healed. After thinking for a moment, he turned around and sat back at the desk, pushed one of the white papers outward, and motioned her to sit down and write on the paper.
Lu Tingwan took a deep breath. His black hair was not tied up, but scattered like a waterfall. Only a white ribbon tied the loose hair behind his head, making him look lazy and indifferent.
Unexpectedly, she actually said, "I'll return the transfer order for the Third Battalion of the Imperial Guard to you."
The voice was a little hoarse, probably because he hadn't spoken for a long time. His voice had just recovered and was not yet fully healed, but a hint of crispness could be heard in it.
Cheng Xianzhi's pupils dilated slightly: "You, can speak now?"
"It's me who has implicated them..." Facing Cheng Xianzhi's doubts, she did not respond, and handed the Jade Bamboo talisman over, exposing it to Cheng Xianzhi's sight. "When I first entered the palace, I asked you for this transfer power, and now I'm returning it to you."
Cheng Xianzhi stretched out her hand and took the token. It was still warm and had a faint smell of medicine. It was obvious that she had been holding the Yuzhu token in her hand for a long time and hesitated for a long time before finally making this decision.
Cheng Xianzhi stared at her intently, his unspeakable emotions hidden in his eyes vanished, but his gaze was as sharp as a substance, as if he wanted to see through her.
Lu Tingwan waited for a long time, but was not in a hurry.
Cheng Xianzhi took the jade bamboo token and simply placed it aside on the table. He saw him take out a talisman from the collar of his clothes. It was made of a braided rope. He usually wore clothes, but he had never seen him wearing a pendant around his neck.
"This jade token can not only command the imperial guards," Cheng Xianzhi said slowly as he strung her jade bamboo token onto the braided rope, "it can also save your life."
He turned his head to look at her, but Lu Tingwan didn't care and still had a cold expression.
Cheng Xianzhi stood up, stood in front of her again, and said softly, "You must take this jade token."
Without caring about Lu Tingwan's permission, he took the initiative to tie the pendant around her slender neck. The two jade tokens unexpectedly merged together. It was originally a bamboo joint that was split into two. Lu Tingwan had only taken half of it before, but now it was a complete piece of jade token.
"Do you know what the most valuable thing about a general on the battlefield is?" Cheng Xianzhi's breath puffed up his eyelashes. "It's being able to command thousands of troops without any tokens, and the three battalions of the Imperial Guard are just like that to you."
"I gave you this token so that you could use it for self-defense. I insisted on having you enter the palace and promised to give you a battalion of troops to command. I have fulfilled my promise."
"I have never used the token to order the Third Battalion to hijack the execution ground. If I had known that Xie Zhao would come, I would definitely not..." Lu Tingwan recalled the situation that day. His head twitched and pain came over him. The pain that flashed across his brow was clearly seen by Cheng Xianzhi.
"I know," Cheng Xianzhi squeezed her arms, as if to instill strength in her. "Xie Zhao dispatched troops to hijack the execution ground without permission, which is already a violation of the imperial order. To be considered as such, you must hold this token. Only if you hold the token will Xie Zhao and the Third Battalion avoid punishment for this crime."
Lu Tingwan hesitated to speak, and Cheng Xianzhi became more determined: "I'm not talking about before, but from now on."
The two knew very well that Xie Zhao's loyalty was given to Lu Tingwan. As long as Lu Tingwan stayed in Kyoto, Xie Zhao would protect her in the future. If they did not want the Third Battalion to privately dispatch troops on the charge of rebellion, Lu Tingwan would hold the transfer order, and then the Third Battalion's imperial guards would not bear the stigma of treason.
Lu Tingwan was moved. This time, Cheng Xianzhi let go of her hand. Her hair blocked her starry eyes, and he just brushed it away without any hesitation.
Lu Tingwan took a step back, pursed her lips and said nothing.
She didn't take off the jade token.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com