Anti-Knochen-Scharlachlied

Kapitel 36

With her dark eyes fixed on him without blinking, Wanlan pursed her lips and said, "What do you think of what I said on my last night in Jiangling? Do you believe me or not? I've wanted to ask you this all the way back to the capital, but I haven't had the chance. I won't be at ease until you answer me today."

The question he had been avoiding thinking about was now being asked so directly by her. "Wanlan, let's talk about this tomorrow—"

"I need to get an answer today! Do you believe me?"

Zhao Defang turned her head to look at Lan Wen and Xuan'er, who were holding the child behind her, and said calmly, "You two go in first."

After the two of them entered the room, Zhao Defang met her focused and determined gaze and smiled bitterly: "Wanlan, are you going to force me too? You told your uncle not to force me, so why are you forcing me yourself?"

She trembled slightly at his words, biting her lip as she backed away, her bright eyes welling with tears as she looked at him sadly. "Do you think I'm forcing you? Zehua, I'm not your wife, Princess Deqing. I don't know why I'm here. Remember the first time I went to your study to find you? At that time, I went to find you as my true self, not as Princess Deqing. You have no idea how terrified I was. I was even more afraid of all this than 'Jiao Wanlan with amnesia.' This place is so unfamiliar. The only person I can rely on is you. I—"

"Stop talking." Zhao Defang stepped forward and pulled her, who had retreated to the threshold, into her arms, holding her tightly. "Don't say anymore..."

“Zehua…” She buried her face in his chest, her voice trembling, “Please believe me, don’t reject me, otherwise I don’t know how I will go on. I’m not your wife, but I want to be your wife…”

“Fool,” warm lips pressed against her forehead, “you already are.” It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her. Like the Imperial Uncle, he had never fully believed her “amnesia” from the beginning, but he couldn’t think of any other reason, so he accepted it. Now that he knew the truth was so bizarre, he didn’t want to believe it.

It's not that I don't believe, it's just that I'm unwilling.

This woman was etched into his heart and could not be severed. He was just cowardly trying to convince himself that she would always be his wife by "not believing."

"Wanlan".

"Um?"

He stared straight ahead, his eyes dark and deep, calm and still, but his arms tightened around her as he whispered, "I don't want to know where you came from. As long as you promise me you'll never leave me, I'll believe you."

Upon hearing this, her eyelids trembled slightly and gradually closed. Just this one sentence instantly made her understand all his thoughts.

"……good."

Chapter 41, A Secret Glance Back Reveals Deep Affection (1)

A month had passed since she left, and little had changed at the Prince of Qin's residence. Zehua had also mentioned that very few people knew of her disappearance. Although some servants were puzzled as to why their mistress, who was supposed to be heading south to Guizhou, had suddenly returned, no one really cared. Not long after Wanlan entered the house, she discovered that the servants had somehow moved her and Zehua's clothes and belongings to the Ziyun Pavilion in the main house of Tongxin Garden.

She had only entered this elegant courtyard with its Jiangnan-style scenery once, and that time she stumbled upon it by chance. Nearly two months had passed, and the garden in the courtyard was no longer as lush and vibrant as it had been in spring; it had become somewhat deserted. However, the artificial pond with its tranquil spring was still a deep green, and at the top of the thorny green stems, lotus buds, about to bloom, swayed gracefully in the breeze under the bright sun, like fairies dancing in the air.

Green lotus blossoms grow in a secluded spring, their beauty enhanced by the morning sun.

Autumn flowers emerge from the green water, and dense leaves are shrouded in blue mist.

Wanlan lingered in the courtyard for a long time before Zhao Defang, worried about her health, took her back to Ziyun Pavilion to rest. This Tongxin Garden might still be somewhat unfamiliar to her, but she felt much more at ease than she had two months ago.

Cherry Blossom Garden belongs to another woman, but Tongxin Garden truly belongs to her and Zehua.

Exhausted from several days of travel, Wanlan went to bed early. When she woke up the next day, she found that the servants in the mansion seemed very busy. Just as she was wondering about this, Zhao Defang came back to her room and told her that he was about to leave for Guizhou and could not delay any longer. This news really surprised Wanlan.

"Does the Emperor not trust you?" Wanlan was sitting in front of the dressing table combing her hair, raising her eyes to meet his calm gaze in the bronze mirror.

"It's not that simple. It has nothing to do with whether Father Emperor believes me or not. My attitude is the biggest problem. I shouldn't have mixed up public and private matters and neglected important business. That's why my uncle rushed to Jiangling overnight to reprimand me and told me to go to Guizhou immediately."

Wanlan put down the jade comb she was holding, stood up and rushed to his side. "Aren't you going to leave the matter of the Prince of Yan? Didn't your royal uncle say that the Prince of Yan has some schemes against you? How can you leave the capital?"

Zhao Defang smiled and turned her back, pushing her to sit down in front of the dressing table. He reached for her jade comb and combed her hair while saying, "That's why I can't let anyone find an opportunity to report to me. Before responding to the other party, I must make sure I'm in an unshakable position. Otherwise, how can I deal with others if I'm in the wrong first?" Besides, he had no idea what his father was thinking. A few years ago, the matter of making his elder brother the crown prince was mentioned, but it was never implemented. He couldn't guess what his elder brother's actions meant in his father's eyes. Under such circumstances, he should just go with the flow and wait until everything is clear before making any decisions.

Wanlan was speechless, somewhat annoyed, and snatched back the black silk he was holding in his hand. She turned around and glared at him, "What about me? You told me yesterday that I was not allowed to leave you, but who knew that you would leave me today? Are you really so comfortable leaving me and Xu'er in the capital?"

He chuckled softly, covering her hand with his palm, scooping up her soft hair again, combing it smooth, and gently arranging it into a bun. He then placed a delicate hairpin in her hair, supported her shoulders with both hands, and turned her to face him before speaking, "Of course I'm worried, so I plan to take you and Xu'er south with me. What do you say?"

Wanlan's eyes widened in surprise, "Really?!"

"Of course it is true. I didn't tell you yesterday because you went to bed early. I have already instructed the servants to help you pack your things. You will leave the capital with me tomorrow."

"Zehua!" She excitedly threw herself into his arms and hugged his neck tightly. "You should have told me sooner! I'm so happy! Thank you!"

With his long arms encircling her waist, Zhao Defang smiled broadly. "There are three purposes for returning to the capital this time. First, to inform my father of the reason why I went to Jiangling. As my uncle said, I can no longer run away from all this. Second, to pick up Xu'er. I know you miss him and it is impossible for you to come directly from Jiangling to Guizhou with me. Third, to bring you back to see Miss Xue."

Wanlan was slightly taken aback: "Suxin?"

“Yes.” Zhao Defang lowered her eyes to meet her worried gaze, her eyes clear and gentle. “I know you are worried about her. A few days ago in Jiangling, when Prime Minister Xue sent a messenger with news of Miss Xue, I knew you were very worried about her. Let’s go see her before we leave the capital this time.”

Wanlan closed her eyes and leaned back into his arms, a smile playing on her lips. "Thank you, Zehua."

He had arranged everything perfectly.

As the sun rises, it paints the east red. In the sweltering heat of midsummer under the blazing sun, the cool morning air is completely dispelled by the first rays of sunlight, leaving not a trace.

It takes about 15 minutes to travel from the Prince of Qin's residence to the Prime Minister's residence by carriage. After passing two noisy streets and turning into a deep alley, the carriage stopped in front of an old house. When Wanlan got out of the carriage, there were already people waiting in front of the house, as if they knew they were coming.

Zhao Defang handed the reins to the gray-clad servant who came forward, then turned back and, with Wanlan in his arms, followed another servant into the mansion. They walked around the front courtyard, past the flower hall, and into the main hall of the Prime Minister's residence. In the hall stood a man with half-white hair neatly tied up, dressed in a simple, dark-colored casual robe. The man stood with his hands behind his back, and slowly turned around after hearing footsteps behind him.

The elderly man, around sixty years old, was very refined. His dignified and unfathomable demeanor was calm. His sharp eyes darted over and met Wanlan's astonished gaze. The old man pursed his lips, cupped his hands, and bowed to Zhao Defang.

"Your Highness, I am so sorry for not greeting you sooner."

"Lord Xue, there's no need for such formalities. I've come to bother you because my wife was worried about Miss Xue and came to visit her."

"Thank you for your trouble."

After a brief conversation, Xue Juzheng summoned a maid and said, "My daughter just woke up yesterday and is still in bed. Please forgive her for not being able to come out to see guests. I will trouble Your Highness to go to the inner courtyard."

Wanlan, who had been staring blankly at him, nodded blankly, "Oh... okay!"

Zhao Defang glanced at her in surprise. Wanlan had never been so rude before. He leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "Wanlan, what's wrong? Why do you look so lost?"

Wanlan blinked, looked at him again, and smiled slightly, "Lord Xue is a historian of the Northern Song Dynasty! He looks very serious." Historical records describe Xue Juzheng as a kind and simple person, but she didn't expect him to be so respectable in person.

Zhao Defang glanced distractedly at Prime Minister Xue, who was looking at them with a puzzled expression. "A historian?"