Acuerdo de Mu Yucheng

Capítulo 111

This place originally belonged to the King of Yan. Moreover, he clearly remembered that when the King of Qin first arrived in Jiangling, he clearly had another place to stay, but he moved to this Bizhuang shortly afterward.

Zhao Defang smiled faintly and replied casually, "The environment here is quite good, which is perfect for recuperating Wanlan's body. When I mentioned it to my elder brother, he gave me the manor without saying a word."

"And Your Highness, you just took over like that?" Xue Weiji shook his head disapprovingly. "I thought you wanted to retire and didn't want to return to the capital, but now it seems that living in Jiangling is no different from living in the capital." Aren't you both subject to the same constraints? What would happen if the Prince of Qin went back to the capital?

“How could there be no difference? As the saying goes, the emperor is far away and the sky is high, so no one will compete with me for my husband if I live here in Jiangling.”

Accompanied by Xuan'er, Wanlan, heavily pregnant, smiled as she approached. Her relaxed demeanor contrasted sharply with Xuan'er's anxious expression, prompting smiles from onlookers.

Xue Weiji turned to look at her, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Madam, so, are you here to stop the Prince from returning to the capital?"

“No.” Wanlan shook her head, placing her hand on Zhao Defang’s outstretched hand. “I brought this up with Zehua, but I’m afraid we won’t be able to go back this year. Lord Xue replied to the Emperor that I will definitely bring Zehua back to the capital, so you won’t have to run around for the next few months.”

The weather is getting colder and colder, and going back and forth is too much of a hassle.

Xue Weiji looked at the couple thoughtfully and asked in a loud voice, "After you return to the capital, are you not leaving again?"

"No--"

"Yes! If there's nothing else, I don't think I'll come out again," Wanlan said with a smile, tightening her grip on Zhao Defang's hand.

"Wanlan?" Zhao Defang frowned, looking down at her, completely baffled as to what she was thinking.

Xue Weiji smiled slightly, cupped his hands to the two of them, and said, "Since that's the case, I can go back and report with peace of mind." The couple in front of him seemed to need some time to discuss certain issues, so he should leave.

"Let's rest here for the night and head back tomorrow." Wanlan turned to the maid beside her and called, "Xuan'er, take Lord Xue to the guest room to rest."

"Yes, madam."

Watching the two figures disappear into the corner of the corridor, Zhao Defang silently pulled her into his arms, turned around, and walked towards the bedroom in the inner courtyard. Wanlan lowered her eyes and smiled gently, quietly following his steps.

Only after they entered the room and he released her did she look up at him and smile gently, "Don't you want to go back yet, Zehua?"

"Wanlan, what are you thinking about?"

Knowing full well that he had no intention of staying in the capital, why did he still promise Xue Weiji that they would not leave again once they returned to the capital?

Volume Six of The Great Song Dynasty's Beauties, Chapter 100 of The Turbulent Times of the Song Dynasty, "A Thousand Wishes Made Before My Pillow" (2)

Only after they entered the room and he released her did she look up at him and smile gently, "Don't you want to go back yet, Zehua?"

"Wanlan, what are you thinking about?"

Knowing full well that he had no intention of staying in the capital, why did he still promise Xue Weiji that they would not leave again once they returned to the capital?

Wanlan looked at him quietly, her clear eyes sparkling, a faint smile playing on her lips, and asked him in a low voice, "Do you really not care about anything? Not your elder brother and the Imperial Uncle, not caring about the Empress Dowager's remaining life, not even caring about Xu'er?"

Zehua is changing.

Since finding her in Nanyang four months ago, he has not only firmly refused his uncle's request to return to the capital, but also ignored all matters of state. He has also avoided meeting Xue Weiji, who has been ordered to travel south several times.

Zehua moved into Bizhuang, which originally belonged to Zhao Dezhao, without any hesitation. She originally thought that since he was unwilling to return to the capital, he would take her far away to avoid entanglements with the court, or directly withdraw from the sight of the emperor and Zhao Dezhao.

He completely exposes himself to everyone, yet ignores the gazes around him, focusing solely on her and the child. It's hard to tell whether Zehua is indifferent or affectionate; she's almost at the end of her mind.

Zhao Defang avoided her direct gaze and simply said in a low voice, "Wanlan, we're not going back to the capital. If you get tired of staying in Jiangling, after you've safely given birth and recovered, we can go to other places, like Chang'an, which you've always wanted to visit."

“But I just want to go back to the capital,” she said, wrapping her arms around his hands. “Even if I have to go to Chang’an, I must first go back to the capital to see my mother and Xu’er.” She even wanted to bring Xu’er back to her side.

"Wanlan".

Zhao Defang brushed her hand away with a slight annoyance. "Do you even realize that this time, you might never be able to leave again? Is that the outcome you want? If you really miss Xu'er that much, I'll send someone back to the capital to bring him over. It's better than us going back ourselves!"

With a sharp pain in her abdomen, Wanlan frowned and gently stroked the little guy with her right hand, silently conveying comfort. She hoped the little guy wouldn't become a hot-tempered child. To have survived the floods and plagues and grown up healthy to this day, he must be a strong-willed child. It wouldn't be good if he were too hot-tempered.

She took a deep breath, still maintaining a smile, and said softly, "Zehua, you can't leave. You have to go and save someone."

Zhao Defang was slightly startled, then suddenly turned around and glared at her, "Save someone?"

“Yes!” Wanlan narrowed her eyes, raising her gaze to look at his astonished dark eyes.

"Your elder brother, Zhao Dezhao is in danger."

In the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era, Prince Zhao Dezhao of Wugong led an expedition to Youzhou. During the night, there was a disturbance in the military camp. No one knew where the emperor was. Some people were plotting to enthrone Prince Zhao Dezhao as emperor. They stopped when they found out where the emperor was.

Emperor Taizong of Song was very displeased when he learned of this.

After returning, due to the failure of the northern expedition, the rewards for the capture of Taiyuan were not issued. Zhao Dezhao went to the palace to make a suggestion, and Emperor Taizong of Song was furious: "Wait until you do it yourself, the reward will not be too late!" Zhao Dezhao was terrified and committed suicide in the tea and wine pavilion after returning to the palace.

She had never mentioned to Zehua that Zhao Dezhao would commit suicide in the fourth year of the Taiping Xingguo era. Although there was still more than a year to go before that time, since Zehua brought her to Jiangling to meet Zhao Dezhao two months ago, the usually indifferent man seemed to have become someone she hardly recognized. He forced them to stay at Bizhuang and then returned to Yongxing. She hadn't heard anything about him in the past few months.

However, the Northern Expedition to Taiyuan was something that had been planned since the time of Emperor Taizu. Uncle, he'll probably discuss strategies for this next year, right? If they don't return next year, and something really happens to Zhao Dezhao, Zehua will regret it for the rest of his life.

If she were to be rational, she should maintain the status quo and listen to Zehua and not return to Beijing. If she harms Zehua because of Zhao Dezhao, she will definitely regret it for the rest of her life. However, if she doesn't mention this matter to Zehua, what will Zehua do when the incident comes to light?

He couldn't imagine it.

However, she underestimated Zehua's determination.

That day, when he was reminded that Zhao Dezhao was in danger and that he had to return to the capital just in case, he suddenly became furious, turned around and left the room with a heavy flick of his sleeve, and never saw her again.

He didn't even appear the next day when Xue Weiji bid farewell and returned to the capital.

Is Zehua angry?

It seems he truly and vehemently rejects everything in the capital. Even the safety of his respected elder brother cannot change his mind. Thinking about it now, she doesn't know whether to breathe a sigh of relief at the current situation or worry about the possibilities of the future.

Even if Zehua were to return to the court, he might not be able to save Zhao Dezhao from that calamity. But if he made no effort at all, Zehua would surely regret it.