Ah Hao looked down at the ground, but frowned as she listened. Zheng Guan became even more agitated, reaching out to grab Ah Hao's arm while saying, "Not only can I wait for you, but I can also help you take care of..."
Before he could finish speaking, his outstretched hand was grabbed forcefully. Ah Hao sensed a figure suddenly approaching, looked up, and was taken aback.
Chapter 17 Regret
Zheng Guan was no stronger than the man and couldn't break free from his grip. He turned to look at the man, but didn't recognize him. However, he felt that the man was imposing and distinguished, with an extraordinary air about him, and dressed in luxurious clothes, unlike ordinary people. Song Shuhao served the Empress Dowager and had many contacts with powerful and influential people, so it wasn't surprising that she knew a young nobleman.
With a clear mind, Zheng Guan felt sorry for Ahao. She was just a lowly female official with no background. Even if she managed to marry into a wealthy family, she would only be qualified to be a concubine. If she married him, she would at least be his legal wife!
If she marries into the Zheng family, even if life is a bit hard, she will never be mistreated. Does Ah Hao really not understand such a simple truth? Or has she only recognized money and only known how to climb the social ladder?
When Zheng Guan met the gaze of the person in front of him, some thoughts welled up in his mind, but the other person's deep, cold, and unapproachable gaze, like black jade, made him lose his composure. In an instant, Zheng Guan looked away, feeling somewhat humiliated, and his face flushed red with indignation.
Ah Hao snapped out of her shock, and even though she curtsied and greeted him with "Your Highness," her tone was calm, but the surprise in her eyes had not disappeared.
Ah Hao hadn't seen where Prosecutor Zhao had come from. She couldn't find even the slightest possible reason why Prosecutor Zhao was at the Song residence. Her surprise and disbelief were perfectly normal reactions.
The prince's identity caused Zheng Guan to choke on his words, secretly thinking that his cousin had found such a powerful backer. Zhao Jian and A Hao nodded slightly to signal her to stand up, their expressions much more relaxed than when they looked at Zheng Guan. However, when they looked at Zheng Guan again, remembering Zheng Guan's words just now, the coldness in Zhao Jian's eyes deepened.
"Men and women are different. Even if you're her cousin, you have no right to lay a hand on her. Since you look respectable, show some respect. She's already rejected you, don't you understand?"
When Zhao Jian spoke up for Ahao, Zheng Guan dared not refute him. His submissive demeanor at this moment was a far cry from his assertive manner towards Ahao just a moment ago.
Ah Hao did dislike Zheng Guan's words, but she didn't expect anything in return. She could reason with him herself. In contrast, Ah Hao considered Zhao Jian a stranger, someone she wasn't familiar with. Zhao Jian helped ease her embarrassment, and Ah Hao was grateful. However, she didn't quite agree with the way he did it.
Judging from Zhao Jian's behavior, Ahao figured that the other party probably wouldn't make things difficult for her, so she took the initiative to help Zheng Guan out of the predicament, saying, "Cousin, thank you for coming to see my mother. It's getting late, cousin, you should go back first."
Zheng Guan thought that since Ahao had already ingratiated herself with the Crown Prince, speaking up for him would be no problem, so he readily agreed and hurriedly left. Zhao Jian indeed said nothing.
After dismissing Zheng Guan, Song Shuhao faced Zhao Jian alone. Suspicious of his actions, she finally asked him directly, "Why is His Highness here?" Besides that, she was more suspicious of something else, but she had asked Prince Ning to keep an eye on the Song residence, yet she had not received any news.
Zhao Jian met Ahao's clear eyes, clenched his fist hidden in his sleeve at his side, and tried to appear relaxed, saying, "I've come to find someone to verify something with."
The doubt in Ahao's eyes deepened. Zhao Jian suppressed the urge to get closer to her, stared at Ahao, and continued to explain, "Nine years ago, someone saved me. I've been looking for that benefactor ever since, but I haven't been able to find them. After all these years, I've finally found out that my savior was right in front of me."
"I don't know what the young master is talking about..." Ah Hao shook her head at Zhao Jian, still looking completely bewildered. He seemed to be saying that she had saved him nine years ago, but she was only nine years old then, how could she have done that?
"Nine years ago at Jingyun Nunnery, a little girl who was only nine years old couldn't sleep at night and secretly ran to the courtyard to look at the moon. I happened to be fleeing to Jingyun Nunnery and was injured when I met that little girl. She helped me escape from the pursuers and bandaged my wounds."
Although the so-called bandaging was merely the girl cutting strips of cloth from his undergarments with scissors and haphazardly tying the wound around, she did this and then ignored his life or death, only urging him to leave quickly, which was quite heartless.
Zhao Jian recalled that unusual night. He hadn't seen the little girl's face clearly and didn't know her name. She had caught a cold at the time, and her voice was a little hoarse, so he couldn't fully understand her voice either.
But he felt deep regret, regretting not discovering sooner that the girl was Song Shuhao. If he had known sooner, wouldn't many things have been different?
Seeing Zhao Jian lost in thought, his eyelids drooping slightly to conceal his feelings, Ahao smiled and said, "Your Highness must be mistaken. I don't remember such a thing ever happening. I was too young to understand all that."
Song Shuhao's unwavering denial did not cause Zhao Jian's expression to change much, but his complicated gaze left Ahao feeling bewildered.
Zhao Jiandan looked at Ahao and said, "It's okay." His words were ambiguous, as if he were saying that it didn't matter if Ahao lied, or as if he were saying that it didn't matter whether things were right or wrong.
Ah Hao seemed to understand but didn't delve deeper. Her smile remained unchanged as she said to Zhao Jian, "For nine years, Your Highness has never given up on finding that girl. This devotion is truly touching. I can't offer any help, but I wish Your Highness will find your savior soon."
After hearing what A-Hao said, Prosecutor Zhao said to her gently, "Thank you."
·
With the winter hunt imminent, Princess Zhang Xin was itching to go along, but her elder brother, the Emperor, was reluctant to agree. She pleaded and begged for many days, but Zhang Yu showed no sign of relenting, and she became increasingly restless two days before departure.
She had been promised a two-day trip outside the palace, but that promise was broken. This time, they still wouldn't take her, using her being of marriageable age as an excuse. Zhang Xin was even more dissatisfied. Knowing that asking others was useless and her efforts with Zhang Yu were fruitless, Zhang Xin had no choice but to turn to Empress Dowager Feng for help.
On the day A-Hao returned home, Zhang Xin happened to arrive at the same time that Zhang Yu went to Changning Palace to pay his respects to Empress Dowager Feng. After exchanging greetings with Empress Dowager Feng and Zhang Yu, she got straight to the point, not wanting to linger for fear that Zhang Yu would soon be busy with other matters.
"Mother, tell me, in previous years my elder brother would always take me out for a stroll, but this year he won't. What's the reason for that? Do I look like I'm being disobedient?"
"I quite agree with Your Majesty's words. You are already sixteen. If you don't get married this year, you will get married next year anyway. It's better to behave yourself. Don't be like your elder sister, who makes me worry so much." Empress Dowager Feng showed no intention of giving Zhang Xin any credit, and instead stood on the side of Zhang Yu.
Zhang Xin immediately looked distressed. "Mother knows I'll be getting married in less than two years. How many more opportunities like this will I have in the future? Can't you just consider this my last time?"
“In previous years, whenever you went there, there was never a time when you didn’t cause trouble. I’ve just gotten tired of you. You’d better stay in the palace quietly. You can spend more time with your mother and show more filial piety.” Zhang Yu rarely spoke more than a few words, determined to dispel Zhang Xin’s thoughts.
"What trouble have I caused?!" Zhang Xin was terrified by Zhang Yu's words and retorted angrily. But when she met Zhang Yu's gaze, she dared not say another word and obediently shut her mouth.
She tried hard to recall what Lü Yuan had said when she asked him for advice. She hadn't understood why his method would work and assumed he was joking, so she had put it aside. But now that she had no other options, Zhang Xin thought about it but still couldn't figure it out. However, that didn't stop her from giving it a try.
"Actually, I was thinking that Mother could come along too, right? Bring Aunt Xue and Aunt Song, and we can all go for a walk. It's so boring in the palace! Even if we just enjoy the scenery, it will be very pleasant! Didn't that very skilled female physician say that Mother shouldn't always be cooped up in her room? What a great opportunity!"
After speaking, Zhang Xin went over her words again, thinking about the three key points Lu Yuan had mentioned—the Empress Dowager, Aunt Song, and the female physician who had recently taken the Empress Dowager's pulse. At least all of them had been used, so there shouldn't be any problems, right? Zhang Xin wasn't entirely sure.
"I'm an old woman, how can I withstand any more hardship? But you've reminded me," Empress Dowager Feng said, then turned to Zhang Yu. "You should have a maidservant by your side. I don't trust anyone else and I'm worried you won't be used to them. Ah Hao is meticulous and clever, she should suit your taste. Let her come with you, then I won't have to worry about the servants not taking good care of you."
Although there weren't many concubines accompanying the emperor, there were still quite a few. Empress Dowager Feng's suggestion that Zhang Yu bring Song Shuhao along was merely an excuse to serve her. Zhang Xin was completely bewildered; she was the one who wanted to go, so how did it become her elder brother taking Ahao with him?
"Since Your Majesty says so, I have no problem with it, but I'm afraid Your Majesty may not be used to it." Empress Dowager Feng's implication this time was quite obvious, but Zhang Yu remained noncommittal. However, Zhang Xin's words also reminded him of something.
Song Shuhao spends most of her time in the palace, and even when she leaves, it's mostly to visit her mother. She rarely has the chance to truly let loose and have some fun. A winter hunting trip like this would be a great opportunity for her to relax and unwind.
Zhang Yu's words prompted Empress Dowager Feng to wave her hand and laugh, "I have nothing to do, and I still have Granny Feng and the others to serve me. Since Your Majesty has no objections, then it's settled."
Seeing that they had easily decided that Ahao could go out of the palace to play, Zhang Xin, who was a little dizzy, immediately came to her senses, stopped worrying about those things, and hurriedly asked, "What about me?"
Zhang Yu glanced at her indifferently and coldly uttered three words: "Yongle Palace".
In the end, all she heard was the name of the palace she lived in, and Zhang Xin's face froze with anger.
Having escaped Zhang Xin's tantrums and outbursts, Zhang Yu returned to Xuanzhi Hall but received news on the way. Having heard about what happened at the Song residence, Zhang Yu found it intriguing; Song Shuhao had actually saved Zhao Jian's life?
Thinking of how Zhao Jian was so eager to please Song Shuhao, disregarding his status, Zhang Yu smiled again. Zhao Jian had personally handed over such a huge weakness to him, so he couldn't blame him for being impolite.