boyutpedia Chapter 18 Why bother with a man like this?
Chapter 18 Why bother with a man like this?
Li Zhijing composed himself, approached, bowed, and asked, "Why have you come, Father-in-law?"
Wei Chunlai bowed and said politely, "Greetings, Your Highness. My family was sent by the Empress to deliver a message to the Princess Consort."
Li Zhijing glanced at the side room and replied, "The Crown Princess is feeling a little unwell, but is it something urgent?"
Wei Chunlai extended his hand and said, "Since the Crown Princess is resting, we won't disturb her. It's the same if you receive the decree."
Then he took out a scroll and read: "Princess Consort of the Marquis of Pingnan, Wenqian, the Empress has decreed that a batch of rare porcelain has recently been presented to us. A banquet will be held at Zhuoyue Villa on the Ninth Festival [Explanation: Cold Dew. In ancient times, it was called the Ninth Festival]. You are invited to appreciate the fine products and join us for the palace banquet. I hope you will attend."
Li Zhijing stood up, took the scroll, and asked, "Eunuch, I remember that Zhuoyue Villa is where the Empress Dowager rests. Why is the Empress suddenly holding a banquet there?"
Wei Chunlai leaned closer and whispered beside him, "Something happened at the Buddhist hall in the mountain villa a few days ago, which frightened the Empress Dowager so much that she fell ill. Her Majesty the Empress is hosting a banquet to cheer up the Empress Dowager and also to invite everyone to worship Buddha and make offerings."
Li Zhijing nodded and slowly said, "I have heard about that. When the Empress Dowager was worshipping Buddha, the eyeballs of the golden Buddha suddenly rolled out."
"Alas, indeed, it's an ominous sign..." Wei Chunlai sighed. "The Empress Dowager has been blaming herself for losing her grandson, believing that the Buddha's loss of his eyeball is a sign that the Buddha is blaming her for not watching over him properly. And now, she's fallen ill after returning home, and the imperial physician says it's a heart ailment..."
Li Zhijing nodded. He knew that the Empress Dowager kept a close eye on this grandson, and many people in the court had been instructed to search for him secretly.
A few days ago, I heard that there seemed to be traces of the Golden Silk Jade Talisman in Nanyang, and a bunch of people rushed over to investigate.
After all, this is a keepsake from his own grandson.
Many days have passed, and there has been no news yet.
“So many years have passed, even if we can find the token, the person may not still be here…” Li Zhijing murmured.
"Ahem!" Wei Chunlai coughed lightly twice, glancing behind him.
Seeing the group of eunuchs behind him, Li Zhijing knew he couldn't say such things carelessly, so he changed his words: "The Empress Dowager is full of compassion and will surely grant your wish."
Wei Chunlai bowed again and said, "The message has been delivered, Your Highness, I will take my leave now."
"Father-in-law, walk slowly."
After delivering the message, Wei Chunlai led his men toward the Jiang residence.
However, Jiang Mian was still strolling on the street at this time.
A cold wind swept through the alley, gently lifting the stray hairs from her forehead.
She lowered her eyes, her thoughts drifting back to the past, recalling many things she had done with Li Zhijing.
When she was little, she fell into a pond, and Li Zhijing jumped in to save her without hesitation. His clothes were soaked and wrapped around his thin body, but he proudly declared, "With me here, my second sister will be alright."
At the time, she just found it funny; little did she know that his heart had been tied to her since childhood.
Even after they grew up, he protected her in the same way.
The Duke's heir flirted with her while drunk, and Li Zhijing rushed over without saying a word, beating him until his face was bruised and swollen. For this, she was punished and made to kneel for several days.
She laughed at his recklessness, but Li Zhijing only said, "I don't care, whoever bullies you, I'll beat them up."
On another occasion, Jiang Li switched her clothes, causing her to wear an ill-fitting dress and embarrass herself in front of the guests.
The elders criticized her for being impolite. Li Zhijing came out from behind the crowd and, in front of everyone, bent down to straighten her skirt.
As if to cheer her up: "It's just that the dress doesn't fit, so what? Second sister looks beautiful in anything."
His kindness towards her was genuine and never faked.
She wasn't unaware; it's just that she had gotten used to his kindness.
He was used to standing by her side without reservation whenever she turned around.
Jiang Mian suddenly felt a pang of sadness.
Over the years, Li Zhijing has never changed. He is still that spirited young man who stands up for her and protects her from harm.
Her words that day were a bit harsh, so it's no wonder he was angry.
However, their paths in life had already diverged, and continuing to entangle them would not be good for either of them.
Jiang Mian slowly exhaled, looked up at the sunlight shining in the distance, and started walking back.
They all have their own lives to pursue and shouldn't dwell on the past.
As she walked and pondered, she caught a glimpse of a vendor carrying a load on a shoulder pole.
The basket was filled with fresh fruits, which looked very tempting.
She quickly stepped forward and asked, "Young man, could you pack me a few of these asparagus fruits?"
"Okay girl!"
The vendor deftly tore off a piece of hemp rope, tied the fruit together, and handed it to her.
As Jiang Wan took the soup, she thought to herself: The chicken soup today didn't taste right; the sweet potato berries were probably stewed for too long. Next time, I need to be more precise with the heat; Ning Zhi doesn't like overly strong fruity flavors…
Thinking of this, her heart stirred slightly.
The banquet is in a few days, and then she will be able to see Ning Zhi.
It should go smoothly...
As she was pondering this, she passed by a pharmacy and suddenly saw a familiar figure.
"Xiao Hengzhi?" She stopped and called out with a hint of surprise.
The man turned around, and it was indeed him.
She frowned slightly, puzzled, and asked, "What are you doing here? Did you come to buy medicine?"
Xiao Hengzhi lowered his eyelashes, twirled the medicine bottle between his fingers, and put it away without making a sound: "Just passing by while strolling through the midday market."
After he finished speaking, his gaze fell on the fruit in her hand, and a faint displeasure rose in his heart.
"Are you going back to cook?"
Jiang Mian mentioned the foreign fruit, her eyes crinkling into crescent moons with a smile: "Yes, practice makes perfect."
Practice makes perfect.
Practice makes perfect.
Xiao Hengzhi pursed his lips in annoyance.
Jiang Wan suddenly remembered something and said, "Oh right, the few bolts of cloth I ordered the other day have arrived. I need to make clothes today. Come with me to take a look."
Why not send Cong Shuang?
"I asked her to make sachets for me."
Her smile was radiant, as bright as morning dew, but it didn't feel pleasant at all to Xiao Hengzhi.
In order to see Ning Zhi, she learned to cook and bought clothes to make sachets.
What's so good about that bastard?
In his past life, he stormed into the palace. If Ning Zhi hadn't been cowardly and revealed her hiding place, he wouldn't have found Jiang Mian so easily.
Why would she waste her time on a man like that?
His jaw clenched slightly as he reluctantly followed behind, watching her skip around with delight.
"We've arrived!" Jiang Mian called out.
Xiao Hengzhi looked up and realized they had already arrived at the entrance of the clothing shop.
The shop was bustling with noise, the shop assistants were busy serving customers, and the cloth was spread out on the table, with rulers making a "tap-tap" sound on the cloth.
The shopkeeper stood at the counter, tidying up the ledgers as he greeted them: "Esteemed guests, do you have any fabrics you've ordered? We just received some kesi brocade; would you like to take a look?"
Jiang Mian handed over the receipt. The shopkeeper glanced at it and smiled, "So it's Miss Jiang. Please wait a moment, I'll go get it for you right away."
The shop was crowded, and after the shopkeeper took out the cloth, he was called away by other customers and couldn't attend to any more customers.
Jiang Mian looked down at the brocade in her hand. The fabric was lustrous and pleasant, but the shop was so busy that she didn't know when it would be her turn to have her clothes taken.
She frowned: "Shopkeeper, what's the energy level today?"
"Miss Jiang, the shop is really too busy today. Would you like to come back in a few days to have your measurements taken?"
Jiang Wan frowned, calculating the time in her mind: "No, it will be too late in a few days."
"This..." The shopkeeper was in a dilemma, and turned his gaze to Xiao Hengzhi, "How about this young master helps you take your measurements? Otherwise, I'm afraid it will take a long time."
"Let him come?"
Before he could finish speaking, someone else shouted loudly from the side.
The shopkeeper hurriedly shoved the ruler into Xiao Hengzhi's hand and left without looking back.
Xiao Hengzhi lowered his head and looked at the ruler in his hand.
Measuring body?
Tell him to take Jiang Mian's measurements and make her clothes to wear when she sees Ning Zhi.
He tightened his fingertips slightly, and the suppressed emotions in his heart gradually overflowed.