The Xian Wang Manor in early April, Qingming.
Rainwater like trickles soaked the peony flowers within the manor. Fish in the pond swam joyfully, chasing each other to snatch food scattered by maids from the pavilion.
Zhong Li stood in the long corridor, eyes closed, meticulously scenting the manor’s surroundings.
“Prime Minister, we must go to the morning court,” Lin Jin said softly, holding an umbrella as he walked to her side.
Zhong Li opened her eyes, looking at the peonies blooming everywhere. “I only knew Mo Cang replaced the servants in the courtyard with his trusted confidantes. I never imagined he’d even change the flowers to peonies.”
“The master said you liked them, and hoped you would see them every day when you woke,” Lin Jin replied.
“Indeed!” Zhong Li smiled, looking up at the misty sky, and tightened the lapels of her robe as she walked out of the manor.
A month ago, the late emperor was buried, and the new emperor ascended the throne. Due to internal strife in the court, many official positions were vacant. Zhong Li had intended to go to Jinzhou to find someone, but was forcefully stopped and made Prime Minister.
Initially, she was unwilling, but thinking that Lu Wu Xie did all this for the sake of this peaceful era, she agreed to temporarily take on the role.
She originally had her own manor, but thinking of Lu Feng Yang who had lost his son and had to endure the empty manor alone, she requested the new emperor to allow her to reside in the Xian Wang Manor.
Now, a month had passed, and she found her stay quite comfortable. As for the Xian Wang, he was now a truly leisurely prince, listening to music, walking birds, and occasionally making warm, comforting meat broths on days Zhong Li felt unwell.
The carriage traveled along Wenchang Street. The citizens were gradually resuming their livelihoods. She saw the small stall owner from whom she had bought hairpins in the familiar spot and smiled, lowering the curtain.
“Prime Minister, this is a post from the Hua family!”
Lin Jin, sitting opposite Zhong Li, took something out of his怀 and handed it to her.
Zhong Li opened it to check and found it was a wedding invitation.
“Hua Yao’s name is at the very top. This…Lan Heng intends to be married into the family?” she asked.
Lin Jin replied with a smile, “Yes. Hua Rong was assassinated, and several of the Hua family’s illegitimate sons lost their lives in the Jinzhou campaign. If Hua Yao were to marry out, the Hua family would be considered extinct. Master Lan thought it over and made this decision.”
Zhong Li closed the post in her hand and sighed lightly. “Mo Cang had mentioned Lan Heng’s situation to me. It’s not bad for him to marry into the Hua family. At least it would fill the void of his childhood. He never had family; this time, he finally does.”
“It’s just that Old General Hua heard he was marrying in… Has he been training him as a son these past few days? He says the Hua family will produce another hero!” Lin Jin rested his chin on his hand, a look of lamentation on his face.
Zhong Li chuckled. She could already imagine what Lan Heng would face. Martial families were just that stubborn.
However… she did not wish for Lan Heng to be a hero.
After all, heroes meant there would be more wars. She’d rather Hua Yao live happily and peacefully.
Unknowingly, they arrived at the palace gate.
Zhong Li was greeted by Xiao Cha Zi, a young eunuch by the Emperor’s side.
“Prime Minister,” Xiao Cha Zi’s face lit up when he saw Zhong Li.
Zhong Li said, “Why? Eunuch, you had a worried expression just now.”
“It is indeed Prime Minister who is insightful. The Emperor has been unhappy since the morning,” Xiao Cha Zi replied.
“Unhappy? Is it about the matter of enfeoffing Consort Nan Gong as Empress? Didn’t I already give the Emperor advice? He only needs to wait a while longer. Why is he impatient?” Zhong Li asked.
“It’s not about the harem matters,” Xiao Cha Zi replied, flicking his horsetail whisk. “Didn’t Linzhou fall before?”
“Yes!” Zhong Li nodded. This was a pain in the hearts of all the old officials.
“Lord Ling Wei has repeatedly tried to reclaim the lost territories. A few days ago, the war reports stated that the Northern Di people were willing to negotiate peace. And so, the Emperor is worried about who to send to the Northern Di to negotiate peace.”
Zhong Li followed Xiao Cha Zi into the inner hall, nodding as she saw her colleagues preparing for the morning court, and watched Xiao Cha Zi walk towards the dragon throne.
Following the announcement, “Morning court.”
Everyone returned to their positions and knelt to pay their respects.
As Xiao Cha Zi had said, Lu Yuan Feng’s first order of business in court was to ask the ministers about this matter.
Lu Yuan Feng had no princes, so this matter naturally fell to the officials. However, after the war, no one was willing to take the risk. One knew that if negotiations failed and the other side retaliated, there could be a fatal consequence. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Hua Xiong wanted to go but was stopped, as he was too old. Lan Heng also wanted to go but was politely refused by the Emperor due to Hua Yao’s situation.
The Hua family was truly without men. If Lan Heng were to have an accident, wouldn’t that be waiting for the family’s decline?
As everyone pushed the responsibility onto each other, Zhong Li stepped forward.
Lu Yuan Feng knew what she intended to do and was about to speak.
Zhong Li said, “Your Majesty, let me go. My heart is already desolate. I have no lingering concerns and nothing to carry. I have no family, nor… therefore, I am the most suitable.”
“You!” Lu Yuan Feng wanted to say something, but found himself powerless to retort.
“Your Majesty, please let me go,” Zhong Li knelt.
Lan Heng looked at Zhong Li, feeling a sense of oppression. He also knelt and said, “Your Majesty, Prime Minister’s heart is not here. There is no use in keeping her by force. Perhaps going to another place might ease her some.”
“Then… will you return?” Lu Yuan Feng asked.
Zhong Li’s eyes fluttered, she remained silent.
Lu Yuan Feng sighed. He wanted to help Lu Wu Xie protect her, but it was ultimately his wishful thinking.
“Very well, I grant it!”
Three days later, north of Jincheng.
Zhong Li sat in the carriage, looking out at the desolate landscape unique to the north.
She remembered that the weather was cold when she went to Linzhou with Lu Wu Xie. Who knew that this time, it would be a warm spring with blooming flowers.
“Lin Jin,” she called softly towards the coachman’s position.
“Prime Minister,” Lin Jin tightened the reins, slowing the carriage.
“Tomorrow, when we reach Suqing County, let’s visit Lingshan Temple,” Zhong Li said.
“Ah?”
“I didn’t burn paper during Qingming. Going to Lingshan Temple can be considered as praying for blessings,” Zhong Li’s eyes lowered, her tone indifferent.
“Okay, I’ll do as you say.”
Zhong Li curled her lips, looking at the distant sunset.
At this moment, peach blossoms fluttered, as if blown by a gust of wind, falling like rain. Occasionally, a kite would soar past, startling a young monk who was idly standing outside the temple, and he quickly resumed his task.
“Little monk!” Zhong Li looked at the young monk sweeping the ground and said, “I wonder if there are still people in the Great Hall of Heroes at this hour? Can I still offer incense?”
The young monk stopped his sweeping, clasped his hands together, and bowed to Zhong Li. “This benefactor, over a year ago, Lingshan Temple changed its rules. As long as it is a visitor, regardless of day or night, they can offer incense. Please go ahead, benefactor.”
“Thank you!” Zhong Li asked Lin Jin to wait outside the temple and walked alone into the temple.
The scenery was still familiar, even the Bodhi tree at the entrance of the Great Hall of Heroes looked the same.
She walked to the Bodhi tree, looked up at the thickest branch, and memories flooded back, her lips unconsciously curling up.
“Does the benefactor wish to offer incense?” a young monk asked, walking up behind Zhong Li.
“Yes!” Zhong Li came back to her senses, looked at the young monk, took the incense from him, and walked directly into the hall.
The hall was not as crowded with visitors as usual. Perhaps it was too late, and many people quickly offered incense and left.
Zhong Li knelt on the prayer mat, holding the incense, her eyes closed in prayer.
Suddenly, she heard a voice: “Young master is here to offer incense again. Be careful not to trip so late.”
“Okay!”
A familiar “Okay” reached Zhong Li’s ears.
Her lips trembled, thinking she had misheard, but still unwillingly opened her eyes to look in the direction of the voice.
She saw a man dressed in a plain藕-colored robe kneeling beside her. His face was as jade, his eyebrows like sharp swords. If it wasn't him, then who else could it be?
“Mo Cang?” Zhong Li’s heart choked, and she murmured the name.