freenovelworld Chapter 155 She became an unspeakable secret.
Chapter 155 She became an unspeakable secret.
Upon realizing this, Jiang Mian felt a chill run through her chest.
She had thought that if she were given a second chance at life, she could live with clarity.
But reality peeled away the warmth layer by layer, revealing the truth to her—
Xiao Hengzhi is a madman; he'll never get better...
Jiang Wan opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. The sound of dripping water fell into her ears like pebbles hitting her heartstrings, disturbing her peace of mind.
She exhaled softly, hiding those chaotic thoughts deep in her heart.
In truth, she should have harbored hatred, resentment, and murderous intent...
But now, all she feels is exhaustion...
I'm so tired...
......
She turned over and pulled the thin blanket tighter around herself.
Close your eyes and stop thinking.
......
The wind outside had died down, the rain had stopped, and the sky was beginning to lighten.
She slept very soundly that night.
In the dream, there was no humiliation from the previous life, no imperial power, and no Xiao Hengzhi.
Only one old plum tree blooms silently in the courtyard of the general's mansion.
......
She stayed there for several days.
Xiao Hengzhi was conspicuously absent.
She took the silver her father had left her and went outside to find laborers.
Two days later, the shouts of repairmen could be heard in the courtyard. She bought some dried fruit and put it in a basket to dry. She also took out the damp bedding to air it out, just like before.
A semblance of order was finally restored to the world.
She sat in the courtyard, watching the slanting sunlight illuminate the wet snow on the ground, making it shine.
At that moment, Jiang Wan suddenly realized that living is not just about running for your life, but also about taking a breath.
But the bitter medicine is still in my body.
She couldn't have peace of mind until she understood.
......
Inside the Qingxin Hall.
Water still dripped from the eaves, and the air felt slightly stuffy after the rain stopped.
The hall was extremely quiet, with wisps of incense rising and passing over the tables and chairs, eventually reaching the bed.
Wen Qian leaned against the edge of the couch, dozing lightly, draped in a fox fur coat, with a teacup on her lap but not touching it.
Her face was still pale, and her eyes were bluish; she was clearly not sleeping soundly.
Duan Zhi'an sat not far from her, looking down at the book, his eyes fixed on it, but he didn't turn a single page.
After a long while, he seemed to finally not be able to hold back and asked in a low voice, "Were you thinking about the Wen family's affairs?"
Wen Qian gave a soft "hmm," her eyelashes drooping slightly.
Duan Zhi'an put down his book and spoke softly, "Although Duke Wen has not treated you well, you are still blood relatives. Right now, you are watching your elders, brothers and sisters all fall into prison, and you are feeling distressed. Am I right?"
Wen Qian didn't answer, but asked again, "I heard that everything in the mansion has been confiscated. Uncle, do you know what will happen to those... worthless old things?"
Duan Zhian looked up at her, his voice calm yet warm: "According to the law, gold, silver, jewelry, jade, porcelain, calligraphy and paintings, land deeds and account books are all to be handed over to the imperial treasury. Other items, if no one claims them, are mostly either burned or sold to fund military expenses."
Upon hearing this, Wen Qian's eyes instantly reddened, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.
Duan Zhian frowned, got up and walked over quickly.
"Why are you crying again?"
He hurriedly took out something wrapped in cloth and handed it to Wen Qian.
"Have a look."
Wen Qian raised her hand and untied the cloth.
Inside was an old plaque, its wood grain mottled, bearing the three characters "Wanyi Hall".
The brushstrokes are delicate, but they have lost some of their luster.
Duan Zhian sat down on the edge of the couch and said, "This is the plaque from your mother's former residence. The Minister is someone I promoted myself, so taking some old items from the treasury is not difficult for him."
Wen Qian was stunned, and it took her a while to recover. She gently stroked the plaque, her eyes slightly red and brimming with tears.
"...Thank you, Uncle."
"Are you feeling any better?" Duan Zhian asked gently, raising his hand to catch the tear that had fallen onto her chin.
Wen Qian hugged the plaque and nodded: "I'm much better. But... I'm still worried about Zhi Jing."
Duan Zhian paused, his raised hand still.
She added, "Zhijing volunteered to seal Yuguan Pass for my sake... but the situation on the border is very volatile now, and I always feel uneasy about something."
Duan Zhian's tone turned serious: "Qianqian, do you still remember how the Pingnan Marquis's mansion treated you?"
She pursed her lips.
She hadn't forgotten that ever since the doctor diagnosed her with a false pregnancy during her trip to Zhaoming Temple, the Lady of the Marquis had given her a cold shoulder, and the entire Marquis's household's attitude towards her had suddenly turned frosty.
Now that Li Zhijing has been sent to Fengyu Pass, the Lady Hou's promise that he must have an heir within six months is probably impossible, and she will definitely treat him even colder then.
But that was still her home, the home of Zhijing's parents...
"You should understand that in their eyes, you are not a relative, but merely a tool to continue the family line."
Although Duan Zhian spoke softly, every word was piercing: "If you still yearn for the past, you will only trap yourself."
Wen Qian lowered her head and didn't argue anymore, only saying softly, "Uncle is right... I understand."
She looked up again: "Uncle, I was too panicked in prison that day. Could you please deliver a letter to Sister Wan another day? I want to thank her properly... Also, I want to let the Marquis and his wife know that I am safe and sound."
Duan Zhi'an nodded: "Yes, I'm going to the Prince of Beiqin's residence soon, so I'll send it over then. You should rest well today. Tomorrow I'll ask Physician Zhuang to take your pulse again."
"Thank you uncle."
"..."
The next day, as dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight appeared.
A trace of last night's dampness still lingered in the air, but it was no longer cold.
On the couch, Wen Qian was still fast asleep, clutching the plaque that read "Wanyi Hall".
Duan Zhi'an sat at a table not far away, having changed out of his court robes, and was bending over to write a memorial.
The ink on the small sandalwood table was still wet.
He held his pen in deep thought, his gaze solemn.
Suddenly, a soft call pulled him back to reality.
"uncle."
Wen Qian came over, wrapped in a fox fur blanket, and sat down in the chair next to him.
"What is Uncle busy with?"
Duan Zhi'an poured her a cup of hot tea and said, "An embezzlement case has occurred in the prefectures under the jurisdiction of the Left Chancellor, and the Commissioner of the Court of Judicial Review is also implicated. I am drafting a plan to deal with it."
Wen Qian, unfamiliar with court affairs, tilted her head and glanced at the paper a few times.
The attendant beside Duan Zhi'an whispered a reminder, "Princess Consort, the Grand Tutor's book contains confidential information about court affairs; you cannot read it..."
Wen Qian quickly looked away and said, "I'm sorry, I was rude."
Duan Zhian laughed and said, "It's alright, take a look. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."
The attendant wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, then heard Duan Zhi'an say, "Qianqian, would you like to learn this method of deliberation?"
Wen Qian shook her head: "I'm afraid I can't learn it."
As they were talking, a plum blossom suddenly drifted down onto the paper.
Duan Zhian looked up. The snow on the branches had not yet melted, and the flower buds were just beginning to bloom, pure white as frost, their chill penetrating to the bone.
Wen Qian picked up a plum blossom and smelled it: "This plum blossom smells so good."
Duan Zhian watched as she lowered her head to stroke the plum blossoms. The fine downy hairs on her forehead and cheeks, contrasting with the slightly reddened tip of her nose, made her appear even more gentle and tender.
“These plum blossoms… resemble you, Qianqian.”
"like me?"
"A cold exterior conceals pride, and a seemingly weak exterior hides backbone."
He smiled as he looked at her, gently brushing his hair aside.
Wen Qian was a little embarrassed by the sudden praise and smiled, "Uncle, please don't flatter me. I don't have the proud spirit of a plum blossom..."
"Have you... Qianqian... have you ever thought about it...?"
Duan Zhian stopped halfway through his sentence.
"What have you thought about?"
Wen Qian looked up at him, her gaze as clear as a spring, making him want to drown in it.
But he knew that some things were not to be touched lightly.
He turned his head away, concealing all his emotions.
"It's nothing. It's cold outside, you should go inside quickly, you just caught a cold, don't catch it again."
Wen Qian then remembered her purpose: "Oh right, I came to get this for my uncle."
She took out two letters from her bosom, one for Jiang Mian and the other for the Marquis of Pingnan's residence.
"Thank you for your trouble, Uncle." After saying this, she bowed and went inside.
Duan Zhian watched her retreating figure, his heart filled with complex emotions.
In his capacity as her uncle, he placed her in the most secure place in the palace.
He also used his power as Grand Tutor to manage the political situation in the court in an orderly manner.
But only her—
It was a matter on his mind, one he dared not speak of, could not bear to consider, and dared not get involved in.
The unspoken second half of his sentence was a secret he couldn't tell anyone.