Chapter 64: A Swift Fall of the Blade
Chapter 64: Chapter 64: A Swift Fall of the Blade
Wen Jin averted her gaze. "No one told me. I overheard some palace attendants chatting as I was passing by."
’I just happened to overhear it? What a coincidence.’
’But if someone with ill intentions is truly behind this, things will get difficult. How can I protect this pregnancy while making them think their plot succeeded?’
’Whatever their motives, it’s clear I can no longer be a mere bystander in this matter.’
Liang Wan turned and knelt. "If Your Majesty would have me, I am willing to enter the palace as a handmaid to serve you."
The Empress was stunned for a moment, then weakly extended her hand.
Liang Wan gently took it.
The Empress said, "You silly girl. I understand your sentiment, but how could I ruin the rest of your life for my own selfish sake? What’s more, Ayunn has finally found a lady he admires. How could I be the one to steal his beloved away?"
Liang Wan knew that the Empress not only misunderstood her relationship with Zhou Yun, but also thought she was willing to enter the palace as a handmaid purely to take care of her.
"Your Majesty—"
"Enough. Don’t mention entering the palace again. On another day, when I have chosen an auspicious date, I will decree a marriage for you two. Now, get up."
’A decreed marriage?!’
Liang Wan was about to kowtow again, but Wen Jin stopped her. "My Lady, why don’t you get up? The Empress is still ill."
She turned her head and saw Wen Jin giving her a look.
Liang Wan also knew this wasn’t the right time to argue the point. ’Perhaps the person who caused this problem is the one who must solve it.’
The Empress rested after taking her medicine, and Liang Wan dared not linger any longer.
On the covered walkway, Liang Wan walked with a preoccupied air.
Logically, since Zhou Yun was responsible for tutoring the Crown Prince, she should have been able to see him in Zhaoyang Palace. But strangely, in all her visits to Zhaoyang Palace, she had not run into him once.
She had been to his villa in the East City but hadn’t seen Zhou Yun. The maids there seemed surprised to see her and only said that Zhou Yun didn’t visit that residence often.
Liang Wan sighed. It seemed she would have to pay a visit to the Zhou Residence herself.
At the Gate of Duanmen, Wen Jin stopped and stood still to look at her. "My Lady, do you know that the Empress has always regarded Young Master Zhou as her own brother? But do you know why Young Master Zhou has yet to be betrothed?"
’Why?’
’Even in her past life, it had been the same. Zhou Yun had not only remained unmarried, he had never even been betrothed.’
Liang Wan shook her head.
Wen Jin said seriously, "The Zhou family line is thin. In this generation, there is only Young Master Zhou and his elder sister. Later, Lady Zhou passed away, and the Empress entered the palace. Lady Zhou’s only dying wish was for Young Master Zhou to live the rest of his life in happiness and safety. How could the Empress not grant it?
"That day, Young Master Zhou took the initiative to seek out Her Majesty and specifically asked for this favor for you, My Lady. You must understand, Young Master Zhou has never mentioned another lady before Her Majesty. This is unprecedented, which shows how much he values you.
"Both the Empress and Young Master Zhou hold you in such high esteem. Why must you betray their kind intentions? As far as I know, the Liang Family once intended to send you to Wang Su as a concubine. Now, you have the chance to marry Young Master Zhou as his official wife. What more could you be unwilling about that you insist on entering the palace?"
Wen Jin’s words were blunt, all but telling her not to be ungrateful and covet other things.
Liang Wan also knew in her heart that, setting aside romantic feelings and the hatred in her heart, Zhou Yun was indeed a rare and excellent match for marriage.
But some problems could not be set aside.
Liang Wan didn’t want to explain further and simply smiled. "I understand what Aunt Jin means."
Wen Jin’s gaze was cold and severe. "I can see that you, My Lady, are not one to willingly submit to others. Your approach to the Empress is also driven by other motives. Right now, Her Majesty is in need of people she can trust. If you can settle your heart and serve her, then so be it. But if you cannot, and if you ever harm Her Majesty in the future, I, Wen Jin, will not let you get away with it!"
Her eyes were piercingly bright. Having said her piece, she turned and left.
Liang Wan watched Wen Jin’s retreating back, feeling a little melancholy. It seemed that entering the palace through the Empress was no longer an option.
’Gao Qian...’
Liang Wan glanced again at the distant palace, then silently turned and walked to the South Stop Car Gate on her own. Qiuxi was already waiting for her by the carriage.
Liang Wan didn’t plan to return to her residence directly. Besides needing to prepare some medicinal herbs, she also had to visit the Zhou Residence to see Zhou Yun.
’I can’t just wait for the Empress to issue the marriage decree, can I?’
Perhaps because the long-eaved carriage hadn’t been serviced in some time, it broke down halfway through the journey.
Liang Wan had no choice but to get out of the carriage with Qiuxi and wait by the side of the road. The street was bustling with a dense crowd, interspersed with the enthusiastic cries of street vendors. There were steaming hot buns fresh from the steamer, and newly made sugar figures of all shapes and sizes...
This familiar scene was just like the past, yet not like the past at all.
Liang Wan was somewhat lost in thought watching it.
"Make way! Make way! Get out of the way!"
Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the end of the street. Accompanied by shouts, a long-eaved carriage came plowing recklessly in their direction. The crowd that had been bustling on the street instantly scattered like birds and beasts. The shouting, far from clearing the path, only caused the confused people to flee in panic without looking where they were going.
With a BANG, the long-eaved carriage slammed viciously into a market stall, and bright yellow loquats went rolling all over the ground.
The guards following the carriage rushed forward, clearing a path and pushing back the crowd.
Qiuxi pulled Liang Wan into a corner, afraid of being bumped and shoved by the crowd.
"My Lord!"
A startled cry suddenly came from within the carriage. The expression of the Guard Commander leading the men tightened. He whirled around, leaped onto the carriage in a few steps, lifted the curtain, and slipped inside.
In less than a moment, his head poked back out, and he bellowed at the crowd, "Who’s a doctor?!"
The noisy crowd immediately fell silent, and everyone looked around at each other.
No one spoke up.
’With such a menacing appearance, it was likely that even if there was a doctor present, they were scared off. If the treatment goes well, fine. But if it doesn’t, I’m afraid I’ll be buried with the patient!’
’Who would dare?’
Seeing the situation, the Guard Commander grew both anxious and furious. He grabbed a bystander, drew his sword, and pressed it to the man’s neck, but his eyes scanned the crowd. "If I find out anyone here today has deliberately concealed their identity as a physician, with one swing of my sword, I’ll have their life!"
Sure enough, there was a slight stir in the crowd, but still, everyone hesitated.
Perhaps seeing his threat was not effective enough, the Guard Commander raised his longsword, about to swing it down.
"Wait."
Liang Wan took a step forward. Her voice wasn’t loud and would have been lost in a noisy crowd, but at this moment, it was utterly silent.
The Guard Commander’s hawk-like eyes instantly locked onto her. He shoved the bystander aside and pointed his sword at her. "You’re a doctor?"
Qiuxi’s face turned pale with fright, and she secretly tugged on Liang Wan’s sleeve.
Liang Wan shook her head. "I am not a doctor, but I know medicine."
The Guard Commander’s expression changed instantly. "Where did this madwoman come from, daring to spout such nonsense here! Drag her away and give her a beating with a rod!"
As he spoke, two guards moved toward her, reaching out their large hands to drag her away.
Liang Wan shot them a cold glare and raised her voice. "As for whether I’m spouting nonsense, you can go back and ask the Grand Commandant!"
"Hold on."
As expected, the Guard Commander waved his hand to stop them, eyeing her with suspicion. "And you are?"
Liang Wan walked past the two guards in front of her, taking two steps closer. "From the Liang Family of West City."
The Guard Commander was still pondering this.
Liang Wan glanced at the long-eaved carriage behind him. "The Grandmaster can’t afford you dawdling like this. Let me examine him, and you can interrogate me slowly afterward."
With that, she walked straight up to the Guard Commander.
The Guard Commander, sword in hand, stepped aside, but still warned, "If you dare try any tricks—"
Liang Wan glanced at him, cutting him off. "With one swing of the sword, you’ll have my life!"