PNB Chapter 140 How could there be a Duan Zhi'an in this world?
Chapter 140 How could there be a Duan Zhi'an in this world?
Before she could react, she had already been scooped up by a pair of large hands.
"Your Highness!" Jiang Mian exclaimed in surprise.
Xiao Heng waved his hand and pulled her onto his lap.
Jiang Mian had no choice but to kneel on his lap, her back being gently massaged intermittently.
"Is your back injury any better?"
"It's...much better."
She lowered her head, unusually showing shyness.
Xiao Hengzhi pinched her chin, making her turn her head to look at him.
"Why don't you dare look at me?"
"No... I was just thinking that I'll be late for today's worship, Your Highness, please let go."
"There's still a while, no rush."
"But I...I'm a little cold..."
Jiang Mian reached out and grabbed the bed railing to get up, but Xiao Hengzhi simply picked her up and stood her up, then took her clothes and put them on her, as if he was going to help her change.
"What is Your Highness trying to do?"
"Let me dress you."
He took the sash from her clothes, put her hand through the sleeve, and skillfully fastened the knot.
"When did Your Highness learn to fasten knots like this woman?"
"Didn't you tell me to learn?" he blurted out without looking up, his hands still moving.
Jiang Mian stood there, momentarily stunned.
She suddenly remembered that in her past life, there were many days when she lingered in bed and had Xiao Hengzhi serve her in the same way.
She even complained about his clumsiness and said she wanted to buy a maid.
Later, she thought buying a maid was too expensive, so she sent him to learn how to serve and dress.
Seeing him helping her dress and dress, Jiang Mian sighed inexplicably.
Xiao Hengzhi then looked up: "Why are you sighing?"
"It's nothing... I was just thinking..."
She paused.
Xiao Hengzhi asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Jiang Wan didn't continue, changing the subject instead, "Thinking that New Year's Day is just a few days away, I had originally promised to celebrate His Highness's birthday with him, but now that His Highness has regained his status, there's naturally no need to celebrate this old birthday anymore, which I find a bit of a pity..."
Xiao Hengzhi was somewhat surprised. He hadn't expected Jiang Wan to still remember this matter, and a warm feeling inexplicably welled up in his heart.
He took her hand and said slowly, "It's no pity. New Year's Day is the birthday I want to spend with you."
Jiang Wan's eyes lit up, and she asked, "Has Your Highness decided how you intend to live?"
"Listen to you."
"Then I'll have to think about it carefully."
After she finished speaking, she made a move to go out, and Xiao Hengzhi followed behind her.
Just as she reached the door, Jiang Wan suddenly turned around: "Does Your Highness intend to come with me to pay respects?"
"What's wrong?"
"This is inappropriate in every way. The prince was not among the invited guests and appeared out of nowhere. Instead of paying his respects to the emperor first, he came here. Where does this leave the emperor's dignity?"
"If I keep a low profile, there will be many people paying their respects, so I won't be noticed."
"Given the prince's status, there will always be people who recognize him, and they might say that the Empress did not treat him properly. If the Empress Dowager finds out, it will cause further displeasure between her and the Empress."
She spoke eloquently and logically, like a cheerful little bird.
Xiao Hengzhi didn't know what she was happy about, but his mood improved even more.
He laughed and said, "Then, in your opinion, what do you want me to do?"
“Hmm…” Jiang Wan paused for a moment and said, “Your Highness, just stay in the room and don’t let anyone find out.”
"But someone will see me on the way back, so there seems to be no need for me to hide for a while."
"I forgot to tell Your Highness that I did not ride in the Prince's sedan chair on this trip, so I'm afraid I won't be able to return with Your Highness."
"It's alright. I'll go back with you the same way you came." He raised an eyebrow slightly.
Jiang Mian shrugged: "I am traveling in the Crown Princess's sedan chair this time. As she is a woman, it may be inconvenient for Your Highness to enter."
After she finished speaking, she added, "However, Your Highness is highly skilled in martial arts. Since you were able to come from Zhuoyue Manor, you will surely be able to find a way to return to the capital."
She smiled brightly, took a step back, stepped out of the door, and closed the door.
"Your Highness, please wait for me inside the house."
The subtext is: Don't interfere with her.
Xiao Hengzhi stared at her smiling face, stood there in the room, tapped the edge of the table, and did not follow her out.
Today is the last day of the pilgrimage, and as before, the abbot led the disciples in reciting scriptures.
The wind and snow continued unabated, and kneeling outside the palace was really uncomfortable.
Finally, when it was over, Jiang Wan stared in Duan Zhi'an's direction and chased after him, calling out to him.
"Grand Tutor, please wait."
Duan Zhian glanced at her and stopped, asking, "Miss Jiang, what can I do for you?"
Seeing that no one was around, Jiang Mian asked directly, "Last night, Qianqian came to tell me that the imperial physician diagnosed her with a false pregnancy. I want to know, was this deliberately arranged by the Grand Tutor?"
Duan Zhian raised his eyebrows and smiled gently, "Miss Jiang is intelligent. Since you guessed it, please keep it a secret for me."
Jiang Wan frowned; it really was Duan Zhi'an who did it.
She asked again, "What can the Grand Tutor's actions change besides causing her grief? Her situation is already very difficult..."
Duan Zhi'an interrupted her: "Miss Jiang, you're quite easygoing, being the reasonable person you are. Wasn't it you who came to tell me about this in the first place? Besides, it's better for her to be heartbroken than to misjudge people. If I don't push her into a corner, how will she know there's no other way out?"
“I am not trying to be a rational observer, and I have no right to criticize the Grand Tutor’s actions.”
Seeing his displeasure, Jiang Mian didn't ask any more questions, only saying, "In any case, the baby will show soon, and this matter will be resolved on its own."
She was about to take her leave after speaking when she heard Duan Zhi'an murmur, "Then don't show it..."
"what?!"
Jiang Mian's eyes widened.
"Grand Tutor, could it be that you intend to harm the child in Qianqian's womb...?"
A chill ran through Jiang Wan's heart. She found it hard to believe, but quickly convinced herself that this was indeed something Duan Zhi'an would do.
Duan Zhian didn't answer and turned to leave.
Jiang Wan followed up and asked, "That's Qianqian's child, why is the Grand Tutor doing this?"
She didn't ask urgently, but Duan Zhi'an seemed to be provoked, raising his voice to reply: "The Pingnan Marquis's mansion is corrupt, Wen Qian is weak and unable to protect the child, and Li Zhijing has no feelings for her. Do you know what such a child will face after birth?!"
"But they are, after all, descendants of the Marquis of Pingnan, showered with honor, and in the future..."
"So what?! He won't see his parents and mother love each other. In the future, he'll only curl up at night and wonder why they gave birth to him when they clearly didn't love each other?"
Jiang Mian was stunned by his shout, and opened her mouth slightly but did not speak.
A gust of wind rose outside the palace, lifting the hem of her dress.
Snowflakes rolled past my feet, and the air grew even more biting, with white mist rising from my breath.
The dark emotions in Duan Zhian's eyes were like a storm that had been suppressed for a long time, churning faintly under the wind and snow.
But after a moment, she gently closed her eyes and returned to calm.
When he spoke again, his voice was extremely soft, yet every word was chilling: "Miss Jiang, do you know what 'birth is a burden' means? If that child is born, he will discover as he grows up that he was merely a tool to continue the family line... Those honors are shackles he must bear. What kind of character will he develop then...?"
Jiang Wan looked at Duan Zhi'an in front of her and was speechless for a moment.
After a moment, she spoke, her tone soft and tentative: "But he hasn't even been born yet, hasn't even tasted the good things in this world, and the Grand Tutor is already so certain that his life is destined to be filled with suffering?"
Duan Zhian did not answer, but simply stared into the distance, his gaze as deep as the night.
After a long silence, he spoke softly: "If he cannot choose his fate, then at least... I can spare him from suffering."
Looking at him, Jiang Mian suddenly realized that the Grand Tutor, whom the world called a cunning and scheming man, was not truly heartless.
But his methods were ultimately too ruthless.
Jiang Wan sighed and softened her voice: "But Grand Tutor, how can you be sure that people's hearts won't change for the better in the long days to come?"
Duan Zhi'an did not answer, but instead stepped into the deeper snow, uttering a deep, somber voice—
"If people's hearts could change for the better, how could there be Duan Zhi'an in this world..."
Unfortunately, the sound was too soft and was blown away by the wind, so Jiang Mian didn't hear it.