Chapter 1680 – Conquering Nan Sheng, Killing An Huan (Eighty-Eight)
“I want to meet Zixiao.”
Lü Zheng made his request, and Jiang Ji found it reasonable enough to agree.
“Anything else?”
“My adopted daughter is quite fond of you, but she has faced hardships in her youth, so her temperament is a bit peculiar. If she happens to offend you, please be understanding. Treat her well with your soldiers,” Lü Zheng pondered for three seconds before hesitating, “She’s a child of misfortune.”
Jiang Ji’s eyes revealed a hint of surprise.
She thought Lü Zheng would say something else, perhaps grill her or inquire about her attitude towards An. She never expected him to plead for his adopted daughter. Initially, Jiang Ji hadn’t paid much attention to Kang Xintong, but since Lü Zheng had said that, she naturally decided to take good care of her.
“I will send someone to bring her here. It’ll be convenient to supervise her together; we can save a bit of manpower.”
Jiang Ji said this somewhat curtly, but Lü Zheng knew her real intention. Kang Xintong was Lü Zheng’s adopted daughter, so caring for her would be more meticulous than if left to someone else. Keeping Kang Xintong under his watch was also to spare Lü Zheng from worrying about her condition while he was ill.
Lü Zheng was arranged to recuperate in a relatively quiet place, and Jiang Ji instructed the physician not to be stingy with medicine—use whatever was useful.
When Wei Ci arrived upon hearing the news, Lü Zheng was draped in a grayish cloak, kneeling in front of a chessboard, jotting down moves, sometimes frowning in deep thought, sometimes looking enlightened, and occasionally using his finger to count something on the board… not at all like a prisoner.
Wei Ci noticed the sickly expression on Lü Zheng’s face and disapproved, “I heard you are quite ill; why aren’t you lying down instead?”
Playing chess notation when you should be resting—any doctor encountering such a noncompliant patient would be furious.
Lü Zheng had already sensed Wei Ci’s approach. Hearing him scold, he finally lifted his gaze to meet Wei Ci’s eyes.
“You really haven’t changed much over the years.”
Lü Zheng set aside the chess notation, indicating Wei Ci to take a seat opposite him.
Wei Ci barely recognized him; Lü Zheng looked much more haggard than he imagined, spirit low, and greying hair standing out. Although both were not far apart in age, when compared, Lü Zheng seemed almost ten years older than Wei Ci.
Wei Ci bluntly stated, “You look quite aged.”
Lü Zheng felt an impulse to crush a chess piece as if it were Wei Ci.
“Those who associate with vermillion turn red, those who associate with ink turn black—this is no lie.”
Lü Zheng’s words were pointed; Wei Ci had been hanging around Jiang Ji for too long, and his manner of speaking was starting to resemble hers.
Unaware of the youthful bet between Jiang Ji and Lü Zheng, Wei Ci was perceptive enough to understand that Lü Zheng’s words had a subtle undertone.
After a brief hesitation, Wei Ci cautiously asked, “Does Shaoyin know?”
“It’s hard not to know…” Lü Zheng’s nails were neatly trimmed; at the moment, he pinched a black piece, making his fingernail appear all the more pale as he placed the piece on the designated spot, continuing, “How did Liu Xi catch your eye? You were rather distant from her back then.”
Having come from the same teacher, Lü Zheng’s understanding of Wei Ci was evidently deeper than what outsiders could see.
To outsiders, it might seem like Jiang Ji was coercing Wei Ci, forcing him to submit to her authority, but Lü Zheng understood that if Wei Ci had no interest, he wouldn’t yield even if a knife were at his throat.
Both parties were interested, so it wasn’t merely a one-sided affair.
As for Jiang Ji, Lü Zheng had heard long ago how she had vowed to bring Wei Ci into bed. But what of Wei Ci? When did he begin to develop feelings for Jiang Ji beyond their lord-subject relationship?
Wei Ci replied, “Perhaps it was in the last life.”
He spoke truthfully, but Lü Zheng took it as clever talk.
“Learning bad habits instead of good ones, are you now trying to match Liu Xi’s tongue skills?”
Lü Zheng gestured for Wei Ci to select pieces and play against him.
Among their group, Wei Ci was the best at chess; Lü Zheng ranked near the bottom, often beaten by Wei Ci, Cheng Jing, and Han. The shadows of his student days lingered, with both Jiang Ji and Wei Ci mercilessly thrashing him.
To clear the past shame, he had put in his share of effort, wondering if today he could gain even a little advantage.
Wei Ci fell silent, admitting that being honest was no easy feat.
The two hardly conversed, only playing two silent games, where Lü Zheng still suffered a crushing defeat.
As they packed away the pieces, Lü Zheng looked up at the increasingly composed Wei Ci, resembling a polished pearl. Although not blindingly radiant, he was hard to ignore. Who could guess how much turmoil lay beneath Wei Ci’s refined exterior?
“…Regarding matters with the lord, I will be mindful of the boundaries, trying not to affect her… and do my best to protect myself…”
He wished to spend a lifetime together, wishing for both of them to live well.
Lü Zheng nodded, “The teacher often said you are quite opinionated. Since you’ve said this, it must be a decision of yours; outsiders shouldn’t meddle.”
As Wei Ci’s senior, Lü Zheng naturally leaned toward him.
As long as it was Wei Ci’s own choice, Lü Zheng would respect it.
However,
Choosing to open one’s heart to someone was fine except when aiming for the most challenging target—Jiang Ji.
Currently, she was a feudal lord, destined to be an empress in the future.
Her status meant that if Wei Ci sought to stand by her side, he would be treading through a thicket of thorns, likely faltering midway.
“Thank you.”
This heartfelt expression came from Wei Ci.
Whether it was Lü Zheng or Cheng Jing and Han, their respect and understanding warmed Wei Ci’s heart.
Lü Zheng stroked the cold chess pieces, letting out a soft sigh. He told Wei Ci, “Knowing your gentle nature, some things cannot be openly spoken. Leveraging our camaraderie, I’ll tell you that Liu Xi’s temperament is quite different from others. If you truly wish for harmony with her, remember one thing: do not meddle! In the future, whether it’s civil strife or disputes among commoners, it’s best you don’t get involved or take a stance. If you simply can’t hold back, it’s wise to also consult Liu Xi’s opinion to avoid actions against her wishes. Ordinary couples handle their disagreements with mere quarrels, but if you cross swords with Liu Xi, it’s not merely about one household.”
Lü Zheng’s words conveyed not just the path of a ruler and his subjects, but also that of spouses.
As long as Wei Ci stood by her side, supporting her, their interests would be tightly bound, thus any movement against Wei Ci would mean moving against Jiang Ji’s interests.
With that, she would become Wei Ci’s most powerful shield.
Wei Ci was taken aback upon hearing this.
If he had understood all this in his previous life and not been so clever in meddling with the Wei family matters, would the meteor crisis have happened?
Most likely not.
“…It’s a bit early to speak of this now…” Wei Ci smiled gently, his eyes full of gratitude and devoid of displeasure. He added, “Besides… the lord and I agree that our relationship should remain discreet; those who need to know, will know.”
