At this point, it was a blade whether she stuck out her head or kept it down—she had to face it.
Quan Heng got up and absentmindedly fixed her makeup. Soon, Lüyi came to report, “Miss, breakfast is ready. Please move to the main hall.”
Quan Heng responded and nervously followed her. As soon as she entered, she saw Shen Zhengyu already seated at the head of the table.
When he saw her, he smiled gently. “Heng’er, you’re here? Come, sit and eat.”
For a moment, Quan Heng was full of doubt.
Last night they had completely torn all pretenses—logically, Ah Zheng should hate her now. So why was he still being so pleasant, acting like nothing had happened?
Her steps felt like lead as she slowly walked to the table and sat down awkwardly.
“Heng’er, I went drinking with colleagues last night. I blacked out toward the end, so I didn’t come back for dinner. You’re not mad, are you?”
At those words, waves of shock surged in Quan Heng’s heart.
From the way he spoke, did that mean… he didn’t remember anything from last night?
If that were true, the current situation was very favorable for her. The longer they delayed ripping things apart, the more time she had to find a way to escape.
With that in mind, she forced a smile and said softly, “How could I be mad? Ah Zheng, you’re a high-ranking official now—you have a lot to handle every day. I understand.”
She then lifted her eyes and looked at his shoulder. The hairpin had stabbed deep, and now the blood had soaked a large patch.
He always favored white clothing, and now the bloodstain stood out shockingly.
Following her gaze, Shen Zhengyu noticed she was frowning at his wound and sighed. “I don’t even know when I got this. Maybe I fell while drunk. Don’t worry, I’ll apply some medicine and it’ll be fine.”
Quan Heng nodded. “You should take care of yourself. Don’t let water touch it and change the dressing on time.”
Hearing this, Shen Zhengyu smiled warmly. “Alright, I’ll listen to you. But for now, let’s eat. Going hungry too long isn’t good for the body.”
Quan Heng answered and said no more, quietly eating—but her mind was a storm.
Whether he truly forgot or was just pretending, she had no choice but to play dumb and pretend nothing happened.
Otherwise, who knew what madness he might unleash.
After eating just a few bites, she suddenly let out a sigh. “Brother Ah Zheng, I’ve been cooped up in this courtyard every day lately and haven’t been able to step outside. I’m really feeling suffocated. Can’t you let me go out for a walk?”
As expected, the moment she said this, the man’s expression immediately changed.
The tenderness in his eyes vanished without a trace, replaced by scrutiny and suspicion.
“Heng’er, why would you think that way? Are the servants in the courtyard not serving you well? Should I replace them? I can have some accompany you to play shuttlecock in the courtyard. I still remember, when you were little, that was your favorite game.”
Quan Heng shook her head, eyes reddened, and looked at him. “Ah Zheng, you know me. I’ve always loved going out and having fun. Back when we were kids, didn’t we always skip class just to get some fresh air?”
“I’m not asking to go far—just the nearest town. I want to walk around and buy some clothes and accessories. Is that alright?”
Shen Zhengyu frowned. “No.”
In an instant, the light in Quan Heng’s eyes dimmed.
Realizing that he’d spoken too harshly, Shen Zhengyu softened his tone and explained gently:
“The Marquis of Yongning’s entire household is still on the wanted list. Anyone who captures any one of you can get a hundred taels of gold. It’s too dangerous for you to go out right now.”
Upon hearing this, Quan Heng was startled.
She hadn’t expected the situation outside to be so severe already.
Even so, she was still unwilling to give up even the slightest opportunity. Only by getting out could she gather more information.
“Then I’ll wear a veil and a hat with drapes. Will that be alright? As long as my face is covered, there won’t be a problem.”
Seeing that Shen Zhengyu’s expression remained stern, Quan Heng blinked, and tears fell from her eyes.
“Ah Zheng has truly grown up now. We can never go back to the way things were. Back then, whenever I wanted to go out and play, you’d go with me—even if it meant disobeying Uncle Shen.”
She lowered her head and whispered, “When we were in Changle County, you always climbed over the wall to find me. We’d skip class together, go watch opera, and buy roast chicken and fried pancakes. Have you forgotten all that?”
“…I really want to eat fried pancakes again. Please, take me out to buy some, alright?”
Hearing this, Shen Zhengyu’s expression shifted slightly.
It was just a few simple words, yet they tugged directly at his heartstrings.
Looking back, his life had been filled with turmoil. The most peaceful and happiest time had been those days spent with Heng’er.
Now, Heng’er was pleading with him so sincerely, even crying until her eyes turned red—how could he possibly bear to refuse?
“…Alright then. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to the nearby town to look around. But only for half an hour, and you must wear the veiled hat. Understand?”
As soon as he said this, Quan Heng instantly lit up, smiling so sweetly that her eyes curved into crescents. “Okay! I knew Brother Ah Zheng was the best!”
With that assurance, she ate two more bowls of rice, clearing the dishes in front of her for the first time in a long while.
Seeing this, Shen Zhengyu chuckled helplessly.
Heng’er was still the same as she was when she was young—completely childlike at heart.
“Ah Zheng, I’ve eaten enough. I’ll go rest in my room now.”
With that, she got up and left the room.
Watching her departing figure, the tenderness in Shen Zhengyu’s eyes gradually faded. He unconsciously clenched his fists.
In this life, he would never let anyone take her away again. Not even she herself.
He hadn’t forgotten what happened last night.
He just knew—if he didn’t pretend otherwise, with Heng’er’s temperament, she would have already fought him to the death.
She was such a headstrong person. To escape Wen Zheng and gain her freedom, she had been willing to die.
She loved Wen Zheng so deeply yet couldn’t bear to be imprisoned by him—so how could she possibly accept the same fate with him?
After years of separation, her feelings toward him were no longer what they once were.
Fortunately, his choice had been right. Heng’er had to play dumb to keep him calm.
When he heard her bringing up the past just now, his heart had genuinely been moved.
For those memories, accompanying her for a little outing wasn’t too much to ask.
***
The next morning, just as dawn broke, Quan Heng was already awake.
After washing up, she waited in the courtyard for quite a while before Shen Zhengyu finally got up.
Seeing how excited she looked, he teased her, “Heng’er, don’t be so impatient. I said I’d take you out and I will. Why are you acting like a three-year-old?”
Quan Heng smiled bashfully. “Then hurry up! Let’s go early while there are fewer people around.”
Soon after, Shen Zhengyu finished getting ready. He brought over a veiled hat for her to wear, and the group set off.
On the way, Quan Heng carefully lifted the curtain and peeked out at the people walking along the road. Her heart was full of emotion.
She hadn’t been outside in so long—everything felt new again.
Before long, they arrived at the town.
By then, the sun was fully up and the streets were filled with vendors calling out their wares.
When they passed a stall selling fried pancakes, Shen Zhengyu took the initiative to buy two, handing the larger, rounder one to Quan Heng before taking a bite of his own.
The moment he bit into it, the memories of their youth seemed to rush through his taste buds, making his eyes sting with emotion.
If only everything could’ve stayed that way.
But when Quan Heng took a bite, the image that floated into her mind wasn’t Shen Zhengyu—it was Wen Zheng.
This pancake… didn’t taste as good as the ones they used to buy together in town.
They walked and ate as they made their way to a shop selling rouge, powder, clothing, and hair ornaments.
Quan Heng walked in and was delighted by the fabrics on display.
Since childhood, she’d been a bit vain and had always loved dressing up.
Though the fabrics in this town were nothing special—most of them castoffs from the capital from six months ago—to her now, they were novel enough.
Seeing her so happy, Shen Zhengyu couldn’t help but smile as well.
Just then, he spotted a figure moving at the end of the street—his spy, no doubt.
Knowing the man had something urgent to report, Shen Zhengyu’s expression turned serious. He said to Quan Heng, “I have something to take care of. You stay here and browse with Luyi. Don’t wander off. I’ll come back for you once I’m done.”
Hearing this, Quan Heng was secretly overjoyed, but on the surface, she feigned worry. “Okay… but you have to come back soon. I’m unfamiliar with this place and feel a bit uneasy.”
Shen Zhengyu nodded and took a money pouch from his chest, handing it to her. “Take this. Spend it however you like. No need to save on my account.”
When she took the pouch, he let out a soft sigh, then strode away.
Immediately, Quan Heng resumed picking out fabric while her ears stayed alert, listening to the conversations happening outside the shop.
Right outside was a wonton stall, where several people were sitting and chatting animatedly.
Glancing sideways, she saw a plump middle-aged man sip a bowl of soup, then smack his lips and say, “Did you hear? Something huge happened in the capital! They say the Crown Prince—no one knows what happened—but overnight, his hair turned completely white!”
Hearing this, Quan Heng’s heart clenched.
How could this be?
Back when she had “died,” he still had a head of black hair. It had only been a dozen days—how could he have deteriorated so much?
Across from the man sat a lean figure, about fifty years old, his hair mostly white. He shook his head and poured himself a cup of tea. “So what? That Crown Prince was cruel and ruthless since childhood. If his hair turned white overnight, he probably did something wicked and is now hYinianged by guilt. The real victims are General Zhenbei’s household and the Marquis of Yongning!”
At that, an older woman nearby joined in with a sigh. “You’re right! I heard General Zhenbei’s family has shed blood on the battlefield for generations. Now he only has two sons left, and the younger one is just seven. Got separated from his family while fleeing and was captured. They say they cut off his head and hung it at the city gates—for seven whole days!”
Quan Heng gasped. “How could that be?”
She had visited the Yu family several times while in the capital and had met that child.
That little boy had been adorably sweet and would greet her so gently every time. How could he have died so terribly?
At her words, everyone at the stall turned to look. The older woman sighed, “Shocking, isn’t it, little miss? We’re all heartbroken. The Yu family served the country loyally for generations. To meet such an end… truly unjust!”
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