AWB Chapter 522 Xie Jingxian: What does it have to do with him?
Chapter 522 Xie Jingxian: What does it have to do with him?
Li Sheng found someone.
Wen Ziyan, courtesy name Cheng'an, came from the Wen family, a prominent family in the capital.
His ancestors for three generations all established themselves in the civil service through their academic and political careers. His father, Wen Hongzheng, is currently the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. The Wen family is known as a "family of literary virtue" in the court because of their strict conduct and perfect etiquette.
Wen Ziyan was twenty years old, the same age as Xie Jing, and they were also on good terms.
He is gentle and mild-mannered, never makes pronouncements or refuses people easily, and rarely gets angry.
Although he did not wield significant power in the cabinet, he was very popular and had considerable influence in the court.
Li Sheng first found him outside the lecture hall of the Imperial College.
She waited for him for a whole hour until he came out carrying a scroll of bamboo slips.
"Lord Wen," she greeted him, "may we speak in private for a moment?"
Wen Ziyan glanced at her and immediately recognized her. "Miss Li? If there's anything you need to say, please speak frankly."
Seeing his reaction, Li Sheng spoke frankly and explained the situation of the Wuli tribe and her own demands.
After listening, Wen Ziyan said slowly, "This matter is indeed difficult and cannot be resolved overnight."
A glint flashed in Li Sheng's eyes.
"So, Lord Wen is willing to help me?"
“Miss Li, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but everything needs to be considered carefully.”
Hearing him say that, Li Sheng felt a glimmer of hope.
Wen Ziyan was one of the few people in the capital who treated Li Sheng gently after hearing her request.
This made Li Sheng think that perhaps the Wuli tribe really had a glimmer of hope.
So a few days later, she went to see him again.
evening.
Wen Ziyan and Xie Jing emerged side by side, both dressed in official robes, discussing the division of border defense powers.
“If the Court of Judicial Review does not agree, His Majesty will hesitate. We must approach from the side of the Ministry of Rites and make the ‘Proposal on Border Strategy and Troop Relocation’ a legitimate one.”
Wen Ziyan's tone was as gentle and unhurried as ever.
Xie Jing nodded slightly. "Yes, I'll write another memorial later. Have someone send it to the palace first."
The two walked down the stone steps together.
Suddenly, a lithe figure came into view.
She is a young girl.
She was slender, wearing a blue pleated skirt with a silver bell hanging from her waist, standing in the alley outside the palace gate, carrying a delicate white lacquered wooden box in her hand.
She was standing on tiptoe, peering out, a slight smile playing on her lips. Her wisps of hair were gently ruffled by the wind, and a strand of silver hair swayed in the light.
She was born with an unforgettable beautiful face.
Xie Jing paused, his brows furrowing imperceptibly.
Li Sheng? Why is she here again?
Didn't he already reject her?
Moreover, this is outside the palace, a heavily guarded area...
Suddenly, the girl's gaze met his.
Her eyes were bright, and she walked straight toward him.
Xie Jing wanted to speak.
But then he saw her walk past him and head towards Wen Ziyan…
Xie Jing's expression stiffened slightly for a moment.
Meanwhile, Wen Ziyan spoke gently, "Miss Li, what brings you here?"
Li Sheng held up the food box. "I had the inn's kitchen make some crispy fried apricot slices, and I thought I'd send you a portion."
She spoke with a polite tone and a smile in her eyes.
Wen Ziyan took the box, his voice tinged with helplessness, "Thank you, Miss Li. You don't need to come in person next time."
"It's alright, as long as Lord Wen likes it." Li Sheng smiled.
Xie Jing stood to the side, his expression unreadable.
But the knuckles tucked into the sleeves tightened almost imperceptibly.
Li Sheng continued speaking at a leisurely pace, "Actually, the apricots from the mountains where we live are sweeter than those from Beijing after they are dried. The ones from Beijing aren't as sweet, so I had the kitchen add honey and let them soak overnight."
"Just make sure the oil temperature is right when frying, otherwise it will burn. I even tried it this morning."
As she spoke, Wen Ziyan nodded occasionally, but never interrupted her.
Xie Jing stood to one side.
He didn't look at them, but his ears automatically picked up on their conversation.
In the following days, Li Sheng came almost every day.
They stood guard at the palace gate, waiting for Wen Ziyan to come out.
"Lord Wen——"
Every time she appeared, Xie Jing would be there just in time.
Every time Li Sheng saw him, she would smile gently at him and say, "Thank you, Lord Xie."
After greeting him, he immediately spoke to Wen Ziyan.
Xie Jing took a deep breath, a question lingering in his mind.
What exactly is he dissatisfied with?
Didn't he reject her from the very beginning?
What does it have to do with him if she asks someone else for help now?
He raised his hand and gently pinched the space between his eyebrows.
But somewhere deep inside, it felt like something was tugging at me, pulling me tightly and making me feel uneasy.
A few days later, it was a day off.
Xie Jing and Wen Ziyan agreed to go to Wanfo Temple together to burn incense.
It was late spring, the grass in the woods was growing green, the drizzle had just stopped, and the air was filled with a cool, refreshing fragrance.
Wanfo Temple is built on the mountainside, with bluestone steps spreading out along the mountain.
Xie Jing was dressed in a moon-white casual robe, with an upright posture and a refined and noble air.
He glanced casually and noticed that Wen Ziyan's back was empty, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Thankfully, she didn't come.
Finally, I can have some peace and quiet.
But then, for some reason, a faint sense of emptiness welled up in my chest.
At that moment, a clear female voice came from outside the mountain gate.
"Lord Wen——!"
Xie Jing's heart skipped a beat, and he subconsciously turned around.
Sure enough, it was her.
Li Sheng wore a light green jacket with a finely patterned soft gauze over it, and her black hair was tied up with a silver beaded cord.
She hurried over, her eyes sparkling, "Lord Xie, Lord Wen."
Li Sheng glanced at Xie Jing, then turned her gaze to Wen Ziyan.
He took out a white lacquered food box from his bosom.
"I made some new snacks today: locust flower glutinous rice cake, brown sugar jujube pastry, and fried wild radish strips. These are seasonal spring snacks from our area. Would the adults like to try some?"
Wen Ziyan took it, smiling gently, "Last night I told my family I wanted to eat glutinous rice cake, and you just happened to send it over today."
Xie Jing stood to the side, watching her talk and laugh as she took out the snacks from the food box.
At this moment, Li Sheng suddenly turned her head and glanced at him.
"Lord Xie, would you like to try some? The wild herbs were freshly picked from the mountains and fried this morning; they're still crispy."
"No need."
Xie Jing refused decisively, his voice indifferent.
Li Sheng paused slightly, but then smiled and said, "Then I won't bother Lord Xie any longer."
As she spoke, she naturally turned around and continued talking to Wen Ziyan.
Xie Jing stood to the side, his gaze fixed on the two people in front of him.
Li Sheng has expressive eyes and a clear voice, and he always likes to gesture with his hands when he speaks.
Wen Ziyan always wore a gentle smile.
As Xie Jing gazed at it, a vague and inexplicable sense of unease welled up within him.