449 Holding Hands
Their eyes met. Zhou Heng looked into Su Xiaoling’s eyes. He understood that she was running towards his firm heart. Both of them smiled.
“Alright, no matter what happens in the future, we’ll be together.”
Zhou Heng held Su Xiaoling’s hand and said firmly.
Su Xiaoling nodded shyly. She had been looking forward to this day for a long time, so no matter what happened in the future, she would walk on firmly and never let go of Zhou Heng’s hand. She wanted to be with him for a long time.
Zhou Heng couldn’t help but smile. He held Su Xiaoling’s hand tightly. Her warm and soft hand carried strength as it warmed his heart.
The two of them walked quietly and looked at the scenery in the Grand General’s residence.
He really hoped that time would pass slower. It was Mu Qi who reminded them, “Master, it’s time to return to the palace.”
Zhou Heng frowned. “Xiaoling, I’m going back.”
Su Xiaoling smiled and nodded. “Alright, Brother Heng, be careful.”
Before returning, Zhou Heng saw Su Xiaolu alone again.
“Xiaolu, can Ah Zhi’s body be cured?”
Zhou Heng’s heart tightened.
Su Xiaolu looked at Zhou Heng and did not hide anything. She said directly, “There are too many poisons in his body. It will take many years to completely detoxify him. If his body continues to hold on for the next six to seven years and the poison is cured, he can still live for decades, but every time I detoxify him and guide the poison, he might not be able to survive.”
“Thank you, Xiaolu. I understand.”
Zhou Heng felt a little suffocated. This was Zhou Zhi’s body, a damaged body that had been poisoned too many times.
“Xiaolu, I’ll leave Ah Zhi in your hands.”
Zhou Heng looked at Su Xiaolu pleadingly. He really hoped that Zhou Zhi would get better. As long as there was time, the tension between the brothers could slowly ease up.
“Yeah.”
Su Xiaolu nodded. She would do her best.
Zhou Heng went back.
As soon as Zhou Heng returned to the palace, the palace servant reported to him, “Your Majesty, the empress wants to see you.”
Zhou Heng thought for a moment and said, “Let’s go over now.”
When Zhou Heng arrived, Wei Ling had been waiting for a long time.
She wanted to see Zhou Heng because the emperor had summoned her and told her that Zhou Heng was asking for a marriage decree. He wanted Wei Ling to make arrangements in advance.
Wei Ling’s heart felt like it was being suffocated by a huge rock.
Zhou Heng had already regained his identity and she could not stop him. But now, Zhou Heng wanted to marry a nameless commoner. This was difficult for her to accept. She called Zhou Heng over to dispel his thoughts.
Seeing Zhou Heng enter, Wei Ling had mixed feelings. This unfamiliar face and cold expression really made her unable to get close to him.
She found it hard to believe that this was her son.
“Greetings, Mother.”
Zhou Heng bowed calmly. Wei Ling found it difficult to get close to him, and so did he.
“Take a seat. Mother didn’t take a good look at you yesterday. We should have a lot to say to each other.”
Wei Ling raised her hand.
Zhou Heng sat down opposite Wei Ling. He looked at the table full of delicacies with an unknown emotion in his eyes. Could these dishes be poisonous?
“Heng’er, when you followed divine doctor Wu back then, did he treat you well?”
Wei Ling looked at Zhou Heng and asked. In the past, divine doctor Wu owed the Wei family a favor. That year, she asked him to return this favor by taking him away to treat him. Divine doctor Wu’s martial arts weren’t good, but he had his ways.
Zhou Heng and Zhou Zhi were twins and looked alike. It was indeed troublesome, so it was normal for divine doctor Wu to help him modify his bones and appearance.
However, the Zhou Heng who died, who looked too similar to Zhou Zhi, had always been stuck in her heart. This made her unable to believe that the Zhou Heng in front of her was the real Zhou Heng. She did not know how long she would be in doubt.
Wei Ling looked at Zhou Heng and stared at him, not missing any expression on his face.
Zhou Heng said calmly, “Dr. Wu treated me very well. During those days when I couldn’t walk, he would carry me on his back. Although it was a simple life, I had never starved or been cold. When I arrived at the Southern Mountain Village, I got to know the Su family. Madam Zhao and Su Xiaoling personally sewed my clothes every year. I’ve always been doing very well.”
Wei Ling lowered her eyes. “Then I really have to thank the Su family. How about this? Mother will give them more silver and find a job for the Su parents. How about that? This will be considered repaying their kindness to you. What do you think of Mother’s arrangement?”
After saying that, Wei Ling looked up at Zhou Heng. She smiled and tried her best to look gentle.
Zhou Heng did not smile. He only asked calmly, “Mother, is this so that the Su family will have nothing to do with me anymore?”
Wei Ling smiled and said, “It’s not right to say that you will have nothing to do with each other anymore. After all, you’ve known each other for so many years. You and the children of the Su family are also very good friends. Although you won’t see each other often in the future, you can be considered to be friends. As long as the Su family doesn’t commit murder, arson, or crime, they will have a good life for the rest of their lives.”
“I heard that the Su family has two daughters. Don’t worry, I will also find a good marriage for them. Heng’er, you have to understand that you don’t really like her. That’s only because you’ve seen too few people. That’s why you thought that it was love. Listen to me. Su Xiaoling is not suitable to be your wife. I spent a lot of effort to save you back then. Don’t let me down.”
Wei Ling stopped smiling and looked at Zhou Heng. She had already made it very clear.
Wei Ling couldn’t accept that her son, whom she had finally had the chance to save back then, wouldn’t listen to her now.
She looked straight at Zhou Heng and said with a calm expression, “I remember that in the past, you listened to Mother the most. You were so filial. Mother risked everything to save you. Now that you’re back, you’re still the same as before, right?”
Zhou Heng looked at Wei Ling and said calmly, “Mother, I like Su Xiaoling not because I’ve seen too few women, but because her personality and character attract me. I clearly know how much I like her in my heart. I don’t want to marry her because I want to repay her.”
“If Mother wants an extremely obedient chess piece, then I’m afraid Mother will be disappointed. I know very well what I want to do. On the other hand, Mother, there are some things that are not too late to stop now. After I succeed the throne, Mother will still be the honorable Empress Dowager.”
Zhou Heng said calmly with a dark expression.
Wei Ling couldn’t calm down anymore.
She gritted her teeth and said, “You’re not my Heng’er at all. My Heng’er won’t disobey me like this. My Heng’er is the most filial child. You’re not him. Who are you?”
Zhou Heng sneered. “Mother, Ah Zhi listens to you so much. He has never hurt you or hated you. How did you treat him?”
