Too high to reach

Chapter 246 What She Plans

"Brother Dong...please sit down." Feng Liniang's voice trembled slightly.

Zhou Dong sat down, feeling somewhat at a loss as he looked at her tears. "Your Majesty, please don't cry. Are you alright?"

Feng Liniang quickly wiped away her tears, "It's alright, it's alright! Did I scare you? I was just too excited. It's been so many years since we last met, I didn't even recognize you at first glance. I was also stunned by Lord Zhou's imposing presence!"

Zhou Dong breathed a sigh of relief and smiled: "The Empress burst into tears as soon as we met, how frightening."

The atmosphere immediately lightened, as if they had returned to the past when he made her laugh.

"Stop calling me 'Your Majesty' all the time. In private, please still call me Li Niang as before."

Zhou Dong paused for a moment, then said, "Okay, Li Niang. How have you been?"

Feng Liniang had stopped crying, but upon hearing this, tears welled up in her eyes again.

“You’ve stumped me with that question. How have I been doing… To be honest, I’m just an ordinary woman who has experienced the destruction of my family and the loss of my loved ones, and I’ve come this far…” She stretched out her arm, looking at her fine silk and the jeweled bracelet.

"It should be excellent..."

“If that’s the case… don’t keep reminiscing about the hardships that have already passed. Look at you now… you look so healthy, just like when you were a child,” Zhou Dong gently advised.

"How can we still be the same as when we were kids? We've all gotten old."

"Not at all! I saw Your Highness the day before yesterday, and I saw you today. If you stood together, you would be a perfect match; you are in no way inferior!"

Feng Liniang gave a wry smile. "Did you go to see Granny Zhao?"

"I went yesterday. Her daughter went with Brother Wan to his post elsewhere. Granny Zhao is busy taking care of the child while doing her work. She's quite busy," Zhou Dong said with a smile.

“Yes. I advised Yongle not to go, given her health, but she wouldn’t listen.” Consort Feng’s eyes gleamed.

"Yongle likes Brother Wan, he can't let go of him, can he..."

The two were silent for a while.

"Brother Dong, I heard from the Prince that you've been promoted again."

"Yes. It was all arranged by the Prince."

"It's all your own doing. Before, when the prince came back, he always mentioned you, but now..." She sighed softly and stopped talking.

"What's wrong, Li Niang? Are you not getting along with the Prince?"

"No. The Prince has never been harsh with me, and even entrusted me with managing the inner quarters... That's why I've had the opportunity to take care of my relatives and friends..."

"Speaking of which..." Zhou Dong stood up, "I saw it and heard about it when I got home. Everything in the house was taken care of by you. I am deeply grateful... I will remember it all." He bowed deeply.

Consort Feng quickly stood up and offered a helping hand, saying, "What I did was only what I could. If you're always so polite, it means you're treating me like an outsider."

Zhou Dong calmed himself down, nodded, and sat down.

"Your Majesty summoned me here today. Is there something you wish to say?"

He is not stupid.

Feng Liniang won't meet with me at the mansion...

Although there are differences between men and women, and between the noble and the lowly, those who grew up together, such as the prince who would invite old friends to a welcoming party, might still have opportunities to meet.

If you've been called here, it means you have something to say.

"For a moment, I don't know where to begin. Dong-ge, I truly consider you my own brother. So... there are some things I can't say to others..."

Zhou Dong was filled with mixed emotions, but ultimately felt moved. "Li Niang, I also consider you family. I'm an orphan who almost starved to death. If I hadn't entered the Prince's mansion, I wouldn't have the life I have now. If I hadn't met you all, I wouldn't have friends and family."
You helped me take care of the family. My brothers from back then supported me in my endeavors, which is why I am where I am today.

So, whatever you want to say, just say it. I'll never refuse to help if I can. Even if your thoughts are inappropriate, or if there's something I can't do, I'll still try to understand and forgive you.

Consort Feng's heart skipped a beat, and she smiled bitterly: "Brother Dong, I'm not a good woman."

"Don't say that..." Zhou Dong quickly said.

"It's true. Back then, my family was in dire straits, and I barely escaped with my life. In that moment of crisis, the Prince descended like a god and saved me. At that time, I was a naive young girl, grateful for the Prince's life-saving grace. I was determined to repay him with the rest of my life. So, even though I knew this path would be difficult, I still knew..." She looked deeply at Zhou Dong.

"It's someone else's intention. But if Your Highness has that intention, I'll go all out!"

As Zhou Dong listened, he also reminisced about the past: he was a few years older than Feng Liniang, an orphan, and was rescued by a guard surnamed Zhou under the prince. He was given a name at random and placed by the prince's side.

He and his friends studied literature and martial arts, and when they grew up, they served the prince.

Later, when the prince brought Feng Liniang back, he saw her.

They had all struggled to survive, and now they had no worries about food and clothing, and were even able to learn to read and write and practice martial arts. Even though Granny Zhao and the other masters were strict with them, they were as happy as gods.

Feng Liniang... a pretty young girl, always so earnest and diligent in learning. When she made a mistake and was punished by Granny Zhao with a slap on the hand, she would only hide in a corner and cry secretly.

At first, I felt sorry for her because we were in the same boat. I would painstakingly tinker with little things: a string of grain gourds, two small snacks, grasshoppers woven from straw, wildflowers from the fields outside... basically just these odds and ends, to cheer her up.

Gradually, his mind changed.

She excels in her studies and has good judgment. She is well-liked by Granny Zhao, who also likes Liting very much.

Once, I overheard Granny Zhao saying to someone nearby: "If these two children could become husband and wife in the future, it would be a beautiful story. Once they both have a reason to get married, we can bring it up."

Since then, I've worked even harder and more diligently than before. My hope is that one day I'll achieve some success, build a small home, and marry her.

But later... she went with the prince.

One is the one I love most, and the other is the one I respect most.

He couldn't blame anyone; all his emotions were hidden deep inside.

During that time, I thought about how I was an orphan with no ties to anyone, and that life had no meaning.

When he went out on missions with the prince, he was truly reckless: wherever there was danger, he would rush there... he was completely fearless.

Perhaps it was luck, but despite all that, he didn't die, and he wasn't even seriously injured!

Therefore, he climbed higher than his companions.

Later, he rescued a caravan and caught the eye of one of the women, who wanted to marry her niece to him.

Actually, he didn't like that girl, but he really didn't want to be alone anymore.

Several times, the prince wanted him to return to the capital. But he didn't know how he would feel when he returned to face Feng Liniang.

I really don't want to go through that again.

And her identity cannot be compromised in the slightest.

He said slowly, "You are doing very well now. You have an imperial title and have given birth to the prince's eldest son."

"Yes... Actually, the Prince has treated me very well. These past few years, I've devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Prince's mansion. I even experienced the death of Princess Zhou... It's impossible to say it wasn't hard work..."

She changed the subject and asked, "Do you know about the prince's new bride?"

"I've heard of it, but I haven't seen it." Zhou Dong thought to himself, "It's definitely related to this matter."

"She was of commoner origin, plain-looking, and had no special talents. I don't understand why the prince would marry her instead of making me his wife."

It was clearly him who wanted me to stay by his side in the first place.

Even though he wasn't in the manor, I was the one busy with everything inside and outside.

Mingming, I gave birth to his eldest son.

Mingming, when the former princess was ill, it was I who took meticulous care of her.

Even if the prince doesn't care about me, or even about Shao-ge'er, why must he bear the burden of being the eldest son of a concubine? Feng Liniang became agitated again.

“Li Niang, the prince has his reasons for doing things. We shouldn’t hold grudges…” Zhou Dong patiently advised.

"But if he had married a noblewoman, I wouldn't have felt indignant! That woman is clearly inferior to me in every way!"

"So... what do you want now?"

"Brother Dong, I want my Shao'er, to have everything the Prince has to offer!" Feng Liniang said firmly.

“But Liniang… the Prince is like a second life to us! We can’t…”

"Dong-ge! What are you thinking? The Prince is my husband, your sovereign, and my son Shao-ge'er's father. I have no ill intentions towards the Prince. But as for others... I have no such obligation!"

Zhou Dong smiled wryly: "You think it's easy, but even if I get promoted, there's only so much I can do. I can't exactly go up to the prince and mention all this, can I?"

"I'm not asking you to do anything right now... I just hope that you'll genuinely care about me and do what you can to help me. How old is Shao-ge? He hasn't even started his formal education yet! So, this is a long process."

Good things always come to those who are prepared. Besides, Dong-ge, you're not an orphan anymore; you have an official position, a family, and a future. You should also plan for your son! If my Shao'er recovers, what will your son have to worry about? His starting point will be completely different from yours!"

Zhou Dong was also somewhat excited upon hearing this. He finally nodded: "Not harming the Prince's interests is the foundation. Beyond that, I can do things for you."

"Then it's settled." Feng Liniang chuckled.

Once you start, you're no longer in control!

(End of this chapter)