To be fair, Tian Chengzhong actually dislikes Xiao Heng very much.
Ever since Xiao Heng was still Song Heng, he felt that dealing with Song Heng was not a pleasant thing. The reason was that Song Heng was too shrewd and cunning, and his attitude was very tough.
This will be even more terrifying when Song Heng becomes Xiao Heng.
Because his status was even higher, even if Xiao Heng might really become his son-in-law in the future, if he asked himself, he didn't think he could get any benefits from Xiao Heng.
So in comparison, he liked the gentle and non-aggressive Fifth Prince much more.
Tian Xun suddenly raised his head and looked at Tian Chengzhong with sharp eyes, and was speechless for a moment.
Tian Chengzhong felt very uncomfortable when she looked at him. He scratched his head and lowered his voice: "Don't be so stubborn. There are many fish in the sea..."
It was really getting more and more outrageous. Tian Xun coughed and quickened his pace as he walked towards Queen Mother Tian.
The rest of Tian Chengzhong's words were stuck in his throat. It was not right to say it, and it was not right not to say it.
Empress Dowager Tian had been exhausted these days. Now that Princess Jingming had finally been laid to rest, she felt relieved. She also suddenly looked several years older and even walked with a limp.
By the time she finally followed the advice and went to the palace near the imperial mausoleum to rest, she was so tired that she didn't want to say a word.
Seeing Tian Xun coming over, Empress Dowager Tian curled her lips and said, "Your father finally got to see you once, why didn't he say a few more words?"
Tian Xun came up obediently and supported Empress Dowager Tian's arm: "Daddy was afraid that you would be sad, so he asked me to accompany you..." She raised her hand, inadvertently revealing a bell on her wrist.
Empress Dowager Tian's pupils trembled, and she grabbed her wrist, her voice changed with nervousness: "Where did you get this bell? Where did it come from?!"
Tian Xun was startled, looked at her innocently with wide eyes, and raised his hand hesitantly.
However, Empress Dowager Tian was so excited that she was a little out of control. She grabbed her wrist and tried to take the bell off, while loudly asking her: "I want to ask you, how did you get this bell?"
Tian Xun was about to cry out loud. He hurriedly took off the bell and handed it to Empress Dowager Tian with both hands. His tone was full of panic and fear: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I bought this bell from a small street stall when I went out to play with my sister a few years ago. I just wanted to buy it because it was pretty..."
There are many rice-sized bells underneath this golden bell. When you move your wrist, it makes a crisp sound, and it looks delicate and beautiful.
Empress Dowager Tian's eyes were filled with tears. She didn't care about her at all. She held the bell in both hands and looked at it carefully. When she finally found the four words engraved under the bell, she couldn't help crying.
Empress Dowager Tian's crying was so serious that even Concubine Pang came over to ask what had happened.
Tian Xun was frightened out of his wits, bewildered and started crying too.
It was Mother Tian who persuaded the Queen Mother to stop. She then held the bell tightly and whispered, "This was made for Jingming by the Ministry of Internal Affairs when Jingming was one year old. It is engraved with the words 'Long Life and Wealth'. Only Jingming has this..."
Princess Jingming is gone. She had been missing for many years, and Empress Dowager Tian had never thought that she could find the bell that she always kept with her.
But who could have thought that he would be sent back to me in this way.
Times have changed, things and people have changed, and Empress Dowager Tian feels both pain and regret, but more importantly, she feels a strange sense of comfort.
People are always like this, they always have to rely on some thoughts to persevere.
"It was you who protected Jingming's tablet before. I didn't expect that Jingming's bell had been on you many years ago. This may be God's will." Queen Mother Tian sighed deeply and spoke to Tian Xun in a gentler tone. She stroked the bell for a while and handed it to her again: "Forget it, you can wear it. Maybe Jingming also wants you to wear it."
Tian Xun looked up at Queen Mother Tian with some fear. When he heard Queen Mother Tian urging him again, he took the bell from her hand in a daze and put it on his hand tremblingly.
After all this trouble, Empress Dowager Tian, who was already exhausted, could no longer hold on and was escorted by Concubine Pang to the Zen temple to rest.
Mother Tian finally had some time. When she came out and saw Tian Xun standing outside the pavilion halfway up the mountain, she quickened her pace and went inside the pavilion. Then she asked in a deep voice with a frown, "Miss Tian, I have done everything you asked me to do. My son..."
The mountain wind blew Tian Xun's dress, and she looked at the monks who were walking back after chanting at the foot of the mountain without turning her head. She smiled lightly and said, "Don't worry, mom. I always keep my word. Since I said I would keep your son safe, I will naturally do what I say..."
Mother Tian was a little anxious: "Miss Tian, I have done everything I can for you. This bell was made when Princess Jingming was one year old. I found the style by searching through the archives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. I have done my best to this extent. If you want the Queen Mother to think that you and Princess Jingming are destined to be together, I have already..."
Just as Mother Tian was about to continue speaking, Tian Xun suddenly took a step back, as if he was frightened.
Mother Tian couldn't help but be stunned. She followed Tian Xun's gaze and saw Xiao Heng standing behind a big tree not far ahead.
I don’t know how long Xiao Heng had been standing there or how much he had heard.
Mother Tian's face turned pale with horror, as if she had seen a ghost, and she looked at Tian Xun in horror.
Tian Xun's expression was not much better than Tian's mother's. She never expected that Xiao Heng would be here. When she saw Xiao Heng leaving with an expressionless face, she hurriedly called out to him, "Your Highness!"
Mother Tian was so frightened that her scalp felt a pain. When she saw Tian Xun calling Xiao Heng, she turned around and walked away.
Only Xiao Heng and Tian Xun were left.
Xiao Heng frowned and looked at Tian Xun, then raised his eyebrows: "What?"
Tian Xun had a complicated expression, with fear, guilt, and embarrassment in his heart. Seeing Xiao Heng's attitude, he suddenly felt a little aggrieved for some reason: "I... Your Highness, I am not..."
"How you are has nothing to do with me." Xiao Heng interrupted her in a deep voice: "It's just that some things can be calculated, but some things can't be calculated. Miss Tian, take care of yourself."
He was about to leave after he finished speaking. Tian Xun felt mixed emotions and couldn't help blurting out: "Your Highness, I did all this for..."
Xiao Heng turned his head and raised his eyebrows: "Miss Tian, I am not interested in what you are doing. I also hope that your thoughts will not be wasted on me."