The Flourishing Tang Dynasty: Beginning with Marrying Yang Yuhuan

Chapter 116: Love at first sight, blessing in disguise

When Li Heng heard Jiang Caiping's name, he thought for a moment and said, "What a good name! These two characters should come from the Zhounan and Zhaonan chapters of the Book of Songs."

"Yes." Jiang Caiping nodded and bowed to Li Heng. "You are handsome, imposing, and knowledgeable. You must be His Royal Highness Prince Zhong."

"She is indeed beautiful and intelligent." Li Heng was very happy. He invited Jiang Caiping into the house and asked, "Miss Jiang, since you are from Fuzhou, why did you come to Chang'an?"

Jiang Caiping replied, "My grandfather is a Confucian doctor who was born as a scholar. Now the Imperial Medical Bureau is recruiting doctors from all over the country. My grandfather responded to the call and came. I have long admired Chang'an, so I followed him here."

Li Heng knew about the Imperial Medical Bureau's recruitment of doctors.

This matter is also related to Zhang Jiuling's demotion.

Zhang Jiuling was demoted, and Imperial Physician Zhang relied on his relationship with Li Heng to keep his position as Imperial Physician Commander. However, although he kept his position, no one in the court supported him and he faced many threats.

The reason why the Imperial Medical Bureau was recruiting so many doctors this time was that Li Linfu wanted to use newcomers to replace Imperial Physician Zhang.

"I see." Li Heng nodded and thought, "From this perspective, her family background is clean."

Jiang Caiping replied to Li Heng's words and asked, "When I was strolling in Qujiang, someone sent by His Highness told me that His Highness wanted to see me for something urgent. I wonder what it was?"

"Yes, but it's not urgent." Li Heng smiled. "I love music, so I asked my subordinates to look for people who are proficient in music and dance. They may have heard Miss Jiang's music or singing, so I asked Miss Jiang to come and meet them."

"Oh." Jiang Caiping nodded, smiled and said, "I saw the beautiful scenery of Qujiang and couldn't help singing a few lines."

Li Heng asked, "Does that girl know how to play a musical instrument?"

Jiang Caiping did not hide her pretense and said frankly: "I know a little bit about music, chess, calligraphy and painting."

Li Heng was delighted when he heard this and said, "I wonder if Miss Jiang would be willing to play a song with me?"

Jiang Caiping smiled and said, "It is my blessing to be able to play with His Royal Highness Prince Zhong."

"Thank you Miss Jiang."

Li Heng then asked someone to bring two zithers, and he played together with Jiang Caiping.

Li Heng's piano skills are passable, while Jiang Caiping's are perfect. However, as the saying goes, music is an expression of emotion. Although their piano skills vary greatly, they can both sense each other's emotions. Therefore, when they play together, it can be said that two soulmates meet.

As Jiang Caiping played the piano, she became so moved that she began to sing.

Listening to Jiang Caiping's singing, Li Heng felt it was ethereal and melodious, like a dream.

Apart from Yang Yuhuan, only Jiang Caiping could give Li Heng this feeling.

Li Heng listened attentively until the end of the song, still immersed in it.

After a while, Li Heng came back to his senses and said to Jiang Caiping, "The lingering sound is so beautiful! This song should only exist in heaven, how many times can it be heard in the world? Miss Jiang has opened my eyes."

"Your Highness Prince Zhong is too kind." Jiang Caiping said modestly, but she has always been very confident in her piano skills and singing, so she didn't think Li Heng's praise was that important. She just smiled and asked, "Your Highness Prince Zhong is a prince, but your piano music reveals endless sorrow. Is there something bothering Your Highness Prince Zhong?"

"Buddha said that there are seven sufferings in life: birth, aging, sickness, death, meeting with those we hate, separation from those we love, and failure to obtain what we desire. As long as we are human, how can we live without sorrow?"

Li Heng sighed, but then he remembered that although Jiang Caiping's piano playing was melodious and graceful, it did not contain any sadness, but was instead full of hope and innocence.

Therefore, Li Heng added: "It is rare to find someone as innocent and hopeful as this girl."

Jiang Caiping smiled and said, "Life is like a dream, and it is short. No matter where you are, as long as you are full of hope, you can be happy."

"That's true." Li Heng looked at Jiang Caiping and asked, "What is the girl's greatest hope?"

"I am an arrogant girl and often compare myself to Xie Daoyuan, but I know in my heart that I am still a little bit inferior." Jiang Caiping said.

Li Heng asked curiously, "What's the difference?"

Jiang Caiping smiled and said, "Xie Daoyun and Wang Ningzhi are a loving couple. If I can also marry a man of my dreams, then I won't be boasting when I make the comparison."

Li Heng saw that Jiang Caiping was not only beautiful and talented, but also good at singing and dancing, and had such a straightforward and free-spirited personality. He could not help but feel more favorable towards Jiang Caiping. Li Heng stood up and asked Jiang Caiping, "What kind of man would be a perfect husband for Miss Jiang?"

Jiang Caiping heard this and looked at Li Heng.

In Jiang Caiping's brief acquaintance, Prince Li Heng was a member of a noble family, of distinguished status, and was handsome and polite.

The most important thing is that such a humble prince still has unspeakable sorrows.

To the fifteen or sixteen-year-old Jiang Caiping, Li Heng was like the bright moon hidden behind the clouds, mysterious and full of temptation.

Jiang Caiping was moved.

A bright smile slowly appeared on her face. She stared at Li Heng for a long time and said, "I may have seen it."

Li Heng was surprised and happy when he heard this.

He understood what Jiang Caiping meant, and he also liked this girl very much. He slowly walked towards Jiang Caiping, wanting to say something to her.

However, halfway through the walk, Li Heng suddenly reacted.

This is the girl he was looking for for his father. She was just a chess piece he was looking for to reach the pinnacle of power.

How could he have feelings for a chess piece?

Li Heng stopped and hesitated for a while.

It only took him a moment to make up his mind.

Between emotion and power, of course power is important!

So, Li Heng pretended not to understand Jiang Caiping's words and said with a smile: "There are so many heroes and talents in Chang'an. It is reasonable for Miss Jiang to find her ideal husband in Chang'an."

Jiang Caiping was already very brave, but Li Heng pretended not to understand what she meant.

This inevitably made her feel a little lost.

"However, I can do you a favor," Li Heng added.

Jiang Caiping asked, "Your Highness, what do you want to help me with?"

"Help your grandfather get into the Imperial Medical Bureau and give him a good position." Li Heng said to Jiang Caiping.

Jiang Caiping asked in confusion: "Why is this?"

Li Heng said: "Miss Jiang is very smart and talented. I think your grandfather is also a rare talent. In addition, Miss Jiang and I hit it off right away. Therefore, I want to help Miss Jiang and let her stay in Chang'an, so that... we can see each other often."

When Jiang Caiping heard Li Heng's last words, her heart almost jumped out of her chest with joy.

She thought that Li Heng had deliberately misinterpreted her meaning just now because he was being reserved and wanted to slowly develop feelings by helping her, so she smiled and said, "Thank you so much, Your Highness. I have been out for a while and it is time to go back, otherwise Grandpa will be worried."

"I'll take you there." Li Heng said.

Jiang Caiping said, "How dare I trouble Your Highness to send me off in person?"

"I'm happy to serve." Li Heng smiled, took his men, and personally sent Jiang Caiping off.

Li Heng sent Jiang Caiping back to the inn where she was staying and paid for her room for several months before saying to her, "Tomorrow, I will wait for you to visit Qujiang together."

"Yeah." Jiang Caiping nodded heavily and watched Li Heng leave.

Looking at Li Heng's back, the smile on her face grew wider and wider.

She just murmured, "I'm so lucky."

(End of this chapter)