Song Shiying placed the wine glass on the table.

She first apologized to the Minister of Personnel, drank half a cup of cold water, suppressed the inexplicable uneasiness in her heart, and then followed Shi Qi towards Qiong Yu Lake.

On the way, Song Shiying tried to ask Shi Qi several times what had happened, but Shi Qi always dismissed him with a sentence "You'll know when the time comes."

When Song Shiying was still several feet away from the shore of Qiongyu Lake, a woman wearing a green dress embroidered with a white crane pattern strode towards her.

Before she could react, the woman hugged her tightly in her arms. "Nan Yi, I thought I would never see you again. I don't know how I managed to get through all these years. I... I felt like I couldn't live many times. Only when I think of you do I feel that there are still some things in this world worth cherishing."

Song Shiying's body instinctively wanted to push away the woman who was hugging her, but when she heard her call out the word "Nan Yi", her brain completely shut down.

Her full name in her previous life was "Song Nanyiyi". Ever since she had a car accident and traveled to this strange dynasty where women were dominant, she had almost forgotten her former name.

Song Shiying broke free from the woman's embrace and asked tentatively, "Jiang... Jiang Zhixiu?"

The tears that Chu Changying had tried hard to suppress once again filled his eyes, and boundless sadness surged in his heart. He was about to continue speaking.

Song Shiying looked as if he had seen a ghost, "Why are you dressed as a woman?"

The sad atmosphere was interrupted, and Chu Changying was stunned for a moment, "You know that men here can't show their faces in public, so I disguised myself as a woman and entered the Imperial Hospital."

Song Shiying covered his mouth with her hand. "It's fine if you go out disguised as a woman, but you actually dare to enter a government agency. You are deceiving the emperor, do you know that? Do you want to die?"

Chu Changying pulled her hand away from his mouth and said, "I disguised myself as a woman and entered the Imperial Hospital through a clear path. It was Her Highness the Princess who arranged for me to be there. My life will not be in danger. You don't have to worry about me."

Song Shiying was very perceptive in noticing the word "Crown Princess." Her expression shifted slightly, "How did you and Her Highness the Crown Princess meet?"

Her Royal Highness the Crown Princess has now been assigned to the Ministry of Personnel by the Emperor. Her future mother-in-law is the Minister of Personnel, so she will definitely be assigned to the Ministry of Personnel as well in the future.

If she could get in touch with the princess through Chu Changying, her future would be limitless.

The imperial examination is usually held every three years, and a new top scholar will be born in each examination. It is true that she won the first place this year, but she came from a poor family. If she cannot find a promising backer, it will be difficult for her to advance in her official career.

Chu Changying didn't answer Song Shiying's question. He held Song Shiying's hands tightly and said, "Nan Yi, let's get married. In my last life, I couldn't walk down the aisle with you, so we're separated by the Yin and Yang. In this life, no matter what, I must be with you. We'll sleep together in life and burial, and never be apart again."

Song Shiying pulled her hand away, her eyes averted, "I'm already engaged to the son of the Minister of Personnel."

Chu Changying pursed his lips tightly, his expression gradually darkening. "What do you mean?"

Before Song Shiying could figure out how to deal with it, Shi Qi coughed heavily a few times, "Miss Song, Her Royal Highness the Princess is still waiting for you over there."

Song Shiying's view was blocked by Chu Changying just now. When he raised his head, he saw Xue Wu kneeling on the ground.

Xue Wu is so handsome that even though his face is pale and his eyes are swollen, he can still be the focus of the whole audience.

The note with the love poem on it was now torn into two pieces, one half lying on the lawn, and the other half was held between Ling Shumo's two fingers.

Ling Shumo took the note and showed it to Song Shiying, "Miss Song, you should recognize this thing, right?"

Song Shiying looked at it carefully, and her expression changed immediately. She couldn't understand why this thing was in Ling Shumo's hand.

She and Xue Wu once had a mutual affection for each other, but the etiquette here was very strict, and they never had any substantial relationship.

Even if that little thing was found out, it would be just hearsay at most, and no one could accuse her to her face.

But Xue Wu actually left a note, such a huge evidence, this is simply... simply too stupid.

Ling Shumo pointed in Xue Wu's direction, "He has already admitted to every detail of your little affair. Miss Song, do you have anything to say in your defense?"

Song Shiying wanted to deny it outright, but that was obviously impossible.

Ling Shumo was too lazy to listen to her nonsense and directly stated her ultimate goal, "Song Shiying, if you really like Xue Wu, I can help you. As long as you are willing to write a letter of severance with your parents and then cut off your legs, I will arrange for someone to send you and Xue Wu to Blackwater City."

Song Shiying's calves felt a little weak.

It is impossible for a disabled person to become an official. Ling Shumo's first condition is equivalent to completely ruining her life.

Blackwater City is the town on the northernmost edge of the Red Sand Empire. There are small-scale frictions and bandit riots there all year round. If she falls into that situation, her life will be so difficult that it will be a question whether she can survive.

Ling Shumo smiled faintly, "Of course, I'm kindhearted and don't want to push you to death. You still have a second choice."

Song Shiying was just about to say that she wanted to choose the second option when she saw Ling Shumo pointing in Xue Wu's direction, "You can go and kill him, just as a way to sever your past ties. Don't worry, after he's dead, I won't hold you responsible. You can marry the son of the Minister of Personnel and live a normal life."

Song Shiying went to see Xue Wu.

A look of hope appeared in Xue Wu's eyes.

Song Shiying's words shattered all his fantasies. "Xue Wu is your Highness's servant. He has made such an unforgivable mistake. Your Highness is right to deal with him in any way you want. If your Highness allows me to help you deal with him and solve your problems, I will do my best to help you."

Ling Shumo chuckled and looked at Xue Wu, only to see that he was holding his chest and gasping for breath. At the end, he actually vomited blood.

"Song Shiying, you're so cruel..." Xue Wu raised his hand to wipe the blood from his lips, but spat out another mouthful of blood. "Even if you struggled for a moment, even if you hesitated for half a cup of tea, even if you begged for mercy in front of Her Royal Highness on my behalf, I wouldn't think you're a complete scumbag..."

Xue Wu looked straight at Song Shiying and said, "I sacrificed my life for someone like you. It's all because of my own blindness."