Chapter 123 I'm Just Waiting for You

After Huo Zheng finished speaking, he took Chunzhi's hand and walked out of Qiwu Palace.

The eunuchs and palace servants did not dare to stop them and could only watch them leave.

"Huo Zheng!" Queen Wang was so angry that she could only call Huo Zheng by his full name.

In the past, Qilang was filial and respectful to her and never disobeyed her.

He has changed since he met Haruji.

Queen Wang increasingly felt that it was all Chunzhi's fault and that she was the one who influenced Huo Zheng.

She raised a son who was outstanding in every aspect for more than 20 years, but now he was all influenced by Chunzhi!

Queen Wang was so angry that she had a headache and fell off her chair.

"Empress." The female official beside her hurried forward to check, and then immediately ordered the palace servants, "Call the imperial physician—"

On the other side, on the way out of the palace.

Huo Zheng walked along the long palace path, holding Chunzhi's hand. "What did the Queen Mother say to you?"

Chunzhi said, "The Queen gave me two choices."

She told Huo Zheng the truth about the two choices Queen Wang gave her: either leave Huo Zheng, stay away from the capital, change her name and become an ordinary citizen; or restore her identity as Mu Zhilan, the daughter of a guilty minister, and not only would her marriage be annulled, but she would also be exiled thousands of miles away.

Huo Zheng asked her in a low voice: "Then how did you choose?"

"I don't choose either one." Chunzhi held Huo Zheng's hand and looked at him with starry eyes. "I'm just waiting for you to come."

When Huo Zheng heard this, he suddenly felt his entire chest swell.

Haruji trusted him far more than he imagined.

"Chunzhi." Huo Zheng called her softly, "You must always, always trust me like this."

Harue nodded, "Yeah."

The two of them walked out of the palace together, and the carriage of the Chang'an Prince's Palace was parked outside the palace gate.

Huo Zheng helped Chunzhi onto the carriage and sat with her in the compartment. He then told the driver outside, "Go to the Song residence."

"Yes." The driver responded, raised his whip, and drove to the Song residence.

Chunzhi suddenly realized that she was the daughter of a guilty minister. Queen Wang wanted to kidnap her again and didn't know where she was going to take her. It would be a lie to say that she was not panicked at all.

As the carriage passed through the bustling streets, the previous feeling of oppression in the deep palace was suddenly alleviated.

Chunzhi leaned on Huo Zheng's shoulder and whispered, "The man in the portrait really seems to be my father... I felt a very familiar feeling when I saw the portrait."

Huo Zheng listened to her quietly.

"Huo Zheng," Chunzhi called him softly, "If what the Empress said is true, and I am truly the daughter of a traitor, then our marriage must be annulled."

Huo Zheng touched Chunzhi's face and whispered soothingly, "Don't worry too much. I will try to resolve this matter."

"How do you solve this?" Chunzhi asked, "Erase the birthmark on my body and deny to the death that I am Mu Qingshan's daughter, or..."

Huo Zheng knew that if he told Chunzhi not to think too much at this time, it would be difficult for her to rest in peace.

So Huo Zheng told Chunzhi his plan truthfully.

He said, "Mu Qingshan was the third place winner of the imperial examination in the third year of Cheng'an. He was renowned for his talent and integrity. He was once the youngest Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue in this dynasty. His future should have been limitless. However, eleven years ago, he angered the emperor and was exiled after his property was confiscated."

Huo Zheng said, "I was still young at the time and not allowed to participate in politics. I don't know why Mu Qingshan offended the emperor. Recently, I have been discussing with several ministers how to replenish the national treasury. Someone mentioned Mu Qingshan. He said that if Mu Qingshan were still in the court, the national treasury would never be so empty. So I wanted to look up Mu Qingshan's previous political views and the policies he advocated..."

Chunzhi listened attentively. Huo Zheng said, "It's just that I've been busy lately and haven't had time to look through the case files. If Mu Qingshan is really your father, I'll go to the case file library today and find all the records about him. I'll check them out and then think of a solution."

Haruji sat up straight, "I'll go with you."

The case files in the archives were piled high, and it would be difficult to find records from eleven years ago. Huo Zheng didn't want to burden Chunzhi, so he said to her, "What if Xiaoxing cries when she wakes up and doesn't see you?"

Chunzhi said, "With the wet nurse here, she will be able to coax Xiaoxing back."

Xiaoxing is very easy to coax. He just eats and sleeps every day and doesn’t make any noise.

Huo Zheng said, "If you don't return to the Song residence for a long time, the Song brothers and sisters will also be worried."

Chunzhi said, "As the daughter of a criminal, I'm afraid that I might bring trouble to my brother and Wan'er."

The Song brothers and sisters really treated her as one of their own, and the marriage granted by the emperor was between Song Chunzhi, a girl from the Song family, and Prince Chang'an.

If she is Mu Qingshan's daughter, then the Song family is also suspected of deceiving the emperor.

This is a big trouble.

Huo Zheng thought for a moment and said, "No matter what, you have to go back and tell them first."

Chunzhi said, "Then you should accompany me back to the Song residence first and explain this to my brother and Wan'er. Then we can go to the case file library together."

Huo Zheng looked at Chunzhi for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

The carriage passed through one street after another and soon arrived in front of the Song residence.

Chunzhi and Huo Zheng got off the carriage and walked inside.

After a while, Song Anlan, Song Wan'er, Qingye and others came out to greet them.

"Sister!" Song Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief when she saw her. "I'm glad you're back. I was scared to death when someone from the palace suddenly came and took you away."

Song Anlan said gently, "I hope Chunzhi comes back safely."

Chunzhi said, "Brother, Wan'er, I have something to tell you."

Seeing Chunzhi's serious expression, Song Anlan said immediately, "Then let's go into the hall and talk."

Song Wan'er walked beside Chunzhi and asked in a low voice, "Sister, what did the Queen say to you?"

"Let's talk later." Chunzhi and Huo Zheng entered the hall together.

After Song Anlan brought Song Wan'er in, he ordered the maids and attendants to stay outside the door and had someone close it.

The four of them sat down, and Song Anlan asked, "What does Chunzhi want to tell us?"

Chunzhi's expression was a little tense. She said softly, "Today, the Queen summoned me to the palace and produced evidence that I am the daughter of the treacherous minister Mu Qingshan. She said that if my identity is exposed, I will be exiled a thousand miles away, and my marriage to Huo Zheng will be annulled."

"Ah?" Song Wan'er was extremely surprised. "How could this be?"

Chunzhi said, "I came to the capital under the identity of a young lady from the Song family. If I were to be exposed as the daughter of a traitor, I'm afraid it would implicate my brother and Wan'er..."

Song Wan'er said in great distress: "This...what should I do, brother?"

Song Anlan pondered for a moment before speaking, "Chunzhi has been living abroad for many years. Who would reveal that you are the daughter of a traitor? Even if someone did, Wan'er and I would firmly maintain our complete ignorance. Ignorance is not a crime, and the Emperor has been actively prioritizing business talent lately... Chunzhi, don't worry about us. You are the most important thing right now."

Song Wan'er nodded and said, "Yes, sister is the most important."

"I'm glad you're not afraid." Huo Zheng saw the Song brothers' reaction clearly and said sternly, "Chunzhi is my wife. I will definitely protect her."