Chapter 42 [42]

【42】/First release

In the quiet golden palace, the finest sandalwood incense curled up. Behind the screen with a phoenix flying through peonies, Lu Zhiwan looked at Xiao Lanchun biting her lips and trying hard to hold back tears, and couldn't help but feel pity for her.

Is there anything more embarrassing than being rejected by your loved one?

have.

I was rejected in front of a bunch of relatives I wasn't very familiar with.

Lu Zhiwan knew the little girl had a strong sense of pride. If he comforted her too much at this moment, it would only make her feel worse. So he lowered his gaze and said softly, "My princess, why don't you come to my palace and sit for a while? Xiao Fugui should be awake by now and not have slept in."

Xiao Lanchun's shoulders were tense, and after a long while, she raised her red eyes and looked at Lu Zhiwan: "Am I that bad?"

Lu Zhiwan was stunned for a moment, then realized, "How can the princess be so self-deprecating about this? You're really good."

"If I'm such a good person, why wouldn't he agree to the marriage?" Xiao Lanchun choked up, tears glistening on her long eyelashes, trembling like her shaky pride. "This is a marriage granted by His Majesty, and he'd rather disobey His Majesty than marry me. I thought he had...at least some affection for me."

Lu Zhiwan hated to see girls cry, and couldn't help but reflect on whether he was right or wrong to interfere in the relationship between Xiao Lanchun and Gu Rongyu.

Perhaps if she hadn't intervened, Xiao Lanchun wouldn't have been so sad.

But if I don't intervene and let Gu Rongyu and Xiao Ningning get to know each other, the consequences will be even worse.

But why didn't Gu Rongyu agree? According to Xiao Lanchun's feedback the previous two times, he should have a good impression of her.

Is he destined to be like in the original novel, with a single arrow pointing only at Xiao Ningning?

If that's the case...

Lu Zhiwan's eyelids twitched twice, and a vague sense of unease lingered in his heart, and he once again doubted whether he could change the plot.

This self-doubt turned into intense anxiety shortly after Xiao Lanchun left the palace when news came from outside the palace that Zhao Wenshao was imprisoned.

Zhao Wenshao was imprisoned according to the original plot. Will Gu Rongyu save him next?

If Gu Rongyu could agree to help save people even though he had no connection with Xiao Ningning, Lu Zhiwan felt that she and Xiao Jingting could completely give up struggling and start fighting directly.

On the first day Zhao Wenshao was imprisoned, Lu Zhiwan was anxious.

The second day after Zhao Wenshao was imprisoned, Lu Zhiwan was still anxious.

On the fifth day of Zhao Wenshao's imprisonment, Xiao Ningning brought gifts and begged Lu Zhiwan.

"Empress Zhao, His Majesty dotes on you the most. If you can speak well of Young Master Zhao in front of him, His Majesty will surely show mercy and release him from prison."

It was the first time Xiao Ningning whispered to someone for help. She was nervous and embarrassed, her eyes full of sincerity. "I'm new to the capital and unfamiliar with the place. The only person I can think of who can help me is you, Your Majesty."

Lu Zhiwan never thought that he would replace Gu Rongyu's role and become the tool that Xiao Ningning begged for help.

After calming down a bit, she didn't immediately agree or refuse. She just looked at the pitiful beauty in front of her and asked: "What kind of relationship does the princess have with Zhao Wenshao that she is willing to come to the palace to beg me for him?"

This seemingly casual but actually sharp question made Xiao Ningning's pretty face turn pale and red, and then red and pale.

After a moment's silence, she bit her lip and said, "Young Master Zhao once helped Ningning in Jinling, and Ningning is grateful for his kindness..."

Lu Zhiwan asked, "How did he help you in Jinling?"

Xiao Ningning: "When I first arrived in Jinling, I encountered some hooligans who spoke rudely to me and tried to tease me. It was Master Zhao who stepped forward and chased them away."

Lu Zhiwan: “…”

When she first read this passage in the original text, she wanted to complain. Xiao Ningning, a princess, was being harassed by thugs, and she had to wait for the male protagonist, a commoner, to come to her rescue. If it were her, she would have taken the thugs to the government office and beaten them so hard that their butts were covered in blood and screams. Let's see if they dared to get horny in the street again.

Of course, different people have different personalities. As the main female protagonist in the novel with a male protagonist, Xiao Ningning is destined to be dignified, gentle, generous and kind, waiting for the male protagonist to love and save her.

"It's a good thing that the princess knows how to repay a favor, but Zhao Wenshao's crime this time is no small matter." Lu Zhiwan deliberately said, "Right now, everyone in the capital is saying that his sister died unjustly in the palace, and he passed the imperial examination but was expelled. He keeps crying out injustice and injustice, and when the people hear this, they rush to sympathize with him, and all the blame falls on the officials, His Majesty, and even me."

At this point, she cast a special glance at Xiao Ningning: "The princess must have heard the rumors outside the palace."

Xiao Ningning was speechless.

Indeed, I have heard of it.

It is an indisputable fact that Concubine Zhao was the exclusive favorite. The people did not know the inside story, so they thought that Concubine Zhao was jealous and domineering, and persecuted other concubines, including Zhao Wenshao's sister, a beauty who died at a young age.

"Princess, it's not that I don't want to help you, but Zhao Wenshao has been causing trouble and openly defying the law. He deserves to be imprisoned now."

Lu Zhiwan looked at her seriously: "Do you think what he did was right?"

"No...no." Xiao Ningning waved her hands hurriedly, feeling extremely terrified: "I tried to persuade him before, but he didn't listen..."

Thinking of Zhao Wenshao's stubbornness and the words he kept saying when she tried to persuade him, such as "you don't understand", "you don't comprehend", "you don't understand a man's lofty ambitions", Xiao Ningning felt sad and helpless.

"Your Majesty, he's not a bad person, he's just too rigid and doesn't know how to adapt..." Xiao Ningning was still trying to speak well of Zhao Wenshao, her beautiful eyes filled with worry and tears, making her look even more fragile and graceful.

Seeing this, Lu Zhiwan sighed in his heart. No wonder Gu Rongyu agreed to save his love rival. Who could resist crying in front of such a beauty?

I don’t know if this is the effect when I pretend to be pitiful in front of Xiao Jingting.

"Empress Zhao?"

Xiao Ningning called out softly twice, bringing Lu Zhiwan's thoughts back to normal.

When she regained her composure, she saw Xiao Ningning stand up and bow to her solemnly and gracefully.

Lu Zhiwan hurried to help: "No, no, I can't accept this gift from the princess."

"Empress Zhao, I really have no other choice..."

Xiao Ningning refused to get up. She only raised her beautiful eyes, which were filled with tears, and sobbed softly, "Yesterday I went to the Ministry of Justice's prison to visit Zhao Lang. He was covered in wounds and had a high fever. If he had stayed there any longer, his life would be in danger. If he died, I... I..."

A pearl-like tear slid down her fair cheek. Xiao Ningning bit her lip and said, "To be honest, Madam, he is the man Ningning admires. In Ningning's heart, she has already regarded him as her future husband and will not marry anyone else but him."

Lu Zhiwan: “…”

I really want to hold her head down, shake it and yell, "Wake up!"

With your looks and background, you can have any man you want, so why do you choose Zhao Wenshao?

Taking two deep breaths, she suppressed her love-fueled blood pressure. "You've come to me for help, and I naturally want to help you. But a country has its laws, and a family has its rules. Zhao Wenshao's actions have caused such a big stir. If he's not punished, everyone will follow his example, running to the government office to bang drums and complain, shouting their grievances. What will happen then? The princess is a sensible person, and she'll understand this."

Xiao Ningning's face turned pale and she nodded: "I understand."

Lu Zhiwan felt a little relieved. After following Xiao Jingting for more than half a year, she had learned some skills in controlling subordinates. She knew how to give a slap and then a date. Her tone softened, "Don't be too sad, Princess. I will help you talk to His Majesty tonight and try to spare his life."

As expected, Xiao Ningning, who was about to cry just now, raised her eyes happily after hearing this: "Really?"

Lu Zhiwan said: "I'll try my best."

Xiao Ningning was particularly certain: "His Majesty loves you and will definitely listen to you."

Lu Zhiwan remained silent, thinking to himself, according to the original novel, Zhao Wenshao was originally sentenced to exile in Yan. He could exploit the information gap and do the heroine a favor. If he couldn't stop the rebels from forcing him to abdicate in a few years, at least he could still find a glimmer of hope with the heroine.

**

That night, after dinner in the Yangxin Palace, Lu Zhiwan told Xiao Ningning about coming to plead for mercy.

After hearing this, Xiao Jingting was not surprised at all, and just said calmly: "What do you think?"

Lu Zhiwan was startled when she heard this. After thinking for a moment, she spoke weakly, "I believe that although Zhao Wenshao is guilty, his crime does not deserve the death penalty. Why not pardon his death penalty and exile him instead?"

As she said this, she was carefully paying attention to Xiao Jingting's expression.

Under the warm, dim candlelight, his face remained calm, as if he had anticipated her words. He squinted at her and asked, "Where do you want to exile him?"

"What do you mean I think? You are the emperor, shouldn't it be you who decides?"

Lu Zhiwan said obediently, "It's all up to your Majesty to decide. I dare not make any irresponsible comments."

Xiao Jingting: "I want to hear your opinion."

Lu Zhiwan: “…”

Why does this sound a bit ambiguous?

Well, it must be the atmosphere created by the candlelight.

She shook off the inappropriate thoughts in her mind, lowered her head and pretended to think seriously. After a while, she said softly, "Your Majesty, what do you think of Yanzhou under the jurisdiction of the King of Liaodong?"

"Yanzhou..."

Xiao Jingting opened his thin lips and slowly recited it, then nodded: "Then as you said, the death penalty will be spared and he will be exiled to Yanzhou."

Lu Zhiwan was stunned by the straightforward agreement.

"Is it so hasty? You didn't even ask why we were exiled to Yanzhou, or even consider it, or discuss it with the ministers?"

"This feeling of being blindly obedient really reminds me of a treacherous concubine and a brainless, incompetent emperor..."

Seeing Lu Zhiwan standing there in silence, Xiao Jingting asked knowingly, "What's wrong?"

Lu Zhiwan came back to his senses and shook his head: "Nothing... nothing."

"Forget it. It doesn't matter whether he asks or not. As long as Zhao Wenshao is exiled to Yanzhou, it's fine."

Lu Zhiwan thought that Yanzhou and Yuzhang were located in the north and south, respectively, with high mountains and long rivers, thousands of miles apart.

Without Gu Rongyu's help, if the original male protagonist was exiled to Yanzhou, Xiao Lanchun would have sent people to keep him under strict supervision and not allowed him to set foot out of Yanzhou for the rest of his life. There would have been no incident of him inciting Prince Yuzhang to rebel.

But despite all the calculations, he never expected that on the fifth day after the order of exile was issued, the Ministry of Justice reported—

Last night, there was a sudden fire in the east side of the prison. The jailers were busy putting out the fire. In the chaos, Zhao Wenshao was rescued.

After searching, they discovered that the cell where Zhao Wenshao was staying had a tunnel leading directly to the outer moat. Taking advantage of the misfire and the low alert, a group of thieves, along with Zhao Wenshao, escaped from the prison.

When Gu Rongyu reported the news, it was evening and Lu Zhiwan was playing chess with Xiao Jingting.

After hearing the report, everyone was stunned. The chess piece in their hands fell unconsciously, and when they struck it, it made a sudden crisp sound.

"The Ministry of Justice is on fire? A prison break through a tunnel? Are these even possible?"

The male protagonist’s halo is too strong!

She rolled her eyes inwardly. If the original plot's gravity were a person, she would definitely overturn the entire chessboard and smash it into his face.

"If you can even escape from the Ministry of Justice, what's the point of playing this? I'm tired, let's destroy it."

Compared to her being so shocked that she gave up, Xiao Jingting was extremely calm. He picked up the chess pieces on the board one by one with his long fingers and asked Gu Rongyu for more details slowly.

As the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Gu Rongyu was naturally terrified by such a huge loophole in his post.

He bent over the whole time, with a serious expression, and reported the information he had at hand truthfully.

"...The group that met Zhao Wenshao included both men and women, whose identities remain unknown. Judging from the direction they fled, they appeared to be heading south."

South.

Lu Zhiwan's eyebrows jumped. Yuzhang was just to the south.

Could it be that the group of rescuers were arranged by Xiao Ningning?

No, if Xiao Ningning had this ability, why would she come to me for help?

But at present, the person with the most noble status that Zhao Wenshao can come into contact with is Xiao Ningning.

While thinking, his eyes could not help but fall on Gu Rongyu who was wearing a red official robe.

"Could it be him?"