028

East Palace.

When Xu Guanlin came back from handling state affairs, he was not surprised to hear the news from Anzi.

He waited in the study for half a minute, and finally there was a knock on the door.

"Come in."

The visitor was wearing a light-colored brocade robe with dark patterns. He bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

After he finished speaking, he raised his head and saw the burning note in Xu Guanlin's hand, and a hint of surprise flashed across his peach blossom eyes.

"I've never heard that Shen Qing also made mistakes."

Shen Changqi understood what he meant, and his expression did not change at all, "Your Highness, did you not mean to kill him?"

Shen Changqi is the prince's aide and has followed him for many years. It is no exaggeration to say that he knows him best.

The prince sent him to kill Zhao Wuan. Perhaps others would really think that the prince wanted to kill him, but Shen Changqi knew very well that the prince did not want to kill him. What happened last night was just to intimidate Zhao Wuan.

Xu Guanlin smiled suddenly, the firelight flickered in his eyes, blurring those different emotions.

"The one who understands me is Shen Qing."

Shen Changqi also smiled and told him another thing: "There is another thing. Before I went to kill Zhao Wuan, there was another group of people who wanted to kill him. From what they said, the trader was a woman."

Xu Guanlin didn't care about this little episode, as long as the result was what he wanted.

He looked at Shen Changqi meaningfully and said, "No problem. Keep an eye on Zhao Wuan from now on, and don't let anyone do it again."

Shen Changqi was surprised: "Your Highness is planning to help him?"

"After this incident, Zhao Wuan will no longer be content with being a small editor in the Imperial Academy. I want his talent. If he doesn't climb up, how can I use him? Let him go slowly. The person I like will not be snatched away by others."

Shen Changqi suddenly realized and admired him for being absolutely sure that Zhao Wuan would eventually submit to him, but it was this confidence that made him loyal.

*

The side concubine palace.

The familiar sound of ping-ping palms rang out in the hall again.

The palace maid waiting outside lowered her head when she heard the sound and whispered to her companions.

"Is the concubine angry again?"

"I guess so. Every time the concubine gets angry, the porcelain in the palace will suffer."

"Alas, only Your Highness believes that she fell accidentally."

The palace maids and eunuchs serving in the palace knew everything that happened in the Concubine's Palace. It was not their turn to worry about what happened between their masters. It was more important for them to worry about their own lives.

Ningxue dodged the sharp porcelain pieces on the ground and went behind Yang Chaoxue to massage her shoulders.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. Your health is more important."

Yang Chaoxue held her hand, her eyes reddened: "Ningxue, I promised Brother Nanheng that I would help him solve the problem, but..."

Ning Xue sighed imperceptibly: "I'm sure His Majesty the Seventh Prince knows your Majesty's true feelings."

"No! He doesn't know!" Yang Chaoxue suddenly screamed, "If he knew, he wouldn't have those thoughts about Song Jin! He clearly said that he would only love me! Ahhhhh!"

Ningxue looked at the crazy woman in front of her, silently withdrew her hand, and winked at a dark shadow by the window frame.

The palace maids who were on duty outside the palace both fainted.

Ningxue no longer hesitated and raised her hand to knock her unconscious.

Dark shadows hid in the treetops, and a rustling sound was heard.

She looked down at Yang Chaoxue in her arms, "I understand."

As soon as she finished speaking, the black shadow left silently. She raised her eyes and stared at the place where the black shadow had just been. There was a tranquility like a rainstorm in her eyes.

In the quiet palace, her voice was as soft as a ghost.

"Don't worry, my lady. Ningxue will help you get what you want."

*

Tailing's shipbuilding mission went smoothly to the end.

Zhao Wuan dragged his half-recovered body to finish the last bit, and was then ordered by him to return home to recuperate.

Song Jin was waiting outside Yu's study to see the emperor.

With Qin Wan stepping in to help with the cooperation between Zhaiyue Tower and Huangshang, she was not worried.

Standing there was boring too. Thinking back to the time since her rebirth, every step she took was to break off the engagement and protect the Song family from suffering the tragedy of her previous life.

I will meet the emperor today. If nothing unexpected happens, I should be able to cancel the marriage. It’s just the rebels’ business...

[I don't know when Yang Chaoxue colluded with the rebels. How can I investigate this? ]

[Rebels? There seems to be only one incident related to this in the history of the Yu Dynasty...]

"Miss Song."

Feng Hai saluted her and reminded her, "His Majesty is calling you in."

Finally, he glanced at her obliquely and whispered something.

"The Seventh Prince entered Yu's study a quarter of an hour ago."

Xu Nanheng was also there, apparently to discuss the cancellation of the engagement.

However, Song Jin made up his mind to cancel the engagement.

"Thank you for the reminder, father-in-law."

She walked into Yu's study, faced the emperor's scrutinizing gaze with composure, and spoke and acted with moderation.

Although she was a merchant girl, her manners were no less than those of the princesses of Sheng'an.

The emperor's attitude towards her changed slightly and exempted her from the ceremony.

Song Jin thanked him, raised his head and saw the two people in the hall, his eyes flickered slightly.

[Is Lord Hou here too? ]

Cui Huaiji was thinking about the rebels she had just mentioned.

The emperor looked at the three people below and said without beating around the bush: "Ms. Song, you have made an invaluable contribution to the wheel-building this time. I didn't know Zhao Wuan had such a talent. I have also sent someone to announce his reward. As for yours, I want to ask, what does Miss Song want?"

Half a month ago, the emperor announced to the outside world that those who have made contributions would have one of their requests granted.

Whatever you want, you will be satisfied.

All Song Jin wants is the safety of the Song family.

She lifted her skirt and knelt down, saying in a firm voice: "I have no other request, except that Your Majesty cancel my marriage with the Seventh Prince."

The emperor did not ask the reason, perhaps he already knew the connection.

All he asked was, "Are you sure?"

I am determined to give up this world-shattering glory and wealth.

Xu Nanheng was anxious, "Father, I don't agree!"

Song Jin pretended not to hear anything, and confirmed her answer word by word: "I have made up my mind!"

Xu Nanheng lost his voice: "Father——"

The emperor raised his hand without even glancing at him: "Since I have promised the world, I will never break my promise. Seventh brother, instead of begging me not to cancel the engagement, why don't you reflect on yourself? Miss Song..."

His words stopped abruptly, and a ripple appeared in his calm eyes.

Xu Nanheng caught a glimpse of the imperial concubine bracelet on her wrist, and without saying a word, he grabbed Song Jin's wrist and exposed the imperial concubine bracelet intact.

He was secretly delighted.

"Father, I have already brought Jinjin to see mother, and mother has also recognized Jinjin. Father, are you really going to be so cruel?"

Song Jin stared blankly at the emerald green imperial concubine bracelet on her wrist.

[This bracelet was worn by Concubine Liang. I didn't expect that I couldn't take it off. What a mistake!]

Cui Huaiji opened his eyelids lazily. Although the emerald green made her face look as white as snow, the current situation was very unpleasant to his eyes.

There was a cold murderous intent in the corners of his eyes, and the scarlet teardrop mole could not hide the disgust he revealed.

The emperor seemed to be lost in memories of the past.

Cui Huaiji reached out to free the wrist, ignored his angry gaze, and forced his way between the two of them.

He glanced at the red mark on her wrist, and the murderous intent that was surging in his heart almost burst out.

Xu Nanheng shuddered subconsciously at his cold gaze.

"It's just a bracelet for a noble concubine. I think Your Majesty should ask Concubine Liang what she thinks."

The emperor came back to his senses, his eyes seemed to be full of love and pity: "I will make a decision on the cancellation of the engagement after I see Concubine Liang. Miss Song, I will give you an extra reward and make you the governor of Junning County."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Xu Nanheng was shocked. He stared at her through Cui Huaiji, still unable to believe that she was named county lord.

Unless one has made contributions to the dynasty, it is impossible for a merchant to become a county lord.

He vaguely felt that the distance between him and Song Jin was getting farther and farther, and panic spread throughout his heart.

*

The emperor stood in front of the Taichang Palace, looking up at the three words, a ray of light reflected into his eyes. He blinked, suddenly came to his senses, and pushed open the door with an indescribable heavy heart.

The sound of the wooden fish echoed throughout the cold palace.

Liangpin knelt in front of the Guanyin statue, her eyes still closed, "Who is it?"

The emperor said nothing, staring at her profile quietly, and actually felt a little dazed.

The beauty fades and the lover becomes a stranger.

Liangpin frowned and opened her eyes unhappily, thinking that the new palace maid did not understand her rules. She was about to reprimand her when she suddenly saw the emperor and was stunned for a moment.

She had not seen the emperor for many years, and the emperor's appearance was no longer as young as she remembered. She vaguely realized that so many years had passed between her and the emperor.

She was the first to come to her senses.

She stood up slowly and treated him respectfully, without any of her usual tenderness.

"I have seen your majesty."

The emperor looked at her silently, raising and lowering his hand at his side: "Get up."

They looked at each other in silence.

Even if the past feelings are revived, the damage is still there and it can never be erased.

"Why did your majesty come to Taichang Palace?"

The emperor was silent for a moment: "Has the seventh brother brought his fiancée to see you?"

Liangpin immediately understood his purpose of coming here.

"I have seen her." She smiled slightly, "She is a nice girl, but it's a pity that I have no chance to meet her."

The emperor understood.

The atmosphere became silent again, with a faint sense of depression.

Liangpin was really not suited to getting along with him.

After more than ten years of estrangement, she can no longer face the current emperor with the same state of mind as before.

Facial aging is a normal state, and it is a hurdle that they cannot get over in their hearts.

She lowered her eyes and said, "Your Majesty, it's time for you to go back."

This is very rude.

The emperor could have punished her, but considering their past friendship and the seventh prince's need to be divorced from his mother, he couldn't bring himself to do so.

"Forget it. Take care of yourself from now on."

Concubine Liang watched him walk out of the Taichang Palace, looked at the door slowly closing, and turned away indifferently.

This should be the last time they meet in this life.

*

When Xu Nanheng saw the emperor's gloomy face, he knew that there was no turning back on the cancellation of the engagement.

He couldn't understand why his mother agreed to cancel the engagement when she obviously liked Song Jin?

The imperial edict to cancel the engagement came down the next day.

Song Jin accepted the imperial edict, ignored Xu Nanheng's painful look, and ordered Qing Wu to go back and pack his bags.

"Ma'am, where are we going?"

They have no one to rely on in Qingzhou, where else can they go to live?

Song Jin doesn't know either.

Her relationship with Zhaiyue Tower cannot be made public yet.

"Let's leave first."

It's just an inn, it can't be that bad.

The eunuch in the palace was eager for her to break off the engagement with the Seventh Prince, and he couldn't wait to order people to close the door.

Qing Wu stamped her feet in anger: "My wife, they are just bullies who take advantage of others' power!"

Song Jin was happy in his heart and comforted her with a smile: "Okay, let's think about where we live."

The low-key and luxurious pure white carriage slowly stopped.

Song Jin didn't recognize the driver until the curtain was lifted by a slender finger.

"Miss Song, are you still willing to live with me?"

[Little fox slave, I am here to take you home.]