Chapter 205 Unacceptable
"Outside the city gate, someone claiming to be Ding Yan, a cabinet official, has now entered the city."
"Now one group of people is heading this way, and another group is heading towards the dyehouse!"
The guard lowered his voice and said.
"Something happened at the dye shop?"
Zhuang Shuyang was startled.
Doesn't this mean that disaster relief funds and grain have been discovered?
"We haven't received any news from the dye house yet, so we've already sent people there to hide the items in the secret passage and block it up!"
They were already prepared to move the items and seal off the secret passage immediately should anything happen.
The fuel was placed in a dark room, pretending it was just a place to store precious fuel.
"Alright, make the arrangements immediately. Also, have all the secret guards withdraw from the Zhuang residence!"
Zhuang Shuyang said in a low voice.
"Yes! Please be prepared, sir. Ding Yan is no ordinary person!"
The guard gave further instructions.
"Understood. I'm not new to this position; I know how to handle this."
Zhuang Shuyang felt that something was wrong; why did things not go smoothly today?
"Then I'll take my leave!"
"Go? Where are you going?"
A child's innocent voice rang out, and the guard drew his sword with a swift motion, watching the shadows warily.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!"
"Here it comes, here it comes, your baby is here!"
Yun Zhao, with his short legs, ran out.
"Whose child are you...?"
The guard turned around suspiciously to look behind him, and Zhuang Shuyang was also dumbfounded.
His two children were attending private schools in Xuyangzhou, and there were no children that young in his family.
Besides, how did such a small child get in?
"Don't be so hasty. My father sent me to ask Zhuang Shuyang, where has your conscience gone?"
Yun Zhao crossed her arms and looked at him with a smile.
Who is your father?
Zhuang Shuyang had a bad feeling.
"My father? He's practically your fellow disciple, isn't he? My father is His Highness the Prince of Jin!"
Zhuang Shuyang's expression changed drastically.
"Oh no! Quick, kill her!"
He pulled the guards in front of him and pushed the man away.
Taking advantage of the opportunity, he turned around, ran into the room, and slammed the door shut.
"Husband? What happened? What Prince Jin?"
Madam Zhuang stepped forward, wearing an outer robe, her face full of surprise.
"Quickly, Madam, let's get out through the secret passage!"
Zhuang Shuyang walked to the bedside and lifted the blankets.
"What secret passage?"
No sooner had he spoken than Zhuang Shuyang actually opened a hole under the bed!
Having lived in this house for so long, Madam Zhuang had no idea that there was a secret passage entrance hidden under the bed!
"What...what is this?"
Mrs. Zhuang looked at her husband with a face full of fear, and he seemed somewhat unfamiliar to her.
"Madam! I'll explain this to you later. Hurry up and leave, or it will be too late!"
Zhuang Shuyang was really anxious, so he had no choice but to step forward and pull Madam Zhuang over.
"Hurry, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, a tiger's roar pierced the darkness.
"Don't leave, Lord Zhuang. Don't you miss my father after not seeing him for so long?"
Yun Zhao rode on the tiger's back and leaped into the room, bursting through the door.
"Ah! It's a tiger!"
Mrs. Zhuang was terrified and fell to the ground, staring at her in horror.
Zhuang Shuyang stood trembling in front of his wife, "Quick, into the secret passage!"
Even at this point, he had no intention of abandoning his wife.
"You're such a good husband!"
Yun Zhao nodded in agreement.
"However, once you become a corrupt official, don't even think about running away. Heaven is watching what you do, and it won't let you get away with it."
"What nonsense are you talking about? My husband is a famously honest official!"
Even though Madam Zhuang was terrified, she immediately refuted anyone who slandered her husband.
Upon hearing his wife's words, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Zhuang Shuyang's face.
Yun Zhao tilted his head.
What is embarrassing for him?
"Your wife doesn't know these things? You're really good at keeping secrets."
The entire mansion was filled with secret guards, and there were hidden passages underneath; how could she be completely unaware of this?
To be honest, Yun Zhao didn't believe it.
But Madam Zhuang's expression did not seem to be feigning.
"ah!"
Screams came from outside the door, and the sounds of swords clashing grew louder and louder.
Yun Zhao then got off the tiger's back.
"Huahua, go out and help. Xiaoqing is here."
The tiger nuzzled her with its head, then pounced!
"roar!"
"Ah! What is that?!"
"Help me!"
The sound of a tiger tearing and biting echoed from the courtyard, sending chills down one's spine!
The child in front of them, however, was carrying a tiger cub and leisurely walking towards the two of them.
"You...I'll go with you. This has nothing to do with my wife and children. Please don't hurt them!"
Zhuang Shuyang is truly good to his family, and even now, he is trying to find ways to protect them.
"I can't make that decision, I'm just a child~"
Yun Zhao walked past him, went to the bedside, and peeked out.
"Does this secret passage lead to the well?"
She turned around and saw Zhuang Shuyang staring at her in shock.
"How...how did you know..."
"If you don't want others to know, then don't do it in the first place. If you do it, someone will always find out!"
Yun Zhao sat on the edge of the bed, scratching the little tiger's head with his hand, his eyes fixed on Zhuang Shuyang.
Zhuang Shuyang felt increasingly embarrassed as she stared at him, and he subconsciously looked away.
Her eyes looked so much like her father's.
It was as if I could see right through him, into the dark thoughts and unbearable inferiority complex hidden in his heart...
As the area outside the courtyard gradually quieted down, a figure darted inside.
"Zhaozhao, are you alright?"
"Don't worry, Brother Jingchen, Lord Zhuang didn't hurt me~"
Yun Zhao sat on the edge of the bed, swinging her little feet, her eyes crinkling with laughter.
Wei Jingchen was startled when he saw the lifted bed board.
"What is this? Another secret passage?"
"Hmm~ It seems to lead to another place~"
Yun Zhao just sat here, trying to explore.
Unexpectedly, this secret passage led to this room, continuing westward for about a hundred feet.
There were many chests hidden there, filled with gold and silver jewelry.
Zhuang Shuyang is quite something; he hasn't been in office long, yet he's already embezzled so much!
While others hid at home, he was bold enough to hide outside.
Aren't you afraid of being robbed?
Whether others stole it or not, she was determined to take it.
Zhuang Shuyang knew he had been caught red-handed and no one could save him.
The only thing he could do was try to extricate his wife and children.
"Let's go, your father is here."
Wei Jingchen walked over and picked her up from the bedside.
"My father is here?"
Yun Zhao couldn't help but be surprised.
Her father was injured, so why did he come all the way here in person?
"He probably couldn't accept that Luo Jijiu's disciple had become a corrupt official."
Wei Jingchen's tone was calm, but to Zhuang Shuyang, it made him feel extremely ashamed.
He turned his face away, not wanting to look at the two children in front of him anymore.
He dared not look back to see what kind of look his wife would give him.
Outside the door, officials and several men dressed in black walked in.
"Young Master Wei, Miss Yun Zhao, Lord Zhuang, His Highness Prince Jin invites you."
Zhuang Shuyang stood up, lowered his eyes, and didn't dare to turn around.
He followed the officials to the front yard, where Yunxuan sat on a cushion in the main hall, waiting for him.
Zhuang Shuyang had disheveled hair and was only wearing an outer robe.
And Yunxuan was no longer wearing the brocade robes specially made for the royal family.
His face was deathly pale, as if he had just recovered from a serious illness.
"I never imagined that after two years apart, we would meet again in this state."
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