Chapter 82 Chapter 82 [VIP]
Chapter 82
After Mrs. Park was imprisoned, she only saw Song Yunzhi once, and no officials came to interrogate her again.
She didn't know what happened to the Park family, her two sons, whether the head of the Park family had returned, and whether King Pyeongchang really believed that she had killed the princess.
The scene that night was extremely chaotic.
She was so immersed in the grief of losing her son that she wanted the Pyeongchang Palace to give an explanation to the Park family. In the end, the princess died, and all her people fell into the hands of the prefectural government.
Looking back, Madam Park felt that everything was wrong. The first group of people who assassinated Song Yunzhi were indeed hers, but the second group of "barbarians" who broke into the backyard were not, and it was not her who killed the princess...
She wanted to pass on the information she knew, but no one came to visit him or interrogate him.
She had been shouting for two days but no one paid any attention to her. Tonight, the jailer came to deliver food. She had no hope at all, but suddenly she saw a note at the bottom of the bowl.
Mrs. Park's heart skipped a beat.
Who is it?
The head of the family is back?
She looked around frantically, then hid in the shadows. With trembling hands, she unfolded the note. On it were written a single line of words: [The defender of the city five years ago was not the King of Pyeongchang]
Mrs. Park was stunned.
Five years ago, your Majesty's Shuzhou army rushed to Kyoto, defeated the Hu people who were attacking the city, and captured all the royal relatives who had abandoned the civilians and fled outside the city, and brought them back to offer sacrifices.
Only King Pyeongchang was not only safe and sound in this change, but His Majesty also granted him a fiefdom because he was the only royal family member who did not flee or hide five years ago, but stubbornly defended the city.
Mrs. Park's head was buzzing. If the person guarding the city was not him, then everything he had now would have been gained through deception!
Mrs. Park was shocked by the news.
She didn't know whether it was true or not. Who told her such a big secret and what was the purpose? Before Mrs. Park could figure it out, she heard a commotion outside, and soon she saw the cold-faced Prince Pyeongchang.
"Your Majesty!" Madam Park finally saw the man and hurriedly stood up, seizing the opportunity to explain to him: "I didn't kill the princess. I didn't kill the princess..."
There is a hidden story.
But King Pyeongchang no longer had any trust in the Park family or his wife, Mrs. Park. Everyone saw that in order to seek justice for her son, she threatened to kill his princess. One princess was not enough to pay for his son's life, so she also killed all the princesses in his palace.
It was useless for her to say this, he just wanted to know whether the masked young man from the night before was hers.
Prince Pingchang said coldly, "I have done my utmost to come and see you, Madam Park. Over the years, your Pu family has relied on me and taken advantage of me. All the business in Yangzhou has gone into your pockets. Now you think I am in the way and want to kick me out?"
Mrs. Park didn't understand what he meant.
King Pyeongchang sneered, "Isn't it just that I took your family's two saltworks and some of your money? Are you feeling bad? If it weren't for me, would the court have waited until now to come? Your family would have been wiped out by the court long ago, and their bodies would have been destroyed without a burial place..."
He wanted to say this, but Mrs. Park disagreed.
The Pu family was a merchant family, but they were not unacceptable to the imperial court. Every year, the Pu family paid a considerable amount of taxes to the imperial court. Even if the imperial court came to collect the taxes, the Pu family would only give up what they had in their hands, and would not take the lives of the entire family.
Are two salt fields not enough?
In order to seek the protection of King Pyeongchang, the Park family gave him half of their property, but in return they got a fatal marriage.
The second son of his Pu family died at the hands of the princess. Shouldn't he question them?
Madam Park said, "Whether His Majesty believes it or not, my family has never done anything wrong to the Pyeongchang Palace. Even though I have reached this point, I have never revealed that His Majesty and my family conspired to murder the Crown Prince Song."
King Pingchang's expression changed slightly.
He had murderous intent in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He hadn't come tonight to argue with her. He spoke in a gentle tone, "I'm here to tell Madam Park that you killed my princess and hunted down my daughter. For these two crimes alone, I can bury your entire family with you. However, I have a deep friendship with the head of the Park family. Until he returns, I will spare your life for now. Madam, please keep the evidence in your hand and don't test my limits again."
As Prince Pingchang spoke, he kept paying attention to the eldest lady's expression.
Although she concealed it well, King Pyeongchang still saw a hint of avoidance in her eyes.
It's really her.
King Pingchang took a deep breath, turned around and left, instructing the people behind him: "Kill her."
When the men of King Pyeongchang grabbed her by the neck, Lady Park finally reacted and struggled hard, shouting hoarsely, "Someone come..."
——
Qian Tong was also in the dungeon at this time, coming to see the eldest and third sons of the Park family.
When he woke up, the Pu family's house was engulfed in flames. Before he could understand what was happening, he was escorted to the dungeon by people from the prefectural government.
"My mother hired someone to kill the Crown Prince Song, but failed."
The Third Young Master was so frightened that his legs went limp and he collapsed to the ground, his eyes full of despair: "How could mother be so confused?" Wasn't she going to entertain the prince and the Prince of Song and repair the relationship with the court?
He even asked him to deliver the invitation, saying that after tonight, he would be sensible. Now it seems that he is trying to murder an official appointed by the imperial court?
The Third Young Master has been following her for many years, has had many dealings with people in the palace, and has met many wives of officials. He believes that the Park family will have a place in Kyoto in the future.
Therefore, he has been studying hard in order to serve the imperial court one day.
The beautiful dream suddenly turned into a nightmare. The Third Young Master had not eaten or drunk anything for two days and had been crying non-stop. He had just wiped away a line of tears when he accidentally looked up and saw someone standing outside the prison door. The Third Young Master was stunned for a moment and said in a lost voice, "Sister Tong?"
The eldest son was originally sitting in the corner with his eyes closed in silence. Upon hearing this, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at the girl who pushed the door open.
Qian Tong entered the cell, took out a silk handkerchief from his sleeve and handed it to the Third Young Master, saying softly, "Don't cry. Look, your eyes are almost swollen from crying."
The third young master didn't know what had happened to his family, but serious crimes like murdering an imperial official had been committed again and again by the Park family. The Park family would not have a good ending. He was at a loss and looked at Qian Tong in confusion, "Why is Sister Tong here?" How did she get in?
Qian Tong smiled at him and said, "Sister Tong is here to save you."
The third young master was stunned.
Qian Tong said, "Your sister Tong has become a phoenix. Yesterday, I forced the prince Song to marry me, and he has already agreed to marry me. For the sake of the prince's wife, I can still save two innocent people."
The Third Young Master's expression became increasingly dazed.
Seeing him dumbfounded, Qian Tong turned to look at the silent Mr. Park and said to him, "Mingyi, I'm getting married."
After staying in the cell for two days, although Mr. Park's clothes were wrinkled and dirty, his face was still clean. There was no light in the cell, and the thin light outside was not enough to see the expression on Mr. Park's face, but Qian Tong could feel his heavy gaze cast on Bai Ji.
Qian Tong said to the Third Young Master, "I have a few words to say to your brother. How about you wait outside for your brother?"
The Third Young Master hadn't recovered from her words, but he knew his brother was being shaken more than he was. Regardless, he was grateful for her help in getting out. He and Qian Tong bowed and thanked her, "Thank you, Sister Tong."
"You're welcome." Don't thank her. Everyone will grow up, and when they grow up, they will become one of the elders who support the entire family. He will hate her.
The moment she became the head of the family, she was destined to walk a ruthless path. She tried to give up her identity as the head of the family and love someone like a normal lady.
The first one I loved was Park Seung-woo.
But they were ultimately unable to withstand the pressure from their family, and they eventually chose to return to the Bai family. The current situation was inevitable.
After the third young master left, Qian Tong said to Park Chengyu, "I'm sorry." She was the head of the Qian family, and she couldn't be soft-hearted.
Young Master Park didn't respond. After a long while, he finally spoke and asked, "Did he promise you to let me go?"
Qian Tong nodded, "Yeah."
He seemed to have anticipated that answer. Park Chengyu chuckled softly and said, "You're right. Even if we had gotten married, our lives wouldn't necessarily have been as beautiful as we had hoped." He looked at the girl under the dimming lights and said slowly, "You are intelligent and as ambitious as any man. I, Park Chengyu, am blessed to have had such a relationship with you, Qian Tong."
Qian Tong lowered his eyes.
"When you told me that day that he'd risk everything to jump off a cliff for you, I felt quite resentful. You and I grew up together and fell in love early on, and you've only known him for a few months. How could you possibly understand him and be so sure he loves you more than I do?" Seeing her gently looking towards him, Master Park gave her a gentle smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Tong'er, I regret it."
Qian Tong didn't know what he regretted, but she cried the first time she saw him, Park Seung-woo.
Seeing the tears today, which were shed two years late, my heart felt a little sad.
Park Seung-woo looked at her and said, "I regret giving you the portrait. If I hadn't given you his portrait, would you have never met him?"
Qian Tong had nothing to say about this.
He gave her the portrait to make her wary of the people in the court, but she turned around and used it to kick him out. Seeing him cry, she felt bad too and choked out, "I'm sorry."
She felt guilty and uncomfortable, probably because she knew that even if she was given another chance to choose, she would still choose to betray without hesitation.
Young Master Park shook his head. "Tong'er didn't let me down. I was too ungrateful. I believe no one in this world can love you more than I do. When I get out of this predicament, I will come back and apologize to you. You can reconcile with me and continue the dream of the future we once promised each other."
"But I overlooked that, whether it's a matter or a person, no one will stay in one place waiting for someone." Young Master Park said hoarsely, "It was only during that time in Haizhou that I realized that if I missed you two years ago, I would miss you forever." He hid in the darkness, shedding a line of tears. "Tong'er won't love me again, right?"
Qian Tong didn't say anything.
The answer was already there. She was not someone who would go back, but no matter how hard-hearted she was, he was still the person she once loved.
She finally understood why the ancestors had forbidden marriages between the two families. If the two of them had gotten married and ended up in this situation, how painful it would have been. Her elder sister had sacrificed her life for Cui Wanzhong, and she had blamed her for being foolish and unworthy.
Now I understand her suffering.
The reason why people reach a dead end is because they have a heart and emotions.
Her cheeks felt hot, and before she could come to her senses, a hand reached out to her. Her fair white fingers gently wiped away a drop of water from her face. "Don't blame me. I know everything. It's not Tong'er's fault."
Qian Tong looked up.
Does he really not blame her?
Park Chengyu's fingertips did not withdraw in time, and he rubbed her cheek for the last time, saying tenderly: "Don't carry it alone, trust him, Prince Song is a man worthy of trust."
Whatever he can give, Prince Song can give. Whatever he can't give, Prince Song can give it to her.
As a girl, she knew how to make a choice. Moreover, she was the girl who lived the most soberly. She knew what she wanted, and he had no reason to trap her any longer.
"What about you?" Qian Tong asked with red eyes, "What are your plans?"
The Park family will definitely lose.
Young Master Park withdrew his hand, rubbed the wet mist on his fingertips, and imprinted the feeling at the moment in his heart. He smiled at her, "Don't worry about me. I'm not at the point where I need you to show mercy to me."
He is no longer a member of the Park family.
Two years ago, he had found a way out. She was supposed to be at the end of that road. Now, even though there was no one waiting for him at the end, he had to finish this journey.
When a towering tree falls, every root beneath it struggles. The Park family is caught in the middle, unable to escape, and their fate is already determined.
She was able to break into the cell and stand in front of him today because of her own ability. The winner is the king and the loser is the bandit. There is nothing to resent. When the crying of the third young master was heard, Park Chengyu was very calm.
He is leaving.
He couldn't utter the word "congratulations". He stood up and looked at the figure squatting there motionless with his back to her, and said goodbye to her, "Tong'er, I'm leaving. Take care."
Qian Tong didn't see him off.
After she could no longer hear his footsteps, she slowly stood up and leaned against the prison door, listening to the noisy commotion in the distance and the Third Young Master's shrill cries. "I saw it, it was the Prince's men, he was the one who killed my mother..."
——
When Qian Tong returned, it was already midnight.
It lasted longer than one stick of incense.
Not knowing whether Prince Song had rested, Qian Tong did not let the secret guard at the door go in to report. She tiptoed into the house. She did not see anyone in front of the wooden table. Just as she was about to go to the clean room, she turned around and saw Prince Song sitting in front of the desk, looking at her.
Qian Tong smiled and asked, "Is the prince still awake?"
Song Yunzhi stared into her eyes.
Qian Tong stepped forward and explained, "One stick of incense is too short. Prince Pingchang is too slow. Could you please extend the time a little next time, Prince?"
After saying that, Song Yunzhi's eyes moved away from her face indifferently, and he stood up and walked to the bathroom.
Qian Tongdao was angry that he had returned late, and then he went to the bathroom and stood outside the door to admit his mistake. "It was my fault. Don't worry, my lord. Next time I will definitely come back within an incense stick."
Not hearing a reply, she stretched her neck and said, "Sir, are you going to take a bath? Why don't I see you taking a change of clothes? It's okay, I'll get it for you later..."
Before she could finish her words, Prince Song came back and handed her a handkerchief, saying coldly, "Wipe it clean."
Qian Tong didn't know that there was a tear mark under her eye, but looking at the cold eyes of Prince Song at this moment, he guessed that it was almost right, and immediately shut up and stopped talking.
She took the cloth and wiped her face, not knowing whether it was clean or not, and said casually: "Prince, can I use the water in it first?" She went to take a shower and washed herself more thoroughly.
Song Yunzhi didn't refuse.
Fu Yin brought her clothes the next day, and Madam Qian also said, "We will take care of the wedding banquet. Tell her not to worry about it. Just stay in the prefecture and serve the prince well."
Not only clothes, but also Mrs. Qian moved all her daily necessities here, which took up half of the prince's box.
Qian Tong opened the cabinet door, picked out a change of clothes, and went to the bathroom. Before entering, he saw that Prince Song had returned to his desk. Knowing what he was waiting for, he mustered up the courage to call out, "Prince, make a pot of tea."
Her story is very long, and if she tells it too much she will become thirsty.
Before Prince Song's gaze fell on him, Qian Tong retreated into the bathroom in time.
——
The noise outside has calmed down.
When Wang Zhao hurried in to report, Song Yunzhi was sitting on the futon and starting to make tea.
Wang Zhaodao said, "Crown Prince, King Pyeongchang has killed Madam Park and has left the city. Do you want to chase her?" The Crown Prince had rejected him in broad daylight today, but King Pyeongchang cheated and stayed here for one night before going to the dungeon to kill her.
Isn't this silencing?
Wang Zhao suspected that the assassination of Lady Park the night before was related to him, King Pyeongchang, so he went into the dungeon and killed the person without any explanation. The person left the city overnight.
Song Yunzhi said, "No need. Send the princess out of the city tomorrow."
Wang Zhao nodded. There was one more thing. He glanced inside the room and didn't see the Qian family's wife. He whispered to Song Yunzhi, "The Crown Prince's Concubine went to the dungeon and released the eldest and third sons of the Park family. She said it was the Crown Prince's wish..."
Song Yunzhi was not surprised and replied, "Yeah."
Seeing that he knew the truth, Wang Zhao said nothing more and retreated.
——
When Qian Tong came out of his bath, Prince Song had already brewed the tea and was just opening the lid of the teapot, which was emitting steam.
Prince Song is really good.
Afraid that Prince Song would wait too long, Qian Tong's hair came out before it was wrung out. He gathered the wet hair in his hand and wrapped it in a cloth. While kneading it, he lowered his head and sniffed the fragrance of the tea: "The tea brewed by Prince is so fragrant."
After bathing, she changed into her pajamas. The peach pink bodice was embroidered with a full-blown peony. She wore a thin silk robe on the outside. Her hair was tied up, revealing one shoulder. Tiny water droplets lingered on her skin, like morning dew dripping on beautiful jade, delicate and fragrant.
Song Yunzhi looked away.
It was already very late at night, and Qian Tong didn't waste any more time. As Park Seung-woo said, Prince Song was indeed a person worth entrusting his life to.
The Prince of Song, a dignified official appointed by the imperial court and without a single blemish on his body, risked his reputation and future tonight and let her do what she wanted.
With such a sincere heart, what else can she not confess?
Qian Tong began by discussing tonight's plans. "Park Huailang is already on his way back to Yangzhou and will arrive before dawn. The third son of the Park family witnessed Prince Pyeongchang killing Lady Park, and the prince heard Lady Park kill the princess. Add to that the second son of the Park family who was tortured to death by Princess Mingfeng. With three lives involved, even if Park Huailang and Prince Pyeongchang were close friends, they'll become enemies this time."
She had too much hair, and her hands were sore after twisting it a few times. She shook her wrists and continued, "When the King of Pyeongchang leaves tonight, he will definitely attack Park Huailang first, and the third son of the Park family will also find Park Huailang as soon as possible and tell him about his mother's death..."
"Come and sit here." Song Yunzhi suddenly interrupted.
Qian Tong was talking excitedly, and thinking that he couldn't hear clearly, she moved the cushion she was sitting on to lean next to him. As soon as she sat down, Song Yunzhi raised his hand to take the cloth from her hand, and with one hand held her hair, twisting it for her, "Continue."
Qian Tong didn't expect that he asked her to sit over and help her comb her hair.
He moved very gently.
Qian Tong glanced to the side and saw that Bai Ji's black hair was held in his hand, and the wet water stained his hand. His palm was much wider than hers, and his five fingers were slender, like the strong bamboo joints growing in the snow. When he exerted force, the blue veins on the back of his hand tightened, and water droplets dripped through his fingers onto the cloth towel.
His heart pounded twice, and his cheeks felt a little hot. Qian Tong turned his head and paused for a long time before returning to his previous thoughts. He whispered, "The Crown Prince will definitely be curious about why King Pyeongchang insisted on killing Madam Park."
Song Yunzhi twisted her hair and listened to her quietly.
"Because everything King Pyeongchang has now was robbed by him." Two years ago, after being questioned by Mrs. Park, "Are you worthy of it?", she returned to the Qian family in embarrassment, and the old lady told her this secret.
From then on, she was the real head of the Qian family.
Officials looked down on merchants, and the public harbored prejudices against them. When discussing business, they often added the word "treacherous" before the word "merchant." Whether the verdict was overturned or not, she didn't care, but she couldn't let her uncle's family die in vain.
King Pyeongchang must pay with his life.
The truth about the death of Mr. Qian five years ago must be revealed.
But after all, no witness survived for the past five years. Qian Tong originally planned to solve the problem in her own way, but she was discovered by Prince Song.
She couldn't hide it from him, nor did she want to. She wasn't sure if Prince Song would believe it. She turned her head, looked up at him, and asked tentatively, "If I say that it wasn't Prince Pyeongchang who was guarding the city gate five years ago, would you believe me?"
The two of them were very close to each other, and when she looked at him like this, her entire outline fell into Song Yunzhi's eyes.
Song Yunzhi lowered his gaze gently and looked directly into her eyes. "You say it, and I will believe it."
Qian Tong also believed him.
She looked away, gazing at the steaming teacup on the wooden table. She then revealed the truth of the past to the emperor's nephew, who had vowed to investigate the Four Great Merchants. "Your Majesty only knows that the Four Great Merchants refused his support, but as citizens of Dayu, we cannot survive without our country, so how can the merchants remain immune? Five years ago, when we learned that the Hu people had invaded Kyoto, the Four Great Merchants all contributed. The Pu family defended the two straits, but it wasn't just the Pu family. The Lu, Cui, and Qian families were all at sea, but in the end, only the head of the Pu family survived. None of the other three families returned."
At this point, the Park family became the dominant family.
"The Qian family's main branch split its forces into two groups. The eldest lady and my second brother followed Pu Huailang to the Dengzhou Strait line, while the head of the family took my eldest brother and personally led over a hundred servants to transport the military supplies they had raised to support the capital. A month later, His Majesty ascended the throne. The Qian family's eldest master didn't even leave his name. The news that came back was that he died in the Hu people's rebellion, and the person defending the city became the King of Pyeongchang."
Song Yunzhi frowned, knowing that she must have her purpose, but he didn't know that the truth would be like this.
He had almost squeezed the water droplets out of her hair. He ran his fingers through her hair, gently smoothed it out for her, and asked in a low voice, "Why don't you report it to the police?"
Qian Tong twisted away from his embrace, facing him, and said, "Since they're all dead, there's no evidence to be found. I can only rely on a sliver of suspicion to find Prince Pyeongchang. Even if it's wrong, I'll give it a try..." Qian Tong knew that Prince Song was cautious and wouldn't agree with her approach, but she had already done it and got the answer she wanted. She admitted, "So, I gradually led him to Yangzhou, and finally waited for the dinner at the Park family's eldest lady's house. Facts have proven that my suspicion was correct. The night before, at the Park family's, Prince Pyeongchang acknowledged it."
That's the whole process.
The truth about why she was willing to team up with the bandits and break into the Park family's backyard even though she knew she would be caught by him.
She explained everything clearly.
Is he willing to believe her? Her hair entwined between his fingers. Qian Tong slowly leaned forward, resting his chin lightly on his chest. His hands climbed onto the belts on either side of his waist. He looked up into his deep eyes and asked softly, "Will the prince still blame me?"
Blame her for being reckless and acting without authorization.
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