Chapter 128
"So that's how it is," Qin Sang thought. "So they used this 'substitution of the crown prince' tactic, but the methods were so cruel that they killed entire families! Just thinking about it makes you realize how many low-ranking officials were complicit in this slaughter..."
Even though Qin Sang was somewhat prepared, she was still disgusted by this outrageous act of eradicating the entire family.
Her face was somber, and she remained silent with her brows furrowed.
The atmosphere in the carriage became oppressive. Xie Sui'an rarely saw her like this, and he thought that she was probably reminded of the tragic situation of his entire family being executed years ago. He couldn't help but feel guilty. What was he doing back then?
Kyoto is such a large city that the disappearance of a family is just a story to him, something he hears and moves on from. Even the sudden disappearance of a childhood friend is only something that makes him sad for a few days. He has no idea what others are going through.
That was the despair of a family being destroyed, with no one to turn to for help.
Only now, with the sudden misfortune befalling his family, during those days of uncertainty about their fate, did he truly experience fear. But even so, this fear paled in comparison to the stark reality of his entire family being arrested.
He felt very guilty and heartbroken.
How did she manage to endure all that pain alone and grow up so strong and vibrant to be who she is today? How much she endured and suffered? It's unimaginable.
Wen Qiyan's eyes were already red. He looked at Xie Suian, his emotions flickering like a candle flame in the wind.
After a long silence, he asked, "Can you give him justice?"
Xie Suian paused for a moment, then nodded: "Okay."
After Wen Qiyan left, Xie Suian quietly moved closer to Qin Sang.
He took a deep breath and was about to reach out when he saw Qin Sang suddenly look up angrily, pound his fist, and curse: "Damn bastard, he killed the whole family! After he dies, I'll make sure he's fried in oil and turned into human jerky!!"
Xie Sui'an: "...That's right."
Qin Sang finally shifted her gaze to the person who seemed increasingly haggard lately, and her intense emotions instantly dissipated.
"How have you been doing on duty at the palace lately? Has no one been giving you any trouble?"
Xie Sui'an hadn't expected her mood to change so quickly. He smiled, unable to hide the sweetness in his heart, and said, "It's alright. After all, he was appointed by the Emperor, and my grandfather has many old friends. Shangguan has treated me quite well."
"That's good," Qin Sang breathed a slight sigh of relief, then added, "But you still need to be careful. Last time I entered the palace, I was almost assassinated. You're on duty in the palace, and there are many of the Crown Prince's men around, so you must be very careful. Test everything you eat and drink with a silver needle before you consume it." The more she spoke, the more she felt that the imperial city was truly fraught with danger. She was only able to survive until now thanks to the blessing of the God of Destiny.
She was about to say something more when Xie Sui'an's eyes seemed to be brimming with tears as he stared at her silently. Suddenly, her heart skipped a beat, and a wave of heat spread from her earlobe outwards, making half of her face flushed.
To cover up the sudden embarrassment, she coughed lightly and lowered her eyes, saying, "Things have developed to this point, and I'm afraid we can only put our issues aside for now. After all, the important things come first."
Xie Suian pulled his hand back to his leg and gently clenched it into a fist. He hummed in agreement.
He knew all too well that they were now dancing on the edge of a cliff. Those impulsive plans and promises were shattered swiftly by reality. The situation was unpredictable; Kyoto was like the sea before a tsunami, its calm surface constantly threatened by a storm.
No one knows how long this superficial calm can last.
Nowadays, even street vendors are discussing whether Prince Ning'an, the new nobleman of Kyoto, is likely to replace the crown prince, not to mention the officials of all ranks in the capital.
Those who bravely take sides now are desperately trying to secure a future in this chaotic world; those who feign deafness and try to hide are powerless and self-preserving individuals. People like them, standing at the forefront of the storm, have no way to escape; it's a matter of life or death, there is no other way.
Fortunately, they are now on the same boat, but they don't know where this boat will end.
With the road ahead shrouded in thick fog, they could only pick up their oars and struggle to paddle forward.
***
With Wen Qiyan's definite news, Qin Sang sent Qin Baoyun to Liang Mochang's hometown the next day to find evidence.
At the same time, she relayed this message to Prince Ning'an. Regardless, Qin Sang's ultimate goal was to ensure he won this battle.
Finally, she quietly reminded students in Kyoto, especially those from other places, through her friends hidden among the common people, to be careful and to learn how to protect themselves.
Soon, the time for the autumn imperial examination finally arrived.
This day was an auspicious one according to the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. The weather was fine and sunny, and the streets were cleaned in advance.
Early in the morning, the streets were bustling with students, all dressed neatly and looking expectant yet nervous. Many wore blue robes and cloth shoes, while others, noblemen from Kyoto, arrived in horse-drawn or mule-drawn carriages.
To join in the fun, Qin Sang disguised herself as a man again and followed along.
Since she went to see the Emperor with Prince Ning'an, Wang Huiwen saw that everything had settled down and loosened his control over her a little, allowing her to go out for a stroll from time to time.
Having spent so much time together, how could Wang Huiwen not know what the Prime Minister wanted to do with the girl he had brought back? But based on her woman's intuition and trust, she was willing to believe that the girl was a sensible person.
Qin Sang, dressed casually, stood by the street, fanning herself, watching the spirited students walk through the door of hope, a smile on her face.
Among them, she saw the scholar she had met at the Liuyun Inn before, who was praised by everyone for his literary talent. He had a handsome face and a warm smile, and he greeted everyone with his hands clasped.
"His name is Li Zigu, right?" Qin Sang asked Lingding, raising her chin.
Lingding glanced at the man and nodded: "It does look like him."
"Hey, my brother Li will definitely pass the imperial examination!" A cheerful voice suddenly appeared beside the two of them.
Looking back, I glanced at him several times before I recognized him as the waiter from the restaurant or inn.
The waiter clearly recognized Qin Sang as well. After all, with Qin Sang's outstanding appearance, it would be difficult for anyone not to remember her.
"Hehe, you're here to see your friend off too? Why don't you go in and take the exam yourselves? Oh, didn't pass the provincial exam? Hey, it's alright, you're young, you can come back next time." The waiter had a smile on his face the whole time, as if the person going in to take the exam was his own brother.
Qin Sang couldn't help but chuckle: "How do you know your friend will definitely pass the exam? Don't you see how fierce the competition is here, with so many hidden talents? How can you be so sure that the examiner's pen will land on your friend's name?"
The waiter craned his neck to look at the middle of the street and said smugly, "Never mind that, hey, I just know."
At first, Qin Sang thought he was just boasting, but upon hearing this, she sensed something was amiss. Her smile faded slightly, but her eyes still held amusement: "Oh? Did someone give your friend a heads-up beforehand? Did you try to bribe them? Do you have connections?"
The waiter turned his gaze to Qin Sang, sizing her up and down, glancing left and right before covering his mouth and whispering, "My brother is exceptionally talented, and people have already noticed him. They've even been asking me about his family background. I bet some noble family has a young lady of marriageable age, and seeing that my brother is sure to pass the exam, they're trying to build connections beforehand! Haha, you know what they call striking first! No wonder his family is so prosperous and can establish itself in the capital! But I'm lucky too. If my brother becomes successful, I'll rise to prominence along with him, won't I?"
Lingding couldn't help but laugh and said, "What if your brother becomes rich and doesn't recognize you? Don't keep dreaming here and end up with nothing."
This is the truth. Not everyone is inherently ungrateful; it's just that different circumstances lead to different social circles. Even if some people don't want to forget old friends, they gradually get lost in the complexities of navigating various situations. The officialdom, after all, is not an easy place to navigate.
This is a truth known to all.
But the waiter showed no concern upon hearing this, his smug expression unchanged: "What do you know? He and I have depended on each other since childhood. Over the years, he has been studying at home, and his elderly mother has taken care of his daily needs. Whenever we were struggling to make ends meet, it was always me who sent money back home through others to keep us going. If he had betrayed me, he would be nothing but rotten dog shit, and he wouldn't deserve all the support I've given him over the years!"
Qin Sang sighed upon hearing this.
During her time in Kyoto, everything she saw and heard was about scheming and weighing pros and cons, with everyone having their own agenda. But such pure and simple friendship, where everyone is wholeheartedly devoted to their friends, is truly rare.
So she was distracted by this sentiment and forgot the reason she had just asked the question so sensitively.
The imperial examination lasted nine days, and Qin Sang found herself on the final day. For some reason, she felt that if anything were to happen during the exam, it would surely be within these next two days. Especially when she recalled the waiter's words from that day—that someone had already noticed his friend Li Zigu and had even sent people to inquire about his family background!
What are they planning? Are they preparing to silence people once they're replaced?
Sitting in the carriage, she lifted the curtain and watched as the students, who had been so spirited and ambitious just days before, walked out dejectedly, looking as if they had lost their parents. She felt pity and thought how fierce the competition was in the world. How pitiful!
Just then, she saw the waiter again. He was dressed in brand-new clothes today, standing outside the examination hall, squeezing through the crowd and looking out on tiptoe. His face showed an expectant and joyful expression.
Qin Sang felt both worried and amused; this person really thought his friend had already passed the exam.
She observed from inside the car for a long time. When the last examinee came out of the examination hall, the bustling square in front of the hall turned quiet and deserted. The waiter was still standing there, his expression changing from anticipation to anxiety.
Qin Sang had sensed something was wrong when the number of people had decreased. Now, she was about to lift the curtain and get out of the carriage to ask, but as soon as the curtain was half open, she saw two burly men who looked like servants walk to the waiter's side on the left and right.
After saying something, the waiter seemed to believe it but then followed the person with a big smile.
Upon seeing this, Qin Sang decisively jumped off the carriage and ran away.
"Wait a minute!" she called out.
The three of them turned around at the same time.
The waiter had never seen Qin Sang dressed as a woman before. He was stunned for a long time before he came to his senses, his mouth agape: "Ah! You...you are..."
"What are you doing? They're your friends too?" Qin Sang interrupted him, asking, "Your friends haven't come out yet, have they? Aren't you going to wait?"
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