"Black Impermanence, White Impermanence. Hehe, come and take your life..."
"I was furious at the time, and I said that it would be better for this old man to die than to serve the late emperor and now the current emperor. Besides, if the Prince Jing's son is just a facade, he will eventually be exposed."
"At that time, I don't know if it was because I kept refusing, but Liang Xu never looked for me again after that. Later, I started to send my wife's trusted maid to keep an eye on Sun Zheng, because men might be suspected because of this person. I wondered who this Sun Zheng was that Liang Xu would take such a risk for."
At this point, the old minister began to tremble uncontrollably, his eyes filled with anger. Qin Weixi glanced around the study and noticed a pot of still-warm tea on the desk. He poured a cup and handed it to Cao Mo.
"Minister Cao, please speak slowly."
Hearing such a calm voice, and seeing that the girl in front of him was about the same age as his granddaughter, Cao Mo felt somewhat at ease.
The old minister took a sip of tea before saying, "Until the beginning of this year, I discovered that Sun Zheng was frequently in contact with an older servant woman. So my wife's trusted maid began to closely follow her again. She even discovered that the maid was sneaking into the back gate of Prince Jing's mansion."
"Therefore, Minister Cao also realized that Sun Zheng, or perhaps Prince Jing, who is about to be buried, has taken a child outside the palace. Or perhaps it is the son of Prince Jing's heir who has been living outside the palace," Chu Yening suddenly said.
Qin Weixi turned his head and saw that he was still looking at Cao Mo with a serious expression. Then, noticing the gaze that was directed at him, he smiled.
Minister Cao, perhaps still mired in resentment over his years-long entanglement with Liang Xu, seemed oblivious to the fact that he had just spoken up: “It just so happens that my grandson fell ill a while ago. So my wife and I discussed it and decided that, under the pretext that my daughter-in-law and son should go out of the city to offer incense and pray for my grandson’s health, they should leave the city and never look back, no matter what happens.”
"I will wait until the two of them are safe and sound before entering the palace to resign my post and then reveal the whole story when His Majesty summons me privately."
“But even with my caution, I have aroused Liang Xu’s suspicion. This evening, Liang Xu came to my door again and said that he knew where my son was. He said that your son would surely report to me that he was safe once he left the city. And that letter was written by my son under duress.”
"His relentless and aggressive approach is all for the sake of the imperial examinations that come once again every three years!"
"I suspect that my daughter-in-law and son have either been captured by Liang Xu and his gang, or that Liang Xu is deceiving me."
"But I cannot wait any longer. After much thought, I have no choice but to write a secret letter tonight. After I leave, my wife will take this letter and beat the drum to appeal to the emperor!"
"I will die to prove my loyalty to the late emperor and the current emperor!"
"And my wife will stand with me through thick and thin."
Chu Yening suddenly smiled faintly: "So Minister Cao is going to die like this? Let that Liang traitor run rampant until he's old?"
"That's not how a loyal minister behaves. How come you're getting more and more confused as you get older?"
The old minister was still trembling all over. At this moment, he thought of his young grandson and the young couple who had been married for only three years. They should have been a harmonious and happy family, but now fate had played a cruel trick on them. In his grief and indignation, he could not utter a single word.
Chu Yening then said, "There's one more thing I still need to clarify. It was Liang Xu who brought your grandson back. When you met him in private, did you ever see his true face?"
Minister Cao shook his head: "He always comes shrouded in a black cloak and his face is covered. But I knew it was him the first time he came. I will never forget his voice."
Chu Yening stroked his chin, then, as if returning to his own residence, walked around the desk and sat in the grand chair that Minister Cao used to sit in. He then lightly tapped the desk with his fingers: "This is a bit difficult to handle."
Seeing this series of extremely natural movements, Qin Weixi blinked, turned his head away, and simply pretended not to see it.
She looked at Cao Mo and said, "Minister Cao, when your son and daughter-in-law left home, did they agree with you on when they would send a letter back, or that they would send someone to inform you after settling down somewhere?"
Cao Mo said, "I am afraid that Liang Xu will find out about this. I only want the two of them to take the child and go as far away as possible. Once this turmoil in the capital is over and my Cao family can return to peace, they will know where my wife is."
"That means once they leave this city gate, they will walk away without looking back, and will not leave you with a single word."
"Minister Cao, I believe that Liang Xu is likely deceiving you."
Upon hearing this, Cao Mo's somewhat cloudy eyes lit up.
Qin Weixi continued, "Your son and daughter-in-law have probably already left the capital safely. As for Liang Xu, the old Minister, if he could harm his classmate and elder brother back then, what else wouldn't he do?"
Mentioning that year, Cao Mo shuddered. Back then, Liang Xu carried the Duke of Dingguo's heir's golden crown, which reached his waist, into the palace, which was a great insult to the Duke of Dingguo's heir.
Cao Mo was lost in thought for a while, but when he came to his senses and looked at the two people standing in front of him, he understood. He asked, "Are you here to overturn the Qin family's case?"
"Then this old man..."
"Enter the palace!" This time, Qin Weixi and Chu Yening said in unison.
Chu Yening took another step forward and, without hesitation, grasped her hand, pressing their fingers firmly together.
He continued, “Enter the palace to meet the Emperor, and bring with you the principle of equality for all, from the poor to the powerful, established by the Great Ancestor of the Great Xia Dynasty. After that, just do as I say. I will let you see for yourself how Liang Xu…” He chuckled softly at this point.
"Minister Cao, you old bones really need to live a good life."
The next day at dawn.
Emperor Kangle summoned Cao Mo, who had repeatedly expressed his desire to resign and retire to his hometown, to the Imperial Study.
Without looking up, Emperor Kang Le wielded his imperial brush on a sheet of Chengxintang paper on his desk. He asked, "My dear minister, I know you are getting old and are thinking of resigning to enjoy your grandchildren. But I also need you to be in charge of the court! You watched me grow up."
"Do you still insist on doing this, my dear minister?"
Emperor Kang Le sighed softly, continuing to draw on the paper with his imperial brush. After a short while, seeing that the old minister also did not answer, he frowned slightly and was about to look up when Cao Mo suddenly knelt down with a thud.
"Your Majesty, I am guilty!"
Before long, the sound of a porcelain cup falling suddenly rang out in the Imperial Study.
Emperor Kangxi was undoubtedly furious.
Inside the Luo residence.
The group gathered in the main hall, but Jiang Yuanjun, due to her status as the crown prince, attracted attention and was unable to leave the palace.
Tao Qingyun sat in the armchair, gulped down a mouthful of tea, and chuckled upon hearing this: "What benefits did the Prince Jing's heir promise that Liang traitor?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Yening said, "The country may change hands, but it's not impossible for a fool to do foolish things. And if the Prince of Jing's heir wants to take a shortcut for his only son, it's quite possible that he would use someone else's exam paper. These days, Zhuyu Lane has been in contact with Liang Xu, and I'm still wondering what it's about."
Tao Qingyun's eyes lit up upon hearing this: "You mean this Prince Jing's heir wants to rebel?" He suddenly laughed: "Why can't he just live a carefree life in the capital with that fat-headed Prince Jing? What a pipe dream."
Qin Weixi listened without changing his expression, picked up his teacup and took a sip, but his lips curved slightly.
"Qingyun!" Luo Ling coughed lightly, interrupting him.
Tao Qingyun frowned: "Ah Ling! Just pretend you didn't hear that."
Luo Ling sighed, "I haven't asked you yet, but yesterday A-Jun mentioned that Her Majesty intends for you to go to Yingtian Prefecture. Why don't you leave the capital?"
"It's good that the rest of us can leave."
"Yingtian Prefecture?" Qin Weixi asked instinctively upon hearing this.
Tao Qingyun replied nonchalantly, "Leave the capital? Where to? Everyone's telling me to leave. Are you all here expecting me to abandon my friends and run away?"
He smiled faintly, but it was a forced smile: "I'm sorry, I, Tao, really can't do it. Besides, I'm familiar with these words. I said the same thing to you when Xiaoxing left the capital, and what happened? Where did Xiaoxing go? One after another, they died..."
Before he could finish speaking, Qin Weixi had already stood up, darted over, grabbed the pastries from the flower table next to him, and stuffed them whole into his mouth.
"Hey, Little Seven, you're choking, you're choking."
Qin Weixi hurriedly handed over the water again.
Tao Qingyun snorted and said nothing more. After a long silence, she said, "Fa Cai doesn't often accompany me to the Marquis of Chengyi's residence. Let him meet with that grandson first. In the capital, powerful people are fighting like dogs. There are many who want to deal with Prince Jing's son. Who would think of us?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiuqu and Songyang rushed in and reported, "My lord, Minister Cao has returned to his residence."
"You're going back to the manor like this?" Tao Qingyun jumped up, surprised.
Chu Yening scoffed: "This isn't just a troublesome matter for aristocratic families and nobles, it's a scandal for the royal family!"
"Does the Emperor's uncle intend to suppress this matter and handle it secretly?"
Qin Weixi calmly took another sip of tea. Chu Yening pondered for a moment, then ordered Songyang to send someone to quickly investigate the students who had recently planned to go to the capital to take the imperial examinations in the spring of the year after next, to see if there were any outstanding individuals among them.
Within a few days, the people sent by the Marquis of Jingning’s mansion quickly reported back that the Prince of Jing’s confidant had been traveling between Qianzhou and the capital, and that there was indeed a diligent scholar in Qianzhou who was well taken care of by the villagers.
The scholar from Qianzhou, who often read until late at night, was resting early one day due to a headache caused by rain. He suddenly heard a noise in his courtyard. Although he was clearly awake, he held a dagger for self-defense and pretended not to hear anything, as if he had turned over in his sleep. It wasn't until the next day that he found a faint shoe print under the courtyard wall.
He secretly told his aunt to make an identical mold overnight, based on the shoe print.
Upon hearing this, Chu Yening immediately ordered that the scholar from Qianzhou be safely escorted to the capital.
Tao Qingyun also entered the Luo residence again, saying that she was suspicious of Sun Zheng because his appearance was too honest and simple. Meanwhile, the palace assassins sent by Emperor Kang Le were secretly monitoring the Jing Prince's residence, Zhuyu Lane, and the Liang family.
When this news reached the Jingning Marquis's residence, Chu Yening thought for a moment and then sent Jiuqu and Songyang, whose faces had been painted by Pu Niang. He also sent someone else to disguise himself as Sun Zheng, who was completely unaware of the situation, to lure the assassins to Jingyun Temple or the outskirts of the city.
However, due to Emperor Kangxi's decree that they should "only keep watch and temporarily set out," the assassins had no choice but to follow them secretly.
Inside Shuiyun Tower, the real Sun Zheng was already completely drunk from being fed cup after cup of strong liquor by the two "twin" brothers, Jiuqu and Songyang, who had hit it off at first sight. He was groaning and babbling nonsense. Songyang, who had been silent all along, then began to guide him.
"Brother Sun is so elegant and unrestrained, and I, Bai, have seen how learned you are. How could I not have made a name for myself in the capital?"
After hearing this, Jiuqu shook his head repeatedly, seemingly regretting it: "I think so too. Brother Sun, if you have no place to use your knowledge, wouldn't it be a waste? Are you willing to accept that?"
Although Sun Zheng was very drunk, he could hear every word clearly, and those "heartfelt words" seemed to have a magical power that inspired and encouraged him.
Sun Zheng let out a drunken hiccup, squinted his eyes, and muttered, "Who says there's nowhere to use my talents? You bunch of commoners. I am the grandson of His Highness Prince Jing!"
The Black and White Brothers, not hearing clearly, leaned closer and asked, "Brother Sun, what are you saying? Brother Sun, the wine we drank today is the innkeeper's signature drink. Do you have the money to pay the bill?"
Sun Zheng roared, "I am the grandson of His Highness Prince Jing, and Prince Jing's heir, Jiang Zhao, is my father!"
He shouted and jumped up from his chair, drawing the attention of the diners in the restaurant who were enjoying their drinks. They all heard his shout, which was tinged with a hint of arrogance.
Sun Zheng let out another hiccup, his eyes glazed over as he looked at his newly acquainted drinking buddies, who suddenly seemed somewhat unfamiliar. He shook his head, then rubbed his eyes: "Who...who are you?"
Seeing this, the two brothers, one on the left and one on the right, pressed him back into his chair, then turned around and smiled apologetically to the diners who had glanced at them.
A moment later, Sun Zheng suddenly heard a faint yet seemingly real voice ringing in both his ears: "Black Impermanence, White Impermanence. Hehe, they've come to take your life, Grandpa Sun!"
Sun Zheng was startled and abruptly opened his eyes. His pounding heart had sobered him up considerably. He jumped up, ignoring the unpaid bill and the waiter chasing after him. He nimbly navigated the bustling city streets.
After a short while, seeing that there were no more footsteps chasing him behind him, he leaned against the gate of the Prince Jing's mansion, panting, to catch his breath.
But the memories of the past lingered in Sun Zheng's mind, making him even angrier and breathless. He was clearly the grandson of Prince Jing, the son of Prince Jing's heir, so what if he was a concubine's son? Prince Jing's heir had no children other than one daughter in most of his life, and there was not a single legitimate son in the vast Prince's mansion who could one day inherit his family business.
He was the only candidate, and he was the eldest grandson of the Prince Jing's mansion!
Without further hesitation, Sun Zheng strode over and knocked on the distinctive red-lacquered copper ring on the gate of the Prince's Mansion.
From now on, all of this belongs to him!
He shouted, "Prince Jing's heir! Father! Father! Grandfather Prince Jing, your grandson has arrived!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
