release
In the dim cell, weak sunlight shone through, leaving behind mottled spots of light. Han Shizhong was sitting on his stone bed, holding his breath, when he heard the jailer announce, "Empress Xuan has arrived."
Han Shizhong suddenly opened his eyes after hearing the voice: Why is she here?
He stood up and watched her as he slowly approached. After not seeing her for a few days, she looked even more radiant. She was dressed in a lotus-colored long dress embroidered with silver thread, the collar and cuffs embroidered with exquisite gold thread patterns. Her raven black hair, unlike her usual waist-length dress, was tied up high, and she wore a golden hairpin on her head, with her hair adorned with golden hairpins and pearls. Her face, lightly powdered, was bright yet dignified and elegant. Her every move was charming, graceful, and noble.
If she said she was the queen at the moment, he would believe it. Seeing her so dazzling, he was inexplicably afraid in his heart, afraid that this was the life she ultimately wanted. Obviously, Zhao Gou could give her enough honor.
She walked into the prison, and the entire dim prison seemed brighter because of her arrival.
"You guys go down." She pushed those around her away.
"Yes." The jailer saluted and left.
Seeing the jailer leave, he couldn't contain his excitement at seeing her. He walked up to her, took her hands, and asked cautiously, "Hongyu, why are you here?"
The moment her skin touched his, her heart trembled, but she still pulled her hands out of his and said coldly: "General Han, please respect yourself. I am already the official's woman, Concubine Xuan."
An official's woman? Was she not here to visit him today, but to draw a line between them?
His heart tightened, and he looked at her with a frown. She said slowly, "I came here today to break up with you," and took out a dagger from her bosom.
With a "chi" sound, she cut off a corner of her gorgeous dress with her dagger and handed it to him, saying, "Today I sever my ties with you. From now on, we will part ways and live happily ever after."
He took the piece of gorgeous clothes tremblingly, held it tightly in his hand, and looked at her in disbelief, trying to find a trace of lies on her face, but she had no expression. Even so, he still felt a hint of coldness around her, and she seemed to be a different person from the shy woman who leaned on his arms before.
"Why?" he asked. His heart was broken at this moment. He was locked up in this dark prison for her, so how could she be so cruel to him?
"Why?" she sneered. "General, don't you know why? Because our identities have changed. If we remain entangled, we will be executed by the emperor. I once wanted to marry you, but things have come to this, so this is the only way. Besides, the emperor can give me the wealth and glory I desire."
She glanced at the lonely silhouette and continued cruelly, "Besides, going from a courtesan to a concubine is something many women wouldn't even dare to dream of. Why shouldn't I gladly accept it?" With that, she turned and left, pausing outside the prison gate and saying, "I hope the general takes good care of himself!"
Han Shizhong watched the graceful figure slowly disappear in the prison. The light in his heart disappeared, and the entire cell returned to its original dimness and fell into darkness again.
Inside the Chengxuan Hall, Zhao Gou was reviewing memorials when Eunuch Gao, beaming with joy, stepped forward to report, "Your Majesty, according to reports from my subordinates, Concubine Xuan has severed her ties with Han Shizhong while in prison."
Zhao Gou raised his head from a pile of memorials and asked, "Are you serious?"
"Sir, the jailer heard it with his own ears, it can't be false."
"What else did they say?"
Eunuch Gao told Zhao Gou everything he heard about their conversation from the jailer.
Zhao Gou smiled upon hearing this and said, "In that case, let Han Shizhong go."
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
Han Shizhong hadn't recovered from his recent grief when he heard the jailer announce, "Eunuch Gao has arrived."
Eunuch Gao walked to the front of the prison and announced, "General Han, receive the order."
Han Shizhong knelt down and said, "Your servant, Han Shizhong, accepts your order."
"Han Shizhong previously offended the Emperor, and I imprisoned him as punishment. However, in recognition of his outstanding contributions, I have released him without charge, granted by the Emperor!"
When Han Shizhong returned to his mansion, the housekeeper and servants were already there to greet him.
"Congratulations, General, on returning home."
At this time, Hu Yanzhuo also entered the mansion with a jar of wine. "The general is in prison and cannot be visited. Today, I have come to welcome the general."
"How about we get drunk today?" Hu Yanzhuo asked.
"good."
The two men were drunk, and Han Shizhong spoke out: "The emperor can take away the wife of his ministers. Does that mean he can do whatever he wants just because he is the emperor? Is this how the emperor of the Zhao family treats his meritorious ministers?"
Hu Yanzhuo was already drunk to the point of being blinded by alcohol, but he was still shocked when he heard this. "General, be careful with your words! Wife? Who is your wife?"
"Liang Hongyu and I were in love. I had intended to marry her after the Battle of Huangtiandang, but Zhao Gou got there first. I went before the emperor to offer my military merits in marriage to Liang Hongyu, but was thrown into prison. Now that I'm out, it must be Zhao Gou who forced Liang Hongyu to break off our friendship."
Hu Yanzhuo was confused. "General, isn't Liang Hongyu not married to you yet? She's not your wife, and the emperor isn't trying to steal your wife. It's just that you've been so slow to act that someone else got her first." Hu Yanzhuo warned him, "General, this matter must not be made known to anyone else. You and Liang Hongyu must keep your distance from each other in the future."
"I see. I already knew what was going on. I only let down my guard and told you everything, brother."
"I am grateful for your esteem for me, General. Don't worry, I will keep this matter to myself."
"Okay, let's continue drinking."
When Han Shizhong woke up from his drunken stupor, it was already noon of the next day. Hu Yanzhuo had already left. Han Shizhong felt a splitting headache. He also thought of Liang Hongyu who had entered the palace as a concubine. He felt very lost. Thinking of every moment he had spent with her, his heart felt as if it was pierced by a sword. Could it be that he had really missed out on her in this life?
After a while, he realized that he had missed the morning court, so he shouted to the housekeeper, "Uncle Zhong, why didn't you wake me up today? Do you know that the morning court time has passed?"
Uncle Zhong bowed and said, "General, General Hu Yanzhuo has sent someone to tell you that he has asked the emperor for leave on your behalf."
Han Shizhong was relieved after hearing this. The emperor had absolved him of his guilt. He should never have been so arrogant as to not attend the morning court in the past few days. Moreover, there were those civil officials who were watching them, the military generals, with a covetous eye. They could not give them the opportunity to impeach him for being arrogant after making meritorious deeds.
The next day, after meeting Hu Yanzhuo at the morning court, he thanked him for asking for leave on his behalf the day before. Hu Yanzhuo pulled him aside and repeatedly told him to keep his distance from Liang Hongyu.
Han Shizhong said dissatisfiedly, "Brother, why are you so nagging? Even if I want to see her, I have to be able to see her. Now she lives in the deep palace. How can a minister like us get a glimpse of her face?"
Hu Yanzhuo wanted to say something else, but he saw that Han Shizhong had already rushed ahead of the officials entering the palace after he finished speaking. Knowing that he had made him unhappy by talking too much, he had no choice but to catch up.
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