Chapter 397
Rong Rong was a little excited. It was the first time she had ever seen a top scholar parade through the streets, and that scholar was one of her own people.
As they approached her window, Rong Rong finally couldn't help but call out, "Yanqiu! The top scholar!"
Rong Rong's voice wasn't loud, but it had a unique, sweet, and alluring tone, making her stand out inexplicably amidst the cheers. As soon as Rong Rong finished speaking, Su Yanqiu immediately looked up at the second floor.
Besides Su Yanqiu, the second and third place scholars, as well as the other scholars and officials who were parading through the streets, all looked in Rong Rong's direction.
The girls around Rong Rong shyly covered their faces with handkerchiefs, while the bolder ones threw their handkerchiefs, flowers, or fruits at Su Yanqiu and the others.
However, Su Yanqiu and his group stood there dumbfounded, neither dodging nor continuing their journey, and the entire group quietly came to a stop.
They looked at Rong Rong as if she were the only blooming rose in a vast grassland.
So beautiful, so dazzling, so captivating.
Even though Rong Rong wore a veil, it only added to her hazy beauty and mystery, making her even more alluring.
Whose daughter is this? And is she married?
Will she take a liking to them if she comes to watch the parade?
The single third-place scholar silently straightened his clothes, straightened his back, raised his chin, and presented his most perfect side, seemingly forgetting that the beauty had just called him the top scholar.
Apart from him, the other single Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations) all had similar reactions. The married Bangyan (second-place scholar) initially stared blankly for a moment, then looked on with amusement as everyone spread their tails like peacocks.
He secretly lamented that he was getting old and that his youth had passed.
Su Yanqiu stared intently at Rong Rong, feeling as if this moment was the pinnacle of his life, a moment of glory.
Ten years of hard study, achieving the top score in the college entrance examination, and having his only relative, his sister-in-law, by his side—could there be anything happier than this?
Su Yanqiu raised the corners of her mouth, unable to suppress the smile on her face.
Screams erupted all around, as the girls marveled that this year's top scholar was even more handsome than the third-ranked scholar.
"Top scholar, look here!"
"I want to find a son-in-law by following my father's list of successful candidates!"
"This is a handkerchief I embroidered, here you go!"
......
Perhaps because Su Yanqiu and the others were focused on this place, the girls around Rong Rong stopped being reserved and began throwing things downstairs one after another.
Especially when Su Yanqiu, who had been expressionless, suddenly smiled so brightly and gently, everyone's hearts were moved.
Rong Rong thought for a moment and took out a flower, intending to throw it to Su Yanqiu.
She tried her best to throw the flower far away, and as if in slow motion, the flower flew slowly towards Su Yanqiu in a parabola.
Su Yanqiu stretched out his hand to receive it, and the second and third place scholars next to him also subconsciously stretched out their hands, as did several other Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations).
For a moment, it seemed as if they were fighting over Rong Rong's flower.
Screams erupted again, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.
However, the excited screams suddenly turned into terror, and the inn where Rong Rong was located became chaotic.
Su Yanqiu caught Hua Xinxi's head as she looked up, and all she could see was Rong Rong's skirt flashing past the window.
Su Yanqiu was filled with doubt. Where had his sister-in-law gone? Was she going down to look for him?
Su Yanqiu looked around, and suddenly, the sound of discussion upstairs reached his ears.
"The Xuanjia Guards have arrested someone!"
"Who was that just now? Why was he taken away?"
Why would the Xuanjia Guards come to capture a woman?
......
Su Yanqiu suddenly looked up, and the flowers in her hand fell to the ground.
The Xuanjia Guards, directly under the emperor, were secret guards authorized to carry swords into the palace...
Rong Rong returned to Yaoguang Palace, the place where the original owner grew up.
It is Princess Zhaohua's bedroom, the most luxurious and largest palace in the palace, besides the three main halls.
Rong Rong was still wearing the same clothes she had come in. About twenty palace maids stood quietly around her with their heads down.
As the sun slowly set, it bathed the palace in a warm orange glow, but Rong Rong felt no warmth. Instead, she felt the vast palace was eerily cold.
In the Imperial Study, Xie Linyang, burning with fever, uncontrollably embraced Pan'er.
His blood was surging, and he felt as if a wild beast was roaring inside him, trying to break free.
The woman's cold body in his arms was just what relieved his pain, making him addicted to wanting more and wanting to press himself against her.
Pan'er smiled, but cried out, "Your Majesty, no!"
She finally found the person who could help her break through the barrier.
She was a foolish, greedy idiot. She said a few words, and the other party wanted to drug the emperor in order to get into his bed. It just so happened that she got the benefit.
Pan'er believed that as long as she and the emperor got together, even if the emperor was unwilling, he would still give her dignity and grant her the title of concubine and a palace. It would no longer be a dream!
Pan'er is overjoyed, for wealth and glory are just around the corner!
Suddenly, a voice came from outside the door, interrupting Pan'er's sweet dream.
"Your Majesty, the person has been found; they are in Yaoguang Palace!"
Xie Linyang froze, straightened up, and pushed Pan'er to the ground.
Xie Linyang's movement was so forceful that Pan'er fell and scraped her skin.
Pan'er covered her arm and looked at Xie Linyang with a puzzled expression.
Who has been found? What is in Yaoguang Palace?
She knew Yaoguang Palace; it was Princess Zhaohua's bedroom. Who would be in Princess Zhaohua's bedroom? Could it be that the emperor had found a stand-in who looked very much like Princess Zhaohua?
In an instant, Pan'er's gaze turned sinister.
She didn't think Princess Zhaohua was still alive. A delicate princess who couldn't swim couldn't possibly survive being pushed into such a turbulent river!
She stood on the shore for a long time, but no one came up. That was long enough that she was sure a normal person would have drowned by then.
Therefore, Pan'er was certain that the emperor had found a substitute.
They had her all, yet they still had to find another substitute. Damn it!
Pan'er was unwilling to give up. Seeing that Xie Linyang was about to get up and leave, she quickly got up and pounced on Xie Linyang.
Xie Linyang was under the influence of the drug at this moment, and she absolutely could not go to that slut's place, otherwise wouldn't all her hard work be for someone else's benefit?
"Your Majesty, the princess dislikes outsiders staying in her palace. Could it be that Your Majesty has arranged for someone else to enter? If the princess were alive, she would surely be saddened!"
Pan'er, with tears streaming down her face, pleaded for Princess Zhaohua's injustice, but pretended to be so heartbroken that she lost her balance and fell into Xie Linyang's arms.
The drug she gave Xie Linyang was extremely potent; she believed that with just a little seduction, she could win him over.
However, the Xie Linyang who she imagined would hold her tightly did not happen. With a loud thud, Pan'er was pushed to the ground again, sliding several meters away and crashing hard into the corner of the table.
"Get out!" Xie Linyang's fierce voice was filled with killing intent as he strode away.
Pan'er belatedly felt a sharp pain in her forehead, and liquid slowly flowed down. In the blink of an eye, everything in front of her was bright red.
Pan'er touched her forehead; her hand was covered in blood.
The pain made her temples throb.
Xie Linyang has always been tolerant and patient with her, especially after she learned to speak and act like Princess Zhaohua, Xie Linyang became even more gentle towards her.
This was the first time Pan'er had felt such a strong, terrifying killing intent emanating from Xie Linyang.
Even when Princess Zhaohua was in trouble and she returned to the palace alone, Xie Linyang blamed her for failing to protect her mistress, but he did not unleash such intense killing intent towards her.
Pan'er's heart sank to the bottom, her eyes filled with malice and viciousness.
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