Chapter 74
The evening breeze, carrying the last traces of heat, blew across the courtyard. The shadows of the osmanthus trees were stretched out diagonally, interweaving with the glow of the lanterns hanging from the eaves, casting a mottled pattern on the bluestone slabs.
Shen Yanzhi did not let go.
His palm was dry and warm, like a piece of fine warm jade, wrapping and ironing each of Song Qingyuan's slightly cold fingers. It was a kind of strength that could not be questioned, yet it was so gentle that it made it impossible for anyone to have any thoughts of resistance.
Song Qingyuan's heart skipped a beat at that moment, then began to beat like a drum in her chest. She could clearly feel her blood rushing faster as the warmth of his palms warmed her.
"More than an ally."
He said this, and then he said nothing more. But some words, need not be said, are worth a thousand words.
The air was filled with the sweet aroma of osmanthus flowers, and an inexplicable, comforting scent. Song Qingyuan lowered his eyes, watching their clasped hands. His fingers were long and strong, with distinct joints. They intertwined with hers, fitting seamlessly, as if it were meant to be this way.
She recalled the first time they met, him sitting in a wheelchair, cold and distant, his eyes a deep, unfathomable pool. She also recalled the covenant he handed her on their wedding night, written in black and white, dividing the two of them on opposite sides of the spectrum.
He also recalled the countless days and nights of deduction and planning between the two in the study, and the tacit understanding and trust they had in the midst of swords and sabers.
Those past events, like a slowly unfolding scroll, are finally frozen at this moment.
"Your Highness," she finally raised her head, a faint smile spreading across her lips, but her eyes were brighter than the sunset glow in the sky, "The road ahead will probably be even more dangerous than the Salt War."
"Yeah." Shen Yanzhi responded, his eyes as calm as water, but with a certain burning warmth, "I might get tired walking alone. With two people, we can see farther and walk more steadily."
He paused, then held her hand a little tighter, as if he wanted to imprint some promise directly on her heart through the warmth of his palm.
"Qingyuan, are you willing?"
He asked seriously, as if inviting her to join him on a long journey with an unknown end.
Song Qingyuan smiled, this time, a smile from the heart, without reservation. She turned her hand back and shook his hand firmly.
"How fortunate I am to be traveling with you."
The leaves of the osmanthus trees rustled, and the late-returning birds flew across the sky. Everything was just right.
The news of the Second Prince's house arrest and the Grand Tutor's salary being fined was like an eight-magnitude earthquake, sending shockwaves through the officialdom of the capital. The Second Prince's and Grand Tutor's mansions, once bustling with activity, became deserted overnight. Even the stone lions at the gates seemed to radiate a sense of forlornness.
In sharp contrast to this is the Prince of Yan's Mansion.
The next morning, just as the sky was getting light, before the gates of Prince Yan's Mansion were even opened, a crowd of people had already gathered outside. However, this time they were not there to denounce him, but to bring him gifts.
"Butler Wang! This is our freshly baked Eight Treasures Longevity Cake from Fu Man Lou, specially brought to His Majesty the Prince and Princess for a taste!"
"Butler Wang, this is a pair of mandarin duck pillowcases that I hastily made in my own embroidery workshop. It's a token of my respect, but I hope the princess won't dislike it!"
"Butler Wang..."
The housekeeper Lao Fu stood at the door, looking through the crack at the piles of gifts and enthusiastic faces outside, and for a moment he was at a loss.
He had lived for most of his life, but this was the first time he had seen such a scene. A few days ago, these people wanted to flood the palace with spit, and today they were almost sending their own ancestral tablets.
"This...what should I do?" Lao Fu wiped the sweat from his forehead and turned to look at Zhao Lin, the commander of the guards in the mansion.
Zhao Lin still had the same icy face he always had, but if you looked closely, you could see a faint twitch at the corner of his mouth. He clasped his fists and said, "The prince has ordered that all gifts will not be accepted.
We appreciate the people's kindness. Let me tell you, the prince and princess are working on the subsequent supply of affordable salt. Please wait patiently and don't waste money like this again."
After receiving the order, Lao Fu cleared his throat and repeated it loudly to the person outside the door.
Far from being disappointed, the crowd erupted in even more enthusiastic admiration.
"Listen! Listen! What does it mean to be noble and upright? This is the wise king of Daliang!"
"The princess is even more kindhearted! We were so blind before and wrongly blamed a good person!"
"That's right! I heard that the rumor about the 'weapon' was invented by the princess! It's called 'giving someone a taste of their own medicine'! She's brave and resourceful, and should be a role model for women like us!"
Inside the mansion, Song Qingyuan and Shen Yanzhi were having breakfast. Listening to the rumors from outside that the maid had learned while trying to hold back her laughter, he almost spit out his porridge.
"Female role model?" She put down the spoon and looked at Shen Yanzhi with a mixture of laughter and tears. "Why do I feel that my image in the eyes of the people of the capital is getting weirder and weirder?"
From "jealous woman" to "witch", and now fast forward to "female Zhuge Liang".
Shen Yanzhi drank the last mouthful of porridge slowly and wiped the corner of his mouth with a handkerchief before looking up at her with a smile in his eyes: "What's wrong with it? It's better than 'witch'."
Song Qingyuan curled his lips: "But I always feel that this reputation is too great, which is not a good thing."
A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind. She understood this principle better than anyone else. Their victory this time was certainly due to careful planning, but also due to an element of surprise. Now, she and Shen Yanzhi were both pushed to the forefront of the storm, and their every move from now on would be watched by countless eyes.
"It's okay." Shen Yanzhi seemed to see through her worries. "Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Holding the people's hearts in your hands is always more secure than having them held by others."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Lin walked in from outside with a solemn expression.
"Your Highness, Princess, someone has arrived from the palace. The Emperor has ordered you to appear before him immediately."
Song Qingyuan and Shen Yanzhi looked at each other, and each saw a hint of understanding in the other's eyes.
What is coming will eventually come.
In this salt war, they had won against the Second Prince. But from another perspective, they had also won the hearts of the people. And this was exactly what the emperor least wanted to see.
Imperial study.
The sandalwood incense is lingering, but the atmosphere is even more solemn than the ice in winter.
The emperor sat on the dragon throne, reviewing the memorials with an expressionless face. He did not ask Shen Yanzhi to stand up, but just let him stand quietly in the hall.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the oppressive silence could almost crush a person's bones.
Shen Yanzhi stood straight, his expression calm, like an emotionless jade statue. He knew that this was a warning from the emperor, but also a test. It was a test of his character and his loyalty.
Finally, the emperor put down his red brush and raised his eyes. Those eyes, which had once held tenderness, now only held scrutiny and majesty.
"Yanzhi, do you admit your guilt?"
The emperor's voice was not loud, but it carried the force of thunder, echoing in the empty imperial study.
Shen Yanzhi lifted his robe and slowly knelt down, his posture calm: "Your son, I don't know."
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