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墨書 Inktalez
Mei Shuang was too lazy to push through the crowd, so she sat down in a vacant spot in front of a small stall.
Just as she settled in, someone tapped her shoulder.
Surprised, she looked up to see a smug face. "Ha, I didn't wait in vain after all; I've finally found you."
Mei Shuang was taken aback. Wasn't this the guy from earlier at the Mountain Base on the Narrow Path? What a coincidence.
With people bustling around her, escaping was impossible now. Even if she shouted for help, Yun Kong might not make it back in time.
She composed herself and stood up. "How did you find me?"
"Hahaha," the steward pointed ahead. "That bridge is the only way out of here. I figured you would come this way, so I waited for you here for quite a while..."
Mei Shuang brushed off her clothes. "Alright, let's go."
The steward was somewhat puzzled by Mei Shuang's calm demeanor, but seeing her obediently comply eased his mind. "Good, this way I won't have to take action and disturb the passersby."
As Mei Shuang lifted her foot to leave, she stumbled slightly as if she hadn't steadied herself and fell toward the stall in front of her.
In an instant, chaos ensued as the carefully arranged fruits on the vendor's cart went flying everywhere due to Mei Shuang's collision. Not stopping there, she reached out and knocked into the nearby pastry stall, causing several stalls to be disrupted in quick succession.
Soon, the ground was covered with fruits and pastries rolling around everywhere.
The sudden turn of events infuriated the vendors, who rushed forward to grab Mei Shuang and prevent her from leaving.
Feeling wronged, Mei Shuang pointed at the bewildered steward behind her. "He pushed me! I didn't spend a single cent; he should pay for this."
Upon hearing that Mei Shuang claimed she had no money, the vendors surrounded the steward, demanding that he compensate them.
The butler finally understood Mei Shuang's tricks and was so angry that his nose twisted in frustration. "That damn woman, playing tricks, huh?"
Mei Shuang chimed in with a strange voice, "Master, today it's your fault. Hurry up and pay the silver... You brought money with you; you took out over ten taels when you left..."
Upon hearing the commotion between the two, the stall owners frowned, and one of them placed a weight in front of the butler. "Your wife caused trouble and disrupted our business. What are you going to do about it?"
The butler was speechless. "Whose wife is she? I didn't do anything."
"Hey, damn it, you're even less brave than a woman! Hurry up and get the silver, or we'll go see the authorities..."
The butler had indeed not brought any money this time. Otherwise, he would have at least thrown some silver to resolve the situation and catch Mei Shuang instead of watching her disappear into the crowd.
When Yun Kong returned, he found the original spot in chaos, with a group of people surrounding a man demanding money. Mei Shuang was nowhere to be seen.
His heart tightened as he asked someone nearby for the reason. After a moment of thought, he realized that Mei Shuang had been spotted and was hiding.
Looking around, the riverside was packed with people; finding someone now would not be easy. Yun Kong couldn't help but feel guilty.
After shaking off her pursuers, Mei Shuang did not look for Yun Kong, but instead continued across the bridge. If passing through Yangzhou was unavoidable, then crossing the bridge would allow her to leave Yangzhou quickly.
Feeling the twenty taels of silver hidden in her sleeve brought her some comfort; it was better than having nothing and starving.
She had no idea that Yun Kong intended to take her to meet someone, but she guessed it was likely someone she had in mind. To be honest, she wasn't prepared at all to meet him.
Even when she was with Yun Kong, she had been looking for an opportunity to escape; it just so happened that the butler's appearance provided her with that chance.
Thinking of Lin Yuan, she could only pray for him in her heart; right now, she had no time to worry about him.
In the capital, Lin Tian'er was taken aback upon receiving a letter from Lin Yuan. Without further ado, she headed straight to the palace to meet the emperor.
At almost the same time, the Li Family received news about Li Chun, and they were equally astonished. It was said that Li Chun had vanished without a trace in Yangzhou, causing quite a stir.
A decree arrived in Jiangnan, and the Yangzhou Prefect finally realized the trouble he had stirred up.
He immediately ordered the capture of Lin Yuan and Li Chun, but there was no sign of Mei Shuang.
The outcome was that the local tyrant was executed, and the Prefect was dismissed. The legendary teacher Shen Sujun's school was preserved and flourished in her memory, receiving the name "Su Jun Academy" for people to pay their respects.
Subsequently, the Yangzhou Prefect allocated funds for all eligible children in Yangzhou to attend school, regardless of gender; any child over five years old could enroll.
In the palace, within the Empress Dowager's chambers.
Early in the morning, Aunt Yu rushed in with a joyful expression to Empress Dowager Mingxi. "Empress Dowager, great news!"
Empress Dowager Mingxi, while grooming herself, responded dismissively, "What is it? Has that girl returned to the palace?"
Aunt Yu paused, realizing that the Empress Dowager had misunderstood. She quickly lowered her voice and said, "Empress Dowager, it's not Chu Xi Ruo; rather..."
She leaned in close to whisper in Empress Dowager's ear. The pearl hairpin in Empress Dowager Mingxi's hand slipped from her grasp and fell to the floor as her eyes widened in shock and disbelief. "What? You mean Shuang'er... she's still alive?"
Aunt Yu nodded. "I just heard it from Li Gonggong who is close to His Majesty. It seems His Majesty hasn't had a chance to tell you yet; I came as soon as I could."
"Quickly tell me, what is going on?" Empress Dowager Mingxi grasped Aunt Yu's hand, a hint of agitation in her voice.
Aunt Yu began to explain how Lin Tian'er had opened the "Sweet Honey Travels the World" establishment and expanded its business to Jiangnan. She recounted how Mei Shuang had accidentally fallen into the river and was rescued by someone who took her to Jiangnan, where she happened to encounter Lin Yuan. As Aunt Yu spoke, Empress Dowager Mingxi continuously twisted her prayer beads, murmuring "Amitabha."
Then Aunt Yu shared Mei Shuang's deeds in the area, particularly her selflessness in teaching children despite neglecting her own needs. This made Empress Dowager Mingxi sigh deeply, "This child, Shuang'er, truly is someone I did not misjudge... If our Great Qin Empire had such an Empress, it would be a blessing..."
After a long moment of contemplation, Empress Dowager Mingxi urgently asked, "Has she returned? I want to go see her..."
Aunt Yu shook her head. "No, I only heard a rough idea..."
"Quickly summon the Emperor; I need to inquire about the situation."
Aunt Yu agreed and left but was called back by Empress Dowager Mingxi, who looked somewhat doubtful. "Has the Emperor met Chu Xiruo?"
Aunt Yu nodded. "I actually thought the Emperor should have visited Miss Chu long ago. He leaves the palace on the fifteenth of every month, and I felt..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi was both shocked and angry. "What? Who told him?"
Aunt Yu replied, "Once when I was talking with Li Gonggong, he accidentally let it slip. It seems that Miss Mei Shuang told the Emperor before she left..."
"She?" Empress Dowager Mingxi was even more astonished. "How does she know? Although she has been there, isn't she at odds with Chu Xiruo? How could she possibly inform the Emperor of her whereabouts?"
Aunt Yu quickly reminded Empress Dowager Mingxi, "Your Majesty, don't forget that Miss Mei Shuang is not the same as she used to be..."
Empress Dowager Mingxi paused for a moment before realizing something. "Is it that Shuang'er has no feelings for the Emperor at all?"
Outside the capital city, in front of the Buddha Hall of a temple.
The full moon hung high in the sky, its bright light casting down upon the two figures standing before the Buddha Hall.
Dressed in a dark robe, Xiao Luo gazed at the round moon in the distance, lost in thought. Behind him, a slender woman clad in gray Buddhist robes approached quietly, her features as delicate as a painting.
The moonlight illuminated her face, warm and jade-like, resembling an otherworldly fairy untouched by mortal affairs.
She paused, wanting to speak but fearing she might disturb Xiao Luo. After a moment of silence, she let out a soft sigh. "The moon on the fifteenth is full on the sixteenth. The emperor has been staring at the bright moon for quite some time; is there something on your mind?"
Her gentle words brought Xiao Luo back to reality. He turned around, offering a slight smile that replaced his earlier contemplation with a tender warmth. "How did you know I had something on my mind?"
Chu Xiruo gazed at the tall man before her, whose features were chiseled like those of a statue and whose eyes sparkled like stars. She couldn't help but smile mischievously as she spoke. "I naturally know. If it weren't so, how could I have stood behind you for so long without you noticing..."
Looking at Chu Xiruo's slightly playful and radiant face, Xiao Luo momentarily lost himself in thought, and countless images flashed through his mind—sometimes that woman would look just like this...
He shook his head to dispel those images and reached out to take her hand.
Chu Xiruo quietly regarded her childhood friend who had now become the Sovereign. In his deep, dark eyes, there seemed to be something unspoken that made it hard for her to see clearly...
When she saw his outstretched hand, Chu Xiruo did not respond as she usually would. Instead, she turned and discreetly brought over a cup of tea from the table, handing it to Xiao Luo.
Her soft fingertips brushed against his palm as he accepted the cup; he felt an emptiness in his hand but remained composed.
"I originally thought you had come at the Empress Dowager's behest. It wasn't until I received an edict from her allowing me to return to the palace that I realized you had concealed your visit from her," Chu Xiruo said.
"Mm..." Xiao Luo lowered his head to sip the tea. If it weren't for the message she had deliberately left behind, how could he have found this place?
Chu Xiruo saw that Xiao Luo did not answer the question, and a sense of disappointment rose inexplicably in her heart. She forcibly suppressed the bitterness within and suddenly knelt down solemnly, saying, "Your Majesty, I implore you to convey to Empress Dowager that Xi Ruo is here in seclusion, having forgotten the mundane world. Moreover, I have long sworn to accompany Azure Lamp and Ancient Buddha for this lifetime and will never return to the palace..."
Xiao Luo paused, handing the teacup in his hand to Li Gonggong, and stepped forward to help Chu Xiruo up, his gaze deep. "Since Empress Dowager has allowed you to return to the palace, why do you refuse? Do you not wish to accompany me?"
Chu Xiruo gazed at Xiao Luo, her expression complex in those unfathomable eyes. She took a deep breath and lowered her gaze. "If Your Majesty does not agree with Xi Ruo, then Xi Ruo will kneel here and not rise..."
Xiao Luo was momentarily taken aback.
Feeling a tremor in her heart at this response, Chu Xiruo turned and returned to the Buddha Hall, gently closing the door, shutting out Xiao Luo's complex gaze.
After an unknown amount of time, there came a gentle knock on the door along with Peach's tender voice. "Miss, open the door..."
Chu Xiruo was kneeling before the Buddha Hall, reciting the Sutra, when the door was gently pushed open. Peach entered and said, "The Emperor has already left..."
Chu Xiruo's hand trembled as she closed her eyes, striving to suppress the turmoil within her heart. She replied lightly, "I know..."
"Miss, you and the Emperor have finally reunited, and now with Empress Dowager's grace, why do you refuse His Majesty?"
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