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墨書 Inktalez
Without allowing Huang Ziwen to sit down, Prime Minister Wang directly said, "Ziwun, I have something to ask you."
Huang Ziwen felt a wave of anxiety wash over him. "Lord Taishan, please ask. I will speak without reservation."
Prime Minister Wang took a sip of tea and gazed at the cup. "Ziwun, you know I have been in court for many years and have made many enemies. Yet, I never expected that someone would use your name to threaten me."
Huang Ziwen's heart sank; his fears had come true.
"Ah!" Huang Ziwen feigned surprise. "Is that so? Ziwun was unaware!"
"You truly did not know. Today in court, someone submitted a memorial accusing me. They claim that your character is corrupt and that you already have a lawful wife at home. They say I am foolish and unable to discern right from wrong, yet I allowed my daughter to marry you, demanding that the Sire investigate this matter. Ziwun, this marriage was reported to the Sire by me; what should we do now?"
Every word from Prime Minister Wang felt like a heavy hammer striking Huang Ziwen's heart, and beads of sweat began to form on his forehead. "Chancellor! This is truly unjust!" In that moment, Huang Ziwen made a decision; he would hold firm!
"Oh, so there is truly no such matter?"
"I swear, there is absolutely no such matter! It must be jealousy that has falsely accused me, seeking to strike back at you! Please judge fairly!"
"I see. Ziwun, are you willing to go to the Inspection Court in the capital tomorrow and confront the relevant parties?" Prime Minister Wang looked at Huang Ziwen.
Huang Ziwen gritted his teeth. "My lord, true gold fears no fire; why should I hesitate?"
"Well then, I did not misjudge you. Ziwun, you may leave now. Tomorrow, I will personally take you to the Inspection Court." Prime Minister Wang waved his hand.
Huang Ziwen felt a weight lift off his shoulders as he turned to leave.
"Ziwun, let me make this clear: according to the laws of our dynasty, if this accusation is proven true, it would be treason against the emperor, which could lead to execution. Even though you are my son-in-law, I will not show favoritism; I will report this matter to the Sire and willingly take responsibility for any oversight!" The voice of Prime Minister Wang echoed ominously behind him.
Huang Ziwen staggered slightly, managing to steady himself before stumbling out the door.
“Father! Do you really think he would fall for it?” After Huang Ziwen left, Wang Siyao emerged from a hidden door in the study, gazing thoughtfully at the door outside.
“This person is sycophantic and cowardly, always currying favor. Based on my judgment, given his character, he will definitely flee the residence. At that point, we just need to send someone to follow and kill him, then report to the Sire that Huang Ziwen has met his demise. Everything will be fine,” Prime Minister Wang said, his eyes narrowing with a murderous glint.
Wang Siyao shivered. “Father! Please don’t talk about killing in front of me; it frightens me,” she pouted.
“Siyao, I’m doing this all for you!” Prime Minister Wang turned to her, his eyes filled with affection for his beloved daughter.
At the Minister's Villa, Huang Ziwen paced nervously in his room. He had let slip some words, but the truth was he knew Azure Lotus must have come to the capital. He wondered which bastard was jealous of him and informed Azure Lotus. Knowing Azure Lotus's temperament, she would definitely come to inquire about the situation, which had alerted his father-in-law. Was his father-in-law trying to pressure him into making a statement?
Moreover, how was Azure Lotus still alive? Hadn’t he sent assassins after her? Why was she still able to come to the capital?!
What should he do? Escape? It was an option, but Huang Ziwen was unwilling to give up such a promising future just like that. No, absolutely not! He quickly dismissed that idea. He needed to confront her—confront Azure Lotus. If only she had died earlier!
With that thought in mind, Huang Ziwen suddenly came up with a plan—the only plan. “Hey, Azure Lotus, if you want to blame someone, you can only blame yourself!” he muttered fiercely to himself.
Huang Ziwen changed into another set of clothes and quietly slipped out the door, unaware that two people were following him from a distance—two servants specifically instructed by Prime Minister Wang to kill and bury him as soon as he left the capital.
In the dark of night, Huang Ziwen hurried along the wall, lost in thought as he tried to avoid patrolling guards, completely oblivious to those trailing behind him.
Before long, he arrived at the inn—Common Inn. Fortunately, it hadn’t closed yet. He pushed open the door and entered the lobby where the attendant greeted him warmly. “Oh, guest! Where do you come from? This is indeed an inn; unfortunately, all our rooms are full.”
Huang Ziwen replied absentmindedly, “Oh, it’s full?”
The attendant said, “Please leave; we’ll be closing soon.”
Huang Ziwen thought for a moment, then took out a silver coin and placed it in the waiter’s hand. "Hey, I want to ask you something."
"Sir, what would you like to know?" The waiter smiled broadly as he tucked the coin into his pocket.
"Is there a young lady staying here today?"
"Sir, many young ladies stay here every day."
"No, no. I'm asking if there is a young lady who looks like me—an oval face, quite pretty, with a mole at the corner of her eyebrow," Huang Ziwen gestured.
"Ah, let me think." The waiter scratched his head. "Oh, it seems there is one today who looks just like you. She came with another male companion."
"Oh, where is she staying?" Huang Ziwen's eyes lit up.
"She’s in the second-to-last room on the east side of the first floor."
"And her male companion?"
"He's in the third room on the west side of the second floor."
"Great, thanks." Huang Ziwen turned and left. The waiter was left puzzled, muttering to himself, "What a strange person."
Taking advantage of the waiter's momentary distraction, Huang Ziwen slipped out and made his way to the courtyard. He quietly crouched down and approached the second-to-last room on the east side of the first floor. He arrived at the window.
Huang Ziwen looked up; the light inside was still on. He knocked gently on the window. "Tap tap."
There was no response. He raised his hand again and knocked harder. "Tap tap!"
Soon, footsteps echoed from inside the room, and with a creak, the window was pushed open. A woman softly murmured to herself, "Oh, how strange. Could someone be playing tricks?"
It was Azure Lotus! It really was her! Hearing that familiar voice made Huang Ziwen's heart race. How could he face Azure Lotus?
In that moment, all the memories of his time with Azure Lotus flooded back to Huang Ziwen's mind. He recalled how, during those late-night study sessions over the years, she would sit beside him, adding oil to his lamp and pouring him tea. He had jokingly called it the greatest joy in life to have her by his side. He remembered how they would watch the lotus flowers in the pond outside whenever it rained, and he had thought that she was his greatest treasure in this life. He also remembered how, when he was about to leave for the capital to take the imperial examination, she had given up her only silver hairpin to help him with travel expenses, and he had promised to return as a Top Scholar to bring her back…
Thinking of all this made Huang Ziwen waver. He lowered his head and inadvertently noticed that he was wearing official boots. Official? Common? Rich? Poor? These words swirled in his mind as he envisioned himself as Prime Minister Wang's son-in-law, commanding respect in the court; even imagining a scene where, after Prime Minister Wang's passing, he would lead all the civil and military officials…
To be above others! How many lifetimes would one get such an opportunity?!
Huang Ziwen finally made up his mind: Azure Lotus, I have no choice but to do this.
Suddenly standing up, Huang Ziwen reached out to stop the window from closing. "Azure Lotus, it's me!" he exclaimed, quickly preventing Azure Lotus from screaming in shock.
"Husband?!" Azure Lotus blurted out before her expression turned serious. "You’re not dead?"
Huang Ziwen couldn't help but chuckle in disbelief. "Wife, who said I was dead?"
"Not dead? Then why didn't you come home to find me? The official announcement says this year's Top Scholar is named Huang Ziwen; I’ve been waiting for you to come and take me away to enjoy life! How do you explain that?" Azure Lotus looked extremely aggrieved and dissatisfied.
"Sigh, Azure Lotus, this is a long story."
Azure Lotus suddenly raised her head and stared at him. "So, how is it? Have you become a high official? I heard you became the Chancellor's son-in-law. What about me? What am I supposed to do?" She sneered coldly. "Hmph, I bet the Chancellor doesn’t even know you have a wife. Once he finds out, he probably won’t let you continue in your position!"
Azure Lotus's words filled Huang Ziwen with shame. "Azure Lotus, that's not true! Listen to me; it was the Chancellor who valued my talent and proposed on my behalf in front of Sire. I truly couldn’t refuse! By the way, Azure Lotus, who brought you to the capital?"
Azure Lotus scoffed. "The roads are uneven; someone has to smooth them out. A high-ranking official in the capital who is at odds with the Chancellor sent someone to bring me here to expose you. Let’s see what you’ll do now! I find it strange; when I was at home, you didn’t come for me. How did you know I had arrived?"
"Huang Ziwen," he said, "of course I can't tell the truth. I just sent someone back to my hometown, but I couldn't find you."
Azure Lotus looked at Huang Ziwen with disdain. "Really? You didn't send someone to kill me and silence me, did you? Oh, by the way, before I left, the neighbor's Kexin was indeed murdered. It was the officials who did it. If that's true, all those years of studying you've done must have been for nothing!"
Huang Ziwen's face turned red and pale. He glanced around. "Azure Lotus, keep your voice down. Shh! Listen to me. I came quietly to find you. I've decided to leave everything behind and run away with you. I don't want to be an official anymore; I just want to live a simple life with you."
"You're lying," Azure Lotus turned her head away.
"I'm serious! I didn't bring anything with me. Look, I'm here to take you away quietly while no one knows, so that later the officials won't hunt us down. Azure Lotus, do you remember how we used to dream of wandering together? Come with me!"
Azure Lotus turned back, looking at Huang Ziwen with a mix of doubt and curiosity. "Is this for real?"
Huang Ziwen urged eagerly, "Azure Lotus, if we go together, you'll know it's true! Why are you still here?"
Seeing that Azure Lotus was still hesitant, Huang Ziwen grew anxious and pulled her into his embrace. "Wife, have you forgotten what I promised you? I want to take you across the Southern Sea and Northern Sky and live a free life."
As he inhaled the fragrance from Azure Lotus, Huang Ziwen felt a rush of emotion and couldn't help but cup her face and kiss her lips.
Azure Lotus lowered her head shyly and whispered, "Then, Husband, I'll trust you one more time. Wait for me; I'll go grab my things."
Huang Ziwen felt a surge of joy in his heart. "Wife, hurry up!"
Upon hearing Huang Ziwen call her that, all of Azure Lotus's anger and resentment vanished instantly. She smiled sweetly and walked over to the bed to gather her belongings.
Before long, Huang Ziwen led Azure Lotus out of the inn through the back wall without alerting her companion. They made their way along the wall under the cover of darkness until they reached an abandoned tower by the city wall.
"Husband, wait a minute," Azure Lotus said with some suspicion. "I heard today that the city gates are closed at night in the capital. How are we going to get out?"
"Exactly, so we will extend the rope from the tower to leave the city. I have already arranged for someone to meet us outside."
Under the moonlight, Huang Ziwen suddenly noticed that Azure Lotus was wearing a red gauze dress. "Wife, why are you wearing red? I remember you liked wearing green."
"Hehe, who told you to be so heartless? I originally thought that if you really abandoned me, I would wear this red gauze dress and take my own life, turning into a vengeful spirit to haunt you!" Azure Lotus covered her mouth and laughed.
Huang Ziwen shivered at her words. He hesitated and said, "Wife, don't joke like that. I... I'll go check the situation first."
"Husband, you're not planning to go alone, are you?! Hmph! If you dare betray me, I will ensure your name is ruined."
Azure Lotus didn't realize that those words unleashed all the murderous intent within Huang Ziwen.
Suddenly filled with rage, Huang Ziwen slowly turned around, reaching out to pull Azure Lotus closer while forcing a smile. "Wife, how could that be? We will definitely be together for a lifetime. Come on, Wife, let's set off."
(To be continued; tomorrow will be even more exciting!)
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