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墨書 Inktalez
At the end of the second year of the Zhao Yuan era, Ming Xiting had not visited the Rain Dew Period for nearly three months.
If it had been a local from Kun Ze, they would have sensed something unusual right away. However, Ming Xiting was a time traveler who had only experienced the Rain Dew Period two or three times before, one of which was forcibly suppressed by the Tian Qian Xin Xiang. Thus, he remained completely unprepared.
Therefore, regarding his increasingly protruding belly, Ming Xiting merely thought he had been eating too well in the palace and had gained weight from overindulgence, never considering a reasonable yet bizarre explanation.
“Hey, it’s been three months already. Are you planning to keep me in the palace forever?” Ming Xiting lay on the bed, casually reading the most popular storybook among commoners without looking up. “Is your cousin really that difficult to deal with? After chasing her for so long, you haven’t even caught her on anything?”
Lou Yu pressed his lips together, remaining silent as he focused intently on Ming Xiting’s side profile and the slight curve of his belly.
Having lost his mother at a young age and raised solely by his father, Lou Yu had few memories of her. Yet now he couldn’t help but wonder if his own child would face the same fate—born into the world without a mother by their side.
Lou Yu remained quiet while Ming Xiting continued to speak to himself. “My father wrote to me saying that there are many temple fairs in Jiangnan during this season. I was thinking of returning to attend the last fair before the new year.”
Lou Yu set down his teacup and said, “Chang Yu has already shown her hand. By noon tonight, we should be able to catch her in the act. But…”
“But what?” Ming Xiting glanced at him before returning to his storybook.
“Do you truly not wish to stay in the palace? You’ve already been marked by me; even if you remove the mark later on, if you were with another Tian Qian, you would likely suffer quite a bit.”
“How many times have you asked me this? I’ve answered countless times. This palace is so boring! I can’t do this or that; staying here is just a waste of time. Besides, can’t you treat that incident as an accident? I’m a Kun Ze and I’m not holding a grudge—why are you still hung up on it? Just because you’re the emperor and have privileges doesn’t mean you can force me to stay here. That would be utterly inhumane.”
Lou Yu raised an eyebrow; it seemed he had been too indulgent with him lately, allowing him to develop such a fearless attitude and speak so frankly to an emperor.
Everything is about to come to an end.
A month ago, Princess Ling Shan passed away, and Princess Changyu's actions have become increasingly radical. In the imperial city, many bureaucrats have been petitioning against her, but all have been suppressed by Lou Yu.
For a time, everyone was filled with anxiety, fearing they would become a thorn in the side of this madwoman, drawing her attention.
In the second year of the Chaoyuan era, the Imperial Examination was implemented for the first time and has shown initial results. A number of talented individuals flooded into the court, but most were familiar faces; looking around, it was mostly members of noble families, with very few possessing genuine skills and knowledge.
Lou Yu threw the memorial heavily onto the table, raised his hand to rub his tightly furrowed brow, and closed his eyes in contemplation.
Soon, this group of people will fall from grace.
As night deepened, in the bustling night market of the imperial city, a moderately sized inn remained brightly lit, with a steady stream of customers coming and going, most of whom were enjoying their meals on the first floor.
A middle-aged woman entered the inn and headed straight to the second floor, requesting a private room.
Not long after the woman entered her room, several elegantly dressed individuals arrived at the inn. They inquired with the waiter whether the woman had already arrived and received a positive response before heading directly upstairs.
The group, clad in luxurious garments, strode confidently toward the woman's private room. Upon opening the door, they were surprised to find an elderly Zhong Yong inside. A hint of disdain flashed across their faces, but they did not express it openly. After all, this person was a trusted aide of the current Princess Changyu; they could not afford to be disrespectful and still needed her assistance in obtaining questions for the upcoming examination.
“Liu Mama, what instructions does the Eldest Princess have that require you to personally deliver a message?”
Liu Mama's murky eyes shifted slightly as she replied coolly, “The Eldest Princess does not need to explain her actions to you. Now, let’s cut to the chase. There are only ten spots available for this examination; whichever family wants one must show their sincerity so that the Eldest Princess can assist you.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the Tianqian officials immediately greeted each other with smiles, taking out the banknotes and land deeds they had prepared in advance, neatly arranging them on the table. These lightweight pieces of paper were worth their weight in gold, enough to buy half of the busiest street.
Liu Mama glanced over and said, “Alright, Eldest Princess’s Manor doesn’t need these mundane items. You should report your names so I can register them for Eldest Princess. To prevent this matter from leaking, we are all in the same boat now. Gentlemen, please sign and provide your fingerprints as proof.”
“This…” The crowd showed expressions of difficulty, but they gritted their teeth and signed their names, pressing their fingerprints. Just as Liu Mama had said, they were now tied to Changyu Princess; would she really betray them?
After the group cheerfully finished signing and fingerprinting, just as they were about to leave the private room, a sudden sound of clashing swords and footsteps echoed from outside, as if an army was approaching.
The leading Tianqian official immediately wanted to rush out, but as soon as he opened the door, a wall of flesh blocked the light. He slowly raised his head to see the fierce-looking commander of the Imperial Guard, Feng De.
“Your Majesty, these people are openly discussing the purchase of official positions in the inn and even talking about this year's examination questions in front of so many commoners. It is truly intolerable. I have already apprehended them all and locked them up in Dali Si Prison, awaiting interrogation.”
Lou Yu, sitting in a chair, listened to Feng De's report and asked, “You captured them?”
Feng De nodded. “Yes, they were contacted by Liu Mama from Changyu Princess’s side. For some reason, she personally intervened this time; usually, others handle such matters. This behavior seems almost like a setup… could it be a trap?”
Lou Yu calmly gazed out at the imperial city beyond the window, a fortress-like place that always exuded majesty and solemnity.
“Regardless of whether it is a trap or not, this matter cannot be delayed any longer. In that case, let the people from Dali Si interrogate her and say it is an edict from me personally. At the same time, thoroughly investigate the Changyu Princess’s residence.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
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