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墨書 Inktalez
As we took advantage of Liang Yulan's moment of weakness, collapsing in pain on the ground, we swiftly dashed out of the stone chamber, retracing our steps through the dark passage.
After escaping the stone chamber, Xie Yao pulled me along as we ran frantically, finally arriving at the base of the Mingyuan Tower, the highest building in the examination compound.
Climbing up to the towering pavilion, the night wind howled, dispersing the lingering fragrance in the air and easing our taut nerves.
Xie Yao somehow produced a champion's robe, vibrant red with golden dragons embroidered on it, symbolizing supreme honor.
He didn’t wear it but draped it over both of us, shielding us from the biting cold wind.
Standing side by side on top of Mingyuan Tower, beneath us lay a sea of lights from countless homes, sparkling like a river of stars.
In that moment, all danger, filth, and conspiracy seemed to fade away.
I could feel the warmth radiating from his shoulder and the weight of the heavy champion's robe enveloping us.
Together we stood there, as if sharing some secret vow.
"This imperial edict... will bring a lot of trouble," I whispered, my tone laced with concern.
Xie Yao gazed into the distant lights, his expression deep and contemplative. He didn’t respond directly but tightened the robe draped over us.
The wind atop Mingyuan Tower that night blew away the chill of the dye but could not disperse the heaviness brought by the imperial edict.
We both understood that once this ironclad evidence came to light, it would stir up tremendous waves and bring no peace thereafter.
Indeed, just three days later, Liang Wende's secret possession of an imperial edict from a previous dynasty and his collusion with the Xie Family in fraud were presented by an official. The direct line of Liang Residence was swiftly arrested, and even Liang Yulan was not spared.
Under the escort of Su Mama, I was summoned to the court of Dali Temple as a witness.
In court, Liang Yulan appeared disheveled yet still glared at me with venomous eyes, insisting that I and Xie Yao had framed her. She claimed that the cinnabar mole on my forehead was proof of my wickedness.
A chill ran through my heart, yet I steadied myself and stepped forward, pouring the tea I had prepared earlier onto her forehead.
This tea was no ordinary brew; it was a concoction infused with a certain herb, a remedy I had stumbled upon in an ancient text while crafting incense.
The warm liquid flowed over her skin, and the proud vermilion birthmark on Liang Yulan's forehead visibly began to fade and blur, ultimately transforming into a murky blood-red, resembling a festering wound.
"This vermilion birthmark was created with toxic pigments; prolonged use will corrode the skin," I said coldly, each word piercing like a dagger.
Liang Yulan's complexion changed dramatically as she fearfully covered her forehead, trying to wipe it away, but that only allowed the medicinal properties to seep in faster. The intense pain caused her to let out a piercing scream.
"She once used this substance to make rouge with the intent of ruining my appearance; this is the evidence!" I presented the remnants of the rouge that Xie Yao had given me, its acrid scent spreading throughout the courtroom.
Just as Liang Wende was desperately struggling to defend himself, Su Mama, who had been silently standing behind me, suddenly stepped forward.
She pulled out a pitch-black token from her bosom, intricately carved with complex patterns that exuded an aura of coldness and menace.
"I am a secret guard of the late Emperor, tasked with protecting Mrs. Liang's orphan. Today, I have come to expose Liang Wende's heinous crimes of embezzling salt tax and colluding with Old Madam Xie to manipulate the Imperial Examination!" Su Mama's voice boomed like thunder, resonating powerfully.
She raised the token high and then forcefully threw down Old Madam Xie's scepter embedded with the Night Pearl.
The scepter shattered upon impact, and the Night Pearl rolled onto the ground with a crisp sound, revealing a concealed piece of silk hidden within.
As the silk unfurled, it displayed letters exchanged between Liang Wende and Old Madam Xie, detailing how they exploited the salt tax loophole for money laundering and how they controlled court power by leaking Imperial Examination questions. The so-called Night Pearl was merely a disguise for hiding these secret communications.
With a complete chain of evidence and undeniable guilt, Liang Wende and Old Madam Xie collapsed to the ground, utterly defenseless.
This confrontation in court was like a storm that exposed all the filth hidden within Liang Residence and the Xie Family. It also cleared Xie Yao of all slander; his talents could finally shine without restraint.
After the results of the Spring Metropolitan Examination were announced, Xie Yao entered the capital to participate in the palace examination as one of the top scholars.
In the Golden Hall, dressed in a blue robe and exuding exceptional grace, he presented his overnight work titled "Ten Strategies for Stabilizing Governance" in response to the Emperor's inquiries about statecraft.
He burned incense before the throne, the fragrance crisp and clear, enveloping the palace. This was no ordinary Agarwood, but his specially crafted Spirit-Inviting Incense.
The scent spiraled upwards, coalescing into the ethereal image of a celestial crane above the palace, poised to take flight before transforming into auspicious clouds and dispersing. This spectacle delighted the Emperor and astonished the courtiers.
The "Ten Strategies for Stabilization" was filled with wisdom, directly addressing the issues of the time. Coupled with the miraculous effects of the Spirit-Inviting Incense, Xie Yao was personally appointed by His Majesty as the top scholar.
On the day of the selection ceremony, I did not appear among the crowd.
After bidding farewell to Su Mama, I expanded my embroidery workshop and established a women's embroidery school in the capital.
In the school, I gifted the young women who came to study a copy of the "Celestial Sphere Embroidery Chart," which I had found among my late mother’s belongings. I hoped they would possess the ability to shape their own destinies, just as this intricate embroidery chart suggested.
On the opening day of the school, it caused quite a stir in the capital, attracting many young ladies and daughters of officials.
Dressed in a crimson robe of a top scholar, Xie Yao rode a tall steed but did not participate in the celebratory parade. Instead, he headed straight to my embroidery school.
In front of everyone, he dismounted and walked step by step towards me.
In his hand was the pouch I had previously gifted him, embroidered with my own handiwork of intertwined lotus flowers.
“Liu Liu, let us journey together in this life,” he said softly, his eyes filled with unending affection.
Before all present, he tied the embroidered pouch around his waist.
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