"Brother Zihan..."
With her small mouth slightly open and her beautiful, water - glistening eyes wide open, Zhang Lingyue thought she was having an auditory hallucination.
In the eyes of outsiders, when people talked about the daughter of the prime minister's mansion and the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature, they mostly said that they were a perfect match made in heaven.
Lin Zihan was indeed a good man. As a third - rank chief justice of the Supreme Court of Judicature, he was gentle and considerate to Zhang Lingyue, never overstepping the boundaries, and never philandering outside. He was exactly the most ideal husband in the hearts of the young ladies in the capital.
But somehow, Zhang Lingyue suddenly felt that Lin Zihan had changed. She always felt that there was something between them, and the care she gave never got a proper response.
Even so, she never thought of annulling the engagement. She just thought that maybe one day things would get better. She never expected that day would come so soon.
Tears of joy streamed down her face. Zhang Lingyue threw herself into Lin Zihan's arms again. And the always - rational Chief Justice Lin just wanted his emotions to take over at this moment.
"Lingyue, I promise you that as soon as everything is settled, we'll get married!"
In the prison in the capital.
How many days had it been?
Shang Mozheng, wearing prison clothes, leaned against the wall of the cell. His face was calm, even with a hint of enjoyment. He hadn't felt this relaxed for a long time.
Although he was a prisoner, Shang Luoze didn't treat this imperial uncle badly. He still provided him with good food and drinks, only restricting his words and actions. Shang Mozheng didn't feel uncomfortable about this. Instead, he even felt a bit nostalgic.
After all, the palace where he lived in his childhood was not much different from this place. It was even worse than the dungeon.
Shang Mozheng's birth was an accident.
His mother was a maid with no background. Just because the then - emperor was drunk and had a moment of passion with her in the chaos, she got pregnant with a prince.
At that time, the Grand Empress Dowager had just passed away not long ago, and it was still a period of national mourning. When the then - empress dowager found out, she immediately scolded the emperor. But the emperor didn't think it was his fault. He thought it was the maid who had deliberately seduced him, so he took out his anger on her.
Even though the maid was pregnant with his child, the emperor still didn't care about her. If it weren't for the help of the empress dowager, Shang Mozheng might not have even had the chance to see the world.
Unfortunately, after Shang Mozheng was born, the empress dowager, his only backer, passed away soon. After that, his life turned completely dark.
During the day, he suffered from his father's neglect and suppression, his elder brothers' bullying, and the maids' and eunuchs' contempt. When he returned to his bedroom, he could only hear his mother's continuous sobbing. His childhood was spent in such an environment.
Even with the help of the late emperor, it was just a drop in the bucket.
Until one year, he met Su Wanru in the palace. After that, fate opened another door for him.
"Mealtime!"
The jailer's angry shout caught Shang Mozheng's attention.
To keep an eye on him, the young emperor had really gone to great lengths. Not only did he let him live in a single cell, but he also replaced all the people inside and outside with his own. He had a bit of his father's style.
Shang Mozheng took the food box with a smile. His eyes accidentally met the jailer's and then quickly shifted away.
The distance from Longxi to Yuheng Pass was not short. Even if they rode day and night at full speed, it would still take three days and three nights. So, in order not to waste time, Lu Yinxi didn't take Hongmei with her this time.
It was already September. The autumn was clear and refreshing, and the osmanthus was in full bloom. After a day's journey, the group finally stopped at a place before it got completely dark.
"Everyone, rest well tonight. We'll set off at dawn tomorrow."
No one objected, and Lu Yinxi was the same. But Shang Luoshu was a bit worried about her.
"Xier, are you okay?"
"Don't worry. I'm fine!"
The young girl tilted her head up. Half of her face glowed warmly in the light of the campfire, making people feel at ease just looking at her.
"Okay." He squeezed Lu Yinxi's palm tightly. Everything was understood without words.
Maybe they were too tired from the day's journey, and the night passed quickly. Before dawn, everyone had packed their luggage and set off for Yuheng Pass again.
At the same time, Lin Zihan had already tidied up his appearance and was ready to visit his teacher. The morning court should have ended by now.
Yesterday, after Shang Luoze had the evidence of Shang Mozheng's crime announced to the world, the common people just went back where they came from. But compared to their angry and indignant looks when they came, now they all looked ashen - faced.
They must not have expected that the prince they trusted so much had actually colluded with the prefect of Yangxian to plan the Yangxian Incident and then shifted all the blame onto others.
They were really blind!
Some hot - tempered people had already picked up the vegetable baskets they brought and rushed straight to the Mansion of the Regent.
Strangely enough, although Shang Mozheng's crimes were serious enough to implicate his family, Shang Luoze didn't do anything to his cousin and cousin - in - law. He still let them live in the mansion, but only stationed the imperial guards in front of the door, not allowing the people inside to go out at will. That was all.
If the common people wanted to vent their anger, the imperial guards didn't need to interfere.
So, within just a few moments, the once - bustling Mansion of the Regent was now surrounded by all kinds of rotten eggs and vegetables. The people inside didn't dare to come out to clean up, so these things just piled up more and more.
"Student pays respects to teacher!"
Looking at his proud disciple standing in front of him, Zhang Chengen wasn't surprised. Instead, he stroked his chin with a smile and praised, "You did a good job."
"Teacher, you're overpraising me. This is what a subject should do."
Prime Minister Zhang's hand paused slightly, and his smile faded a bit. "You're right. This is indeed what a subject should do."
As a subject, one should take it as one's responsibility to save the people and help the world. He was unworthy.
He understood what his student meant.
"So, Zihan, did you come today to lecture me?"
"Teacher!"
Lin Zihan suddenly knelt on the ground. His voice was full of grief and tears. "Teacher, now the emperor is going to punish the Regent. You still have a chance..."
The Zhang family had been in an in - law relationship with the Regent for many years. Lin Zihan didn't believe that his teacher didn't have any evidence against the Regent. As long as he handed it over, it would be a great achievement!
Zhang Chengen knew what his student meant, but in this world, not everything could go as one wished. "Zihan, this matter is not as simple as you think."
Not wanting to talk more about this topic, Prime Minister Zhang took the initiative to change the subject and reached out his hand to help his student up. "By the way, Zihan, Lingyue came back and said yesterday that you're going to marry her. I think there's a good day next month. It's just right to..."
"Slap!"
His arm hurt, and Prime Minister Zhang instinctively withdrew his hand. At the same time, he met Lin Zihan's gaze. The disappointment and pain in it stabbed at Zhang Chengen's heart. But he couldn't be soft - hearted. He couldn't let the foundation of the Zhang family be destroyed in his hands.
It was true that he had evidence of Shang Mozheng's crimes, but at the same time, Shang Mozheng also had something on him. After all, he had been in the officialdom for so many years. Who hadn't made a mistake or had a few lives on their hands?