Minister Zhang is dead!
He rammed himself against a pillar and died.
According to the people present, his blood flowed all over the floor at that time, almost soiling the emperor's imperial robe.
...
The snow in the capital this year is exceptionally heavy. Even standing under the eaves, one can't avoid getting a bit of it.
Zhang Lingyue didn't dare to blink. She didn't even care about the tiny snowflakes on her eyelashes. She stared intently at the person in front of her, afraid of missing even the slightest sign of lying on Lin Zihan's face.
But until the end, his expression didn't change a bit.
Brother Zihan didn't lie!
Tears welled up and slowly rolled down.
Even at this moment, Brother Zihan still didn't want to lie to her. Zhang Lingyue didn't know whether she should cry or laugh for a moment. She only knew that the beautiful life she had once fantasized about was completely impossible now!
After knowing each other for so many years, she knew Lin Zihan's nature. For him, everything in the world was either black or white. She once agreed to the promise of growing old together with him precisely because of this characteristic. She never thought that one day, this very same characteristic would ruin the life she had been longing for.
"I see. Thank you, Lord Lin... for not lying to me!"
Almost using all her strength, Zhang Lingyue said these words insincerely. After that, she turned around and was about to leave. Just then, Lin Zhen happened to lead Fang Qinhu into the courtyard.
"General Fang?"
Lin Zihan frowned subconsciously. For some reason, he had a faint premonition of something bad.
"Lord Lin, I just came out of the palace. I have something to tell you. Just now, Minister Zhang rammed himself against a pillar and died in the imperial study."
Fang Qinhu was originally summoned to discuss next year's conscription with the emperor. Who would have expected to witness Minister Zhang's suicide with his own eyes?
Since he had never met Zhang Lingyue and Minister Zhang was Lin Zihan's teacher, Fang Qinhu spoke without any scruples when he opened his mouth. He didn't even understand the hint from Lin Zhen beside him. As a result, Zhang Lingyue fainted on the spot.
...
When Zhang Lingyue woke up, it was already getting dark. By the faint candlelight in the middle of the room, she saw Lin Zihan lying on the side of the bed. His face flickered in the dim light. There was a slight bulge between his eyebrows. She subconsciously wanted to smooth out his worries but didn't dare to reach out.
This was the man she had loved for more than a decade, the man who was almost engraved into her bones. But now, she had to peel him out of her heart!
"Cough, cough!"
Zhang Lingyue deliberately made a noise. Lin Zihan, who was already a light sleeper, woke up immediately. "Yue'er."
Subconsciously, he reached out to hold her hand, but unexpectedly, he missed. "Yue'er, do you still feel uncomfortable anywhere? I'll immediately send someone to invite..."
"No need!"
Zhang Lingyue forced a pale smile and said distantly, "Lord Lin, I think our engagement should... end here!"
Lin Zihan stood still on the spot, looking ashen. Although he had already anticipated this result, he still felt as if his heart was being stabbed with a knife when he faced it.
His Adam's apple rolled a few times. It took him a long time to hear his trembling voice: "Okay!"
"Since that's the case, it's not appropriate for me to stay in Lord Lin's mansion anymore. I'll pack up and go back now."
Trying hard to hold back her tears, Zhang Lingyue lifted the quilt and was about to get out of bed. Unexpectedly, Lin Zihan stopped her.
"I'll see you off."
"No need..."
Breaking free from his grasp, Zhang Lingyue had already put on her shoes.
Seeing this, Lin Zihan had to stop her again. "Yue'er, let me see you off. Teacher's wife and teacher are no longer in the minister's mansion..."
"What do you mean, Lord Lin?"
Lin Zihan didn't dare to meet her eyes. He turned his head and said, "The Zhang family was... raided. I asked Lin Zhen to send teacher's wife to the mansion I have on East Street. Teacher's body... is also there."
Originally, Mrs. Zhang was not willing to accept his help. But now, she couldn't go back to the Zhang Mansion, and all the Zhang family's property had been confiscated. If she didn't accept Lin Zihan's help, she and her daughter would have nowhere to live but on the street. Not to mention where Minister Zhang's body should be placed.
Trying hard to hold back her grief and hatred, Mrs. Zhang had no choice but to move into the new mansion humbly.
"In that case, I'll trouble Lin Zhen from Lord Lin's mansion. I'm sure he knows the exact location of that mansion, right?"
After rejecting him several times, Lin Zihan knew that he couldn't force her anymore. He just said, "Okay, I'll ask Lin Zhen to arrange it now."
After giving instructions to the servant, he returned to the room. He saw that Zhang Lingyue had already packed up and was sitting in the guest's seat.
She was completely pulling the distance between them!
But there were still some things that Lin Zihan had to say.
"Yue'er, I know you hate me, but there are some things you must listen to me."
"After you go back, ask someone to wait for me at the palace gate when I finish court tomorrow. Then, in the name of the Zhang family, cancel the engagement with me."
"Understand?"
In this era, women who were jilted in an engagement were often gossiped about, while men didn't care. Lin Zihan knew that he had already caused the Zhang family to end up like this. He couldn't let Yue'er suffer anymore. So he wanted the world to know that it was the Zhang family who took the initiative in this matter.
The palace gate was the busiest during the time when officials went to and from court. Any news could spread to the whole capital at the fastest speed. This was the only way he could think of to protect Ling Yue'er.
"Okay... I understand."
...
As soon as the news of Minister Zhang's death spread, it caused another stir in the capital that had been quiet for many days. No matter in the streets or alleys, everyone was talking about it. But what they didn't expect was that this was just the beginning.
On the second day after Minister Zhang's death, the former minister's wife led some people to block the palace gate. She pointed at Lin Zihan, the Minister of Revenue who had just finished court, and scolded him for being an ungrateful white-eyed wolf. She said that he had ignored kindness and caused his teacher's death!
After that, she clearly stated on the spot that the engagement between the Zhang and Lin families was over! The once enviable couple in the capital was now going their separate ways, with no relationship anymore!
The excitement came one after another, and the people in the capital had one melon after another to talk about. During these days, the Zhang family survived the first seven days after Minister Zhang's death.
During these seven days when the coffin was parked, except for Lin Zihan who was driven away by Mrs. Zhang, only Minister Lu and his wife came to pay their respects.
Speaking of it, this couple was also a poor one. Their youngest daughter and son-in-law died together, and their third daughter committed suicide out of guilt. Overnight, three lives were gone. It was truly the white-haired sending off the black-haired.
They were living such a hard life themselves. How could they have the right to pity others?
Mrs. Zhang, who had slowly accepted the reality, thought self - deprecatingly. She had decided to take her daughter and her husband's coffin back to their hometown, Qinghe. They would set off in a few days. If they traveled fast, they might still be able to spend the New Year in their hometown.
On the day the Zhang family set off, the sun finally appeared in the capital, which was rare. Zhang Lingyue was sitting in the carriage when she heard a series of shouts outside.
They were shouting her nickname.
It was Brother Zihan!
Brother Zihan...
"Don't go!"
Mrs. Zhang naturally also heard Lin Zihan's voice. She firmly pressed down on her daughter's hand and said harshly, "Yue'er, mother won't allow you to go!"
The familiar voice got closer and closer amidst the sound of horses' hooves, hitting her heart again and again. Zhang Lingyue wanted to say that she wouldn't go, but when the words reached her lips, they took a different turn.
"Mother, I want to see him for the last time!"
With this beginning, it seemed not so difficult to say the following words.
"Mother, you know that Brother Zihan didn't do anything wrong in terms of righteousness. It was father who was wrong! It was he who colluded with traitors and tried to overthrow the emperor. It was he who embezzled a huge amount of money. And it was also he who married eldest sister to the Prince Regent's mansion in order to ally with Shang Mozheng..."
At this point, Zhang Lingyue choked with sobs. She wiped away her tears and continued, "But I don't have the right to blame father either. After all, he did all these for the Zhang family..."
"After saying so much, you still want to see him!"
Mrs. Zhang hit the nail on the head. Zhang Lingyue didn't refute but admitted frankly, "Yes, I want to see him for the last time."
"Mother, you should also know that if nothing unexpected happens, we won't come back to the capital after we return to our hometown in Qinghe this time. So after this, even if I still have feelings for Brother Zihan, there won't be any result between us."
"Moreover, the engagement between us is over..."
"Go..."
In the end, Mrs. Zhang still chose to compromise.
...
Outside the capital, on the snow - covered ground, a man and a woman, one in white and the other in black, stood facing each other.
Zhang Lingyue carefully traced his eyebrows and eyes with her eyes, as if she wanted to engrave his current appearance in her heart.
He had lost weight.
His cheekbones were clearly visible. His eyes were almost sunken in, and there was a stubble around his lips. He didn't look like a gentle scholar at all.
People are really strange.
When they haven't met, they have a lot to say. But when they really meet, they don't know what to say.
"I..."
"You..."
The two of them spoke at the same time very默契ly, but then stopped at the same time.
Finally, it was Lin Zihan who took a step back.
"Yue'er, you speak first."
"Actually, it's nothing,"
Zhang Lingyue forced a relaxed smile. "If nothing unexpected happens, I may never come back to the capital after returning to my hometown this time. So before I leave, I would like to wish Lord Lin a smooth official career in the future and hope that you can find your ideal wife soon and continue the Lin family line!"
"Yue..."
"Lord Lin," interrupting his words, Zhang Lingyue averted her gaze. "It's time for me to set off!"