C129 Time Shifts

"A Rong should rest early and rest up. Tomorrow, I will invite you to watch a show for free." Xuanyuan Chen gently coaxed Xie Qingrong to sleep.

Xie Qingrong obediently closed her eyes, her long eyelashes trembled, and only after Xie Qingrong's breathing had gradually become even, did Xuanyuan Chen gently and quietly leave Xie Qingrong's room.

On the second day, when the sun was high in the sky, the entrance to the yamen was blocked by a crowd of onlookers, leaving not even a drop of water to leak out.

Some of them were the commoners who knelt on the ground yesterday, some of them had heard that Sun County Order was going to be interrogated so they came to join in on the fun, all of them stretched their necks and tried to sneak in.

Although there was a blockage outside that was as noisy as a busy city, the magistrate court was extremely quiet. It was as if a needle could be heard falling onto the ground, making a slight noise.

"Pa — —" Xuanyuan Chen sat in the court above, and heavily knocked the table with the frightening wood in his hand, producing a loud and clear sound. The crowd at the entrance immediately went silent.

"Men, bring Blue City County's to the court." Xuanyuan Chen ordered the royal guards, they immediately followed their orders and led Sun Zhi to the hall.

Not long after, Sun Zhi, dressed in an official's attire and a black chiffon hat, was escorted by two imperial guards into the court. Sun Zhi brushed the clothes on his knees, then used his hands to pat his sleeves and kneeled on the ground.

This is a standard official kowtowing ceremony.

"I am from Blue City County." Sun Zhi lowered her head and said respectfully.

"Pa — —" Xuanyuan Chen slapped the Shocking Wood heavily again, and said: "Sun Zhi, do you know your crime?"

"I wonder what crime this official has committed?" Sun Zhi asked.

Xuanyuan Chen smashed the parchment in his hand onto Sun Zhi's black cloth hat. Sun Zhi took the parchment paper and opened it up to have a closer look.

"On this piece of parchment, it says that three years ago, you bought the position of the Blue City's County Magistrate with five thousand silver from Zhang Cheng. According to the Heavenly Sacred Law, officials who buy things must be punished severely, do you know that? " Xuanyuan Chen said indifferently.

There was no hint of emotion in his deep, calm voice.

"This official knows."

"Since you know, why did you do so?" Xuanyuan Chen seemed to be puzzled, and asked.

Sun Zhi suddenly straightened his body and confidently replied, "Please forgive this official for not being able to tell you. "Everything that has been said on this piece of parchment is true. This official pleads guilty."

"Alright, since that's the case, then I will plead guilty." Waiting until Sun Zhi drew a bet on the parchment, Xuanyuan Chen continued: "Because of the matter of buying officials, Sun Zhi has violated the laws of the Heavenly Sage Kingdom, now that he has been stripped of his official position, all his belongings will be confiscated. Considering that all of the actions that Sun Zhi has committed during his time in office are beneficial to the citizens, his innocent wife and children will be spared. "

"This subject accepts the benevolence of the decree." Sun Zhi kowtowed heavily, and only then did Xuanyuan Chen take off the black cloth hat on his head.

Although the bystanders didn't know what was happening inside, they were still a little shocked when they heard that Sun County Order had been stripped of his position. In their hearts, Sun County Order was a good official.

However, they were just a commoner. They were powerless to deal with these matters.

Sun Zhi held onto a letter that Xuanyuan Chen had given him before he left, and told him, "In a month, this king will be waiting for you in the capital."

After stuffing the letter into his pocket, he turned around to look for his wife and children.

"I thought that your performance today would at least create a stir. Who would've thought that it would end in just a few words?" Xie Qingrong curled her lips and felt some disdain.

Xuanyuan Chen laughed lightly, "The one who is truly watching this play is neither you nor me, nor the crowd of commoners. but those guards who serve you, do you understand? "

"Of course I understand, since this is a test the Emperor Xuanyuan gave you, then you must have arranged for someone to monitor you, and every single movement of yours must be within the control of the Emperor Xuanyuan." Xie Qingrong smiled, but the smile did not reach her eyes.

"That's why this show is so short. When we return to the capital, I'll bring you to see a true play." Xuanyuan Chen smirked and said.

"Sure." Xie Qingrong pulled on the reins forcefully, she stepped on the snow and quickly rushed forward, with Xun Mei following closely behind.

Zhangsun Wenyan sat by the window, facing the window, where the orchids were already slowly blooming. The light, sweet and fragrant wind was blowing them into the house.

The red dress in her hands seemed to be embroidered with a lotus flower with hooves. The lotus flower was usually formed from two flowers, and there was only one flower blooming on the surface of the embroidery.

Her personal servant, Prunus mume stumbled in, and was seen by Zhangsun Wenyan. She stopped the needle in her hand and smiled, "Prunus mume, why are you so reckless?"

"Miss, someone sent this to Prime Minister's Estate. The name 'Miss' was written on it, so this servant took it on my own accord." Prunus mume passed a letter to Zhangsun Wenyan.

The familiar words on the letter still made Zhangsun Wenyan's nose sour. Although they looked very similar, she had not seen his words for a long time.

The letter was written in a few simple words.

"Tomorrow afternoon, Gourmet, private room number one."

Zhangsun Wenyan stared at the words on the letter, unable to recover her senses.

After a long while, he finally burned down the letter on the lamp, leaving behind only some burnt ashes, not leaving a single trace behind.

Prunus mume suddenly kneeled on the ground with her head lowered. Her voice was choked with sobs, and the words that came out from her mouth had a hint of a sobbing tone, "Miss, are you really going to meet that person tomorrow?"

"Prunus mume, when did you know about this?" Zhangsun Wenyan propped her forehead with her fingers, and asked softly.

"The first time that man brought you back, Prunus mume accidentally saw it and knew about it. Prunus mume also knows that during these few days, Miss made countless scented sacs just for that handkerchief. " When Prunus mume said this, his voice slowly became choked with sobs, and the tears in his eyes kept flowing, making him look extremely pitiful.

"But Miss, why are you so confused? No matter how much that person resembles His Highness, he can't be His Highness." Please don't do something stupid! "

Hearing this, the corner of Zhangsun Wenyan's mouth hooked up into an extremely bitter smile.

He pulled Prunus mume up from the ground and comforted him softly, "Prunus mume, don't cry. Your young miss knows what she's doing, so Prunus mume doesn't need to worry. "

"Miss, can you really not forget the Crown Prince?" Prunus mume cried and asked.

Zhangsun Wenyan gradually let go of her hand and twisted her fingers, as though she was in a daze. How could she forget someone as elegant as Xuanyuan Rui. Furthermore, she had grown up under his love and tolerance.

Ever since he could remember, he knew that he would become Xuanyuan Rui's wife in the future.

Heh, what a pity. Things have changed and she has almost forgotten what he looks like.