Echoes of My Heart Throughout the Court

Suddenly, Wu Jijiu started crying.

Liang Youwu, clutching his bleeding wrist, took several steps back, eyeing Wu Jijiu warily. He found this man utterly baffling.

He had already brought the account book that could threaten his life and fortune—so why was he crying?

And why had he suddenly attacked him?

—Could it be that being an examiner for too long had driven him mad?

With a grim expression, Liang Youwu crouched down, extended his arm, and placed the account book beside Wu Jijiu. He said, “The original account book is here. I will no longer use it to threaten you. Let this matter end here. From now on, we shall only maintain a relationship of admiration and being admired, nothing more than normal interactions. What do you say?”

To outsiders, it would appear as though Wu Jijiu had taken a liking to him. If he completely cut ties, others would only accuse him of being ungrateful.

After speaking, Liang Youwu turned, took a few steps to the door, and pushed it open. As he stepped over the threshold, he casually wiped his hand on his clothes. The sunlight outside was just right.

Then, a group of Jinyiwei (Embroidered Uniform Guards) suddenly emerged from the shadows and pinned him to the ground.

[!!!]

[The old emperor really did plant Jinyiwei spies among his officials!]

[That was way too fast! I didn’t even get a chance to submit an anonymous report yet!]

Wu Jijiu slowly got up from the ground, dusting off his robes with an indifferent expression.

From the moment Xu Yanmiao discovered him, he had known there was no escape. He had only been clinging to the faintest hope—what if Liang Youwu had been just a bit more cautious and left no evidence behind?

But now…

“Heh.” Wu Jijiu glared at Liang Youwu with hatred. “Arrogant fool! Not worth scheming with! You deserve to face punishment!”

If he wanted to court death, why drag him down as well?

Outside the door, a Jinyiwei glanced down at Liang Youwu, whose face was pressed against the damp, bluish stone pavement. He let out a cold snort.

“His Majesty knew there would be fish slipping through the net. That’s why he had us stationed outside the officials’ residences. And look—we caught a big one!”

[Ohhh! So that’s how it is! The old emperor is truly cunning. I thought searching the candidates one more time before they left the examination hall to check for hidden materials was already clever. But I didn’t expect him to also stake out the examiners, lying in wait like this!] RÅꞐỔᛒËṣ

Indeed, after an exam, most people tend to lower their guard, thinking the danger has passed. They immediately go to express their gratitude—who would have thought Jinyiwei were still lurking nearby?

Outside the bathhouse, the old emperor, having just finished the last sip of his millet porridge, strolled leisurely while eavesdropping on people’s thoughts. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

Although his original intention was just to find an excuse to deceive Xu Yanmiao, and the Jinyiwei had deliberately spoken all that nonsense, he still couldn’t help but feel delighted when Xu Yanmiao praised him.

He had heard plenty of sweet words in his lifetime, but nothing was as satisfying as compliments from his little Bai Ze—

“Come, let’s have a bowl of old duck soup! Shengxian, what about you?”

Beside him, Princess Xiangyang blinked her large eyes, obedient as a little lamb.

“I’ll eat whatever Father eats.”

The old emperor nodded in satisfaction. “Then you shall have a bowl of old duck soup too.”

“Mm…” Princess Xiangyang hesitated, then carefully probed, “Father, I heard you’re planning to choose a husband for me from among the candidates this time?”

The emperor burst into hearty laughter. “You’ve been living in the palace ever since you divorced your consort prince. If you don’t remarry soon, are you planning to eat your father into poverty? But no, a mere provincial graduate cannot become a consort prince. Once someone marries a princess, they cannot hold office—it would only lead to resentment against you.”

Princess Xiangyang: “Then…”

The emperor chuckled, “You can take a look at their brothers instead. They shouldn’t be too bad either. Besides, if they already have family members in government, then even if one of them cannot hold office, they still gain prestige. It’s unlikely to create a grudge.”

Princess Xiangyang’s eyes twinkled as she smiled sweetly. “I’ll listen to Father in everything.”

Ah! His daughter was truly gentle and lovely!

If she weren’t already grown up, the old emperor would have loved to scoop her up and spin her around like when she was little, just to hear her call him “Father” again.

Princess Xiangyang eagerly suggested, “Father, let’s keep listening to Xu Yanmiao! I’m really curious how that Guozijian Jijiu managed to cover up the accounts! And how did that life-threatening account book end up in Liang Youwu’s hands?”

The old emperor was curious too.

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