Ink Burns

Chapter 144: Stand in the corner!
Shanyue hurried back to Nan Mansion and sat in a pavilion by the lake. The window was wide open and a thin white gauze curtain fluttered out from the window.

Shanyue pushed the door open and walked in. Xue Xiao was already waiting there.

Hearing the noise, Xue Xiao raised his eyes from behind the large wooden desk. The man must have just come out of court and had not yet changed out of his court robes.

Civil officials like to wear long robes, which are not close to the body, with long sleeves and wide shoulders, which show their appearance. Xue Xiao's wide purple official robe fits the man very well, with wide sleeves piled up in several layers at the elbows, a leather belt hanging at the waist, and a cloth belt loop slit under the sleeves hanging in the air, which is set off by the man's broad shoulders and bow-like back, making him look more imposing.

Xue Xiao's broad shoulders and long arms passed over the desk, and he leaned over to hand Shan Yue a wax-sealed note, saying in a calm voice, "It's from the Chang family of Guanbei Marquis. Madam Zhou invites you to offer the ever-burning lamp at Songshan Temple."

Shanyue reached out to take it eagerly, tore open the wax envelope, and read ten lines at a glance.

"Same idea. Just more time." Shan Yue fixed her eyes on the half-open window frame leaning against the waterside. She pursed her lips and shook her head. "Appoint me to meet at the Tianyuan Wing of Songshan Temple at 3:30 tomorrow morning. Nothing else."

"She was afraid that others would peek at the letter, so she would not write down the key points. The Chang family is now related to Xue Chen, so it is reasonable for them to go out with you. But it was the Chang family who asked you out, and I don't know who actually met you."

Xue Xiao half leaned against the wooden partition, lowering his eyes, his gaze like an eagle: "At the morning court today, Yuan Wenying once again talked about the mourning issue. This time, I didn't need to speak up. The head of the Xue family, Xue Jiuye, who currently holds the idle position of Shaoqing of the Taichang Temple, trembled and delayed first - 'Qingfeng' couldn't sit still anymore."

"Since you can't sit still--"

Shan Yue placed both hands on the table, the butterfly bones on his back slowly expanded with the force, the paper was pressed under his palms, his long and thin hands were curled up, the veins on the back of his hands were popping up, and his voice was gentle and firm:
"Then stand there in the corner!"

Xue Xiao leaned against the window, gazing with deep and calm eyes. After a long time, he gently raised the corners of his lips and secretly and reverently gave the girl in front of him a submissive smile.

There is a dark pattern of "Green Phoenix" hidden in the interlayer of the paper.

A beautiful butterfly spreads its wings and flies through the air.

Shan Yue suddenly seemed to remember something, and raised her head abruptly, frowned and asked Xue Xiao: "Forbidden Palace. There have been ladies entering and leaving the Forbidden Palace these days. Sir Xue, do you know what this is about?"

Xue Xiao frowned, slowly stood up, and said in a low voice: "Give me half an hour. I will give you the answer."

The next morning, a horse-drawn carriage slowly drove out of Xue Nan's mansion and arrived at Songshan Temple at 15:30 on the 2nd hour.

Today is a great gift.

Below the stone steps, there is an endless stream of people devoutly worshipping Buddha.

Shanyue got off the car and was led by a young monk to the back mountain and into the temple. There were ancient Buddhas, green lanterns, and quiet corridors. The young monk stopped outside the innermost room and said nothing. He just glanced at Shanyue and then bowed and retreated.

Shan Yue bent his index finger and knocked on the door three times, "knock knock knock".

"Come in."

A clear and melodious voice came from the inner room.

Shanyue lifted the curtain and lowered his head to avoid ringing the wind chimes hanging at the door of the room. He looked respectful and humble.

The room was filled with the scent of sandalwood.

The scent is light and compassionate.

"I thought I couldn't get a date with our new wife, the Imperial Censor."

A low and solemn voice sounded in the scent of mercy.

Shan Yue still lowered his head, maintaining an evasive posture, and spoke in a stiff and stammering voice: "I, I, I."

"Raise your head and let the Grand Princess take a good look." That clear and crisp voice spoke at the right time.

Shan Yue slowly raised her chin, her eyes flickering, her cheeks flushed, her hands hidden in her sleeves, her index finger and thumb pinching the folds of the cuffs bit by bit, she looked slender and weak.

In the misty sandalwood, with the faint light coming through the window lattice, Shan Yue helplessly looked past Mrs. Zhou, the wife of Marquis of Guanbei, and blurred her eyes on the figure reflected on the screen.

wrong.

Two figures.

One in front and one behind, one tall and one short, one big and one small.

The screen between them meant that she was not yet qualified to meet them.

The shadows projected on the screen were full of jewels, and her hair was in a high bun with tassels hanging low on it, like raindrops falling on a stormy day.

"Well, she looks pretty good." The voice behind the screen said again: "No wonder she could have charmed the cold-faced and emotionless Censor."

Shan Yue bit her lower lip lightly with her pearly teeth, and was frightened again by these words.

"There's no man here, you don't need to act like that." Another figure behind the screen finally spoke.

The voice was younger, prettier, and more arrogant.

Shanyue's palms tightened and her long, curled eyelashes trembled, as if she was startled: "I, I, I don't, I don't. I." "In front of the Grand Princess, you have to call yourself a concubine or a pariah." Lady Zhou, the wife of Marquis of Guanbei, spoke kindly. Her crisp voice was like lotus roots in summer, with a hint of sweetness, and like a female role in a drama troupe. People were addicted to her with just a few clear words.

"I, I didn't act like that..." Shan Yue said with difficulty: "I, no, I won't do that again."

Although Guanbei Marquis' wife Zhou also looked down on Shanyue, she helped to speak up for the sake of the deceased Zhu Caijin: "If Qingfeng is to be used, it has to be Caijin - Xue Xiao, that mad dog, has been lawless in the capital for six or seven years, and Caijin actually found someone who can tie him up."

What I mean is, no matter whether Shan Yue's behavior is intentional or not, as long as he can achieve the goal of getting close to Xue Xiao, isn't it enough?
"Ha——" The young voice sounded again from behind the screen.

This time it was a mocking laugh.

"It's a little early to say whether she can be tied up or not, and whether she can be tied up tightly or not." Grand Princess Jing'an said, "In the past, didn't Xue Changfeng always keep his word and fulfill Zhu's requests? When the ugly truth was revealed, didn't Xue Changfeng kill his wife without hesitation?"

Princess Jing'an casually lowered her eyes and brushed off the non-existent dust on her skirt: "He He Shan Yue?"

"Yes, it is me." Shan Yue lowered her eyes quickly.

Princess Jing'an picked up the small note on the tray on the table with her bare hands. The tray was placed on the table like a dish, and Princess Jing'an was the person who picked up the dish. She could decide the life or death of the dish in a single thought.

"A native of Suzhou Prefecture, aged 21, he was sold by his parents to an entertainment company when he was young, and later bought by a 'bridge keeper' on Shantang Street in Suzhou Prefecture, becoming an apprentice to a painter. After three years, he graduated and lived in seclusion on Shantang Street copying and forging to make a living. Later, because he needed to copy the authentic works of Zhu Siming collected by the Cheng family, a drug dealer in Songjiang Prefecture, he chose to apply for a job as a painter and sneaked into the Cheng family. Unexpectedly, he became the chosen 'Qingfeng'."

Princess Jing'an threw the note away, and the piece of paper fluttered back onto the table. "Before leaving for the capital, you sent your imitation to Guoqiaogu and left all your wealth behind. You turned your back on me and cut off all ties with the past. You are determined to become the wife of the censor."

That post clearly described her "life story".

Fortunately, after escaping death in Fushou Mountain, she had nothing on her to prove her identity, so she was hastily sold to a street vendor by a mountain household, which gave her a clean background.

Shan Yue hunched his head and said nothing.

"Qingfeng has made you a noble lady and asked you to pull yourself out of the quagmire of poverty. You should repay Qingfeng with a spring of gratitude and sacrifice your life for her." Princess Jing'an continued, "Don't think that a man loves you just because he pampers and protects you. Don't be easily deceived by a man's false love and think that you can turn things around by relying on Censor Xue—"

Princess Jing'an chuckled, "Zhu had such a stupid idea, too. Look at what happened to her. Censor Xue is a hundred times more cruel and fierce than his father. If he knew that the woman beside him was a 'fake' or 'spy', guess whether he would let you go after a hundred days of grace."

Shan Yue's knees went weak and he almost fell to the ground.

Mrs. Zhou was afraid of being dragged away, so she immediately took a step back.

Shan Yue looked up helplessly, as if frantically searching for a way to survive.

"So, you have to follow Qing Feng steadily. Only Qing Feng will not harm you and will protect you."

Princess Jing'an said, "It just so happens that Zhu has passed away, so you will take over Zhu's position and hold on to this crimson red card."

Shan Yue looked terrified: "I am afraid I can't do it well."

Princess Jing'an has now transformed into a kind and gentle teacher, guiding him patiently: "How can you not do well? Xue Xiao was able to put you in his room and take you with him, which is something that no one in the past could do. Now that Zhu has passed away, Qingfeng will protect her descendants as usual. The second son of the Xue family will be taken care of by the Chang family, so you don't need to worry about him."

Princess Jing'an paused for a moment and said, "You only need to do one thing."

"Ask the Xue family to recognize the Zhu family's status as a clan. Xue Xiao will naturally only be in mourning for three years."

"As long as you accomplish this, you will be a great contributor to 'Qingfeng'. Even if you are no longer with Xue Xiao, you will be a rich and noble lady!"

Shan Yue couldn't believe it: "Me? Me? I can't do it. How can I be the master of Xue Xiao if I can't do it? I'm afraid it will be too difficult for him!"

Princess Jing'an walked out slowly from behind the screen, wearing a brocade robe and flowing silk. A seven-phoenix-shaped gold crown with kingfisher feathers towered above her hair. She looked extremely elegant, with her eyes cast downwards out of habit, and her expression was filled with weariness and sarcasm, as if everything was satisfied.

"It is dangerous to seek wealth and honor, and it is dangerous to go to the top. Scholars have to study hard for decades before they can get a job. You are a refugee, but in just half a year you have been recognized and soared to the sky, flying up to the top and becoming a phoenix - but you told me that you can't do anything."

Princess Jing'an raised her eyebrows: "Then what's your reason?"

Shan Yue's eyes were red and he looked uneasy, as if there were tears in his eyes.

Behind Princess Jing'an walked out a young woman wearing a long gown made of bright purple satin with swastika patterns on it; her exact age could not be determined.

The visitor had delicate makeup on. She must have particularly liked her round eyes with deep eye sockets, so she paid special attention to modifying them. Her eyebrows were elongated and curved, and her eyeliner was also extended. The long, curled, and smooth arc just fell on the dark blue teardrop mole under her eyes.

Shan Yue's eyes were red.

Only she herself knows that it is not tears.

It's fire.

It's anger.

It's anger.

It's hate.

It's resentful!