Chapter 240

The palace actually placed great importance on this marriage between the Zhao family and Prince Rui's residence; first, Emperor Longqing bestowed the marriage, then Empress Dowager Ning'an summoned Zhao Lang and Xiao Yin into the palace, and even had the Prince Rui and his consort bring Jinzhi into the palace for her to see.

Nowadays, various versions of Miss Jinzhi's story circulate throughout Shang Jing, and even scholars who write plays have adapted her story into a short opera, sung in theater troupes, titled "True and False Beauty", the Longzhou Gourd Case.

Because Su Wanrou's case involves too many victims, it has practically become a major case handled by the Ministry of Punishment and the Supreme Court.

Just the case files alone stack as high as a person, and during the investigation and evidence gathering, even the officials of the Ministry of Punishment handling the case feel their scalps go numb.

It's shocking that a person can be this evil, and she's a woman—it's simply infuriating.

Even the ladies in the palace want to see the real person behind those dramatized protagonists—what kind of unlucky maiden could have brought upon herself so many troubles.

Seeing Jinzhi's frail appearance, they all felt sympathy and showered her with many gifts.

Jinzhi couldn't carry all the gifts; the Empress Dowager kept Prince Rui and his wife alone to talk, and Gu Jiu Ling couldn't accompany her out.

Jinzhi could only leave the Empress Dowager's sleeping palace alone, walking along this side corridor of the imperial garden.

She originally disliked crowded places, but this corridor had hardly anyone, so she felt a bit more at ease.

Yet while walking, she actually lost her way, falling behind the palace attendant who was leading her, and didn't know where she had gone.

This was her first time entering the palace; she had never seen such a magnificent palace or such a complex layout. Moreover, the palace attendants in the Empress Dowager's quarters looked down on Jinzhi, a mute, and only cared about moving forward, never bothering to see if anyone behind could keep up.

Jinzhi couldn't help but break out in sweat on the tip of her nose, her heart slightly anxious.

Just as she turned onto the outer palace city official road, she ran into Zhao Lang coming from another entrance.

Zhao Lang had become the object of courting by various nobles and officials; just then the Crown Prince stopped him, chatted for a while, and even invited him to view plum blossoms at the Eastern Palace.

He had originally left the Empress Dowager's sleeping palace first, but unexpectedly, due to delaying a moment, he ended up meeting Jinzhi here together.

Jinzhi herself had accidentally found the way to the East Si Ma Gate; the two just happened to meet, both feeling a bit awkward.

Zhao Lang hadn't expected to encounter Jinzhi alone here; seeing her flustered expression, he didn't know if he had lost his mind, but he turned and blocked her path.

Jinzhi hurriedly stopped and performed a salute, her etiquette proper and flawless.

They had fought on the street before—truly a case of "no fight, no acquaintance"—and now, with an added familial tie, they each felt a bit awkward toward the other.

"Hah!" Zhao Lang coldly laughed, "How eager to marry must the ladies of Prince Rui's manor be, practically begging to be sent to my Zhao family's door?"

"Your sworn brother, Prince Rui, what scheme does he have this time to deal with me?"

"I am steadily rising in rank in the military, yet I truly have no interest in contending with him, Xiao Yin; he need not keep resorting to such despicable tactics—it disgusts me!"

"The one you sent earlier almost got me killed; now you've sent another—you, are you afraid I, Zhao Lang, will live too long, or what?"

Jinzhi hastily lifted her head, looking at Zhao Lang in disbelief—did he really think that?

"Isn't this an imperial marriage decree? What does it have to do with her sworn brother? Her sworn brother doesn't want her to marry into the Zhao family at all, yet in his eyes it seems the Prince Rui manor is eagerly sending its female relatives to his door."

Zhao Lang looked at Jinzhi's bewildered eyes, his pupils flickering slightly, and coldly laughed, "Isn't it?"

"An imperial marriage decree?"

"Is the emperor so idle that he hands out marriage decrees at random? It's not like that—it's Xiao Yin who brought it up before the emperor."

"How? Do you really want to marry me that badly?"

Zhao Lang's handsome brows and eyes gained a touch of mockery, while Jinzhi shook her head repeatedly.

Yet Zhao Lang gave a light laugh, his words insulting, then turned and walked away, not wanting to glance at her again.

Jinzhi hurriedly chased after him; being unable to speak, she could only gesture to him, but he lacked the patience to read her helplessness and explanation.

Jinzhi truly wanted to tell him that her sworn brother had not intentionally sent her to the Zhao family to restrain him.

But Zhao Lang was very tall with long legs; one of his steps equaled two of Jinzhi's, and she could see him pulling far ahead, leaving her behind.

In her desperation, there was no way to make him stop and come back to listen as she wrote him a proper explanation.

Jinzhi usually carried a small notebook with a pen clipped inside.

The notebook and pen were gifts from the Princess Consort; though strange, they were quite practical.

Since Zhao Lang gave her no chance to explain, she had no choice but to bend down, pick up a stone, and throw it in his direction.

As a child, her mother taught her poetry, literature, and character recognition, and also took her to play by the river.

Su San Niang was lively and even taught her daughter to skip stones; Jinzhi couldn't do much else, but when she threw things at people, she never missed.

The stone struck squarely on the back of Zhao Lang's head; this blow left him dazed, and he slowly turned to look at Jinzhi in disbelief.

He is indeed the grand General of the Northern Garrison Fu, yet a woman has thrown things at him twice in a row.

The first was a sweet pastry, the second a stone; his handsome brows gradually furrowed as he strode toward Jinzhi with rising anger.

Jinzhi hastily pulled out the notebook and pen from her sleeve, scribbling hurriedly, but before she could write even a few characters, Zhao Lang suddenly seized her throat and pressed her against a cold palace wall.

"Are you courting death?" Zhao Lang's body surged with overwhelming fury.

The notebook and pen in Jinzhi's hand fell to the ground; she looked at Zhao Lang in panic, like a pitiful little creature, gesturing weakly as she choked back tears, her eyes brimming with tears.

Zhao Lang, however, stood there stunned, feeling uneasy in his heart.

He had never dealt with women before; back in the military, drinking with his brothers, he had heard their vulgar jokes, but he lacked any real understanding or experience of women.

The woman before him, who was to become his wife, infuriated him greatly, yet he didn't know how to respond.

He gritted his teeth: "What are you crying for? Trying to win this general's sympathy? Or are you just acting…"

"Zhao Lang! Are you courting death?" Suddenly a clear, cold voice came from nearby.

Zhao Lang hadn't even reacted when a fierce kick struck his chest, delivered with seventy percent of his inner strength; he instinctively rolled to dodge.

But before he could recover, the person launched a second kick that sent him straight to the ground, unable to get up.

In an instant, the Longquan sword was drawn, its icy sword intent bearing down on his face.

Zhao Lang hastily lifted his head to meet Xiao Yin's face—handsome to the point of provoking both men and gods—his gaze icy, tinged with killing intent.