Chapter 452: A Thousand Miles to Find My Wife

Li Ruoxi had just gotten off the carriage when she saw a person crouching at the gate.

Seeing Li Ruoxi step down from the carriage, that person's face flashed with surprise and joy, and they hurried over, grabbing her hand.

"Husband, how did you come here?"

Li Ruoxi hadn't expected Zhang Liang to chase her all the way from Yunzhou to Jing Cheng; she was both startled and delighted.

The delight was that Zhang Liang had traveled a thousand li from Yunzhou to come for her, showing he still kept her in his heart.

This time she came to Jing Cheng prepared to risk everything; before leaving, she had not told Zhang Liang about coming to the capital to file a grievance against the emperor.

She only wished for Zhang Liang's safety; if she succeeded in her petition this time, returning to Yunzhou she would live a good life with him.

If she failed and died here, she had already left a letter for Zhang Liang telling him to remarry.

At this moment Zhang Liang tightly gripped Li Ruoxi's hand, scanning her up and down; his eyes held a hint of suspicion, but it flickered away so quickly that no one could tell.

"My dear, when I first went out, I didn't know you had been taken away."

"When I returned home, the neighbors said a man had taken you away, and my heart was thrown into turmoil at that time."

"I inquired along the way and followed you all to Shang Jing, but who would have thought the vast crowds of Shang Jing made it impossible to find you; I panicked and even prepared to report to the authorities."

"Don't report to the officials!" Li Ruoxi exclaimed.

Is Zhang Liang courting death?

What she must do in Shang Jing is extremely dangerous; she doesn't even want others to know she still has relatives, and she didn't want Zhang Liang to follow her to Shang Jing.

She was instantly shocked and angry, and shoved Zhang Liang away.

"This place is no good for lingering; you must go back right away."

"I've left the shop for you; from now on you can live peacefully, while I still have some matters to attend to in Shang Jing."

"If I succeed, I'll return; wait for me a few days, and if I don't—"

Li Ruoxi's voice trembled slightly as she drew a breath, looked at Zhang Liang, and smiled: "If I fail, wait for me a year or two, then erect a memorial tomb for me on the west side of the town and burn paper offerings at Qingming."

Zhang Liang's eyes flared with anxiety; he hurriedly seized Li Ruoxi's hand and demanded, "What exactly are you saying?"

"Why don't you come back with me? What could there be that we couldn't discuss and handle together?"

"Today I almost couldn't find you; I know you've come to Jing Cheng, but I've searched everywhere and still can't locate you."

"It's heaven that hasn't abandoned me; I was preparing to go to the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment to file a complaint, but instead I found you at the Dali Temple gate."

"Even though you wear a veil, your figure alone is enough for me to recognize you."

"I've been secretly following you all the way here; I never expected to actually run into you. After finally finding you, how could I just turn back? Please tell me what's going on."

Li Ruoxi felt a surge of frustration; what could she possibly say now?

She had been hiding one thing from Zhang Liang: that she is the descendant of a condemned official.

She had told Zhang Liang everything, even mentioning Gu Kang's affair, but she kept hidden her status as a convicted servant, feeling she couldn't hold her head up before the one she loved.

Moreover, the matter involves too much, and she doesn't want Zhang Liang to worry for her.

Yet he has still tracked her down to this place.

She hastily grabbed Zhang Liang's hand and walked toward the courtyard: "Let's go inside to talk; some things can't be explained in a moment."

But the person sent by Gu Kang stepped forward to block Li Ruoxi's path, furrowed his brow, and said, "Miss Li Ruoxi, this courtyard has been prepared for you by Minister Gu; Minister Gu said that no idle persons are allowed to enter this courtyard."

Zhang Liang, standing nearby, froze for a moment: "Minister Gu?"

His mind churned with a thousand thoughts.

Actually Zhang Liang knew who this Minister Gu was—none other than the Gu Kang who had been entangled with his wife before.

That young master, now serving as the Minister of the Dali Temple, wielded power that swayed the court.

In fact, this time his coming to Shang Jing was not only to pursue his wife, but also to seek fame and office.

His wife had inexplicably left Yunzhou, arrived in Shang Jing, and hadn't even told him.

Having followed her to Shang Jing, he happened to run into his wife as she emerged from the Dali Temple gate; the person who escorted her out—who else could it be but Gu Kang?

Back when he first came to Jing Cheng, he had encountered Gu Kang several times, but then he was merely a plain commoner from the countryside, while Gu Kang was the young master of an aristocratic manor—how could he possibly curry favor with him?

Later he also failed to pass the examinations, repeatedly falling into despair, and gave up on seeking any position in officialdom.

Now, seeing that Gu Kang had actually brought his wife from Yunzhou to Shang Jing, the relationship between them was obvious without further explanation.

At this moment Zhang Liang harbored a calculation; as a scholar, who wouldn't covet fame and profit?

He did not wish to remain forever in Yunzhou, even if he owned a dozen shops.

Now that such an opportunity presented itself, how could he not take advantage of it?

He tightly gripped Ruoxi's hand and whispered, "Since Minister Gu has arranged this, I'll go elsewhere."

"I only followed you out of concern for your safety; seeing that you are unharmed, I am reassured and will find another place to stay."

"Otherwise, if Minister Gu finds out, it won't be good."

As soon as Zhang Liang's words fell, Li Ruoxi stared in shock.

What does it mean that it would be bad if Minister Gu finds out?

Minister Gu had provided several residences to settle her here, intending to protect her, after all she intends to file an imperial grievance and cannot be killed by the Duan clan before she even submits the petition.

Yet in Zhang Liang's eyes, this seemed like keeping a beauty locked in a golden house…

Li Ruoxi's heart gave a sudden hard thump as she stared fixedly at her husband before her.

During her stay at the Happy Red Court, she had seen countless people and could see through a man's ambition at a glance.

She had always thought Zhang Liang was an honest, steady man fit for everyday life; she was exhausted, and had entrusted her entire fortune to him.

Now that Zhang Liang had spoken these words, she felt a vague discomfort in her chest.

She hastily grabbed Zhang Liang's arm, turned, and told the two attendants sent by Gu Kang, "This is my husband; it's appropriate for us to live here together—please report this to Minister Gu."

The attendant's face showed a hint of difficulty; Minister Gu had ordered that no one may enter this place except Miss Li Ruoxi alone.

He also hadn't expected that Miss Li Ruoxi's husband would have come all this way; this makes things difficult.

Li Ruoxi took a step back, staring at him coldly: "Ugly words are also good words; I'll say it straight—if you split my husband and me, I won't stay here. I'll stay with my husband in an outside inn, which is also convenient."

"If Sir Gu asks, I'll go explain to him."

After Li Ruoxi said that, the subordinate panicked; if this task is botched...

Given Sir Gu's nature, he'd at least lose a layer of skin even if he doesn't die.

At this point, better to do less than more; let's just leave it muddled, allow Zhang Liang to walk into the courtyard as well, and then we'll have people protecting inside and out.