CHAPTER 383: CHAPTER 380: SOONER OR LATER THERE WILL BE 1 DAY

Xie Liangchen had nothing definite to mention in front of everyone, just then Chen Yongsheng started to speak.

Chen Yongsheng asked, "Did the Emperor agree to let you return to Zhenzhou?"

Xie Shao Yuan nodded.

"That’s wonderful," Chen Yongsheng’s face was full of joy. His greatest fear was that the court might make excuses to keep his brother-in-law and Liangchen behind.

A Chen Family Village without his brother-in-law and Liangchen wouldn’t really be a Chen Family Village.

Mrs. Gao was also happy. Although the Capital City was nice, it’s better to just take a glance and then return home. She eats well every day and doesn’t have to do anything, but her heart always felt empty, increasingly drawing her thoughts back to Chen Family Village.

If it weren’t cold, she would have turned over all the soil in the garden of this house, wanting everyone in Chen Family Village to have the same stable and enjoyable life.

As Mrs. Gao thought of this, she said, "Can I start packing my luggage?"

Before anyone else could speak, Old Mrs. Chen said, "What are you packing in that luggage of yours? You organize it every day, as if you’re ready to set off and return at any moment."

Mrs. Gao laughed and said, "Being prepared in advance makes it easier when it’s time to go."

Although everyone lived in this house, it seemed like none of them considered it their home. Not only Mrs. Gao felt this way, even Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen thought the same.

Old Mrs. Chen stood up, "We’re all hungry, let’s eat first. Since we’ll be staying in the Capital for some more days, we can discuss it later."

Mrs. Gao and Xie Liangchen helped Old Mrs. Chen up, and everyone followed her out.

After the meal, Xie Liangchen headed to the small kitchen. Her grandmother had been suffering from leg pain these past days, so she prepared some medicine to soak her grandmother’s legs.

"Sister, I’m heading out,"

Xie Liangchen was about to respond to Chen Zigeng’s voice when she raised her head and saw Song Xian.

Hadn’t Song Xian been speaking to his father in the study just now? She wondered what excuse he’d used to slip away and come here.

Song Xian whispered, "Did something happen in the palace?"

Xie Liangchen guessed Song Xian was there because of this matter, and she placed the firewood into the hearth, saying, "The Empress asked me to read in the Book Collection Pavilion. I noticed one window there was slightly open, which didn’t directly lead outside, as if there was a partition somewhere."

Before Xie Liangchen could finish, Song Xian frowned, "Do you suspect someone is in the partition?"

Xie Liangchen said, "The eunuch brought a lamp for me, and as I sat at the table reading, I was facing that window. Maybe I’m overthinking, but it felt strange. Out of all the windows in the Book Collection Pavilion, why was that one slightly open? So, I found an excuse to leave the pavilion."

Song Xian quietly contemplated without speaking.

Xie Liangchen said, "I left the palace smoothly, so it’s nothing."

"We still need to investigate," Song Xian said, "Were there any other people going to the Book Collection Pavilion while you were there?" Even if Liangchen seems unharmed after leaving the palace, it doesn’t mean there’s no danger.

Xie Liangchen frowned, "Could there be danger?"

"Don’t worry," Song Xian replied, "I’ve placed someone in the palace working under Du Zheng; he’s very clever, and even if he investigates, he won’t reveal anything."

Xie Liangchen breathed a sigh of relief, agreeing, "Alright."

Just after speaking, her hand was suddenly held, the warmth tightly wrapping around her fingertips. Song Xian said, "If something happens in the future, you must tell me and never hide it."

Xie Liangchen nodded.

Song Xian continued, "Even if you think it might not be important, you have to tell me."

Xie Liangchen couldn’t help but laugh, "There are so many matters in a day, surely you don’t want me to tell you every single one? Then you wouldn’t be able to do anything else."

"I want to," Song Xian’s voice suddenly softened as if whispering in her ear, "No matter how much, I love hearing it."

The warm breath on her ear made Xie Liangchen unconsciously lean back a little, "Weren’t you speaking with father? What excuse did you use to come out here?"

Song Xian said, "I said I was going to change clothes."

"For so long?" Xie Liangchen asked.

Song Xian replied, "Won’t father come out to find me soon?"

Xie Liangchen was slightly startled, realizing she had carelessly referred to him directly as "father" instead of "my father." Song Xian had intentionally followed along with her words.

Xie Liangchen said, "My father."

Song Xian chuckled gently, the warm firelight wrapped around him, adding warmth to his features compared to usual, "He’s mine as well."

After speaking, Song Xian stood up, "I’ll head back now." He worried if he went back late, his father-in-law would drag him in for consultations, which would be troublesome.

Xie Liangchen nodded slightly.

Song Xian strode out.

She remained enveloped in the firelight, yet inexplicably, it didn’t feel as warm as moments ago.

...

When Song Xian returned to the Song Family mansion, he remained busy in the study room, only catching an hour of sleep as dawn approached. Once the palace gates opened, he arose to practice martial arts in the courtyard.

After breakfast, Song Xian was about to change into his official uniform and head to the government office when Chang An approached, "Master, there’s news from the palace."

Song Xian looked over, "Who was in the Book Collection Pavilion?"

Chang An’s expression was solemn, "After the Emperor summoned Old Master Xie, he took a sedan chair to the harem, instructing the eunuchs to wait in the duty chamber of the eastern side of the harem."

The eastern side of the harem houses Zhengyang Palace, the sleeping quarters of the Empress, and the Empress summoned Liangchen there. The Book Collection Pavilion Liangchen visited was also near Zhengyang Palace.

Chang An continued, "Before the Commandery Princess left the palace, the Emperor departed the harem for the Imperial Study Room. Our people inquired among the palace attendants of Zhengyang Palace; the Emperor did not visit Zhengyang Palace nor any concubine in the eastern side of the harem."

Song Xian’s eyes deepened, a chill in his brow, "The Emperor went to the Book Collection Pavilion." Liangchen’s intuition was correct, someone was spying on her, and that person was the current Emperor.

Instead of openly summoning Liangchen for gratitude, he chose a sneaky approach for his own selfish purposes.

Summoning and thanking don’t reveal a person’s true nature. Only by avoiding such formalities, when Liangchen is unguarded, can the truth be glimpsed.

But why? Suspicion towards Prince Guangyang’s lineage, or is there another agenda?

Feeling the storm in Song Xian’s eyes, Chang An immediately stepped forward, "Master... Master, now is not the time."

"I know," Song Xian’s voice was somber, "Someday..."

Song Xian didn’t finish his sentence, but Chang An understood the master’s intentions— "Someday" directed towards a monarch. Could it mean the master intended to pull the person on the throne down?

Suddenly, Chang An realized he might understand what they’d be doing in the many years to come.

Song Xian regained his usual composure, calmly saying, "Change into official attire, and head to the government office."