Chapter 369 (2/2)

Zeng Jing realized that the visitor was Eunuch Lin, then he fell into confusion. It was rare to see an abrupt decree like this during the night since the Tianqi era, when the Tang Empire was prosperous, the government officials were honest and upright, and the people were at peace. Even if something had happened at the border, his Majesty wouldn't send a eunuch to summon him to the palace. And the eunuch, out of his expectation, was His Majesty's favorite chief eunuch who had the highest rank.

Eunuch Lin didn't leave too much time for Zeng Jing to think about the whole thing, and then said gently, ”His Majesty is delighted by the reunion of your family. I suppose there would be a decree tomorrow, so I have come tonight to express my congratulations.”

It was not necessary for him to come at night, Zeng Jing knew there must be another story behind this decree.

As expected, Eunuch Lin continued, ”There is one thing, Sangsang is still the handmaiden of Ning Que on the household register. To prevent the disapproval among the people, His Majesty suggests you send her back to the Old Brush Pen Shop tonight.”

Zeng Jing was angered by this, thinking it was unreasonable for His Majesty to give a decree like this to separate a girl from her parents. Then he said in a low voice, ”I need to see His Majesty at the palace.”

It seemed that Eunuch Lin had already guessed that Secretary Zeng would act like this and showed very little surprise. He stepped forward and whispered in Secretary Zeng's ear, ”It is the wish of the Headmaster of the Academy.”

Zeng Jing was dumbstruck and asked with great care, ”The Headmaster of the Academy... has returned?”

Eunuch Lin sighed, ”That's right, the Headmaster had not delivered any messages to the palace for years. You surely know the power of his words. Even if he tells His Majesty to tear down the Daming Palace, His Majesty would follow his instruction, as our Majesty considers himself as a lifetime disciple of the Headmaster and has never disobeyed his orders.”

Zeng Jing hesitated.

At that time, Mrs. Zeng suddenly burst out with a trembling voice, ”I've lost her for more than ten years, if my daughter is not willing to leave, n.o.body can take her away from me.”

Mrs. Zeng was not from an upper cla.s.s family and had no relation with the large households in Qinghe County. She was just a common civilian girl before she married to Zeng Jing. And in the Tang Empire, it was those common civilians who had the simplest, most determined feelings and view of merits.

Power and strength would lose their charm before people with such feelings and views. No matter if it was the Headmaster of the Academy or His Majesty, they would both have to step aside for now.

Eunuch Lin was panic-stricken for a while and developed a wistful respect for the Secretary's wife, and replied gently, ”Madam, you're mistaken about the decree. Of course, it's up to Miss Sangsang herself. His Majesty is just suggesting that you two shouldn't stop her. If I may be allowed to speak to Miss Sangsang in person?”

Secretary Zeng and Mrs. Zeng exchanged a look with each other; they both knew they shouldn't act too unyieldingly now that it was His Majesty's will. So they sent a servant to Jingmin Garden to check whether Sangsang was asleep.

Sangsang didn't sleep well as she wasn't at the Old Brush Pen Shop. She stared at the complicated and beautiful patterns on the drapery for a whole night yesterday, while tonight she was stupefied, sitting beside the window.

She came to the study.

Eunuch Lin said only one sentence, ”Ning Que is badly injured.”

Sangsang fell into silence for a while, then she turned around and walked out of the study as if she had heard nothing.

Soon after, she came back holding her traveling bag.

She bowed to Secretary Zeng and Mrs. Zeng, and then said in a low voice, ”I shall go see him and I will come back tomorrow.”

Then she thought for a while, and added, ”I will come back once he is fine.”

The bamboo forest inside the Reception Yard was like a black green sea, and dense water gra.s.s in the Ink Lake swayed during the deep autumn's night wind. The disciples of the Black Ink Garden had no idea what Senior Brother Ning Que and the Hill Master had talked about, or what had happened during the day, and were asleep in their rooms.

Mo Shanshan had not yet gone to bed. She was looking at the calligraphy pieces before her under the candlelight. These pieces were written by Ning Que during the day; although the ink on them was already dry, it remained fresh as if it were still carrying the smell at that time.

Zhuo Zhihua walked in with a flimsy garment covering her shoulders. She looked at Mo Shanshan and asked worriedly, ”What on earth has happened? Why should we leave Chang'an in advance?”

Mo Shanshan smiled with her eyes fixed on the calligraphy below the candlelight. Her red lips tightly shut were like the red lines on the willow, which represented marriage in the Great River Kingdom.

”It is said that Ning Que had been injured before coming here today.”

Mo Shanshan frowned, and asked briefly, ”Who was his opponent?”

”The Daos.h.i.+ Monk from the Yuelun Kingdom. He challenged Ning Que on the street side and had his head cut off by Ning Que.”

Zhuo Zhihua said after a while of hesitation, ”I've heard that the Daos.h.i.+ Monk has chanted scriptures and paid respect to Buddha in the Xuankong Temple for years. His cultivation state was high, so I suppose Ning Que must be badly injured.”

Mo Shanshan stood up, then she sat down again after a silence.

”You were already injured when you were writing calligraphy, why didn't you tell me?”

The candlewick, which had not been trimmed for a long time, was curled a little and shone dimly. The light was primrose yellow on the white skirt of the young girl, but yet failed to conceal the paleness on her face.

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