Volume 1: Ink and Powder Take the Stage Chapter 9: A Narrow Escape, Preserving One's Life

  Name.

  "Hidden Moon."

  "Where is the person."

  ...this...

  "Hello!"

  "Returning to Prince Wang, Fugui Village."

  "Is there anyone else at home?"

  "Also have an older brother."

  "Where is he now?"

  "I got separated from my brother."

  "Disperse?"

  "Returning to the king, not long ago, my brother took me out of the village, but unexpectedly got separated from my brother. With no money in hand, I had to wander around alone until I was summoned by the Wang's mansion as a servant girl, and that's how I entered the mansion."

  I made up the whole story from start to finish, surprisingly without stuttering, but I was so tense that I was about to die, using my thumb nail to press against my index finger to prevent my body from shaking.

  "What's with your hair?"

  "Accidentally touched the candle flame, brother saved me in a hurry and cut it off with scissors." Was it my short hair that caused the trouble?

  "Take down the stick and stop when the truth is told."

  "Your Highness! The commoner's words are all true, Your Highness! Your Highness!" His body was dragged up by someone, what to do? What to do? Being beaten with a stick would be certain death, but why does King Jingming think I'm lying, is it intentional?

  "Your Highness?" It was Wan Rijian. He only saw King Jingming wave his hand, and the arm that was being pulled back was released.

  "What's with the 'tenfold protection'? I never asked you!"

  "Your Highness, the master of Hidden Moon is actually the eldest daughter of Prime Minister Xiang."

  "Ten days of sincerity!" What is he doing, hating me for self-protection? Trouble, indeed. My one sentence has everyone staring at me, including King Jingming.

  "Shenhe Mountain has only one daughter, as everyone knows, where did this girl come from?"

  "Report to the king, Yinhua is the daughter of Xiangye from his youthful travels. She was born at the foot of Liangfu Mountain with a local ethnic woman. Xiangye didn't know he had this daughter. Recently, her mother passed away and she came here seeking her father according to her mother's last words. However, soon after recognizing each other, Xiangye suffered a calamity. Fortunately, Yinhua followed the criminal to the secluded mansion at that time and thus escaped the disaster. The king can send someone to Liangfu Mountain's Lujia Village to investigate."

  "Yin Yue? Or should I say Shen Yin Yue, after hearing what Wan Hu Shang said, this king is a bit confused." Good Wan Ri Cheng, just dragging me into the water like this, I tried to clear my relationship with him, but he... even if I don't admit it, no one will believe me anyway.

  "Your Majesty, what he said is indeed true. I, a humble commoner, have only been here for a few days, and my father's household has already suffered such a calamity. The military officer just now said that my father was in league with the enemy and betrayed the country, and I was afraid, but also unwilling to suffer further punishment, so I told a lie against my will. Please forgive me, Your Majesty." Now I'm sweating all over, this lie has gotten out of hand, I don't know if King Jingming believes it or not, and even I myself am starting to doubt it.

  "If you don't believe me, this family heirloom can serve as proof." I took out the black jade that Xiang Ye had given me and handed it over. A servant received it and passed it on to King Jing Ming, who only glanced at it before playing with it in his hand.

  "Ten thousand guards, Master Xiang this is a matter of rebellion and betrayal against the country..."

  "Your Highness, I'm sure you're well aware of the kind of person Marquis is. He's a loyal and upright man. The destruction of his household was all done by the Lingyue Palace. Because of the matter in the Southern Country, he had a falling out with the Lingyue Palace. Not long ago, he and his wife took the county princess to the Wanshou Temple to fulfill a vow, but on their way back, they were ambushed by the Lingyue Palace while passing through Qinglin. His wife was killed by those scoundrels during that incident. I'm sure Your Highness already knows about these things. And yet, the sword wound on Marquis's body is the unique sword technique of the master of the Lingyue Palace... Lingying." Hmm? Could it be that in the end, Marquis was actually killed by Sima Nan?!

  "General Lin?" The answer came from that military officer.

  "Returning to the king, it is indeed a residual shadow."

  King Jingming is still playing with my jade, I don't know what he's thinking about. The courtyard suddenly became quiet, only the calls of a few ravens could be heard, sometimes near and sometimes far. My heart is anxious, I don't know whether it's good or bad fortune ahead, my heart is hanging in suspense. This King Jingming is really something, not speaking, just keeping everyone in suspense.

  Just as I was hanging my head in shame, with a belly full of complaints, he made a move. I quietly lifted my head to look over and saw him beckoning, a servant came over, he leaned down and said something, the servant then ran off quickly, and before long, brought something back. He placed it on the stone table beside him and unfolded it, turning out to be paper and brush. The King of Jingming got up, lifted his hand and picked up the brush, dipped it in the inkstone beside him, and began writing. After about ten minutes or so, he took something from beside him and pressed it onto the paper, then put it down and leaned back onto the couch. I quickly lowered my head again, fortunately he didn't look over at me.

  "Lin Deputy General."

  "In."

  "You present this letter to His Majesty, and His Majesty will understand."

  After finishing speaking, the house servant just now handed over those few pages of paper to Deputy General Lin. Deputy General Lin took them and bowed with his fist to King Jingming, then led his small team away in a majestic manner. The air in the entire courtyard suddenly became refreshing and pleasant. It seems that we are out of trouble now. If I had known it would be like this, I wouldn't have made such a fuss just now.

  Good grief! I was so tense just now that I forgot about the wound on my chest. Now that I've relaxed, the pain is coming back. I took a look at the wound and it's done for - the scab that had just started to form has been torn open again, and I can already see a faint bloodstain. What am I going to do? If time drags on, the bleeding will only get worse. And if Jingyun Wang finds out, no matter how good my excuse is, he's bound to be suspicious. My heart sank once more.

  "This matter is entirely up to the Emperor's decision. Loyally, first take Shen Yinyue and Wan Rixing to the South Wing 'Quiet Residence', without my permission, no one can leave the courtyard half a step, others will be handed over to Bai Qiao for detention."

  "Yes, Your Highness, you have released them from their shackles... The two of you, follow me now."

  House arrest? Well, this should be a good thing, after all, it's better than losing my life. I learn from Wan Rijian's words to thank King Jingyuan, and get up with him, not daring to stay for a moment, and then follow the slave called Zhongxin to the South Court.

  As soon as I entered the south courtyard, I caught a whiff of floral scent. It wasn't until I walked into the courtyard that I noticed a small flower bed in front of me, with some unknown flowers planted inside. The petals were purple-red and the center was white, looking very beautiful. It must have been the source of the fragrance.

  At this time, the loyal servant stopped and turned to face us, pointing at the house in front of him, asking us to stay there. He also told us that our food, clothing, and accommodation would be taken care of by others, and we could move around freely within the courtyard, but with one condition: we were not allowed to go out through the door behind it. Then he left.

  I looked up and saw a shiny plaque on the house with the words "Quiet Residence" written on it. I turned to face Wang Jicheng and smiled wryly, saying that although we were under house arrest, the treatment was quite good, after all, it was better than being dead. He didn't respond, just looked at me calmly without a ripple, Ah, I couldn't help but feel a deep respect for him.

  She turned around and ignored him, entering the house. He followed slowly behind her. The interior of the house was very simple and elegant, with a clear and refreshing feeling, even simpler than the house I lived in at the Xiang Fu, but without any signs of shabbiness. It's likely that this house used to be inhabited by someone gentle and refined.

  There is a long bench in front of the window, I walk over and sit down, looking out from the window, just seeing the small flower bed in the courtyard, don't know what the name of that flower is, can bloom so luxuriantly in this winter season.