Traveling through time and space to become a lady of a noble family, but she only wants to escape

Chapter 131 Barbarians and Candidates

Lu Jiliang’s mind buzzed with excitement—it was really Bai Zhi!

"I dare, I dare to ask King Jing, but...but Jingzhong Xuan..." Lu Jiliang suddenly shut his mouth halfway through his words - no, in front of King Jing, the three words "Marquis Xuanping" could never be uttered.

However, Chu Yunchuan did not mind and continued: "It is the former Third Lady of Xuanping Marquis Mansion. It turns out that Lord Lu really knows my wife." He leaned close to Lu Jiliang's ear, his voice was low and suddenly a little threatening, "It's just that I don't want to see my wife being talked about by the people. Lord Lu, please put this old identity behind you."

Lu Jiliang's gaze slowly slid to Chu Yunchuan's face and saw that he was still smiling, as if they were just chatting about tomorrow's astronomical phenomena.

But it was not an illusion. After listening to King Jing's words just now, his scalp was numb.

It was only then that Lu Jiliang realized that this Prince Jing was not as simple as he had thought.

Lu Jiliang clenched his fists, and finally said, "I understand."

King Jing Qiansui seemed very satisfied and nodded, saying, "That's very good."

"Your Majesty, is your wife at home now?" Lu Jiliang asked tentatively, "Your Majesty and I are old friends from childhood. I hope we can talk about the past together."

"It's a pity. The journey here is long and we have been traveling all the way. Madam has already gone to bed." Chu Yunchuan said lightly, "Wait until tomorrow, Lord Lu."

"……Yes."

As the day dawned, Bai Zhi was awakened by the crowing of a rooster.

She closed her eyes and reached out to touch her side, trying to wake Chu Yunchuan up and ask him why the palace still raised chickens, but she didn't expect to touch nothing. She withdrew her hand and rubbed her eyes. After struggling for a while, Bai Zhi sat up and looked around with sleepy eyes.

"..."

Where is this?

Baizhi rubbed her eyes again and opened them, still in this strange house.

She vaguely remembered that she slept in the main hall yesterday. Where was she moved to? Bai Zhi called out in a hoarse voice: "Chu Yunchuan?"

The next moment, the sound of a stool scraping against the ground came from outside. After a few footsteps, Chu Yunchuan came out from behind the screen, sat down beside the bed, brought her a cup of hot tea, and asked softly, "Were you woken up by the crowing of a rooster?"

Bai Zhi yawned and asked, "...Where is this? Why are there chickens?"

"This is Zhiheng's residence. We'll be staying here for the time being. Zhiheng raises chickens to wake him up early to approve official documents."

Bai Zhi drank the tea in one gulp. Chu Yunchuan picked up the quilt and wrapped it around her: "It's still early, sleep a little longer."

"Why did you get up so early?"

"There are some letters to read."

There is really no time to rest... Bai Zhi simply threw off the quilt and got out of bed: "I have slept enough, Qiansui, is there anything to eat?"

"I'll ask someone to take it over right away."

Chu Yunchuan went to open the door and told the servants. Bai Zhi dressed up and walked out from behind the screen. She saw a large desk that was exactly the same as the one in the main hall.

There were at least thirty pieces of letter paper on the desk, and a flat large notebook next to it. Bai Zhi walked closer and saw that it was filled with names, and more than a dozen names were circled with cinnabar.

"This is... someone who is taking the imperial examination."

At this moment, Chu Yunchuan had no time to care about anything else except the imperial examination.

Bai Zhi took a quick glance and saw a very familiar name.

"..."

Her face suddenly looked as if she had swallowed a fly.

Chu Yunchuan: "What's wrong?"

"This." Bai Zhi pointed to a name circled in cinnabar. Chu Yunchuan immediately understood and explained, "All the people circled in cinnabar have had contact with the barbarians."

The three words "Yang Jinlang" were written under the finger.

"He has had contact with the barbarians, which means he may be related to Ge Zhen's tribe. If his unusual behavior was instructed by Ge Zhen..." Bai Zhi's hands gradually clenched, and her finger bones left marks on the name. She gritted her teeth and said, "It's Ge Zhen. It's Ge Zhen who has targeted my mother. What does she want to do... The first time Yang Jinlang came to my house, he wanted me to take him to the back public housing. The second time he came to my house, he was slandering my mother..." She turned her head and looked at Chu Yunchuan, "Ge Zhen is not targeting me, nor my mother. She is targeting the position of county magistrate!"

"To be precise, those who have had contact with the barbarians may be targeting the county magistrate and any official positions they can get."

Bai Zhi looked at Chu Yunchuan's expression, which was difficult to relax, and asked, "What are you going to do?"

Things are a bit complicated. This imperial examination is of vital importance to both the government and the people. However, it is not clear to what extent the barbarians have infiltrated. Should we rather kill the wrong people than let them go, or should we protect the fairness of the imperial examination itself, that is, protect the future of these candidates? Is there a third way? Cleanse the barbarians? No, if we alert the enemy, Ge Zhen will not be able to catch him. There is also a Su He mutant poison waiting behind.

Is there no way to have the best of both worlds?

Chu Yunchuan closed his eyes: "When it comes time to make a choice, King Jing should preserve the overall situation."

Bai Zhi sighed, "It's not good for Lu Jiliang to come here at this time. He and the emperor are from the same family. No matter what happens in the Thirteen Prefectures, the blame for poor governance may be put on you."

Chu Yunchuan paused for a moment, his eyes suddenly brightened, he came close to Bai Zhi, and said with a smile: "Bai Zhi, say that again."

"What did you just say?" Bai Zhi recalled, "The blame for poor governance may be put on you... What's so nice about that?"

"One more sentence."

"Hmm...something happened in the Thirteen States..."

"No, no, further ahead."

"...Lu Jiliang and the emperor are from the same family? This sentence?"

"Yes." Chu Yunchuan stretched out his arms and hugged Bai Zhi into his arms with a smile on his face. "That is to say, compared with Lu Jiliang, only I can be considered your own person."

Bai Zhi's face was pressed against Chu Yunchuan's chest. She said helplessly, "What's there to doubt? Do I look like a traitor? Okay, okay, what is Lu Jiliang doing here this time?"

Chu Yunchuan stuck to her head and said, "He's here to monitor me."

"To monitor you? What suspicions does the Emperor have about you?"

"The emperor is a suspicious person by nature. He may want to see me die in the Thirteen States without taking a single step out of the state before he can feel at ease, right?"

Bai Zhi: "...Being an emperor is such a tough job."

Chu Yunchuan laughed: "Bai Zhi, you are the only one who would say that."

"How is that possible? My life is more comfortable than the emperor's, no matter how you look at it, right?"

There was a sudden knock on the door: "My Lord, Madam, Lord Lu sent a message that he hopes to have a small gathering in the garden for tea with Madam."

Before Chu Yunchuan could say anything, Bai Zhi said, "Go and tell Lord Lu that I'll be there later."

"Yes, ma'am."