Chapter 122

Chapter 122: My Wife, I Brought Her Back

Chun Zhi met Empress Wang’s eyes and said calmly: “I choose neither.”

Empress Wang had not expected that answer, so she paused in surprise.

Chun Zhi looked toward the hall doors and said: “I will wait for Huo Zheng to come.”

Empress Wang said at once: “Do you think Seventh Son can do anything? You are the daughter of a convicted official. Even Seventh Son cannot protect you. Staying by his side will only drag him down.”

Chun Zhi said: “Even if I must leave, I want to hear him say it with his own mouth.”

Empress Wang frowned. She had seen stubborn people, but never anyone as stubborn as Chun Zhi.

Earlier, the Wang Clan had sent a message into the palace. They said there was no solid proof that Chun Zhi was the daughter of the disgraced Mu Qing Shan. Many people share similar looks, and it is easy to explain being about the same age and getting lost in the same year. The only hard proof was a birthmark on Chun Zhi that matched Mu Zhi Lan’s.

Even that birthmark was not impossible to handle. If Empress Wang chose to tell Chun Zhi about it, Chun Zhi could find a way to remove it.

Mu Qing Shan was far away in the harsh, cold Northern Frontier. Father and daughter could not meet or recognize each other. People in the capital had no way to be certain that Chun Zhi truly was Mu Zhi Lan.

But Empress Wang did not want Chun Zhi as a daughter-in-law. The Princess Consort of Chang’an she wanted was a noble lady from a famous family, someone whose clan could help Seventh Son.

So when Empress Wang learned that Chun Zhi was the daughter of the disgraced Mu Qing Shan, her first thought was that the Princess Consort of Chang’an could finally be changed.

She had not expected Chun Zhi to stay so calm, or to refuse to quietly sacrifice herself for Huo Zheng. Chun Zhi wanted to wait for Huo Zheng.

Empress Wang did not want Huo Zheng to know she was the one forcing Chun Zhi to leave. She gave the female official beside her a look and said coldly: “You do not get to refuse.”

The female official stepped forward at once with several palace attendants to seize Chun Zhi. As they were about to tie her with a rope, an eunuch reported from outside the hall: “Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Chang’an has arrived!”

Empress Wang started in surprise and said: “Why did Seventh Son get here so fast?”

The female official and the palace attendants, who were about to bind Chun Zhi, stopped what they were doing. The female official said quickly: “Your Majesty, this…”

Empress Wang said: “Loosen her and put everything away.”

The female official and the palace attendants hurried to release Chun Zhi and untie the rope that was already half around her.

Huo Zheng pushed past the young eunuchs who tried to block him and came inside. This was the scene he saw.

Chun Zhi stood where she was. She lifted her gaze to him and called softly: “Huo Zheng.”

He gave her a reassuring look, then stepped forward and asked: “Empress Mother, what is this?”

Empress Wang felt angry at how slow and clumsy the servants had been, but she did not show it on her face. She answered Huo Zheng coolly: “Did you not see?”

Huo Zheng went to Chun Zhi, grabbed the hemp rope coiled around her, yanked it off, and tossed it to the floor. He said: “If Empress Mother has anything to say, say it to me. Do not make things hard for Chun Zhi.”

Empress Wang frowned and said: “Do you think I am making things hard for her?”

Before Huo Zheng could speak, Empress Wang continued: “You wanted to marry a merchant’s daughter and I accepted that. But she is the daughter of the disgraced Mu Qing Shan. If you insist on marrying her, do you still want to be Prince Chang’an?”

On the way into the palace, Huo Zheng had already guessed that Empress Wang’s sudden summons meant trouble. He had not expected to hear the claim that Chun Zhi was a criminal’s daughter.

After the mother and daughter of the Ji Clan had visited Song Manor, Chun Zhi felt that Madam Ji had reacted strangely when she saw her. Huo Zheng immediately set people to watch the Chancellor’s Manor. Madam Ji had not gone out in these days, but Grand Preceptor Wang had brought his wife and daughter to visit the Chancellor’s Manor. Maybe Madam Ji had recognized that Chun Zhi looked like Mu Qing Shan. Madam Ji did not speak out herself, but passed the news to the Wang Clan. The Wang Clan then carried it to Empress Wang. That was why Empress Wang rushed to summon Chun Zhi to the palace.

Huo Zheng guessed the key points and glanced sideways at Chun Zhi.

Chun Zhi met his eyes and wanted to speak, but Huo Zheng spoke first.

He said in a low voice: “Empress Mother, where did you hear that Chun Zhi is a criminal’s daughter? Do you have solid proof?”

Empress Wang ordered a palace attendant to bring Mu Qing Shan’s portrait for Huo Zheng to see.

Huo Zheng studied the portrait for a moment, then said: “People can look alike. That is common. To decide Chun Zhi is the daughter of the disgraced Mu Qing Shan from a single portrait alone makes the matter childish.”

“Childish?” Empress Wang said: “Chun Zhi is the same age as Mu Qing Shan’s daughter, Mu Zhi Lan. They were both lost in the same year. Mu Zhi Lan has a birthmark shaped like a peach blossom on her lower back. Chun Zhi has one too. Everything matches. You wanted proof. This is proof. Do you want me to order someone to strip her on the spot and check?”

If Chun Zhi only looked like Mu Qing Shan, it could be a coincidence. But the birthmark on Chun Zhi’s lower back was far too unique. Back in Linshui Town, someone had even used that birthmark to claim to be her family.

Now this trouble had risen again.

When Chun Zhi heard this, the hand under her sleeve quietly tightened into a fist.

Huo Zheng raised his hand and drew Chun Zhi behind him. He said: “Even if Chun Zhi truly is the daughter of a disgraced official, I will not abandon her.”

“Seventh Son!” Empress Wang said: “How can you be so confused?”

She looked at him and spoke earnestly: “You have studied since you were three years old. You trained in martial arts in hail and heavy snow, day after day without stopping. You suffered so much and paid so much to stand out among the princes. Now your father the Emperor has great hopes for you. How can you ruin your future for a woman?”

Huo Zheng said: “Empress Mother, I am not confused. Not many people know about this yet. It is not impossible to solve. It is just a birthmark. There are ways to remove it.”

Empress Wang said: “Even if the birthmark is removed, it will always be a hidden danger. If someone with bad intentions uses this to harm you, what will you do?”

Huo Zheng said: “As long as Empress Mother keeps this quiet, the Wang Clan will also keep silent. Please give me a few days to settle this.”

Empress Wang was furious. She said: “Even if I do not speak and the Wang Clan does not speak, someone else will step out to expose it. Seventh Son, I am doing this for your own good.”

Huo Zheng said: “If Empress Mother truly wants what is best for me, then please treat Chun Zhi kindly.”

Empress Wang choked on her words and had just opened her mouth when she heard Huo Zheng say: “No matter who tries to expose it, I have ways to deal with it. But Empress Mother should never make decisions on her own that separate me and Chun Zhi.”

“Seventh Son…” Empress Wang suddenly did not know what to say.

Huo Zheng said: “I do not want to see what happened today a second time.” He took Chun Zhi’s hand and said: “My wife, I am taking her home.”