162: Chapter 162 You two, take this opportunity to leave the city.

"Absolutely not!"

Chen Shanzhi refused flatly: "The Emperor's word is law. If we go to break off the engagement, that would be slapping the Emperor in the face! We cannot bear the charge of resisting an imperial decree either!"

"Death either way? Then what do we do!" Chen Chao was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

Chen Shanzhi looked at his father with burning eyes, saying every word clearly: "Take a step back, and the sea and sky will open up!"

"Father, go to the morning court tomorrow and immediately submit your resignation to the Emperor! Just say you are in poor health, unable to fulfill your official duties, and beg to return to your hometown in retirement!"

"Resign?" Chen Chao was greatly shocked.

"Yes, you must resign!"

Chen Shanzhi explained his plan rapidly: "As long as you are not in the imperial court, Chancellor Ouyang cannot get a handle on you, and cannot manipulate you in officialdom. Then, for this year, the two of us will stay locked inside our residence and go nowhere! My reputation is currently at its peak, and the entire capital is watching us. As long as we do not make mistakes, even Chancellor Ouyang would not dare to risk everything to send assassins to kill us under the Emperor's nose! If we can survive this year, and wait until Wanqing's coming-of-age day next year, by then, the raw rice will have been cooked into porridge, and once the Emperor's decree for the marriage arrives, even if Chancellor Ouyang is unwilling, he will not dare to defy the imperial decree. We will have brought this dead game back to life!"

After hearing this, Chen Chao slumped into his chair. He had worked so hard to climb to his current position, and now being asked to give up everything, he was naturally reluctant. However, looking at his son before him, who seemed to have grown up overnight, Chen Chao finally gritted his teeth and nodded heavily. "Fine, I'll listen to you! As long as the green mountains remain, there is no need to worry about firewood! I will resign tomorrow!"

The next day, Chen Chao decisively submitted his resignation at the morning court. Although the Emperor urged him to stay a few times, seeing his firm attitude, he granted it. From then on, the Chen family gates were kept tightly shut, refusing all visitors.

Time passed extremely uneventfully for half a year. Over these past six months, although Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing could not meet, they bribed a young maid in the Prime Ministers Mansion to frequently and secretly pass letters. In the letters, there was no flowery romance, only intense longing and beautiful visions of the future. In this secret exchange, their feelings not only did not fade but, like a jar of old wine, fermented to become even more intense and intoxicating.

During these six months, Chancellor Ouyang's side was surprisingly quiet. There was no harassment, no assassination, and he hadn't even mentioned the marriage bestowal again. Everything seemed to be developing in the direction Chen Shanzhi had envisioned. Chen Chao even sometimes wondered if his son had been too cautious initially, and had thought too poorly of Chancellor Ouyang.

Until that night. In the dead of night, a sudden, rapid but faint knocking sound came from the back door of the Chen residence. Chen Shanzhi woke up with a start from his bed. He threw on his clothes, walked vigilantly to the back door, and peered out through a crack in the door. He saw a petite figure wearing a black cloak standing outside. Chen Shanzhi opened the door, and the person pulled off her hood—it was Ouyang Wanqing!

At this moment, Ouyang Wanqing had taken off those complex and luxurious noblewoman outfits. She wore only a neat, commoner's outfit, with a small bundle on her back. Her stunningly beautiful face was full of anxious panic.

"Qinger? Why did you run here in the middle of the night?" Chen Shanzhi was shocked and hurriedly pulled her into the courtyard, locking the back door behind them.

"Third Brother! Run quickly!" Ouyang Wanqing grabbed Chen Shanzhi's hand, her voice trembling: "I just heard my father plotting with the First Prince outside the study! They... they forged evidence saying that Uncle Chen, during his tenure, privately colluded with the previous dynasty's rebels! Tomorrow morning, the First Prince will bring the Imperial Guard to ransack the Chen family home!"

Boom! Chen Shanzhi's brain buzzed, and he understood everything in an instant. For the past six months, the old fox hadn't been inactive; he had been holding back a fatal trump card! Colluding with rebels! This was a capital crime punishable by death for the entire clan and death by slow slicing! Once this charge was pinned on them, no one could save them! Chen Shanzhi had no idea how his honest, hardworking father, who didn't even dare to take a single copper coin while in office, had been framed with forged evidence of colluding with rebels. But he knew one thing clearly. Under the crushing weight of imperial power and the Chancellor's authority, sometimes, having evidence was equivalent to fact! The only path to survival left for the Chen family was this short night!

Chen Shanzhi took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He lowered his head and looked at Ouyang Wanqing, who was gripping him tightly and carrying a bundle. A wave of heartbreaking tenderness welled up in his eyes. "Qinger..." Chen Shanzhi reached out and gently stroked her slightly cold cheek: "Why suffer like this? If the Chen family becomes rebels and you come with me, from now on, you will only be able to live under an assumed name, leading a life of hardship and suffering on the run."

Ouyang Wanqing looked into Chen Shanzhi's eyes, the panic on her face gradually fading, replaced by a firm smile. "Third Brother, I am not afraid." Ouyang Wanqing leaned greedily into Chen Shanzhi's embrace, her voice soft yet firm: "Ever since you recited that 'ode to the wild goose' in front of the entire capital at the poetry gathering, Wanqing has made a vow in her heart. In this lifetime, I will marry no one but Third Brother! Whether it is wealth and glory, or wandering the ends of the earth, for the rest of my life, Wanqing will stay with Third Brother, never to be parted in life or death!"

Hearing this resolute confession, Chen Shanzhi could no longer control his emotions and pulled Ouyang Wanqing tightly into his embrace. "Wanqing... having you, this life of mine is worth it!" Chen Shanzhi gritted his teeth, his eyes reddening: "Rest assured, as long as I have a single breath left, I will never let you suffer the slightest grievance! If I break this vow, may heaven strike me down!"

Ouyang Wanqing enjoyed rubbing against Chen Shanzhi's chest, then quickly pushed him away: "Third Brother, now is not the time for this, let's go quickly! I have already used my private savings to bribe a city guard officer in the south of the city. Let's leave from the south of the city immediately. I have secretly hidden a carriage in a ruined temple outside the city. As long as we get out of the city, we will be safe!"

"Good, with Wanqing, what more could I ask for!" Chen Shanzhi did not hesitate, immediately turned and ran to Chen Chao's room, briefly explaining the severity of the situation. Chen Chao was also so scared that his soul was flying away and his spirit scattering. The three of them quickly packed some gold, silver, and valuables, carried their bundles on their backs, and prepared to sneak away from the side door of the residence.

However, just as Chen Shanzhi's hand touched the bolt of the side door, he keenly glanced out through a crack in the door. Just one glance. The hairs on Chen Shanzhi's body instantly stood on end! In the hidden alley outside the side door, under the faint moonlight, there were actually three figures dressed in black, with bulging waists, quietly lurking in the shadows, staring fixedly at the Chen family's side door!

Surveillance? And it was highly professional assassin surveillance! That old fox, Chancellor Ouyang, did things without any leaks. He had actually sent people to secretly blockade the Chen family! Chen Shanzhi retreated with a grim expression and whispered the situation outside to the other two. "It's over... we can't get out..." Ouyang Wanqing's small face turned pale. As long as they dared to push open this door, their tracks would be discovered. By then, no one would be able to escape.

Just as the three of them were at their wit's end, Chen Chao, who had been silent all this time, suddenly smiled calmly. That middle-aged man, who was usually honest and timid, now had dazzling light flashing in his eyes. "San'er, Wanqing." Chen Chao walked up to them and affectionately patted Chen Shanzhi's head. "I will go and lure away the dogs outside for you. The two of you, take the chance to leave the city."