165: Chapter 165 A Great Dream

On the main seat, His Majesty, having just consumed a piece of shocking gossip,

looked at the young couple holding hands tightly below the stage. The shock in his eyes gradually transformed into a touch of emotion.

The dignified daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion, for the sake of the youth before her, was willing to destroy her own reputation, abandon wealth and honor, and even be kicked out of her home.

What a shocking and unconventional love this was!

"Good! A fine 'marry no one but him'!" His Majesty waved his large hand and laughed heartily.

"Since little Wanqing doesn't even want her status anymore, if I don't fulfill your wishes, wouldn't I become the villain who tears apart a pair of ill-fated lovebirds?"

"I shall bestow marriage upon the two of you today! You shall be wed on an auspicious day!"

...

As the poetry gathering concluded, the news seemed to grow wings, instantly spreading through every street and alley of the capital.

One person could write a timeless masterpiece like the "ode to the wild goose," while the other could abandon her dignity as the Young Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion for love.

The citizens throughout the capital all clapped and cheered for this story of pure love.

The Chen Residence.

Chen Shanzhi held Ouyang Wanqing's hand as he pushed open the main gate.

As soon as they entered, Chen Shanzhi reached back to slide the bolt shut. He pulled Ouyang Wanqing into his arms, staring at her with burning eyes.

"When did you come back?" Chen Shanzhi's voice was slightly hoarse.

"On the afternoon you were being ridden like a white horse by me." Ouyang Wanqing's eyes were slightly red, yet she smiled with extreme cunning.

"Third Brother, you really got a huge bargain this time."

The two looked at each other and smiled; everything was understood without words.

"What do we do next?" Chen Shanzhi pulled her to sit on a stone stool in the courtyard, his expression grave.

"With your stunt today, although you broke the alliance with the First Prince, you've also offended your father to the death.

With his personality, he will absolutely go mad trying to kill us."

"Don't worry." Ouyang Wanqing picked up the cold tea on the table and took a sip, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

"I have a plan."

"What plan?"

"Wait."

Ouyang Wanqing uttered only that one word and said no more.

Days passed one by one, and the Prime Minister's Mansion was surprisingly quiet.

But Chen Shanzhi knew that it was the calm before the storm.

Half a month later, late at night, at the hour of the Rat.

Knock, knock, knock.

The gate of the Chen Residence was knocked upon.

Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing opened their eyes at the same time.

"The person I've been waiting for is here." Ouyang Wanqing rolled out of bed and threw on her outer robe.

The two came to the front gate and pulled back the bolt.

Outside the door stood a mysterious person completely shrouded in a black robe.

The moment the mysterious person looked up and saw their calm gazes, his heart skipped a beat.

He hurriedly cupped his hands, his tone urgent: "Don't panic, you two! Chancellor Ouyang has secretly mobilized death warriors and will strike against you tomorrow.

I have come this time because I wish to discuss a cooperation with you..."

"No problem." Ouyang Wanqing nodded extremely decisively. "How shall we cooperate? Speak plainly."

The mysterious person: "..."

He froze on the spot, his brain nearly short-circuiting.

Wait, I prepared a whole set of rhetoric, even memorized the scripts for threats and inducements, so how did you just agree?

You didn't even ask a single word about who I am?

The mysterious person coughed twice to hide his embarrassment and lowered his voice:

"The master behind me has learned that Chancellor Ouyang and the First Prince are secretly colluding with rebels from the previous dynasty, intending to revolt.

But we lack substantive evidence."

"Since Young Miss Ouyang has been expelled from the Prime Minister's Mansion, you must also hate your father to the core.

As long as you can return to the mansion to help us find evidence, my master will not only ensure you survive this death trap,

but also guarantee that Young Master Chen rises rapidly in the capital, becoming a noble or a minister!"

"The evidence? I prepared it long ago."

Ouyang Wanqing pulled a thick stack of letters from her sleeve, waved them in front of the mysterious person, and a cold smile curled on her lips.

The mysterious person's eyes were practically glued to those letters.

This daughter of the Prime Minister's Mansion is truly an exceptionally ruthless and 'filial' daughter!

"But I have a condition." Ouyang Wanqing withdrew the letters. "Take us to see the Second Prince; I want him to personally sign and seal a pledge.

After the matter is settled, we don't want any high-ranking positions in the capital."

"We only need the Second Prince to enfeoff Shanshi City to my husband once he ascends the throne."

The mysterious person felt as if struck by lightning, recoiling half a step in horror: "You... how do you know my master is..."

"Stop the nonsense." Chen Shanzhi interrupted him impatiently. "One word: do we have a deal or not?"

"We do! Please wait a moment, I will go report back immediately!" The mysterious person felt as if he had obtained a priceless treasure and vanished into the night like a fading shadow.

The following night.

Inside an extremely secluded villa in the capital.

Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing met that deep-scheming Second Prince.

Without any nonsense, they put it in black and white, signed and sealed.

Ouyang Wanqing readily placed that stack of ironclad evidence on the Second Prince's desk.

Over the next month, the entire Great Jiang Dynasty experienced a massive earthquake!

The current Prime Minister and the First Prince had colluded with rebels to plot a revolt.

The Second Prince struck like lightning; with ironclad evidence, the matter reached the Emperor's ears directly.

His Majesty was furious, and the Imperial Guard was deployed in full force.

The First Prince's Mansion and the Prime Minister's Mansion were raided and stripped clean overnight.

Chancellor Ouyang and the First Prince were thrown into the Celestial Prison, and their entire families were sentenced to execution.

Because Ouyang Wanqing had severed ties with the Prime Minister at the poetry gathering, she miraculously remained uninvolved and unharmed.

After the storm subsided, the Second Prince fulfilled his promise.

Holding the imperial decree, Chen Shanzhi was officially enfeoffed as the City Lord of Shanshi City.

Two carriages, carrying Chen Shanzhi, Ouyang Wanqing, and Chen Shanzhi's father, Chen Chao,

slowly drove out of this capital city filled with schemes and bloodshed.

...

Shanshi City was located in a remote area.

On his first day in office, Chen Shanzhi simply tossed the City Lord's seal to his father, Chen Chao.

"Dad, the government affairs are yours; Wanqing and I are going to enjoy a life of leisure."

Under Chen Chao's dumbfounded gaze, Chen Shanzhi took Ouyang Wanqing

and plunged into the deep mountains outside Shanshi City, where they had lived in seclusion in their past lives.

The same valley, the same stream.

They once again cut trees to build a house and cleared land to farm.

Only this time, there was no sword hanging over their heads, and no death warriors from the Prime Minister's Mansion.

They lived a truly carefree life.

Time was like sand between fingers, slipping away uncontrollably.

In the blink of an eye, several decades had passed.

The once brilliant white-clothed child prodigy and the peerlessly beautiful Young Miss of the Prime Minister's Mansion

had both become old people with white hair and wrinkled faces.

Their children and grandchildren had already flourished in Shanshi City.

It was another evening; the sunset glow on the horizon was as red as fire, spilling over the front of the wooden house.

On two woven rattan rocking chairs, Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing lay side by side.

Chen Shanzhi turned his head with great difficulty and stretched out his right hand, covered in age spots. Trembling slightly, he covered Ouyang Wanqing's equally withered hand.

"Wanqing..." Chen Shanzhi's voice was hoarse, filled with deep exhaustion, yet it couldn't hide the sincerity in his tone: "It's been so good to have you in this life."

Ouyang Wanqing's cloudy eyes moved, and she turned to look at him with some confusion.

"If there is a next life, I want to continue marrying you and having children, then growing old together." Chen Shanzhi grinned, revealing his missing teeth.

"Bah," Ouyang Wanqing scolded with a smile. "You're already in your seventies or eighties, yet you're still saying sweet nothings. Aren't you ashamed..."

Before she could finish her sentence, Ouyang Wanqing froze.

She felt the large hand covering her own suddenly lose its strength and slide down limply.

Ouyang Wanqing's eyes stared fixedly at the rattan chair beside her.

On the chair, Chen Shanzhi's eyes were closed, that smile still on his lips, but his chest had stopped rising and falling.

"Chen San!"

Ouyang Wanqing's tears instantly burst forth. She angrily pounded Chen Shanzhi's arm with her hand, crying and cursing:

"You didn't keep your word! You promised you would die after me and handle my funeral!"

"You promise-breaking bastard!"

Her heart-wrenching cries echoed in the silent valley.

After handling Chen Shanzhi's funeral,

a few days later at dusk, Ouyang Wanqing sat alone on the rattan chair.

Watching the sunset gradually sink behind the mountain, she felt so tired.

Without the man who made her laugh and played with her every day, the world suddenly felt empty.

"Third Brother, I'm coming to find you."

Ouyang Wanqing murmured to herself and slowly closed her eyes. Her breathing gradually ceased.

...

Crunch... crunch...

A crisp sound of chewing, accompanied by a strong aroma of roast chicken, abruptly rang out in the chaotic darkness.

"Munch munch... their eyelashes seemed to flicker just now!" a muffled female voice shouted.

"Feiyu, is what you're saying true?" Another female voice approached.

"Look! They really moved! It looks like they're about to wake up!"

As these few words fell, the long and real life in Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing's minds

shattered like fragile glazed glass under the surge of a massive amount of True Essence!

Inside the Jiantian Division, Ward A.

A strong smell of medicine permeated the air.

Chen Shanzhi and Ouyang Wanqing snapped their eyes open almost at the same time!

Beside the hospital bed, Jiang Feiyu, wearing a set of tight-fitting martial attire, was holding a half-eaten roast chicken. Her eyes widened as she stared at them, her mouth glistening with oil.

The two panted heavily, their eyes filled with the confusion and shock of being pulled away from decades of life's vicissitudes.

The moment their gazes met, they both called out the other's name.

"Wanqing!"

"Husband Chen!"