Chapter 144

Chapter 144

Chang Gongjun Jiayou was stubborn by nature, so his return to Han Zhang was, of course, born of unwillingness to let go.

Although Han Zhang's defiance of the imperial decree for the sake of his husband infuriated him, he had to admit that this depth of devotion moved him all the more.

Master Han truly was unlike other men—a man of both talent and looks, so rare in this world. If he let this chance slip away, he would regret it for the rest of his life.

What was so special about Shen Qinglan? Why did he deserve Master Han's sincere devotion?

The reason Master Han had rejected him so firmly before must have been youthful arrogance, unaware of the dangers of officialdom.

Now that he had experienced the exclusion and mistreatment in the Hanlin Academy, Master Han should understand what kind of career advancement marrying him, the Chang Gongjun, would bring. Surely his heart would waver?

No matter what, he had to try again.

If Master Han remained obstinate, then he could not be blamed for being ruthless.

What he, Jiayou, could not have, no one else should even think of touching!

Thus, on the way home from work that day, Han Zhang was stopped by Chang Gongjun Jiayou's guards and "invited" to a private room in a nearby restaurant.

...

The private room was elegantly arranged, with curling incense smoke.

Chang Gongjun Jiayou sat upright within, dressed in luxurious crimson palace attire that made his features even more striking.

To be honest, his disdain for Shen Qinglan was not without reason—besides family background, his appearance was not much inferior to Shen Qinglan's. Both were rare beauties among the ge'er.

It was just that the arrogance and obsessive determination in his brow marred that beauty.

"All of you, leave. This prince wishes to speak with Lord Han alone..."

Seeing Han Zhang enter, Jiayou waved for the attendants to withdraw, leaving only two trusted guards at the door.

He looked at Han Zhang with admiration, stepping forward with some delight and concern: "Master Han, you've come?"

Han Zhang, who had been forcibly "invited" here, did not look pleased, but it was not yet time to completely burn bridges.

He suppressed his temper, cupped his hands in a formal salute with a cold expression: "Your subject pays respects to the Chang Gongjun."

Seeing his aloofness, Jiayou felt a pang of bitterness, yet still forced a smile, restraining his temper to ask with gentle concern:

"Master Han need not stand on ceremony. You... how have you been in the Hanlin Academy lately?"

This was asking what he already knew.

Han Zhang remained unperturbed, his tone still cold: "The Hanlin Academy is a place of scholarly purity. Your subject spends his days reading and compiling history—quite well. May I ask what business His Highness has in 'inviting' your subject here? If there is none, please allow your subject to take leave, lest it tarnish His Highness's reputation."

"You... do you truly not wish to see me? Not even willing to speak a few more words with me?"

Jiayou was stung by his attitude, biting his lip in stubborn frustration.

Was he truly so repulsive to him?

Seeing the emotion in the other's eyes, Han Zhang found it somewhat amusing.

Chang Gongjun Jiayou could not understand why he loved his husband so deeply, just as he could not understand the other's thoughts.

—They had bullied him to this extent, and still expected him to feel fondness?

He was not insane, to go chasing after someone who humiliated him.

Since the other had asked, Han Zhang would not hold back.

He had offended the powerful families to help the Crown Prince, only to be cast aside when convenient. The fact that he could stand here intact despite all the suppression was not due to anyone's mercy—it was his own capability!

He had been holding in his frustration as well.

Han Zhang nodded coldly: "Yes, I do not wish to see you, Chang Gongjun, nor am I willing to speak more with you!"

"Please do not act as if I have wronged you. There has never been any affection between us. Saving you on Hanshan back then was my duty and obligation as a subject."

"Besides, just because you like me, must I like you in return? And do you truly like me? No, it is merely your possessiveness flaring up—the unwillingness of not getting what you want."

"Even if you were sincere, so what? I already have a husband. Your Highness's current behavior—how is it any different from that mistress who once destroyed your relationship with your former consort?"

Since the other was pressing so hard, he could not blame him for speaking bluntly.

The matter of the former consort was Jiayou's sore spot. Hearing this, his eyes reddened instantly, and he said furiously and darkly:

"Han Qinzhang, what is so good about Shen Qinglan? A ge'er from a fifth-rank official's family—what can he bring you? Besides dragging you down, making you offend the royal family, and ruining your future, what else can he do?"

"Has the exclusion and cold shoulder you've suffered in the Hanlin Academy these days not been enough to show you the difference between him and me?!"

"You dare offend me for the sake of such a good-for-nothing ge'er? Do you truly think I am so easygoing that I won't come down hard on you?!"

Han Zhang was unafraid of his change in demeanor, his gaze sharp as he said coldly: "I won't, and that's that. Even if the Emperor himself were here, my answer would be the same."

"In my heart, my husband is the best. Fame and fortune are tempting, but if I must betray my true feelings to obtain them, I would rather go without."

"The Chang Gongjun is nobly born, and there are countless worthy men in this world. To cling so persistently to a married man only lowers your own standing."

"You—you—"

Jiayou was so enraged by his unyielding attitude that his chest rose and fell with rage, his finger trembling as he pointed at Han Zhang.

He had always gotten everything he wanted since childhood—when had he ever been so repeatedly rejected and humiliated?

"Fine, fine—'rather go without'!" Jiayou laughed in fury, a cruel glint flashing in his eyes: "Han Qinzhang, do you think that after rejecting me, you and your precious husband can still live peacefully in the capital?"

"I will ask you one last time: will you yield, or not?"

His voice was soft, but his eyes were red-rimmed: "If you turn back now and agree to marry me as a co-husband, I will let bygones be bygones. Not only that, I can raise you even higher."

"If you insist on refusing... then don't blame me for being ruthless. You'll never advance in the court again for the rest of your life."

Han Zhang's expression remained unchanged, his gaze as calm as a deep pool, and he said coldly:

"No means no."

And with that,

he dispensed with formalities, turning on his heel to leave the private room.

Behind him, Jiayou burst into tears, his voice shrill: "Han Qinzhang, come back, come back... You will regret this!"

Han Zhang turned a deaf ear and walked away without a backward glance.

Only after his figure disappeared around the corner of the staircase did the crisp sound of shattered porcelain echo from the private room.

Jiayou stood amidst the fragments, his chest heaving violently, large tears streaming down his face, yet the viciousness in his eyes only grew sharper.

His voice was hoarse and savage, thick with sobs: "I want Shen Qinglan dead! If I can't have him, no one else will! I'll make him regret turning me down!"

...

Although Han Zhang had walked far away, when he had first entered the private room at the tavern, he had already used his Power to alter the plants in the room.

So after he left, he naturally overheard Jiayou's furious commands.

Han Zhang's eyes darkened slightly, but he wasn't surprised.

Though rumors shouldn't be taken at face value, there's no smoke without fire. Even if Chang Gongjun Jiayou's vicious nature wasn't as extreme as the rumors claimed, it was at least seventy or eighty percent true.

After all, the number of dead male concubines in his household couldn't be faked.

The man's current reaction was exactly what he'd expected.

Even so, Han Zhang didn't regret how he'd treated Chang Gongjun Jiayou earlier.

Since he planned to use this Chang Gongjun to escape the capital's vortex, there was no need to swallow his pride and play nice with an enemy.

He'd deliberately provoked the man.

Only if Chang Gongjun Jiayou kept pressing relentlessly would the Crown Prince take the initiative to let him leave the capital.

And only out there could he find boundless skies and open seas—where birds could soar and fish could leap!

After mulling it all over, Han Zhang went home and told Shen Qinglan everything that had happened in the private room, along with his plan to leave the capital.

"...My husband, His Majesty is in good health and has at least another ten or more years left. Right now, the higher-ups all have a grudge against me because of the Chang Gongjun."

"And the Chang Gongjun has probably come to resent us too. With his temperament, he won't let this go easily. If I stay in the capital, not only will I have no chance to get ahead, but our days ahead will likely be anything but peaceful."

"I've thought it over—rather than staying in the capital with my hands tied, it's better to take this chance to get a post outside the capital. Even if it's some desolate county or remote backwater, it's better than living here at others' mercy, putting up with their moods and constantly watching for hidden daggers. What do you think, husband?"

What did Shen Qinglan think?

Of course—it couldn't be better!

He had a generous dowry, so even if he followed his husband to some poor, remote place, he wouldn't suffer too much.

Even if he did suffer a bit, he'd do it willingly. Either way, he absolutely refused to share his husband with the Chang Gongjun.

"Husband, wherever you go, I'll follow. Whether it's the capital or the ends of the earth, I don't care—as long as you're there."

Shen Qinglan buried his head in Han Zhang's chest, radiating dependence and trust.

Han Zhang knew his husband would choose this. He took his husband's slightly cool hand, his eyes full of tenderness and concern: "Then, for this, I'll have to ask you to play along with me in a little act of suffering."

"It's no hardship. You're willing to offend His Majesty and the Eastern Palace for me; a little suffering on my part means nothing. Once we leave the capital together, those immortal days where only the two of us are together—just thinking about it is wonderful!"

Shen Qinglan smiled brightly.

Han Zhang chuckled softly: "My husband speaks wisely. I envy not immortals but the entwined branches, where leaves and vines intertwine through the years. A life with only you and me is better than being immortals."

The couple gazed at each other, each seeing only the other in their eyes.

Then they discussed the details of the suffering act for a while longer before embracing and settling down to rest, preparing to face Chang Gongjun Jiayou's retaliation with full energy.