Ci Jinzhi

 Zhang Yuchen couldn't believe what he heard: "Second uncle, is there no other way?"

 Sacrifice him?

 He was not yet forty years old, and he was in the prime of life when he was happy, so how could he be willing to die?

"Do you think you still have a choice?" Zhang Shoufu looked at Zhang Yuchen with disappointment in his eyes, "Whether you are willing or unwilling, you will not escape death. The only difference is whether my Zhang family will be uprooted. , completely cut off. Yuchen, do you want to be my Zhang family’s eternal sinner?"

Zhang Yuchen, who was once a young man, stood in front of him and said he had a plan to drive a wedge between the emperor and the empress, how bold and ruthless he was? It turns out that this decisiveness is only for others, not for myself.

 Zhang Yuchen had beads of sweat rolling down his forehead and nodded with difficulty: "I will listen to my second uncle."

 Zhang Shoufu's eyes showed relief as he talked about the arrangement: "Waiting for tomorrow..."

　　It was already midnight when he left Zhang's house. Zhang Yuchen's footsteps were heavy, and when he was about to reach home, he suddenly quickened his pace.

Wang had been waiting at the door of her house. When she saw Zhang Yuchen, she went up to greet him and shouted with a choked voice: "Master, you are back."

 Zhang Yuchen said nothing and held Wang's hand.

The hand was cold and cold, making him shiver.

 The couple entered the house.

 Zhang Yuchen did not accept the clothes Wang handed over, but went straight to the study to rummage around, throwing a pile of letters and papers into a basin and lighting them on fire.

He stared straight at the paper in the basin burning to ashes, walked out, and said his first words after returning to his worried wife: "Hui Niang, I want to leave home and seek refuge."

"Master—" Mrs. Wang had already guessed that a disaster was coming, and after hearing this, she burst into tears that she had been holding back for a long time.

Zhang Yuchen put his hands on Wang's shoulders: "My second uncle asked me to accept my fate, but I am not willing to do so. If I escape, there may be a way to survive. If I don't escape, I will die."

 Wang nodded with tears in her eyes: "I understand. Master, please leave quickly."

Looking at his wife who was crying, Zhang Yuchen felt uncomfortable: "Hui Niang, I can't take you with me. But if I leave, you may still have a way to live. If I just surrender, our husband and wife will really die..."

“What about Wan’er?” Wang couldn’t help but ask.

They have been married for many years and have a son and a daughter. The eldest son was sent back to his hometown in the south seven or eight years ago. Externally, it was said that the couple stayed with their grandparents to fulfill their filial piety. In fact, this was Zhang Yuchen's only way out.

 He is just used to using ruthless means to achieve his goals, which does not mean that he is not afraid of the consequences of failure and exposure.

 The youngest daughter, Zhang Wan, has always stayed with her.

"The laws of Daxia are open to female relatives. As long as I can escape and contact the secretly operating forces, I will definitely take you mother and daughter out."

Wang wiped her eyes and said, "Master, please leave quickly."

Zhang Yuchen disguised himself, took a last deep look at Mr. Wang, and slipped out of the back door.

The dark clouds in the sky dispersed at some point, and the stars sparsely scattered across the sky.

 Zhang Yuchen took in a breath, a chill that penetrated his bones.

It is impossible to get out of the city at this time. When the news comes to the emperor tomorrow, Jinlin Guards will make a big fanfare to find people. It will be a matter of time before they are found hiding in the city.

The only chance is to wait for the city gate to open early in the morning and use the time to sneak out of the city before the news has spread.

Zhang Yuchen has done a lot of evil things in recent years, and Zhang Yuchen is well prepared. At this time, he had a way to lead his identity in his arms, which would make it easier for him to establish himself after escaping from the capital.

 Zhang Yuchen went straight to the city gate.

He secretly bought a residence near the city gate, stayed there for half a night, and then left the city as soon as the city gate opened.

As for Zhang Shoufu’s words to persuade him, Zhang Yuchen sneered.

If he could survive, why would he sacrifice himself for his people? Those clan members are not his parents and children. They enjoy the benefits brought by him on weekdays, but if he has to bear the burden when something goes wrong, doesn't he take all the good things?

Zhang Yuchen thought like this and walked quickly.

“Where are you going, Mr. Zhang?” A cool voice suddenly sounded, shocking Zhang Yuchen to stop suddenly. Not far ahead, a red figure stood tall, holding a lamp in his hand.

 The light illuminated his jade-like face.

Congratulations to Qingxiao!

Zhang Yuchen's eyes shrank, and he turned around to run away. Behind him, several Jinlin guards wearing black uniforms looked at him expressionlessly.

 Zhang Yuchen suddenly lost the strength to escape.

He practiced boxing and kicking for several years when he was young, mainly to strengthen his body. If he really wanted to fight against a general, he would be vulnerable.

 Resistance is nothing but self-disgrace.

Thinking of the consequences of falling into Jinlin Guard, Zhang Yuchen's expression changed, he took out the dagger hidden in his sleeve and stabbed it in the heart.

His wrist hurt and he let go, and the dagger fell to the ground, making a clear sound in the silent night.

He Qingxiao came to Zhang Yuchen with a smile on his lips: "Mr. Zhang, don't be so impatient. Take him away."

The stars in the sky were obscured by drifting clouds again, and it was still early before dawn. There was movement in many houses, and officials and nobles who were qualified to attend the morning court were about to go out.

　　Some people knew what happened in the gathering place where the Zhang clan members lived last night, and some didn't. As they gathered outside the palace gate to wait for the morning court meeting, they saw Zhang's chief minister coming carrying thorn sticks on his back.

 Some people who don’t know about it asked in confusion: “Zhang Shoufu, what are you—”

 More people stood far away, not daring to get close.

 Zhang Shoufu looks like something big must have happened. What if he gets into trouble by joining in the fun?

The ministers were discussing quietly in twos and threes, and suddenly there was a commotion.

 “It’s Xin Taizhao!”

 “Why is Xin Daizhao here?”

 Zhang Shoufu heard the movement and slowly turned his head to look over.

The girl in green robe has a simple bun with a hairpin inserted diagonally between the bun and a shining pearl hanging down.

She is obviously wearing a men's official uniform, but her makeup does not deliberately downplay her feminine characteristics at all, as if it is natural and natural for women to wear official uniforms.

 Zhang Shoufu felt as if the thorns on his back had turned into red-hot iron rods, burning his skin and flesh to pieces and causing heartache.

This girl is the culprit that caused the Zhang family building to collapse!

 But at this moment, not only could he not show his hatred, but he also—

 Zhang Shoufu secretly took a breath and walked towards Xin You.

Under the gaze of countless pairs of eyes, Zhang Shoufu stopped when he was about ten feet away from Xin You.

Those low voices of discussion disappeared at some point, and there was a moment of silence outside the palace gate waiting for the morning court. Everyone was curious about what Zhang Shoufu was going to say to Xin Daizhao.

 Zhang Shoufu, at his age, would never start scolding a little girl in public, would he?

 Many people were making random guesses, secretly feeling a sense of expectation.

  Xinyou was also curious about Zhang Shoufu’s plan.

 She was not qualified to participate in the regular court, so she came here today just to complain. Seeing Zhang Shoufu carrying thorns on his back, I had to admire this man's courage.

 Be ruthless to others and be ruthless to yourself, no wonder you can stay in the court till now.

 Zhang Shoufu didn't care about those curious looks at this time. After taking a look at Xin You, he suddenly knelt down.

 When he knelt down, all the ministers were immediately shocked.

 (End of this chapter)