Going to Beijing to save his father, all the powerful officials in the city are vying to be his fath

In order to develop a tacit understanding with these people, Su Qin prepared to follow the foreign merchants to familiarize herself with the route.

Hearing this news, Zhao Liangchen felt as if a huge stone had fallen from his heart, and at the same time, he felt extremely lost as if his soul had been sucked away.

Lately, he'd been avoiding Su Qin like a mouse seeing a cat, and the pain he'd endured was indescribable. He couldn't help but want to find Su Qin, and for that reason, he'd often spent the night crouching on the wall like a ghost, staring blankly at Su Qin's room.

He knew that if he continued like this, he would be unable to restrain himself from confessing his feelings to Su Qin. However, he was confused about the future and didn't know where to go. So, if Su Qin left, he wouldn't have to hide so hard.

But when he thought about never seeing Su Qin again, his heart felt hollow, as if his home had been stolen.

Su Qin is about to leave, but Qi Lusheng must stay in Shangjing City to hold regular auctions and receive goods sent from the south. Without someone familiar to accompany Su Qin, Zeng Lao and Zhao Liangchen are worried. Zhao Liangchen can't get away, so Zeng Lao wants to follow him personally.

Su Qin politely declined, "Grandpa, this trip will take at least two months, and at most more than half a year. The journey will be exhausting, and it will be unbearable. Please don't go. Just wait for my return at home."

Zeng Lao was displeased when he heard this and asked, "Why? Are you dissatisfied with my age and frailty? Back when I was young, I often traveled and slept in the open air. Now that we are wealthy and have many people, we will definitely not suffer any hardship on this journey. How could I not be able to persevere?"

Su Qin sighed helplessly: "Grandpa, what you said is true, but that was when you were young after all. At your age now, I'm afraid your body won't be able to bear it if you continue to travel so much."

Zeng Lao, however, started to act like a child, pouting his beard and angrily saying, "I don't care. I have to go anyway. If you don't take me with you, I'll follow you after you leave and go alone."

Su Qin was at her wit's end and had to go to Zhao Liangchen, hoping he could persuade Zeng Lao. Unexpectedly, Zhao Liangchen advised her instead, "Just let the teacher go with you."

Su Qin was shocked: "Why? Grandpa is old, aren't you afraid that he might get into trouble along the way?"

Zhao Liangchen said in a deep voice: "If we stay here, something might happen."

Su Qin frowned, her face showing annoyance: "What do you mean by that?"

Zhao Liangchen's face was solemn as he spoke in a deep voice, "Prince Liang has now completely broken with the Emperor, and the court is clearly divided into two factions. Prince Liang has been working hard and secretly for over a decade, and more than half of the officials in the court follow his lead. However, those who support the Emperor are all the most trusted ministers in the court, and Prince Liang will find it difficult to shake the Emperor's position for the time being. If your father had succeeded last year, the Emperor's current situation would be precarious. But Prince Liang has been defeated repeatedly, and his attempt to pull the Emperor off the throne without bloodshed is clearly a pipe dream.

However, he certainly wouldn't have the patience to wait forever. The matter of selecting a concubine, mentioned years ago, has recently been put on the agenda, and the selection will be held soon.

Prince Liang's faction has been actively colluding privately lately, and Prince Liang has even ordered me to secretly lead a group of loyal imperial guards in training. Unidentified individuals have also been spotted nearby; I suspect they are Prince Liang's private soldiers. If news of a concubine's pregnancy leaks within six months at the latest, Prince Liang will threaten the Emperor, perhaps even launch a mutiny.

I don't know how much longer I can keep this a secret, but regardless of whether I can keep it a secret from King Liang, if he discovers I've switched sides during the rebellion, he'll be furious and will surely take his anger out on those around me. You and Teacher are the ones I care about most, and I truly don't want you to be implicated and suffer any misfortune.

So I want to take this opportunity to let you take the teacher away, and when everything is calm, you can come back. Only when you are safe and sound can I focus on my own work without distractions."

Su Qin was silent. It was true that if King Liang chose to resort to force, it would be very dangerous for them to stay. They wanted to defeat King Liang in order to protect themselves. However, she could give some advice, but she didn't want to stay and charge into battle.

After a moment's silence, she softly asked, "Is the Emperor's health still not fully recovered?"

Zhao Liangchen shook his head slowly: "More than a decade has passed. The emperor has suffered years of persecution and his body has long been damaged. Although Duan Liang has been carefully caring for the emperor, it is not easy to restore him to his original state!

Even if the Queen is pregnant, the Emperor will certainly not make this news public to protect her safety. The Emperor's move is nothing more than trying to force Prince Liang to rebel, so that he can legitimately deal with him."

Su Qin thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, I'll take Grandpa away and won't be a burden to you."

Zhao Liangchen stared at Su Qin with a gaze as deep as a pool. "You are not a burden to me, but my weakness. I only wish you all safety and security. Don't let anything go wrong. Promise me that you will take good care of yourself and your teacher and return safely."

Su Qin clearly sensed the change in Zhao Liangchen's mood and caught a glimpse of the fiery heat in his eyes. She was no naive girl, so she could naturally discern Zhao Liangchen's special feelings for her, but she would never easily give her heart to him just because he treated her so well.

When she first arrived, she thought she could marry anyone because at that time she had not yet truly realized the horror of imperial power.

She thought that Su Jijing was already a third-rank official, and with his protection, she could marry anyone and have a peaceful life. But now she doesn't think so. Thunder, rain and dew are all grace from the emperor. Even if Su Jijing returns to Beijing to be an official in the future, he may lose all his high position and wealth, and be granted the title of nobility and prime minister in one day, not to mention Zhao Liangchen. Su Qin doesn't want to go through the same thing again. She wants to take her destiny into her own hands.

Zhao Liangchen's future is visibly bright. She knows that if she is with Zhao Liangchen, she can also realize her dream of lying down, and with Zhao Liangchen's familiarity with her, she should be able to live a very free life.

But when the cunning rabbit dies, the running dogs are cooked. Who knows whether the emperor will be suspicious of Zhao Liangchen in the future? The emperor was stabbed in the back by the most trusted Prince Liang, and he is destined not to trust anyone again in the future. Now he is still young and needs the support of Zhao Liangchen and others.

But what about ten years from now? By then, he would have become a mature and steady king, able to manipulate all his courtiers at his will. He would then regard these officials, who had witnessed his humiliation, powerlessness, and foolishness, as thorns in his side, and their contributions as weighty as Mount Tai, making them difficult for him to control.

So he would rack his brains to find excuses to undo all their efforts.

If she really married Zhao Liangchen, by then, she would have a family to support and would be getting older. It would be a pipe dream to expect to escape unscathed if something happened.

How could she gamble on such an uncertain future? To be in jail in middle age, or to live a life of displacement, is the true tragedy.

Therefore, she would never reciprocate Zhao Liangchen's feelings. Before, after arriving here, she had never considered changing her living environment, so she was not opposed to marrying. But now, she had considerable money, saved the Su family, and had a say in Su Jijing.

If she could live a good life without getting married in the future, she would have no plans to get married.

Su Qin smiled at Zhao Liangchen. "Don't worry, I will protect Grandpa and myself and return safely. You should also take good care of yourself. Don't try to be brave when you encounter danger. It would be best if the emperor can win. If not, don't force it. Come to us if you can survive."

Zhao Liangchen felt as if his heart had been hollowed out, and he felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at his heart, but he still forced a smile: "Okay, don't worry, I have always been the one who cherishes my life the most, and I will never sacrifice myself for others."