Da Li Temple - Chapter 61.2

Chapter 61.2
The Bride’s Substitute

Lin Wanqing turned her head and saw the sweaty Ye Qing.
??
“I just came from the Heir Mansion. They said you returned to Da Li Temple, so I rushed over ……”
??
Lin Wanqing looked confusedly at Ye Qing, who couldn’t catch his breath. “Why are you looking for me?”
??
Ye Qing stood farther away with his brows slightly knitted and looked her up and down before saying, “Today is the wedding day of the third son of the Song family.”
??
Lin Wanqing froze, confused.
??
Ye Qing had a rare sign of seriousness: “Lord Su must have told you that the Emperor would take action against Song Zhengxing. We can’t do anything else, only to ask you for a favor.”
??
“A favor?” Once Lin Wanqing heard Song Zhengxing’s name, her heart fluttered, and her tone became solemn.
??
Ye Qing nodded, “Previously, the Gu family arranged for a maid with a similar body type to the Gu family’s Miss to pretend to be the bride. However, when the Gu family sent the person here, that maid became so scared that her legs went limp, and she couldn’t even walk properly, so I’m worried that using her would be a mistake.”

“What did Lord Su say?” Lin Wanqing asked.
??
Ye Qing anxiously answered, “Lord Su has been with the Emperor since yesterday, planning for today’s Song family wedding banquet. I couldn’t even see him. What the Lord handed over to me, how could I dare to bother him?”
??
“That’s true,” Lin Wanqing nodded. Su Moyi and the Emperor’s plotting must be about the whole picture, and this trivial matter shouldn’t be a hindrance.
??
“So, how do you want me to help you?”
??
Ye Qing showed a problematic face, “The second girl of the Gu family has a slender figure, yet she is a bit taller than an ordinary girl’s family. It’s already hard to find someone who resembles her figure, and if you have to consider boldness and skill, among the women I know, you’re the only one who can do it, Recorder Lin.”
??
“You want me to pretend to be the bride?” Lin Wanqing asked.
??
Ye Qing nodded and said, “Marrying over is a cover. We have evidence of the Hongzhou ‘fake silver’ case in our hands, and at that time, Recorder Lin must put it in some less eye-catching place in the Song Mansion’s study.”
??
“You guys want to plant evidence?”
??
Lin Wanqing’s straightforward words choked Ye Qing. He explained, “This is all evidence that he had planted on others; we only treat others the way they treat us. Moreover, we must use special methods to deal with this kind of cunning person…….”
??
Lin Wanqing froze, took the evidence in his hand, and looked at it.
??
“But, if I put the evidence over, you must search it out, right? It’s not like the Song Mansion committed anything. What excuse is the Emperor going to use to search the Mansion?”
??
Ye Qing touched the back of his head: “That would be a secret. The Lord told me we only need to do our job, and the Lord’s side will pick up from there.”
??
Holding the hand of the paperwork tightened, she looked at Ye Qing for a long time and said, “That’s fine. But you still have to talk to me about how to do it.”
??
“But ……” Ye Qing hesitated and stammered, “You must not tell Lord Su about this.”
??
Lin Wanqing immediately understood what he meant but did not care much. She only said, “You and I have our duty, and at this moment, we must consider the overall situation.”

“Then don’t tell Lord Su.” Ye Qing was unyielding as if he would only rest once he got Lin Wanqing’s assurance.
??
“Okay, okay ……,” Lin Wanqing couldn’t argue, “Got it.”
??
*
??
At the beginning of the day, the Song Mansion was already full of high-profile guests and bustling with activity. Big red silk hangs from the front door along the corridor to the main hall. Red lanterns with happy words dangle under the house’s eaves, and the red light shines through, reflecting the green stone pavement with joy.
??
At the banquet, the congratulatory couplets hung high on the walls, reflecting each other under the flickering candlelight. The banquet had yet to begin, but because most of the guests were officials who had worked together in Sheng City, they knew each other well and had already chatted. The servants of the Song Mansion were busy serving the food and preparing the wine, maneuvering nimbly between the banquet tables.
??
Song Zhengxing and his wife welcomed the guests in the main hall, arranging the successive arrivals to be seated.
??
Outside the door, there was a sudden clamor.
??
Song Zhengxing raised his head to look around, only to see a servant boy with a face of surprise and bewilderment running straight towards the main hall.
??
“Old Master — ” Fear filled the boy’s face, breaking his sentence into three.
??
“What’s wrong?” Song Zhengxing asked.
??
The boy slowed his breath, turned sideways, and pointed at the gate, “The imperial, imperial chariot has come and is now waiting at the gate.”
??
“What ……” Song Zhengxing’s jaw shook in surprise, “The Emperor, the Emperor is here?”
??
Before the boy answered, Song Zhenxing heard Emperor Yonghui’s half-joking voice from afar, “What? When you hear that it is me, you become unhappy.”
??
The people present were surprised to see Emperor Yonghui in person and had kneeled.
??
Emperor Yonghui was easygoing, exempting everyone from saluting and ordering people to send the gifts he had prepared to Song Zhengxing. He smiled, went forward to hold Song Zhengxing’s elbow, and said, “How long has it been since I have not come to your residence? It just so happens that I’ve had the time recently and come to join in the fun.” After saying this, he smiled and went to the main hall.
??
Song Zhengxing quickly followed and personally arranged the most honorable seat for Emperor Yonghui at the top.
??
Song Zhengxing arranged for Su Moyi, who came along with the Emperor, to sit at the bottom because Emperor Yonghui has always valued him and has the status of a Heir. The accompanying secret army was waiting outside the Song Mansion.
??
The Emperor came to the Song Mansion to congratulate the third son’s wedding, which, in the eyes of outsiders, is a great honor. Still, Su Moyi noticed the panic in Song Zhengxing’s eyes when he saw them.
??
Song Zhengxing was stunned momentarily but raised his eyes to see Su Moyi raise his glass to him.

It’s a good show, so he must raise a glass of congratulations.
??
At this time, outside the door came a clatter of hooves, joyful music, and firecrackers. The matron shouted: “The bride is here!”
??——
??
Dog Su: Heh! Old Song, you’ll get it! Drink this cup of wine, and turn your happy event into a funeral!
??
Old Song: Heh! Dog Su Officer, you’re just getting carried away! After drinking this cup of wine, your wife will be my daughter-in-law!

Dog Su: ???
??