Chapter 88

PS: It was sudden, and I didn't expect the changes in the plot to cause such a huge reaction. It seems that all of you have been holding in a lot of frustration! I'll work hard on writing, and this is the first time I've been urged to update, so I really have to work hard to the point of spitting blood!

In the midst of the cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of the promise written there.

The entire court was stunned, and Li Er's brows furrowed slightly, his eyes revealing a look of disbelief. Zhao Chen's words and actions were so unexpected, as if he had suddenly turned into a different person. When they first met by the Weishui River, this boy had always been like an eel, always grinning at him, and when pushed to the limit, he would at most roll around and act like a rascal.

But now, as Li Er gazed at Zhao Chen below, especially at the resolute look in Zhao Chen's eyes, he suddenly felt a sense of regret. Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin were equally shocked by Zhao Chen's current demeanor. Was this still the boy they knew?

Pei Ji's lips curled slightly, and he glanced at Zhao Chen, then looked at Li Er on the dais. Among those present, he probably understood Zhao Chen's feelings the most. They were both fallen people!

Under the countless astonished gazes, Zhao Chen placed the gold medal on the ground, took two steps back, and smiled at Qin Shubao and Cheng Yaojin. Then he suddenly turned and strode out of the hall.

"Leave! If this place doesn't welcome me, I'll go where I am welcome!"

"Ridiculous!" In front of all the ministers, Zhao Chen walked out, and the regret in Li Er's heart instantly turned to anger. He slammed his hand on the desk and shouted in anger.

However, Zhao Chen ignored him. When Li Er had given him the gold medal, he had clearly stated that it would exempt him from death three times, except for the ten unforgivable sins. One of those lives had been eliminated by Changsun on some pretext, but there were still two left!

The entire hall suddenly fell into an eerie silence. All the ministers held their breath, their eyes fixed on Zhao Chen as he walked step by step toward the door of the hall, their hearts filled with turmoil.

"Rebellious scoundrel! Truly a rebellious scoundrel!" Yan Shigu was the first to jump up, his finger trembling as he pointed at Zhao Chen's back, shouting in anger: "To defy the imperial decree in court is a great act of rebellion! Seize this rebel!"

"I want to see who dares to touch this boy!" Cheng Yaojin, hearing Yan Shigu's words, stood in the center of the hall with his large saber, shouting fiercely.

"Your Majesty, let this child go!" Qin Shubao's eyes were red, and he stepped to the center of the hall, standing parallel to Zhao Chen and Li Er. He looked up at Li Er and said sadly, "If Your Majesty thinks this child has committed a crime, I am willing to take full responsibility for him!"

"Your Majesty!" As Qin Shubao stepped forward, Yuchi Gong also came out of the ranks, standing next to Qin Shubao and said to Li Er, "I am also willing to take responsibility for this child. I hope Your Majesty will spare him!"

When Yuchi Gong stepped forward, the ministers were stunned, especially the generals, who stared at him in disbelief. Yuchi Gong was always the most independent among the generals, very low-key, and would ignore any invitation from anyone. Yet, he had such high merit!

For such a person to step forward to plead for Zhao Chen at this moment was truly astonishing!

"I am also willing to take responsibility for this child. I hope Your Majesty will spare him!" Li Ji, after much hesitation, finally stepped forward, stood next to Yuchi Gong, and bowed to Li Er, saying, "I am willing to take all the blame for this child. I hope Your Majesty will spare him!"

Then, Li Shentong, Wei Zheng, Xue Wanche, and a group of old generals stepped forward one after another, stood in the center of the hall, and bowed to Li Er, saying in unison, "We are willing to take all the blame for this child. I hope Your Majesty will spare him!"

The ministers were stunned! There were over a hundred officials in the court, and now more than half of them had stepped forward to plead for Zhao Chen, asking Li Er to spare him and let him leave!

Many people did not know Zhao Chen's true identity and initially thought he was just a young man with no background. His attire and position in the hall had indeed made them think so, and they had not considered anything else.

But now, seeing so many people stand up for Zhao Chen, all of them distinguished old generals of the Tang Dynasty, the ministers were finally dumbfounded. Those who did not know began to ask their neighbors quietly, while those who knew explained to their neighbors in a low voice, recounting Zhao Chen's deeds from the first time he appeared by the Weishui River to the present. By the end, the listeners clenched their fists, and the speakers sighed deeply.

Behind him, wave after wave of people stood up to plead for him. Some had been close to him from the beginning, some owed him favors, and some had only met him once at the Lao Qin family. At this moment, they all stood up, willing to take the blame for his defiance and asking Li Er to let him go.

Zhao Chen's fists clenched tightly, and tears welled up in his eyes. He was disappointed, disappointed with the Tang Dynasty, but at this moment of deepest disappointment and departure, these people gave him the best memories!

I am not in the wrong! I came to the Tang Dynasty, and someone remembers me, someone thinks of my kindness, and that is enough!

The tightly closed doors of the Taiji Hall were forcefully pushed open by Zhao Chen. The sunlight outside poured in like mercury, blinding him for a moment. The tears in his eyes suddenly burst forth.

"Go!" Li Er leaned back, his face ashen, looking at the old generals who had stepped forward. He laughed bitterly and waved his hand, saying, "I am not a foolish ruler. I don't need you to plead for this boy. Since he wants to leave, let him go!"

"It's better to calm down for a while!" Li Er continued, "When he calms down, he can come back to me!"

Standing at the door of the hall, Zhao Chen heard Li Er's last words, and the last bit of hope in his heart vanished. He took a deep breath, looked up at the bright sun, and suddenly smiled. Without hesitation, he walked out of the palace gate.

On New Year's Eve, the entire Chang'an was still in a festive atmosphere. Zhao Chen walked through the streets, looking at the joyful faces of the Tang people, feeling a bit bitter. He was about to leave Chang'an, and perhaps he would never have the chance to come back!

As a穿越者 (time traveler), he actually liked the Tang Dynasty very much, especially the Chang'an that stood tall in the world, making the world take notice. That was why he had done his best to do something for this era!

However, things did not go as he had hoped. The Tang Dynasty that had once made him proud now only brought him disappointment and sadness. Perhaps only a few people would make him smile warmly when he thought of them in the future!

"Little Lord, are you really leaving?" Qin Ming, who had been waiting outside the hall, naturally understood what had just happened. He followed Zhao Chen out of the palace gate, heading toward Xinghua Fang and Zhao Chen's residence. As they approached Xinghua Fang, Qin Ming finally couldn't help but ask.

"What else can I do!" Zhao Chen didn't turn his head, just kept walking, and said to Qin Ming, "They don't like us at all. You heard it just now. It's time to wake up from the dream. If I don't leave now, should I continue to serve him?"

Hearing this, a look of sadness flashed across Qin Ming's face. Indeed, as Little Lord had said, no matter how much good he had done for the Tang Dynasty, he would never gain that person's understanding. Anyone else would be thoroughly disappointed!

When they returned home, Zhang Lu and Ma Zhou were drinking tea in the hall. Seeing Zhao Chen and Qin Ming walk in one after the other, they both looked surprised.

The grand assembly had not yet ended, and Zhao Chen should still be in the assembly. But before they could ask, they were shocked to see Zhao Chen's dispirited and tear-streaked face, clearly indicating that he had been greatly wronged.

"Yuanpan, what happened?" Ma Zhou put down his teacup, stood up in surprise, and asked Zhao Chen, who was walking into the hall.

"I'm leaving!" Zhao Chen gave Ma Zhou a bitter smile and said, "After I leave, Brother Ma can go to Uncle Qin. I believe with Brother Ma's talent, you will not be buried!"

Leaving? When Zhao Chen said this, not only was Ma Zhou stunned, but Zhang Lu also looked incredulous.

"Yuanpan, where are you going?" Ma Zhou was stunned, looking at Zhao Chen in confusion.

"If this place doesn't welcome me, there will be a place that does!" Zhao Chen gave Ma Zhou a bitter laugh and said resolutely. With that, he left Ma Zhou and the others and went straight to the study in the back of the house. He usually didn't carry his phone, always keeping it in a hidden compartment in the study.

Entering the study, he opened the hidden compartment, took out the phone, and carefully hid it on his person. He looked around the study with a lingering gaze, sighed deeply, and then opened the door and walked out.

Outside the study door, a little girl stood with tears streaming down her face. Seeing the study door open, she pleaded with a sob, "Young Master, take Xiao Mai with you!"

"Little Master doesn't know where he's going!" Zhao Chen looked down at the pitiful Xiao Mai, petted her head affectionately, and said with a bitter smile, "But Little Master can promise Xiao Mai that once I have a stable footing outside, I will come to take you with me, okay?"

"Yuanpan, are you really going to abandon the Emperor?"

Just then, a cold voice came from outside, and Liu Cheng walked into the back of the house with a cold expression, looking at Zhao Chen, who had a backpack on his back, and said, "Yuanpan, if you really want to abandon the Emperor, it won't be easy!"