Chapter 247 Life and Property

Three days before the Lu Ming Banquet, Nian Zheng brought the young master to Yangzhou.

Nian Zhaoyun went to the city gate early to welcome them, fearing that others would not know that the Nian family had lost one princess and still had another.

When the carriage arrived outside the city, Nian Zhaoyun hurried to greet it, "Princess, the house has been cleaned and is waiting for you to come home."

The curtain of the carriage was not opened and Nian Zheng did not show up.

"Don't bother, I can stay at the inn."

Nian Zhaoyun was not very happy and disappointed, and still wanted her to go back to the Nian family to show support.

"The princess doesn't live at home, so go back and pay your respects to your grandfather first."

"I have to go see the princess first, second uncle, please get out of the way."

Nian Zheng moved the princess out, and Nian Zhaoyun could only grit his teeth and watch the carriage go away.

He didn't dare to compete with the princess for the person, let alone cause trouble, so he could only return home in disappointment.

The carriage arrived at the gate of Zhuoxi Courtyard, and Tingqin was waiting outside.

"Your Highness, you must have traveled so long. The Princess is waiting for you."

"This must be the young master, so cute."

Nian Zheng was a little nervous and took the young master's hand, "Please lead the way, young lady."

As soon as she entered the flower hall, her steps suddenly stopped.

Pei Jingming was also sitting on the carved chair.

She really wanted to ask when the prince came to Yangzhou, but she didn't dare to speak rashly.

Sitting at the top was Princess Jia'an.

Next to him stood a handsome man with gentle eyes and brows, who must be the prince consort.

"Your Highness, Nian, and I, along with our young son, have come to see Prince Rui, the princess, and the prince consort."

Nian Zheng bowed with her collar lowered, her voice calm and composed. Only she knew that her palms were already sweating.

Qu Ling raised his hand to signal her to stand up, and said in a cheerful tone, "Get up."

"I've heard of your great reputation, Princess. I've been waiting for you for many days, and now you're finally here."

He waved to the young master again, "What a good-looking child."

The servant brought a tray with a longevity lock made of red gold rope on it.

Qu Ling personally put it on the young master, "This is a longevity lock blessed by the master of Guoqing Temple. May he be safe and happy forever."

Seeing that she was friendly and not in a position to accuse him, Nian Zheng felt relieved, but she did not dare to let her guard down.

"Tomorrow, with the protection of Her Royal Highness the Princess, I will surely live a long and blessed life."

Qu Ling praised the child a few more times and asked the servants to bring some snacks. "Princess, is there anything you can't eat tomorrow?"

Some children eat things they are not allowed to eat, which may cause them to get sick at best and even lose their lives at worst.

"No."

After getting the answer, Qu Ling fed the snack to Ming'er.

The two exchanged pleasantries again. Qu Ling asked if the journey was smooth and about the customs and culture of Jianzhou, but he did not ask what Nian Zheng was thinking.

Nian Zheng was able to remain calm at the beginning, but as time went on, she became more and more confused.

"Just now, I heard from Prince Rui that the suppression of the bandits in Jianzhou was going quite smoothly. However, the bandit leader has disappeared without a trace, as if he had simply evaporated into thin air."

Nian Zheng's heart tightened. It finally came.

She took a deep breath and suddenly knelt down.

"Princess, Prince, there's no need to look for the bandit leader anymore."

Her voice was clear, "The village chief is dead. I sent someone to kill him and throw his body at the bottom of the cliff."

There was no other sound in the flower hall except the chirping of cicadas, which made people feel annoyed for no reason.

Nian Zheng lowered her head, her heart beating like a drum.

If she looked up, she would see that there was no surprise on Qu Ling and Pei Jingming's faces.

Qu Ling leaned lazily against the back of his chair, glancing at her with a half-smile. "So, you were the one who leaked the news of the imperial court's plan to suppress the bandits to the bandit leader in advance?"

Nian Zheng closed her eyes, as if she had made up her mind. When she raised her eyes, her gaze was clear and frank. “Yes.”

"The five hundred men Zhao Chongli brought were indeed bandits, and so were the ones causing riots in the city. However, the ones who stormed into the Nian family were sent by this minister."

She spoke clearly, "Nian Zongben, was killed by this minister."

"Do you know that just the crime of murdering your grandfather is enough to get you killed without a burial place?" Qu Ling's voice became a little colder.

"I know."

Nian Zheng pulled out a scroll of plain paper from her bosom and held it high with both hands. "This is the whole story of the incident. I, your humble servant, have signed and sealed my confession."

"If the princess wishes to execute me, this is sufficient evidence to convict me."

The maid presented the confession to Qu Ling. After reading it, she handed it to Pei Jingming beside her.

Pei Jingming glanced at the paper and chuckled, "The word 'Princess' has quite a character."

Nian Zheng pursed her lips.

She has been competitive since she was young and wants to tell her grandfather that she is no worse than any of her younger brothers.

She is extremely hardworking in reading and writing.

Later, as she grew up, she realized that these were useless.

What a person can and cannot do is determined at the moment of birth.

Nian Zheng's heart was beating wildly in her chest. She had put her entire family's wealth and life in front of these two people, which could be considered sincere.

"You said I could execute you at any time," Qu Ling suddenly said, his tone probing, "but from what I see, you clearly want to live."

"Yes, I want to live."

Nian Zheng reached out and pulled the young man beside her to her front.

"For my children."

She looked at Qu Ling, tears welling in her eyes. "He has been raised on the farm since he was born, never seeing the light of day. Only today can he feel at peace."

"I just want to be with him and live a good life."

Qu Ling raised an eyebrow, his gaze fixed on the delicate and graceful child, "He is your child?"

Even Pei Jingming became serious.

Nian Zheng met their gazes and spoke slowly, "Yes, he was born to me."

No one knows, not even Prince Liang nor Aunt Xian.

As soon as she entered the palace, she saw through the situation in the palace.

King Liang had many sons, but as his health gradually deteriorated, he became wary of all his sons.

What Nian Zheng wants is not only the favor from the backyard, she wants to be the prince's most trusted person and be able to mobilize the power of the front hall.

In this way, she will be able to kill whoever she wants to kill one day.

When she rescued Xian'er, Xian'er was pregnant.

The child's father is a man from the same village who abandoned her after having sex with her.

Xian'er killed the man with her own hands and went into the palace with her.

But Xian'er didn't know that she was pregnant.

She told Xian'er, "You and I are compatible. I can't have children, so your child is mine."

So, there was that night between her and King Liang.

Once you get to the village, everything will be easy.

She started first, and then Xian'er was born.

Xian'er gave birth to a girl, who was taken away by her confidante to be raised by a farmer's family. Her child was given to Xian'er.

Xian'er knows nothing.

She remembered Nian Zheng saying that her child was Nian Zheng's child.

So she took good care of the child and taught him to call Nian Zheng "mother concubine".

"How can I trust you?" Qu Ling and Pei Jingming exchanged glances.

"Princess, please look."

Nian Zheng ripped open Ming'er's clothes in front of her chest, and also ripped open her own clothes in front of her chest.

Exactly the same birthmark.

"If you still don't believe it, Princess, please read it again."

She picked up the hot tea on the table, poured it on her arm, and poured some on Ming'er's arm.

Red spots gradually appeared.

Ming'er was suddenly frightened and started crying, hiding in Nian Zheng's arms.

Nian Zheng hugged him, tears welling up in her eyes. "Princess, this child might be destined to be mine. He has many of the same characteristics as me."

She wiped her tears and said, "Princess, my Ming'er is a girl."

She added, "Your Majesty and the Prince Consort, please step aside for a moment."

In front of Qu Ling, he took off the young master's pants.

Qu Ling stood up suddenly and laughed out loud after a while.

"Princess Liang, you are truly courageous."