Chapter 156 Wan Ruyi (two chapters in one)

That night, Xiao Zhen brought Da Zhuang to Tong'an.

When Loach went to report the news, he did not tell Xiao Zhen about finding Xu Lin and Qing Ye, and Loach did not know who these two people were.

Therefore, when Xiao Zhen saw Qing Ye, he felt terrible.

Anyone who sees the shadow of their own mother in a stranger's face will have this reaction.

She not only looks like her biological mother, Princess Jiayi, but also like her two aunts, Jiaan and Jianing.

In other words, all four of them took after the Empress Dowager Xiaojing, their grandmother who had passed away many years ago.

Xiao Zhen guessed Qingye's true identity without Zhao Shiqing saying anything.

Next, Xiao Zhen met Xu Lin and his son again. Zhao Shiqing watched coldly and saw that Xiao Zhen had a strange expression, as if he was trying to hold back his laughter.

Xiao Zhen was still wearing a human skin mask. After all, a fake face was no match for a real one, so the way he tried to hold back his laughter looked extremely strange, making Xu Lin and his son shudder. They deeply suspected that this man would eat them alive the next moment.

Walking out of the room where Xu Lin and his son were imprisoned, Zhao Shiqing said with a smile, "Do you know why I asked you to come?"

Xiao Zhen was still immersed in the huge shock. After a long while, he gave Zhao Shiqing a thumbs up: "Second Miss is wise and brave!"

Zhao Shiqing shook his head smugly to avoid being carried away by such flattery.

"Tell me, can these four people bring down that fake guy?"

Xiao Zhen didn't answer immediately, but looked at her seriously: "What do you think?"

Zhao Shiqing thought about it and shook her head: "No, no one will believe it."

Xiao Zhen said: "These four people are our last trump cards."

Xiao Zhen mentioned "we". For some reason, Zhao Shiqing felt a little happy: "So what's the next step? What are you going to do?"

Xiao Zhen smiled: "In the latest business, the Third Prince and the Fifth Prince both invested in it."

Zhao Shiqing was stunned. "What? Are you doing business with those hook-nosed people?"

Xiao Zhen nodded: "Yes."

Zhao Shiqing admired him at first, but then she felt that Xiao Zhen was working too hard. After a little thought, she asked the question that had always been in her mind.

"There is a question. You can choose to answer it or not."

Xiao Zhen: "You ask."

Zhao Shiqing: "I hate that man. Because of him, my biological parents died, my adoptive father died, and in your dream, all my brothers and sisters died, so I hate him.

But I know that neither I nor the Prince Liang's Mansion are able to fight against him, so all I can do is to protect myself while also protecting my loved ones from repeating the mistakes in your dream. As for other things, I dare not think about it, and I have never thought about it.

But you are different, Master Zhen. I know you are planning something big. Everything you do is aimed at bringing that man down.

So the question is, what happens after we bring that person down?

Do you want to be the emperor yourself?

Or, do you want to support a prince to become emperor?

Or, choose one of the princes or the eight kings to be the emperor?

Ah, you don’t want the emperor to be strong and give birth to a little emperor, do you?

The last sentence is pure nonsense from Zhao Shiqing.

The retired emperor had six sons, three of whom were still alive. In addition to the current emperor, there were the fifth son, Prince Shou, and the sixth son, Prince Yu. Although these two had fiefs, they never settled in their own fiefdoms and had no proper jobs. They were just wealthy princes in the capital.

It was not that they themselves were unwilling to establish a fiefdom, but that Emperor Yongjia did not allow it.

One of them likes walking his bird and the other likes riding his horse, so they live a leisurely and comfortable life.

Xiao Zhen didn't expect that this was what Zhao Shiqing wanted to ask. He took a deep breath, and his eyes hidden behind the fake face narrowed slightly, but only for a moment. Then he looked at Zhao Shiqing and made a decision.

"There is one thing I think I should tell you.

My uncle had one son and two daughters. The two daughters were Princesses Huixin and Huiming, and his son Zhao Yuan died shortly after my uncle passed away.

But in fact, Zhao Yuan is not dead, he is still alive."

Zhao Shiqing widened his eyes in shock.

After learning that her family was inexplicably involved in the fight for the throne, she made up her mind to learn about Emperor Xiaokang. She knew that Emperor Xiaokang had a son, but the child died at a young age. As for the child's name, she didn't know.

But now, Xiao Zhen told her that the child's name was Zhao Yuan, and Zhao Yuan was still alive.

Countless thoughts flashed through her mind. The person Xiao Zhen really wanted to support was Zhao Yuan?

Although Zhao Yuan did not have the title of Crown Prince, he was the only son of Emperor Xiaokang.

If he had not died that year, ignoring all the calculations of the current emperor and the helplessness of the retired emperor, then he should have been named the crown prince. Once he was named the crown prince, the throne would have been his.

Of course, even if Zhao Yuan had not died, under the circumstances at the time, the besieged emperor would most likely not have appointed Zhao Yuan as the crown prince after weighing the pros and cons.

However, no matter whether Zhao Yuan appointed him as the crown prince or not, even if he did not die in the water, death was the only way waiting for him.

If Zhao Yuan had named the grandson the crown prince, the emperor would have protected him, but the emperor would have no interest in government affairs at that time, so how long could he protect him?

Emperor Xiaokang was a crown prince, but he still died. Prince Liang, who was far away in Liang, also died in unclear circumstances. What's more, there was a three-year-old child who had no one to rely on. There were many ways to kill him.

If Zhao Yuan had not been named the crown prince, he would not have grown up.

Emperor Yongjia could tolerate two princesses, Huiming and Huixin, but not him.

He must die. Only with his death can Emperor Yongjia rest assured. Only with his death can other people's thoughts be stopped.

Zhao Shiqing figured it all out. She looked at Xiao Zhen and said, "So Zhao Yuan faked his death. Was this Emperor Shoukang's plan before his death?"

"No, this was arranged by Queen Meng. She is a brave and resourceful woman." Xiao Zhen said.

Queen Meng is Queen Xiaokang, also known as the former Crown Princess Meng.

Zhao Shiqing nodded. Since Queen Meng arranged for Zhao Yuan to fake his death, where did the living Zhao Yuan go?

If Queen Meng wanted to entrust her orphan to someone, she would definitely find someone she absolutely trusted.

Meng family?

Zhao Shiqing denied it, it couldn’t be the Meng family.

The Meng family is a prominent family with a large fortune. When there are too many people, their ideas cannot be unified. If Zhao Yuan stays in the Meng family, it will cause many troubles.

Then who else is worthy of Queen Meng's trust and can protect Zhao Yuan?

Zhao Shiqing thought of someone, Princess Jiayi!

The former crown prince and Princess Jiayi are siblings from the same mother, and Princess Jiayi is Zhao Yuan’s aunt!

Zhao Yuan, Princess Jiayi, ten years ago, three years old!

Zhao Shiqing's heart was pounding, and she thought of someone again!

At this time, Zhao Shiqing shouted in his heart: Sister, brother, master, I have made it, I found a royal grandson to be my younger brother!

No, no, no, if Xiao Zhen succeeds in his rebellion, he will not only be the emperor's grandson, he will be the emperor!

Zhao Shiqing wanted to cry again. The old emperor had nothing to do and thought of the days when he was controlled by someone. Would he come to settle the score with her?

She had cheated the kid out of his money and even forced him to sing operas and songs for her... Oh, oh, oh, she didn't mean it. Can't she change?

Xiao Zhen looked at Zhao Shiqing with interest. In just a moment, the little girl was happy and sad, and now she looked like she was regretting her decision. What happened?

Could it be that she guessed it?

Xiao Zhen asked tentatively: "Did you guess it?"

Zhao Shiqing felt like crying but couldn't. She patted her head in frustration, "Oh, it's all my fault for being so damn smart!"

Xiao Zhen......

Zhao Shiqing sniffed and asked, "In your dream, what happened to him? Did he become emperor?"

Xiao Zhen shook his head: "He died for me, died in my arms. He didn't know his true identity until his death, and I didn't know it either. We became a pair of confused ghosts."

At some point, Xiao Zhen's eyes became moist.

Zhao Shiqing lowered her head in silence for a while, then raised her head. "I have no interest in rebellion, nor do I have any interest in who becomes emperor. But the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and we were friends to begin with, so... I will continue to cooperate with you."

After saying that, she grinned and gave a big smile.

Her smile was so bright that it was a little dazzling. Xiao Zhen was in a trance for a moment. At this moment, a corner of his broken heart was mended...

The next morning, Xiao Zhen left Tong'an, but he did not take these four people with him.

First, these four people were found by Zhao Shiqing, and second, he had no suitable place to accommodate these four people.

For the wealthy Zhen Wuduo, he could hide such hot potatoes perfectly even if there were forty of them, let alone four.

That night, Xu Lin and his son were sent away. They would be locked up somewhere until the day they were needed to stand in front of people.

As for Qingye, Zhao Shiqing did not leave her to Zhen Wuduo's care, but kept her with him temporarily.

"Aunt Qingye, can I change your name?"

"From now on, your name will be Ruyi. Wan Ruyi, and everything will go as you wish."

Zhao Shiqing wrote to her master, saying that she had found another person and asked her master to urge Li Guanshi to register the household registration...

Manager Li was no longer surprised by the same thing.

Miss Zhao Er could pick up a child when she went to the market in the next town, let alone going on a long journey.

After receiving the instructions, Manager Li took the sign of Prince Liang's Mansion to the county government office where Baihe Mountain was located and handled the household registration for Wan Ruyi. There was a new villager in Baihe Village.

However, that is a story for the future. Now Wan Ruyi is still an illegal resident with no household registration and no travel permit. She cannot go anywhere and can only stay in Tong'an's house.

Zhao Shiqing changed her eyebrow shape and taught her to make her eyes bigger and her lips more thickly painted.

Women are all geniuses in makeup. In just two or three days, Wan Ruyi, who grew up in a nunnery, not only learned how to put on makeup, but also mastered the essence, surpassing Zhao Shiqing and becoming even better than her teacher.

Ling Bo was amazed: "Second Miss, if Xiuxiu is willing to take in another apprentice, Aunt Wan will definitely learn very well."

Zhao Shiqing snorted twice: "Are you teasing me about my poor learning?"

Ling Bo: "No, the Second Miss is very smart and can learn anything quickly."

Having said that, I thought to myself: The Second Young Miss is indeed smart, but the art of disguise is not something that can be mastered by intelligence alone. Take the Second Young Miss for example, she has studied and practiced very hard, but she is always just a little bit short. Xiuxiu also said that the Second Young Miss lacks a little bit of talent in disguise.

Zhao Shiqing looked at Ling Bo sadly: I know what you are thinking, but I won’t say it.

Wan Ruyi's bald head was wrapped in a floral cloth, and her face had changed after a simple disguise, and she looked not very similar to Princess Jiayi.

Tong'an is a small place. As long as you don't leave or enter the city, no one will check for a pass. Therefore, Zhao Shiqing and Ling Bo will also bring Wan Ruyi with them when they go out for a stroll.

Although he was just strolling around the small county town, Wan Ruyi was already very content.

A man in his forties looks around like a child, curious about everything he sees.

She had never seen a shop, a red lantern, a restaurant, or a snack stand. Zhao Shiqing bought three skewers of fried meatballs, one for each person. Wan Ruyi squinted her eyes as she ate, "I didn't know there were such delicious things."

Seeing that she loved eating, Zhao Shiqing let her eat as much as she wanted at one time. Wan Ruyi ate ten skewers before stopping, and as a result, she had diarrhea after she came back.

After hearing this, Zhen Wuduo told them that Wan Ruyi had eaten too much greasy food.

Wan Ruyi grew up in a nunnery, eating simple meals. After coming here, although the food was refined, it was mainly vegetarian. She couldn't bear to eat so many fried meatballs at once, and it would be strange if she didn't have a stomachache.

Similar things happened several times, but Wan Ruyi quickly adapted to her new life and lived happily.

Although she has limited space to move around every day, it is much more lively here than the quiet temple with its ancient Buddhas and green lamps. There are so many people here, as well as cats and dogs. For Wan Ruyi, every day here is fresh, lively and happy.

In a blink of an eye, they had already lived in Tong'an for more than ten days. One day, Zhao Shiqing went out again. In addition to Lingbo and Wan Ruyi, Niuqiu and Shen Wangxing also went out together.

The place they were going to today was a place where mortals could become immortals.

The so-called place where immortals can be achieved is actually only known by the locals of Tong'an.

The man who became an immortal was named Dong Ping, a scholar who had failed in many examinations.

Dong Xiucai took the exam many times, but failed to pass until he was forty years old.

He was so disheartened that he hanged himself in his study at home. Just as he kicked over a stool and was about to die, an immortal saved him and enlightened him.

From then on, Dong Xiucai seemed to be reborn. He devoted himself to practicing every day and finally achieved success a year ago.

It is said that on the day he became an immortal, there were colorful auspicious clouds in the sky, and cranes flew out from the clouds and landed on the eaves of Dong's study. His sons knelt on the ground and witnessed with their own eyes their father riding on the crane, passing through the colorful auspicious clouds, and flying up to the ninth heaven.

The Dong family's study became a well-known place for immortality.

It is said that making wishes here is very effective. An old lady prayed here only once, and her daughter-in-law became pregnant. There was also a filial son whose mother's illness was cured after he prayed here.

Hearing that there was such a magical place in Tong'an, Zhao Shiqing of course wanted to come and pay a visit, so today, they came in a grand group.

But Zhao Shiqing never expected that she would meet an old friend here.