Chapter 183 Flowing Water (Two Chapters in One)

The next day, Xiao Zhen came to Tianjing Hutong and handed Zhen Wuduo a silver note worth 30,000 taels: "Pay the rest back slowly."

Zhen Wuduo looked at him with his eyes wide open: "My son spent my money, so he doesn't have to pay it back!"

Xiao Zhen: ...

Seeing Xiao Zhen's frustrated look, the old man was secretly happy: "Little guy, don't I know what you want? Give me back the money, and you won't owe me anything. Then you can end the father-son relationship with me. You don't even dare to show your true face, and you just want to steal my cabbage. You dream, and you can have anything in your dreams."

"If you've paid me back, I'll take it." Xiao Zhen said in a muffled voice.

The old man rolled his eyes and put the banknote in his arms. He was very happy that someone gave him money to spend.

"Just think of it as your filial piety to me. Get out of here before my eldest granddaughter comes back!"

Xiao Zhen: ...

Xiao Zhen rolled around smoothly.

Looking at the tall yet somewhat lonely figure, Zhen Wuduo stroked his beard and smiled.

He was very satisfied that Xiao Zhen was his son, and even a little proud of him.

But for Xiao Zhen to be his grandson-in-law, that is still a long way off. I don’t ask you to be rich and powerful, or to own houses and fields, but at least you must have a real identity and a decent face.

Of course, he would not tell his precious granddaughter.

Xiao Zhen came out of Tianjing Hutong and sat alone in the carriage for a long time. Having been the old man's godson for so long, he could at least guess about 60% of what the old man was thinking. He knew he had to hurry.

At this time, Zhao Shiqing, together with Yan Jiu, Yan Shiyi and Yan Twelve, went to see the stone that broke the chest.

But Zhao Tingluo was not seen.

Yan Jiu: "He said he hasn't been going out recently. He said it's not just him, but everyone in the royal family who has any brains has been staying indoors lately."

The court is about to undergo major changes, and the royal family members don't want to get in the way at this time.

Zhao Shiqing felt the same way. Before going out today, she asked Niu Qiu to go to Prince Liang's Mansion and deliver a letter to Zhao Tingxuan, asking him to ask for leave and not go to the Imperial College for classes for the time being.

They were about to return to Liangdi, and Zhao Shiqing didn't want him to cause trouble again.

Several people were walking on the street. Although this was a street they had walked on countless times, everything they saw seemed new to them.

As we walked, we arrived at the place where we met the two brothers last time.

Not to mention, the stall where the two guys sell rocks is far more popular than their grilled fish. At least it’s still there now.

Zhao Shiqing looked excited: "This is it. Are they very young and powerful?"

Then, she found that the four little ones were staring blankly at their little brother who was performing the stone-breaking trick with his chest, with constipated looks on their faces.

Zhao Shiqing stretched out her hand and waved it in front of them: "What's wrong? What are you doing?"

Yan Shiyi pointed at the young prince who was swinging a large hammer and preparing to smash something: "That's Zhao Tinggang from Prince Lu's Mansion."

He pointed at the little brother lying below and said, "That's Zhao Tinggang's younger brother, Zhao Tingwei."

Zhao Shiqing......

These two people are actually from Prince Lu’s Mansion?

She knew Prince Lu, the old prince who could only say "Your Majesty is wise", and he was ranked alongside Prince Fu as the Dragon and Phoenix.

"Why are they here?" Zhao Shiqing lowered his voice.

Yan Jiu: "We don't know either. I saw them at the Imperial College a few days ago. They probably just wanted to make some extra money. They have nothing to do anyway."

Zhao Shiqing: "Do they often make this kind of extra money?"

Yan Jiu: "They went to build a kang for someone and almost suffocated the family to death. That's what I meant. The child of the family crawled out of the house to ask for help, and the neighbors saw it, so the family was spared.

When they couldn't find them, they reported them to the authorities. The government drew portraits based on the victims' descriptions. My eldest brother happened to be in Beijing on business and recognized them immediately. The Prince Lu's Mansion paid 2,500 taels of silver as compensation, 500 taels per person for the five of them. The family thanked them profusely and said that the next time the young master wanted to sleep on the kang, he must come to their house again."

The corners of Zhao Shiqing's mouth twitched. Only after coming to the capital did she realize that she was really a good child.

Yan Jiu continued, "You just arrived in the capital, so you must not know that Zhao Tingluo's family lost a little brother. It was because of this incident that these two funny guys got inspiration. But they are old now, and the kidnappers don't kidnap them, so they sell themselves. Zhao Tinggang pretended to be dead, and Zhao Tingwei knelt on the ground to sell himself to bury his brother. Hahahaha."

Zhao Shiqing: ...

"Well, you said Zhao Tingluo's brother is missing? Zhao Tingluo is only ten years old. How old was his brother when he was missing?"

Yan Jiu: "He was lost in his cradle. He has an aunt at home... Ouch, which grandson hit your grandfather?"

Turning around, he saw Zhao Tinggang holding a broken bowl for collecting money and glaring at him: "I heard someone was setting me up from a distance, and now it turns out to be you, my grandson. Give me the money!"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Tingwei also ran over: "Oh my god (grass is a plant), did I fall into a swallow's nest? Suddenly, a bunch of grandchildren with the surname Yan showed up!"

The three Yans weren't angry either: "Grandson, hurry up and do a few more somersaults for us, and we'll give you money."

Zhao Tinggang: "Okay, grandson, you don't have to go to school today. Wait for grandpa to tell your father and beat you up."

Yan Ba: "You grandson, you don't even go to school yourself, and you still care whether your grandfather goes to school or not? Get out of here."

Zhao Shiqing took a few steps back and let them continue discussing the issue of grandfather and grandson.

Finally, the discussion was over, and several people linked arms. Zhao Tinggang held the broken bowl and said to Zhao Shiqing, "Brother, I've made some money. Let's go. I'll treat you. Let's go together!"

Zhao Shiqing looked at the few copper coins jingling in the broken bowl. These copper coins were not even enough to buy a sesame bun.

However, she really wanted to make friends with the brothers in Prince Lu's Mansion.

She fished out a ten-liang silver note from her bosom and placed it in the broken bowl: "It's like a huge stone shattered in your chest. It's shattered well and powerfully. It's worth watching. Take it!"

Zhao Tingwei grabbed the banknote, unfolded it, and waved it at everyone, shouting, "Ten taels, ten taels! Let's go to the Champion's Building!"

So Zhao Shiqing followed them to Zhuangyuan Building. Brother Gangwei walked in front. The waiter at Zhuangyuan Building saw that they were wearing dirty coarse clothes and reached out to stop them. Brother Gangwei was used to this. He took out a sign from his waist and waved it in front of the waiter. The waiter took a step back and said hurriedly, "Sir, please come in."

After they entered, Xiao Eryi asked hurriedly, "What brand is that?"

Xiao Erjia: "Oh, your eyesight is worse than mine. Those are the two little ancestors of Prince Lu's Mansion."

......

After the meal, Zhao Shiqing became brothers with them, but she still didn't tell them that she was a woman disguised as a man. If there were only three people from the Yan family, it would be fine, but she was not familiar with the Gangwei brothers yet. Zhao Shiqing thought about it and decided not to be close to them for the time being.

However, Zhao Shiqing liked these new friends very much, whether they were the unpredictable Steel Mast brothers, the quirky Zhao Tingluo, or the little ones from the Yan family, they all suited her taste.

When they parted ways, the Steel Mast brothers looked regretful and said, "This is the last time we will set up a stall here. We don't know when we will be able to come out next time. You must remember me. Don't forget me."

Well, it was just a meal, and the two of them downgraded their self-proclaimed title from grandfather to brother.

Zhao Shiqing reacted quickly and asked, "Is it about the incident in the palace?"

The Steel Mast brothers' faces were filled with sorrow. "Who becomes the crown prince has nothing to do with us. Isn't this just another innocent victim? How unlucky! I must be more careful next time I reincarnate, lest I end up in the royal family again."

Everyone understands that this pair of unconventional brothers, like Zhao Tingluo, have been told by their families not to go out recently.

After a few people said goodbye, Zhao Shiqing asked the little one from the Yan family, "What about you guys? Can't you go out either?"

"We won't. Our family doesn't care who becomes the crown prince. We're not the emperor."

When Zhao Shiqing returned home, Xiao Zhen had already left. She moved a small stool and sat next to Zhen Wuduo: "Grandpa, why didn't you go out to walk the bird today?"

Zhen Wuduo: "Such a big thing has happened. Stay out of the house, you too."

Zhao Shiqing hurriedly said: "Grandpa, guess who I'm having dinner with today..."

She told him about her encounter with the Gangwei brothers, and Zhen Wuduo was also amazed. It was the first time he had heard of such a hardworking and ambitious royal family member.

In the next few days, Zhao Shiqing rarely went out. He only went to Prince Liang's Mansion in disguise and met Zhao Tingxuan.

After the New Year, Zhao Tingxuan was about to set off to return to Liangdi, and Zhao Shiqing finally breathed a sigh of relief. She was always worried about this man in the capital, and who knew what trouble he would cause one day.

"Have you received any letters from home recently?" Zhao Shiqing asked.

Zhao Tingxuan was speechless when he received Nie's letter. The words between the lines were full of complacency. The last time he met Zhao Shiqing, Zhao Tingxuan was still half-believing and half-doubting. After receiving this letter, he couldn't help but believe it.

My sister came to the capital not to get married, but to be his hostage, and Nie played a decisive role in this.

Zhao Shiqing observed his expression and guessed that he must have received Nie's letter. She said unhappily, "Just be happy for now. I'm afraid you won't be happy when you return to Liangdi."

You should know that the real mistress of the Prince Liang’s Mansion is no longer Nie, but Meng Xiaotang.

Meng Xiaotang is courageous and resourceful, and is also loved by her elder brother Zhao Tinghan. Nie, who can only whimper, is no match for her.

Now Nie is waiting for Zhao Tingxuan to come back and support her. Zhao Tingxuan is cowardly. Facing his elder brother who holds real power and his elder sister-in-law who is brave and resourceful, and having a mother who stirs up trouble and hinders him, I am afraid he will not have a peaceful life.

Thinking about it this way, it’s not a bad thing for my sister to marry in the capital. At least, she can stay away from the Nie family.

There is no way. The methods that can be used on others cannot be used on the Nie family.

After all, she is my biological mother.

However, thinking of the Yan family, Zhao Shiqing curled her lips. She was afraid that her sister's future life would be lively and bustling every day.

After meeting Zhao Tingxuan, Zhao Shiqing really lived the life of a lady from a wealthy family for a few days. Every day, she would do handicrafts with Wan Ruyi, or chat with the old man, or squat outside the kitchen waiting for Aunt Ji to prepare delicious food.

Happy times are always short. A few days later, when she woke up in the morning, she saw Xiao Yao and Dapang sitting together at the head of her bed, like two generals, looking at her with disgust.

Zhao Shiqing was puzzled. When she first met Dapang, his eyes were clear but stupid. But after hanging out with Xiao Yao for a year, she had learned to despise and dislike him. If she hung out with him for a while longer, she might even learn Xiao Yao's death stare.

"Good morning, you two!"

[The cat is back, why don't you get up to greet it? ]

Zhao Shiqing: "Hello, where are you coming from?"

The cat went to the big yard where you don't take the cat.

Zhao Shiqing sat up immediately. She knew where the big yard that Xiao Yao was talking about was.

Palace!

"Good luck to the two masters. Please tell Xiao Qingzi what you heard in the courtyard."

[The prince drank the soup and vomited blood after drinking it! ]

After the prince vomited blood, he said he was willing to write a letter of resignation.

Zhao Shiqing: "Is the prince dead?"

[Not dead, still alive, just vomiting blood. ]

Zhao Shiqing understood instantly. Just as Xiao Zhen said, Princess Huiming's affairs could not be brought to the court, so the prince had to resign on his own initiative. If he refused, he would be frightened.

That bowl of soup could make him vomit blood, and of course it could also take his life.

Emperor Yongjia didn't have to think about these things himself, as someone would observe his words and expressions and do it for him. All Emperor Yongjia wanted was the prince's resignation letter.

Zhao Shiqing thought for a moment and said to Xiao Yao and Dapang, "There might be cats in the Feng Mansion too. Do you want to go take a look?"

Xiao Yao looked at Zhao Shiqing with a caring look for someone with a mental disability: [The cat has already been there.]

Dapang: [The cats there are not masters, so they can only sleep in the kitchen.]

Zhao Shiqing understood. The cats in the palace were raised by the masters of each palace and courtyard, and they lived the same life as their masters. However, the cats in the Feng Mansion were raised in the kitchen to catch mice and were not allowed to enter the master's house.

Seeing that these two looked too lazy to go again, Zhao Shiqing sighed in his heart. Cats also have classes. When did these two of his cats become so snobbish?

Zhao Shiqing reflected.

Fortunately, the eldest of the two cats reluctantly went to the Feng residence that day and returned before dinner. He told Zhao Shiqing: "There is a wedding going on in their family. The Third Aunt rewarded the kitchen servants, and the cats were also included."

The third aunt, Feng Yalan's biological mother.

Feng Yalan is the concubine's daughter of the Feng family. Her betrothal to Yang Shengqiu, the newly crowned top scholar, is undoubtedly a good match. For the third concubine, Yang Shengqiu is a good son-in-law that is hard to find even with a lantern. This is a great joy.

Zhao Shiqing was speechless when she thought of Feng Yalan's fate in that life. She really didn't know whether it was a good thing or a bad thing.

However, in that life, until Yang Shengqiu and Feng Yalan got married, the fifth prince was still the third prince's follower.

But in this life, it could be seen from that day in front of the palace gate that the brothers were no longer in harmony.

Xiao Zhen played an indispensable role in causing this pair of good brothers to separate early.

In this life, Yang Shengqiu is the top scholar and has attracted the attention of the emperor, so he will not go to the Ministry of Works again.

If Tongzhou were to suffer from floods in this life, and the Third Prince wanted to place people around the Fifth Prince, it would not be Yang Shengqiu. The Fifth Prince would have been prepared and would not have let the Third Prince's people frame him. This might have saved the local people.

Xiao Zhen said that in that life, tens of thousands of people were killed or injured in the four areas of Tongzhou, but that shouldn't happen in this life.

The next day, Zhao Shiqing also heard the news while sitting at home. The prince resigned to the emperor in front of all the civil and military officials in the court, saying that he was seriously ill and could not fulfill his responsibilities as the prince.

The Imperial Medical Office also confirmed that the prince had been coughing up blood for several consecutive days and urgently needed rest and recuperation.

Emperor Yongjia approved the resignation, and Crown Prince Zhao Jun was renamed Prince Jing.

The ministers proposed that the third prince be the crown prince, but the third prince refused on the spot, saying that he was not as virtuous as his brothers and was not worthy of the position of crown prince.

Emperor Yongjia then said, "The Crown Prince's matter will be discussed another day."

Zhao Shiqing asked Zhen Wuduo, "Are we really going to discuss it again?"

Zhen Wuduo: "It usually takes three requests to establish a new crown prince. This is only the first time, there are two more. After the second time, they will issue an imperial decree to establish a new crown prince."