Chapter 56 Slandering Miss Meng

Meng Yanzhi's current state was truly pitiful, and it pained one's heart to see her like this. Aunt Chen hurriedly brought over some ointment and handed it to Meng Yanzhi: "Was this done by Madam?"

"Hmm." Meng Yanzhi glanced at the ointment: "The matter of Qian Si Rao has already caused a stir, and Father is even more dissatisfied with Mother. At this time, as long as you can produce the account book as evidence, you can follow Father's wishes and lock Mother up. The management of the inner quarters will naturally be yours, and the child in your belly can be born safely."

Meng Yanzhi had already partnered with Aunt Chen long ago. One of them was responsible for fighting on the front lines, while the other was responsible for whispering sweet nothings in the ear. The relationship between the Meng couple was now as fragile as a windowpane, easily broken.

Upon hearing this, Aunt Chen did not show any particular expression, but said softly, "Miss, my ambition is not that great. I just want a child of my own to rely on."

"I know, isn't this what I'm giving you now?"

"You can't help me with what happens next, so our cooperation ends here!"

After saying that, Meng Yanzhi turned around and walked outside. When she reached the door, she stopped and said, "You need to get the housekeeping power quickly, otherwise my older brother will be back!"

Aunt Chen immediately understood what Meng Yanzhi meant, nodded obediently, and then said, "Yes, I understand."

It's good that you understand; the worst thing is not understanding.

Meng Yanzhi nodded in satisfaction before leaving with peace of mind.

Watching Meng Yanzhi's retreating figure, Aunt Chen almost subconsciously touched her lower abdomen. She had been living in the Meng family's inner quarters for many years and had always been well-behaved. If it weren't for this child, she wouldn't have taken the risk of cooperating with Meng Yanzhi. But she never expected that Meng Yanzhi would be so capable!

Aunt Chen suddenly smiled, recalling the confident look on Meng Yanzhi's face when she found her. At the time, Aunt Chen thought Meng Yanzhi was just arrogant and ignorant, but now Aunt Chen understood. It was a kind of confidence, a confidence in her own methods, as if she had already seen the outcome.

Meng Yanzhi took the ointment given to her by Aunt Chen and returned to her Qinghe Courtyard. As soon as she entered, Mingchu immediately came to greet her: "Miss, are you... are you alright?"

"It's nothing." Meng Yanzhi smiled faintly; such superficial injuries were really nothing to her.

She applied the ointment and then said, "I want to take a shower."

Soon, Mingchu had prepared hot water. When she was helping Meng Yanzhi change her clothes, she was stunned: "Ah, what happened? Why is she covered in bruises? Did the Second Miss hit you?"

This girl was inexperienced and had no idea what these marks meant. Looking at her naive appearance, Meng Yanzhi sighed and silently entered the bathtub.

The moment she closed her eyes, the image of her and Xiao Xingyuan's passionate encounter in bed flashed before her eyes. Meng Yanzhi felt somewhat helpless. She really hadn't thought about having any contact with Xiao Xingyuan. After all, this man was born tyrannical and cunning, and had no heir. At a young age, he was adopted by a member of the imperial clan as the crown prince, directly eliminating many potential threats. Therefore, it was clear that he was a ruthless person.

Originally, it wouldn't have been difficult for Xiao Xingyuan to bring Meng Yanzhi into the palace; it would have been just a matter of saying a few words. But Xiao Xingyuan simply refused.

Meng Yanzhi didn't understand what this man meant, but whenever she thought of his dark eyes, she would subconsciously feel a chill down her spine.

The Crown Prince's Palace, the dungeon.

Xiao Ce sat there expressionlessly, coldly looking at Xu Shize, who was prostrate on the ground: "The examination papers weren't written by you, were they?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Shize was stunned. Almost instinctively, he looked up at Xiao Ce in disbelief: "Your Highness, what...?"

Xu Shize quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly shook his head: "No, that's not what I meant. I wrote it all myself."

"Fine, then recite it once." Xiao Ce coldly snorted.

Even when facing death, they still dare to lie; they truly won't shed a tear until they see the coffin.

Xu Shize was a complete idiot and naturally couldn't recite the contents of the examination paper, but Zhang Xuanyun stood aside and recited the contents word for word.

Xu Shize was completely dumbfounded, staring at Zhang Xuanyun in disbelief: "You... how did you know? It was you?"

It seems that the cheating incident in the scientific expedition was arranged by the Meng family, otherwise Xu Shize would have known who he was impersonating.

Seeing Xu Shize's expression, Xiao Ce sneered, "You have quite the nerve!"

"Your Highness, please forgive me. I really didn't mean it. It was the Meng family, Lord Meng, who found me and said he wanted to help me rise to prominence. He even said he wanted to marry his daughter to me. I really didn't dare to disobey, so I reluctantly agreed." Xu Shize spoke in a pitiful tone, trying to absolve himself of all responsibility.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce remained silent and simply looked at Zhang Xuanyun.

“Cheating in the imperial examination is a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one’s family. Young Master Xu, you should think carefully before you speak. In any case, your Xu family will not be able to survive.” Zhang Xuanyun looked at Xu Shize with a half-smile.

Now that he knows the whole truth, he looks at Xu Shize with an indifferent gaze, as if he were looking at a dead man.

Now, Xu Shize panicked: "I really didn't know, it was all the Meng family's doing!"

However, Xu Shize quickly realized what was happening, his expression suddenly changed, and he gritted his teeth: "It's you, it was you all along! Meng Yanzhi knew it was you all along, didn't she? She did it on purpose, didn't she? You two were hooking up all along, weren't you? You used to be a slut, I spit on you!"

"presumptuous!"

Zhang Xuanyun kicked Xu Shize to the ground.

"Miss Meng is pure and innocent, how dare you slander her like this!"

Xu Shize wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, sneered disdainfully, and said, "A person who has been afflicted by the Thousand Threads Curse cannot possibly be pure and innocent!"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Ce clenched his fist. If Zhang Xuanyun hadn't stayed by his side the whole time after they boarded the ship, Xiao Ce might have also become suspicious of Zhang Xuanyun.

Xiao Ce quickly withdrew his gaze and looked at Xu Shize: "Sign and seal the document now, and I will leave you with a whole corpse!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Shize became anxious. Disregarding all decorum, he crawled over and grabbed Xiao Ce's leg, saying, "As long as Your Highness spares my life, I will do my utmost!"

"What use is a piece of trash to me?" Xiao Ce impatiently kicked the man away. Now it seemed that Xu Shize was not only a good-for-nothing, but also an idiot!