Chapter 122 Convicting Yao Qingling by Every Single Hair

After everyone stood up, Zhan Xingzhuo still kept his lips pressed together, looking at Yao Qingling.

Yao Qingling felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze.

His gloom deepened, and he displayed an unprecedented ferocity.

She insisted on separating from him despite his objections; she not only made him lose face, but also forced him to go to Luozhou.

He held a grudge against her.

Now that Yao Qingling has gained her freedom and started doing business again, given her current status and position, she can't afford to offend officials, especially since he's about to become a high-ranking official.

Yao Qingling did not want to be his enemy.

But how can we reconcile?

She looked at the tea on the table.

Just as she was cleaning up and pouring him a cup of tea, saying a few nice words, Minglu got off the carriage and walked over.

When he saw Yao Qingling, he instinctively greeted her, "Young Madam."

As soon as he finished speaking, he was met with cold stares from several parties.

Minglu lowered his head under Zhan Xingzhuo's gaze. He slapped himself and hurriedly said, "This servant is used to it. This servant is stupid and has a bad memory. This servant deserves to be hit."

"But Second Master, it's getting late, we should get going."

The journey to Luozhou was long, and if they didn't reach the next post station before dark, they would have to spend the night in the wilderness.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at Yao Qingling indifferently and said, "Do you still remember what I told you before?"

Yao Qingling was taken aback. He had said many things, but she didn't know which one he was referring to.

Before she could remember, Zhan Xingzhuo gave her a deep look, then turned and left.

Yao Qingling watched him walk away, still wondering which of his words had made him want to remind him.

Suddenly, she saw Zhan Xingzhuo's body sway to the left, almost falling over.

Did you step on a stone?

Hmph, serves him right.

Turning his head, he saw Lin Shiyuan retract his two fingers that had been joined together.

Yao Qingling looked at him and asked softly, "Did you make this?"

Lin Shiyuan remained calm, neither admitting nor denying. He said, "Madam Yao, it's getting late, we should go into the city."

Yao Qingling glanced at him, thinking to herself, "It was him who did it."

I never expected this person to be so petty.

...

On the other side, Zhan Xingzhuo got into the carriage and rubbed his calves.

I was walking along peacefully when suddenly my leg started to hurt.

He knew who did it, but with so many people in the teahouse, Lin Shiyuan would certainly not admit it.

There's no need for him to turn back over such a trivial matter.

Lin Shiyuan was merely venting his frustrations.

Hehe, making that man bow his head to Yao Qingling made Zhan Xingzhu feel that he had won against that man, and his frustration was relieved to some extent.

Yao Qingling —

Zhan Xingzhu gritted his teeth and silently recited the name.

During his return to Beijing, in addition to reporting on his work, several former colleagues from his official career invited him to dinner.

Many scions of prominent families also tried to curry favor with him.

He had assumed that Yao Qingling would hear the news and come to see him once she knew he was back in Beijing.

But no.

On the official road, he spotted her sitting in the teahouse at a glance.

His heart leaped with joy, thinking that it must be inconvenient for her to come to him from the city, so she saw him off on the pipe.

But that's not the case at all.

She merely exchanged glances and chatted and laughed with Lin Shiyuan, and there was even a hint of shyness in her eyes.

Ha, in this sweltering heat, they're having a date in the middle of nowhere, without even a decent place to go.

Once Lin Shiyuan sheds his identity, he's just a penniless wretch. How dare he chase after women?

"...Yao Qingling is becoming more and more depraved. Even after leaving me, she doesn't refuse men who come to her like this."

Didn't she used to make him pawn his jade pendant because she thought he was poor?

Now they're willing to pay out of their own pockets.

Zhan Xingzhuo became increasingly angry and condemned every single hair on Yao Qingling's head.

Minglu glanced at his master and flattered him, saying, "That's right. Yao Qingling has already been married. What respectable family in the capital would want her? She must be embarrassed to be seen by others. She's having an affair with a disgraced official, so she's found a place where no one recognizes her."

Zhan Xingzhuo's brows furrowed: "So you're bad just because you followed me?"

Although he felt awkward, Yao Qingling had been married to him. If she was disliked because of this, wouldn't that mean that Zhan Xingzhuo was also bad?

Minglu was startled, realizing his flattery had backfired. He slapped himself and said with a pained expression, "This servant misspoke again. This servant didn't mean that. Second Master is naturally the best; it's Yao Qingling who doesn't deserve it. She doesn't know what's good for her—"

"Alright." Zhan Xingzhuo was annoyed and didn't want to listen anymore.

He himself felt conflicted.

He resented Yao Qingling's coldness and ungratefulness, and of course hoped that no one would want her.

Of course, a woman who has been with him, even if she is confined to her mansion and dies of old age or illness, should not be with another man.

The man's hands, which were resting on his knees, clenched into fists.

He was determined to make her regret leaving him!

Seeing that his expression was not good, Minglu carefully poured a glass of water and handed it to him: "Second Master, it's hot, please have some water."

Zhan Xingzhuo accepted the tea, and Minglu changed the subject, saying, "Second Master, why did you leave Hongying in the capital?"

Putting everything else aside, having a woman do the chores makes things much easier. Also, Second Master has a backlog of official duties and is under a lot of mental and physical stress; having a gentle and considerate woman by his side will definitely improve his mood.

Over the past two months, the two of them have gotten used to Hongying's presence.

Minglu added, "It will be some time before we go to Luozhou this time and then to the capital again."

The Emperor's intention was to thoroughly streamline the official affairs in Luozhou before allowing Zhan Xingzhuo to officially return to the capital.

Luozhou is a large and difficult place to govern. At present, we have only figured out a better way to govern it, but we are still exploring.

But Zhan Xingzhuo was a third-place scholar in the imperial examinations, and his literary talent was outstanding. He wrote down his political affairs in a way that made three parts seem like five parts, and five parts seem like eight parts. The emperor was pleased with this and summoned him to the capital.

But isn't that what being an official is all about?

Zhan Xingzhuo wasn't worried at all; he was certain he would become the Vice Minister of Revenue.

The man sipped his tea and said calmly, "Hongying is unaware of the rules of the capital. If she continues to be so ill-mannered while she stays by my side, she will be laughed at."

“I sent her to Jingyuan to learn etiquette. In a month or two, she was completely transformed.”

Minglu grinned and gave a thumbs-up, then flattered him, "Second Master is brilliant. I'm already looking forward to it."

He paused, seemingly hesitant, but dared not say anything more.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at him: "What do you want to say now?"

Minglu said, "There are many important people in the capital. Hongying is ignorant and arrogant. If she accidentally offends someone, and you are not in the capital, Second Master, she may lose her life."

“Miss Zhou is the most polite person. Why not let her train them? Miss Zhou is one of our own. She will definitely do her best to train them. Moreover, she will protect Second Master’s people, so they won’t cause any major trouble.”

Zhan Xingzhuo took a deep breath and slowly turned the thumb ring on his left hand, which was resting on his knee.

He said, "Zhi Ning has already agreed to help me take care of her. She has to do some things for Wei Xian now, and also take care of Xiao Er, so she doesn't have enough energy."

But this was just a perfunctory response to Minglu's question.

Only he knows the real reason.

It wasn't that Zhou Zhining lacked energy; even hiring a nanny to train her in the new residence wouldn't be a problem.

The problem is that Hongying's eyes look too much like Yao Qingling's.

Zhou Zhining is smart enough not to miss it.

She harbored deep hatred for Yao Qingling, and if she vented it on Hongying, Hongying might not live to see him return to the capital.

Of course, he wouldn't become estranged from Zhou Zhining just because of the death of one woman.

Sending Hongying to Jingyuan would allow her to learn etiquette and manners, avoid Zhou Zhining, and have Zhou Zhining's care so that she wouldn't cause any trouble. Wouldn't that be a win-win-win situation?

Zhan Xingzhuo took a sip of tea and handed the cup over, which Minglu quickly placed on the coffee table beside him.

"Second Master, you are so thoughtful."

The carriage rolled forward, once again leaving the capital city behind.