Chapter 20 I'm applying chicken blood

"Qingling..." The man's voice was deep and solemn, his hand gently stroking the woman's shoulder. "I just said that when I see you being bullied by your brothers and sisters, I instinctively want to protect you."

"It's the same for Zhi Ning. I am her sworn brother, and I have a responsibility to protect her... The rumors about her from the outside world are very bad, and she has no way to explain herself."

The Wang family already looked down on her; she wondered what they would do to her if she went back now. The Wang family's rules were very cruel.

"You said that Jin Kui's chances of survival are slim. You still have sympathy for a maid who stirs up trouble, and you are her elder sister-in-law... An elder sister-in-law is like a mother, aren't you worried about her at all?"

"Qingling, you are my wife, and you are of one mind with me. Do you feel as anxious as I do?"

Yao Qingling lowered her eyes, a cold smile playing on her lips.

So that's what his sudden change of heart meant.

I don't know why he felt sorry for Zhou Zhining just because she had dealt with her.

She didn't say anything.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced down at her and saw that she had a blank expression. Seeing her so indifferent, anger welled up in his heart.

His face darkened: "Qingling, Zhining was deceived by Jin Kui. She has learned her lesson from not recognizing people properly. I know you just hope she will be more careful and that you still care about her."

The man lowered his voice and tightened his grip on her shoulders.

The person who just said he would protect her is now threatening her with his own methods.

Yao Qingling immediately felt a dull pain as her shoulder bones were being gripped tightly.

She fidgeted with her fingers, rose from his embrace, and a hint of worry appeared on her usually indifferent brows. She said, "But Madam Wang was taken away from the new residence by Steward Wang. There are family rules, and it seems unlikely that you can go to the Wang family now and bring her back. How do you suggest we protect her from punishment by the Wang family?"

Zhan Xingzhuo was waiting for her to agree, so he said, "You can make up an excuse, say that you are seriously ill and need someone to take care of you. She is also your sworn sister, and she came back to take care of you. This reason is acceptable."

Qingling pretended to think, then gently shook her head: "No. Butler Wang just saw me today, and now he's seriously ill tonight? That's too unbelievable. Besides, I have to help my sister-in-law prepare for the spring banquet, and I have to go out every day. What will the Wang family think of me?"

“They must think I’m disrespecting the Wang family. Besides…” Qingling paused slightly, her expression becoming more complicated, “This spring banquet is actually prepared for Xingxiang. The Grand Princess has repeatedly instructed that it must be held well and not affect Xingxiang’s marriage proposal. I’ve told you about this before.”

She thought to herself, Zhan Xingzhuo is so obsessed with Zhou Zhining that it's one thing if he doesn't have her as his wife, but Xingxiang is his own sister. Doesn't he care about her future at all?

Zhan Xingzhuo was cornered, his face darkening: "In the end, you just don't want Zhi Ning to return to the new mansion. You don't treat Zhi Ning as family at all."

Seeing his change of expression, Yao Qingling had long since accepted his indifference and lack of affection towards her.

He was so perfunctory in his attempts to coax her, and he wouldn't even wait until the night was over.

They were so impatient, as if they were afraid Zhou Zhining would die.

Qingling lowered her eyes, using the act of adjusting her sleeves to avoid looking at his gloomy face.

She said, "My lord, Xingxiang is also your sister, your own sister." She emphasized the word "own," "Don't you care about her at all?"

Zhan Xingzhuo was taken aback, then said in a low voice, "Of course I care. But Xingxiang is favored by the entire Duke's mansion, who can bully her? Besides, she is still young. If she can't get married this year, she can wait until next year. There are plenty of good men out there, Mother won't choose a bad one for her."

Unlike Zhou Zhining, who was not in control of her own destiny and whose family could not help her, she risked her life to save her family.

Qingling wondered what Xingxiang would think of this brother after hearing these words.

She straightened her sleeves and sat down to the side: "My lord, I have a plan that will not affect the marriage negotiations in Xiang, and will also ensure the safety of Madam Wang. Please listen to it before making a decision."

"Okay, go ahead."

Yao Qingling spoke up: "After all, Madam Wang is a daughter-in-law of the Wang family. She has Xiao'er. No matter how strict the Wang family's rules are, they won't really take her life."

"Since you are worried about her, why don't you volunteer to be Xiao'er's first tutor? That way you can visit the Prince's mansion every day. With you as my sworn brother, the Wang family won't dare to treat the young mistress of the Wang family too badly."

Zhou Zhining can't come to the new residence, but Zhan Xingzhuo can go there himself. It won't affect his ability to protect her at all, and it will also save the residence's money. How wonderful!

Yao Qingling smiled slightly.

Zhan Xingzhuo stared at her for a while, and thought that the idea was acceptable.

Moreover, Zhou Zhining's father was his teacher, and now he is teaching Zhining's son again. Isn't this a kind of karmic cycle?

Zhan Xingzhuo nodded, and his gentle smile returned to Yao Qingling: "Madam, you are so thoughtful and considerate."

As they were talking, the carriage arrived at the new residence.

Because Zhan Xingzhuo was inside, Taoye could only sit on the carriage shaft. She could hear the intermittent voices inside, but she couldn't say anything and endured it all the way.

After getting off the carriage, Taoye carried the medicine bag and helped Qingling back to the main courtyard to call for dinner.

Just when everyone thought Zhan Xingzhuo was still resting in the study, he followed Qing Ling over.

Tao Ye held her breath, not daring to look back, but the whites of her eyes were practically rolling to the sky.

Zhan Xingzhuo had dinner with Yao Qingling to show his affection for her.

Today, Zhan Xingzhuo's emotions have shifted from anger to calm, from gloom to his current pleasant demeanor.

He personally served soup to Yao Qingling: "This stewed river clam and tofu is very delicious, have some more."

River clams are considered to have a cooling nature, but the soup is made with lots of pepper and perilla to dispel the cold and remove any fishy smell, making it a dish that Qingling likes.

But at this moment, Yao Qingling had no appetite at all when he handed her the soup.

She said she wouldn't eat it.

Zhan Xingzhu smiled, didn't get angry, turned his arm and ate it himself.

"You're just a bad-tempered person because I spoiled you." There was a hint of doting in his voice.

Yao Qingling didn't say anything and silently finished her dinner.

Right now, she's just enduring it, waiting for the day she gets a divorce.

Zhan Xingzhuo didn't leave, it seemed he was going to move back to his bedroom.

Qingling started to panic.

If he stays tonight, he'll probably have sex with her.

She had already rejected him several times before, and if she rejected him again, given his temper, he would force himself on her.

Just as Yao Qingling was wondering what to do, Tao Ye knocked on the door and carefully brought in a steaming bowl of medicine.

Zhan Xingzhuo had just taken off his coat when he saw the medicine in Tao Ye's hand and frowned: "What exactly is wrong with her?"

Taoye said, "The young mistress's menstrual cycle is irregular, and she has been taking medicine to regulate it recently."

As she spoke, she handed the medicine to Qingling and, out of Zhan Xingzhuo's sight, wiped her fingers on Qingling's clothes.

"Miss, I used chicken blood," she said softly.

The master and servant exchanged a glance and smiled knowingly. Yao Qingling drank the medicine and handed the bowl to Taoye: "Go and get some hot water. Master will be resting in his room tonight."

She turned and walked to the clothes rack, pretending to help her husband undress.

Zhan Xingzhuo immediately noticed the bright red showing through Yao Qingling's white dress, and his brows furrowed.

She didn't even notice her menstrual blood getting on her clothes; as a woman, that's so improper.

He was a young master from the Duke's mansion. Although he was not the heir apparent, his status was still noble, and he was not allowed to share a bed with his wife during her menstrual period.

"Since you are unwell, I will continue to stay in the study. If you need anything, just send someone to find me."

The man said something and then walked away.

Yao Qingling watched his figure disappear into the courtyard and breathed a sigh of relief.

That night, Qingling slept peacefully without any dreams.

The next day, she got up early as usual. After breakfast, she went to the flower market to see the flowers for the year and decorate the Duke's garden.

On the way to the flower market, Qingling remembered something and instructed Taoye: "Give Lin Qiao ten taels of silver and tell her that she did a good job on the task I asked her to do, and this is a reward for her."

When Jin Kui took the indenture and hid, Lin Qiao recounted the whole incident of the wicked servant instigating the master in a vivid and detailed manner.

She performed in the capital for a while, so she knew how to interact with people and spread information as quickly as possible.

After the news of Zhan Xingxiang buying maids at Fangmanyuan spread, he stopped going to Fangmanyuan to ask for the two maids.

Subsequently, other nobles dismissed their maids, forcing the owner of Fangmanyuan to conduct a thorough investigation.

Later, Fang Manyuan sued the mallow to the Shuntian Prefecture.

Tao Ye felt uneasy as she held the silver ingot in her pocket.

The young lady is very generous to that little maid, always giving her this much money; even the reward money given to her isn't this much.

However, whatever the young lady says goes, since she and the young lady are family after all.

Taoye said, "Miss, it's still early. How about we go to Tongluo Alley?"

For Tao Ye now, Tongluo Lane feels more like home.

She longed to live in that house every day, never wanting to see those disgusting people again.

Yao Qingling glanced at the sky and was persuaded by Tao Ye.

She longed for her new home even more than Taoye.

"Okay, let's go to Tongluo Lane then."

When they arrived at their new home in the alley, they didn't see Lin Qiao, except for the old housekeeper who was in charge of looking after the house.

"Where did that girl go? Did she go to perform again?" Tao Ye muttered, thinking that twenty taels of silver a month was too easy to earn.

...

In the capital's prison.

Lin Qiao gave the jailer some silver and went inside with the food box.

She knew the place well and found the cell where her brother was, handing him food and a change of clothes.

Even in prison, her brother is a great hero, and he shouldn't be dressed in rags and dirt.

Lin Qiao is small, so she can go inside and eat with her brother, and she can also check if he has any injuries.

The two, one big and one small, sat facing each other. Lin Qiao was gnawing on a chicken leg and said that she had met an official's wife who took her in and looked after her house.

She also said that the official's wife was pitiful and was beaten by her husband.

"...Her arm was so swollen, it looked like it had been wrapped by a python!" Lin Qiao put down the chicken leg and gestured with her two small hands to form a circle the size of a bowl. "That circle was all purplish-black, it hurts just looking at it."