Chapter 206 Her fingertips landed on the bridge of his nose, gently scraping it.

Yao Qingling finally looked at him properly: "How can you lure the snake out of its hole without premeditation?"

It wasn't enough that she caught the midwife and the magpie.

The bigger she made a scene, the less likely Zhongyong Hou Cai was to let things go.

Even though she used herself as a pawn, in the end, Madam Ma and Yao Qingqi were still fine, and neither of them ever even entered the prison.

Zhan Xingzhuo said, "Yao Qingling, you are always so cold-blooded and ruthless. After all, Madam Hou is your aunt, your family. But the way you treat your family is to send them to jail and to their deaths."

Faced with his cold and hurtful accusations, Yao Qingling was taken aback, then gave a self-deprecating sneer.

Zhan Xingzhuo must have thought of Zhou Zhining, right?

His so-called sister was turned into a government slave by her.

Qingling said, "Yes, I am such a vicious person. Anyone who makes me suffer will be repaid tenfold or a hundredfold. Minister Zhan, you should be glad that I have only divorced you. Now you are not related to me, this is not a place for you to come in, you should leave."

She bluntly told them to leave.

Zhan Xingzhuo's face darkened again.

"Yao Qingling, do you have any conscience? If I hadn't stopped you in time, would your Mulan Courtyard be peaceful now?"

He took a deep breath, knowing he had long understood Yao Qingling's cold-bloodedness, and convinced himself that he didn't need to be provoked by her.

He forced himself to calm down.

Yao Qingling glanced at him, speechless and wanting to roll her eyes.

Zhan Xingzhuo always tries to embellish his own image, just like in the past, he always said he was good to her.

“Minister Zhan, there’s no need to take credit for this. Didn’t you just say that this was my premeditated plan?” She turned her head indifferently and looked straight ahead. “My guards are not to be trifled with.”

The worst outcome would be a few more guards from the Marquis's mansion getting injured; she trusted the people Lin Shiyuan had left for her.

"You—" Zhan Xingzhu gritted his teeth and swallowed his anger, "I'm not here to argue with you about this."

He paused for a moment, then asked, "Where is my child?"

Yao Qingling remained silent, while Zhan Xingzhu gritted his teeth: "You don't need to hide it, and you can't hide it anyway. I heard it clearly just now, the child you gave birth to is mine!"

"Yao Qingling, you're pregnant with my child, and you still want a divorce? You're insane!"

Qingling finally turned her gaze back to him: "What you see as madness, to me, is just me doing it for my child."

"Zhan Xingzhuo, ask yourself honestly, do you need my child?"

The man glared at her fiercely: "Yes, of course I want it!"

Qingling shook her head slowly, expressionless: "No, you don't need it... You made a promise to Zhou Zhining, so why would you want my child? How could you do this to her?"

"Have you forgotten Xiao'er?"

Zhan Xingzhuo was stunned. Xiao'er's little face floated into his mind, followed by Zhou Zhining's accusing gaze.

Zhou Zhining is in the capital. Even Prefect Gao knows that Yao Qingling has his child, so Zhou Zhining must also know about it.

He was the child's father, yet he was the last among everyone to find out.

Zhou Zhining wrote him so many letters, but not a single word mentioned these things.

The man's emotions were turbulent. Was Zhou Zhining very upset, which was why she didn't tell him?

Yao Qingling looked at the man's silent and conflicted face, and a mocking smile appeared on her lips.

She had always known that he would always choose Zhou Zhining over the child.

Fortunately, her judgment was accurate, and she left in time.

Fortunately, she had already ended the relationship, so she wouldn't feel sad at this moment.

"Minister Zhan, it's getting late. You shouldn't be here." Qing Ling said indifferently, once again issuing an order to leave. "Nie Yun."

Nie Yun entered the room carrying her sword and stood in front of Zhan Xingzhuo: "Minister Zhan, please."

Zhan Xingzhuo gave Yao Qingling a deep look, and saw her lower her eyelids even more coldly, and get up in a daze.

Minglu, who was guarding the gate outside, saw him come out and hurriedly stepped forward: "Second Master, are you leaving already?"

Didn't she have a baby?

Shouldn't we take the child back home?

Zhan Xingzhuo simply said "Let's go" and headed towards the door.

Minglu quickly followed and withdrew all the guards.

Seeing that Zhan Xingzhuo was in low spirits, he didn't dare to ask anything.

Mulan Courtyard returned to complete tranquility.

Xia Chan couldn't help but spit out, "You still have the nerve to mention the child? You left without even glancing at him. Luckily, Miss divorced early, otherwise, who knows what kind of grievances she would have suffered after the child was born."

Although I had expected it, seeing it with my own eyes made me see more clearly what kind of person Zhan Xingzhuo is.

That person just wanted to be recognized as a father; whether it was good for the child was another matter entirely.

Lou Yue brought over a steaming bowl of chicken soup: "Miss, drink it while it's hot. I've skimmed off the oil; it's very delicious."

She placed the soup bowl on the low table, and Yao Qingling could drink it with just a spoon, without any effort.

Qingling smiled, but the smile was faint.

Xia Chan was disappointed in Zhan Xingzhuo, but so was she.

It's one thing to have anticipated something, but it's quite another to actually see it.

Whether she wanted it or not, the child was half his blood, yet his hesitation was so shallow, he didn't even mention trying to get a glimpse of her. It can only be said that there was no disappointment, just a deeper chill in his heart.

Xia Chan said, "However, Master Zhan will definitely come to fight for the child."

Regardless of whether he likes the child or not, he can't lose face as a man.

"Fortunately, there is that mother-child Gu..." She glanced at Qingling.

Qingling took a sip of the hot chicken soup; the warm taste soothed her stomach and limbs.

My mood isn't so bad anymore.

She smiled faintly: "We'll talk about the future later."

Lou Yue: "Yes, we'll talk about the future later."

Taoye escorted the Imperial Censor and his wife back to their residence before returning herself.

Lou Yue also left her a bowl of soup.

Taoye said, "The Imperial Censor's wife will come to visit Miss in a few days. She said she can't wait for Miss to visit her."

Qingling nodded: "Sister Xing really cares about me like a younger sister. Xia Chan, pick out some nice things and send them to me tomorrow."

Xia Chan: "Should we also send something to Magistrate Gao?"

Qingling shook her head: "No need. Prefect Gao owes me a debt, he has no right to hold it against me." As she spoke, she chuckled, "Marquis Zhongyong promised him great benefits, he can't accept my generous gift."

The cicadas nodded.

Taoye finished the hot soup in a few gulps, wiped her mouth, and looked particularly angry.

She said, "Miss, even if Madam locks you up at the estate, you won't stay put."

“She used to try to control the young lady and use her to benefit herself. After the young lady returned to the Marquis’s mansion, she went further and further each time.”

"Since Miss treated her this way, she must harbor hatred and will not let Miss go."

"Miss, we can't be soft-hearted and let it go like this. In my opinion, we must nip it in the bud and prevent future troubles!"

Some people don't deserve to be soft-hearted.

A ruthless glint flashed in her eyes.

Tao Ye has been through a lot, and since she was able to stand on her own, her methods have become increasingly tough.

Xia Chan said, "But this feud has already run deep. If they die, everyone will suspect us. In my opinion, we should hold back for now and wait a while before making any moves."

"They've suffered a major setback this time and won't dare to make any rash moves for the time being. Besides, the Marquis is in a fit of anger, and sparing their lives is already an act of consideration for their marital bond. The Marquis's wife wouldn't be so oblivious to this."

After the maids whispered amongst themselves about what precautions to take, Yao Qingling, having eaten and drunk her fill and exhausted herself, went to sleep.

When she woke up again, the maids were gone, and beside her, Lin Shiyuan was holding her hand, asleep against the headboard.

Sunlight streamed through the window frame, and a ray of light fell on his high, straight nose, creating a striking contrast of light and shadow, like a snow-capped mountain pressed against his face.

Qingling gently sat up, raised her other hand, and placed her fingertips on his nose, gently scraping it.