Chapter 207 Yao Qingling suddenly glanced at him furtively a few times.

Before her fingers could even touch the ground, Lin Shiyuan grasped them.

He opened his eyes, which were bloodshot, and he had the hazy, confused feeling of someone who had just woken up.

He looked at her with those hazy, dreamy eyes, his gaze filled with a hint of grievance and innocence.

Yao Qingling grinned: "Did I wake you up?"

The man nodded.

Yao Qingling withdrew her hand: "Then you can go back to sleep."

Lin Shiyuan tugged at the corner of his lips, then pulled her hand back, holding it firmly in his large palm, his voice slightly hoarse: "Is everything resolved?"

When he arrived in the early morning, he smelled the blood in the air and knew that a "purge" had taken place in Mulan Courtyard.

Yao Qingling nodded: "I guess so."

She briefly recounted the outcome of sending Ma and Yao Qingqi to the estate.

Lin Shiyuan frowned slightly: "Just send it to the estate?"

Unbeknownst to outsiders, it was actually Lin Shiyuan who discovered the wound's inability to heal and subsequently found that the incense contained several blood-activating powders.

He had been investigating those iron ore deposits. One night, he risked entering Yongning Temple, where he was discovered and a fight broke out. Lin Shiyuan's arm was cut.

He Yin bandaged Lin Shiyuan's wound, which should have healed quickly, but every time he came to Yao Qingling's place, his wound would bleed.

He Yincai then investigated further and discovered Yao Qingqi's scheme.

If it weren't for prior planning, how could Lin Shiyuan have remained indifferent when Yao Qingling was in danger?

In the Mulan Courtyard, besides Nie Yun, Lin Shiyuan also replaced several of his personal guards with others for protection.

In addition, Lin Shiyuan also knew that Yao Qingling did not need his excessive protection.

She wasn't a sheltered, naive, and fragile young lady who couldn't protect herself, nor did she need to wait for someone to rescue her.

That night at Yongning Temple revealed her strength, a strength that many men lack; and what she desires is to become even stronger.

Lin Shiyuan was happy to help her with this.

However, when he came to see her in the early morning and found her sleeping peacefully and unharmed, he was finally relieved.

Yao Qingling said calmly, "The Marquis of Zhongyong bribed the Prefect to prevent the matter from becoming public knowledge. The Marquis's mansion wants to save face."

Although she didn't want this so-called "respectability," as long as the court didn't revoke her title, no matter how big the commotion was, it would just be a matter of cleaning up the house.

In Qingling's plan, as long as Ma Shi is convicted, her offspring will be tainted and ineligible to inherit the title.

Then, it went even more smoothly for Qingling's son, Chengjue.

“But for now, we don’t need to consider them, mother and daughter.” A cold glint flashed in her eyes as she continued, “I’m thinking, the Prefect has seen a lot in his life. The Marquis of Zhongyong’s mansion has been in decline for so many years. What could he have given me that would make the Prefect give him face and disregard my friendship with him?”

Prefect Gao was shrewd and had high standards; ordinary banknotes, jewelry, and antiques could not sway him.

She suddenly thought of this last night before going to bed.

Upon further reflection, before she gave birth, Ma had not bothered her for several months, nor had she even requested to check the accounts.

This is not in line with Ma's style of doing things.

And Ma Peizhen didn't cause any trouble; she seemed content to serve the old lady.

It was because they were too quiet that Yao Qingling overlooked them, which led to a momentary lapse in attention and gave them an opportunity to harm her.

Lin Shiyuan said, "Then let's investigate him."

Qingling nodded: "We definitely need to investigate."

She couldn't feel at ease until she understood.

The two talked for a while longer before Xia Chan knocked on the door and came in to help Qing Ling get up and wash.

There were originally two maids, but with Lin Shiyuan around, these trivial matters could only be handled by Xia Chanlouyue and a few other trusted confidants.

Yao Qingling is now able to get out of bed and walk around, but He Yin believes that because she lost too much blood before, her postpartum period needs to be extended until her body is fully recovered before she can go out and walk around.

When it comes to saving his own life, Qingling is quite obedient.

The two washed up one after the other.

Xia Chan initially had a strong opinion about Lin Shiyuan's nighttime visit to Mulan Courtyard, but ever since Lin Shiyuan gave her the opportunity to make a contribution, Xia Chan always felt guilty because she had taken his money, so she turned a blind eye to Lin Shiyuan staying overnight in Qingling's room.

"Doctor Lin, did you have breakfast in the courtyard before going to court?"

Lin Shiyuan nodded: "Okay."

Xia Chan went to get breakfast.

Lou Yue used the turtle and chicken soup she had simmered the night before to make chicken porridge. The porridge was soft, tender, and sweet, and she served it with a few appetizers, such as pickled cucumbers, stuffed soybeans, and sweet and sour anchovies.

Yao Qingling and Lin Shiyuan were having a meal facing each other when Yao Qingling suddenly glanced at him furtively a few times.

The man quickly noticed Yao Qingling's furtive gaze. He picked up a side dish with his chopsticks and put it into Qingling's porridge: "What do you want?"

Qingling pursed her lips, picked up a piece of anchovy and brought it to her lips, saying, "I didn't say what I wanted."

She took a few bites of the anchovy and mumbled, "Zhan Xingzhuo entered the capital last night..."

As she spoke, she glanced at him out of the corner of her eye.

Lin Shiyuan: "What?"

"Master Zhan arrived in the capital last night."

Lou Yue, who was making tea, spoke clearly and quickly, "That man is heartless. Miss risked her life to give birth, and he just left without even glancing at her."

"No wonder people say that no man is any good."

Lin Shiyuan: "..."

Lou Yue belatedly realized what was happening, glanced at him, and quickly tried to salvage the situation: "Doctor Lin, I wasn't talking about you. I was talking about Second Master Zhan; he's no good."

Lin Shiyuan's focus is not on this.

Last night, Yao Qingling was supposed to arrest Ma and Yao Qingqi, but the appearance of the name "Zhan Xingzhuo" at this time was suspicious.

"Did Zhan Xingzhuo come last night?"

Qingling pursed her lips and nodded.

She put down her chopsticks, wiped her lips with a handkerchief, and said, "Last night, when Taoye entered the city, it was just as the city gates were closing. Zhan Xingzhuo entered the city before her. If it weren't for him, Taoye wouldn't have been able to enter the city at the last minute to support me."

You must understand that once the city gates are closed, unless it is an urgent matter at the border or in a local area that requires communication, or someone of imperial or noble status, no one can get the guards to let them pass.

Taoye was just a maid in the Marquis's mansion; no matter how much she screamed or how hard she tried, she couldn't get in.

If Taoye cannot enter, then the midwife will be unable to appear before the prefect as a witness.

Although Yao Qingling didn't want to admit that Zhan Xingzhuo had done a good job in this matter, the facts were undeniable, and she did owe him a favor.

Furthermore, Zhan Xingzhuo's return to the capital this time is to officially assume the post of Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue, so he no longer needs to return to Luozhou.

Lin Shiyuan will see Zhan Xingzhuo in the court today.

Yao Qingling was frank with him, firstly because she didn't want him to overthink things, and secondly because if he were to face Zhan Xingzhuo, she wanted him to be prepared.

Lin Shiyuan took a deep breath: "I understand."

Yao Qingling looked at him: "Is that all?"

Lin Shiyuan glanced at her, his expression indifferent: "What do you want?"

Yao Qingling pouted, not knowing why, but she just felt disappointed.

His reaction was so calm, as if he wasn't in a hurry at all.

Lin Shiyuan held the chopsticks and gently tapped her forehead with the other end: "Miss Qingling, don't forget, in public, we've gone our separate ways."

He's still not happy.

Her ex-husband has returned, and she has just given birth; their relationship is bound to become complicated.

But at this moment, he had to "maintain a relationship" with her, not show any attitude, and even act indifferent. Wasn't he anxious?