Chapter 209 That was, after all, his only son, his own flesh and blood.

Zhan Xingzhuo slightly raised his chin and said calmly, "You, a lowly errand boy, have actually managed to enter the imperial court. But, this is probably the end of your life, isn't it?"

He lowered his eyes and glanced at the spot where Lin Shiyuan was standing.

Even if one had the right to attend court, one was merely a listener outside the hall, without even the right to speak.

He will never be able to step across that high, red-painted threshold.

"Lin Shiyuan, I remember you were originally a criminal general?"

Zhan Xingzhuo curled his lips in a mocking smile, his eyes flashing with malicious provocation.

Does a man like that deserve Yao Qingling's smile?

He will make him roll back to where he fell, so that he can never climb out of that abyss again!

Lin Shiyuan calmly met his gaze: "His Majesty has pardoned my crime. If you have any other thoughts, you may speak to His Majesty. However, I also remember why you went to Luozhou."

"Minister Zhan, you must be careful too."

Zhan Xingzhuo clenched his fingers, a cold glint in his eyes: "Lin Shiyuan, showing off with your words won't make you look impressive. You're nothing but a warrior, just a guard in this court."

His mocking lips curled up even higher as he glanced at the swaying treetops in the distance. "Does it remind you of the days when you were a lowly soldier guarding the city gates?"

No matter how harsh his words were, Lin Shiyuan remained unmoved.

He said calmly, "Being a common soldier is fine too. If I don't allow someone into the city, then that person can't come in. If I want to search someone, even you, sir, will have to get off your carriage."

Zhan Xingzhu sneered dismissively.

Then other officials came over, all with smiling faces, clearly there to congratulate Zhan Xingzhuo.

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced arrogantly at Lin Shiyuan, a mocking smile playing on his lips, and turned his back to Lin Shiyuan.

Several officials surrounded Zhan Xingzhuo, and he stole the limelight.

Lin Shiyuan curled his lips in disdain.

He looked at Zhan Xingzhuo's figure; his steps were unsteady and slow, only pretending to be steady.

He gave four words: "outwardly strong but inwardly weak."

After the court session, Lin Shiyuan went to the Ministry of War to handle some business.

Since Zhan Xingzhuo had just returned to the capital, the emperor granted him permission to rest for a few days.

The rewards flowed into the new mansion like water.

Upon returning to his new residence, Zhan Xingzhuo looked at the gifts displayed in the courtyard, but felt no joy whatsoever.

In fact, he suddenly realized that there was no one he could share this joy with.

If there hadn't been a divorce, Yao Qingling would still be the young mistress. How happy she would be to see these things?

He doesn't care about anything. Yao Qingling will probably happily tell the servants to carry it to the storeroom, and then she will open the boxes one by one to count them.

After taking inventory, she would ask the kitchen to prepare a sumptuous meal to celebrate with him.

At night, she would playfully cling to him...

A gust of wind blew by, interrupting the man's reverie.

The man's eyes dimmed, and he suddenly felt an emptiness in his heart.

He looked up at the swaying treetops.

He became the third-ranked scholar in the imperial examination at the age of twenty, but afterwards, due to his complicated relationship with Zhou Zhining, he was not given important responsibilities.

He mocked Lin Shiyuan for only being able to stand guard outside the palace in the wind and sun, but wasn't he himself in the same situation in the past?

If it weren't for his connection with the Zhou family, he wouldn't even need to go to Luozhou to rise to the highest ranks of officialdom, with countless officials bowing to his every whim, numerous students under his tutelage, and a constant stream of rewards coming his way.

Instead of what I'm doing now, having to work hard in Los Angeles for half a year to get this recognition.

Is he blaming Zhou Zhining for holding him back?

Of course not, but comparisons are inevitable.

However, this is the path he chose.

Without relying on the Duke's mansion, but solely on his own abilities, he has gained the recognition of the Emperor and court officials, and in the future, he will go even further.

The man picked up a crystal-clear fish-shaped jade pendant, squinted slightly, and examined it against the sunlight.

The steward, hunched over, asked, "Second Master, shall I have these things taken to the storeroom and stored away?"

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at him indifferently and said, "No need, go prepare my horse."

The butler was taken aback: "Second Master, you've just returned, and you're already going out?"

Zhan Xingzhuo didn't say anything, and the steward didn't dare to say another word either, and hurried to the stable.

Zhan Xingzhuo visited Hengwu Villa again.

The gatekeeper of the villa said, "Miss Zhou went to Jin Mantang and has not returned yet."

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned slightly. Prince Xin really made Zhou Zhining work as a servant and go out into the public eye?

He then turned back to Jinmantang.

Hengwu Villa and Jinmantang are both on East Street, and the carriage will arrive quickly.

The man got off the carriage and went inside. The shop was luxuriously decorated, and all the items sold were of the highest quality. Even the cheapest items would be considered top-notch in an ordinary shop.

However, business at the shop wasn't very good. The shop assistants were wiping dust with rags, but they did manage to make the shelves shine.

Zhou Zhining is not in the front hall.

The shopkeeper led Zhan Xingzhuo to the backyard, but they were turned away at the door again.

Zhiyun stood guard at the door and said, "Miss is busy receiving guests and will not see the Second Master for the time being."

Zhan Xingzhuo knew that Zhou Zhining was still throwing a tantrum at him and making excuses not to see him.

He didn't show any displeasure, and went straight to the restaurant next door, leaving a message that he would meet with Prince Xin and the others that evening.

Inside the room, Zhou Zhining learned that Zhan Xingzhuo had left a message and then departed, which made her so angry that she burst into tears again.

"Does he really not care about me anymore now that he has a son?"

Prince Xin glanced at her, impatient with the woman's tears.

Prince Xin had already heard that Yao Qingling had given birth to a son, but his health was poor, and he was only kept alive by a century-old ginseng. No one knew when he would pass away.

Prince Xin sent a gift, which her maid accepted on her behalf and then returned with a gift.

He did not personally go to the Marquis's residence to see her.

A woman who has just given birth is at her most unsightly. Yao Qingling was half-dead, probably no different from a rotting corpse.

He still thought the portrait of the reclining boulder was more attractive.

Prince Xin said calmly, "Yao Qingling suffered a hemorrhage, and judging from the news, she probably won't live much longer. Why bother arguing with a dying person?"

“He is, after all, his only son, his own flesh and blood.” Prince Xin emphasized the last three words, reminding Zhou Zhining, and added, “It’s only natural for him to go and see him. If you throw a tantrum and get angry with him at this time, do you think he will be happy or unhappy?”

Prince Xin felt that Zhan Xingzhuo was still too indulgent towards Zhou Zhining.

Upon learning that she had returned to Hengwu Villa, he went to see her that very night, only to be turned away at the door.

Now that they've come looking for her again, she's still being coy and ignoring them. They've already left, so who can they blame?

If it were Prince Xin, he would have ignored this woman long ago.

It's all because they're used to it.

Prince Xin then said, "Zhou Zhining, even now, can't you see your own place?"

Zhou Zhining wiped away her tears and sobbed. Upon hearing this, she was stunned, and the answer quickly came to mind—she was a government slave.

She was neither the daughter of a powerful and influential Grand Tutor, nor a renowned talented woman in Shengjing; she was merely a government slave.

She lowered her eyes, tears welling up in them, threatening to spill, but they wouldn't fall.

She suddenly felt extremely cold all over and hugged herself tightly.

Prince Xin looked at her coldly, speaking only the most pragmatic words.

"Zhan Xingzhuo is now a high-ranking official, a favorite of the Emperor. He comes from a Duke's family, and his mother is the Grand Princess of Deyang. Even if he divorces, there will be plenty of women who want to be his new wife."

"So what if he has another son?"

“Zhou Zhining, if you still want Zhan Xingzhuo, then face the gap between you and try to please him.”

He chuckled, "Didn't you used to always play the victim to make him feel sorry for you? Why have you changed your ways and started throwing a tantrum at him now?"

He tilted his head slightly, his mocking gaze falling on Zhou Zhining: "Imitating Yao Qingling?"