Chapter 240 Zhan Xingzhuo got promoted, but he was still as broke as ever.

Zhan Xingzhuo was lost in thought.

He knew very well what kind of person Zhou Zhining was.

She was using Xiao'er to force him to go back.

And what about Yao Qingling?

He has been spending every day with Ma Peizhen these days, but Yao Qingling has remained indifferent, as if she knows nothing about it, and not a single servant has come to inquire.

He didn't believe she didn't know.

She simply didn't care.

She doesn't care who he's with, even if that woman is targeting her or trying to frame her.

I don't care at all...

The man took a sip of wine, swallowing the bitter taste.

No matter what he did, he was met with setbacks once again. He couldn't even see Yao Qingling, let alone make her jealous or angry; she didn't react at all.

He didn't even get to see his child.

Ma Peizhen couldn't command anyone in the Mulan Courtyard, nor could she command anyone in the entire Marquis's mansion, not even the Marquis of Zhongyong.

What puzzled Zhan Xingzhuo was that these past few days, when he visited the Marquis's residence, the Marquis Zhongyong no longer fawned over him and Yao Qingling.

They seem to be wary of his reconciliation with Yao Qingling?

Ma Peizhen glanced at the distracted man, then looked at the servant boy, unable to contain her smugness.

It seems that Zhou Zhining is nothing special.

A woman who has been divorced has lost her charm. The man is tired of her, and even if she uses her child to trick him into going back, he will remain unmoved.

At the same time, she thought that Yao Qingling was also a coward. Zhan Xingzhuo was so easy to coax, yet she couldn't keep the man's heart.

Ma Peizhen thought that Yao Qingling's downfall was that she lacked femininity and was always stiff and fierce.

She immediately reminded herself that men like obedient women, and that women should be gentle and tender, charming and alluring.

Ma Peizhen adjusted her posture, her body twisting as supplely as a snake, her gaze full of affection.

At this moment, Zhan Xingzhuo hesitated about whether he should go back.

He wanted to punish Zhou Zhining and hope she would behave herself, but he was also worried about the child.

That's just a four-year-old child, what did he do wrong?

The man's eyes darkened slightly.

Ma Peizhen naturally hoped that Zhan Xingzhuo would stay.

That's just a child of the Wang family, not Zhan Xingzhuo's. He's not the child's biological father, so why should he care about him?

Ma Peizhen even felt that Zhan Xingzhuo's hesitation at this moment was because of her, and couldn't help but feel a little smug.

She said sweetly, "Second Master, this Zhou woman is so unreasonable. If the child is sick, a doctor will treat him. It's her responsibility as the mother for not taking good care of the child. You can't get medical treatment there either. It's you who are troubled by worries every day and just want to find a quiet place to relax. She's so inconsiderate of you, disturbing you instead. She's really being unreasonable. Second Master, let me sing for you..."

She was halfway through her sentence when she saw the man's cold and ruthless gaze, and the rest of her words caught in her throat.

Zhan Xingzhuo got up and left the Marquis's residence without even glancing at her.

It was as if Ma Peizhen were a waiter serving tea and water at the teahouse.

Ma Peizhen's face turned red, then green, then red again, and she almost broke the table.

Just then, Concubine Zhao sent a nanny to Luoli Courtyard to ask her for money.

Ma Peizhen was a cousin, and the Marquis's mansion gave her a monthly allowance, arranged by Madam Ma. Now that Madam Ma no longer manages the household, Concubine Zhao has taken over the management of the Marquis's mansion's finances and has removed Ma Peizhen's share.

Ma Peizhen continued to live and eat at the Marquis's residence, and she also had to please Zhan Xingzhuo by serving him wine and dishes every day, which, although not expensive, still cost money.

Zhao's concubine was shrewd and calculating, and refused to let Ma Peizhen take advantage of her.

The matter of demanding money made Ma Peizhen extremely angry and embarrassed.

She knew that Concubine Zhao wanted to force her to leave, but she hadn't married into a better family yet, so she had to stay no matter what.

Fortunately, when Ma was in charge of the household, Ma Peizhen had saved up a lot of money in secret, which she gave to the nanny.

"Hmph, once I become Second Master's woman, you'll all be begging me to call you Grandma, you bunch of shallow-minded fools," she said bitterly behind his back.

The old women in Mulan Courtyard told this story as a joke.

"...That young lady is desperate to get married, she's probably driven mad. Anyone with eyes can see that the Second Master comes to the Marquis's mansion frequently just to catch a glimpse of our young lady. Our young lady has sealed off the courtyard gates and won't let anyone see her at all."

"I thought Miss Biao had gotten some good deal, that she would at least get a second glance from Master Zhan. But she ended up paying for a man and getting nothing in return, and even losing money."

As Yao Qingling was about to go out, she overheard the old women gossiping.

She had no idea that Ma Peizhen was giving Zhan Xingzhuo money.

Ha, Zhan Xingzhuo got promoted, but he's still as broke as ever.

They wouldn't even spend a penny on food and drinks.

Only his face and official position can fool people.

Fortunately, she escaped her misery sooner.

Yao Qingling is going to see Lady Xincheng today.

While Lin Shiyuan was investigating a case in the palace, Qingling got involved with the Marquis of Xincheng's mansion, which meant she had also made contact with the Empress.

Speaking of which, it was Qingling who secretly passed the information to the Empress regarding the corruption case in the palace. If this major case were solved, the Empress could establish her authority in the harem, and the Marquis of Xincheng's mansion would have a chance to become a Duke's mansion.

Yao Qingling had set the stage, but she couldn't simply abandon the matter. She hinted to Lady Xincheng that she should ask the Marquis to side with Lin Shiyuan and help him solve the case.

Lady Xincheng said, "Madam Yao, I know that Physician Lin once worked for your Hui Bafang. However, after he became an official, he severed ties with you. I have never liked this kind of behavior of using people when they are needed and discarding them when they are not. It is no different from being ungrateful."

"Why are you still thinking about him?" Lady Hou's gaze swept ambiguously across Qing Ling's face, and then, as if she understood something, she smiled and said, "That Physician Lin has a handsome appearance."

The news that Yao Qingling had hired eight matchmakers and kept male prostitutes spread throughout the capital.

Although Lin Langzhong had already become an official, he had not yet firmly established himself, and the house he lived in was still rented. Compared to other people, Yao Qingling was still richer.

Madam Hou felt that Yao Qingling was trying to use her connections and money to bribe Lin Shiyuan.

Yao Qingling didn't argue. She blinked shyly and said, "After all, he's an acquaintance. If I can win him over, I can find a son-in-law, so I won't be gossiped about by those officials' wives again."

She looked helplessly bothered by the gossip, lazily adjusted her forehead ribbon, and then brushed off the wrinkles on her clothes. "Besides, Lin Shiyuan has already taken over the major case in the palace, and this case will eventually be solved."

"The others are just watching the show. Whether Lin Shiyuan lives or dies is none of their business. They hope this case will never be solved so that their interests won't be affected."

"But this concerns the interests of the Empress and the Emperor. By helping Lin Shiyuan, the Marquis is also helping the Emperor and the Empress. Isn't the future of the Marquis's mansion just around the corner?"

Lady Hou was somewhat persuaded: "However, that Physician Lin is ultimately a military man with no family background."

The imperial court was controlled by powerful clans, and the Marquis of Xincheng's family was one of them.

They have a natural aversion to those from poor families who aspire to upward mobility.

Yao Qingling understood that the Lady of the Marquis looked down on Lin Shiyuan.

These people's scheme was simply to send Lin Shiyuan to his death first, making the case unsolvable, thus demonstrating the difficulty of the case. Then they would arrange for their own people to get involved in the mess, eliminate dissidents, and strengthen their own power.

Qingling smiled and said, "Madam, don't forget that when Lin Shiyuan was escorted from the Southern Border to the capital, the parade was at the Emperor's behest."

"His Majesty intended to spare his life, and quickly transferred him from the Five Cities Garrison to the Ministry of War in less than a year. Madam, don't you understand the Emperor and Empress's intentions?"

“Why not take this opportunity to do Lin Shiyuan a favor?” Yao Qingling raised an eyebrow and smiled wickedly. “And while we’re at it, let him owe me a favor.”

"If I were to take him as my husband... Ah, I can't wait to see him die of shame and indignation."

"Madam, you just said he was ungrateful. So, isn't it satisfying for me to retaliate like this?"