Chapter 241 A Narrow Encounter

Lady Hou was amused by Yao Qingling's witty remarks.

Despite her laughter, Madam Hou was a clever woman, and she remembered Yao Qingling's words, whether intentional or unintentional.

"Alright, I'll talk to the Marquis about it later. He'll make sure Lin Shiyuan owes you a favor. I also want to see how this supposedly tough and unyielding man is defeated by you."

She changed the subject and said, "But... you really don't want Minister Zhan anymore?"

Everyone thought that Yao Qingling had initially divorced Zhan Xingzhuo out of jealousy and rivalry with Zhou Zhining, and that she had concealed her pregnancy in order to force him to come back.

Lady Hou then said, "I've heard that Vice Minister Zhan visits the Hou residence every day. He's so sincere. Don't you ever think about getting back together?"

Everyone knows that being the young mistress of a noble family is a much better life. You are respected and no one dares to bully you. When you walk down the street, you only need to glance at the emblem on your carriage to be recognized and people will step aside to make way for you.

Zhan Xingzhuo is not only the son of the Grand Princess, but he is also very capable and has a promising future. There is no reason for Yao Qingling to give up such wealth and honor.

Lady Hou did not believe that Yao Qingling had no ulterior motives and would rather be a merchant's daughter, showing her face in public all day, being harassed and looked down upon.

Yao Qingling only said one sentence: "Madam, I have been the young mistress of the Duke's mansion. After being away from there for so long, I am like a wild cat that can never go back."

She lifted the tea lid and casually tossed it on the ground.

With a snap, the lid shattered into pieces, just like her meaningless marriage.

Lady Hou gazed quietly at Yao Qingling, her expression serene and devoid of any lingering attachment. She was both carefree and exhilarated, with a touch of sharpness. Compared to the noblewomen who held high positions but were also burdened by numerous constraints, forced to feign composure and constantly suppress their emotions, this unrestrained demeanor was undeniably enviable.

“She really does resemble a wildcat,” said Madam Hou. She stopped probing into the emotional entanglement between Yao Qingling and Zhan Xingzhuo.

If Yao Qingling didn't have a deep connection with the Duke of Zhan's mansion, then her allegiance to the Empress would be understandable.

A servant who is alone and weak has no intention of being disloyal. The Marquis of Xincheng's mansion and the Empress are one entity, so they can trust Yao Qingling more.

As Yao Qingling left the restaurant, the coachman had already parked the carriage at the entrance. Just as Qingling was about to get into the carriage, another carriage suddenly stopped beside her.

The coachman rudely demanded that Qingling's carriage move to the other side, saying they were blocking the way.

"Hey, how dare you talk like that? The road is so wide, why do you have to be here?" Yao Qingling's coachman was not to be outdone, and the two sides were about to start arguing when Xia Chan recognized the emblem on the black roof of the carriage and lowered her voice to tell Qingling, "Miss, it's a carriage from the Duke of Zhan's mansion. I just don't know if it's from the new mansion or the Duke's mansion."

Since Zhan Xingzhuo had not yet separated from the family, the insignia he could use could only belong to the Duke's mansion. Unless he made an extraordinary contribution that would earn him the emperor's permission to establish his own household.

Zhan Xingzhuo's relationship with the Duke's mansion was strained. He could have easily removed the insignia to show his integrity, but he never did so over the years. Simply put, he both resented the Duke's mansion and couldn't bear to give up the prestige it brought him.

Qingling glanced indifferently at the ornate carriage, not yielding an inch.

At this moment, voices came from inside the carriage. Because of the distance, Yao Qingling couldn't hear clearly, but she could vaguely hear a woman's soft voice and a child's excited, childlike voice.

Yao Qingling understood.

The people in the black carriage were none other than Zhou Zhining and Xiao'er.

Yao Qingling stood on one side of her family's carriage, blocked by the carriage, so the people on the other side couldn't see her.

The coachman over there was a snob. Seeing that Qingling's carriage was empty and only looked nice, he arrogantly and rudely demanded that Qingling's carriage move aside.

"Do you know who's in this carriage?" The coachman walked over, whip in hand, seemingly about to whip Yao Qingling's horse.

The streets were bustling with people and there were many vendors along the roadside. If the horse were startled and went berserk, the consequences would be unimaginable!

Yao Qingling's face turned cold, and she gave her driver a wink.

The coachman was originally a bandit, but he was quite skilled. After being subdued by Yao Qingling, he stayed by her side.

Qingling gave the driver a new household registration, with her surname, Yao Ping'an, wishing him a safe journey.

The meaning of "peace" here is that everything is peaceful and safe.

With a swift movement, Yao Ping'an snatched the whip from the other man's hand, and with a palm strike of his other hand, knocked the coachman back several steps.

The other person clutched their chest: "You dare hit me!"

"You have to consider the owner before you beat a dog." A commoner's lackey beats an official's lackey—he's asking for death!

Yao Qingling slightly raised her chin, glanced at the carriage, and said nothing.

She simply stood there, serene and unmoved. A gust of wind blew, ruffling the hem of her clothes, but she remained steadfast, like a proud pine tree, neither dodging nor flinching.

The coachman's eyes narrowed, fearing he had run into a tough opponent, but he wanted to maintain the dignity of the noble household, so he just stood there without moving.

Just then, a man's voice came from the carriage: "Prepare a saddlebag."

The coachman glared at Yao Qingling, then turned and put the stool down.

The curtain was lifted, and Zhan Xingzhuo leaned out halfway.

Even with only half of it showing, its jade-like face caused passersby to stop and take another look.

He wore a dark blue robe embroidered with silver bamboo leaf patterns. He stepped down from the horse stool at a leisurely pace, and every gesture he made exuded nobility.

His cold gaze fell upon Yao Qingling.

Yao Qingling also looked at him.

But it wasn't something that lasted forever at first sight.

Her lips curled slightly, revealing a hint of sarcasm.

His gaze swept from the man's face to the carriage, and then from the carriage to Zhan Xingzhuo.

She never avoided his gaze, neither shy nor embarrassed, but simply looked at him as an equal.

Ah, he's been promoted and gotten a new carriage; no wonder I didn't recognize him.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at Yao Qingling with mixed feelings, feeling both annoyed and angry, yet completely helpless.

He visited the Marquis's residence so many times, but no matter how much he provoked her, she remained unmoved.

She didn't care about his identity at all.

He's a vice minister now, how could she not care or regret it! Doesn't she realize what she's missed?

Zhan Xingzhuo saw Yao Qingling coming out of the restaurant from afar; he had ordered the coachman to block Yao Qingling's carriage.

He wanted to show her the difference between officials and commoners, between power and wealth, and to make her realize the reality, so she wouldn't think she was something special just because she had earned a few coins!

But has Yao Qingling been the young mistress of the Duke's mansion for too long, still displaying the arrogance of a young mistress?

The man's face tightened again and again.

"Brother Xingzhuo, please hold Xiao'er first." Inside the carriage, the woman's soft voice rang out again, interrupting Zhan Xingzhuo's gaze.

Zhan Xingzhuo snapped out of his reverie, glanced at Yao Qingling indifferently as if she were a fallen leaf, and turned away.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and a boy stepped out of the carriage, opening his two small arms: "Daddy, hug me."

The child was dressed in a cotton coat with gold and blue trim and fox fur. She looked exquisite and was clearly a child from a wealthy family, elegant and beautiful.

But what's even more surprising is the way the child is addressed.

—Father.