Chapter 261 She deserved it!

In the main courtyard, Concubine Zhao was also whispering with Marquis Zhongyong.

"Yao Qingling hasn't left the house for several days. Her maid sent word that her illness has brought out all her previous ailments, and she can't even get out of bed."

A segment of orange was stuffed into the mouth of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery.

Just as the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery bit through the thin peel and the fresh orange juice burst in his mouth, he coughed and spat out the orange as well.

Concubine Zhao frowned in disgust, quickly hiding herself, and feigned concern as she rubbed the chest of the Marquis of Zhongyong, saying, "My lord, you must take good care of your health. I will rely on you in the future."

After catching his breath, Marquis Zhongyong took the woman's soft, boneless hand and squeezed it, then touched her face: "My dear, my good days have only just begun. Don't worry, I will live to be a hundred. As long as I am here, there will always be a place for you."

Concubine Zhao smiled and said, "This is something you, Lord Marquis, guaranteed."

She subtly withdrew her hand, picked up a small sandalwood box from the table, squeezed out a pill, and then casually picked up a glass of water for the man to drink.

Marquis Zhongyong is now inseparable from this medicine. If he doesn't take it for a day, he feels dizzy, short of breath, and has chest tightness; after taking it, he feels energetic and refreshed.

The doctor said that he had overworked himself when he was young, and the medicine that Concubine Zhao gave him was to nourish his body. It was a rare pill made by a contemporary divine monk.

Marquis Zhongyong trusted Concubine Zhao and the doctor implicitly, and after taking the medicine, he recovered.

Little did he know, his body was like a leaky bucket, with water flowing out faster than it was coming in from the top.

His body was almost completely drained.

After catching his breath, Marquis Zhongyong rubbed his forehead and waited for the medicine to take effect.

He said slowly, "I, the Marquis, naturally keep my word. However, why did people suddenly come to search the manor? It frightened me."

He still felt a lingering fear whenever he thought of Lin Shiyuan leading his men into the Marquis's mansion in such a menacing manner that day.

Fortunately, they only searched the Mulan Courtyard.

"Yao Qingling is audacious and cunning. She actually dared to sell the Emperor's royal gold-feathered silk and even make clothes for her son. Is her son the Emperor? Does that little baby deserve him?"

Marquis Zhongyong turned to Zhao and asked her seriously. Zhao replied with a smile, "Of course not. Even the sons and grandsons of the emperor cannot do so without His Majesty's permission."

Marquis Zhongyong snorted, thinking to himself that Yao Qingling now had connections everywhere, including with imperial merchants and local officials, far more than he, the supervisor of Shanglin Garden.

Moreover, it's easier for her to open a shop and source and sell goods than for him.

Hmph, after raising her for so many years, she doesn't even know how to be filial to her own uncle, but she uses her own son instead.

She was reported because someone was jealous of her making money, so they betrayed her.

She deserved it!

Don't expect that her uncle will say a word for her or help her escape this calamity.

Marquis Zhongyong remained huddled in his main courtyard, unmoved and watching coldly, as long as the fire in Mulan Courtyard didn't reach him.

Having made up his mind, he knew that what Yao Qingling did had nothing to do with him. He wasn't her biological father, and they weren't close. Yao Qingling also firmly controlled the money that Hui Bafang earned, and he hadn't taken a single tael of silver!

Others would only sympathize with him, the Marquis of Loyalty and Valor. It was one thing for him to be looked down upon by outsiders, but even his own niece didn't respect him.

Yao Qingling returned to her family home after her divorce, and her uncle opened the door wide and took her in.

Marquis Zhongyong felt somewhat relieved upon thinking of this.

Little did he know that the one who reported Yao Qingling was none other than his most trusted concubine, Zhao.

It was Zhao's concubine who replaced the cicada-cloud silk in the embroidery room with gold-feather silk.

The woman lowered her eyes, a cunning smile hidden in her gentle gaze, and slowly peeled another orange.

What she was thinking was that the noblewoman had promised her that they only wanted Yao Qingling to suffer, and it had nothing to do with the Marquis's mansion. Once Yao Qingling fell, Hui Bafang would become her private property.

As for the Marquis's residence?

This man will die soon. Madam Ma is already dead, and her children, Yao Qingqi, are no longer a concern. As for Yao Qingling's future, whether she dies or is exiled to the frontier is irrelevant; she's just a grasshopper in autumn, not going to last long anyway.

What can the other young masters and ladies do to her?

Once this matter is over, she will have the Marquis of Zhongyong make her his principal wife, and then this man can die.

When Concubine Zhao thought about the future, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Marquis Zhongyong enjoyed the tender service of Concubine Zhao and was content on his own.

Suddenly remembering something, he asked Zhao Qie in a low voice, "Have all those records of correspondence been cleared?"

Concubine Zhao nodded: "The Lady of the Marquis is dead, and all the evidence has vanished with her. Don't worry, Your Majesty, nothing will happen to us."

...

At Lin Shiyuan's physician's residence, Lin Qiao had a falling out with him.

She would rather talk to that little wolf cub every day than say a single word to Lin Shiyuan.

This brother is despicable. It's one thing to investigate other people, but he actually shut down Yao Qingling's shop.

Doesn't he know how much he's being criticized outside?

The people all say he's a lackey of the imperial court. Even someone as good as Madam Yao could be found a reason to convict her; how can anyone live like that?

Recently, due to the government's investigation of stolen goods, the bandits hiding in the capital have become active again, and they occasionally commit petty theft and robbery.

They were terrified that the gold and silver treasures hidden among the powerful and wealthy would be confiscated, leaving them with nothing.

With grain and oil shops closed, it became inconvenient for people to buy grain, and other shops took advantage of the chaos to raise prices, which further fueled the people's resentment.

"The emperor's treasury was robbed, causing a huge uproar and bloodshed. The people's homes were also robbed and looted. Why doesn't the government do anything about it?"

"This Lin Shiyuan is nothing but a lackey of the imperial court. It's a shame we respected him so much back then."

"He's an ingrate, he doesn't care about Madam Yao's feelings at all. Madam Yao has been bitten back, I don't know how heartbroken she must be."

"..."

There's been too much criticism.

Lin Qiao is Lin Shiyuan's younger sister, and now no children want to play with her anymore.

When she went to the market to buy vegetables, no one would sell to her; they would just give her a dirty look.

Lin Qiao felt extremely wronged.

The one who did the wrong thing was her brother, so why should she also be scolded?

Lin Qiao mixed rice with meat gravy and fed it to the wolf cubs. The wolves ate the meat, but only sniffed the food bowl before turning their heads away and refusing to eat.

Lin Qiao squatted down in front of the wolf cub, speaking sarcastically: "Others call you an ingrate, not you. Why are you angry? Why are you going on a hunger strike?"

The wolf cub glanced at her and howled, wanting to eat meat.

Lin Qiao said, "Why are you getting angry with me? Did I stop you from eating meat? The butcher wouldn't sell it to me, what could I do? And this meat juice is leftover from yesterday."

"If you want to curse, don't curse me. Go talk to him. Go eat his flesh."

Lin Qiao glanced at the man sitting there eating steamed buns and pickled vegetables.

Lin Qiao didn't go out today, and she also forbade the kitchen auntie from going out.

What are you going out for? To wait for someone to bring you rotten vegetable leaves and rotten eggs?

In the past, when my brother was credited with suppressing bandits, the people would rush to bring him fresh vegetables and eggs.

Unlike now.

Lin Qiao felt it was necessary to let her brother experience the consequences as well. What was so glamorous about his official position? He would have been better off working at Sister Qingling's shop.

Lin Shiyuan finished the last cold steamed bun, drank some water, and got up.

He remained silent.

Lin Qiao looked up and saw him walking towards the study. She bit her lip, feeling disappointed in him: "Hmph, he probably took my words to heart."

"Oh, I wonder how Sister Qingling is doing. Is she very sad? Aunt Wu, who sells vegetables, said yesterday that she was very ill..."

Lin Shiyuan paused, frowned, and then strode into the room.