Chapter 288 I've always had an extra layer of affection for you.

Yao Qingling was completely confused.

Then look at the expressions of the others.

These people are all shrewd and perceptive, with bright eyes and expressive faces, making it impossible to guess what's going on.

Qingling could only be certain of one thing: it was related to Lin Shiyuan.

She was a little anxious, but she couldn't show that she was restless, so she could only force herself to watch the people perform.

Finally, the banquet ended.

Some people got drunk and were helped away from their seats by their servants.

Lin Shiyuan was one of those who got drunk.

He had most of his body on the servant, his tall frame almost crushing the servant to the ground.

Marquis Xincheng sent a guard to help him into the carriage, and then they left.

Qingling glanced at the departing carriage, her fingers clenching tightly beneath her sleeves.

Lady Xincheng walked to Qingling's side and lowered her voice, saying, "Minister Ye wanted to send his 'daughter' into the palace, but the Empress was displeased and instead wanted to bestow the woman upon Lin Shiyuan, who refused."

Qingling frowned; she had guessed half of it correctly.

"Empress Zhou, did she spoil the Emperor's mood?"

Lady Hou sighed; some things couldn't be said openly.

The emperor and empress had supported each other all the way. They had feelings for each other, but the emperor was a fickle man, and the empress was inevitably heartbroken.

Lady Hou said, "This Lin Shiyuan has never been married, and he's just walked right into a trap. But he's the Emperor's man, and he's perceptive enough to refuse on the spot. Ha, who says that Lin Shiyuan, being a military man, doesn't know how to read people?"

After Lady Hou made that remark, her own carriage arrived. Yao Qingling saw her onto the carriage and silently watched yet another person depart.

Her chest felt heavy; the joy of winning a battle vanished after the banquet.

"Ugh..." She covered her lips, feeling nauseous and vomiting.

"Madam Yao, are you pregnant again?" A handkerchief was handed over from the side.

Yao Qingling straightened up, leaning against the tree, and gave the owner of the handkerchief a cold look.

"Your Highness, please don't joke with me. I just ate some cold food and got chilled by the wind, so I'm feeling unwell."

Behind Prince Xin, Zhan Xingzhuo also walked towards her.

"Why did you throw up? Let me see." Zhan Xingzhuo said, reaching out to touch Qingling's forehead, but Qingling turned her head away.

Zhan Xingzhuo's hand hung in mid-air, somewhat embarrassed.

Only then did I notice that Prince Xin's hand, which was holding a handkerchief, was also suspended in mid-air.

He glanced at Prince Xin.

Prince Xin smiled faintly, took back the handkerchief, and said self-deprecatingly, "It's rare for me to show kindness, and I'm still treated like a monster. Lady Yao, you're really not giving me any face."

Yao Qingling said, "Every item belonging to the prince is precious, how could I dare to defile it?"

Zhan Xingzhuo took out a handkerchief from his pocket, but Qingling was already wiping her lips with her own silk handkerchief. The stomach acid was burning her throat, and she wished she could have a glass of water to soothe it.

"...Why hasn't Xia Chan arrived yet?"

Qing Ling craned her neck slightly to look around, deliberately avoiding looking at Zhan Xingzhuo.

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned at her: "Yao Qingling, can't you talk to me properly? I'm your husband. What's wrong with me caring about you?"

Qing Ling looked at the man with her cold eyes: "Minister Zhan, are you still drunk? We've already divorced, what a joke you're making."

Zhan Xingzhu gritted his teeth, about to say something, when Xia Chan ran over breathlessly: "Miss, our carriage has broken down."

"It's broken?" Qingling asked in confusion. "How could it break out of nowhere?"

The carriage was for entering the palace, and she had it repaired beforehand; it couldn't have broken down for no reason.

Qingling took a deep breath. There must be someone who disliked her and tampered with her carriage, wanting to see her humiliated.

But now that there's no carriage, how is she supposed to get back?

The carriage of the Lady of Xincheng Marquis has already left, and it's unlikely that anyone would be willing to ride in another lady's carriage.

The Empress's people weren't nearby, so she couldn't borrow a carriage.

Zhan Xingzhuo said, "Take my carriage, I'll take you back."

Qingling had just confronted him, so naturally she didn't want to do anything that would make her lose face.

She'd rather walk back.

Qingling pretended not to hear, looking around at the carriages leaving the palace gates, trying to find a familiar lady with whom she had a reasonable relationship.

Prince Xin held a folding fan, tapping it absently on his palm without saying a word, seemingly just enjoying the moment.

He was waiting for Yao Qingling to speak to him.

But for Yao Qingling, Prince Xin and Zhan Xingzhuo were the same.

No, getting involved with Prince Xin is even more troublesome than dealing with Zhan Xingzhuo.

He's a prince; if you owe him a favor, he'll skin you alive.

As night deepened, the wind grew stronger, and thick, dark clouds obscured the moon, making the already dim night seem as if draped in a thick layer of black silk.

"Miss, it's raining." Xiao Chan touched her forehead, her fingertips were wet.

No sooner had he finished speaking than raindrops began to fall in a pattering downpour.

Xia Chan was anxious and wanted to borrow an umbrella first, but Zhan Xingzhuo grabbed Yao Qingling's wrist without saying a word and forcibly dragged her onto the carriage.

"You've only been out of prison for a short time, and your body hasn't even recovered yet. What good will it do you to be stubborn with me? Aren't you the one who values ​​your life the most?"

Zhan Xingzhuo grabbed a cloth and wiped Yao Qingling's face, not allowing her to refuse.

The raindrops pounded on the car roof like nails being driven in.

He rubbed hard, making Qingling's face sting, as if venting his dissatisfaction through these actions.

It was as if he was challenging her, and in the end, she still had to rely on him.

Looking at the man's anxious face, Qingling couldn't help but recall that rainy evening.

He left her in the pouring rain and used her umbrella to carry Zhou Zhining and her son into the house.

Why didn't he say then that she was a woman and shouldn't get wet in the rain?

It's too late to worry about her and care about her now.

Qingling raised her hand, took the cloth from his hand, and wiped her face herself.

He didn't say a word.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at her and said, "Yao Qingling, it's not difficult for you to accept my kindness. You are the mother of my child. Even if we divorce, you don't need to treat me like a stranger."

"I always have an extra feeling for you."

Qingling raised her eyes and looked at him quietly: "Zhan Xingzhuo, I remember that not long after we got married, you painted a picture for me. I want that picture back."

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned: "Why did you suddenly think of that painting out of nowhere?"

"It's not that it's all good or bad. When I left the new mansion, I took everything that belonged to me with me, except for that one painting that I can't find anywhere. The person in the painting is me, and I have the right to get it back."

Zhan Xingzhuo's brow furrowed even more.

She always found a way to say even more heartless things when he tried to get closer to her.

Even if it's just a painting, she'll take it away, leaving no trace of her affection.

Moreover, the painting was no longer in his possession.

He presented it to Prince Xin.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at the cloth in Yao Qingling's hand and thought of Prince Xin's outstretched hand, which was holding a handkerchief meant for Yao Qingling.

His heart suddenly started pounding, making him feel flustered and confused.

Impossible, how could Prince Xin—

He looked at Yao Qingling. Her expression was calm, without any of the distracting thoughts he shared. Only he was still trapped in the past.

“Zhan Xingzhuo, that painting is useless to you. You're with Zhou Zhining now. If she finds out about that painting, you two—”

"She won't see it!" Zhan Xingzhuo rudely interrupted Qingling.

Qingling was taken aback, looking at his face, which was both angry and anxious.

Zhan Xingzhuo swallowed hard, turned his head to the side, and said in a gruff voice, "I've kept that painting very well; she won't know."