Chapter 323 Wherever you are, that's where I will be

Among these people might be future scholars, imperial examination graduates, or even the top three scholars. The government did not want to disrupt the imperial examinations because of something they considered trivial.

Besides, it was just to paint a woman's portrait for money, not to commit murder or robbery. What would be the outcome if they were arrested? They would still be released anyway.

Besides, the person in the painting wasn't named, and everything was just a rumor targeting Yao Qingling. What could it possibly do to her?

Yao Qingling sighed in frustration. The person behind this was not only malicious, but also very disgusting.

"Is there no way to break this deadlock?"

Are we just supposed to wait for the storm to pass and for people to gradually forget?

However, as long as that painting exists, there is still a possibility that it will be circulated, and the biggest threat is that the original painting will be circulated.

If the other party intends to destroy her, rather than issuing a warning, this matter will not end there.

Yao Qingling neither wanted to sit idly by and wait for her fate, nor could she.

Lin Shiyuan said, “No matter how difficult the battle, it will eventually come to an end. It’s either victory or defeat. Compromise and seeking peace will only bring temporary stability, and the next battle will only be more intense. Right now, you are still a Lady of Imperial Decree and the mother of the young marquis. You still have your status and wealth. This is your foundation for fighting.”

"But if this goes on for too long, and even this basic foundation is lost, how can we talk about victory? It's like a soldier being stripped of his warhorse and sword, fighting an army bare-handed. What are his chances of winning?"

Qing Ling deeply agreed. She thought about it and realized that she couldn't fight this battle alone.

She gave a dark, cold laugh, "Don't even think about getting rid of Zhan Xingzhuo!"

...

Zhan Xingzhuo's situation isn't good either.

After being slapped by Yao Qingling at the government office, he was ambushed by men in black on his way home.

The other party said that she was a member of the martial arts world and had been asked to teach him a lesson. She warned that if Yao Qingling did not survive, he, as the culprit, would be hunted down by the entire martial arts world.

He had been slashed on the arm, but fortunately the injury wasn't serious. His opponent, having no intention of engaging him in a prolonged fight, quickly retreated.

But how could someone from the martial arts world know that he was the culprit?

Zhan Xingzhuo was a thoughtful man and quickly deduced that this so-called江湖人士 (jianghu figure) was likely related to Yao Qingling.

"...Brother Xingzhuo, what are you thinking about?" Zhou Zhining applied medicine to him, only to find Zhan Xingzhuo lost in thought.

He was bleeding, but he didn't feel any pain and could even drift off into thought. What was he thinking at that moment?

Zhan Xingzhuo returned to his senses.

Although he knew what was going on, he didn't intend to tell anyone, including Zhou Zhining.

He glanced at the bandaged wound, put on his clothes, and said calmly, "It's nothing."

Zhou Zhining felt a chill run down her spine when she saw his cold expression.

Now he doesn't want to talk to her about his worries, so she can only guess what he's thinking by looking at his expression.

But since she had promised not to interfere in his affairs or provoke Yao Qingling, she had to at least pretend to be indifferent to worldly matters.

Zhou Zhining put away her medicine box and said gently, "Even government officials dare to assassinate you. This world is truly chaotic. Brother Xingzhuo, please bring more guards with you in the future, otherwise I will feel very uneasy."

"No need." Zhan Xingzhuo shook his head, picked up the medicine and drank it down. His face was contorted with bitterness. Zhou Zhining put a candied fruit in his mouth. Zhan Xingzhuo looked at her, and Zhou Zhining smiled, "You, you were afraid of taking bitter medicine when you were a child. Now that you're a high-ranking official, you're still afraid when you should be."

Zhan Xingzhuo didn't smile at all; he just looked at her calmly.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Zhou Zhining asked.

The man spoke up: "You didn't ask anything at all."

She didn't ask about either today's assassination attempt or Yao Qingling's painting.

Given her personality, she couldn't possibly ignore it.

Zhou Zhining gave a wry smile: "Brother Xingzhuo, what do you want me to do?"

If I bring it up, will you answer me? Or will you think I'm trying to spy on you?

"I've already promised you that from now on, my life will only consist of you, and nothing and no one else will exist." She lowered her eyes, paused slightly, and then said, "Since I promised to live a good life with you, I don't want to disappoint you. If one day you're gone, I will... I will go to be with you. In short, wherever you are, I will be there."

"Brother Xingzhuo, I don't want to be separated from you." Her voice was choked with sobs.

Touched by her, Zhan Xingzhuo wiped her eyes and said, "Why are you crying all of a sudden? You're really like a creature made of water."

He stroked her hair. "Alright, go prepare dinner. I'll go check on Xiao'er."

"Mmm." Zhou Zhining responded obediently and turned to arrange for the meal to be served.

In fact, she maintained the same composure in front of Prince Xin, denying any knowledge of the matter no matter who asked.

King Xin was furious because of that painting.

Zhou Zhining had no idea about the painting. It was Tao Weixian who told her about something that happened a long time ago. He said that Zhan Xingzhuo had once given a painting to Prince Xin, which Prince Xin then collected.

At that time, Prince Xin was traveling and wrote to say he wanted to see his younger brother and sister-in-law. Tao Weixian guessed that the painting Zhan Xingzhuo sent was related to Yao Qingling.

He told her to go and see if the painting was still there and if it was worth making a big deal out of.

Thank God, when Zhou Zhining secretly sneaked into Prince Xin's study, she actually found the painting.

She stole the painting, found a scholar to make a copy overnight, and then returned the original painting.

After that, Zhou Zhining found several scholars to repeatedly copy the painting, turning one copy into ten, then ten into a hundred, painting day and night, only requiring a resemblance in form, not in spirit.

This led to the creation of posters on the streets and alleys.

After that, it spread from the common people to the upper class and the powerful, and everyone knew about it.

Yao Qingling is not in the capital. Her maids feel sorry for her but say nothing. But as soon as she returns to the capital, they will find that her world has collapsed.

Zhou Zhining's plan wasn't without flaws; her biggest worry was Prince Xin. But since the painting was in Prince Xin's hands, who could he blame?

He was bewildered; the painting was still in his study, so why was it all over the streets?

The person who can paint that picture is Zhan Xingzhuo.

Rather than doubting others, the person King Xin should doubt most is Zhan Xingzhuo.

It was only after seeing that painting that Zhou Zhining understood why Zhan Xingzhuo had locked himself in his study for those few days, why he often went back to the Duke's mansion and stayed for most of the day, and what he had been doing.

He painted Yao Qingling's portrait, reminiscing about their past.

Ha, they all like her so much, then she'll make Yao Qingling lose all face, be despised and looked down upon by everyone. Once Yao Qingling is reduced to a tattered rag, will men still be interested in her?

Two days later, Yao Qingling met Zhan Xingzhuo again.

It was still in the government office.

She saw the man with a haggard face.

He was just slightly injured, why does he look so pale? People are spreading rumors all over the streets about him, but it's not him they're painting.

Yao Qingling showed him no sympathy whatsoever, not even a word of greeting. She demanded that Zhan Xingzhuo investigate the person behind it all.

Yao Qingling had already prepared her threats, but Zhan Xingzhuo surprisingly did not refuse her request.

Yao Qingling was taken aback: "You agreed? Or is it just to avoid making a fool of yourself in front of your colleagues?"