Chapter 324 Zhan Xingzhu chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Yao Qingling, in your..."

Zhan Xingzhu chuckled self-deprecatingly: "Yao Qingling, what am I in your eyes?"

Yao Qingling wanted to say, "Selfish, blind," but the words stuck in her throat and she didn't say them.

This person is extremely confident; even if she speaks, he won't listen.

"Since you've agreed, then I have nothing more to say." Yao Qingling turned to leave.

Zhan Xingzhuo stopped her: "I'm curious, if I don't agree, how will you persuade me?"

Yao Qingling said, "I will beat the drum to appeal for justice, accuse Vice Minister Zhan of abusing his power for personal gain, tarnishing my innocence, and forcing me to prove my innocence with my death."

Zhan Xingzhuo's face darkened, his eyes narrowing in a gloomy manner: "You think you'll win?"

Yao Qingling sneered: "I don't need to win. I just want the world to know where that painting came from and under what circumstances it was painted. Even if you are a vice minister and have the Duke's mansion protecting you so that you can win the case, you still lose. The people all know that what you won was power, not the truth."

"Then, powerful clans have another reason to be hated. In today's turbulent world, even if you win, you only win temporarily."

“In the eyes of other powerful families, you have made all the powerful families be whipped for a trivial matter; this small incident has given the public a reason to change the powerful families.”

Zhan Xingzhuo frowned, very curious as to why Yao Qingling would say such things.

He may never have truly understood Yao Qingling.

He slumped his shoulders and gave a faint, dismissive smile: "You win."

Yao Qingling frowned slightly, not knowing what his three words meant, but she didn't care.

She had already achieved her goal in coming to him, so there was no need to waste any more words.

"Yao Qingling, aren't you curious why I agreed so readily?"

Qingling glanced at him: "You probably... also feel guilty towards me, right?"

Although he didn't admit where the painting went, now that he was starting to understand her somewhat, he knew she didn't believe him.

He felt guilty towards her, a guilt that had lingered since the day he married her, and one day he would finally have a change of heart.

...

"Do I feel guilty towards her?" Zhan Xingzhuo stood alone under the tree, looking up at the tender buds sprouting from the willow.

Prince Xin strolled over leisurely, glanced up at the tree branch, and asked, "Is it about that painting?"

Zhan Xingzhuo turned to look at him: "Your Highness."

He bowed.

Prince Xin waved his hand, "No need for formalities." He said calmly, "The original painting is in my possession and has never been lent out. But I'm wondering, when you were painting the forgery, is it possible that a few of your failed works were picked up by someone else?"

Prince Xin distanced himself from the situation, determined not to lose his dignity as a prince.

Zhan Xingzhuo said, "Absolutely impossible."

He burned all the failed paintings on the spot, leaving no trace.

Firstly, he wanted to prevent Zhou Zhining from seeing it and making her jealous; secondly, the painting was private and shouldn't even be seen by servants.

Prince Xin glanced at him, gave a mocking laugh, and said nothing.

He mocked him because now he knew that his paintings couldn't be shown to just anyone, and he certainly couldn't give away his wife's paintings.

Zhan Xingzhuo said, "No matter what, only the two of us handled this painting. Now that something has happened, we both owe Yao Qingling an explanation and shouldn't let her suffer such humiliation. Your Highness, do you think this is right?"

Since Prince Xin is interested in pursuing Yao Qingling, he should do something for her to win her favor.

She will be extremely grateful.

Prince Xin's eyes flickered, he chuckled, and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Of course."

Zhan Xingzhuo clasped his hands in farewell and took his leave.

Even though they were friends, after the painting incident, he and Prince Xin became estranged.

...

Several forces worked together, starting with the fake painting, arresting several scholars for questioning, and then peeling back the layers one by one. Even the most flawless case could be traced back to the main thread.

Zhou Zhining's good luck has come to an end.

Prince Xin was the first to not let her go.

Zhou Zhining knelt on the ground, but refused to admit her mistake: "Your Highness, I have served you so well that Hui Bafang has collapsed, allowing Jin Mantang to make a fortune every day. Yao Qingling's reputation is ruined, and she has nowhere else to turn but to seek refuge with Your Highness. Why doesn't Your Highness wait a little longer?"

Prince Xin sneered, "Zhou Zhining, you always think you're so clever. I've warned you time and time again, but you always think I'm kind-hearted. You always think you can control me based on the book left by Grand Tutor Zhou."

"Just because I let you off the hook once or twice, do you think you can act with impunity?"

Zhou Zhining saw murderous intent in his eyes and her face turned pale: "Your Highness, this servant did not mean that."

Prince Xin looked at her coldly: "Whether it is or not, I no longer care."

A series of hurried footsteps could be heard outside.

In the blink of an eye, Zhan Xingzhuo, Tao Weixian, and even Shao Wenchou arrived.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at Zhou Zhining kneeling on the ground, then turned to Prince Xin: "Your Highness, why is this?"

Prince Xin looked coldly at Zhan Xingzhuo: "Weren't we supposed to investigate together who leaked the painting?"

He gestured with his chin toward Zhou Zhining: "It's this stupid woman."

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced at Zhou Zhining in shock, his gaze complex. He subconsciously said, "Impossible. Zhining promised me that she would never provoke Yao Qingling again. She has already let go."

Prince Xin laughed mockingly twice: "I have warned her repeatedly not to do anything behind my back that would harm others and benefit herself. But this foolish woman, for the sake of her own selfish interests, has she ever put me in her eyes?"

"Zhan Xingzhuo, if it weren't for you, I would never have used her."

As soon as he finished speaking, just when everyone thought he had finished cursing, Prince Xin turned around and suddenly kicked Tao Weixian in the stomach.

Caught off guard, Tao Weixian kicked him hard, causing him to vomit blood.

Ignoring his injuries, Tao Weixian immediately knelt down: "Your Highness..."

Even if he's stupid, he understands that if Zhou Zhining is found out, then he can't escape either.

Zhan Xingzhuo looked at Tao Weixian in shock, his gaze shifting back and forth between him and Zhou Zhining.

"you--"

Tao Weixian clutched his stomach. He only wanted to be romantic, not to risk his life for it.

Prince Xin may seem like a carefree prince, but aren't his followers well aware of his true methods behind the scenes?

“Your Highness, it was Zhou Zhining who seduced me… She said she was afraid that Yao Qingling would completely capture Xing Zhuo’s heart, and she was unwilling to lose to Yao Qingling. She wanted to defeat Yao Qingling and make her feel ashamed in this world.”

"I was seduced by her, Your Highness. You know, I'm always..." He slapped himself, "It's my fault, I was blinded by lust!"

The crisp sound of slapping echoed in the air.

Zhou Zhining stared at Tao Weixian in astonishment, her face paler than paper.

"You're talking nonsense!"

She couldn't believe that at this moment, Tao Weixian, who had so easily given in, would actually shift all the blame onto her without even pretending.

But at this point, with Tao Weixian's self-verification, anything Zhou Zhining said would be meaningless.

She could only join in begging for forgiveness and pleading for the King's pardon.

She then pleaded with Zhan Xingzhuo: "Brother Xingzhuo, I did it all for you. I just want you to only have me in your heart..."

She wept bitterly, hoping that her words could salvage even a sliver of Zhan Xingzhuo's affection for her.

Little did she know that the little bit of trust Zhan Xingzhuo had finally gained about her had completely vanished.

He looked at Zhou Zhining coldly: "I don't know if your love for me is real or fake, how much of it is sincere, or if you just want someone to rely on. But at least Yao Qingling, she would never say she loves me while flirting with another man or trying to seduce him."

“She wouldn’t be as short-sighted as you, harming men again and again in the name of love.”

"Zhou Zhining, I've finally seen through you."