Chapter 329 Eavesdropping

Zhan Xingzhuo rushed back to the new mansion.

Zhou Zhining stood on the stool, holding the white silk loops with both hands, with the white silk hanging around her neck.

The two maids, Zhiyun and Zhiyue, begged her while crying.

"Girl, don't do anything rash. Second Master won't let you die."

"Girl, think of the child in your belly, think of Young Master Xiao'er, can you bear to leave him all alone?"

"Young lady, your family is waiting to reunite with you. Aren't you going to leave them behind?"

They were afraid that if Zhou Zhining died, the Second Master would make them be buried with her.

The Second Master valued the child in the young lady's womb and spared her life from Prince Xin's clutches. That's why the young lady made a scene and dragged the Second Master back from the banquet.

The maids cried and screamed hysterically, and even the commotion was heard by the censor's family next door.

The censor's wife rolled her eyes and sneered, "Why don't you hang yourself? Why don't you hang yourself to death? The adult is a menace, and the child born will also be a menace."

The censor's wife grumbled and cursed, then strained her ears to listen to what was happening next door.

The maid brought two cotton balls: "Madam, please plug your ears."

The censor's wife took the cotton and played with it in her hand.

I thought it was noisy just now, but now I find it quite amusing to listen to.

The Grand Princess dislikes Zhou Zhining, so why would she care about the child in her belly?

If a man wants children, he can have as many as he wants. With Zhan Xingzhuo's status and position, he can have as many women as he wants.

The Imperial Censor's wife couldn't understand whether Zhou Zhining possessed some kind of evil magic that had Zhan Xingzhuo so infatuated with her, causing him to be tricked by her time and time again, yet he would never abandon her.

Zhou Zhining smeared Yao Qingling, but didn't she consider that she was a woman herself? To fight over a man, she pushed someone to the brink. Now, she's being pushed to her death—it's her retribution.

The censor's wife loathed the adulterous couple next door.

I have no sympathy for them, let alone offer a word of advice.

Seeing the Censor's wife's gloomy face, the maidservant assumed she was irritable and advised, "Madam, why don't you go for a walk so you don't have to listen to the noise from next door?"

The censor's wife snorted: "What are you going out for? To wait for people to come and ask you all sorts of questions?"

She frequented the social circles of the wealthy ladies to earn their money. Now that Yao Qingling was in trouble, those ladies bombarded her with questions, which annoyed her to no end.

It's better to stay home and eavesdrop.

The little maid pursed her lips.

A vendor's voice called out from outside: "Fresh, big carp! Lively, jumping fish! Big carp just hauled from the river!"

The censor's wife's eyes lit up, and she said, "Go and buy a fish."

Maid: "Madam, are we having fish today?"

The Censor's wife: "Go when I tell you to."

Next door, Zhou Zhining was still struggling, waiting for Zhan Xingzhuo to come back and save her.

Granny Sun sat in the courtyard, the cold medicine on the stone table. She coldly watched Zhou Zhining's commotion and said sarcastically, "Miss, I speak frankly, I'll just say what I have to say."

“I dare not disobey the Grand Princess’s wishes. If you keep making a fuss like this and you’re exhausted, and you accidentally kick and fall, and your neck is hanging off the ground, I will pretend I didn’t see it.”

“If these maids don’t serve the young lady well, they will also be buried with her. The young lady will not be alone on her journey to the underworld, nor will she have to worry about being without anyone to serve her.”

"This girl is lucky. She was once a wealthy young lady, and even in her decline, she never mistreated herself. Even in death, she will still have people to take care of her..."

The Grand Princess would love for Zhou Zhining to die, so she wouldn't continue to harm her son.

But Zhou Zhining's status as a slave became her shield.

The state of Li has a law that states that children of officials who have been confiscated and made slaves cannot be arbitrarily put to death.

—This is to prevent officials from turning their regret into hatred after being exonerated because of the deaths of their wives and children.

Princess Deyang wasn't afraid of the law, but she knew that Zhan Xingzhuo couldn't let go of Zhou Zhining and worried that he might turn against her because of this woman.

However, Zhou Zhining's child must not be born.

Without children, the bonds will gradually weaken. Zhan Xingzhuo is already disappointed in Zhou Zhining; in a few more days, he'll be able to let go completely. By then, it won't matter whether Zhou Zhining lives or dies.

But if they have a child, this bond will never be broken. Zhou Zhining will be like a vine, forever clinging to Zhan Xingzhuo until he suffocates to death.

Princess Deyang didn't spend much time on Zhan Xingzhuo when she was young, but she made up for it all in her old age, even spending more time on him than on taking care of a child.

When Zhan Xingzhuo returned home, this was the scene he saw—

Zhou Zhining wept and desperately put the white silk around her neck; the old nanny, as if overseeing her execution, coldly waited for the moment when Zhou Zhining's legs stiffened.

Zhan Xingzhuo was in a hurry to save people and temporarily ignored the old woman's arrogance.

He ran up to Zhou Zhining and said, "Come down quickly!"

Zhou Zhining's face was streaked with tears. She clutched the white silk ribbon tightly, sobbing, "Brother Xingzhuo, you're finally back. But Zhining... Zhining just wanted to wait for you to come back so I could say it to you in person..."

"Let me tell you, Zhi Ning was wrong... I shouldn't have clung to you, I shouldn't have made you and Yao Qingling divorce, causing you and your son to be separated..."

The phrase "separation of father and son" undoubtedly serves as a reminder to Zhan Xingzhuo that if she dies, he will lose another son.

Zhan Xingzhuo's face was grim: "I've already made you live to atone for your sins; you'll never leave this courtyard for the rest of your life. Get down!"

Zhou Zhining glanced at Granny Sun not far away: "Brother Xingzhuo, the child in my belly is ours. If you want me to drink that medicine, I'd rather Zhining die."

"This is the child I'm giving back to you, Brother Xingzhuo..."

Her last scream was so pitiful that it startled the censor's wife, who was grilling fish next door, so much so that she almost threw her harpoon into the fire.

"You've got real strength, shouting so loudly. You must be eating too well these days." The Imperial Censor's wife picked at her ears, deciding to stuff cotton balls in them so the sound wouldn't be so shrill.

But Zhan Xingzhuo is back already?

The censor's wife thought for a moment and then told her maid to fetch a ladder.

She climbed the ladder herself and peered over to see what was happening next door.

Should I drink that bowl of medicine, or not?

Here, Granny Sun walked up to Zhan Xingzhuo, bowed, and explained the meaning of the Grand Princess Deyang.

"The Grand Princess said, Second Master, you must not be confused. Zhou Zhining's offspring cannot be kept."

"The Grand Princess has prepared another surprise and will be at your residence shortly."

Granny Sun coldly stated two points, then paused, her serious expression turning helpless. She lowered her voice and said, "Second Master, is this the only woman in your eyes?"

"The princess has worried about the Second Master for so many years. When she fell ill, the Second Master did not say a word of concern, let alone go to her bedside to serve her."

"Second Master, you hold a grudge against the Grand Princess for abandoning you for the sake of the Duke's Mansion back then, but how much has the Grand Princess sacrificed for you all these years? Isn't that enough?"

"You crave family affection, and you think Zhou Zhining is the only one who will never abandon you. But did she never give up on Second Master? What she gave Second Master was truly family affection and what you thought was love?"

"Think about what she gave to the Second Master, and what did you get in return?"