Chapter 88 Zhan Xingzhuo Receives the Letter

She looked at his hands again.

I saw him slowly rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

It must have hurt, right?

Lin Shiyuan glanced at her, put his hand under the table, and said calmly, "Just going to take a look."

Since no portrait was found, there's no need to say anything more.

"Has Madam Yao heard that Zhou Zhining has such an account book?"

Although Yao Qingling was curious about what he went to the Prince Xin's mansion to look at, when it came to the account books—

Qingling blew on the red bean soup to cool it down, ate it, and thought for a moment before saying, "Zhan Xingzhuo didn't mention this to me."

He never trusted her, never considered her one of his own, and had never deceived her. So why would he tell her such an important secret?

Thinking of Zhan Xingzhuo, her heart was still filled with hatred.

Qingling thought for a while and then said, "However, based on my understanding of Zhou Zhining, the possibility that she has the account books is very low."

"These past three years have been difficult for her in the Wang family. If there were such an account book, she wouldn't have had to endure Wang Xuan's beatings and kicks..."

Zhou Zhining craves comfort and can't bear the contrast of being a commoner. Even when hiding, she always seeks a comfortable place and maintains her airs as a noblewoman. If she weren't desperate and struggling to survive, she wouldn't have chosen a man like Wang Xuan.

Moreover, every time she was injured by Wang Xuan, she could find Zhan Xingzhuo to save her life, and then she would stay in the new mansion and never leave.

"...I think it's because Zhan Xingzhuo didn't trust Zhou Zhining, so he fabricated this secret ledger so that Prince Xin and the others could only protect her."

Lin Shiyuan nodded and said nothing more.

Yao Qingling looked at him.

The man frowned slightly: "You have something to say?"

Yao Qingling said, "Zhou Zhining and I don't get along. I want to capture her to gain peace. Why is Young Master Lin also interested in this matter?"

Lin Shiyuan paused for a moment before replying, "I had nothing to do. Besides, my quick release was also related to her. If those involved in corruption cases are severely punished, I can consider it a good deed."

Yao Qingling nodded. At this point, her goal was aligned with Lin Shiyuan's.

She sipped her soup listlessly, lost in thought.

Lin Shiyuan watched her eat, and he didn't find it boring at all.

After each bite, she would unconsciously lick her lips instead of wiping them with a handkerchief like other noble ladies.

The little tip of the tongue curls up, and the lips purse – it's quite amusing.

Lin Shiyuan kept a horse dog in the army.

The Malinois was very fierce; it pounced on its enemy, bit him, and wouldn't let go, tearing at him relentlessly until he died.

But the south is hot, especially in summer, when it is so hot and humid that it feels like heaven and earth have merged into a giant steamer, steaming all living things inside.

Belgian Malinois love to lie in the shade, panting with their tongues out.

When Lin Shiyuan was bored, he would tease the dog by pinching its tongue.

He snapped out of his reverie, looked away, and said, "What are you still thinking about?"

Yao Qingling glanced at him, her brows furrowing slightly, and said, "It's still that secret ledger—"

“If that ledger is a life-saving charm, Zhou Zhining might hide it and not use it.”

“There are a hundred ways to die during exile. Grand Tutor Zhou left the booklet to Zhou Zhining, using it to hold the people on the list hostage and ensure that they would not die a violent death during exile.”

If Zhou Zhining hands over the account books, it will provoke those hidden officials. Zhou Zhining has people protecting her, but Grand Tutor Zhou will die on the way.

What if that ledger was a game of power between Grand Tutor Zhou and those people?

The fact that Zhou Taifu was only exiled instead of beheaded despite the huge uproar in the case suggests that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

"...What if Zhou Zhining's suffering was just for show? She married Wang Xuan, so her life is safe; and as the daughter-in-law of the Left Censor-in-Chief, she can gather information about the court's movements."

She would not use that ledger unless absolutely necessary—if such a ledger even existed.

Lin Shiyuan said, "Whether it's true or not, we'll know once we arrest Zhou Zhining again."

"The secret letter from Prince Xin explains that they plan to move Zhou Zhining. As long as they lay in ambush at the right time, they can arrest her when she appears, and then the job will be done."

"but--"

Yao Qingling continued, "However, even if Prince Xin is a leisurely prince, he is still a member of the royal family. Officials dare not offend him easily. At this time, we need someone who hates Zhou Zhining and wants to get rid of her, someone who is also a powerful figure in the royal family."

Lin Shiyuan looked at her: "Has Madam Yao decided on a candidate?"

Qing Ling smiled slightly and slowly drank the last sip of red bean soup: "There is such a person."

...

A day later, Zhan Xingzhuo received a message from Prince Xin via carrier pigeon.

After reading the letter, his face turned ugly, and he crumpled the paper into a ball.

He endured the wind and sun, leading a few men to walk more than ten miles every day to survey the terrain and measure the land after the floods. When he was busy, he didn't even have time to eat.

Yao Qingling was seen strolling leisurely with a man?

And they even went to buy a house together?

Zhou Zhining once said that Yao Qingling had a man outside the marriage.

Ha, she must have had Lin Shiyuan in her heart for a long time, right?

Zhan Xingzhuo felt a burning pain in his heart when he recalled how Yao Qingling disregarded womanly virtues and openly rallied for men.

No wonder she insisted on getting a divorce even in the face of death.

She and that man shared a deep mutual respect and had long admired each other.

The thought of this made him so angry that his anger surpassed his relationship with Zhou Zhining.

He wanted to get to Yao Qingling immediately and see how she smiled at that man!

They beat and scolded him, and refused to spend a penny on him, but instead wanted to subsidize that pretty boy.

Not long after the divorce, she couldn't wait to throw herself into another man's arms!

Yao Qingling wasn't arrogant; she was only contemptuous!

Zhan Xingzhuo became increasingly annoyed and wished he could go to the capital right now.

Minglu accompanied Zhan Xingzhuo.

They were currently in a patch of soft, wet mud, and if they stood there for even a little while, they would sink in.

Minglu shouted, "Second Master, quick, get up! We're about to sink in!"

No one knew that this phrase "sinking in" would become Zhan Xingzhuo's obsession.

At that moment, Zhan Xingzhuo was only focused on frantically pulling his legs out.

However, because they were so deeply involved, it was extremely difficult.

He stumbled and fell backward into the mud, getting mud all over his body, even his hair.

The man was furious and punched the ball hard; it did nothing but stir up more mud.

The man clenched his fists tightly, his eyes bloodshot.

But in the next moment, he suddenly loosened his grip.

These days, this kind of thing happens almost every day.

He was in a sorry state, stuck in this muddy mess, not knowing when he would be able to return to the capital.

To achieve great things and make a name for oneself?

Rebuilding a bustling city on these ruins... seems like a fantasy.

Yao Qingling, it's all Yao Qingling—

If it weren't for all the trouble she caused, why would he need to come to a place like this!

When will he be able to save Zhou Zhining and her teacher's family?

Minglu hurriedly pulled Zhan Xingzhuo out of the mud.

It was all mud; my shoes were completely submerged.

Along with the shoes, a section of rotting corpse was swallowed up.

—Those who didn't have time to escape and were submerged by the flood, there's one every few steps in this mud.

Countless people are buried here...

Zhan Xingzhuo didn't think it was anything special.

He wasn't afraid.

Which place hasn't had people die?

One general's success is built on the bones of ten thousand. Moreover, was that disaster solely the fault of corrupt officials?

Zhan Xingzhuo glanced coldly at the mud-stained corpses.

Bury it here to be used as fertilizer.

He took the shoes that Minglu had taken off and put them on: "Let's go back to the manor."