Chapter 33 Please punish me, shouldn’t I ask?

Since the Empress Dowager already knew, she must have gone to Zhichunli to investigate the details. Her concealment would undoubtedly only increase suspicion. Lu Tingwan lowered her voice and said frankly, "Your Majesty, it was your Highness. However, when I went to Jingzhao Prefecture to provide evidence, I didn't know that the man I knew, who called himself Han Jinzhang, was actually Cheng Xianzhi."

The Queen Mother didn't quite understand what she meant. "Hmm?"

"I had to hide the fact that I went out to do business from everyone. I knew that Cheng Xianzhi and Gongsun Xue were already in love with each other, and I was just an insignificant concubine, so it would be difficult for me to gain favor in the Cheng family. So I thought about finding something to do, and by chance I opened this shop." Although Lu Tingwan was nervous, she was not without a way out. It was not abnormal for her to be scolded by the empress dowager.

"The matter is settled. I don't want to pursue the blame any further. I believe you are unaware of the reason why you tried to exonerate Han Jinzhang in Jingzhao Prefecture. Since you have gained Cheng Xianzhi's trust through this matter, it is also a good thing. As long as you behave yourself and lurk in the Cheng family, I can use you at any time. Whether you want to be Lu Tingwan or Jiang Yanli, I will let you do it. But if you have other thoughts, I can't guarantee it. Remember this."

Queen Mother Jiang carried an air of authority without even getting angry. Lu Tingwan nodded, "I will keep this in mind and will certainly obey your orders."

"As long as you are obedient, I will not treat the Lu family unfairly. I am arranging this marriage for your elder sister because of your face. Do you understand?"

Lu Tingwan understood, "I understand."

"Rejuvenating cream has been all the rage in Kyoto lately, and I've heard about it. Does Cheng Xianzhi know you're doing business abroad?"

Lu Tingwan stared at the floor, the candlelight reflected on his forehead. "We'll know about the Jingzhao Prefecture incident later."

"Did he give you any trouble?"

Lu Tingwan didn't dare mention the divorce agreement she had with Cheng Xianzhi. She only said, "He scolded me a few times and warned me not to reveal my identity as the Cheng family's second wife, so as not to embarrass my lord."

"You want to continue running Zhichunli. Your status as the Second Madam of the Cheng family can help you expand your business. Cheng Xianzhi won't allow you, but I can. And I can allow you to run the business openly as Lu Tingwan, the Second Madam of the Cheng family, without having to hide anything."

"Is what the Queen Mother said serious?" Lu Tingwan showed joy, but after a moment he realized he had lost his composure and quickly regained control of his emotions.

Queen Mother Jiang curled her lips, "No one has ever dared to question me."

"That was not your intention. Please don't blame me, Your Majesty."

"Get up."

Hong Zhanggong went to help her, but Lu Tingwan's legs were numb from kneeling, and half of her body was supported by Hong Zhanggong.

After Lu Tingwan expressed her gratitude, the empress dowager gave her a seat.

The banquet was coming to an end and most of the people in the Imperial Garden had left. Lu Tingwu wanted to say goodbye to Lu Tingwan before leaving, but she couldn't find him.

It was someone from Jinhua Palace who came to pass on a message to Gongsun Xue. The Queen Mother had asked Lu Tingwan to stay in Jinhua Palace for a chat, and the carriage waiting at the palace gate was ready. Gongsun Xue turned around and told Cheng Xianzhi about this.

After waiting for half an hour, no one showed up. Gongsun Xue had drunk a lot of wine at the banquet and was feeling sleepy. She kept covering her face with her handkerchief.

Cheng Xianzhi noticed that she was sleepy, so he said, "Lu Tingwan won't be able to come out for a while. If Xue'er is tired, she can go back first."

Gongsun Xue was puzzled: "Aren't you going back with Xue'er?"

"The Queen Mother specifically ordered Lu Tingwan to attend the banquet. Now that the banquet has ended, if the Cheng family members all leave first, it will definitely lead to gossip. They will say that I, Cheng Xianzhi, am heartless, but I can't bear to affect Xue'er's reputation as the mistress of the house, who is mean."

Gongsun Xue felt warmed by his thoughtfulness and wanted to stay and wait together, but she was drunk and had difficulty standing. Cheng Xianzhi ordered Luzhu to help her get on the carriage and go back home first.

Inside Jinhua Palace, a palace maid came to tell them that the Cheng family had sent someone to inquire about Lu Tingwan's situation in Jinhua Palace, and Cheng Xian's men were still waiting at the palace gate.

"I have kept you here for too long. You may go back now." Queen Mother Jiang was also a little tired.

Palace Master Hong wanted to send Lu Tingwan out of the palace, but Lu Tingwan stood up, took two steps, and then stopped.

"Please punish me, Queen Mother."

"Why do you want to be punished? I already said that I will not pursue your fault before."

"The Queen Mother is so kind that she won't hold me accountable, but she invited Tingwan to come and talk tonight, and she's worried Cheng Xianzhi might become suspicious if she returns."

Queen Mother Jiang saw her thoughtfulness and admired her. "How do you want me to punish you?"

"It can be seen by others, but not too severe. Hong Zhanggong can definitely do it."

She had to be beaten not only to gain the trust of the Queen Mother, but also to gain the trust of Cheng Xianzhi.

It was almost midnight when Lu Tingwan left the palace. There was only one carriage left outside the palace. Cheng Xianzhi dozed off in the carriage with his eyes closed, listening to the noise.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Lu Tingwan was approaching.

The voice in the car was indifferent: "If you don't come out, I will think you will live in Jinhua Palace and serve."

"Please forgive me, sir." Lu Tingwan glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and didn't dare to linger. Her voice was unsteady. Cheng Xianzhi knew that she was in a hurry and was out of breath due to fatigue.

"Why don't you come up? Do you want me to invite you myself?"

Lu Tingwan raised her leg, and the wound on her body rubbed against her clothes. She endured the pain and took a deep breath. She gritted her teeth and got into the carriage. The carriage was just enough for two people, not too crowded but not too spacious either.

Cheng Xianzhi opened his eyes and took a quick glance.

Lu Tingwan didn't dare to say a word. He sat down in an awkward posture, afraid that his movements would be too big and would be noticed by the people next to him.

Cheng Xianzhi suddenly asked, "What did the Queen Mother say when she left you alone?"

Lu Tingwan chuckled, "I was wondering why the Lord was willing to abandon the Madam and stay to wait for me to return home together. He was waiting to ask me."

"Shouldn't I ask?" Cheng Xianzhi stood upright, his gaze fixed on the man.

"You can ask whatever you want." Lu Tingwan moved around, as if no matter how he sat he was satisfied, as if there were needles hidden under the cushion to prick him.

As the carriage rolled, the wound would keep rubbing against the fabric of her clothes, and she was in so much pain. It was clearly an autumn night, and it was still cold at midnight.

There were fine beads of sweat on her forehead and her voice was weak. Cheng Xianzhi was observant and could see through her discomfort.

"What did the Queen Mother ask you?"

"He was merely accusing me of giving evidence in support of Han Jinzhang in Jingzhao Prefecture, helping him escape punishment. This was the reason why His Excellency removed Kong Fan from his position as Vice Minister."

"Eliminating Kong Fan won't have any impact on the Queen Mother, so do you know why she wants to interfere in this case?" Cheng Xianzhi hugged his arms and tapped them with his fingertips.

Lu Tingwan said, "This is a matter of officialdom. I'm just a small businessman. How can I know the reason behind it?"

"Hmph," Cheng Xianzhi scoffed. "Really? The Queen Mother didn't tell you the key point?"

"If it is a vital point, why would the Queen Mother tell someone of my status about it? Your Excellency, do you think too highly of me?"

"The Queen Mother won't tell you, so I'll tell you," Cheng Xianzhi lifted the curtain and looked at the crowds and lights on the street. "Kong Fan has a complex network of aristocratic families behind him. Kong Fan's corruption was to fill the deficit of the Ministry of Revenue, which led to so many incidents. You're a businessman, so you can keep accounts, right?"

She was naturally familiar with accounting, "Yeah."

"When the Ministry of Revenue has a deficit, Kong Fan can only fill the gaps. But are these deficits caused by his own greed? Not necessarily."

Lu Tingwan didn't understand why he told her this, "Then he did it."

"Yes, he did do it, but if we investigate further, it involves a lot of people, maybe even your father is involved." He propped up his head and looked at it, speaking lightly.

"I think it's better for you not to make random guesses when there's no evidence for this kind of thing," Lu Tingwan said, not wanting to hear any more. "Besides, I don't understand what you're saying to me."

"Don't you understand my intention, Lu Tingwan?"

"My Lord, just remember the agreement between you and me. I volunteered to help the Imperial Guards escape. The Queen Mother reprimanded me for my incompetence, and that is my responsibility. If I break my promise, you can take it out on me. In short, I can only do whatever you say."

Lu Tingwan turned her head away and stopped talking to him, completely immersing herself in the scenery outside the window. Along the street were the laughter of children holding lanterns.

There are many sky lanterns in the night sky, lighting up the streets of Kyoto, rising up slowly and then returning to darkness.

At this moment, she put aside the gloom just now, and the pain in her body seemed to be alleviated a little.

Cheng Xianzhi could only see the half of her profile left behind by the window, but he could clearly see that she was smiling. She was clearly in the midst of a storm, unable to escape, yet she always had the confidence to stay out of it. For a moment, he didn't know whether to laugh at her naiveté or respect her perseverance.

The night drifted in through the curtains, and he put away his stern expression in the dark, the coldness in his eyes dissipated.

When his eyes accidentally glanced at her, Lu Tingwan turned back to the car with that warm smile, and their eyes met in mid-air. Cheng Xianzhi turned his head away without anyone noticing and no longer looked at Lu Tingwan.

The atmosphere inside the carriage was slightly awkward. When the carriage came to a stop, Cheng Xianzhi showed no sign of moving. Lu Tingwan was the first to speak, "Thank you for waiting for me to return home tonight."

Cheng Xianzhi said nothing. Lu Tingwan propped herself up. The pain in her body warned her that she was moving too much. She could only retract her steps and take small steps. She supported her right arm on the door frame handrail, and inadvertently exposed the wound on her wrist. Cheng Xianzhi glanced at it unintentionally, and when he saw the wound on her arm clearly, his heart was inexplicably tightened.

What is her injury?

After Lu Tingwan got off the carriage, the curtain inside the carriage was lifted again. What he saw was a thin figure. She entered the Cheng Mansion under the light of the eaves lamp, but her walking movements were not quite right.

She had tried her best to walk more naturally, but the person who was watching her from the dark seemed to have noticed it.

Gongsun Xue went to bed early after returning to Yingyue Pavilion. It was the fifteenth day of the lunar month, and he was supposed to go to Yingyue Pavilion, but he had an excuse to avoid it.

Lu Tingwan returned to Yansheng Hall and took off his coat with difficulty. Feng Xin prepared warm water for him. Several wounds on his back were caused by the whip, and his arms were no exception.

After she took off her clothes, the glaring bright red wounds covered her eyes. Feng Xin was terrified and asked distressedly, "Didn't the Second Madam go to the palace to attend the palace banquet? How did you come back with wounds all over your body? What happened?"

Feng Xin carefully wiped the blood stains off Lu Tingwan's body. Most of the blood had already solidified, and the lining of his clothes was stained with blood.

Lu Tingwan took a deep breath and said with difficulty, "Nothing happened. I was whipped a few times by the Queen Mother. Feng Xin, go to the kitchen and get me some ice. I can use it."

Feng Xin didn't know why the Queen Mother punished her. Perhaps she had broken the rules in the palace. "Why did the Queen Mother punish you? And why did the Second Madam need ice?"

Lu Tingwan was in so much pain that she naturally wanted to get some ice to relieve the pain. "Just go get it."

Feng Xin put a wet handkerchief in the copper basin, and the blood was stained red.

The person under the light in the study had no intention of reading. Lanterns were hung in the mansion for the Mid-Autumn Festival, and with the blessing of the moonlight, it was brighter than usual.

The sweet-scented osmanthus flowers are almost gone, but the faint fragrance can still be smelled in the study from time to time.

Cheng Xianzhi thought about what Lu Tingwan had said tonight, and his mind flashed to the wound on his wrist bone, the bright red mark. Based on his many years of experience in interrogating criminals, he knew that the wound was fresh. After thinking for a while, Cheng Xianzhi closed the book and went to Yansheng Hall.

There was no one on duty outside the Yansheng Hall courtyard, only the candlelight was still on in the main house. He walked lightly, and Lu Tingwan lightly brushed the wound on his shoulder, causing him to groan in pain. From the distance, it sounded like a delicate moan.

After wiping himself clean, he applied medicine. The pain was aggravated after applying the ointment. The person inside cursed softly, but Cheng Xianzhi couldn't hear it clearly. He took a step but made no sound.

Through the screen, he could vaguely see the figure inside. Her hair was tied up in a bun, and the light and shadow cast on her slender neck, making the lines clearly visible.