Seeing this, Xue Zhongfu quickly added, "Mother, I know you had an accident last night. Fortunately, Jiang Lun and I rescued you in time. Now you need to treat the wound quickly to prevent infection."
Hong Yingrong's expression froze when she heard this. She calmly instructed Aunt Zhao beside her, "Quickly get the best wound medicine and clean gauze. Also, prepare some hot tea and snacks. They must be hungry."
Nanny Zhao responded and left, while Hong Yingrong led Xue Zhongfu, Jiang Lun and the injured Zhang Xianzhi to the nearest guest room.
On the way, she asked softly, "What happened? Why was Master Zhang so seriously injured?"
Zhang Xianzhi forced a wry smile and looked at Hong Yingrong gratefully, "Thank you, Madam, for your concern. This is a long story, but in short, someone was trying to harm me. Fortunately, I was able to escape danger thanks to the help of my two good friends."
Xue Zhongfu took over the conversation: "Mother, we will discuss the details later. The most important thing now is to treat Xianzhi's wound."
Hong Yingrong nodded, vaguely guessing in her heart that this matter might be related to the rumors about Princess Xianning, but what was more important at the moment was to save Zhang Xianzhi.
When they arrived at the guest room, Nanny Zhao had already prepared the necessary items. She then helped clean Zhang Xianzhi's wound, apply medicine on it, and bandage it.
Throughout the entire process, although Zhang Xianzhi looked pale, he gritted his teeth and persisted without saying a word.
After treating the wound, Hong Yingrong asked the servants to prepare hot tea and pastries. The four of them sat around the table, the atmosphere solemn and tense.
Zhang Xianzhi spoke slowly, recounting the thrilling scene that happened last night and the grudges between him and Princess Xianning.
After listening to his narration, Hong Yingrong frowned and thought secretly in her heart.
Although she was dissatisfied with the actions of Princess Xianning, she was more worried that the matter might implicate the Xingyuan Marquisate. However, facing Zhang Xianzhi's predicament, she could not stand idly by.
In the previous life, Princess Xianning died at the hands of Zhang Xianzhi not long after. Three years later, her youngest daughter Xue Shanqiu died suddenly, also from colic. Perhaps this matter was also related to Prince Linjiang.
"Perhaps there really is a method that can cause sudden death overnight, with symptoms similar to those of colic. Furthermore, this method isn't unique to Princess Xianning; perhaps she learned it from someone else or received a prescription."
Everyone present was shocked when they heard this. They had never expected that the old lady of the Marquis's Mansion, who was always known for her kindness and gentleness, would have such a bold idea.
Xue Zhongfu asked tentatively, "Mother, are you saying there are other people involved behind this?"
Hong Yingrong nodded and further analyzed: "Moreover, I suspect that Princess Xianning is not proficient in this technique and may have asked others for help. With her hot temper, if she really mastered this method of harming people, she would have..." Having said that, she glanced at Zhang Xianzhi.
"What the old lady said is very true. I also had this guess. I have angered her many times just to test whether she would repeat the same trick, but the result was not the case." Zhang Xianzhi smiled self-deprecatingly.
At this time, Jiang Lun raised his doubts: "Why is Princess Xianning so angry this time that she even wants to dig up Miss Liu's grave?"
Zhang Xianzhi looked at his friend, scratched his nose awkwardly, and then explained the reason: "Li Yunting heard from somewhere that His Majesty praised your literary talent and predicted that you would pass the imperial examination. So, she asked me to sign a divorce agreement, resuming my marriageable status so that His Majesty could grant her to you."
When Jiang Lun heard this, his face turned pale and blue in an instant. He stood up suddenly in anger and blurted out.
"She's dreaming!"
He originally just wanted to rescue his friend from trouble, but the claws of danger had quietly reached out to him.
Jiang Lun turned to look at his future mother-in-law, Hong Yingrong, and found that she also had an unhappy expression on her face.
Hong Yingrong's mood at this moment was more than just unhappy. She simply wanted to rush to the Princess's Mansion and slap Li Yunting a few times.
Her beloved daughter Xue Huichun has finally found a good match this time. No matter whether it is a princess or a princess, no one can ruin her daughter's marriage.
"Mr. Zhang, do you want Li Yunting to live or die?" Hong Yingrong asked seriously.
It is actually not difficult to kill someone. Zhang Xianzhi did this in his previous life, but Hong Yingrong vaguely felt that this was not Zhang Xianzhi's original intention, otherwise he would not have waited three years after the marriage before taking action. Perhaps it was a helpless act because he was desperate.
However, in this life, due to the intervention of his son Xue Zhongfu and Jiang Lun, Zhang Xianzhi's inner determination seems to be even stronger.
"I hope her crimes can be made public, and she can be brought to justice, or even suffer a fate worse than death." Zhang Xianzhi said with a firm and decisive look in his eyes.
"Okay, then are you willing to listen to me?" Hong Yingrong asked.
Zhang Xianzhi immediately stood up and bowed deeply to Hong Yingrong. Xue Zhongfu and Jiang Lun also had serious expressions and waited for her advice.
"Please give me some advice, madam." Zhang Xianzhi said respectfully.
…
Three days before the announcement of the Spring Examination results, the entire capital of the Great Zhou was shrouded in a joyous and expectant atmosphere.
The candidates from other provinces who were staying in the inn finally waited for the moment when the imperial examination results would be announced. Unable to suppress their inner tension and anticipation, they shuttled between various wine shops and teahouses, tasting wine and gathering, trying to calm their excitement in this way.
In this atmosphere, the assassination of Jingzhao Yin gradually lost attention and eventually came to nothing. The criminals who rushed out of the alley were well-trained and even committed suicide after being caught, which cut off all clues in the case and made it impossible to investigate.
However, the capital is always full of new topics.
Just one day before the results were announced, Zhang Xianzhi, the chief clerk of the Hanlin Academy, actually knelt in front of the residence of Li Yunting, the Princess of Xianning, with thorns on his back, begging for her forgiveness.
This kneeling lasted for the entire night.
Just when the people in the capital thought that Zhang Xianzhi would definitely be kicked out by Princess Xianning this time, Mrs. Hong, a first-rank imperial concubine from the Xingyuan Marquis's Mansion, actually came to Princess Xianning's Mansion in person.
Li Yunting stood on the steps of the princess's mansion gate, her eyes cold as she stared at Hong Yingrong who was slowly getting down from the carriage, holding a dragon-patterned royal staff.
"Madam Xingyuan Hou, not only is your son meddling in other people's affairs, but you are also coming out to support Zhang Xianzhi?" There was a hint of sarcasm in Li Yunting's tone.
Hong Yingrong remained unmoved. She responded calmly, "I know this child is well-behaved and knowledgeable. It is understandable for me to adopt him as my adopted son. It is you, Princess, who are rejecting your husband. This is contrary to the code of conduct between husband and wife."
"Husband and wife? Is he worthy of it?" Li Yunting's words revealed deep disdain.
Such words might have been whispered in the boudoir in the past, but now they were spoken openly in public, shocking the people who were gathered at the gate of the princess's mansion to watch the excitement.
Hong Yingrong frowned slightly and reminded him, "Princess, your marriage was personally arranged by His Majesty. Are you questioning His Majesty's will by saying this now?"
She stood beside Zhang Xianzhi, and everyone's eyes were focused on her, as if they were expecting her to uphold justice for Zhang Xianzhi.
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