Chapter 167 Market
Nanchang Street is bustling with people.
It is a rare occasion for a market to open, with a wide variety of goods on display and the constant shouting of vendors.
Qu Ling was holding a string of candied haws in his hand and whispering something in Chi Yuan's ear, which made the Dali Temple Shaoqing's ears blush slightly.
"Princess, Lord Chi."
A clear male voice came from behind.
Qu Ling turned around and saw Jiang Yanzheng.
A round-faced girl followed him.
She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a goose yellow skirt and a jeweled flower in her hair, looking noble and lovely.
Qu Ling said nothing and concentrated on biting his candied haws.
It has been some time since what happened in the Duke of Lu's Mansion.
Not only did Jiang Yanzheng not create any obstacles, he even added fuel to the fire.
The way he handled all subsequent matters was enough to prove that he was a gentleman.
Now, he also became the eldest princess's disciple, and together with the newly appointed Imperial Censor, he impeached Song Guang, causing him to become extremely anxious.
But Qu Ling always felt that she seemed to have become Jiang Yanzheng's invisible knife.
Qu Ling didn't say anything, so Chi Yuan did it for him.
"Sir Jiang." Chi Yuan nodded slightly as a greeting.
He saw that Qu Ling didn't want to have much contact with Jiang Yanzheng, so he said, "The princess and I have nothing to do, so we're going for a walk. Lord Jiang and this young lady, please do as you please."
As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yanzheng introduced the girl next to him, "This is the daughter of the Imperial Censor."
When he spoke, his eyes always fell on Qu Ling intentionally or unintentionally.
Zhang Yun bowed, her eyes wandering over Qu Ling.
"Is this Princess Jia'an?"
"I've heard that the princess is very likable and has won the love of Her Highness the Princess. She loves her even more than Her Highness the Princess's own daughter, Princess Jiaping."
This is not very pleasant to hear.
If Qu Ling nodded, it would mean that he admitted that he was flattering.
If she didn't nod, it would seem that the princess's love for her was fake.
Fortunately, Zhang Yun was not someone she needed to be cautious with.
Qu Ling simply said nothing and just smiled while biting the candied haws.
Zhang Yun's words fell to the ground, no one responded, and his face looked unhappy.
Her father is the eldest princess's confidant and is now highly regarded by the eldest princess.
But until today, she has not been summoned by the princess.
In her heart, Qu Ling was just a legitimate daughter of a poor marquis's family. Just because her mother and the eldest princess were old acquaintances, she was favored and became a princess.
She is very jealous.
Her father is loyal to the eldest princess, so why shouldn't she be treated the same way?
"Why doesn't the princess speak?"
"Just listening to you is enough," Qu Ling chewed on a candied haws. Chi Yuan used a handkerchief to catch the seeds she spat out. "This princess thinks you have a beautiful voice, much better than those famous actors in the opera troupe."
Zhang Yun immediately reacted, "Are you comparing me to an actor?"
"Miss Zhang, you're worrying too much," Qu Ling said with a smile, "I'm praising you."
"You are clearly mocking me!" Zhang Yun was furious.
Qu Ling lost his patience and wiped his hands with the handkerchief handed to him by Chi Yuan, lowering his eyes. "If you think so, then I can't help it."
Zhang Yun choked and his face turned pale.
"Princess..."
"Master Jiang."
Jiang Yanzheng just opened his mouth when he was interrupted by Chi Yuan, "Isn't it wrong for the princess to admonish her?"
With just one sentence, he pointed out the difference in status between Qu Ling and Zhang Yun.
Moreover, Qu Ling didn't say a single unpleasant word.
Jiang Yanzheng remained silent.
"Brother Yan Zheng, are you just going to watch her bully me?" Zhang Yun felt aggrieved.
Her father is an important official.
She is the youngest daughter in the family.
I have been pampered since I was a child.
In Binzhou, he was flattered and fawned over by girls and boys from various families.
After entering the capital, her father was still an important official in the court, and she was also arrogant.
I've never been ridiculed like this before.
"Which little girl did the princess bully again? Look, she's made her cry."
The voice was soft but sharp, and Qu Ling knew who it was without even turning around.
It was indeed Song Yuzhen.
Her brother followed behind her.
Song Yuzhen had a perfect smile on her face, but her eyes flashed with coldness as she looked at Qu Ling.
"Meet the princess."
She has always been courteous and impeccable.
Song Yuzhen turned around and took out a handkerchief to wipe Zhang Yun's tears.
"Such a beautiful sister, please don't cry."
She jokingly said, "Sister, tell you, go complain to Princess Jiaping. Only she can control Princess Jiaan."
Qu Ling frowned.
Zhang Yun seemed to be a simple-minded person. If she really listened to Song Yuzhen and went to her sister to complain, she would definitely be scolded by her sister.
Song Yuzhen said this.
He simply wanted to sow discord between Zhang Jing and the eldest princess.
Admittedly, their relationship was not so easily sown.
But for Song Yuzhen, doing this does not require any effort.
Planting a seed may not have much effect.
Whether he buried ten or a hundred seeds, as long as one of them grew into a towering tree, Song Yuzhen would make a profit.
She is that kind of person, good at planting seeds everywhere, waiting for one to take root and sprout.
"Miss Song really inherited your old lady's style," Qu Ling said calmly, "She loves to meddle in other people's affairs."
Song Yuzhen was not moved at all, instead she gave a sly smile, "My Princess, you are too kind."
She was so calm that no one could find any fault with her.
"Are you from the Song family?" Zhang Yun asked suspiciously.
"yes."
"Who wants to give up your handkerchief?" Zhang Yun swung her hand and pushed Song Yuzhen away, her round face full of disgust. "Your grandfather is greedy and has formed a clique for personal gain, bringing disaster to the country and the people. If I were you, I wouldn't even be able to leave the house."
She cursed so bluntly.
Song Yuzhen remained calm, but Song Zhang's face turned pale.
The Song family has indeed been in turmoil recently.
My grandfather was worried and my sister was depressed.
Only then did he suggest taking Song Yuzhen out to relax.
Song Yuzhen was neither anxious nor annoyed, her eyes lightly sweeping over Zhang Yun's body covered in pearls and jade, "Miss Zhang is wearing quite a lot of jewelry today."
She hooked her fingernails on Zhang Yun's earrings and said, "This gem alone is priceless, right?"
Then he smiled meaningfully, "Is Master Zhang's salary so high?"
Zhang Yun was so angry that she was shaking. Just as she was about to retort, Qu Ling spoke first.
"Why are you scaring her?"
"Every family has something worth showing off. No matter how valuable her things are, they can't compare to what the Song family brought from the palace."
"Could it be that those are what Master Song can afford with his salary?"
Song Yuzhen looked at Qu Ling without saying a word, as if trying to see something unusual on her face.
After a long while, she finally smiled and said, "The princess is right. The rewards from the palace are naturally good."
"I'm afraid it wasn't a reward, but stolen." Zhang Yun muttered sarcastically.
Song Yuzhen pretended not to hear, "My brother and I will go ahead and not disturb your fun."
After turning around, Song Yuzhen's face quickly turned gloomy.
"I should have avoided Qu Ling just now. She has always been tricky. Look at you, you are unhappy again." Song Zhang sighed.
Song Yuzhen was very calm, "I have my own plans."
She had no intention of going to the market.
He got on the carriage and told the driver, "Let's go to Zhuqing Lane."
"What are you doing there?" Song Zhang asked in surprise.
Zhuqing Lane is full of beggars, orphans, ruffians, and all kinds of people.
Song Yuzhen said nothing, but there was a hint of uncontrollable malice in his eyes.
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