Zhao Shouzhen, who had only been at home for two days, suddenly received an imperial edict ordering him to go to Qinglian County to investigate a case.
"Master, although Qinglian County is not far from Lingyang, they have a county government and a prefect there. Why did the imperial court send you to handle a small case?" Zhang Wan asked, puzzled, as she packed Zhao Shouzhen's bag.
Zhao Shouzhen sighed, then suddenly remembered something and instructed Zhang Wan, "Madam, this kind of insidious thing is most likely the work of that bastard Shen Hanshan. While I'm away, you must keep a close eye on Zhizhi and make sure she doesn't go out and cause any more trouble!"
Upon hearing Zhao Zhi's name, Zhang Wan stopped packing her things. She sat down to the side and began to wipe away her tears.
"Hey, hey, what's wrong? Why is Madam suddenly crying?" When Zhao Shouzhen saw Zhang Wan crying, he quickly picked her up, placed her on his lap, and gently wiped away her tears with a handkerchief.
“Madam, I will be back soon. Don’t worry.” Zhao Shouzhen said, tossing aside the handkerchief, putting his arm around Zhang Wan’s waist, pecking her lips, and then, not satisfied, cupping her face and kissing her again.
Half an hour later, Zhang Wan, while dressing, laughed and scolded, "Master's virility is as strong as ever, but it's really worn out my back." As she spoke, her mood turned somber, "What if that little hussy Liu Yun becomes unruly after Master leaves?"
Zhao Shouzhen, still in high spirits after his recent merriment, casually remarked, "With me away, Madam is the most powerful person in the Zhao household. Anyone who makes a mistake, feel free to punish them!"
Zhang Wan's face immediately lit up with a smile, and she said, "With your words, Master, I can finally rest easy."
She pretended to continue, but Zhao Shouzhen, supporting his back, said, "Madam, I recently acquired a few erotic paintings. Once I finish my official business, I will definitely discuss them with you!"
Zhang Wan smiled and agreed, but in her heart she was plotting how to deal with Liu Yun and that bald monk.
The next day, before dawn, Zhao Shouzhen set off with several servants.
Zhang Wan, Liu Yun, and their two daughters stood at the door, watching them leave with reluctance.
"Mother, when will Father come back?" Last night, Zhao Zhi was kidnapped and interrogated by Shen Hanshan, and was not brought back until dawn.
She had just woken up after learning that her father had gone out, and was yawning incessantly.
"It will take at least a month, or at most two months," Zhang Wan said, stroking Zhao Zhi's head, though she felt uneasy. If Shen Hanshan hadn't been causing trouble behind the scenes, how could Zhao Shouzhen, a high-ranking official, have been banished to such a small place as Qinglian County, a waste of his talents?
Zhang Wan suppressed her frustration and asked Zhao Zhi what her impression of the new teacher was.
"Very satisfied," Zhao Zhi said with a smile.
A slight smile crept onto Zhang Wan's lips as she thought to herself: As long as you're satisfied.
She lifted Zhao Zhi's clothes, intending to check the condition of her back wounds, but found that the wounds seemed to have reopened.
"Zhizhi, did you sneak out again?"
Seeing the anger on her mother's face, and afraid of worrying her, Zhao Zhi didn't dare to tell her about being kidnapped and interrogated by Shen Hanshan. She shook her head and said, "Mother, in my condition, it's difficult for me to even leave the house. Where else could I possibly run off to?"
Zhang Wan thought so too. She just hadn't expected that Zhao Zhi wouldn't run around, but someone would dare to act recklessly.
At this moment, Liu Yun, who had just returned to his room after seeing Zhao Shouzhen off, was secretly pleased with himself.
She thought to herself, "Now that the master is gone, no one in the manor can control me." She immediately sent someone to deliver a message to the monks at Qinglian Temple, telling them to hurry to Lingyang to find her.
The Zhao family has no male heir to this day. If she could conceive a boy, she could become the mistress of the Zhao family. Her maidservant learned that the master had kept Zhang Wan overnight yesterday, which made her even more uneasy.
While Liu Yun was busy plotting, Zhang Wan wasn't idle either. She secretly sent people to purchase "softening powder" and "alluring fragrance." She intended to give Liu Yun a taste of his own medicine.
The two women in the Zhao household each had their own agendas, and their daughters also had their own plans.
Zhao Yun had been sending Yu Ming to keep a close eye on Zhao Zhi's courtyard, but because Zhao Zhi had an injury on her back, she hadn't stepped out of her own courtyard for over half a month. Zhao Yun couldn't help but feel anxious.
If Zhao Zhi doesn't go out, she won't be able to find out who delivered the package to Zhao Zhi.
Zhao Rou was even more anxious.
Four years ago, when her two older sisters were betrothed, she was only eight years old; now she is twelve.
Next year is the imperial concubine selection, which takes place every five years. Zhao Rou doesn't want to enter the palace to participate.
Her birth mother was of low status and had no extra money to support her. As an illegitimate daughter, she would only become the lowest-ranking palace maid if she entered the palace.
But her mother had been spending every night with that bald monk for the past two weeks, seemingly trying to conceive a son. Leaving aside the possibility of the mistress discovering this, if her mother really gave birth to a son, she would have no intention of caring for her daughter.
Zhao Rou was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.
Zhao Zhi was also uneasy.
Ever since Shen Hanshan learned about the whip marks on Zhao Zhi's back, he had sneaked into her room several times in the middle of the night to check if her wounds were healing.
Although the medicine he brought was much more effective than the medicine in the manor, Zhao Zhi was afraid that Shen Hanshan would discover what she had hidden in the secret compartment under the bed, so she was always on tenterhooks whenever he came.
In addition, the time when Shen Hanshan comes is not fixed.
Several times, just as Zhao Zhi was about to open the hidden compartment, Shen Hanshan suddenly appeared.
Zhao Zhi was afraid of giving herself away, so she didn't dare to chase him away directly, which would delay him from going to his class.
Fortunately, no matter how late it was, the teacher was always waiting for Zhao Zhi in the room.
Left with no other choice, Zhao Zhi asked Nan Ying to buy a big yellow dog from the market, naming it "Ah Huang". Whenever a stranger approached their yard, Ah Huang would bark loudly with all its might.
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