Baoning was confused.

Ji Xiangzhen asked her again: "Baoning, how could you think Qingluofang is a garment shop? Who told you that? It is one of the most famous brothels in the capital. There are countless skinny horses from Yangzhou in it, and all the people who come in and out are dignitaries. Xue Fu, the girl your brother-in-law likes, is the top girl in Qingluofang now! I really hate it. Why should there be such a place in the world, tempting men to have fun and breaking up so many loving families..."

Baoning didn't dare to look at Ji Xiangzhen. She felt so ashamed.

Qingluofang was opened by Pei Yuan, and Pei Yuan also contributed to breaking up other people's families. Ji Xiangzhen touched her pain and she cried with her handkerchief. Baoning didn't know how to comfort her.

Moreover, Pei Yuan actually deceived her! He told such a lie that even a child would disdain!

Bao Ning thought, if Pei Yuan told her the truth, she was not unreasonable, so it would be fine. But what was he hiding? There must be something fishy!

The woman's little thoughts were aroused, and Bao Ning now thought of Pei Yuan with a scrutinizing attitude. How could he have so many tricks in bed and get so many comic books? Where did he learn all these? Then look at his good brother Wei Meng who was always with him. It was obvious that he was not a family man. Pei Yuan was always with him, what good things could he learn? As the saying goes, "A red plum is red, a black plum is black..."

Bao Ning thought again, if Pei Yuan could deceive her in this matter, why not in other places?

Ji Xiangzhen and Bao Ning sat opposite each other, both silent, each with their own thoughts.

Taking a sip of tea, Bao Ning suppressed all the doubts in her heart. She had important things to do now. After sending her elder sister away, she would settle the score with Pei Yuan!

Bao Ning wiped her tears with a handkerchief, moved closer to Ji Xiangzhen, and advised earnestly: "Sister, what are you going to do now? Are you really going to welcome that Xue Fu into the family? It may sound a bit cruel, but the child must not be kept. If the prince's first child is a prostitute, it will not only be ridiculed, but your life in the future will not be very good. Moreover, the prince has been married for so many years, and so many concubines have no children, so how come that Xue Fu has one? She lives in a place like that, and she comes into contact with all kinds of people every day. She doesn't know if the child is the prince's..."

Bao Ning said this half to alienate their relationship, and the other half out of sincerity.

She really felt that it was not worth it for Ji Xiangzhen. Considering her family background and appearance, Jia Ling was not her best choice.

"Baoning, I won't hide it from you. I've thought about all these things." Ji Xiangzhen sighed, "But what can I do? I can't just divorce him. I've been married to him for so many years, and my youth is gone. Even if I am cruel enough to marry again, the man I marry might be worse than the prince, and I will have to endure people's gossip. How should I deal with myself then?"

Baoning held her hand and said concernedly, "Sister, you are wrong, a first marriage is better than a second marriage! Look at Empress Wu of Liu Bei, Empress Zhen of Cao Pi, and Empress Wang of Emperor Jing of Han during the Shu-Han period, weren't they all second marriages! Sister, since you have foreseen that the future is a pit of fire, and you are not in a hurry to jump out, are you still thinking about how to be roasted to death so that it won't be more painful?"

Ji Xiangzhen was shocked by her strange words that "a second marriage is better than a second marriage".

She clutched the handkerchief tightly, speechless. Baoning held her wrist with a burning gaze. After thinking for a moment, he continued, "Sister, don't blame me for being nosy. I think the prince's position may be in danger!"

Ji Xiangzhen's heartstrings were hooked by her, and she asked softly, "What do you mean?"

"The prince can't have children!" Baoning didn't care about the shyness of talking about such a topic. She leaned close to Ji Xiangzhen and analyzed with her, "Sister, you have been married to the prince for four or five years, and the prince still has so many concubines and maids. The prince is in his prime, and he has been partying every night, but he doesn't have a child. Does that mean that these women all have problems?"

Ji Xiangzhen was stunned: "But, but..." She didn't know how to refute. Baoning was right, and even everyone said so. She had thought about it secretly, but she still couldn't accept it when Bao Ning exposed it so openly.

Bao Ning said, "Look, sister, the prince may have a hidden illness, but he won't treat it, so it's hard for him to have children. No, he has children, and Xue Fu is pregnant. We don't know whose child the child is, but she will marry into the family in the future. Her child will be the eldest son and daughter of the prince of Chongyuan Marquis, and you will raise it. You raise a child who is not your own, and you have to hold a woman who comes from a land of fireworks. If the child and the woman gain power in the future, what good will it be for you!"

Ji Xiangzhen was even more speechless. How could her sister, who used to be quiet and silent, be so talkative now? Every word she said touched her heart.

Bao Ning continued, "If something happens to that child, it will be even worse. If the prince has no children in his life, can he still inherit the title? The Lord Chongyuan will definitely not agree! Soon, his title of prince may be stripped, and then my sister will have nothing. If the prince loves you, you can live a simple life in harmony, but he is such a playboy! My sister, I really feel sorry for you!"

Bao Ning stared at Ji Xiangzhen's expression nervously, and saw her go from sorrow to shock, then to sorrow, and finally slowly become firm.

Bao Ning breathed a sigh of relief. It

was her first time to do such a trick, and she was very excited and skilled, but her palms were already soaked with sweat from nervousness.

Ji Xiangzhen said: "Baoning, I know I can't continue this dead-end marriage. The longer I delay, the more my last bit of advantage will be wiped out by time. When my looks are gone, won't I be truly doomed! But... I can't explain to father and mother! Mother has already blamed me, saying that I didn't give birth to a child for the prince. If I return to the Duke's Mansion, I won't have a good life... Besides, who would be willing to marry me again?"

Baoning's heart skipped a beat, and he thought to himself, here's my chance!

Baoning paused and his face became hesitant, as if he had something to hide: "Sister, I heard that the prince was appointed as the commander of the imperial carriage some time ago?"

Ji Xiangzhen nodded: "It's just a small official, with not much salary."

"But this position is very important! I also heard that..." Baoning said halfway, shook his head and sighed, "Forget it, I'd better not tell you and make you upset."

Ji Xiangzhen was anxious: "Baoning, you are saying half of the words, aren't you trying to poke my heart with a cat's paw? Tell me quickly!"

"I heard that the prince and the prince are very close..." Baoning lowered her voice and told Ji Xiangzhen the story of Zhang Liang's assassination of Qin that Pei Yuan had told her before.

Seeing her increasingly surprised and uneasy expression, Bao Ning said, "Sister, I didn't want to say anything about these things, but we are sisters. Your safety is my safety, and your honor is my honor. If the prince really makes a big mistake, what you will face is not the happiness or unhappiness of your marriage, but a matter of life and death!"

Ji Xiangzhen recalled Jia Ling's various behaviors, and the more she thought about it, the more shocked she felt.

In fact, Ji Xiangzhen had a vague feeling that Bao Ning's words today were all meaningful, trying to hook her in a certain direction, but she just couldn't resist. She felt that what Bao Ning said was right.

In a panic, Bao Ning became her only backbone. Ji Xiangzhen looked at Bao Ning anxiously and asked, "Then, if this is true, what should I do?"

Baoning shook her head and said, "I am just a female relative. I can't do anything about such an important matter for the court." Baoning didn't dare to continue to bait. Ji Xiangzhen was a very smart person. She was just confused for the time being and would follow her wishes. Baoning knew that if she continued to pursue him, Ji Xiangzhen would react immediately and all her efforts would be in vain.

Ji Xiangzhen's eyes fell on the teacup, as if in a trance.

Baoning said, "Sister, don't be anxious. These are just unreliable guesses. I believe the prince will not be so stupid. But if it is true, sister, you'd better leave him early. This is not betrayal, but loyalty to the emperor, and it is right."

After saying that, Baoning suddenly smiled.

Ji Xiangzhen asked, "What are you laughing at?"

Baoning said, "I just remembered something bizarre. If this is true, if you can help the emperor to clean up the emperor's side, how can the emperor treat you unfairly? I even thought that this is simply a blessing from heaven. The emperor will give you an imperial decree and rewards. Why would you want a husband? If you are happy and no one dares to offend you, your life will be wonderful."

Ji Xiangzhen also smiled slightly, "That's right."

Baoning stopped talking to her about this. After eating some tea and snacks, she looked out the window and saw that it was already past noon. Ji Xiangzhen stood up to say goodbye, and Baoning saw her off.

When they were leaving, Bao Ning held her hand and said reluctantly, "Sister, you have been good to me since childhood. Even if you get married, I still miss you. I know you don't have anyone close to you. If you have any questions, please tell me. If you have any problems, please come to me. The Fourth Prince treats me well. You are my sister. If you have any troubles, he will definitely help you."

Ji Xiangzhen was moved and said, "I remember it."

She got on the carriage, waved to Bao Ning, and set off westward to go home.

Bao Ning suddenly seemed to be exhausted. She felt that Pei Yuanzhen was not easy. It was difficult to attack the city during the war, and it was even more difficult to attack the heart when making friends. She was exhausted every day.

Bao Ning recalled Ji Xiangzhen's expression. It was within her expectations. So she should be considered successful today, right?

...

Nanny Liu supported her arm and walked upstairs. Turning the corner of the stairs, he met Pei Yuan's smiling eyes.

Pei Yuan had heard the general idea of ​​the second half of the conversation in the room just now. He didn't have any hope for Bao Ning. When Bao Ning and he had resolved their grievances, Pei Yuan was happy that she was willing to accept what he did. He never had any illusions that Bao Ning could help his career. But today, Pei Yuan really looked at her with new eyes!

"Our Ning Ning is really proud!" Pei Yuan took Bao Ning's hand and walked into the house, closing the door behind him.

He grabbed a candy from his sleeve, an almond candy, peeled the candy wrapper and put it into Bao Ning's mouth.

Pei Yuan was full of joy and didn't notice the change in Bao Ning's eyes at all. He sat in the chair with his legs apart, holding Bao Ning on his thighs, and they sat face to face.

Bao Ning thought about Qingluofang again. She was angry, but not so cruel. She wanted to give Pei Yuan a chance.

"What do you want to eat tonight?" Pei Yuan pinched her cheek and kissed Bao Ning's pouting lips. "I'll take you to a restaurant? We haven't been to a restaurant yet."

Bao Ning said, "I want to buy some clothes."

"Huh? Why did you suddenly think of this?" Pei Yuan paused, and he didn't think much about it, and said, "Okay."

Pei Yuan teased Bao Ning. He thought Bao Ning's serious look was very cute, so he put his fingers into her mouth, stirring her tongue tip and the round candy on her tongue.

"What's going on, Bao'er?" Pei Yuan touched her little fangs with his fingertips.

He was having fun like a cat, not noticing the upcoming danger, and asked Baoning in a teasing tone: "Why do you look unhappy?" Baoning

said: "Let's go to Qingluofang to buy clothes."

Pei Yuan was stunned, and a flash of embarrassment flashed across his eyes, and then he became nonchalant: "The clothes in that store are not very good, let's not go there, change to another one, it's up to you." Baoning

asked: "Is Qingluofang really a clothing store?"

"Of course." Pei Yuan said affirmatively.

He asked: "How do you still remember this store? It's not doing well, I'm going to let it go bankrupt, don't mention it again in the future."

After hearing his answer, Baoning's eyes were blazing with anger, and his teeth clenched suddenly.

Pei Yuan's finger was still in her mouth, and she cried out in pain: "Are you born in the year of the dog? You're biting me?"

Bao Ning shook her head and shook off his hand, then spit the candy in her mouth onto his face, pinching her waist and saying: "Okay Pei Yuan, you really are lying to me!"

Author's words: Pei Yuan: The weather is cold and Wang Po

Bao Ning: Too late!

Note: "The weather is cold and Wang Po" is a popular online phrase, which is an abbreviation of "The weather is cold, let Wang Group go bankrupt." (From Baidu Encyclopedia)