Everyone looked at the four maids named 'Plum Blossom, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum', each of whom was exceptionally beautiful.
Zhao Cheng nudged Xu An with his elbow and said, "Old Xu, do you want a wife? If you do, I'll take her for you."
Xu An's mouth was practically watering, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Such a good thing?!"
"Dream on! You've taken Yang Qingzhi's woman, do you even care about your life?"
Zhao Cheng rolled his eyes at Xu An, stepped forward, and said, "I am Zhao Cheng. Take these girls back and tell your master that I have no connection with him and don't know him. I will not accept the gifts. Also, ask him if he gave them to the wrong person. Could they have been given to the young marquis behind me?"
The steward smiled and said, "There's absolutely no mistake. The young governor instructed me several months ago to personally deliver the gift to the young prime minister. However, the young prime minister was in Hannan City at the time, and the distance was too far for me to travel there. Later, the young prime minister went to Jiangcheng, and I was prepared to risk delivering it, but I didn't expect that such a big thing would happen in Jiangcheng."
"It wasn't until the young prime minister came to Yun Jing County that I had the opportunity to complete the mission entrusted to me by the young governor."
The steward bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "Please, young prime minister, accept this. Don't make things difficult for me!"
"Excellent! Excellent!!" Yuan Zhang, who had been standing behind the door, turned back and laughed loudly, "If I had left a moment earlier, I might have missed this magnificent show!!!"
"Zhao Cheng, Your Highness, my dear nephew-in-law, tell me, what is your relationship with that Yang Qingzhi?"
Zhao Cheng solemnly stated, "I don't even know him!"
"How could that be! Don't try to fool me!" Yuan Zhang walked up to Zhao Cheng, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Who is Yang Qingzhi? He is the most valued son of Yang Zhanbei, the Grand Commander of Southern Zhou, and the future leader of the Southern Zhou military! Does he have so much free time that he would give gifts to a complete stranger?"
"And..." Yuan Zhang pointed to the steward of the Governor's Office and said, "He even repeatedly instructed me to deliver it to you personally?"
Yuan Zhang then pointed at Xu An and Cai Qiong, and said, "Why didn't he give it to Xu An? Marquis Qingdong is now the Minister of Revenue. Winning over Xu An would be more useful than winning over you, right? Why didn't he give it to Lord Cai? Why did he give it to you?"
Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "It seems I can't clear my name even if I jump into the Jinghai Sea!"
“Of course!” Yuan Zhang chimed in, “You should tell me about your relationship. You said we’re relatives. I’ll help you analyze the situation and see if Yang Qingzhi is deliberately trying to frame you.”
“But that doesn’t make sense!” Yuan Zhang immediately said, “You only have the title of General of Victory, but you have no military power or real authority. You’re just a son-in-law who does business. Why would Yang Qingzhi frame you?”
Ever since Cai Qiong came in, Yuan Zhang had been holding back his anger. Now that he had the chance, he was like a floodgate opening, bombarding Zhao Cheng with questions.
He pondered for a moment, stared at Zhao Cheng with suspicion, and said sternly, "Could it be... Zhao Cheng, that you are colluding with Southern Zhou?"
Zhao Cheng was amused and said, "Champion King, you should think before you frame someone, okay? Don't just spout nonsense. I'm a man who has rendered meritorious service in the military. Do you know what the palace calls me? The Southern Spy Star!"
"Do you even know what the Southern Spy Killer is? If not, Zhao Wu, translate it for the Prince!"
Yuan Zhang immediately said, "That's even more correct!"
Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "What's more correct?"
Yuan Zhang said, "If I remember correctly, all of your military achievements were related to spies from Southern Zhou, right? Once in Yanchuan City, once in Qingdong City, once in Shangyang County... Is it really that coincidental?"
"In my opinion, this is the military merit that Yang Qingzhi is giving you!"
"So that you can gain the court's trust!"
"Waaaah—" Zhao Cheng hadn't been this angry in a long time, and finally couldn't help but point at Yuan Zhang and yell, "What kind of bullshit champion are you? I think you're more like a spitting king! Do you fight on the battlefield by spitting? You fight by slander..."
Xu An quickly covered Zhao Cheng's mouth, and Heng Wenhao also pulled Zhao Cheng back.
“Let him curse. The more guilty he feels, the more agitated he will become.” Yuan Zhang laughed smugly, stroking his goatee.
Cai Qiong sighed and remained silent.
He wanted to help Zhao Cheng, but since it involved the Southern Zhou military and Yuan Zhang was present, he couldn't say anything.
If this kind of thing gets out of hand, it will involve more than just one or two people.
Especially since his son, Cai Yilu, was selling picture albums for Zhao Cheng in Kangye, Nanzhou, if Zhao Cheng were convicted and the relationship between Zhao Cheng and Cai Yilu were discovered, then the Cai family would be implicated!
"Listen to the young prime minister, go back and report. Tell your master and master to keep the head safe and wait for me, Yuan Zhang, to come and collect it!"
Yuan Zhang glared at the steward, who was so frightened that he quickly left.
Yuan Zhang then looked at Cai Qiong and said, "Lord Cai, please continue eating. However, Zhao Cheng will not be able to accompany you, and this Yunshang Conference must be suspended."
"Remove the black flower sticker!"
"exist!"
"Take Zhao Cheng away!"
Zhao Yan and Zhao Wu quickly stepped in front of Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Yan roared, "You dare?!"
Yuan Zhang chuckled and said, "You want to resist arrest and start a war with the Zhennan Border Army?"
Seeing this, Cai Qiong said, "The innocent are innocent. If the young prime minister has been framed, I will take care of it for you."
Xu An pondered for a moment and said to Zhao Yan, "Don't be impulsive. If we fight with the Zhennan Border Army, there will be no room for negotiation."
Huang Hua quickly added, "I agree with the young master's opinion."
Heng Wenhao said, "Young Prime Minister is the consort of the Eldest Princess and the eldest son of the Right Prime Minister. The Champion King would not resort to underhanded tactics."
“But…” Zhao Yan became anxious.
“They’re right.” Zhao Cheng glared at Zhao Yan and Zhao Wu, and said, “You two get out of the way and wait for me outside. I’m going with him!”
As he spoke, Zhao Cheng straightened his clothes and walked to Yuan Zhang's side.
Yuan Zhang turned around and said, "Take them back to Yun Jing City!"
Seeing Zhao Chengzhen being taken away, Zhao Yan and his group became anxious.
Xu An suggested, "Why don't we send Yuan Fei back to Yanchuan to inform the Princess about this?"
Yuan Fei said, "I have no problem. Even if it costs me my life, I will inform the Princess as quickly as possible!"
"No." Zhao Yan, who had been impulsive just moments before, calmed down.
Xu An asked doubtfully, "Why?"
Zhao Yan pursed his lips and said, "Judging by the dates, my sister-in-law is already six months pregnant. We can't let her be upset. If anything happens to the baby, we'll be letting my brother down."
Zhao Wu also said, "I know my master's personality. He doesn't want to ask the Princess for help with everything."
Xu An asked, "So what do we do now?"
Huang Hua said, "Let's go to Yun Jing City first. At least what Guard Heng said is right. The Champion King wouldn't dare to lay a hand on the boss. If we can't get evidence of the boss's treason, the boss will be fine."
Cai Qiong walked over, waved his hand, and said, "You will all come with me to Yun Jing City to see what's going on. If Zhao Cheng is guilty, I will not help him. But if he has been framed, I will go to the military camp to snatch him back for you!"
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