Chapter 69: Will the Queen's child really appear tonight?
Xie Wuhen couldn't believe it: "In the capital? Where in the capital?"
Zeng Yidao closed his eyes wearily. "I am exhausted today and cannot withstand your additional interrogation. Please, Lord Shaoqing, let me go."
Xie Wuhen stood up, walked to the couch, and glared at him. "To be honest, your apprentice sister is the Empress Duofu that the Emperor is looking for. Now that Empress Duofu has passed away, I will naturally do my best to find her child. Do you think I will let you go?"
Upon hearing the words "Empress Duofu", Zeng Yidao's expression turned cold.
When he saw his junior sister in the dilapidated temple, he saw her bulging belly at a glance. He never thought that his love rival would be the high and mighty man in the palace, the most noble man in the entire Liang State.
But, that man couldn't even protect his junior sister - if it weren't for him, how could his junior sister have ended up like that?
He hated that man's incompetence.
How could he let him succeed now? How could he let his minions succeed?
Zeng Yidao said indifferently, "Master Shaoqing agreed to a deal with me, but now that the deal is done, why are you breaking your promise?"
Xie Wuhen raised his chin slightly and looked at him with arrogance.
It seems to be saying, what can you do to me if I don’t keep my promise?
He could even see the shadow of that child in his arrogant eyes.
Was he good to her? Did he ever look at her like that?
Zeng Yidao continued, "If the Shaoqing doesn't keep his promise, I don't know whether I will trust you anymore."
Xie Wuhen had long seen through this man's cunning.
He chuckled disdainfully, "If Mr. Zeng doesn't trust me, he'll be dead. If I don't trust Mr. Zeng, he'll be dead too. In the final analysis, in this deal, Mr. Zeng has no say."
He paused and said, "Therefore, I advise Mr. Zeng that it would be best if you answer whatever I ask. That way, you can be free, and I can rest assured."
Zeng Yidao was silent for a moment, then replied, "If I can answer that, I will naturally answer it."
Xie Wuhen asked again: "Is the child a boy or a girl?"
"That child..." Zeng Yidao paused, his usually gentle expression tinged with mystery as he answered irrelevantly, "He will probably go and kill Zhou Yuanze, the only son of the Zhou family, soon."
Xie Wuhen was stunned: "Why did he want to kill Zhou Yuanze?"
Zeng Yidao had already closed his eyes: "Sir, I am indeed very tired today."
Xie Wuhen then asked, "Mr. Zeng hasn't answered the question at the beginning. What does the truth have to do with me?"
Zeng Yidao still kept his eyes closed: "When the truth is revealed, Your Excellency will naturally know it."
Xie Wuhen looked at him with his half-sentenced expression and wished he could slit his throat with a sword.
He warned in a cold voice: "Since Mr. Zeng is tired, I will not disturb you anymore, but my patience is limited and I will not give Mr. Zeng too much time." After that, he turned and walked out of the tea room.
After Xie Wuhen left, An Zi hurried into the room. Seeing Zeng Yidao lying on the couch covered in wounds, he couldn't help but feel tears welling up in his eyes. "Is Mr. okay?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Zeng Yidao opened his eyes and looked at the sky outside the window.
There was always an indescribable calmness in his eyes, like the surface of a lake at night, empty and silent. He added, "Next, there should be something interesting to watch."
An Zi's voice choked with sobs: "Sir, you're already so injured, how can you still be in the mood to watch a show?"
Zeng Yidao let out a half-hearted smile. "Some wounds are visible on the outside, but some are invisible in the heart. I'd like to know what choice that distinguished Shaoqing will make after being wounded."
An Zi was confused: "Sir, please think about your own situation first."
Zeng Yidao looked around the teahouse and sighed, "I'm afraid I can't stay in this teahouse any longer."
"But now those officials have surrounded the teahouse like an iron barrel. How can you get out, sir?"
"Don't be sad, I have a solution."
"What can you do, sir?"
Zeng Yidao smiled gently and said, "Don't ask too many questions. If you don't see me one day, don't worry."
An Zi insisted, "Sir, why did you offend that Shao Qing?"
Zeng Yidao was silent for a while, then answered irrelevantly: "You should leave first. I want to sleep for a while."
An Zi was helpless and fell silent, bowed and retreated.
At this time, outside the Wuyou Teahouse, Wu Sheng asked as he walked, "Boss, are you really going to let Zeng Yidao go just like that?"
At the end, he couldn't help but complain a few words: "This Zeng Yidao is really not open and honest. He speaks in a veiled way, saying half of what he means and keeping the other half. It's very annoying."
Xie Wuhen replied coldly: "This man is not afraid of death. If we want to pry open his mouth, we must first obey his wishes. Let's keep a close watch and come back next time."
Wu Sheng asked again: "Then... should we report the situation to the Emperor?"
Xie Wuhen pondered for a moment: "If the emperor knew that Empress Duofu had passed away, he would definitely be devastated. However, if he could also learn the whereabouts of the child, perhaps he would find some comfort. Let's wait and see until the child is found."
Then he ordered: "Send more people to keep a close eye on Zhou Yuanze."
Wu Sheng was puzzled: "Why are you targeting Zhou Yuanze?"
"Zeng Yidao said that the Empress's child will kill Zhou Yuanze. If we keep a close eye on Zhou Yuanze, we will naturally find the child."
Wu Sheng became increasingly puzzled. "The Zhou family is, after all, a royal family. The Empress's child is incredibly bold, actually wanting to kill Zhou Yuanze. Does she really have the ability to do that?"
Xie Wuhen was silent for a while: "Nothing is known yet, just keep a close eye on it."
Wu Sheng clasped his fists in agreement.
It rained for several days in a row, and the summer heat suddenly subsided, as if autumn was coming soon.
It was already July 15th.
Before Xie Wuhen left for duty, he kissed Su He's face: "I guess I'll be home late today, my lady, please don't wait for dinner."
Su He turned over on the couch, sleepy-eyed, "Why are you coming home late again?"
He coaxed her softly, "We need to investigate an important case, please don't blame me, ma'am."
"My husband has important official duties, so I won't blame you." She pursed her lips helplessly and said, "Since my husband is coming home late, I will go to Ping'an Lane to visit Uncle Qing today."
"Okay, there are many lonely, elderly and weak people in Ping'an Lane, so my lady, remember to bring more money with you."
She smiled gently: "Don't worry, husband."
Xie Wuhen kissed her forehead again, then turned and walked out of the room.
She stared at his back until he disappeared out the door.
There is still a thin darkness outside the door
The morning in the drizzle was damp and quiet, with only a few sporadic bird calls left.
As soon as Xie Wuhen stepped out of the archway of Chunhua Courtyard, Wu Sheng strode up to him and said, "Boss, the men are ready."
Xie Wuhen ordered in a deep voice: "Set up sentries around Yichun Tower and defend it strictly."
Wu Sheng was still skeptical: "Boss, do you think the Queen's child will really appear tonight?"
He said firmly, "If he really wanted to kill Zhou Yuanze, he would definitely show up tonight. After all, tonight is the night when Zhou Yuanze's defenses are the weakest."
Wu Sheng sighed, "Zhou Yuanze has been rampant for half his life, but he is destined to fall into his own trap."
He glanced at him coldly: "Stop talking nonsense and get down to business."
Wu Sheng smiled and said, "Don't worry, boss. I will definitely do my best."
The two of them walked out of the mansion gate one after the other.
In Chunhua Courtyard.
Su He got up early and stood under the corridor watching the rain after breakfast.
Zhang Xiuhua's eyes showed worry: "Will this rain... affect tonight?"
"No, the rainy night is damp and dark, which is just right for doing things."
Su He raised his eyes to look at the gloomy sky and said, "Maybe Daddy is in heaven blessing us to have everything go well."
Zhang Xiuhua agreed, "Indeed, today has been really smooth. Even the son-in-law happened to be home late. Doesn't this provide a good opportunity for the young lady?"
Su He then ordered: "Remember to go to Ping'an Lane and tell Uncle Qing about this, so that if the uncle suddenly asks about it, our story will be inconsistent with theirs."
Zhang Xiuhua replied, "Don't worry, Miss. I sent Chunlan over early this morning."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ah Si came hurriedly from the other end of the porch: "Madam, I spent a lot of money to get this dress as you instructed."
This is the dress of Hua Niang in Yichun Tower, and it is also what she will wear today.
Zhang Xiuhua looked around cautiously for a few times, and after making sure no one was watching, she quickly took the clothes, unable to help but scold a few words: "You are really a fool, there are so many people in the mansion, and you just brought it over like this, aren't you afraid of being seen?"
Ah Si smiled and said, "Don't worry, Auntie. I can guarantee that no one saw it."
Zhang Xiuhua glanced at him and stuffed a bunch of grapes into his hand.
Ah Si ate his grapes and asked, "Madam, do you have any other instructions?"
Su He replied, "It's okay. You've been working hard lately. Just relax and take it easy."
Ah Si's face showed worry. "The Zhou family has connections everywhere. Madam... can you really succeed today?"
Su He smiled and said, "Don't worry, it can be done."
Ah Si also believed in the Madam and breathed a sigh of relief: "Then I will wait for the good news from the Madam." After saying that, he wiped his mouth and turned away.
Zhang Xiuhua was actually also worried.
But every time the young lady did something, she was always worried. And every time she was worried, she always got a good result. Thinking of this, she breathed a sigh of relief.
At noon, Chunlan returned from Ping'an Lane. After a short rest, she began to put makeup on Su He.
The lady tonight is Hua Niang from Yichunlou, so she naturally has to transform her into Hua Niang's appearance.
Chunlan asked, "Miss, do you want to get a cinnabar mole on your chin?"
The last time he disguised himself was when he killed Du Yuting, and that time he had a cinnabar mole painted on his face.
Su He replied: "You don't have to put it on the chin, put it on the cheek."
She couldn't let anyone find out that the murderer of Du Yuting was the same person who killed Zhou Yuanze.
Chunlan nodded "OK" and then began to apply makeup on her layer by layer, and finally put a cinnabar mole on her cheek.
Looking up, the woman in the mirror was heavily made-up and charming, completely different from the noble young lady of the Xie family.
Su He said, "She really looks like a flower lady."
Chunlan smiled and said, "Miss, you have a good foundation, so you can act like anything."
Zhang Xiuhua also agreed: "Not only does the young lady have a good foundation, but Chunlan also has excellent skills."
A few of them chatted and laughed for a while.
Then Su He stood up from the mirror and looked at the sky outside. "Aunt, please come with me and leave the house at dusk. Chunlan will stay in the house as a cover."
He also ordered: "In order to keep our actions secret, we should rent a carriage and not use the Xie family's carriage.
They both answered "yes" in unison.
Dusk fell quickly.
The rain is still falling, and the sound of it echoes through the sky and earth.
After the servants finished their work, they retreated to the back room early. The entire Xie Mansion was so quiet that it seemed like an empty house.
Su He changed into Hua Niang's dress, put on her usual coat over the dress, and put on a veil hat. After leaving the house with Zhang Xiuhua, they rented a carriage and headed straight for Yichun Tower.
At this time, in Yichun Tower, the pot-bellied Zhou Yuanze was following the madam up the stairs to meet a new prostitute.
The madam smiled brightly and vowed: "Don't worry, Master Zhou, I guarantee you'll be satisfied this time."
Zhou Yuanze sneered, "Mother Liu always says 'I guarantee it, I guarantee it'. But when has she ever actually said 'I guarantee it'?"
The madam was attentive and gentle, lowering her voice: "This time it's really not a virgin."
Zhou Yuanze doesn't like young children, he only likes his wife.
His brows relaxed slightly: "If you can do what I want, I will definitely reward Mother Liu handsomely."
The madam smiled broadly and said, "Thank you, Master Zhou."
In the tavern opposite Yichun Building, Xie Wuhen was sitting by the window, closely monitoring everything going on outside Yichun Building...
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