Chapter 87: Zhao Changning, you bad woman...
Zhao Changning looked at Zhou Min's old back as he fled, still quite agile, and felt very sorry for him.
She just wanted to say a few words, not do anything else, so why should she be so scared?
Having nothing to do in the afternoon, she left the palace and returned to Shuier Lane, intending to see if there were any letters.
As soon as they entered the door, they were held at odds with a sharp knife. Yun Qiu and Grandma Xu were tied up in the yard and their mouths were gagged.
Zhao Changning turned his head and saw a familiar face. It was beautiful and dazzling. Even with an angry expression, plain clothes and a slight weight loss, it did not detract from its beauty in the slightest.
She was stunned. "Young Master?"
"It's you?" Gao Cong recognized her face, his eyes bloodshot, his face filled with shock and indignation. "You are Zhao Changning? The Nüshu Ling?"
Zhao Changning nodded, not intending to deny it. "It is me."
Gao Cong gritted his teeth. "Why are you trying to harm the Gao family? You were deliberately trying to get close to me back then, weren't you? What did the Gao family do to you? Why are they trying to harm us?"
Zhao Changning frowned. "I didn't harm the Gao family, and it's not my turn to do so. Your grandfather returned the land and money he wasn't entitled to. You should know that."
"Why?" Gao Cong's handsome face flushed, his eyes moist. "Everyone is like this, and my grandfather never wanted it in the first place. Why is he targeting only our Gao family? My grandfather worked diligently and devoted his life to Dayong, and in the end, this is what he got?"
Zhao Changning couldn't help but turn his head. "Even a rotten boat has three pounds of nails. Even if your grandfather returned to his hometown, he would still be a wealthy man. Compared to those who lost their heads, he's already doing well."
"My grandfather has passed away. He worked hard all his life, and now he's gone. He said he wanted to enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple..." Gao Cong's hands were shaking with pain. Tears fell on Furong's face, pitiful and adorable. "It's all your fault. It's you who caused this. It's you who caused this..."
Zhao Changning didn't expect that Gao Yun had already passed away. After all, they had been together for many years, so it was inevitable that some ripples would appear in his heart.
She felt the dagger's sharp blade cut her throat and immediately raised her hands. "Young Master, Prime Minister Gao was not killed by me. Everything is the result of the joint trial of the three courts. Besides, all of this was caused by your biological father. Haven't you heard?"
Gao Cong was stunned for a moment, blinking his tearful eyes, "What?"
Zhao Changning thought to himself, as expected, he really didn't know that Gao Yun protected him so well that he dared to assassinate her.
"Young Master, you dared to treat me like this today. Does your family know? Do you know what the consequences will be? Assassinating an official of the imperial court will result in beheading and exile of your family thousands of miles away. Do you still want to implicate the Gao family? Young Master, don't listen to the instigation of bad people. I have no grudges against the Gao family..."
"Don't scare me," Gao Cong cried, his hand shaking as he held the knife. "I wasn't scared, Zhao Changning. It's all your fault. Otherwise, my grandfather wouldn't have..."
Before he could even utter the word "die", he heard a muffled sound and there was no movement behind him.
Zhao Changning noticed that the hand that was strangling her neck loosened. She struggled slightly, and Gao Cong fell down with his head tilted, showing a look of disgust on Yunsheng's face, holding a stick as thick as an arm in his hand.
"Is this kid really stupid?" He kicked, "How dare he go to look for aunt alone? Where are his family members?"
Zhao Changning watched silently, quickly found a rope to tie them up, and turned to release Yun Qiu and Grandma Xu.
Granny Xu was furious and kicked him twice, "This kid is really bad. I don't know how he got in. Girl, isn't he an enemy?"
Zhao Changning shook his head with a complicated thought, "Not really. He was just instigated by bad guys, he's not a bad person."
Yunsheng skillfully dragged Gao Cong aside and said, "Aunt, should we feed him some sweet water or hand him over to the government? We can't let him off easily."
Zhao Changning thought of Gao Yun's frail, old face, and his heart moved. He shook his head and said, "Let's tie him up first."
Feeding sweet water is the same as feeding poison. This is too serious. It is not necessary to do this. It is not a good idea to hand it over to the government. Given the current situation of the Gao family, I am afraid something bad will happen.
Besides, Gao Zhan is Gao Cong's biological father. From the surface, this incident was caused by Gao Zhan. Now that Prime Minister Gao has passed away, there is no one in Gao Zhan's family to protect him. I'm afraid Gao Cong will not have a good life in the Gao family. No wonder he was so angry and wanted to find her.
It was almost nightfall, and when everyone had finished eating and was getting ready to wash up and go to bed, Gao Cong woke up and started shouting at the top of his lungs.
"Zhao Changning, you bad woman, let me go..."
"Help, help, is there anyone here? Help, someone is going to kill someone..."
Zhao Changning was originally replying to Mingxuan's letter, but when he heard the shout, he couldn't help but sigh. This kid really didn't know what was important.
"Bad boy, if you keep screaming, I'll beat you to death..." Grandma Xu's voice rang out.
Gao Cong was delicate and tender, and he cried out in pain from being beaten. "Wuwuwu, let me go, you bad woman, you are all bad people. Not only did you kill my grandfather, you also want to kill me, wuwu..."
Zhao Changning, wearing his coat, looked at the messy guest room and said helplessly, "Mother-in-law, please go out first."
Grandma Xu glared at Gao Cong several times, then stepped forward to tie the rope tighter before turning around and taking Yun Qiu out.
"Young Master, I have no grudge against the Gao family. There is no need to harm you. The Gao family's current situation is the result of cause and effect. Justice is clear as day. You know it in your heart, don't you?" Zhao Changning said lightly, leaning against the door frame with his arms folded.
Gao Cong refused to listen and tearfully said, "Don't think that just because you're a woman I'll trust you because you're pretty. I'm not stupid, I know you did it on purpose. Otherwise, how could you become an official and enjoy your current high position and generous salary? You stepped on our Gao family to get to the top..."
Zhao Changning was puzzled. "Did I deliberately let your father kill someone? Did I hold a knife to the necks of the Gao family, forcing them to accept the land or I would kill them? Young Master, hatred shouldn't be so groundless, right? If you kill me today, you will definitely regret it and might even have nightmares tonight."
Gao Cong was stunned and couldn't think of a rebuttal for a moment, so he turned his head and refused to look at Zhao Changning.
Zhao Changning was too lazy to argue with such a stubborn idiot and just said, "I'll have someone send you back to the Gao family tomorrow. You can just stay here for one night."
"I'm not going back." Gao Cong turned his head anxiously, looked at her fiercely and said, "I'm not going back."
Zhao Changning saw him crying, tears sliding down his handsome face like pearls, he looked so tearful that it was truly pitiful.
She guessed, "The Gao family has made things difficult for you." It was a positive statement.
Gao Cong lowered his head and refused to speak, looking very stubborn.
Zhao Changning recalled the scene of him saving people that day, as well as that exceptionally beautiful face, and couldn't help but feel sad. "You should accept my condolences. You are not a child anymore, you should be sensible. The Gao family is your home, and you must return eventually."
Gao Cong tilted his head and choked up, "I won't go back. I have no home. I have no home anymore..."
Zhao Changning sighed, but he had enjoyed being a nobleman for so many years, and now it was karma and he had to bear the consequences.
"Go to sleep first. I'll send someone to take you back tomorrow."
Gao Cong looked at her slender back, lost in thought, and suddenly called out to her, "I, I didn't kill you. Can you let me eat first?"
Zhao Changning: “…”
Granny Xu scolded him while feeding him, occasionally pinching him secretly, "Bad boy, you're quite fat, what's wrong with skipping a meal? Really..."
Zhao Changning saw that he was eating voraciously even though he was tied up, as if he had not had a full meal for several days. When being pinched by Grandma Xu, he dared not make a sound, but could only huddle and cry silently. While crying, he did not forget to stuff food into his mouth, looking very embarrassed.
It's both funny and pitiful.
When high-ranking officials fall, those with better natures are always bullied, but she soon changed her mind.
In the middle of the night, her door was knocked. "Zhao Changning, Zhao Changning, the bedding on my bed is too thick. Can you change it for me? There are also mice in the room. Help me catch them..."
Zhao Changning: “…”
Soon Yunsheng's scolding was heard, and Zhao Changning turned over and fell asleep peacefully.
The next morning, Zhao Changning saw Gao Cong squatting pitifully under the banana leaves in front of her window, huddled up in a ball, with his hands tied behind his back and his legs also tied, so he could only jump.
"Zhao Changning, my hand hurts, can you untie it for me?"
Zhao Changning saw him jumping and turning around to show his hands. His white and tender wrists were indeed red, swollen and broken, like a touch of rouge stained on snow-white rice paper.
She shook her head, "No, what if you kill me with a knife again?"
"I, I won't kill you." Gao Cong lowered his head and murmured, "The food in your house is delicious."
Zhao Changning and Yunsheng couldn't help but look at each other, and they saw helplessness in each other's eyes.
"Just stay here." She finally said, "I'll write to the Gao family and ask them to come pick you up. For the time being, just stay here and don't try to run around."
Yujing is not an easy place to live. If Gao Cong, who is delicate and tender and looks like this, is really kidnapped, his fate will not be good.
Seeing that she was not listening, Gao Cong cried angrily, "Wow, you bad woman, Zhao Changning, you bad woman..."
Everyone seemed to be unable to hear and were busy with their own things. Only Yun Qiu opened her big watery eyes, squatted in front of Gao Cong, and looked at him curiously.
Gao Cong screamed, "What are you looking at? You are also a bad woman, wuwu..."
Zhao Changning gave Granny Xu some silver and then asked, "Are there rats in the house?"
Granny Xu nodded and said, "Maybe it came from the neighbors, but mice are common, so don't be afraid, young lady."
Zhao Changning wasn't afraid of mice, but he was afraid they might damage his books and pamphlets. So he said, "I'll bring Xiaobai here in a few days. He can catch mice."
After three days, Zhao Changning was still worried and afraid that the fool Gao Cong would run away, so he found time and hurried out of the palace with Xiaobai.
As soon as I entered the alley, I heard Yun Qiu's laughter, as sweet as a silver bell.
She hurriedly pushed the door open and saw Yun Qiu holding a rope with a person tied to the other end. He was running around in the yard like walking a dog. The person behind him could only hop and run to keep up, cursing as he followed.
Gao Cong saw Zhao Changning coming and shouted anxiously, "Zhao Changning, save me quickly! This idiot is about to kill me! Save me quickly..."
As soon as Xiaobai entered the yard, he jumped down and started catching mice diligently.
Zhao Changning gently held Yunqiu's hand and coaxed her, "Be good, let's not play this. Let's play with the dolls and make loops, okay?"
Yun Qiu nodded obediently and let go of the rope reluctantly.
Gao Cong collapsed on the ground, gasping for breath. "Why did you come just now? Who is this idiot? I'm dying, you evil woman."
"If you call her a fool again, I will kill you and throw you into a mass grave." Zhao Changning squatted down and looked at him, his dark eyes gloomy. "Remember, you are not the young master of the Prime Minister's family now, so don't be so arrogant."
Gao Cong was so scared that he quickly shut up. His slightly red peach blossom eyes were full of sadness. He bit his lips and shed tears silently.
Zhao Changning saw that his bound hands were covered with redness, swelling and scabs, and he shook his head, pretending not to see them.
Granny Xu had heard of Xiaobai's name a long time ago and was very happy. "That's great! The mice at home will be scared now."
Zhao Changning gave Xiaobai some advice on his habits and diet, and then said, "Buy some medicine to apply to his hand."
After saying these words, she hurried back.
The sunlight flows slowly, passing through every corner of Yujing City.
The autumn heat is still lingering. It is already October, but there is no sense of autumn at all. Apart from the yellow leaves on the trees and the yellow grass on the ground, the weather has not turned cooler at all.
There had been no rain the entire summer, and the moat was now reduced to a shallow stream, revealing half-dry black mud with rotting fish and shrimp in it, and the white bones were particularly glaring in the sun.
For this reason, the palace had to mobilize the Imperial Guards for patrols, because there were already brave people who dared to climb over the wall and enter the palace by feeling the riverbed.
This is just the imperial city. The rice fields around Yujing have also been greatly affected. It is inevitable that the rice harvest will be affected, not to mention that there are also disasters in other places to varying degrees.
The atmosphere in the court was clearly less than pleasant, and the various ministries spent much more time on discussions.
Yun Hui entered the side hall with some trepidation and whispered, "Aunt, the person who delivered the spring water in the past came back late today. I'm afraid they didn't get any water. The emperor loves to drink the cold spring water from Yuncui Mountain, but..."
Zhao Changning knew the severity of the drought, but he didn't expect it to be so severe that the cold springs in Yuncui Mountain were almost drying up.
"I understand. I will tell the emperor. Don't worry."
Yun Hui breathed a sigh of relief, but was also very sad. "Aunt, there's not enough water for bathing in the palace, and the weather isn't cold. What should we do?"
Zhao Changning didn’t actually feel deeply about these things. After all, she served the emperor, and the emperor would never lack anything.
She knew that Yunhui loved beauty and taking a bath was a big deal. If this fear spread, there might be chaos in the palace.
"I'm sorry to have wronged you. Go and tell everyone to save some money recently, and don't be dissatisfied. The rain will come soon. The masters of the Imperial Observatory have predicted it."
Yun Hui breathed a sigh of relief and went out as requested.
Zhao Changning sighed heavily. She didn't know the drought would be so severe. The people in Yujing City were at least well-off. If it were in those poor areas, who knows what kind of miserable situation they would be in.
Moreover, the Imperial Astronomical Observatory submitted a memorial yesterday saying that there would be no rain in the near future, which made the emperor very angry, but he was helpless.
After all, whether it rains or not is decided by God. If it continues to be dry, it may be caused by something interfering, perhaps something dirty. Such statements were repeatedly banned in the court, and some people even proposed worshiping the Dragon King.
Zhao Changning entered the main hall carrying cold tea and saw the emperor staring blankly, with several blisters on the corners of his mouth, showing his anxiety.
Unlike previous disturbances, such as snow disasters, locust plagues, and rebellions, they were all short-term and could be resolved with proper effort. However, this drought was very different and had even affected the emperor himself.
Water is something that is so common and inconspicuous, but when it is gone, everyone can feel it.
If something does not affect you, it is difficult to empathize with it. Once it happens to you, it is easy to resonate with the poor person, and the emperor is no exception.
She gently put down the teacup and softly reminded, "Your Majesty, please drink your tea."
When the emperor saw her coming, he closed the memorial and said in a deep voice, "I intend to go to the Circular Mound to offer sacrifices to heaven."
After several years of tacit understanding, there was no need to ask the reason. Zhao Changning pursed his lips and said, "Your Majesty, I will prepare it now."
The emperor suddenly grabbed her, with a rare look of confusion on his face, a hint of indescribable dejection in his dark eyes, and his voice was hoarse.
"Changning, do you think I should issue a confession of guilt?"
Through his thin shirt, Zhao Changning felt that his palms were extremely hot, just like his anxious heart.
She immediately shook her head. "It's not raining. It's because of some change in the heavens. But it has nothing to do with you. Your Majesty, please don't listen to those people's nonsense."
The emperor was obviously comforted. He closed his eyes, sighed softly, and slowly leaned back in his chair. He smiled bitterly and said, "If you listen too much, you will always be affected."
Zhao Changning saw that his face was exhausted and the blisters on his lips were already translucent. After thinking for a while, he took out a small medicine bottle specially filled with it for today from his sleeve, rubbed some medicine on his hand, and leaned over slightly to apply it on the emperor's lips.
Her voice was gentle and filled with a unique charm. "Don't worry, the rain will fall. It's just that these days will be difficult to endure. Yujing City has experienced droughts before. This has nothing to do with whether you are the emperor or not. Your Majesty, please don't blame yourself too much."
The emperor listened to her story, and his anxiety inexplicably lessened by half. He felt a coolness on his lips and opened his eyes. Seeing the familiar medicine bottle, he said in a gentle voice, "Is this the medicine I gave you back then?"
Zhao Changning nodded. "Thank you very much. This medicine is very effective. The ingredients in it must be excellent. It has been effective for several years and has not deteriorated."
The emperor nodded. "Of course I had it prepared for you. It's made with only the finest ingredients. That small bottle is worth a hundred gold coins."
He spoke casually, as if he was chatting with friends.
Zhao Changning was startled, thinking of how he was always slapped by the capricious late emperor. Sometimes his face would turn red, sometimes it would be swollen, but no one had ever given him any medicine.
She stood up again, handed over the cold tea, and her tone became softer.
"Although it's bitter, it's good for your health. Your Majesty, please don't delay and drink it."
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