Chapter 376 Zhao Hede 37
"Okay, for your sake, I'll leave her life to you."
Zhao Hede watched her take Feiyan's cards away again, and her eyelids twitched. Ban Jieyu, who was sitting next to her, picked up the cards and pursed her lips: "Sorry, this one is mine."
Feiyan turned over Zhang Mi's cards in annoyance, looking at the mess of cards. She really didn't know what kind of crappy hobby she had. She didn't even look at the cards and just randomly touched them, feeding four cards to the next player and filling up the hand for Ban Jieyu.
Zhang Mi chuckled, reached into the box and grabbed a handful of money, then handed it to the palace maid behind Ban Jieyu without even looking at how much it was. Anyway, the money belonged to the Zhang family, so she didn't care at all how she spent it.
Over the years, Zhang Zhen had been working hard to win favor in order to prevent the Zhang family from giving up on her, and naturally, she had to make more arrangements. Those people, with the Queen's approval, were able to make as much money as they wanted. Although Zhang Zhen hated them deeply, she didn't harbor any suspicions. After all, this was pretty much how she had lived in the Zhang family before.
Her biological mother, a stepmother and a merchant, was completely subservient to her father, never daring to disobey him in the slightest. Growing up in an environment where boys were favored over girls, she was accustomed to the idea that boys were heirs and girls were commodities to be sold. Therefore, she was both harsh and stingy towards her daughter, Zhang Zhen.
Things didn't get better until Zhang Zhen became more and more beautiful, which aroused Zhang Chai's other thoughts.
So she got used to the rule that she had to pay money to order these servants around. Not only did she not find it wrong, but it actually stimulated her determination to strive for advancement.
"If you ask me, her mother has corrupted her brain and she trapped herself there."
Zhang Mi looked at the newly dealt cards, a look of smugness written all over her face. She knew at a glance that this was a good hand, and she happily played one. Thinking of Zhang Zhen, she couldn't help but curl her lips. "She was quite lucid when she entered the palace earlier, but that old beast handed her two nonsense letters, and she's lost her mind again."
"Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the Wang family is now in decline and is relying on the Grand Masters to support them. It's a shame that the Wang family is also full of useless people. They've played a good hand of cards so badly."
Zhao Hede smiled and pushed the cards down: "This is the confusion of the authorities."
"Oh, just one move away!"
Zhang Mi yelled, grabbed another handful of money and handed it over, gritting his teeth, looking like he was mad with gambling. "I still don't believe it. Can't I win even one round today? Come again!"
"Okay, let's play a few rounds with our money-giving boy today."
Zhao Hede and the other two smiled at each other, rubbing the ivory pieces with their slender fingers until late at night.
…
The next day, Hede didn't get up from bed until noon.
He glanced at Feiyan who was sleeping soundly in the bed and walked out quietly.
Yu Kezi waited until she had finished packing before whispering, "We've already found out. The Zhang family is still unwilling to settle down. Even after the death of Zhang Bo and his men, they haven't learned their lesson and are still thinking about the throne."
"It's easy to imagine. The Zhang family has this going on for a long time. Back then, Zhang Chai's uncle, Zhang Bo, tricked the late King Huaiyang into rebellion. The late emperor spared these descendants' lives for the sake of the late King Huaiyang, and simply exiled them to serve in the army, which was already a great favor."
Zhao Hede handed Yu Kezi the peony-shaped flower ornament her daughter had picked for her. Looking at herself in the mirror, still as beautiful as ever, she smiled sarcastically, "But look, they first received the late emperor's great favor, and then relied on the late Huaiyang King's reluctance to leave the border and go to Huaiyang. If they behaved themselves, they wouldn't have to worry about not having a peaceful life. But do they look like they want a peaceful life?"
"When Zhang Chai was in dire straits, his wife stayed with him, but what happened? The woman he married later became even more obedient. The Zhang family even took advantage of the situation and treated the Zhuo family as their own money bag."
Yu Kezi finished combing the last lock of hair and laughed when he heard this: "It's just greed. Isn't the Wang family the same?"
"Humph, my Zhao family is at its peak, and they want to unite but they are both two-faced. The Zhang family sent their two daughters to the palace, hoping they would bear children, while at the same time they are trying to sow discord between the new Prince of Huaiyang, hoping they can also rise to prominence like the Wang and Zhang families."
"As for the Wang family, if they want to instigate others to harm me, it would be best if they could do what the Huo family did back then. Then they could use the Empress Dowager as a pretext to establish a good relationship with Zhao'er. It just so happens that the Wang family has a good girl in this generation. It's a great idea."
Zhao Hede straightened her dress and made sure everything was packed before she slowly walked out. "Wang Mang has been well-educated in the past few years. He's smart and capable. It's a pity that he's on that sunken ship of the Wang family. I'm afraid this matter will remain quiet for a few years."
"With your Highness's words, he will eventually rise."
"You're so clever. Okay, it's almost time. Bring Zhang Zhaoyi with you and take those people to Xuanzheng Hall and hand them over to His Majesty for disposal."
"Your Highness, are you not going?"
Hede yawned and lazily sat in the window seat, looking out at the vibrant spring scene with lush grass and chirping birds. "Your Majesty will take care of it. I haven't had breakfast yet. Let's call my sister and go pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."
"I understand."
It was noon by then. Fortunately, it was only early spring and it was not too hot to travel at this time.
Zhao Hede was sitting in the car. Seeing Feiyan still looked like she was half asleep, she reached out and patted her shoulder, startling Feiyan: "Oh! Why are you scaring me? Don't you know I can't help but be scared!"
"Serves you right. You're already an adult, but you still like to stay up late like Dangli and play cards without restraint. Ban Jieyu and I went to bed separately yesterday. When did you and Zhang Zhaoyi play? Tell the truth."
"...midnight, that is."
Hede glared at her, and when he saw that the carriage had arrived, he didn't say anything. He just gave her a look that said, "Wait for me."
When the two of them entered, Feiyan saw the dark circles under Wang Zhengjun's eyes and couldn't help but ask, "Was the Empress Dowager also playing mahjong last night?"
"What?"
"My sister played with Zhang Zhaoyi for a long time yesterday, and her mind is still not clear. She is asking if the Empress Dowager has had enough rest recently. She doesn't look well."
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