Chapter 531: Changes in Yunting
After an unknown amount of time, the attendant tiptoed in and whispered, "Master, Shuyu has been settled. Back at the mansion, the Madam was making a big fuss and smashed a lot of things."
Zhang Heyao's gaze remained fixed on Xiaoman's face, his tone indifferent: "Let her be. Once she's done smashing it, record the bill and deduct it from her share."
He paused and added, "If she makes a fuss again, let her tell her father so I don't have to write another letter."
The attendant sighed inwardly, thinking that the master really had no affection for his mistress at all.
However, although the lady was indeed making too much noise, the master's attitude towards her before was indeed not like this.
"Yes." He agreed, hesitated for a moment, and still couldn't help asking, "Master, do you really believe that Madam was responsible for Concubine Song's miscarriage?"
Zhang Heyao finally raised his eyes, the dim light dancing in his eyes, with a coldness and mockery that seemed to see through everything.
"Song Qingyi, it's impossible for her to get pregnant."
How could he possibly let a woman from the Zhenbei Palace give birth to a child for him?
The Zhenbei Palace owes him money, and it hasn't been repaid yet!
The reason why he never really attacked Song Mingzhen - the coldness that Song Mingzhen thought was actually nothing - was because he had other plans.
He always made King Zhenbei feel that the conflict between him and Song Mingzhen was a conflict between husband and wife, and that Song Mingzhen was too arrogant.
In order to show that he had no objection to the palace, he took the initiative to ask Song Qingyi to let the Zhenbei Palace relax its vigilance.
After all, it was his initiative to place spies around him.
Zhang Heyao is a person who never suffers any loss.
Anyone who has eaten his food must be made to spit it out.
He didn't care about doing anything to Song Mingzhen unless Song Mingzhen committed suicide.
His target has always been the Zhenbei Palace.
The current emperor is indecisive, has too much benevolence and lacks decisiveness.
Even Xiao Yan could escape death.
The evidence in his hands that he was going to use to bring down the Zhenbei Palace would probably fail in the end.
So Zhang Heyao endured it and did not speak out.
He can wait.
He can wait for the prince to ascend the throne.
After hearing what Zhang Heyao said, the follower opened his eyes wide in disbelief.
"Master, you mean..."
"The 'tonic' I gave her is the best contraceptive," Zhang Heyao said calmly. "Her so-called 'pregnancy' is just a setup. She wants to use this 'child' to bring down Song Mingzhen, or at least get her into trouble."
When the follower heard this, he felt a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.
He looked at Zhang Heyao's profile, which was half bright and half dark under the light, and for the first time felt his coldness so clearly.
He watched coldly as the two women fought to the death, making this fight destined to end with Song Qingyi's "crushing defeat" and Song Mingzhen's "wrongful accusation".
No matter what the result is, for him, it is just clearing up two troubles.
"If they want to fight, let them fight. Just don't put your hands here," Zhang Heyao gently touched Xiaoman's cheek, his voice as soft as a sigh, "...and don't put your hands on my Xiaoman."
The follower watched the almost natural switch between coldness and tenderness on his face, and dared not say anything more, and quietly retreated.
Unexpectedly, after a few days, rumors spread in the capital that Zhang Heyao favored his concubine and killed his wife, and the rumor became very popular.
Zhang Heyao was indifferent to this.
Song Mingzhen is asking for death, so let him die.
The prince heard about it and jokingly reminded him not to make things too ugly.
Unexpectedly, Yun Ting said with a smile: "Your Highness, this matter would be a big deal for others, but it is not a big deal for Lord Zhang."
Zhang Heyao frowned slightly.
He hated Yun Ting very much.
But there was nothing he could do about Yun Ting.
After Yun Ting returned to Beijing from Yongji County, he did not show off and just casually found a position in the Ministry of Rites. He was bored to death.
Zhang Heyao didn't take him seriously at first.
But gradually, he realized that something was wrong.
Yun Ting works in the Ministry of Rites and is responsible for matters related to the Crown Prince's wedding.
Around the Dragon Boat Festival this year, the emperor consulted the prince and arranged for the prince to marry Xie Yun, the eldest granddaughter of Taifu Xie.
The Ministry of Rites will be busy preparing for the Crown Prince's wedding.
Yun Ting, who had returned from Yongji County, happened to go to the Ministry of Rites.
This is too much of a coincidence.
That only means that he did it on purpose.
Yun Ting’s subsequent actions further confirmed this point.
He is so shameless.
He shamelessly flattered the prince.
This kind of flattery is not simply fawning, but pretending to be carefree on the surface while actually being calm and catering to the other person's preferences.
If someone else did this, it would probably be very conspicuous.
But Yun Ting did it so naturally.
Because he is a real playboy.
He really knows how to eat, drink and have fun.
The prince was sinister and suspicious in nature, and naturally had some impatience and scrutiny towards those upright and moral officials in the court.
On the contrary, Yun Ting's "real villain" attitude made him feel fresh and even interesting.
Yun Ting is well aware of this.
While reporting the details of the wedding ceremony, he would mysteriously pull out a deck of "Mahjong" cards, a newly popular folk game, from his sleeve and teach the prince how to play Majang.
He can also find all kinds of "rare treasures", such as the "Sky-Roaring Dog" that the prince is currently obsessed with. It is snow-white with only a tuft of golden hair on its forehead. It was given by Yun Ting.
He is good at observing people's expressions and making jokes.
Seeing the prince frowning at the wedding dress sent by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, he took the initiative to rush out and make trouble.
"Can you guys stop doing this! If you can't, let me take charge of the Imperial Household Department and see what kind of trouble they've created to make things difficult for His Highness! Get out!"
Zhang Heyao watched with cold eyes as Yun Ting thrived in the Eastern Palace.
The way the prince looked at Yun Ting changed from initial wariness, curiosity, and scrutiny to gradually becoming habit and even dependence.
So when the prince gave Zhang Heyao some advice, Yun Ting was also there and dared to interrupt.
"Master Zhang divorced his wife and remarried, and Master Zhou Xiaoyao wanted to complain about you eight hundred times a day, but the emperor didn't hold it against you, did he?" Yun Ting smiled. "What's the big deal about the women in the harem? It's nothing!"
How could Zhang Heyao not hear the sarcasm in his tone?
But against this kind of playboy, you lose everything, and there is nothing to be proud of even if you win.
So Zhang Heyao ignored it.
The prince said, "Don't make it too embarrassing. I can't defend you."
"Yes, Your Highness, I'm sorry to have made me worry." Zhang Heyao lowered his head.
After talking for a while, the prince went to the palace to attend to the emperor's illness - this winter, the emperor was bedridden due to a cold.
Zhang Heyao and Yun Ting went out together.
After leaving the house, Yun Ting didn't have a smile on his face, and he didn't even bother to glance at Zhang Heyao.
The two parted ways.
Those who have different ideals cannot work together.
Yun Ting returned to his house outside.
Only when he was alone could he completely take off the mask on his face that was making it almost suffocating him.
The clamor and flattery of the Eastern Palace, the scrutiny and intrigue of Zhang Heyao and others were finally kept outside the door.
Yun Ting sat at the desk, took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly.
He skillfully opened a secret compartment under the desk.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
