Chapter 172 Will he turn against Yao Qingling?
Zhou Zhining was indeed very happy.
Compared to Zhan Xingzhuo's deception, Tao Weixian expressed his kindness to her with gold, silver, and a large villa.
Do you like it?
"Mmm." Zhou Zhining smiled slightly and gently touched the longan-sized South Sea pearl.
Before the Zhou family collapsed, they had many such red corals and South Sea pearls, which were used as tribute, in their warehouse.
When she was a child, she used to play with South Sea pearls like marbles, and she would grind them into powder and apply them to her face, but now it is rare to see that.
She paused slightly, holding the South Sea pearl, then turned to look at Tao Weixian, as if she had just realized something: "This coral tree, could it be a tribute item?"
Tao Weixian held the fan, gently rippling the beads on it, and smiled casually: "Such a beautiful tree, the palace doesn't have any..."
He took off a large South Sea pearl and hung it on Zhou Zhining's hair bun, staring at her from left to right. Then he took off another pearl and hung it on the other side of her hair bun.
He said slowly, "Don't worry, this thing isn't in the tribute register."
Zhou Zhining, having grown up in the Grand Tutor's mansion, had seen all sorts of good things and knew very well that the palace might not have good items; the truly good things were all transferred to officials who held great power.
Tao Weixian lifted Zhou Zhining's chin, gazed at her tenderly, and said affectionately, "Zhining, only the best things are worthy of you."
Zhou Zhining shyly brushed his hand away: "Don't touch me like that."
He turned and left, and Tao Weixian quickly followed with a grin.
Zhou Zhining knew what men were thinking. She thought, Zhan Xingzhuo was unfaithful to her, so why should she be so devoted to him?
Moreover, the Zhou family's predicament is clear.
My father wrote letter after letter, telling me how difficult his life was in the North.
Mother is sick, and we have no money for medicine; it's already snowing in the north, and we need to buy new cotton-padded clothes and firewood; Father and several uncles have had enough of mining, they're too exhausted to continue, and they want to switch to easier jobs, but that requires money to grease the wheels. They're afraid of dying in the mines and never being able to wait for the day when they can return to Beijing and reunite with their family...
Zhou Zhining thought that all she wanted was to live well for herself and her family.
...
On the other side, Prince Xin held a brush and copied the ear-shaped painting hanging on the wall.
Both depict a beautiful woman lying on a rock, but Yao Qingling in his painting is slightly plump.
Somehow, when he put pen to paper, the drawing became rich and full without him even realizing it.
He asked the guard, "Does my painting look better, or Zhan Xingzhuo's?"
The guard stepped forward and looked at his painting for a while: "Your Highness's painting is beautiful. How can Master Zhan's painting compare to yours?"
Prince Xin smiled smugly, holding his brush and admiring his painting over and over again.
It turns out that plump beauties have a unique charm.
No wonder Lin Shiyuan was willing to be a lackey.
He put the pen aside and went to the basin to wash his hands.
The water was stirred, making a soft splashing sound.
It was clear that the prince was in a good mood.
The guard frowned slightly, glanced at the painting, and hesitated whether to reveal the information he had just learned.
Prince Xin turned around and saw the guard's constipated face. He kicked him and said, "What's with that expression? Just say what you have to say."
The guard lowered his head and whispered, "It's being said all over the capital that Yao Qingling is pregnant."
A few days ago, Prince Xin left the capital, and the news only reached his ears now.
Prince Xin frowned as he looked at the painting. So she was pregnant. No wonder she had gotten so fat.
With a gloomy face, he walked to the table, picked up his paintbrush again, added a few strokes to the paper, and his pregnant belly was immediately revealed.
The calligraphy brush was carelessly tossed onto the table, and ink splattered everywhere.
He stood with his hands behind his back, staring at the painting: "Lin Shiyuan's seed?"
"It belongs to Second Master Zhan. The Grand Princess sent people to control public opinion and prevent rumors from spreading."
Prince Xin sneered, picking up the painting with two fingers: "Then... I'll send this painting to Zhan Xingzhuo?"
The guard paused for a moment, then said, "Second Master Zhan will be returning to the capital soon. Once he officially assumes the position of Vice Minister, he will be of even greater help to the Prince."
Prince Xin thought for a while.
Is Yao Qingling that important to him?
He picked up the painting and threw it into the basin of water.
In an instant, the water submerged the painting, the ink dissolved, and its original appearance was no longer visible.
The guard watched as the painting melted away.
Suddenly, Prince Xin asked, "How is Lin Shiyuan doing as the commander of the Five Cities Garrison?"
The guard smiled and said, "What else can we do? It's just as you think, Your Highness."
He would lead a group of minor officials on a parade through the streets every day.
The difference is that he used to sit in a prison cart, but now he has to walk.
When encountering murder cases, robberies, thefts, or the like, you also have to be responsible for investigating the cases, running around the east, north, south, and west of the city until your legs cramp up.
Normally, a commander should be provided with a horse, but Lian Chengtian specifically instructed that there not be enough horses and that there were no horses available.
What can Lin Shiyuan do?
Prince Xin glanced at him and said calmly, "I'm talking about his relationship with Yao Qingling. Have they fallen out?"
Prince Xin's trip out of the capital this time was to find out some information about the bandits.
He now felt even more strongly that Yao Qingling was connected to those bandits.
He just didn't have any real evidence.
Lin Shiyuan is a man who hates evil and is loyal to the court. Will he turn against Yao Qingling?
The guard said, "Commander Lin is extremely busy these days, and Yao Qingling has replaced him with someone else to keep an eye on the docks. There's no sign of the two of them having any contact."
"I haven't seen Lin Shiyuan's younger sister, that little girl named Lin Qiao, for some time now."
"He must have been summoned back by Commander Lin. I heard that Yao Qingling is hiring martial arts instructors."
It's actually quite easy to understand.
The position of commander wasn't high-ranking, but it was still an official post. According to the rules of the nobles in the capital, women were not allowed to go out and show their faces in public, as it would lower their social standing.
That young girl will be ready to get married in a few years; it's hard for someone who's good with weapons to find a husband.
Besides, she's an official's sister, how can she be a bodyguard for a merchant's daughter?
The guard paused for a moment, then said, "He probably feels deceived by Yao Qingling. She's pregnant with another man's child; he'd be disgusted to see the child after it's born."
Even if you like someone, you wouldn't want to be a ready-made father, right?
Prince Xin gave a sinister smile. Lin Shiyuan gave up so quickly?
Weren't you chatting and laughing at the dock?
At this moment, a man dressed in satin clothes came in. He looked both noble and rustic, like a grain broker in the countryside.
He bowed to Prince Xin as soon as he entered.
This man was a spy assigned by Prince Xin to the vicinity of Yao Qingling's estate.
Prince Xin raised his chin: "Speak."
"Your Highness, the villagers on the mountain rescued a female bandit and brought her to the manor for Yao Qingling to treat. But the female bandit is ruthless and killed the person guarding her before escaping."
Prince Xin frowned, showing no interest in the news: "Is this even worth you telling me?"
These days, bandits are everywhere, and they're good at hiding. Besides, he's not just trying to catch one bandit, but a whole group.
Just because of this one female bandit who escaped, does that mean Yao Qingling is harboring a criminal wanted by the imperial court?
The spy said, "The strange thing is that, according to the description I heard, she sounds like the woman Miss Zhou is looking for."
Prince Xin raised an eyebrow, revealing a hint of interest.
That red cherry blossom was incredibly lucky; it actually escaped.
So, is it possible to escape to Los Angeles?
The spy then changed the subject, asking, "Has Your Highness arranged for someone to contact the people at the manor?"
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