Chapter 238 You have a really sharp tongue.
New Mansion.
When Zhou Zhining learned that Zhan Xingzhuo had slept in the Zhongyong Marquis's residence overnight, she was so angry that she smashed things all over the place.
She racked her brains but couldn't find a way to get Zhan Xingzhuo's forgiveness.
That forced her to have that idea.
Zhiyue quickly stopped her: "Miss, you mustn't. If we touch that person from the Marquis's mansion, I'm afraid we won't be able to control the situation. The major case in the palace is under strict investigation, so let's be patient."
Zhou Zhining gave her a fierce look, and Zhiyue was frightened, but she could only grit her teeth and kneel down to beg.
Her knees were in excruciating pain, but she chose to endure the pain rather than risk losing her head.
Zhou Zhining could only force herself to calm down.
She drank a large bowl of herbal tea to clear heat.
Zhiyun said cautiously, "Miss, time will tell. You just need to continue to serve the Second Master as attentively and thoughtfully as before, and he will change his mind."
"Second Master is in a bad mood. He's just using Yao Qingling to provoke you and make you jealous and angry."
Zhou Zhining's eyes flickered slightly, trying to provoke her jealousy?
Is it really that simple?
But no matter what, she was truly at her wit's end.
Zhou Zhining had no choice but to suppress her temper and go to the kitchen herself again to stew soup and cook dishes, using all the skills she had learned at the Grand Tutor's mansion.
The ginseng chicken soup is simmered over a low flame, the eight-treasure duck is prepared with complicated procedures, and the Wensi tofu is shaped like an autumn chrysanthemum, all drizzled with a rich broth...
But even by dinner time, Zhan Xingzhuo still hadn't returned home.
The servant who went to inquire returned and reported: "Second Master went to the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence."
"Didn't you tell Second Master that I cooked a good meal and was waiting for him to come back for dinner?"
"This servant...this servant said..."
Zhou Zhining clenched her fists, her body trembling slightly from the tension.
"Ah—" She couldn't take it anymore and overturned the table. "Why, why did he do this to me!"
No one dared to respond to her.
At this moment, in the Luoli Courtyard of the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence.
Ma Peizhen, with her delicate fingers raised, held the wine pot and poured osmanthus wine for Zhan Xingzhuo.
As she poured the wine, she softly sang: "I wanted to buy osmanthus blossoms and share wine, but it will never be like the carefree days of my youth..."
There were no fancy dishes on the table, and the ingredients were not expensive; they were just ordinary roasted meat, stir-fried mountain delicacies, and braised fish.
Ma Peizhen's attire was not glamorous.
She wore a simple, plain-colored ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and a green sandalwood hairpin in her hair.
This outfit looks exactly like someone—Yao Qingling.
She was extremely frugal in her new residence, wearing old clothes, with simple hair ornaments, and her daily meals were not exquisite. She did not live like a noblewoman.
Zhan Xingzhuo only drank his wine and didn't even glance at Ma Peizhen.
However, her voice is quite good.
He asked her to sing a song.
Ma Peizhen obediently responded, took an empty bowl, held a chopstick, and began to sing a tune in rhythm with the tapping of the bowl.
Compared to the music played in brothels, this tune is quite elegant.
Zhan Xingzhu sipped his wine casually, his eyes gazing absently ahead.
He refused to believe that Yao Qingling could remain unmoved by his daily visits to the Marquis's mansion's backyard.
...
On the rooftop, Lin Shiyuan held Yao Qingling close, the two of them leaning over the roof, watching the men and women in the courtyard enjoying the moon and drinking.
Yao Qingling lowered her voice: "Tsk, I didn't know this cousin of mine had such a good voice. She sings folk songs quite well."
Lin Shiyuan glanced at her: "Aren't you jealous?"
She actually had the leisure to watch Zhan Xingzhuo indulge in romantic escapades with other women.
Yao Qingling said, "Although I can't sing folk songs, I'm better at business than her. I can invite the top courtesan from the music academy to sing and play the zither. Would you like to listen?"
Lin Shiyuan: "..."
She has a strong inner strength.
Lin Shiyuan was unaware that Yao Qingling's most painful period had long since passed.
She sighed softly and said quietly, "In those years, Zhou Zhining and he were a perfect match, enjoying each other's company every night. I went from having trouble sleeping to being able to fall asleep peacefully while listening to that music. What do you think such a little tune meant to me?"
She added, "It's not that I look down on Ma Peizhen. Her appearance is far inferior to Zhou Zhining's, and her talent is also far inferior. The only reason she was able to appear in front of Zhan Xingzhuo was because Zhan Xingzhuo wanted to use her."
"I bet Zhan Xingzhuo is disgusted right now. Look at him, he's just drinking alcohol and can't eat a single bite of food."
Lin Shiyuan: "You have a really sharp tongue."
Yao Qingling pursed her lips: "It's not that I'm being mean, it's just the truth."
Zhan Xingzhuo is the second young master of the Duke's mansion. He has seen all kinds of beautiful women and heard all kinds of heavenly voices.
Ma Peizhen overestimated her abilities and imitated Dong Shi poorly.
Lin Shiyuan pinched her cheek: "Shall we go back to Mulan Courtyard?"
Yao Qingling nodded: "It's quite cold here."
Lin Shiyuan carried her and quietly left the rooftop.
Mulan Courtyard was already used to the two of them flying around on the rooftop.
Since they rarely had the chance to spend time together during the day, Lin Shiyuan often took Yao Qingling out at night.
They would either go to the ice cave by the lake to catch fish; or disguise themselves as ordinary people and stroll around the night market; once they even dressed up as beggars and begged under the city wall.
Or he might do nothing at all, just play with Zhao'er in the room, making her grab things and play.
The little baby often cried because of these two.
At this moment, Nie Yun didn't even blink at the two people who had suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
Qingling shivered from the cold, rushed into the house, sat cross-legged on the kang (a heated brick bed), and suddenly wanted a pot of osmanthus wine.
From the time she became pregnant until now, she hasn't been able to drink a single drop of alcohol.
He Yin was very strict and wouldn't let her touch a single drop.
Lin Shiyuan shook his head, and Yao Qingling tilted her head to look at him: "Just a little bit, that's all."
Her thumb and forefinger were separated by an inch.
Lin Shiyuan shook his head.
"And so many?" Yao Qingling's thumb and forefinger were now only half an inch apart.
Lin Shiyuan sighed: "No."
"Not only can't you drink, but neither can I."
He told Qingling about the major case he had taken on and showed her the Dragon Roar Sword.
Yao Qingling grasped the three-foot-long sword and carefully stroked it.
The imperial sword, the precious gems inlaid on its scabbard, and the sharp, cold gleam of the drawn sword—all of these stirred the heart.
It is both wealth and death.
No wonder people say that a sword has two sides.
Yao Qingling's breathing was heavy as she looked at the sword over and over again: "If the case is solved, you will have seized the opportunity to be promoted to Vice Minister."
Normally, officials can't be promoted that quickly; some people remain just minor officials their entire lives.
For a high-ranking official in the imperial court to be promoted, the person in charge must first retire, creating a vacancy, before the person in charge can fill the vacancy.
However, the opportunities for officials to be promoted were mostly in the hands of powerful and influential families.
They would only place their own people in the appropriate positions to control the court.
"...The Yellow River case, such a big case, only affected a few officials like Grand Tutor Zhou, and some officials were dismissed. Those vacant positions were filled by other powerful families. It was as if it had no impact at all."
Qingling's tone was filled with sorrow and helplessness, as well as concern for Lin Shiyuan: "If you come to investigate this case, not only will you offend people, but even if you uncover those officials, in the end, I'm afraid you won't be the one who benefits."
Optimistically speaking, the emperor, recognizing his great contributions, promoted him to the position of Vice Minister.
But he will certainly face opposition from other officials who say he was promoted too quickly.
Slightly better, Lin Shiyuan remained a doctor, waiting for the next opportunity, while those vacant positions were once again filled by people that powerful families wanted to put in.
In the worst-case scenario, the case is solved, but Lin Shiyuan is framed and meets a tragic end.
Yao Qingling held Lin Shiyuan's large hand. Although she was worried, she did not stop him from doing it.
They all have things they want to accomplish.
Lin Shiyuan wanted to be a high-ranking official in the court, change the political situation, and become Yao Qingling's powerful backer; Yao Qingling wanted to be a great merchant, earn lots and lots of money, open many shops, hire many people, cultivate a lot of land, so that the people could have food to eat and the soldiers going to the battlefield could receive military pay.
Lin Shiyuan held her fingers tightly, afraid that the sword would cut her hand. He said, "Originally, the iron ore should have been a stepping stone for my rise to power, but the case in the palace is more troublesome. Now that I've taken on this case, I'm not afraid anymore."
Because after the corruption case in the palace, before the emperor and his officials could react, he would naturally bring up the iron ore issue, making it impossible for those officials to touch him.
Yao Qingling smiled slightly: "What do you need me to do? I'll help you."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
