Chapter 326 He realized it too late
Zhan Xingzhuo's body trembled, and he glared at her angrily.
Then his gaze gradually dimmed.
He could deceive himself, but when these words came out of someone else's mouth, it was as if he had shattered the dream he had woven.
Yao Qingling will never come back.
There was another man by her side.
That person never abandoned her.
She had helped that person herself; they fought side by side, escaped their predicament, and climbed to higher places together.
Zhan Xingzhuo saw a different kind of relationship: not one where one party dragged the other down, but one where they stood hand in hand through thick and thin.
But he realized it too late.
Yao Qingling no longer needs him...
The man's shoulders slumped, and he took a few steps back.
Zhou Zhining watched coldly, feeling that he deserved it. He clearly had a woman like her loving him; they were a perfect match, both in terms of social standing and appearance, yet he was never satisfied and insisted on falling for Yao Qingling.
She added, "I will hand over the booklet. But can you guarantee that I won't die after I hand it over?"
She knew Prince Xin; without the amulet, he would have no scruples and would not spare her life.
She's the one who's seen the ledgers; he'll silence her completely.
Zhan Xingzhuo did not answer.
Tao Weixian and Shao Wenchou did not respond.
No one can make a promise on behalf of King Xin.
Zhou Zhining didn't look at anyone else; she only stared at Zhan Xingzhuo.
Seeing her silence, her heart broke once again.
He had truly decided to abandon her, and he wouldn't even try to coax her.
Fortunately...
Zhou Zhining suddenly laughed strangely.
She raised her hand to touch her lower abdomen, her eyes lowered, and her face showed loving tenderness.
"Brother Xingzhuo, I'm pregnant with your child. For your child's sake, you have to let me live..."
Zhan Xingzhuo was shocked and stared in astonishment at the woman's belly.
Is she pregnant?
She's pregnant?
Zhou Zhining looked up at him and smiled: "You're going to have another baby, are you happy?"
...
As temperatures rise, the grass becomes greener and more flowers bloom.
Prince Xin invited Yao Qingling to go for a spring outing in the countryside.
"I have been worried about Lady Yao's health for a long time. Have you received the medicine I sent?"
Qingling nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."
Prince Xin smiled and said, "It's just a worthless thing, Madam Yao, you don't need to worry about it."
He spoke of things that were worthless, and every single herb he mentioned was extremely precious, some even worth a fortune.
Yao Qingling tugged at the corner of her lips and said nothing more.
Her face showed neither worry nor joy; it was calm and gentle, like a willow in the warm spring sunshine, soft and beautiful.
Prince Xin looked at her half-profile and thought to himself that it was fortunate that the painting issue was resolved, otherwise Yao Qingling would be like a willow in a storm, with every branch slapping someone's face.
He gently fanned himself with a folding fan, enjoying the scenery of the lake and mountains with her.
Yao Qingling suddenly turned to look at him.
Prince Xin was secretly delighted and put on what he thought was a dashing and debonair air as he looked at her: "Lady Yao, have you discovered that I am handsome and dashing, and have something to offer?"
Yao Qingling glanced at his fan and smiled, "I've always been curious, Your Highness, aren't you cold always fanning yourself?"
“Uh…” Prince Xin was taken aback; no one had ever asked him this question before.
He chuckled, quickly closed his folding fan, and tapped it twice in his palm.
His attendant came over carrying a long box in both hands.
Yao Qingling looked at the box.
Prince Xin tapped the box with his folding fan and said to Yao Qingling, "Madam Yao is not interested in the medicine I sent, nor in my handsome appearance. I wonder if Madam Yao likes this?"
He smiled slightly, a calculating glint in his eyes.
Yao Qingling's gaze fell on the box again.
Prince Xin took the box himself and waved his other hand, signaling his men to leave.
He slowly opened the box himself, his eyes fixed on Yao Qingling.
Qingling's heart started racing when she saw the long box.
When Prince Xin opened the box and saw what was inside, her heart beat even faster.
It's that painting!
The original painting that Zhan Xingzhuo drew for her!
"Madam Yao, does this thing look familiar to you?"
Yao Qingling tried her best to suppress her excitement and told herself not to open it rashly.
What if it's fake again?
She swallowed hard, then calmly looked at Prince Xin: "Where did Your Highness obtain this painting?"
"I bought it back from a scholar at a high price."
He added, "This painting was stolen from Brother Xingzhuo's study by a servant of the Duke's mansion."
"Xing Zhuo's paintings were somewhat famous. He stole them and pawned them, but they were bought by a scholar. Later, Zhou Zhining accidentally learned that Xing Zhuo was looking for that painting, so she found the scholar, gave him money, and asked him to find someone to make a copy."
"However, I have already punished Zhou Zhining, and she will not cause you any more trouble."
"Lady Yao, I am presenting two gifts. I wonder if they will win you a genuine smile?"
Prince Xin lifted the box forward slightly, staring intently at her.
Yao Qingling curled her lips and took the painting out of the box in a generous manner.
She only opened half of it and glanced at it, looking indifferent.
"Zhou Zhining seems to be incompatible with me. From the first moment I saw her, she has been targeting me. I never expected her to be so vicious, even resorting to such underhanded tricks."
"But this painting is nothing special, just a little romantic gesture between husband and wife. It's unbelievable that a wicked slave stole it to amass wealth for personal gain. I have always been upright and honest, this is truly an undeserved disaster."
"Congratulations, Your Highness, on getting rid of the treacherous servant. From now on, Your Highness will only be accompanied by gentle breezes and bright moonlight."
Prince Xin curled his lips: "You certainly know how to talk. I went to so much trouble, and you dismissed me with just a few words?"
He narrowed his eyes slightly, a hint of lust in them.
Yao Qingling suppressed her displeasure.
She's not stupid.
Zhan Xingzhuo's study is filled with countless valuable paintings. Was that blind servant really going to steal this one?
Most likely, Zhan Xingzhuo gave her painting to Prince Xin, so he couldn't get it back. Therefore, he made a fake one to deceive her.
Zhou Zhining was a servant of Prince Xin. She worked for him and stole this painting to have many copies made.
This is the truth.
"I thank Your Highness, except for Zhou Zhining."
Yao Qingling's thanks were focused. She deliberately acted as if she didn't care about the painting, but rather about the trouble and loss that Zhou Zhining had caused her.
She downplayed the importance of the painting, so that Prince Xin could not claim credit for it.
She emphasized Zhou Zhining's influence on her, but at the same time, Prince Xin himself did not like Zhou Zhining and had long wanted to get rid of her.
Yao Qingling hadn't forgotten about the account book.
Could someone like Prince Xin tolerate Zhou Zhining threatening him and sabotaging his plans time and time again?
...
Yao Qingling returned to the Marquis's residence with the painting.
He immediately burned the painting to ashes.
This time, it was completely burned.
She breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling a sense of relief.
Lin Shiyuan watched as the painting was burned to ashes, then picked up a kettle and poured water on the ashes.
A wisp of smoke struggled to rise from the ashes, the layers of ash pressing together so tightly that nothing could be discerned anymore.
Yao Qingling wiped away her tears; she had suffered enough grievances lately.
Lin Shiyuan hugged her: "It's all in the past."
However, Yao Qingling used this tactic of borrowing strength to fight back very well.
Instead of working herself to the bone to clean up the mess, she put all the pressure on Zhan Xingzhuo, forcing him to give her an explanation.
This is what that man should do.
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