Chapter 65 Zhan Xingzhuo is pelted with stones
Zhan Xingzhuo wanted to confine Yao Qingling to her quarters again, but found that he couldn't.
Almost every day, visiting cards arrived, and young ladies and wives from official families came to the mansion to see Yao Qingling, treating her with great courtesy; boxes and boxes of gifts were also delivered, but no one knew what they contained.
Zhan Xingzhuo wanted to decline, but found it difficult to refuse.
They were all officials, and offending people over trivial matters would only cause more trouble later; if Yao Qingling was not allowed to receive guests, the outside world would continue to pry and gossip.
He didn't have any concubines or mistresses, and no other women entertained him.
We can't have Zhou Zhining meet the guests in her place, can we?
A name that is not proper is not valid.
Hearing the commotion in the main courtyard, Zhou Zhining felt extremely distressed, as if she were scratching at herself with cat claws.
The contents of that box must be gold and silver jewelry.
Why did they suddenly become so friendly with Yao Qingling?
And you even gave her so many expensive things?
On what grounds?
Zhou Zhining was in a bad mood, and even the servants who served her were trembling with fear.
Zhiyue cautiously shared the information she had gathered: "...Those ladies and young misses were all survivors of that night at Yongning Temple. The young mistress is going to hold a grand Buddhist ceremony at Yongning Temple to pray for the souls of the dead."
Zhou Zhining snorted coldly: "It's a blessing in disguise for her, as she got to know so many important people."
She clenched her fists, thinking that if she could get those gold and silver jewels, she would have the money to bribe officials and save her family.
She used to be the center of attention, adored by everyone; but now, because of her status as the daughter of a disgraced official, everyone avoids her.
When Zhou Zhining thought of her past glory and then thought of her present state, she felt like a rat crossing the street, not even daring to leave her house, and her heart ached even more.
She said bitterly, "Yao Qingling didn't actually save their lives. She just held a religious ceremony and did some superficial work. A bunch of brainless people were fooled by her."
Zhiyun chimed in, "Exactly. She just took the lead, and all those noble ladies flocked to her. The money she used for the rituals was none other than Second Master's money. It's just making her look good."
Zhou Zhining gripped the armrests of the chair tightly, her hatred suppressed in her fingers.
Zhan Xingzhuo agreed to divorce his wife, but now Yao Qingling is completely unharmed and even has his support!
The laughter and chatter from the main courtyard, even the faintest sound, was unbearable to hear.
Xiao'er recovered from her illness and was riding her rocking horse in the yard when she suddenly pointed to the sky: "Mother, kite, look—"
Zhou Zhining looked up and saw a golden roc hanging leisurely in mid-air.
Her anger burned even brighter, her eyes practically spitting fire, until she burned the kite to ashes!
Xiao'er got off the rocking horse and wobbled towards the courtyard gate, trying to find the kite, but was picked up and brought back by the wet nurse.
Children have a strong obsession with things they can't have, and they'll make a fuss to play with them.
Hearing the child's crying, Zhou Zhining became irritable and slammed her hand on the chair: "What are you crying for? Your mother is a sinner. People don't like us. Don't you understand?"
Zhiyun and Zhiyue were startled and were about to offer some words of comfort when they glanced at the people who had entered through the door and all lowered their heads.
Tears welled in Zhou Zhining's eyes as she hugged Xiao'er and wept together.
As soon as Zhan Xingzhuo entered the room, he heard Zhou Zhining's angry curses. When he saw her crying with her child, his heart ached.
He strode over, picked Xiao'er up from her arms, put his other arm around Zhou Zhining, and said softly, "Why are you scolding the child? You've scared him."
“Brother Xingzhuo—” Zhou Zhining’s eyes were filled with tears. She looked up at the sky. The laughter and chatter in the main courtyard contrasted sharply with the crying here.
Her tears touched the man's heart deeply.
Zhan Xingzhuo said with a stern face, "Zhiyun, go to the main courtyard and tell them that Miss Zhou is not feeling well..." He then changed his words, "say that I am not feeling well and need some peace and quiet, and ask those women to leave."
Zhiyun said "Yes" and went out to deliver the message.
Zhou Zhining still looked at Zhan Xingzhuo with tears in her eyes.
She knew that Zhan Xingzhuo originally wanted to say that she was unwell, but she was a guest living under someone else's roof, and also a remnant in other people's mouths. How could he drive away a guest just because of her?
She was both pleased with what Zhan Xingzhuo had done for her and saddened by her own situation, forcing out an awkward smile.
The man gently wiped away her tears: "Why are you crying? This is just to make Yao Qingling happy for a few more days. Once we divorce her, she won't be able to laugh anymore."
He coaxed Xiao'er, who was still frightened, "It's just a paper kite. I'll make one for you myself."
Zhou Zhining sniffed: "Brother Xingzhuo, I was thinking, Mao'er Lane was also affected by the disaster. It's still dilapidated there. Many people haven't moved back, and some are living in dangerous houses... They all say I'm the daughter of a disgraced official, they despise me, they look down on me... I know I'm guilty."
“I’d like to take this opportunity… if I fund the reconstruction of Mao’er Lane and do good deeds, will they hate me less?”
It's a foregone conclusion that the Zhou family is involved in a corruption case; but for powerful and wealthy families, it's just that the Zhou family is unlucky.
Whose house is clean?
It was just a failed power struggle.
But once you fail, no one will sympathize; instead, everyone will push you down and kick you when you're down.
Zhou Zhining came up with a plan: to improve her prestige among the common people and in the imperial court by doing good deeds to alleviate her sins; she could also divert all the money from the new government to Yao Qingling's grand religious ceremony.
Zhan Xingzhuo's eyes flickered slightly.
That's a good idea.
These past few days, the most talked-about topic in Shengjing City has been the new government.
Yongning Temple and Mao'er Lane were attacked by refugees at the same time, causing a great uproar in the imperial court; the people also discussed it endlessly.
The nursery rhyme started again, singing about the miserable lives of refugees, saying that if they hadn't been driven to desperation, why would they have gone all out?
They would rather die than let their enemies escape.
The nursery rhyme suddenly took on a tragic feel.
The storytellers in various teahouses and restaurants described General Mingwei's heroic battles and his poignant love story with his wife.
The storyteller didn't mention Yao Qingling at all, but it brought to mind the nursery rhyme from a while back—that she was abused by her husband.
This contrast makes people even more indignant about Zhan Xingzhuo's protection of Zhou Zhining.
Once, when Zhan Xingzhuo was passing through a bustling market, someone threw a stone at him.
They punched him in the head and gave him a big bump.
Some in the imperial court even suspected that the reason why Mao'er Lane became the target of the refugees' attack was because those refugees found the hiding place of the remnants of the Zhou family and went there specifically to retaliate.
Some say that the refugees, driven by hatred, lost their minds and retaliated against the remnants of the Zhou family within the city, thus tying down the defenses of the capital; others stormed Yongning Temple to carry out large-scale revenge and vent their hatred.
—Those powerful and influential people who were frightened at Yongning Temple were all subjected to indiscriminate retribution because of the Zhou family.
They loathed Zhou Zhining and the Zhou family even more now.
Yao Qingling has returned. The new government does not need to hold a funeral. Zhan Xingzhuo has resumed his duties after his leave. He was "greeted" and scolded repeatedly in the court.
He's been going out by carriage lately and hasn't shown his face since; when he goes out, he rushes back, afraid of getting beaten up on the way.
He can handle things that are done openly; but how can he defend himself against attacks that are done covertly?
Zhou Zhining's method is good.
Most of the residents in Mao'er Alley are small business owners; these small business owners are greedy for profit, and a little money can appease them and make them change their tune and praise them.
Seeing Zhou Zhining's sincerity in repenting and atoning for her sins, the people's hatred towards her lessened.
She can gradually change people's perceptions of her.
As for the officials in the imperial court, they will gradually change their ways once they see the shift in public opinion.
After thinking it over and analyzing the pros and cons, Zhan Xingzhuo nodded in agreement.
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