Chapter 173 Foolish!
Prince Xin frowned deeply: "I've only made arrangements for you at the estate."
The man said, "I made contact with the people in the manor and promised that as long as they give me the information I want, I will make him an official after the matter is settled."
"At the time, I judged that this person was very willing to cooperate with me. But after that, I tried to contact him again, but I never received a reply."
"But according to my observation, apart from the slight disturbance caused by the escaped 'female bandit,' there was nothing unusual in the manor."
"I wonder if the fact that the farmer dared not show his face is related to this."
He took out the silver notes from his pocket, which he originally intended to give the farmer a little something to strengthen his resolve.
After all, the bigger the stakes and the better the rewards, the more people want to gamble and take risks.
"This servant is also thinking that perhaps His Highness has sent other troops at the same time, and they have offered more benefits than this servant. This servant is not worth mentioning."
Prince Xin took the silver notes, looked at the amount, and then gave them back to the spy.
He had to think more highly of Yao Qingling.
He'd been trying to catch her tail for so long, but every time it showed any sign of life, she'd nip it in the bud.
Ah, Zhou Zhining is a talented woman, and Yao Qingling is a cunning fox.
but……
Thinking of Zhou Zhining, Prince Xin paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.
He mentioned to Zhou Zhining that Yao Qingling had a problem. Could it be that she did something?
The moon hangs high in the sky at night.
Prince Xin went to Hengwu Villa.
Before even entering the inner courtyard, the sound of a zither could be heard.
Upon entering, one sees Zhou Zhining dressed in a white gauze dress, looking elegant and refined. The strings of the zither vibrate slightly at her fingertips, her slender fingers intertwining with the strings.
Tao Weixian sat at the plum blossom table, drinking fine wine, seemingly captivated by the music or the beautiful scenery.
Outside the pavilion stood a huge coral tree. Under the bright moon, its crimson color resembled blood, and the wind blew, causing its emerald leaves to tinkle.
"Tsk, you guys certainly have a refined taste."
Prince Xin appeared with a gloomy face, a mocking smile playing on his lips.
Zhou Zhining stopped playing the zither and stood up to bow to Prince Xin.
Prince Xin looked at her with a gloomy expression. After Tao Weixian bowed, she asked, "Why is Your Highness angry?"
“Ask her.” He gestured with his chin toward Zhou Zhining.
Zhou Zhining seemed to sense something, but still looked up and smiled innocently: "How did I offend you?"
Prince Xin took a step forward, closing in on Zhou Zhining: "You don't know what you've done?"
Zhou Zhining's gaze flickered slightly, and she bit her lower lip, seemingly frightened. She quickly knelt down and said, "This servant...does not know."
She clenched her fists slightly.
This servant...she should have been an official's daughter!
Prince Xin looked at her coldly and did not tell her to get up.
Tao Weixian felt sorry for him, but also thought that Prince Xin's anger was inexplicable.
"Your Highness, I don't know what Zhi Ning did wrong? Explain yourself clearly, and then try to make amends. If that's not possible, then quickly think of another way."
"Could it be that something has happened to Jin Mantang?"
Prince Xin glanced at Tao Weixian.
Aside from beautiful women, he had no other interests, yet now he was showing them tenderness.
He stared at Zhou Zhining: "Have you touched Yao Qingling's estate?"
Zhou Zhining's breathing became slightly labored, and her fingers clenched even tighter.
She knew that Prince Xin was different from Tao Weixian and Zhan Xingzhuo.
He may seem idle and indulging in nature and beautiful women, but he also harbors ambitions.
Fearing she would anger Prince Xin, she decided to confess.
"His Highness told me that something unusual happened at Yao Qingling's estate. I also want to find something to do with Yao Qingling so as to relieve His Highness's worries."
"Ha!" Prince Xin scoffed, "Are you trying to share my burdens, or are you just too eager for revenge and quick success?"
Zhou Zhining lowered her eyes, humble yet resolute. She said, "This servant is here to share the prince's burdens. Of course, this servant has a personal grudge against Yao Qingling. This servant and the prince share the same interests."
"Is that so?" Prince Xin sneered. "Didn't your people discover the traces of the red cherry blossoms at the manor, and you happened to get the news from me, knowing my intention to promote Lin Shiyuan? Did you then think that Yao Qingling was weak and alone, and that this was an opportunity?"
"You acted before me because you hated Yao Qingling and wanted to kill her yourself. You only felt you had finally won when she died a gruesome death, is that it?"
A woman's love for a man is selfish; she'll fight tooth and nail to prove she's more important and the only one. A woman's hatred for another woman is also selfish; she only feels relieved when she sees the other woman die at her hands.
In the Prince Xin's mansion, which of the concubines had clean hands was vying for the emperor's favor?
He coldly watched them fight over him. If anyone went too far, or if he didn't like them anymore, he would kill them. He showed no mercy.
But Zhou Zhining is not.
Zhou Zhining is his teacher's daughter, an ally of interest, and his subordinate.
So she ruined his plans for her own selfish reasons, which made him very angry.
Zhou Zhining bit her lip tightly.
Who said Prince Xin was an incompetent fool?
She tensed up and insisted, "Now that Your Highness has caught Yao Qingling red-handed, why not take advantage of her inattention and drag her out as soon as possible?"
"We're just sending people to keep an eye on things and buy time. Yao Qingling is cunning and ruthless; she'll hide her true colors!"
"I think you're afraid she'll find out that you've left the Ministry of Agriculture," Prince Xin said coldly and softly.
She was afraid that Yao Qingling would send her back in.
Zhou Zhining's face turned pale.
Yes, she was afraid.
Now, she is even more afraid.
Now that Yao Qingling is pregnant, what will Zhan Xingzhuo's attitude be towards her?
Prince Xin angrily rebuked, "Do you even know what it means to 'stir up trouble'?"
"Lin Shiyuan and Yao Qingling have just parted ways. Lin Shiyuan's true nature hasn't been revealed yet, and their friendship is still intact. Yet you rushed to make your move. How foolish! I really don't know where your reputation as a talented woman came from!"
Prince Xin's intention was to see Lin Shiyuan and Yao Qingling drift further apart; Lin Shiyuan had tasted the joy of regaining his official position and wielding power, and as his desires grew, he would sooner or later turn against Yao Qingling.
He originally intended to develop that farmer into his own spy, and when the time was right, he would wipe out Yao Qingling and those suspicious bandits in one fell swoop.
Prince Xin also knew that since Yao Qingling and Lin Shiyuan had formed a community of shared interests, Yao Qingling would definitely have to make plans to deal with Lin Shiyuan's departure when they parted ways.
They should lie low and not make any moves that might startle her, waiting until Yao Qingling feels safe and relaxes—
But it's too late to say all this now.
His plans came to naught.
"You haven't learned a single thing from the teacher's schemes! All that money spent to promote you was wasted!"
Zhou Zhining was so badly scolded that she was on the verge of collapse, her face turning pale and then red, and she could barely breathe.
Tao Weixian couldn't bear to see her beautiful face with tears in her eyes.
“Your Highness, you’ve been too harsh. Yao Qingling used to hide her talents, who knew she was so cunning. Zhi Ning has been protected by us since she was little, how can she be compared to that orphan girl?”
"If we fail this time, we'll wait for the next opportunity. In my opinion, let Yao Qingling be smug for now. She's about to give birth, that's when she's least on guard, and that's our chance to strike."
The Grand Princess and Zhan Xingzhuo will definitely try to take the child back. When that happens, Yao Qingling will not only lose her child but also be convicted. I wonder if she will vomit blood on the spot.
Prince Xin gave him a cold glance and said in a low voice, "Don't think I don't know what you're thinking."
Now that Zhan Xingzhuo has his own child, he may not care as much about Zhou Zhining's child anymore.
That child might even inherit the princess's residence in the future.
This was a huge blow to Zhou Zhining. Tao Weixian wasn't genuinely speaking up for Zhou Zhining; he was just laying an ambush beforehand.
Tao Weixian and Zhan Xingzhuo were vying for women, but Prince Xin had no interest in it.
But it absolutely cannot affect his overall situation.
He gave Zhou Zhining a cold glance and warned, "Don't think that just because Zhan Xingzhuo is coming back soon, you can indulge yourself. If there's a next time, you'll have to go back to the Ministry of Agriculture and manage the warehouse."
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