Just as everyone was sighing, the Minister of Revenue shouted. Everyone looked over in confusion and saw that the Prime Minister, who had just reached the entrance of the main hall, had suddenly fainted. This time, he had truly fainted and was completely dead, his face pale and bloodless.
Amidst everyone's frantic efforts, Zhang Hui was once again sent to the Imperial Hospital.
At the Prime Minister's residence, Zhang Hui, who had already been brought back, lay on the bed staring blankly at the ceiling. Madam Zhang brought him a bowl of medicine and asked him what had happened.
Although the two had just had a fight, seeing Zhang Hui like this now, Madam Zhang couldn't bear it and fed him medicine, but Zhang Hui didn't react at all, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Mrs. Zhang sighed, put the medicine aside, and walked out.
She took her maid and went to the home of the Minister of Revenue. She and the Minister's wife were good friends before their marriage, and now that something had happened, she had no choice but to go to her house to inquire.
Upon arriving at the Minister of Revenue's residence, the Minister's wife, seeing Madam Zhang's anxious expression, pulled the Minister of Revenue aside and asked him to explain in detail what had happened in the court.
The Minister of Revenue looked at Madam Zhang with sympathy, but was puzzled when he learned that Prime Minister Zhang had not said a word after returning home.
Then he told Madam Zhang everything that had happened in the court, and Madam Zhang's expression changed after listening. The Minister of Revenue and his wife were even more puzzled.
The daughter disguised herself as a man, passed the imperial examination with top honors, and even became an official. Although it was surprising, it was a good thing. Anyway, the emperor didn't pursue the matter. If they had such a promising daughter, they would be laughing in their dreams.
"What exactly did Qing'er do wrong back then?"
All everyone knows is that a month after Old Master Zhang passed away, his youngest daughter was secretly sent to the village, supposedly because she was unruly and disobedient, and they sent her there to temper her.
Everyone thought she would be brought back in a few months, after all, Zhang Qing was a legitimate daughter. Who knew that she hadn't been brought back yet? If Zhang Qing hadn't returned to the capital herself, they would have forgotten that she even existed.
Madam Zhang absentmindedly brushed it off and left the Minister's residence, sending someone to inquire about Zhang Qing's whereabouts.
No wonder that stubborn old man refused to speak after returning home. Madam Zhang was flustered. She knew that stubborn old man. He was afraid that his youngest daughter would do something outrageous again. This time, his youngest daughter disguised herself as a man and became an official. Fortunately, the emperor did not take it to heart. Otherwise, if she had been charged with deceiving the emperor, their entire Zhang family would have been implicated.
It's a miracle that the old stubborn man hasn't died of anger. Once he calms down, his youngest daughter will be in deep trouble.
Madam Zhang clenched her handkerchief tightly. She had to find her youngest daughter before that stubborn old man did, or she feared that her daughter would be beaten to death by him!
It was already afternoon when Madam Zhang learned where Zhang Qing lived, but when she rushed there, she found the door locked and Zhang Qing was not home.
Where could she go? Mrs. Zhang stamped her feet anxiously. Just as she was panicking, she heard two old women washing clothes by the river calling her.
"You're here to see Lord Zhang too, right?"
Madam Zhang nodded blankly, then was startled. Could it be that the old stubborn man had already taken her youngest daughter away?
The old woman washing clothes pointed her in a direction, "When Lord Zhang is not at home, he usually goes to the girls' school or to one of his fellow villagers' places."
"That's strange. A few people came looking for Lord Zhang just now, and they didn't seem to have any good intentions! Did he do something wrong?"
Another older woman asked Mrs. Zhang curiously, thinking that the young man seemed like a nice person and had helped her a lot. Could he have been framed?
Madam Zhang didn't have time to explain to her. After finding out the location of Zhang Qing's fellow villager's house and the girls' school, she told her maid, Xiao Ping, to go back to the mansion and wait. If her youngest daughter was taken back, she was to come find her immediately. She herself went to the fellow villager's house first, according to the distance of the location.
At Tian Wanyin's home, the small courtyard was packed with people, and several groups of onlookers were gathered outside the door.
Zhang Hui's pale complexion improved slightly, but a serious expression returned. He bowed to the Crown Prince and prepared to take Zhang Qing away.
The movement of several burly guards startled Tian Wanyin's two daughters, who shrank back behind her. Tian Wanyin then looked at the Crown Prince, hoping he would help Zhang Qing.
Ah! This! Even an upright official can't settle family disputes. The Crown Prince subconsciously looked at Chuanwen beside him, and then realized that Chuanwen was not omnipotent.
As for why the Crown Prince and Chuanwen were here, the Crown Prince brought Qi Feng to see Tian Wanyin for treatment, while Chuanwen wanted to join in the fun, so he asked the Emperor for leave and came with the Crown Prince.
The emperor originally wanted to come along, not caring whether he joined in the fun or not. He just wanted to ask the descendant of the medical sage if he had any prescriptions for hair growth. However, considering that he was the ruler of a country, he had to maintain his image, so he had to put the idea aside for now and plan his next move later.
Zheng Yan protected Chuanwen from being caught in the crossfire of the guards. Chuanwen, who valued his life, also silently retreated behind the millstone to make sure he wouldn't be accidentally hurt. He then lay down on the millstone and started watching the show.
Zheng Yan smiled. Chuanwen was like a collection of all contradictions: she cherished her life but loved to join in the fun, she was obedient but unruly, and she could make people laugh and cry from time to time.
[I don't understand~, why does the old man think the old man died of anger at Zhang Qing, instead of dying of joy?]
Chuanwen's words were like a wake-up call. The Crown Prince's eyes lit up. "That's right! Maybe your father was so happy to see that Zhang Qing is so talented and cute that he died of joy!"
However, after separating Zhang Qing from the guards, he frowned in shock. What?! The Prime Minister's father was angered to death by Zhang Qing!
Oh no...maybe he died of happiness for some reason...
No wonder Zhang Hui was so angry when he saw Zhang Qing!
Zhang Hui gave Chuanwen a cold stare, which displeased Chuanwen. [It was the Crown Prince who was stopping you from taking your daughter back! Why are you glaring at me! Do you think I'm easy to bully?!]
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