He paced back and forth, while Zhao Qing, unsure how to speak well of the old lady, could only stand there awkwardly. Suddenly, Zhao Zisheng stopped and said to Zhao Zisheng, "Go to the storeroom and get the silver."
"Yes." Zhao Qing hurriedly turned to find the storeroom to get the silver. This matter needed to be resolved as soon as possible. If the beggars blocked the door, wouldn't it make them a laughing stock? Besides, the Empress Dowager was in Guanzhou, so they couldn't just kill those beggars directly. It would be a terrible thing. Why did the Empress Dowager come to Guanzhou? Wouldn't it be better for her to go to a nunnery like the Empress Dowager of the previous dynasty?
No sooner had Zhao Qing left than Zhao Zisheng's servant rushed in, shouting, "Master, Master, something terrible has happened!"
Zhao Zisheng had just lost his temper, and his anger was still simmering. Ding Cheng was making a ruckus, and Zhao Zisheng's temples were throbbing. He kicked Ding Cheng in the knee, and Ding Cheng fell to his knees with a thud. "Master, everyone in the city is saying that the old lady is unkind, that she is hypocritical, and that... and that..."
"What else? Speak!" Zhao Zisheng began searching for the whip he usually used to wield the axe. This old woman, this old woman... He was at a loss for words, unable to find the words to describe his disappointment with Zhao Zhongshi at this moment.
Ding Cheng lowered his head and said, "Speaking of Wan'er, Shi'er, and Qing'er, they are...unmarried and pregnant, not...not...indecent..." After he finished speaking, he kowtowed repeatedly, begging the master not to be angry.
"Thud." The sound of something being swept to the ground. "I'm divorcing her! Bring me a pen, I'm divorcing her!"
What Zhao Zisheng didn't know was that Zhao Shu had deliberately told Ding Cheng about the premarital pregnancy, and no one outside dared to spread it. After all, the Zhao family was very powerful in Guanzhou, and besides, she was also a daughter of the Zhao family. If word got out that a daughter of the Zhao family was pregnant out of wedlock, she would also be affected.
However, Zhao Zhongshi felt embarrassed. At this moment, it was her maternal family that should be worried, for they had raised such a daughter, who was simply ruining the reputation of the Zhao family!
Ding Cheng hurriedly stopped Zhao Zisheng, "Master, please think it over, Master. Even if you don't consider that Madam has been with you for so many years, you should at least consider the young master and the young ladies. If you divorce Madam now, how will the young master and the young ladies bear it, Master?"
Zhao Zisheng pushed Ding Cheng aside, "Get out of my way! Go, go and find that old woman for me! Hurry up!"
Upon receiving the news, Zhao Zisheng's favorite concubine, Aunt Bai, arrived gracefully in a pear-white, wave-patterned bodice. At over thirty, she was at the most alluring age. Her surname was Zhong, and her given name was Li Bai. She was indeed as pure and beautiful as a pear. She was the old lady's youngest cousin.
"Master, please calm down." Her voice was gentle, which made people feel comfortable. Zhao Zisheng lost his anger when facing Aunt Bai.
"My lord, I have prepared your favorite Eight Treasures Soup. Hui'er has not seen you for quite some time and misses you dearly. He keeps saying he has knowledge to ask his father."
Zhao Zisheng snorted, "She makes things difficult for you at every turn, yet you still think of her. No one is going to try to persuade me today. So what if I want to divorce her!"
Aunt Bai's lips curled slightly, but the smile quickly faded. The Eight Treasures Soup was Zhong's secret recipe, which she had obtained after much effort. When the master was young, she, as his older sister, often used the Eight Treasures Soup to win his favor. However, since she obtained the secret recipe and successfully gained the master's favor, she had not used the Eight Treasures Soup for many years. Now, when she talked about the master, she was indeed reminded of his youth.
But so what? The Eight Treasures Soup will still taste just as delicious if someone else makes it, but my sister has grown old.
When she was young, this cousin treated her fairly well. However, the worst thing she ever did was to put pressure on her and make her son a concubine. Wasn't the secret recipe for the Eight Treasures Soup given to her back then just to compete for favor with the other concubines?
Moreover, her cousin was cunning and gave her an incomplete recipe for the Eight Treasures Soup. Fortunately, she wasn't stupid, or she would have died long ago.
"Master, the Empress Dowager is still in Guanzhou. Let's deal with my sister's matter after she leaves. What do you think?" Aunt Bai gently massaged Zhao Zisheng's arm. Her movements were natural and smooth, neither too light nor too heavy, making Zhao Zisheng feel extremely comfortable.
He patted Aunt Bai's hand that was on him and sighed. The Empress Dowager was in Guanzhou, which was indeed not a good time to divorce his wife. He had been so angry just now that he wanted to divorce her without thinking of anything. But now, after Aunt Bai's reminder, he calmed down.
"Don't plead for her anymore. How can this foolish woman bear the responsibility of being the matriarch of the Zhao family? From today onwards, she will no longer be in charge of the household affairs. You should worry about it. You were both born into the Zhong family, but you are much smarter than her. I have seen through you over the years. You have suffered so much from her harassment, yet you still have to appease her and be tolerant. I'm sorry for making things difficult for you."
Aunt Bai's crystal tears fell as she nestled in Zhao Zisheng's arms, sobbing softly, "I am not wronged. I still have you, Master. I am willing to do anything for you."
When Zhao Shu learned that Zhao Zhongshi had been stripped of her power in managing the household affairs, she was drawing interior decoration plans for the shop. She looked up and smiled faintly, as if it were expected. If Zhao Zhongshi didn't provoke her, fine, but if she did, all it took was a trigger to ensure that she would never have a chance to recover. When dealing with an enemy, it is never the best way to end her life with your own hands stained with blood. The best way is to let another enemy come and end her life.
Why not do something that requires no effort at all?
After laughing, she lowered her head and continued painting. Green Ivy and the others quietly served her, glancing at each other's new clothes. They had all received new clothes from Bi Qiao today and couldn't wait to wear them out and show them off.
Zhao Shu's painting skills were not high; she could only sketch a rough outline. After finishing the drawing, Sun Yun had to embellish it before Fei Peng could ask a carpenter to make changes.
After finishing the last stroke, she blew on the ink and said to Green Ivy, "You look good in pale yellow, the same color as the tail of A-Yun's parrot."
"Princess! You're making fun of me." Green Ivy shyly shrugged her shoulders, put her hands in front of her, and pouted.
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