Chapter 36



Half a month later, Prince An and his companions arrived in Jiangnan. Prince An was a man who led troops to fight in battles, and he was very swift and decisive in his actions. In addition to his status, he had a clear understanding of the disaster in Jiangnan in just three days. Because of this, his face looked unusually ugly.

When the secret memorial written by Prince An about the disaster in Jiangnan was delivered to the emperor's desk, the emperor was furious. Nearly half of the counties in Jiangnan were submerged by floods and the people were displaced. As for the number of deaths and injuries, there was no exact news yet, but the emperor could imagine how tragic the situation was in Jiangnan.

In particular, local officials dared to conceal the truth and not report it. Some officials colluded with unscrupulous businessmen to sell grain at high prices, which were six or seven times higher than before. The people who were already suffering from the floods had their lives even more difficult, and children being sold could be seen everywhere.

There were also some places where the disaster victims rioted, and after being suppressed by the local garrison, they were secretly executed. The places mentioned in the secret memorial were exactly the places where Jiangnan officials had previously written that there were unruly people who were plotting rebellion.

The emperor was furious and smashed his favorite white jade paper. The officials in the court were affected by his bad mood and were scolded. Most of the officials in Jiangnan were dismissed, many of whom were recommended by the Zhong family. For this reason, the Zhong family was trembling with fear. Mr. Zhong originally served in the inner cabinet, but this time he was directly dismissed by the emperor and investigated.

The former court and the harem have always been one. When the emperor's wrath spread to the harem, both concubines and palace maids were trembling with fear. All the jealousies subsided, and the harem was rarely peaceful and harmonious.

As for the Jinxiu Palace, the Emperor has not set foot there for half a month, and has even put Concubine Wan under house arrest in disguise. The place that was once envied and courted by everyone has now become somewhat deserted. If the Zhong family had not yet lost power and Concubine Wan had the Third Prince by her side, this place would probably be no different from a cold palace.

Concubine Wan sat in the empty palace, listening to Nanny Zhong talking about the situation in the harem in recent days.

"Your Majesty, Concubine Du is two months pregnant. Today, the Emperor promoted her to Lipin. Not only the Emperor, but also the Empress and Concubine De have sent gifts to her. If it weren't for the flood, I'm afraid there would be a lot of gongs and drums over there."

Although Nanny Zhong did not take Lipin seriously, after Concubine Wan had been implicated twice, Lipin's rise had posed a threat to them, and they had to feel a little worried.

"When Concubine Li first entered the palace, I thought she was a fool. After being favored by the emperor a few times, she was so proud that she was not smart. But over the past year, the emperor has been doting on her, and she has understood the emperor's personality very well. Madam, tell me, was Concubine Li really stupid or was she just pretending to be a pig to eat a tiger?"

Concubine Wan narrowed her eyes. She had been favored by the emperor for many years because of her innocent and kind nature. Whether Lipin was really innocent or just pretending would not escape her eyes. But if the emperor believed her, she would be favored. But no matter how she thought about it, it seemed very suspicious.

"Your Majesty, are you saying that there is someone around Concubine Li?" Nanny Zhong was shocked, and her face became serious when she thought of the favors that had been taken away from Concubine Wan in the past year.

"If we are just pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger, that's fine. But if someone is instructing us to go against you, my queen, then we have no choice but to take action."

Concubine Wan also knew what Nanny Zhong was worried about. She frowned, then retracted her stern gaze and continued with her embroidery work.

"She is just a concubine. Although I am under house arrest now, I still have the Third Prince by my side. What can she do to me? It's just... my father..."

Thinking of her father who was dismissed from his post and investigated, Concubine Wan was truly worried. Although her brother was the commander of the Imperial Guard and was not affected by the flood, if her father withdrew from the cabinet and was forced to return home to retire, the influence of the Zhong family in the former court would be much smaller, and her position in the harem would be unstable.

"I am now under house arrest by the Emperor, so let her be proud for a few days. Madam Zhong, have our people find out the news from the previous dynasty, especially about my father. They must report everything in detail."

Even though Concubine Wan was under house arrest, she could not truly calm down. She deeply understood that she and the Zhong family would rise and fall together, but all her actions were seen by those who were interested.

The emperor, who was so busy with the flood, finally had some free time. He didn't want to stay in his study room in the hot summer, so he took people to walk around the garden to relax. The emperor was thinking about the things in Jiangnan while walking, when suddenly, he heard a few small noises from the front.

The emperor was startled and was about to go over to see who was talking, but he heard words like "Empress Wan, Master Zhong, and the Third Prince" faintly revealed in the words carried by the wind.

The emperor frowned, slowed down his pace, and quietly approached the source of the sound. He had been angry whenever he saw the Zhong family these days. In addition to angering Concubine Wan, he had also scolded General Zhong several times in the court. What he heard now might be related to what had happened in the past few days.

The emperor got closer and closer, and heard someone whisper:

"Lord Zhong said that Elder Zhong has done more than what was reported, and that Concubine Wan must hurry up and regain the emperor's favor. Elder Zhong is now in prison, and only a few words from the emperor can help. If it takes longer, it's hard to prevent Prince An from causing trouble again."

Hearing this, the emperor's mood, which had improved slightly, fell back to its original state. He smiled grimly and veins popped out on his forehead. Eunuch Du, who had been serving the emperor, shuddered and mourned for Concubine Wan and Mr. Zhong in his heart.

When the emperor wanted to go closer to see who was talking, he found no one there. If he had not heard it clearly just now, he would have thought it was an illusion.

However, emperors have always been suspicious. No matter how much he trusted Prince An, he still doubted Master Zhong. Although he was angry, he still doubted the truth of these words. For this reason, when the emperor returned to the study, he asked everyone to leave, and even Eunuch Du was not allowed to stay in the room to serve.

The Emperor summoned the Blood Dropper, a weapon that only the Emperor could use, and ordered it to thoroughly investigate what Zhong Ge Lao had done over the years. As for Concubine Wan, he probably didn't want to see her again until the truth was revealed. Ten years of favor and favor had not diminished, but in the end, it was no match for the imperial power and suspicion.

Zhenyuanhou Mansion.

Xiao Yunrou had just finished taking care of the chores and had a sip of tea when she saw Qingci coming over anxiously.

"Madam, the young lady Chunmei from the Third Master's courtyard is two months pregnant. The Third Master wants Chunmei to abort the child. The Third Master was also present and started a quarrel with the Third Master."

Everyone knew that Chunmei was Pei Lingzhi's concubine, but the third wife had been married for only a year, and she had no legitimate son yet, but a concubine was pregnant, which was really embarrassing. Xiao Yunrou herself had not been pregnant for two years, and she was also a concubine hired by Pei Lingfeng to enter the mansion. For a concubine, it was always a matter of a bowl of contraceptive soup.

"Are you sure you're pregnant?"

Seeing Qingci's affirmative response, Xiao Yunrou's face turned a little ugly. The rules of the Marquis' Mansion were here. If Pei Lingzhi wanted to do anything after the family split, she would just laugh it off. But now, if the illegitimate eldest son of the third room was really born, the entire Marquis' Mansion would become a laughing stock in the capital.

"Does mother know?" Xiao Yunrou rubbed her forehead and said unhappily.

"I have already informed Madam. When I came here just now, I saw Madam Zhu had already gone to the third room."

Xiao Yunrou sighed and waved her hands:

"Since my mother has sent someone over, I won't interfere. My third brother is my uncle after all..."

Xiao Yunrou thought about it and then gave Qingci another instruction.

"Go find the indentures of the maid and her family, and sell them off after you've dealt with my mother's people."

The maids in the Marquis's mansion were all taught the rules. Even if the wife could not give birth to a legitimate son, they would hire a concubine to ensure that the eldest son would not be of low birth. There had never been a precedent of a concubine giving birth to a concubine's eldest son. Chunmei knew it was impossible but still did it. She must have been too conceited. Such a person must not be allowed to stay.

The relationship between Pei Lingfeng and Pei Lingzhi cannot be said to be very good, and the relationship between Xiao Yunrou and the third wife is just average. At this time, Xiao Yunrou will not go to the third room to see those troublesome things.

However, Xiao Yunrou felt a little sorry for the Third Madam. They had been together for such a long time that there was still some affection between them. Moreover, she was kind-hearted. After encountering such a terrible thing, she was afraid that the couple would become estranged and the Third House would be in chaos in the future.

As Xiao Yunrou expected, Pei Lingzhi wanted to protect his own child and wanted Chunmei to give birth to the child under the name of the Third Madam. The Third Madam disagreed, and the Third House made a fuss about this and the whole mansion knew about it.

Nanny Zhu represents the Shen family. Although the Shen family doesn't care about Pei Lingzhi, he is the heir of the Marquis's Mansion after all. She still has to consider the face of the Marquis's Mansion. She prepared a dose of abortion medicine and came. As Pei Lingzhi's biological mother, she has accumulated power for a long time. Pei Lingzhi dare not disobey her even if he wants to.

"Don't worry, Chunmei. We will have children again."

Pei Lingzhi felt very uncomfortable watching Chunmei in pain, but this scene was extremely painful for the Third Madam. If she had not retained a trace of rationality, she would have rushed over and strangled to death the woman who had snatched away her husband, stepped on her head and bullied her, and almost made her a laughing stock.

Nanny Zhu looked at Chunmei expressionlessly as she dropped the baby, and then explained Shen's intention clearly.

"Third Master, Madam said that the Marquis' Mansion takes rules very seriously. She will not pursue this matter. If there is a next time, she will definitely tell you and let you handle it."

Pei Lingzhi trembled with fear for a moment when he heard that Zhenyuan Hou was going to punish him. He had been afraid of his stern father since he was a child. If he were to find out, he would definitely be punished.

Pei Lingzhi could only watch Chunmei lying there covered in blood. When Nanny Zhu left, Qingci came. Qingci took out the indenture and asked the guards to take the dying Chunmei away.

"Third Master, please save me. I don't want to be sold. I still have to serve you..." Chunmei was panicked, her face full of fear.

"Third Master, Chunmei broke the rules. Normally, she should be beaten to death. However, our Crown Prince's wife was kind-hearted and just let her sell. Please don't interfere."

Pei Lingzhi gritted his teeth and stared at Qingci with an unfriendly look, but Chunmei's indenture was not with him, so he had no right to refute it.


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