"No, we're staying at an inn and heading to Jiaozhou tomorrow, so we won't bother you any longer."
After Fang Qing refused twice, Pinming didn't want to persuade her any further. He had several packets of high-quality tea packed for Fang Qing and kept saying that he would visit her when he had the chance and repay her life-saving grace by serving her like a slave.
After some polite refusals, Fang Qing and Zhao Shi'an left the teahouse. After walking a distance, Fang Qing asked Zhao Shi'an.
"What were you and Yunniang talking about just now?"
"As expected, nothing can escape your eyes. Just that tea-tasting girl, she is a close friend of the Prince Xian's concubine. I had Yunniang approach her to find out what was going on with the Prince Xian."
Fang Qing's eyelid twitched.
The wise king is no stranger.
In his previous life, Qin Zhiyu poisoned Zhao Shi'an at the behest of this wise king.
After the Gao family fell from power in the previous life, the person behind the Third Prince became the Wise Prince, the Third Prince's uncle and the current emperor's uncle.
If Qin Zhiyu was the direct murderer who killed Zhao Shi'an, then this Prince Xian was the mastermind behind it all.
"You're monitoring the wise king, but what has he done?"
“This wise prince lost the struggle for the throne to the late emperor. Now that the late emperor is dead, the current emperor’s foundation is unstable. If I were him, I would naturally not let this opportunity pass me by.”
His words sounded like a wild guess.
However, Zhao Shi'an should indeed be wary of this person.
Fang Qing didn't want to give any obvious hints, so she just said, "Then we should indeed keep an eye on things. The court can't afford any more turmoil."
Fang Qing and her group did not stay in Yangzhou for long and left early the next morning.
However, after they left, people from the Prince Xian's Mansion came to the inn where they had stayed.
"They've already left?"
"That's a real pity. Zhao Shi'an is such a capable man. If he could be employed by our Prince Xian's Mansion, it would surely please the Prince."
It's better that they've been demoted now, since staying by the emperor's side wouldn't have been good for them anyway.
After leaving Yangzhou, Fang Qing and her group headed towards Jiaozhou.
They traveled at a leisurely pace, stopping frequently along the way, and arrived at Jiaozhou territory ten days later.
Seventeen, who had arrived earlier, was there to meet them.
People from the Prince of Nan's mansion also came along.
This man is the heir apparent of the Southern King, and his expression can be described as arrogant.
Fang Qing followed Zhao Shi'an off the carriage, and his gaze immediately fell on her, making her very uncomfortable.
After inquiring about Zhao Shi'an's identity, the Prince of the South looked at Fang Qing.
"This must be the Princess of the Ministry of Agriculture. Seeing is believing, she is indeed a great beauty."
Fang Qing gave him a slight bow but did not respond to his words.
However, the advisors around the Prince of the South wanted to chat with Zhao Shi'an, but Zhao Shi'an didn't even glance at them. He helped Fang Qing into the carriage, and they continued to the residence that Seventeen had found for them.
As they watched their carriage drive away, Prince Yin Macheng of the Southern Kingdom looked gloomy.
"What is Zhao Shi'an? He's just a minor official who's been demoted here, yet he doesn't even respect me, the young master."
"Young Master, please calm down. Master Gao said that this person should not be underestimated. He may have come to Jiaozhou with some purpose."
Yin Macheng snorted coldly.
"I think you're all being too cautious. What can he do looking like a stray dog? I'll find a chance to teach him a lesson about who owns Jiaozhou."
"Your Highness, this is not appropriate..."
"Shut up, all of you. If this won't work, that won't work either. If you ask me, we should find someone to deal with Zhao Shi'an right now and see what tricks he can pull. But if you're going to deal with him, remember to leave his little wife behind. I think she's quite delicious."
After saying that, Yin Macheng waved his hand dismissively and turned to go to the red-light district.
Before Fang Qing and the others had even settled in, Gao Ren arrived with some wine.
Upon seeing Gao Ren, Zhao Shi'an's expression darkened, fearing that Gao Ren might say something to Fang Qing.
Fang Qing knew that there was something between the two of them that they didn't want her to know, so she simply went for a stroll around the house, giving Zhao Shi'an and Gao Ren some space to talk.
“I have searched the entire Nanwang Mansion since I arrived in Jiaozhou, but I have not found any trace of Gao Wancheng.”
Looking at the people busy moving things inside the mansion, Gao Ren said, "Your people arrived even earlier than me, so they probably know more about this than I do."
Zhao Shi'an remained silent.
"I never understood why you wanted to take that thing from me the whole way here."
Gao Ren suddenly said this.
"Logically speaking, you've achieved everything you wanted, so there's no need for that other thing now."
Gao Ren looked at Zhao Shi'an, while Zhao Shi'an looked at a palm tree in the center of the courtyard.
Gao Ren thought Zhao Shi'an still wouldn't answer the question, but to his surprise, Zhao Shi'an spoke up the next moment.
"It's because I'm so content that I want it to continue, in this life and the next."
Gao Ren paused for a moment, then chuckled softly.
"I never expected that you, Zhao Shi'an, would go to such lengths for the sake of your love for your children."
You don't understand.
This is not simply a matter of romantic love.
This is the happiness he has accumulated over two lifetimes; how could he not hold on to it tightly?
Gao Ren doesn't understand.
He doesn't have anyone he really likes, and he won't make any changes for a woman.
"I've said everything I need to say. I just hope we can each get that thing through our own abilities. Don't try to use tricks on me. After all, your weaknesses are so obvious right now. If I really wanted to deal with you, I'm afraid we would both suffer losses."
Zhao Shi'an's cold gaze fell on him.
"They're gone."
After descending two steps, Gao Ren turned around and his gaze fell on the pot of wine he had placed on the small table outside.
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