Chapter 352: A Grateful Heart Thank You
Xuan Ge Si.
"Master, something bad has happened!"
The old butler of the Duke's Mansion almost crawled into Zheng Mingyuan's duty room.
Zheng Mingyuan took half a day off yesterday for his daughter's matter. After leaving the court today, he forced himself to report for duty.
He was already feeling depressed, and now seeing the old butler in such a panic, he was instantly gripped by a strong sense of foreboding.
"What happened again!"
After listening to the old housekeeper's incoherent account of the trial in Jingzhao Prefecture and the rumors that were all over the city, Zheng Mingyuan felt as if he had been hit hard and froze in his armchair.
How could it be... like this?
This is to completely destroy Huiyin's reputation and nail his Duke's Mansion to the pillar of shame!
In a flash, Zheng Mingyuan realized that this was the Sixth Princess's revenge for the conspiracy at the birthday party.
Treat others in their own way, or even be even more cruel.
"How did Huiyin leave the house?" Zheng Mingyuan's voice was filled with suppressed anger.
"Reply...Reply to the master, I have checked with the maid guarding the corner gate, and it is said that it was Captain Liu Feng who took them out.
Once last night, and again this morning..."
"Idiot!" Zheng Mingyuan slammed the table, his face ashen and veins bulging on his forehead.
This is simply walking into a trap and stretching one's neck out for others to slaughter.
"What's going on now?"
"The rumors outside were terrible. Fortunately, Miss was quick-witted and responded..."
He quickly recounted the story of how the Jingzhao Prefecture's back hall negotiated and fabricated the story.
After listening to this, Zheng Mingyuan slowly closed his eyes and exhaled heavily.
He knew that this was the best result he could achieve at the moment.
But so what?
The stain has been branded and can never be washed away. Huiyin is completely ruined.
"How did the examination go this year?"
Zheng Mingyuan's voice returned to calm, but it contained a chilling coldness.
"We have a clue. We have selected three scholars with clean backgrounds, a small fortune, and the potential to pass the imperial examination. Among them..."
Zheng Mingyuan waved his hand to interrupt him: "Whose hometown is the farthest from Zhongchen Road?"
"He is a scholar named Wang from Baihu West Road, near the border of the Western Regions."
"He's the one. If he can pass the imperial examination this time, he'll be selected and sent back to his hometown to be a county magistrate or county magistrate.
If he fails to pass the imperial examination, then he can just be married and sent away. There is no need to make up stories about love between two people or a talented man and a beautiful woman. "
"Yes, I understand." The old butler lowered his head and responded, feeling a chill on his back.
"The mansion has prepared a generous gift with great fanfare. Have Bingjun personally deliver it to Jingzhao Prefecture and bring the person back with great fanfare."
After Zheng Mingyuan finished his instructions, his eyes pierced the old housekeeper like a knife.
"Gatekeeper, you know what to do.
As for Liu Feng and Chunying, keep them for the time being and take care of them and the young lady's yard.
If she escapes again, you will be held responsible."
"Yes! I obey your orders and will never make any mistakes again!"
…
It’s almost noon, in front of the Jingzhao government office.
Deng Hongyi, the prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, had received the message and was waiting in front of the gate early.
All the backlog cases have been concluded and I should have been able to relax and take a good rest, but instead I encountered a terrible disaster.
What shocked him even more was that just now, he learned that Miss Sui Mo from the Sixth Princess's Mansion had actually come to Jingzhao Mansion this morning to handle the transfer procedures for an estate worth 100,000 taels.
One hundred thousand taels of silver is indeed an astonishing amount, but the more crucial thing is that the source of this property is actually under the name of Zheng Huiyin.
Coincidence? You're kidding!
This time, the Zheng family is afraid that even the last bit of fig leaf will be stripped off, and they will lose completely.
As my thoughts were churning, the sound of loud gongs and drums came from far away.
I saw Zheng Bingjun, the legitimate son of Duke Zheng, dressed in gorgeous clothes, riding on a tall horse, with servants carrying heavy gift boxes behind him.
The banging and hammering sounded and stopped in front of the gate of Jingzhao Prefecture with great momentum. The people were attracted by the scene and gathered around again.
"Lord Deng!" Zheng Bingjun dismounted, a grateful smile on his face, and walked quickly forward.
"Lord Zheng!" Deng Hongyi did not dare to show any arrogance and immediately walked down the stone steps to greet him.
The two men held hands and shook them up and down vigorously, with sincere smiles on their faces, as if they were close friends for many years.
Zheng Bingjun said in a loud voice:
"Master Deng, thank you for your kindness.
The people in the mansion have been extremely worried these days, fearing that the kidnappers might be so cruel as to harm the little girl's life.
I am afraid to use the right weapon to kill the rat, so I have kept it secret and dared not make it public. I am sorry to cause trouble to you, my Lord!"
"No, no, Lord Zheng, you are too kind. This is my duty.
Fortunately, God has blessed Miss Zheng, and although she was frightened, she was fortunately not hurt. This is a blessing in disguise."
He deliberately emphasized the words "God bless" and "never been harmed".
Upon hearing this, Zheng Bingjun narrowed his eyes slightly, almost imperceptibly.
God? Was this a reminder that this was "God's will" and His Majesty's tacit approval?
The gratitude on his face was accompanied by a subtle sense of real heaviness. He shook Deng Hongyi's hand vigorously again.
"Lord Deng is a man of high moral character, and I will always remember this!"
Deng Hongyi stopped there.
He gave this reminder out of consideration for their relationship as officials in the same dynasty.
If the Duke of Zheng's Mansion could see the situation clearly and cut ties in time, there might be a chance for it to regain stability.
But if you harbor resentment, pretend to obey but secretly disobey, and still dream of balancing both ends...
Oh, our Empress is not a soft-hearted person!
So what if he is the head of noble families?
The issue of the imperial examination for women alone has caused cracks in the seemingly solid camp of nobles.
This is almost a clear statement that if you dare to get close to the aristocratic family again, you will bear the consequences.
Deng Hongyi could almost foresee that His Majesty only needed to choose another obedient noble family and support the women in their family to pass the imperial examination and enter officialdom.
Then, using this as an excuse to bestow lavish rewards and make a gesture of replacing the Duke of Zheng's Mansion, everything will fall into place.
After some insincere greetings, the two turned their eyes to Zheng Huiyin, who had washed and changed her clothes, but still looked haggard and pale.
"Father!"
When Zheng Huiyin saw Zheng Bingjun, her eyes turned red, her voice trembled with the feeling of having survived a disaster, and she staggered towards him.
"Huiyin! My son!"
Zheng Bingjun opened his arms and caught his daughter steadily. He patted her back gently with his big hands, his tone full of heartache and fear.
"It's hard for you, kid!"
"My daughter is not suffering. I am lucky to be able to see my father."
Zheng Huiyin buried her face in her father's shoulder, her voice choked with sobs.
"Alright, alright, it's okay, go home with dad!"
Zheng Bingjun put his arm around his daughter's shoulders with an extremely caring attitude. Under the gazes of countless people, some sympathetic and some inquiring, he carefully helped her onto the luxuriously decorated carriage that represented the dignity of the Duke's Mansion.
The car door closed with a click, instantly isolating the outside noise and prying eyes.
The spacious and luxurious carriage was covered with thick brocade cushions and filled with elegant soothing incense.
However, this comfortable environment is like an ice cellar.
The father and daughter each occupied the two ends of the carriage, and the distance between them seemed like an insurmountable chasm.
The kindness and regret on Zheng Bingjun's face had long disappeared, leaving only icy indifference.
He sat upright like a pine tree, his eyes fixed on the carved wall of the carriage in front of him, as if there was nothing around him.
Zheng Huiyin curled up tightly in the corner, her hands tightly grasping the clean hem of her skirt above her knees, her knuckles turning white from the force.
She lowered her head so her expression couldn't be seen, and her eyes were cold.
The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a monotonous and dull rumbling sound.
There was no conversation or eye contact in the car.
The last bit of tenderness between father and daughter was shattered to pieces after today's drama.
Only the stagnant silence remains.
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