Chapter 108 It Can't Be Real
Seeing Chen Jiangyuan's bitterness, Xie Yanzhi suddenly felt happy.
Chen Jiangyuan kept his head down as much as possible, avoiding looking at the horrifying scene, and said softly, "Thank you, Your Highness. My father asked me to tell you that everything on the ship has been arranged."
Xie Yanzhi smiled and said, "Thank you for your trouble, Your Majesty."
Chen Jiangyuan suddenly spoke up again: "Your Highness, I heard that Wu Weixiong has been promoted to prefect and left for his post the day before yesterday."
After he finished speaking, he glanced at Shen Qingnian again.
He also wanted to say these words to Madam Fang.
Upon hearing Chen Jiangyuan suddenly mention Wu Weixiong and his wife, Shen Qingnian turned her head to look at them.
That man did indeed benefit from coercing her. And now she was still on the instigator's lap, and the thought of it made her even more restless.
Xie Yanzhi blew on Shen Qingnian's hair that was wrapped around his fingers and said lightly, "By taking up the post of prefect of Lingnan, Lord Wu can be considered a good official who cares about the country and its people."
Lingnan? Shen Qingnian was taken aback when she heard this.
The Lingnan region, a land of barbarians, is hot and humid with many insects, and its conditions are far inferior to those of this prosperous little town of Yunzhou.
Even if he were promoted to prefect, his life would not be as comfortable as that of a county magistrate in Yunzhou.
Wouldn't Wu Weixiong be promoted in name only but demoted in reality?
In fact, Wu Weixiong was also frowning on the day he received the transfer order. He knew that he hadn't handled things well and had offended a powerful person, which had ruined his career.
He then gave Jin a good scolding, and in the end, despite his resentment, he still took his whole family to Lingnan to take up his post.
Chen Jiangyuan smiled. Wu Weixiong was of questionable character, and this was the end he deserved.
He thought for a moment and then said, "I also heard that they encountered villains on the road yesterday. Madam Wu, Jin, was kicked and miscarried on the spot. She lost the baby in her womb."
As he spoke, he glanced at Shen Qingnian again.
Upon hearing this, Shen Qingnian's eyes showed a hint of surprise; this was far too coincidental.
She looked at Xie Yanzhi with a hint of suspicion.
Chen Jiangyuan followed Shen Qingnian's gaze and saw that Xie Yanzhi showed no surprise. Suddenly, a thought struck him.
The affair involving the Wu couple was likely orchestrated by the gentle, polite, and refined Xie Shizi.
Chen Jiangyuan was surprised by the Crown Prince's ruthless methods, but he was even more surprised by the Crown Prince's care for Madam Fang.
This is clearly Xie Shizi standing up for Fang Niangzi!
They had only known each other for a few days, yet Xie Shizi was already so attentive to Fang Niangzi.
His disappointment vanished completely; perhaps, Madam Fang had made the right gamble this time.
The prince truly loves her deeply, and she deserves to give up her freedom to stay by his side.
Xie Yanzhi smiled and glanced at Shen Qingnian, his tone carrying a deeper meaning: "That's really a pity."
Shen Qingnian then realized that this was Xie Yanzhi's doing.
The Jin family ordered their men to beat Ling'er so badly; now they're reaping what they sowed.
However, she also gained a deeper understanding of Xie Yanzhi's coldness.
They were instructed by him to do things that forced her, and now he is punishing them severely as a favor to her.
What exactly are these people in Xie Yanzhi's eyes?
Shen Qingnian felt that Xie Yanzhi was truly cold-hearted.
Chen Jiangyuan had finished speaking when he noticed that Xie Shizi's gaze was fixed on Fang Niangzi. He felt that he was really superfluous here.
He had no choice but to stand up awkwardly, cup his hands in a respectful bow, and say, "Your Highness, I still need to pay my respects to my grandmother, so I'll be leaving now."
Xie Yanzhi looked at him and said calmly, "Young Master Chen, please take care."
After Chen Jiangyuan left, Shen Qingnian jumped off Xie Yanzhi's lap and took a few steps back to keep her distance from him.
Seeing her wary expression, Xie Yanzhi smiled instead of getting angry: "Are you satisfied with the fate of the Wu couple?"
Shen Qingnian remained silent.
Xie Yanzhi fiddled with the jade pendant at his waist, a smirk playing on his lips.
"I have already punished them severely for you. Shouldn't you be grateful to me?"
Shen Qingnian was furious when she heard his words.
She suppressed the urge to curse him for being shameless and calmly said, "This servant has never asked the young master to punish anyone, and besides, the young master did not do it for this servant's sake."
"Oh?" Xie Yanzhi asked in a probing tone, "Then who is this young master doing this for?"
Shen Qingnian replied neither humbly nor arrogantly, "The young master is doing this for himself!"
For his own selfish desires, he made the Wu couple and she the victims.
He manipulates everyone, and yet he expects her to be grateful to him?!
At this moment, Shen Qingnian was absolutely certain that Xie Yanzhi was a cold, stubborn, and selfish person!
She felt disgusted just looking at his impeccably dressed appearance.
Xie Yanzhi clearly did not expect Shen Qingnian to react this way.
She didn't say a single word that accused him, but he felt as if she had scolded him.
He helped her vent her anger, but instead of joy and gratitude, she looked at him with disgust.
Excellent! She's truly an ungrateful wretch!
Xie Yanzhi's eyes turned icy cold, his face darkened, and his anger surged.
That gaze seemed to want to kill Shen Qingnian.
At this moment, Yuan Qing suddenly came to report: "Master, everything is ready. We can set off now."
Xie Yanzhi's eyes regained their clarity, and he said calmly, "Yes. Let's set off now."
He would punish her severely once they returned to the Marquis of Jingnan's residence.
Xie Yanzhi gritted his teeth, turned and left.
Governor Chen and his family held a farewell banquet for him at the Yunzhou ferry crossing.
Governor Chen said, "Your Highness, I have already had everything prepared for the next few days. I hope you have a safe journey."
Xie Yanzhi smiled and said, "I have indeed troubled Governor Chen these past few days."
"When Governor Chen arrives in the capital, he may come to the Marquis of Jingnan's residence to find me."
Upon hearing this, Governor Chen was flattered and overwhelmed.
Prince Xie meant that he considered him one of his own and would help him get a position in the capital.
He then bowed to Xie Yanzhi.
Xie Yanzhi smiled, turned around, and boarded the ship.
Governor Chen gazed at the spirited man on the deck, his black robe with gold thread fluttering in the wind, standing with his hands behind his back, looking out over the vast mountains and rivers.
Governor Chen couldn't help but sigh, "The prince's demeanor is truly unmatched."
Three nights later, Xie Yanzhi came to his desk, picked up his brush, and prepared to write on the Xuan paper.
Suddenly remembering something, his gaze turned icy, and he ordered towards the door, "Let Shen Qingnian in!"
Shen Qingnian was with Ling'er, and the two were talking.
Yuan Qing came over and said, "Miss Qing, the master wants you to go."
Shen Qingnian turned to meet Ling'er's worried gaze and squeezed Ling'er's hand to comfort her.
The smile on his face vanished the moment he stood up.
He respectfully lifted the curtain and approached Xie Yanzhi's desk, speaking in a calm tone: "Your Highness."
Xie Yanzhi frowned upon hearing that cold voice.
Looking at her lowered eyes, she appeared very docile, just like a real maid.
Xie Yanzhi said, "The ink is gone, grind some ink for me."
"Yes." Shen Qingnian obediently replied again, then rolled up her sleeves, added water, and began grinding ink.
Seeing this, Xie Yanzhi felt inexplicably irritated.
It seems she adapted to her role as a maid very quickly.
They are still so docile and respectful now.
Aside from resisting his advances, she went along with almost everything else he asked.
He felt that something was right, yet nothing was right.
After Xie Yanzhi put away the brush, he pushed the Xuan paper in front of Shen Qingnian.
"Paint."
Shen Qingnian took it with both hands and then discovered the contract written by Xie Yanzhi.
It's roughly about Shen Qingnian voluntarily becoming Xie Yanzhi's maid for a year.
Shen Qingnian picked up her pen again and wrote that a year later, Shen Qingnian regained her freedom and Xie Yanzhi was no longer able to bother her. Only then did she write her name on the paper.
Xie Yanzhi squinted at him, but said nothing.
Whatever she writes will never come true.
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