The old lady's face was haggard, her eyes were black and blue, and her eyes were dull. When she spoke, her voice was a little weak, and there was a hint of trembling and hoarseness that was not easy to detect. It was obvious that she cried hard last night, and she probably cried again when she got up early.
Compared with the past when Aunt Zhang, Zhen Qingyun, and Zhen Shijian surrounded her and entertained themselves in colorful clothes, the old lady had aged a lot and lost a lot of weight overnight.
Even from a few steps away, Zhen Qingyin could feel the powerlessness, frustration and anger radiating from the old lady.
She was very satisfied, her lips slowly curved, and she left with Xiao Yin and Zhen Yuanyuan satisfied.
The system hummed: [Black Lotus, is it because of your second uncle that you don’t take action against your good grandmother? 】
The old lady is like a big mountain, pressing on the heads of all the women in the Zhen family.
Look at how the host dealt with Aunt Zhang and Zhen Qingyun. Although she didn't kill them, her methods were like cutting flesh with a blunt knife. Aunt Zhang and Zhen Qingyun were like lambs waiting to be slaughtered, with no power to fight back.
Before they realize it, their lives are in a mess.
Zhen Qingyin said nothing.
maybe.
Zhen Shilian was like her father in her dream, and she couldn't bear to feel sad for him.
It may also be because her conscience is still intact and she still has some room for blood and family ties.
Moreover, the old lady did not touch her bottom line.
She couldn't take action against the old lady, but seeing the old lady depressed and sad, she felt happy in her heart.
Zhen Qingyin sighed secretly, her heart was indeed dark.
Fight evil with evil, rather than encourage evil to do good.
*
East Palace.
The prince was busy from yesterday to today, and only slept for two hours in the middle. He went to the warehouse and touched the one hundred boxes of gold and silver, and was about to go to bed at midnight.
Before going to bed, I suddenly remembered a daily question.
"I heard that there was a scandal in that courtyard last night on New Year's Eve. One of the victims was an official named Zhen. In my impression, the officials named Zhen were the two brothers, Shilang Zhen. Could it be that they were the father of Miss Zhen? ?”
Feng Youxi knew as soon as he heard "Miss Zhen" that His Highness was in a good mood at the moment.
He bent down and put the prince's soft satin shoes in place: "Your Highness always has a good memory, it is Dr. Zhen, the father of Miss Zhen..."
He recounted the farce in Yihongyuan in detail.
That night, not only the prostitutes from Yihongyuan were watching, but also the prostitutes from three or four brothels nearby heard the news and ran to watch the New Year's Eve show.
Zhen Shijian is the first laughing stock in Beijing in the new year.
Who knows that Minister Zhen’s brother was caught by his concubine when he was visiting a flower house, and he couldn’t even pick up the conversation during the New Year’s greetings?
Zhen Shilian wanted to keep the news under wraps, but unfortunately there was a mixed bag last night. Overnight, Minister Zhen, his brother, and his concubine all became famous.
The prince half-closed his eyes and pulled up the quilt to cover himself: "Shilang Zhen has always been a low-key person and a high-profile person. This time he has become famous. I'm afraid he is in trouble. He is also a well-known filial son. Wiping his brother's butt is not enough. When he returns home, he also It's really hard for him to coax the old mother out of her anger."
Feng Youxi did not dare to laugh at the important ministers of the court, so he only whispered: "Isn't it? The Zhen family is famous, and it affects the reputation of the two young ladies. Minister Zhen doesn't know how angry he is with his eldest brother. He heard that the younger brother of the young lady Zhen is going to be sent away Go to Wuqi Academy."
"Wuji Academy...whose connection did he find?"
Feng Youxi shook his head: "I didn't find out about this."
The prince thought, could it be that Minister Zhen and Mrs. Chao Guogong have joined forces?
Didn't Song Jian happen to be studying at Wuqi Academy?
wrong.
Song Jian was lukewarm towards his stepmother, so there was no reason why he would help Mrs. Chao Guogong.
Feng Youxi took off the jade ring on the prince's hand and said: "Your Highness, the spies accidentally discovered that the girl named Xianglian in Yihongyuan seems to be related to Mrs. Chao Guogong."
The prince raised his eyebrows in surprise: "It was actually the work of Madam Chao Guogong?"
If this is known to the Zhen family, Mrs. Zhen and Zhen Shijian will not let it go.
"The tail has been swept clean, and I asked someone to help cover it up." Feng Youxi turned to Zhen Qingyin in his heart. He was afraid that Shi Lang Zhen would find out the clues and have an enemy with Mrs. Chao Guogong. He took a breath and continued to report, "Your Highness, still There is something."
"Tell me, if you keep trying to sell me off, I will sell you off for one pound."
Feng Youxi said with a shy smile: "The slave belongs to Your Highness, who dares to buy a slave? Your Highness, the slave discovered that Zhen Shijian and Na Xianglian started to hook up after Miss Zhen entered the Duke Chao's mansion."
The meaning is self-evident.
It was Zhen Qingyin who complained first, and then Mrs. Chao Guogong bribed Xiang Lian to seduce Zhen Shijian.
The prince subconsciously turned his finger to the jade ring, but found nothing.
It's not just as simple as filing a complaint, right? He pondered for a while and then smiled: "Feng Youxi, check carefully what Miss Zhen has done in these years. I want to know everything."
"Yes." Feng Youxi knew this was the result, "Your Highness, I have inquired clearly. According to the custom, Miss Zhen will come to Mrs. Chao Guogong's New Year's greetings on the fourth day of the Lunar New Year every year."
"Then it's the fourth day of the Lunar New Year. Please make arrangements. On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, I go to pay New Year's greetings to my grandpa and uncle." The prince was sleepy and closed his smiling black eyes.
Feng Youxi took a sky-blue handkerchief, covered the luminous pearl on the bedside, and then gently lowered the three curtains.
The lights outside the tent were brightly lit, and the interior of the tent quickly dimmed. The night pearls emitted a faint light through the veil, and the figure lying on the bed could barely be seen clearly.
As His Highness the Crown Prince fell asleep, the entire East Palace suddenly became silent. Under the glazed palace lights, people were walking around, but they didn't make any sound.
*
It’s the fourth day of the Lunar New Year in a blink of an eye.
The carriage set off from the East Palace and went straight to the Duke Chao's Mansion.
In previous years, the prince would pay New Year's greetings to the emperor at the palace on the first day of the lunar month, go to the Tan family of the queen's mother's family to pay New Year's greetings to his maternal grandfather and uncle on the second day of the lunar month, and come to Chao Guogong's mansion to pay New Year's greetings to his maternal uncle and aunt.
But on the third day of the Lunar New Year this year, Duke Chao's mansion had been waiting for the whole day, waiting until dark before the prince came. The whole house was frightened and uneasy, thinking that the prince was still worried about Song Qi's incident.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, no one in Chao Guogong's mansion went out to visit relatives and friends, and everyone stayed at home.
Halfway through the carriage in the East Palace, a guard suddenly came to report the news.
Feng Youxi lifted the car curtain, and the prince revealed half of his face with a pleasant expression, and asked gently: "What's the matter?"
The guard saluted, stepped forward and reported in a low voice: "Your Highness, I have just received the news that Mrs. Zhen has not planned to leave the house today. I don't know when she will go to Duke Chao's house to pay New Year's greetings. It is said that Mrs. Zhen is ill and cannot stay. Guest, Miss Zhen has been assisting the Vice Minister’s wife in housework with her cousin since the beginning of time, and they are still unable to get away from her until today."
The prince was silent, leaning back against the wall of the car.
Why did you suddenly change your habits from previous years?
Are you really busy and can't get away, or are you just on guard against him?
"Change the route and visit Mr. Li today. Continue to keep an eye on Zhen Qingyin. When will she go to Duke Chao's Mansion? When will she send someone to deliver the news to the East Palace in time?"
Mr. Li, the prince's tutor, is the prince's mentor.
The prince's voice was still gentle, but the guard felt a coldness rising from the bottom of his heart for no reason and slowly spreading to his limbs.
"I humbly obey my orders!"
The carriage was back on the road, and the driver changed his route to the west.
Feng Youxi's hands shook and he lowered the car curtain, not daring to say a word.
Alas, His Highness is "Zhen Qingyin" again.
He sighed in his heart, His Highness has never been unfavorable and could deal with anyone with ease, but he encountered Miss Zhen by chance and repeatedly hit the wall.
I always feel that His Highness is being manipulated.
