Chapter 53 - 3#

Shortly after something happened to Mama Ming, Lidong secretly left the North Room… This road goes east… The Mama demoted from Yongning Palace… Seeking refuge, Yongning Palace, Kangman, Consort Kang…

Jingzhe closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose.

If he hadn’t dug deep into the connections behind this, how could he know that this might also be related to Consort Kang?

This person had always been a decent person in the palace, the most soft and amiable. But why would such a good master with a Bodhisattva’s heart raise a eunuch like Kangman under her hands?

Is it Kangman’s nature, or did Consort Kang fancy his cunning temperament from the beginning?

Those who can live safely in the harem until now, regardless of their status, are all smart people.

It was impossible for Consort Kang to be unaware of Kangman’s situation, yet he stayed smoothly in Yongning Palace for several years. Doesn’t this represent Consort Kang’s tacit approval?

Consort Kang must also have problems.

Thinking of this, Jingzhe couldn’t help but let out a long breath.

It was normal for Rong Jiu to stop him.

If he hadn’t calmed down these few days and peeled off the cocoon, he might not have seen so much.

And without Rong Jiu, if he wanted to break this trouble, he might have found another way to contact Mama Chen.

But since Consort Kang would stare at the North Room, it also meant that Jingzhe’s existence might have long been on Consort Kang’s list.

His active contact might arouse her awareness.

What virtue and ability does this small North Room have to attract so many hidden dragons and phoenixes?

Could it be that there are secrets Jingzhe doesn’t know?

…

Clatter, clatter, clatter—

The sound of galloping horse hooves, stepping on the deep autumn sun, rushed into the capital. On the official road, the common people heard the shout of “Move away quickly” from afar and hurriedly retreated to both sides.

Those who can gallop on the official road are either dizzy profligate sons of noble families or urgent reports from various places.

Ordinary people just discussed a few sentences when they saw it, and then put it behind them.

By the roadside, Cen Liang looked at the corner of her skirt in annoyance. Just now, when that person and horse galloped past, the splashed mud soiled her clothes.

Madam Liu squatted down, helped clean it up with a handkerchief, and smiled helplessly: “Don’t be angry. I’ll wash it for you later.”

Cen Liang: “Mother, I’ll do it myself.”

She was angry just because this was the new clothes Madam Liu made for her. This was the first day she wore it out, and the corner of the skirt was soiled, so she was a bit unhappy after all.

Madam Liu shook her head and smiled, being pulled into the shop by Cen Liang.

In this ready-made clothes shop, many people were greeting Cen Liang.

Now everyone knew that Cen Liang was the person the owner favored. In the future, she would probably take over the position of shopkeeper. Many embroiderers in this shop had a good relationship with Cen Liang, and even asked Cen Liang openly or secretly if there were any connections.

Thinking of this, Cen Liang was helpless. Where did she get connections?

She was also afraid there were other reasons behind this.

After all, pies falling from the sky were really too rare. Cen Liang was worried about being crushed to death.

“Mother, try this.”

Madam Liu had money in hand and loved to spend it on Cen Liang, but she didn’t keep a penny for herself.

Cen Liang couldn’t stand it, so she pulled Madam Liu to the shop where she worked. This ready-made clothes shop did business with the outside world. Besides selling ready-made clothes, it could also make custom orders and sell fabrics. If their own embroiderers wanted to buy things, there was still some discount.

Only then did Madam Liu agree.

While they were choosing fabrics outside, new customers came one after another. The others went to solicit new customers, and soon, only the two of them were left whispering.

Cen Liang was at ease, gesturing directly with the fabric on Madam Liu.

The Mandarin they spoke had a slight Tongzhou accent. Having lived there for many years, they had been imperceptibly influenced, and their original Xiangfan accent was naturally gone.

When they chose the fabric and went in to pay, the person sitting in the tea house opposite the ready-made clothes shop withdrew his gaze.

There were several people sitting in this room. Zheng Hong sat by the window, lowering his head to drink tea.

Lai Tie said with a grin: “Zheng Hong, I didn’t expect you to pretend to be serious usually, but in your heart, you are also thinking about this kind of thing.”

Just now, he stared at that girl all the way.

Sitting in this tea house and still looking out, if this isn’t taking a fancy to her, what is it?

Zheng Hong listened half-heartedly, suddenly realized what he was saying, and couldn’t help spitting at him: “What dirty things are you thinking? I don’t have this intention.”

After finishing speaking, he was worried that Lai Tie would mess around, so he added: “Don’t do anything superfluous. I just think they look familiar.”

He knew some people kept women privately and met them secretly every time they came out.

But Zheng Hong didn’t like this.

Too expensive.

He couldn’t bear it.

Lai Tie raised his eyebrows: “Familiar with whom?”

Zheng Hong naturally couldn’t tell him, and perfunctorily said: “A friend, but his family members are all gone. I should have seen wrong.”

Previously, when Zheng Hong glanced at this little lady in the restaurant, he felt she looked familiar. Seeing her again occasionally today and staring all the way, that feeling of familiarity became stronger.

Lai Tie: “The folk world is so big. It’s normal to meet one or two people who look similar by chance.”

Zheng Hong nodded along.

He pretended to approach that ready-made clothes shop just now. That little lady and the middle-aged woman spoke with a Tongzhou accent.

Huli was from Tongzhou, and Zheng Hong was very familiar with this.

Jingzhe was from Xiangfan, worlds apart from Tongzhou, not in the same place at all.

Zheng Hong sighed in his heart, feeling that he was thinking too much, so he lowered his head and stopped talking.

In the afternoon, after meeting up with Huli, Zheng Hong returned to the palace with him.

Huiping saved enough money and asked Huli to find a way to send the money back to his hometown. Although Huli agreed to Huiping, he kept the hundred taels and secretly found someone to go back to Tongzhou first.

Huli and Huiping were distant relatives. He knew what kind of “skin-flint” character his family was, and was afraid Huiping would suffer a loss.

Only Zheng Hong knew about this, and the errand runner was found with Zheng Hong’s help.

From the capital to Tongzhou, back and forth, it would take at most another half month. If Huiping’s family was really as pitiful and unlucky as the letter said, then Huli would naturally give this hundred taels of silver.

After checking the purchased items against the list one by one and handing them over to the palace servants, Zheng Hong went back to the Miscellaneous Affairs Office with Huli to rest.

Meeting Yunkui on the way, the few of them chatted.

Hearing that Jingzhe’s injury just healed and he went to Chuxiu Palace again, Zheng Hong couldn’t help scolding.

He had always been sharp-tongued but soft-hearted. Cursing on his lips, he still carried some things to visit Jingzhe in the end.

Jingzhe was a bit surprised that he came.

Those black eyes looked at the things in his hand and smiled again: “I thought it was Rong Jiu sending things again.”

Zheng Hong said grumpily: “Can’t I have my own business? Coming to see you, must it be for him?”

Jingzhe smiled and let him in.

Zheng Hong specifically observed Jingzhe’s walking posture and saw it was very normal, then said: “If you have nothing to do, just rest more. Don’t always look for trouble all day.”

Jingzhe: “My bones are becoming lazy. How can I be idle anymore?”

Zheng Hong stuffed the things he was carrying into Jingzhe’s hands, “Open and take a look.”

Jingzhe was stunned, opened it and looked, showing some joy on his face: “It’s actually this.”

What Zheng Hong sent was a specialty of his hometown.

In the past, he could only eat this pastry when Madam Liu made it. Jingzhe didn’t remember what it was called, but remembered this special appearance.

Jingzhe laughed: “I wanted to eat it before, but never knew what it was called. Today I’m lucky thanks to you.”

Zheng Hong waved his hand. This was also bought on a whim when he saw that mother and daughter on the road.

Thinking of that mother and daughter, Zheng Hong hesitated for a moment. He knew these two people probably had no connection with Jingzhe. He just felt they looked familiar, so he always thought a bit more.

But in this world, how can there be such a lucky thing?

Zheng Hong held back and didn’t say it in the end.

Knowing it’s not, yet saying it out, wouldn’t that make people sad?

“Previously, you spent money to ask me to check your father’s grave. This is simple; the government office has records long ago. You wasted this money. I’ll give you another piece of news in passing.” Zheng Hong turned to talk about other things, “Your father’s bones are complete, didn’t suffer an extra cut.”

Although Zheng Hong didn’t say it clearly enough, Jingzhe was smart enough to understand immediately what Zheng Hong meant.

If the person didn’t die by beheading outside, then he could only have been tortured to death inside.

Jingzhe was silent for a moment, his face calm.

He said: “Thank you for this extra news.”

After delivering the things and the news, and seeing that Jingzhe was fine, Zheng Hong didn’t plan to stay.

Jingzhe sent him to the door. Zheng Hong glanced at him and said meaningfully: “I don’t know if you can always be this lucky.”

Jingzhe raised his eyebrows, but Zheng Hong didn’t want to explain, turned and left.

After thinking about it, he still planned to check this matter properly next time he could leave the palace.

Maybe it’s really just a coincidence, but if it’s true, then for Jingzhe, it would be a huge good thing.

By the end of September, Zheng Hong left the palace. After dealing with urgent matters, he took people straight to the previous ready-made clothes shop.

To know the identity of that mother and daughter, he had to start here.

At least know their names.

But Zheng Hong hadn’t reached the ready-made clothes shop yet when he was stopped on the road.

The comers didn’t say anything at all, just beat them up first. Zheng Hong knew a little martial arts, but couldn’t beat them at all. These people were ruthless, aiming for vital parts, beating him until he vomited blood.

“Don’t get close to the Madam and the Little Lady again. My master will be very unhappy.”

A cold voice fell lightly on top of Zheng Hong’s head.

“This time, it’s just a warning. Next time… heh, there won’t be a next time.”

After throwing out the harsh words, these people were as mysterious as when they appeared, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Zheng Hong struggled to sit up, leaned against the wall to wipe the corner of his mouth. The others also crawled up painfully, moaning lowly one by one.

Zheng Hong and the others didn’t even have time to explain their identities before getting beaten. This could be said to be reckless, or it could be said… those people didn’t care at all.

So what if they beat the eunuchs from the palace?

Zheng Hong forcefully saw this murderous aura on them. These were not thugs that ordinary people could raise. Their hands must have been stained with blood.

What that person said just now was definitely not a lie.

If Zheng Hong doesn’t know the severity and tries to contact that mother and daughter again next, he will really lose his life.

Really strange.

Zheng Hong gasped for breath. If they really have such power, why does that mother and daughter look like they don’t have a bit of wealth?

Really unlucky.

Zheng Hong crawled up and completely extinguished this thought.

It was his suspicion, and also Jingzhe didn’t have this fate.

This mother and daughter… looking at it this way, wouldn’t be his miserable relatives.

Several people supported each other and left limping.

Just in the alley not far away, after Zheng Hong and the others left, someone followed silently until they were really far away from this street.

They knew Zheng Hong’s appearance, so they spared his life.

If it were anyone else, they should have killed him this time.

It’s just that when Chief Steward Ning gave the order, he emphasized a few people who could not be killed immediately. Zheng Hong was one of them, so he only got a beating as a warning.

But only once, not again.

If there is a next time, he will definitely die.

After all, next is to present Jingzhe’s “death news” for the mission target. How can trouble be caused at this critical juncture, disrupting the pace?

This is undoubtedly provoking someone powerful.

After all, that person has never been a very patient person.

…

In the palace, after Ning Hongru received the news, he pinched the bridge of his nose.

Didn’t know if it was lucky or unlucky.

He looked down at the dead bodies with open eyes on the ground and said coldly: “Do you still need our house’s instructions? Why not drag these two out quickly?”

A eunuch whispered: “Your Majesty, Your Majesty said, to squeeze dry the blood of these two to use as ink…”

Ning Hongru: “Then drag them to the Department of Prudence and Punishment to handle.”

It was also these two’s bad luck to run into Emperor Jingyuan when he was unhappy, and yet they didn’t know life and death.

One cried pitifully, thinking of using seduction to escape, really winking at the blind; one only thought of begging for mercy, but didn’t know that the sharp wails one after another would stimulate His Majesty’s bloodlust even more.

Ning Hongru entered the inner hall and saw Emperor Jingyuan who was reading documents. This Emperor frowned slightly, eyes containing evil spirit. This violent momentum still didn’t go away.

Ning Hongru knelt down and knocked his head hard: “Your Majesty, this slave is guilty.”

He was guilty.

It was Ning Hongru who was bold and reckless, slightly changing the Emperor’s order, which saved Zheng Hong’s life today.

——Anyone who tries to get close to the mother and daughter of the Liu family and reveal the secret deserves to die.

From the beginning, what Emperor Jingyuan wanted was to kill without mercy.

The author has something to say:

Jingzhe: Listen to me, thank you~

Ning Hongru: My life is over——