Chapter 39

Xu Wan squinted her eyes and said, "Madam Zhai, you're joking. How could I dare offend you? The Pingyang Princess was the most beloved by the late emperor. If she were to intervene and go to the Crown Prince's residence, I'm sure the Crown Prince wouldn't refuse to release him."

You're using the Pingyang Princess to pressure me, but why don't you dare pressure the Crown Prince?

Look at how capable you think you are.

Madam Zhai pointed angrily at her, "You..."

Xu Wan smiled, putting on an innocent and harmless expression.

Madam Zhai sneered, "You're so unfeeling. I can only assume you're relying on your family's influence. Your father may be the Minister of the Ministry of Justice, but he comes from a humble background. If something unexpected happens in his work, it might force him to retire early!"

Xu Wan's eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Is this good news?

Did she offend someone, and it's being blamed on her father?

This is great! The sooner that man retires, the better!

Xu Wan was secretly delighted but maintained a stubborn demeanor on the surface. "My father is an honest and upright official. He has nothing to fear. If Madam Zhai thinks she can threaten us with such tactics, even if my father were here, he wouldn't yield!"

"Fine! Let's see just how incorruptible your father truly is!" Madam Zhai stormed off in anger, her sleeves flailing.

Only when Madam Zhai's figure had completely disappeared did Xu Wan finally drop her pretense. She let out a series of uncontrollable giggles, her shoulders shaking until she burst into loud laughter.

"Hahahahahahahaha..."

Cui Zhi, seeing her tears almost falling, quickly handed her a handkerchief. "Madam, laughing so loudly like this, if Madam Zhai were to hear it, she'd be furious."

"Haha, you don't understand, it's really funny. My father probably doesn't even know he's considered so incorruptible," Xu Wan said, wiping her tears of laughter.

Cui Zhi couldn't help but laugh and worry at the same time. "If they really find something, it wouldn't be good for your reputation..."

Although the two heads of the Xu household aren't exactly model citizens, they're still part of the same family. The entire clan rises and falls together.

Xu Wan waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry. My father, though foolish, is extremely cautious in his official duties. That's how he rose from being a Number Two Scholar to the Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Madam Zhai investigating my father because of me will only annoy him for a few days. They won't find anything."

Cui Zhi breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good..."

Xu Wan watched Madam Zhai's retreating figure and thought of Zong Jincheng, who had gone to the slums. After a moment's consideration, she still felt uneasy.

"Prepare the carriage. We're going to wait for Jincheng."

"Wait? For him?"

Yes, wait.

Xu Wan sat in the carriage and waited outside the slums, not interfering with Zong Jincheng's charitable efforts.

She was worried that the Zhai family might try to harm Zong Jincheng there, so she brought many people to wait. If Cui Liu sent back any bad news, she could rush in to save him.

Meanwhile, Zong Jincheng's side was bustling with activity. Buyan first took him to the market to buy clothes and shoes, then some food, filling half the carriage.

Since Buyan returned, Shunzi was even happier than Zong Jincheng.

He was the one protecting the young master, driving the carriage, shopping, and carrying the goods.

It was so relaxing that it felt like he was also a master. It was great!

"Master, we're here," Shunzi said, helping Zong Jincheng out of the carriage. Using his silver tongue, he began to enthusiastically describe the changes in Jing Zhe's home over the past month.

"The roof has been repaired, the door is new, the musty bedding and quilts have been replaced, and Jing Zhe's injuries have healed quickly."

Zong Jincheng stood at the doorway, hearing Shunzi shout loudly, "Jing Zhe, our master has come to see you!"

Hearing this, Jing Zhe rushed out of the house, seeing them and immediately wanting to kneel, but Buyan quickly stopped him.

Zong Jincheng laughed and patted his shoulder. "It's been a month, and you look stronger!"

Jing Zhe was overjoyed, his voice hoarse. "Thanks to the life-saving silver you sent, my sister and I could survive here. From now on, my life belongs to you!"

Zong Jincheng felt an unprecedented sense of accomplishment for the first time being thanked as a savior. He laughed throughout the conversation with Jing Zhe.

Buyan, watching from behind, was quite surprised.

In just two months, Master Jincheng has become so fond of laughing?

Shunzi nudged his shoulder and whispered, "You don't get it, do you? It's all thanks to Madam's excellent parenting."

Buyan was astonished, staring at him as if he were a strange creature. "Aren't you afraid of being beaten by the master for saying that?"

From what he observed, Master Jincheng and Madam were at odds.

Shunzi replied, "I'm just telling you this quietly. It's only because our master is a bit slow that he hasn't noticed his own changes. If the Old Marquis saw him, he might think Master Jincheng had been possessed."

Buyan: ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‍"..."

Upon careful thought, it really could be possible.

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Zong Jincheng and Jing Zhe chatted merrily for a long time before finally bringing up Zhai Yao.

Jing Zhe said, "Recently, I did hear that a noble young master was punished and sent here, living in the next alley. There are two guards at his door, not allowing him to leave. I can even hear his crying from home."

"He's crying??" Zong Jincheng was shocked.

Was this still the fearless, reckless friend Zhai Yao he knew?

Recalling the day Zhai Yao insulted Jing Zhe as a "lowborn" in the Crown Prince's residence, Zong Jincheng thought that crying for a day was too light a punishment. He should cry for at least a month.

Thinking of this, he felt the urge to go see Zhai Yao.

He wondered if the guy had learned his lesson and if he would dare to insult him again.

Jing Zhe replied, "He's crying very pitifully, with a loud voice. Especially at night, my sister is so scared that she can't sleep."

Zong Jincheng shook his head. "That's too cruel. I'll go and tell him to cry more quietly at night."

Jing Zhe: "..."

It's thoughtful, but something feels off?

With Jing Zhe leading the way, Zong Jincheng easily found Zhai Yao's "home," which was actually just a dilapidated thatched hut, with leaks everywhere and a muddy, filthy drainage ditch in front of the door.

Before Zong Jincheng could enter, a steamed bun was suddenly thrown out of the house. Zhai Yao's furious voice echoed, "Get out! I, Zhai Yao, would rather starve to death than eat this pig food!"

Seeing the good steamed bun thrown on the ground, Jing Zhe immediately felt heartbroken and picked it up. Then, suddenly remembering Zong Jincheng was beside him, he hesitated whether to throw it away: "This food... throwing it away is too wasteful. Eating this at least can keep you from being hungry for a day."

The contrast between Zhai Yao and Jing Zhe was so stark that Zong Jincheng was instantly angered without needing any explanation: "Zhai Yao isn't hungry enough."

The Crown Prince's punishment was right; he should be here to temper his character.

Just as Zong Jincheng was about to leave after watching the spectacle, an elderly man, trembling and haggard, walked out of the house. His face was filled with sorrow.

"Who is this? Isn't Zhai Yao living here alone?"