si-mexico Chapter 412 Failure
Chapter 412 Failure
"You can't catch a wolf without sacrificing your child. The brave ones enjoy the world first."
Qiao Zhenzhen raised her fingertips slightly, hooked Han Zheng's chin, and a charming smile appeared in her eyes.
"Don't underestimate yourself. The title of the Marquis of Pingchang will be demoted in the next generation. Looking at the entire Dashun family, there are only two hereditary dukedoms. Compared to the heir of the Duke of Anguo, although he is a hopeless playboy, he is not something a fake legitimate daughter of our family can marry."
"As for you..." She looked back at him, her tone teasing, "You are indeed more capable, and... a bit more beautiful."
Han Zheng grabbed her rebellious hand and said in a low voice, "Don't stir up trouble, you're still injured."
"Humph--"
Qiao Zhenzhen pulled her hand back.
Han Zheng smiled and kissed her forehead, "Wait until your injury is healed..."
She interrupted him before he could finish his words.
"Shut up. Let's talk business!"
She glared at him in reproach, then said seriously:
"I'm just giving you a direction to investigate the case. As for whether it's true, you have to send someone to verify it."
"Okay, I'll arrange for someone to check it out."
Han Zheng felt that this motive was a bit far-fetched.
Just to marry him, she took such a huge risk to destroy the marriage and harm the princess. He is not the crown prince, he has the throne to inherit.
The benefits and risks of this matter are really not proportional.
But since it was his daughter-in-law who proposed it, he should investigate further along this line.
-
It has been cloudy for several days and the morning light has not yet appeared.
When Qiu Xing hurriedly lifted the curtain and came in, Tang An Ning was dressing herself in front of the mirror.
"Miss, something happened!" Qiu Xing was still breathing heavily. Seeing Tang An Ning still combing her hair calmly, she tightened the handkerchief in her hand in a hurry.
"Why are you panicking?" Tang An Ning tapped the ivory comb lightly on the dressing table, her voice still calm. "Speak slowly."
"A few days ago, the palace suddenly issued an edict to the Duke's Mansion... Prince Han was suspended from his duties."
The comb paused at her fingertips. "Suspended? What's the reason?"
"That's not all," Qiu Xing lowered her voice. "The wife of Duke Dingguo was stripped of her first-rank imperial edict and confined to her palace for three years."
Tang Anning suddenly looked up: "What?"
Qiu Xing didn't dare look at her, and her voice became even softer: "His Majesty also gave Miss Mo a princess's mansion, saying that the regulations... are equivalent to a princess's mansion."
Something must have happened, and it must be something serious!
Tang An Ning's heart tightened, and he immediately ordered: "Send someone to Guanghua Temple outside the city to investigate immediately and make sure to find out if anything has happened."
Before he finished speaking, another maid came in and announced:
"Miss Qin Er from the Pingchang Marquis's residence has sent you an invitation to come to their house tomorrow to enjoy the flowers."
In the cold winter, what flowers are there to appreciate?
Tang An Ning's heart sank, knowing that the matter was indeed not simple. He immediately said to the visitor, "Report to Miss Qin Er that I will be there tomorrow."
After everyone left, Qiu Xing asked in a low voice, "Miss, are you still sending people to Guanghua Temple?"
"Go, go now." Tang An Ning said firmly, "I must know the result within today."
Qiu Xing took the order and left quickly.
Guanghua Temple is not far from the city, and a round trip by fast horse takes no more than two hours.
But for Tang An Ning, this period of time seemed like a long torture, and every moment was like walking on thin ice.
-
The people sent to investigate brought back bad news.
Guanghua Temple has been blocked by the government, the mountain gate is closed, and there is no sound of people.
Overnight, this once-popular temple seemed to have vanished into thin air, with the monks either dead or fleeing, and not a single word leaked out.
Tang An Ning felt his heart sink, as if he had suddenly fallen into an icy cave.
Although outsiders could not find out the inside story, she knew it very well - the secret in the Child-Seeking Hall must have been exposed.
Her legs went weak and she almost stumbled and fell, but fortunately Qiu Xing supported her in time.
"Miss, what's wrong with you?" Qiu Xing asked anxiously.
Tang An Ning's fingertips were cold as he gripped Qiu Xing's wrist tightly, with such force that it almost cut into her flesh.
She was filled with panic as she murmured softly, "I must not let him know...that this has anything to do with me..."
Qiu Xing didn't dare to ask more questions, she only felt her fingertips trembling violently.
After a long moment, Tang An Ning finally managed to calm himself down. He took a deep breath and ordered, "Go to the Marquis of Pingchang's residence in person and tell Miss Qin Er... that I have a sudden attack of an old illness and cannot attend the banquet tomorrow."
She kept telling herself not to panic.
She had never explicitly instructed Qin Shuyue, but she "accidentally" mentioned the matter of Guanghua Temple's Hall of Praying to Children.
It was Qin Shuyue's own obsession and undying love for Han Zheng that led her to do such a cruel thing.
What does it have to do with her?
This is not the first time she has used such a method.
Hadn't Mo Yuying's foolish cousin been misled by her few words in the past?
She just said a few words and told a few stories, what's wrong with that?
It is the bystanders who are vicious.
Her hands are clean.
Even if the investigation turns out to be all pointing to Qin Shuyue and her aunt——
How could it involve her, Tang An Ning?
She was just telling a rumor.
Yes, from beginning to end, it had nothing to do with her!
Thinking of this, Tang An Ning gradually calmed down.
Qiu Xing helped her back to the edge of the couch and said softly, "Miss, you still look a little pale. Please rest for a while. I will go to the Marquis' Mansion and pass on the message."
-
Han Zheng has been busy with the Guanghua Temple matter for several days.
Every time he returned, there was always a lingering smell of blood on his clothes.
Qiao Zhenzhen saw it all, but never asked any questions. She just focused on healing her wounds.
Xie Qianzhong stayed by the bedside every day, never leaving.
At first I felt distressed, but when her injuries healed a little, I could no longer suppress my anger after suppressing it for a few days.
"What did you tell me before? You said the Han family treated you very well. Is this what you call 'good'?" His voice was as deep as iron, his eyes frost-filled. "That old hag nearly took your life!"
Qiao Zhenzhen muttered to herself: Han Zheng's mother is only fifty years old, and Master, you are almost twice as old as him, and you call him "old thing" without any guilt...
"If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to me!"
"I'm fine," Qiao Zhenzhen tugged at his sleeve and said softly, "If I really listened to you, it would be great, but how can I live like this? Don't worry, I always have a backup plan."
"Look, his mother is almost killing herself without me having to do anything. The prince has never set foot in An Garden except for the day he received the imperial edict. He treats her differently than before."
"This is called conquering the enemy without fighting. It's better than a falling out and ending in divorce, right?"
Xie Qianzhong snorted coldly: "Divorce if you want! That brat can't even protect his own woman, what use is there for him!"
"He was there to protect me," Qiao Zhenzhen said. "If he hadn't arrived just in time, how could I still be here in one piece?"
"I won't get a divorce. So many people are hoping that I and the prince will divorce, but I won't do what they want! I insist on living a good life with the prince, and make those stinking rats in the gutter jealous!"
"Okay, okay, you're the only one with too many twisted ideas!" Xie Qianzhong glared at her.