After the cannon fodder father and daughter married into the family, the whole family regretted it

Chapter 921 Rubbing shoulders

That makes perfect sense.

How did the bond between ruler and subject come about? Isn't it formed in this way?

You helped me save face, and I will compensate you in other ways.

"However, I've only heard about this; I haven't verified its truth." Master Chen quickly added, afraid of misleading the child.

Fang Nanzhi nodded.

My thoughts drifted slightly. So that's why everyone said my uncle was highly regarded by the late emperor.

The late emperor regarded his uncle as a pillar of the state, but now he wants to kill him. It really is true that serving a ruler is like walking on thin ice. I should remind my father and second uncle to be careful in court from now on.

Furthermore, even a king cannot escape the common practice; the three palaces and six courtyards in the palace are not enough, so he also needs a courtesan.

Fang Nanzhi's mind was a jumble of thoughts, but that didn't stop her from continuing to ask questions.

"Grandpa Jiu, do you remember what our family's retainers have done in the past?"

You'd never use the troops you've painstakingly raised, would you?

Grandpa Chen shook his head, only knowing that Chen Zijun had been in danger several times, and it was they who had saved him.

But when it comes to assassins or conspiracies, the retainers can come to the rescue. But when the court orders beheadings, they truly have no choice!

Seeing that she couldn't find out any more, Fang Nanzhi took her leave, and even said goodbye to Uncle Wan next door.

As she left the Ministry of Justice, someone else arrived at the entrance.

A low-key carriage was parked in the corner, and a man stepped out of it. His eyes were covered with a white cloth, and he was wearing a white robe. When the wind blew, the hem of his robe fluttered, and he had a handsome face.

Fang Nanzhi couldn't help but exclaim, "What a handsome middle-aged man!"

The man clearly had a problem with his eyes, but he was very perceptive and unconsciously turned his head towards Fang Nanzhi's direction.

Fang Nanzhi didn't dodge; she subconsciously smiled at the other person, but after she finished smiling, she realized that the other person couldn't see her.

A jailer was already whispering, "Mr. Yao? You've come to see Mr. Wan? Please come in. Lord Zhu instructed that anyone who wants to see Mr. Wan doesn't need us to announce their arrival; as long as Mr. Wan is willing, he can see him."

This is the Ministry of Justice.

Even imprisonment couldn't restrict Wan Sheng, which shows how much the emperor favored him.

Fang Nanzhi's eyebrows twitched, and she couldn't help but look at the man again. His surname was Yao.

She's been very sensitive to people with the surname Yao these past few days.

Yao Xin said nothing, nodded slightly, and was led into the prison.

With someone like Mr. Yao around, even the dark and gloomy Ministry of Justice prison seemed much brighter.

Fang Nanzhi had only taken a couple of steps when she realized that the surname was Yao and that the person seemed to have an eye ailment. Could it be Yao Xin?

She suddenly didn't want to leave and decided to wait outside the prison for a while.

But that won't work; it's too obvious, and it'll be hard to find a reason to strike up a conversation.

She sighed as she got into the carriage and asked Uncle Yuan to go to the residence of Grand Princess Mingzhu.

To be honest, Fang Nanzhi hadn't planned to visit the Grand Princess today, so she hadn't sent her an invitation beforehand. She didn't know if she would be able to get in if she came at the last minute.

Upon arriving at the side gate of the princess's residence, Fang Nanzhi stated her identity, and shortly afterward, someone arrived.

It turned out to be the Princess of Yiyang County and her husband, who came to greet them in person.

Fang Nanzhi was so surprised that she hesitated to step inside, worried that Yiyang's eagerness was a trap for her.

"Miss Fang is a distinguished guest. How can you let her wait outside?" Yi Yang reprimanded the servants with a stern face.

In reality, it's a way of masking one's own discomfort.

Since her near miscarriage last time, her mother and the county official have been keeping a close eye on her, making sure she rests properly. She hasn't been able to get out of bed for several days.

Otherwise, she wouldn't have listened to her mother and come to pick up Fang Nanzhi, a peasant girl, herself.

"Miss Fang, please come in," Yi Yang said awkwardly.

Fang Nanzhi replied modestly, "Thank you, County Princess."

Upon entering the princess's residence, the county princess and her horseman led the way, while Fang Nanzhi lagged slightly behind, appearing poised and elegant, but actually clutching medicine in her palm.

They could have acted at any moment, but unexpectedly, the two actually took her to the front hall, where she met Princess Mingzhu.

Grand Princess Mingzhu gently took her daughter's hand and then reached out to Fang Nanzhi.

Fang Nanzhi hadn't even had a chance to bow before hesitatingly boarded the train.

"Yiyang's health has improved a lot, all thanks to you. You two are like sisters, you should get closer in the future."

When the two sisters uttered their words, Fang Nanzhi was completely stunned.

Yes, Grand Princess Mingzhu had previously mentioned that they should get along well, but it wasn't this obvious. This sudden closeness is a bit overwhelming for her.

Yi Yang looked a little awkward, but for some reason, after holding it in for a long time, he finally managed to say, "Thank you for saving me, Sister Nanzhi."

Fang Nanzhi felt goosebumps rise on her skin. She looked up and met her gaze, and could see the other woman's reluctance and unwillingness.

I wonder how Princess Mingzhu disciplined her daughter behind the scenes, so that the proud county princess would call her "sister".

"You're welcome," Fang Nanzhi said dryly.

She couldn't call out "sister".

Yiyang realized this and felt somewhat ashamed and annoyed. She had already humbled herself so much, and a peasant girl still didn't know how to appreciate it.

She snorted angrily, but because her mother was there, she couldn't say anything unpleasant.

"Mother, I'm a little tired, I'm going back to rest."

Grand Princess Mingzhu knew that it wouldn't be something that could be done in a short time if she wanted to ease the tension between the two children.

He didn't force her and waved for her to leave.

The county magistrate of Yiyang raised her chin and stormed off.

However, her county magistrate, Fang Nanzhi, said politely, "Cousin, don't mind her. Yiyang is an impatient person. You'll know once you spend more time together. She's not a bad person."

Fang Nanzhi scratched her head, gave an awkward smile, and didn't know how to answer.

The county horseman bowed to the Grand Princess again before leaving.

He certainly appears to be a steady and reliable gentleman. Princess Mingzhu clearly put a lot of thought into choosing a husband for her daughter.

After they left, Fang Nanzhi got down to business. She had come to bother them to ask about the estate that the late emperor had bestowed upon her.

Chen Zijun's family property was confiscated, and his private assets were either confiscated and went into the national treasury, or they were in the hands of Grand Princess Mingzhu.

Grand Princess Mingzhu had someone bring her the booklet and flipped through it.

"Back then, ninety percent of the Chen family's property was confiscated by the state. I only kept the fields near the outskirts of Beijing and a few estates. As for the one you mentioned, it has already been transferred to the national treasury. The Ministry of Revenue should have designated it as an imperial estate."

"That estate is in a very good location, with two hundred acres of fertile land, and it's not far from the capital. There's also a hot spring. I do have some impression of it."

Fang Nanzhi blinked as she listened. "Is it really because of these things that you remember me?"

It shouldn't be because of the late emperor's romantic escapades that...

But she dared not ask, for the late emperor was the biological father of Princess Mingzhu.

But Princess Mingzhu could tell that the little girl's thoughts were practically written all over her face.

She slightly curved her lips into a cool smile, but her tone was resolute.

"As for my father spending a fortune to buy a courtesan and keeping her in a golden house, that's just a rumor. My father is not the kind of person who would tarnish his reputation for the sake of women."

The implication is that the late emperor was not averse to women, but he was determined to be a wise ruler and cared a great deal about how he would be remembered in history, and disdained to do anything that was beneath him.

"Thank you for informing me, Grand Princess. But I wonder, what happened to the old residents of the estate after the confiscation of property..."

Fang Nanzhi was asking the servants at Zhuangzi.

The entire Chen family was exiled, and their former servants and maids were all to be sold off again.

"I will have people investigate the whereabouts of those people." Grand Princess Mingzhu thought for a moment and said, "If you want to visit the Imperial Estate, I can have someone take you there."

Imperial estates are not places that outsiders can visit casually; they are usually managed by members of the imperial clan.

"Thank you, Grand Princess." Fang Nanzhi quickly expressed her gratitude.

She mentioned Yao Xin again.

Since Yao Xin and her uncle have a very good relationship, Princess Mingzhu should know something about it as well.

Unexpectedly, Grand Princess Mingzhu frowned slightly, clearly disliking this person.

Since meeting Princess Mingzhu, Fang Nanzhi's impression of her has always been that of a noble, dignified, calm, and composed person who never showed her emotions.

This was the first time I'd ever seen her so clearly express her dislike.

"Although this person pretends to be a gentleman and treats others with gentleness, he actually has no respect for hierarchy and is a madman."

Fang Nanzhi's eyes widened; this evaluation was far too low.

What does "disrespect for elders" mean?

She asked cautiously.

Grand Princess Mingzhu's gaze fell on the little girl's face.

"Yao Xin is a man without a sovereign or father. Deep down, he disrespects his father, the emperor, and is very proud. He often takes the worries of the people as his own responsibility."

The main point is that this person has no king in their heart, and no worship of kings.

Such a person, and Princess Mingzhu, a flower cultivated by the royal family, naturally have incompatible auras and cannot stand each other.

Fang Nanzhi touched her nose, feeling a little guilty, as if she herself had no loyalty to her father or ruler.

She couldn't live up to the saying, "If the ruler commands the subject to die, the subject has no choice but to die." She believed she hadn't done anything wrong and shouldn't die, so she had to find a way to survive.

Grand Princess Mingzhu looked away; of course she could see it.

The little girl possesses a fearless, tiger-like spirit, a clear and transparent mind, and most importantly, a sincere heart.

This kind of person is different from Yao Xin.

Yao Xin despised the royal family from the bottom of her heart, was arrogant and conceited, and thought she wanted to do something for the world.

In the eyes of Grand Princess Mingzhu, he was an extremely clever madman.

The other party won't last long.

"If it's just speculation, I don't think he would harm Chen Zijun."

"The two of them are not much different from brothers."

Despite disliking Yao Xin, Grand Princess Mingzhu still spoke up.

She didn't think Yao Xin would harm Chen Zijun. She would push Chen Zijun to her death for the sake of the emperor and the stability of the court, but Yao Xin wouldn't.

In Yao Xin's heart, no emperor or court could compare to Chen Zijun.

The world has no shortage of people. Even if a country is destroyed, with his and Chen Zijun's talents, they can still select talents again to create the world they want.

That's right, Yao Xin is just that crazy. He's restless at heart, always eager to break down and rebuild the order.

In the past, Chen Zijun had always suppressed his madness, but later, perhaps due to an eye ailment, he lost the ability to cause trouble.

That's why he's been able to keep a low profile and maintain his reputation as a gentleman all these years.

Fang Nanzhi nodded slightly.

After asking about what she cared about most, she prepared to take her leave, but Grand Princess Mingzhu still had something to say.

"What did you think of the county magistrate's son today?"

"He was handsome and well-matched with the county princess."

Fang Nanzhi praised him.

Grand Princess Mingzhu remained expressionless, twirling a string of beads in her hand.

"Please pass on my message and ask the Crown Prince to help investigate the county horses. Some of my men are not up to the task."

Princess Mingzhu grew up in the royal family and experienced countless hardships, especially betrayals and schemes among relatives.

Ever since she suspected that there were spies in the princess's residence, she began to investigate.

They searched three times but couldn't find anyone suspicious in the mansion. The only people left in the princess's mansion were the people around the county magistrate.

Xiang Wencai's servant was a domestic slave trained by the Xiang family.

Princess Mingzhu didn't want to cause any trouble that would affect her daughter and son-in-law's relationship, so she sent people to investigate the Xiang family from the beginning, hiding their identities.

As a result, both groups of people she sent disappeared without a trace.

An inexplicable feeling told Grand Princess Mingzhu that there was something wrong with the county horse.

But we can't use her people, lest we alert her. Besides, she doesn't have many highly skilled martial artists on her side.

Therefore, she had no choice but to seek help from outsiders, but there weren't many people she trusted who were capable of doing so.

The Crown Prince also happened to be very concerned about Chen's case.

Princess Mingzhu, though her aunt, had some affection for the Crown Prince, they were not close.

Given the Crown Prince's personality, how many members of the imperial clan are close to him?

She couldn't just go to the Crown Prince without a reason, lest it arouse suspicion.

However, by using Fang Nanzhi's words, it can be done silently and without any notice.

Fang Nanzhi was so shocked she almost couldn't sit still.

As she was being led out of the mansion, she passed through the garden and saw Yiyang, who was pretending to be "tired," chasing butterflies, while the county horse followed behind her, carefully protecting her or wiping her sweat from time to time.

Laughter and cheerful voices reached my ears.

Fang Nanzhi felt a mix of emotions.

Rumors circulated in the city that the Princess of Yiyang and her husband had a very good relationship and were childhood sweethearts. It was said that Xiang Wencai knelt for three days before the Grand Princess finally agreed to marry him.

Having no children for many years, Xiang Wencai treated the county magistrate as if it were nothing.

Are all of these fake?

Fang Nanzhi boarded the carriage and couldn't help but clutch her chest, feeling that the people in the capital were terrifying.

Not only do they readily resort to assassins to kill, but even those heartfelt confessions might be an act.

If Xiang Wencai really has a problem, then was he responsible for the fire at the teahouse and the assassination attempt?

He wanted to kill her, and also his wife?

Even though there was a stove in the car, Fang Nanzhi still felt ice-cold all over.

As the carriage entered the street, at the same time, a major incident occurred in the Ministry of Justice.

A prison guard, while delivering food to Chen Yong, suddenly pulled out a knife and stabbed him directly in the heart.

Chen Yong only had time to dodge, but the knife still pierced through.

The next instant, someone arrived and grabbed the jailer who was about to finish him off.

Then Chen Yong's vision blurred and he could see nothing.

The entire Ministry of Justice was under martial law, and Yao Xin, who came to visit him in prison, was temporarily unable to leave.

He continued playing against Wan Sheng, both of them appearing indifferent.

The curfew lasted until evening before Zhu Guanfeng sent someone to escort Mr. Yao away.

“Mr. Yao, something has happened at the Ministry of Justice. You don’t need to come over for the next few days, so as not to make a wasted trip.”

This means that from then on, no one was allowed to visit him in prison.

"Can you guarantee Brother Wan's safety?" Yao Xin asked coldly.

"Mr. Yao, rest assured, in this prison, no one will be treated unfairly, but Master Wan will not be treated unfairly."

The jailer smiled obsequiously, trying to please him.

He was telling the truth; Master Zhu was looking after them.