Chapter 26: Subjugating Qin Hongzhong
Just like that, Ning Yunxi fell into Zhong Jian's hands.
The palace banquet ended and Yan Yu left the palace.
Gao Jing followed closely behind him, with a worried look on his face.
"I have some doubts, should I ask?"
Yan Yu responded calmly.
"ask."
Gao Jing looked up to the sky and sighed, as if he had suppressed his emotions for a long time.
"Miss Ning San was suffering, why did the prince stand by and watch?"
"Although Lord Qin, the Prime Minister of Tinghe, is upright and will not wrongly accuse a good person."
"But Lord Tinghe Cheng Zhong..."
"After all, there was the incident with Zhong Shuyi. I am afraid that it will be difficult for the Third Miss to walk out of Tinghetai alive."
"And Lord Xie, didn't the prince say that he wanted to win him over?"
"Now, not only have we failed to win him over, but we have implicated him and put him in danger."
"I am a stupid subordinate. The prince had already discussed countermeasures with the third lady. How could we fail so miserably?"
Yan Yu's smile was gentle, like the flowing of spring water.
"This is your opinion after such a disastrous defeat?"
Gao Jing nodded.
"This is the fact, and everyone present has witnessed it."
Yan Yu reminded lightly.
"It's just pretending to lose."
"They are proud of their victory, so you and I can catch them off guard."
Gao Jing disagrees.
"After such a disastrous defeat, how can we survive?"
"I feel helpless and at a loss as to what to do."
Yan Yu smiled without saying a word, walked to the palace gate, and met Qiu Bi who had been waiting for a long time.
Seeing that it was Yan Yu, Qiu Bi poked her head out and looked behind him.
"Excuse me, Your Majesty, have you seen my daughter?"
She was a maid and could not enter the palace at will, so she could only wait outside the palace gate.
Gao Jing is different.
He was the legitimate son of the Prime Minister and Yan Yu's third-rank personal bodyguard, so he could attend the palace banquet.
"Ugh."
Gao Jing sighed again.
Qiu Bi's eyebrows were brightened with joy: "The young lady has already gone to Tinghetai?"
Yan Yu nodded in response.
"Ah."
Qiu Bi smiled even more: "That's great."
Now, Gao Jing found it even more difficult to understand.
"Your daughter is in trouble, but instead of being worried, you are overjoyed?"
Qiu Bi blinked in confusion.
"You got what you wanted, why wouldn't you be happy?"
"Could it be that Master Gao knows nothing about this plan?"
Yan Yu smiled helplessly.
"Qiu Bi is smart, you should learn more from her."
After saying that, he turned to Qiu Bi.
"Your girl is worried about your safety, so she left a message."
"During this period of time, you can live in Prince Dijin's mansion."
"To the outside world, this king will have an appropriate explanation."
Qiu Bi bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."
……
Tinghetai.
Zhong Jian sat on the main seat, looking down on everything.
"Come here, drag them away and give them thirty lashes first."
Ning Yunxi remained calm and said nothing.
Xie Mao's words were stern and righteous, and his tone and expression were harsh.
"Master Zhong is used to Tinghetai's way of handling things, but has forgotten that this is originally Yinsitai's business."
“You can’t compare the two.”
"Miss Ning San is the legitimate daughter of the Duke's Mansion, and I am Yin Sicheng. Even if she has made a mistake, I must not hurt her hair or skin."
"Therefore, the caning that Lord Zhong mentioned must not be carried out before a thorough investigation and a decision on the crime is made."
"The law says so. How can Lord Zhong know it's not allowed and still do it?"
Zhong Jian was speechless.
Qin Hongzhong appeared next.
"Thank you, sir, what you said is very true."
Zhong Jian's face turned cold.
"What are you here for?"
Qin Hongzhong held up the imperial edict and gestured.
"I would like to ask Master Zhong."
"Why did you go to court privately and ignore me?"
"Could it be that Lord Zhong is the master of Tinghetai?"
"Or did Lord Zhong knowingly commit a crime and defy the emperor's will?"
"I have to remind you that the Eighth Office has one chancellor and one chancellor, and their ranks are the same, both are of the second rank."
"Tinghetai is managed by you and me together."
"If Miss Ning San and Lord Xie were to encounter any mishap, how would Lord Zhong explain this to the Emperor?"
"Anyway, I will report it truthfully."
"So, please handle this impartially, Master Zhong, and don't be partial."
Zhong Jian slammed the table and stood up.
"Qin Hongzhong!"
"Do you know what you're doing?"
"What benefits did the third daughter of Ning give you?"
"Or did Xie Mao catch something against you?"
"How dare you disobey me like this!"
Qin Hongzhong responded calmly.
"Yin Sicheng is here."
"Excuse me, Master Xie, Master Zhong not only knowingly committed a crime, but also maliciously slandered me. What crime should he be charged with?"
Xie Mao stroked his chin.
"Um……"
Before Xie Mao responded, Zhong Jian gritted his teeth and expressed his opinion first.
"Okay, please take a seat, Master Qin."
Qin Hongzhong smiled back, walked away a few steps, and sat in another chair.
"Master Zhong, if you have any questions, you may ask them now."
With Qin Hongzhong around, Zhong Jian could do almost nothing.
I will just ask a few questions and leave it at that for now as the court session continues.
After everyone dispersed, Ning Yunxi called Qin Hongzhong in time.
"Master Qin, please stay."
Qin Hongzhong stopped, turned around and bowed solemnly.
"Miss Ning San, what advice do you have?"
Ning Yunxi smiled and sat down with him.
"Thank you, Lord Qin, for your help."
Qin Hongzhong smiled back.
"The girl misunderstood."
"I am just following the imperial edict."
"No selfish motives."
Ning Yunxi nodded.
"I know that Lord Qin has always been honest and never partial."
"I heard that your son is interested in medicine, but why can't he find the right method?"
Qin Hongzhong stopped smiling and became particularly serious.
"Please be careful with your words, young lady."
"I have always been reluctant to accept favors."
"Moreover, given the current situation, you and I should be more cautious to avoid giving others a chance to criticize us."
"My son does like medicine. If you are interested in taking me as your disciple, please wait until the matter is settled."
"Tinghetai still has matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave first."
Ning Yunxi immediately spoke out to stop him.
"Master Qin, please wait a moment."
"I'm not trying to buy people's hearts. You misunderstood."
"What I mean is that Prince Dijin wants to give you some advice, so please go to Prince Dijin's mansion and have a seat."
Qin Hongzhong remained serious.
"Isn't the girl fooling me?"
"What's the difference between the invitation from Prince Dijin and the interest of the young lady?"
Ning Yunxi hurriedly explained.
“It’s quite different.”
"Prince Dijin's intention was to use medical reasons as an excuse, but in reality, it was to protect your son."
"There is no one else in Lord Qin's family. For many years, he has been dependent on Master Qin."
"Given the current situation, the Zhong Mansion must do something."
"Lord Qin is in charge of Tinghetai and is too busy to handle everything else."
"What should Master Qin do if they threaten your son?"
"Therefore, King Dijin intends to protect it."
"Mr. Qin can only be safe if he stays in Prince Dijin's mansion."
"What do you say?"
Qin Hongzhong did not believe it easily.
"Staying in Prince Dijin's mansion is still being coerced by others."
"Isn't it?"
Ning Yunxi denied it.
"No."
"Prince Dijin holds your son in his hands. Doesn't Lord Qin also hold Lord Xie and me in his hands?"
"Master Zhong has no weaknesses. You hold them in your hands."
"Besides, King Dijin didn't mean that."
"What I said today comes from the bottom of my heart. I hope Lord Qin will think twice."
"Excuse me, Mr. Qin,"
"I am willing to believe in the character of King Dijin,"
"I still think the Qin Mansion is safe enough,"
"Or do you think that Lord Zhong would never be partial to someone for personal gain or commit fraud?"
At this point, Qin Hongzhong was finally moved.
"I see."
"Thank you for your guidance, young lady."
"Emperor Jin, I will repay your kindness with a thousand times."