"I'll go into the mountains with you.""No.""No!"The voices of Zongyu and his mother rose simultaneously.Zong Bai hurriedly explained to her, "Sister-in-law, even though there are fewer wild animals in...As the Second Prince was about to turn and leave, he suddenly remembered that Zong Pingchuan, son-in-law of Yuan Xiang, seemed to still be held in the prison. Although this man had already been stripped of his official hat and became a useless person, Yuan Xiang's daughter still deeply loved him.

Back then, the story of Miss Yuan and that Master Zong became a popular tale in the capital city, spreading widely and creating quite a stir.

He stopped halfway and turned around.

"The one in the prison, this Prince has already pleaded with His Majesty for leniency. People have also been sent to take care of things on the prison side. Yuan Xiang, find a suitable time and bring him back."

Don't draw attention to yourself.

The Second Prince almost forgot that his son-in-law, Zong Pingchuan, was still imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. A cold light flashed in his eyes as he bowed his head to thank the Second Prince.

"Thank you, Second Highness, for running around for your old servant."

The second prince smiled, “Who told you that your beloved likes him.”

He raised his hand and patted Yuan Buyu's arm, his tone laced with a hint of playful teasing.

As soon as the Second Prince disappeared, Yuan Buyu raised his head, his eyes cold to the extreme. It was quite obvious that he didn't like the Second Prince making fun of him like this.

Yuan Buyu's confidant appeared only after the second prince had left.

"Grandpa."

"Find someone to bring him from the prison and place him in a private residence in the eastern part of the city. The Minister's mansion has already been taken back by His Majesty."

"Yes, if Miss asks." the subordinate questioned slowly.

A flash of ferocity crossed Yuan Buyu's eyes.

Tell her the truth.

"From today onwards, add a colorless and tasteless chronic poison to his food every day. In six months' time, he will appear to have died from a serious illness."

This way, Xiangli should be able to accept it better.

"Zong Pingchuan, he should have died a long time ago."

He sighed and said, pronouncing other people's life and death as indifferently as lamenting the cooling weather.

His confidante took his orders and carried them out.

Back at the prime minister's mansion, Yuan Buyu had just changed out of his official robes and taken a sip of tea when he beckoned the steward over.

What is Zongping Kang up to lately Is he still being honest

The steward bowed his head and replied, "Reporting to the Master, I've placed him in the garden at the back. He's been honest and hasn't acted strangely."

"During that time, she only asked once when she would see her brother-in-law."

Yuan Buyu placed his hand on the table and lightly tapped it a few times.

"Take him to the private house in the east of the city and let the brothers meet."

"And tell him the truth about Pingchuan's dismissal, make him hate Zong Yu and Fang Jinshu so much, you know what to say"

The steward nodded. "This old servant understands, Master, please rest assured."

He recalled something, paused for a moment, then spoke again.

"Sir, the young lady has come again today."

"This old slave, as you commanded, didn't allow her to enter the manor. Miss... she has become much thinner, and looks much more haggard."

Yuan Xiangli after all was the only precious jewel of the Prime Minister's Manor, and also the one who had been watched over by the old housekeeper since childhood. Although he was most loyal to the Prime Minister, seeing the pampered and highly esteemed young lady transformed into her current state, he truly couldn't bear it in his heart.

Yuan Buyu was not made of stone after all. Hearing that his daughter had become like this, he couldn't help but raise his hand and rub his temples.

"Send her to the private house in Dongcheng. But under no circumstances must news of Zongpingchuan being released from the Heavenly Prison alive be leaked."

Yuan Buyu originally intended to use the emperor's hand to end Zong Pingchuan's life. After all, he knew that Zong Pingchuan held too many secrets, and only a dead man could be truly reliable.

Since Zong Pingchuan was imprisoned, his daughter visited the mansion every day to plead for him. The Ministry of Rites took back the official residence, and Yuan Buyu moved them, mother and son, to another private house under his name.

Yuan Xiangli wanted to take the children back to the Yuan family mansion, but Yuan Buyu disagreed.

He knew his daughter's intention of moving back in. Things had gotten to this point, Zong Pingchuan he had to die.

In the end, Yuan Buyu softened his heart. He accepted the second prince's favor and gave his daughter a six-month buffer period, letting her believe that the person had died of illness, perhaps lessening the blow.

The steward nodded happily, “Master still cares for Miss deeply.”

Yuan Buyu helplessly waved his hand and let him go. The steward hurried to Yuan Xiangli's place, bringing Zong Pingkang along the way.

At this time, Yuan Xiangli was sitting in the courtyard, staring at the koi fish in the pond.

A maid came rushing to report in a short while.

"Madam, the young master has gone out again."

Yuan Xiang's head ached terribly, "Didn't I tell you to watch him and not let him go out"

The maid girl trembled and said, "We... we can't stop them."

Yuan Xiangli flew into a rage, smashing the cup in her hand.

"Trash! You're useless, a bunch of you can't even watch one person."

"Where is the second young master going"

Recently, Yuan Xiangli has been having a miserable time. She can't eat during the day and can't sleep at night.

In just a short month, her once promising husband was stripped of his official position and became a prisoner, even facing the possibility of execution.

The daughter lost her innocence, and the other party refuses to take responsibility, only adding insult to injury.

The eldest son is weak and cowardly. When such a big thing happened at home, he couldn't come up with any ideas. He just hid in the palace every day to report for duty, staying there all day long. Sometimes he didn't even return home to sleep at night.

Yuan Xiangli knew her eldest son was hiding from her, afraid she would catch him and ask him what he would do in the future to save his father.

But that's his father, his biological father! Someone framed him and he's been thrown into prison, possibly even facing death. How can Tai be so indifferent

Simply terrifyingly cold.

The second son, like his mother, was indignant, but lacked both courage and prudence, inheriting only her hot-tempered disposition.

He spent his days either scolding Fang Jinxiu's family or cursing Ning Gaoyuan for ruining his sister's reputation. He even snuck to Ning Yuanhou's mansion to fight Ning Gaoyuan, but ended up being beaten half to death and carried back. It took him half a month of recuperation before he recovered from his injuries.

This is also the reason why Yuan Xiangli wouldn't let Zong Taimu run around carelessly anymore.

Even if she were the daughter of the current prime minister, once she was married, she belonged to her husband's family. When her husband lost his power, her family wouldn't be able to save him.

Once, Yuan Xiangli was the most glamorous woman among all noble ladies. Now, she is utterly disgraced. She has long stopped attending banquets and socializing with them in the circle of Beijing's noblewomen.

Those who once fawned over her had also distanced themselves. She still received invitations to banquets, but she knew that going would only result in ridicule.

Those people used to fawn over her, inviting her to events and showering her with attention because she was a respected official's wife. Now that she has lost her status, it is clear what their motives are for inviting her.

Yuan Xiangli wasn't that stupid.

"The second young master cried out that he was going to find Old Jiang, saying that Old Jiang would definitely help him get revenge."

Yuan Xiang's eyebrows furrowed tightly. Tai Wu went to look for Jiang Chuang

How could he possibly find him!

"Send someone to bring the second young master back, no, prepare a car, I'll go find Jiang Chuang myself. Hurry."

She had known about Jiang Chuang's existence since she was little, and she knew he was her father's person. It's just that her father's attitude towards Jiang Chuang has always been very strange.

This person appears to be controlled by their father, but in reality, they act on a whim, recklessly and defiantly.

No one knew what he was thinking, and no one could truly control Jiang Chuang.

Going to find Tai Wu would be incredibly dangerous, this isn't like fighting with Ning Er at all.

She was just about to leave when the head steward of the manor arrived with Zong Pingkang.

Old Mrs. Wu excitedly got out of the carriage and, seeing the magnificent estate before her, her legs no longer trembled, and her speech became clear and articulate.

"Well, what a big house."

"Big boss, big boss, our family is finally successful!" Zong Bai froze in place.Sleep Where could he possibly sleep now"Sister-in-law, didn't you say that if I grew any taller, you'd get poked a hole by me""I can't sleep, you guys probably don't know what...