Chapter 196

Chapter 196: So Humble

Facing the eager looks of everyone in the Northern Du Branch, Du Yi Zhi finally relaxed. Before he came, Princess had already guessed the kinds of obstacles he might face and told him how to deal with them. He just had not expected the Southern Du Branch and the Ji Zhou Prefecture Prefect, Yan Hai, to be so ruthless that they would target commoner directly.

Luckily, Princess had a counterplan. Now the Southern Du Branch was surrounded, Yan Hai was locked up, and Du Yi Zhi was about to become the Clan Chief of the Northern Du Branch. In the future, he would also be one of Princess’s allies.

After thinking it through, Du Yi Zhi did not even bother with polite refusals. He said directly, “Let it be today. The Northern Du Branch has fallen into decline, and many commoner don’t even know the difference between the Southern Du Branch and the Northern Du Branch. Only if I become the Northern Du Branch’s Clan Chief will this disaster from the Southern Du Branch not spread to us.”

What Du Yi Zhi said was the truth. So, while the Southern Du Branch had no choice but to admit guilt, the Northern Du Branch’s ancestral hall opened wide. Du Yi Zhi first offered incense to the ancestral tablets and bowed, then read the sacrificial text. With the commoner of Ji Zhou Prefecture as witnesses, he officially took over as the Clan Chief of the Northern Du Branch.

Outside the crowd, Lin Yi watched from far away. He had not received any news from the Capital. Yet the quieter it was, the more uneasy he felt.

In the Capital, Qi Shu Xian felt uneasy as well. Ever since His Majesty sent people to Ji Zhou Prefecture to thoroughly investigate the burned cotton case, Qi Shu Xian had sent requests again and again to see the Third Prince, but he never received a reply. Only today did the Third Prince finally agree to meet him.

But the moment the Third Prince spoke, Qi Shu Xian closed his eyes, his face turning deathly pale.

Qi Shu Xian said hoarsely, “Your Highness, is there truly no room to turn this around? Lin Yi… Lin Yi has followed me for many years.”

Sheng Yuan Hao narrowed his eyes at Qi Shu Xian. “He ignored your arrangements and used the Du Clan to collude with other cotton merchants. Now that the matter has been exposed, the crime is severe. Not only will Lin Yi be implicated, even you may be dragged into it.”

Qi Shu Xian swayed on his feet.

Sheng Yuan Hao’s voice sharpened. “What? Are you blaming this prince?”

Qi Shu Xian forced a bitter smile. “I hoarded cotton first. When trouble came, only then did I tell Your Highness. The fact that Your Highness was willing to step in was already help. This outcome is my own fault. How could I blame Your Highness?”

How could Qi Shu Xian dare blame the ruler he planned to serve in the future?

If there was anyone to blame, it was himself. When Meng Yang first proposed it, he should have rejected it firmly. Instead, one wrong step led to another.

Lin Yi had been chosen by Qi Shu Xian’s father to follow Qi Shu Xian from the day Qi Shu Xian became the Heir Apparent. Now Qi Shu Xian had to abandon Lin Yi. Qi Shu Xian could not bear it, but what did it matter if he could not bear it? Qi Shu Xian could not even protect himself.

Sheng Yuan Hao watched Qi Shu Xian closely. Only after he confirmed that there was no resentment or dissatisfaction on Qi Shu Xian’s face did Sheng Yuan Hao’s expression ease.

Sheng Yuan Hao said, “Qi Shu Xian, relax. Since you are working for this prince, before long, this prince will give you a chance to return.”

He spoke with deep meaning. “Your official path is in the military. When the time comes, you must seize it.”

Qi Shu Xian looked up, sensing something faintly.

Seeing how pale and thin Qi Shu Xian looked, Sheng Yuan Hao could not help shaking his head. “What a pity. If you had not divorced Qing Ning, it would have been better.”

“What?” Qi Shu Xian froze.

Sheng Yuan Hao said slowly, “If you two had not divorced, Qing Ning would be busy with the inner household matters of the Duke Manor. How would Qing Ning have had the spare mind to interfere in the cold disaster in Mo Bei? Even if Qing Ning did interfere, with Qing Ning’s feelings for you, things would not have come to this.”

Then Sheng Yuan Hao waved his hand. “Now that it has come to this, regret is useless. It seems… Imperial Father must find Qing Ning a husband as soon as possible. Women should stay in the inner household and manage the inner household.”

As for the country and the realm, that was a man’s responsibility. Ignorant women should not involve themselves.

Qi Shu Xian’s heart suddenly tightened. “Your Highness! I… I still want to reconcile with Princess!”

The words left Qi Shu Xian’s mouth, and Qi Shu Xian stunned himself.

Sheng Yuan Hao raised an eyebrow. “This prince thought you liked the type of woman Miss Meng is.”

Qi Shu Xian gave a bitter smile. “In my heart, from beginning to end, there has only ever been Princess. Meng Yang, to me, was only responsibility.”

Qi Shu Xian still did not understand why Princess could not tolerate Meng Yang. If Princess had not troubled Meng Yang again and again, Qi Shu Xian would not have defended Meng Yang every time and pushed his relationship with Princess farther and farther away.

Sheng Yuan Hao shook his head. “Women are jealous.”

Sheng Yuan Hao did not care who Qi Shu Xian loved or who Qi Shu Xian valued.

Sheng Yuan Hao continued, “But it is likely impossible for you to make up with Qing Ning. Qing Ning has been like this since childhood. Once Qing Ning makes up her mind, even if Imperial Father orders it, Qing Ning would rather be punished than accept.”

“Back then, when Qing Ning begged for the decree to marry you, it was the same. Now, when Qing Ning risked her life to demand a divorce, it is also the same.”

Qi Shu Xian refused to believe it. Qi Shu Xian left the Third Prince’s residence in a daze.

A carriage passed in the distance.

Ting Lan hurriedly lowered the curtain. “Princess, I think I just saw Qi Shu Xian!”

Sheng Zhi Wan opened her eyes but did not speak yet. Then she heard an urgent voice outside the carriage-

“Zhi…”

Qi Shu Xian’s voice cut off. Remembering the flogging last time, Qi Shu Xian changed his words. “Princess Qing Ning! I have a few words I want to say to Princess!”

“Princess…” Ting Lan regretted it. If Ting Lan had known, Ting Lan would not have lifted the curtain to look outside.

“I have nothing to say to Qi Shu Xian.” Sheng Zhi Wan gently patted Ting Lan to soothe Ting Lan.

What was Qi Shu Xian, anyway? Was Qi Shu Xian worth making her people avoid things for Qi Shu Xian’s sake?

Zhang Da did not receive any signal from Princess to stop, so Zhang Da kept driving forward.

Qi Shu Xian had no choice but to use his Lightness Skill and follow behind.

Qi Shu Xian called out, “Princess, do you remember Lin Yi? You once praised Lin Yi’s skill with numbers. Now Lin Yi was sent to Ji Zhou Prefecture under Meng Yang’s arrangements and got dragged into the burned cotton case. Zhi Wan… no, Princess, I beg you, save Lin Yi just once!”

Saying it felt like Qi Shu Xian’s heart was being torn apart. When had Qi Shu Xian ever been so humble before Sheng Zhi Wan? In the past, Sheng Zhi Wan had admired Qi Shu Xian and thought of Qi Shu Xian in everything. But now…

Qi Shu Xian clenched his fingers tight.

Hearing the name Lin Yi, Sheng Zhi Wan had a vague impression. Sheng Zhi Wan had met Lin Yi once or twice and had indeed praised Lin Yi casually. But whether Qi Shu Xian’s man lived or died had nothing to do with Sheng Zhi Wan. More than that-

Sheng Zhi Wan’s voice turned mocking. “Without your approval, Concubine Meng could command the people around you. It seems Qi Shu Xian and Concubine Meng truly are in love.”

Sheng Zhi Wan added, “Qi Shu Xian cherishes Concubine Meng so much, yet now you followed behind my carriage like a stray dog, begging me. Are you not afraid Concubine Meng will feel hurt if Concubine Meng finds out?”

A clear laugh rang out.

Qi Shu Xian’s body stiffened, freezing in place.

A stray dog…

Sheng Zhi Wan… actually called Qi Shu Xian a stray dog!

Qi Shu Xian’s vision went dark. Qi Shu Xian did not even know how Qi Shu Xian made it back to the Duke Qi Manor.

“The Heir Apparent is back!” Meng Yang’s face lit up at first. Then Meng Yang noticed something wrong with Qi Shu Xian’s expression. “Heir Apparent… did the Third Prince say something?”

Qi Shu Xian’s reddened eyes turned to Meng Yang.

Meng Yang subconsciously stepped back half a step.

Qi Shu Xian did not do anything to Meng Yang. Qi Shu Xian only slumped into a chair and suddenly gave a short laugh. “The Third Prince… wanted me to abandon Lin Yi…”