Chapter 430: Golden Hairpin Relieves the Heart

Love Shenjing, Prince Beijing's Mansion, Inner Study.

The Prince and Wang Fei Beijing were sitting idly in the study, and the topic was the Zhen family's recent planning.

Wang Fei Beijing was beautiful and graceful, wearing a phoenix palace robe, with a dignified demeanor.

Although she was already in her prime, she was much older than Zhen Fang-qing.

But this former Second Miss Zhen was still beautiful and slender, bright as the moon, and dazzling, making people unforgettable when they saw her.

Every gesture radiated the intoxicating charm of a mature woman.

She and Prince Beijing were a noble marriage, but after marriage, the couple was harmonious, and Prince Beijing also doted on this Wang Fei.

Back then, the old Prince Beijing did not marry into the noble families of the Love Shenjing, but married the eldest daughter of the Jin Ling Zhen family, which was not without deep meaning.

In terms of marriage for descendants, staying away from the noble circle of the Love Shenjing could not only keep a low profile and seek survival, but also allow the Prince Beijing line not to be confined to one time or one place.

Jin Ling is the hub of half of Jiangnan, and the Jin Ling Zhen family has been rooted in the Auxiliary Capital for a hundred years, a wealthy family that is one of the best in Jiangnan, and its hidden power and prestige cannot be underestimated.

Moreover, there is the highly respected Old Imperial Consort Zhen in the palace, and behind her stands the Retired Emperor….

The marriage between the Prince Beijing's mansion and the Jin Ling Zhen family, although not glorious and dazzling on the surface, was thick and practical on the inside.

Everyone says that the old Prince Beijing was mediocre and lived a mediocre life, but how many heads of noble families are shallow in mind?

Wang Fei Beijing smiled like a flower and said: "My lord, the day before yesterday, I entered the palace to pay respects to the Old Imperial Consort and brought a family letter from the Jin Ling Zhen family. The Old Imperial Consort heard about the marriage between Third Sister and Jia Cong and was very satisfied with this marriage.

She even said that she would speak to the Retired Emperor and might even bestow a marriage for the two."

Shui Rong smiled and asked: "This time you saw the Old Imperial Consort, how is the Old Imperial Consort's health?"

Wang Fei Beijing sighed: "The Old Imperial Consort is already over eighty, which can be considered a high age. Although her spirit is still okay, she is old, so minor illnesses and disasters are inevitable.

Third Sister grew up by the Old Imperial Consort's side since childhood, so this affection is not ordinary. Last time Third Sister went to the Love Shenjing to visit her, she only stayed for a few days before returning to Jin Ling.

This time when I went, the Old Imperial Consort said that every time she sees Third Sister, she sees her one less time.

So she is more concerned about this marriage than anyone else.

She also said that if Third Sister marries Jia Cong, she can see her often in the Love Shenjing…."

Shui Rong said: "Life is rare since ancient times at eighty. The Zhen family has this, but there is always an end. Father-in-law is also far-sighted, wanting to accumulate family power for the Zhen family's future."

Second Miss Zhen naturally understood the meaning in Shui Rong's words. The Old Imperial Consort Zhen was already in her twilight years and didn't have many years to live.

As long as the Old Imperial Consort Zhen passes away, the Jin Ling Zhen family will lose its greatest reliance.

Shui Rong said: "Jia Cong is the leader of the younger generation of nobles in the Love Shenjing. If he becomes the Zhen family's son-in-law, it will show that the four kings and eight dukes are of the same spirit and strengthen their momentum.

It is also very good for the future of the Jin Ling Zhen family."

As the couple was talking, a maid from outside came to report that the Prince's Chief Clerk, Liu Yong, was waiting in the outer study, having an urgent matter to report to the Prince.

Second Miss Zhen was familiar with her husband's temperament, and over the years, the two had formed a tacit understanding. Seeing that he had other things to do, she left on her own.

Although the Prince Beijing's mansion had been wealthy for generations, both generations had long been on the periphery of the court and did not hold real power in the army. For more than ten years, both generations of Prince Beijing had been living in leisure.

The Prince Beijing's mansion should have been like a crane in the clouds, but Second Miss Zhen knew that her husband had talent and strategy, was unwilling to be lonely, and was a person who couldn't stay idle.

He was often entangled in many miscellaneous affairs and wouldn't let her help manage them, so she could only let him be.

For Second Miss Zhen, what she cared about most at the moment was her Third Sister's marriage. Doing her best to help her father fulfill this matter was her duty as a Zhen family daughter.

If the marriage could be successful, not only would she have a sister to accompany her in the Love Shenjing in the future, but her maiden family would also have a great help from then on.

……

Prince Beijing's Mansion, Outer Study.

The Prince's Mansion's Chief Clerk, Liu Yong, handed over a letter and said: "My lord, this is a letter from the Second Young Master of the Jin Ling Zhen family, Zhen Shi-wen."

Shui Rong took the letter and opened it. His face looked a bit gloomy.

Liu Yong saw Shui Rong's expression was unhappy and asked: "My lord, did something happen to the Second Young Master of the Zhen family?"

Shui Rong frowned and said: "This letter was sent from Jin Ling ten days ago. Jin Ling and the Love Shenjing are far apart, and the communication of information is not fast enough. I don't know what the situation is now.

The letter says that Shi-wen was grounded at home. Because of the private transport of firearms, he was seized by the Shipping Administration and thus left a criminal record.

The Liaodong firearm theft incident occurred, and the Jin Ling Embroidered Uniform Guard investigated everyone suspected of private transport of firearms, and as a result, they found him.

His manager reported that there were traces of refined iron being moved in the shop's warehouse.

Recently, strangers have often appeared around the shop. In my opinion, he has been targeted by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

If it weren't for Jia Cong fishing him out of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I don't know how it would have ended."

Liu Yong asked: "My lord, the Zhen family's affair has some risks. If something happens, will it implicate you, my lord?"

Shui Rong said gloomily: "Zhen Shi-wen, if you talk about meticulousness and experience, he is far behind his cousin!

The Jin Ling Zhen family is the Wang Fei's maiden family and cannot be separated from the Prince Beijing's mansion. Liu Yong, you take people to Jin Ling…."

……

Red clouds filled the sky, and the sun was setting.

On the official road about eighty or ninety miles away from Jin Ling City, six fast horses were galloping at full speed.

Each rider on the horse had a long package wrapped in cloth on their back, which looked a bit strange.

The horse hooves flew, the sound was like muffled thunder, and the dust raised was like a rolling yellow dragon, quite imposing, making people feel the urgency of the riders to hurry on their way.

When the horse team walked to a fork in the road, the leading young rider suddenly reined in his horse and took out the map he carried to check the path.

A firearm soldier named Liu Zhen beside him asked: "Jiang Liu, why did you stop? Ten miles ahead is an official post station called Gantang Station.

Our horses have galloped nearly a hundred miles, and their strength is already weak. You have the Master's military order token, so you can change horses at the post station to let us keep galloping fast.

Only in this way can we rush back to the Love Shenjing in four days."

Jiang Liu checked the map and looked back at the official road.

He said: "Before leaving, Cong Sanye instructed that we usually follow the Master in and out of government offices, and many people who know us are afraid.

Now that we are suddenly galloping out of the city, the situation in Jin Ling City is unclear. Cong Sanye is worried that someone will have bad intentions and will track or even intercept us along the way.

Cong Sanye said that the distance within one hundred to one hundred and fifty miles from Jin Ling is the most dangerous distance, and it is extremely easy to be tracked.

If we change horses at the Gantang Station ahead, we have to use the military order token, which will leave obvious traces, and others will easily calculate that we are returning to the Love Shenjing for urgent official business!

If Cong Sanye is unfortunately right, someone will take a risk. With just a few of us, it is very difficult to resist.

Cong Sanye said that as long as we bypass Gantang Station and run a distance of two hundred miles, we can get rid of possible tracking.

It is almost dark now, and it is not easy to be detected when galloping at night. We would rather take a detour. As long as we run for half the night, we can run out of two hundred miles.

We no longer have to worry about anyone intercepting us along the way, ensuring that Cong Sanye's memorial can safely reach the Love Shenjing."

After Jiang Liu finished speaking, he ran back and forth several times at the fork in the road leading to Gantang Station.

After returning to the intersection, he said: "This method was taught by Cong Sanye, leaving chaotic horse hoof prints. If someone tracks us, they won't know our whereabouts for a while.

After speaking, he jumped off the horse, took out the thick cloth prepared from the package, wrapped the four horse hooves, and the others followed suit.

After a busy time, Jiang Liu pulled the horse's head and rushed to the fork on the left, and Liu Zhen followed closely with the other four firearm soldiers.

……

By the time they had walked for less than half a cup of tea, more than a dozen fast horses arrived one after another on the official road behind them, with an imposing momentum.

When they ran to this fork in the road, the riders stopped their horses one after another. These people were sturdy, their movements were agile, and they had quite a military style.

These people checked the situation at the intersection, and some checked the chaotic horse hoof shapes on the ground, but for a while, they couldn't get the hang of it.

The two leaders discussed for a while and chose the fork leading to Gantang Station, whipping their horses and galloping away!

……

Jin Ling, Fengle Fang.

A three-entry residence with pink walls and vermilion gates in the square, among the many official residences in the square, was like a speck of dust in the light, appearing very inconspicuous.

A capable young man walked into the study and saw a middle-aged man who was always dignified, pacing back and forth in the study, seemingly somewhat restless.

Seeing this scene, the young man's eyes flashed slightly, and he said: "My lord, this afternoon, the personnel we arranged reported back.

Jia Cong's personal attendant took the guards around him and galloped out of Taiping Gate, looking like he was going on a long journey."

The middle-aged man's face changed slightly, and he asked: "His personal attendant doesn't stay by his side, why would he suddenly take guards and leave Jin Ling? Did you send someone to track him and find out where they went?"

The young man replied: "I received the news and sent a team of fast horses to track them. I chased them all the way to Gantang Station a hundred miles away, but they didn't pass through the post station, and then they lost their tracks.

But looking at the direction they were heading, it is likely that they are returning to the Love Shenjing."

The middle-aged man's expression was gloomy, saying: "Since Jia Cong came to Jin Ling, it has always been calm. Why would he suddenly let his personal attendant return to the Love Shenjing? There must be a reason for this."

The young man usually saw the other party's gentle and calm appearance, maintaining calmness and composure at all times. Only those who have experienced twists and turns can cultivate such resilient mind-art.

Like this worried look, it was rare in normal times.

The middle-aged man asked: "Is there any new news from Su Zhou?"

The young man said: "Last time Luo Xiong sent news, saying that suspicious figures appeared in Su Zhou City, wandering in the market, acting secretly and hard to grasp.

But recently, the Su Zhou area has been relatively calm, and there has been no unusual movement."

The middle-aged man said: "You notify Water Luo Sha to go to Su Zhou immediately. If there is a change in Su Zhou that is difficult to control, let her take action to deal with it, so as not to have future troubles!"

The young man looked solemn and asked: "My lord, it is said that Zou Huai-yi left a secret account to protect his life. Will Zhou Zheng-yang have such a backup?"

The middle-aged man sneered: "Zou Huai-yi left a secret account, but it didn't save his life. The person most likely to know the whereabouts of the secret account is his daughter, Zou Min'er.

But his daughter was also eliminated by us. Even if that secret account exists, it is already useless."

The middle-aged man sighed: "This is just a last resort when it comes to the final moment.

However, at the final moment, as long as enough people die, even the biggest secret can be kept!"

The middle-aged man's voice echoed in the study, revealing a ruthless and cold tone, making the young man feel a chill in his heart.

……

Jin Ling, Mingze Lane.

Zou Min'er's injuries had stabilized after more than ten days of care.

Although she still couldn't walk on the ground, she could barely manage to get up and lie down on her own.

In the eyes of others, she had died in the assassination at Qingyin Pavilion.

In the eyes of the middle-aged man in Fengle Fang, she was Zou Huai-yi's daughter who had been silenced.

In the eyes of others, she was just a musician in Qingyin Pavilion who died young.

Since her body was taken out of Qingyin Pavilion by Jia Cong, except for the first few days, she could still attract some sighs and sympathy.

But in this magnificent city of Jin Ling, how many lives and deaths are staged every day? The dead are like lights going out, eventually disappearing without a trace.

Those who once knew and heard of her soon forgot her existence.

Although she was once seriously injured and dying, and the pain had not yet disappeared.

But being burdened with too many crimes and grievances, suddenly being relieved of everything, and standing alone in the world, made Zou Min'er feel an unprecedented sense of relief.

Being completely forgotten also meant that it was easier for her to forget everything.

……

That fatal knife from Water Luo Sha back then cut off life and death, and also cut open the knot in her heart.

Since she learned from Lingguan that Zhou Zheng-yang had been concealed by Luo Xiong, the Regional Military Commissioner of the Su Zhou Guard,

she realized that she was getting closer and closer to the truth of the major Water Surveillance Office case from years ago.

Jia Cong came over every day, sometimes staying overnight in Mingze Lane, but sometimes he would leave without eating dinner.

Since Zou Min'er was seriously injured in the assassination and was meticulously cared for by Jia Cong, the two were physically close and intimate.

The young woman's defenses had been broken, and her feelings for Jia Cong had gradually changed, so she naturally paid close attention to his every move.

She noticed that every time Jia Cong didn't stay overnight in Mingze Lane, when he returned the next day, his clothes were always fresh, his appearance was neat, and even his hair bun was combed meticulously.

It seemed that every time he stayed out overnight, he was served and cared for by someone he liked.

On this day, Jia Cong ate lunch in Mingze Lane and helped Zou Min'er change her medicine.

Zou Min'er knew he wouldn't stay here tonight. Usually, if he stayed overnight, he wouldn't change her medicine so early.

When the sky was low, Lingguan took care of Zou Min'er after dinner, and she asked casually: "Lingguan, does he have a careful maid serving him in the Jia Mansion?"

Lingguan was tidying up the dishes and said casually: "Steward Jin arranged two maids for Cong Sanye, but Cong Sanye doesn't like them. His daily life and grooming are all done by himself.

Jin Cai's wife said that when Cong Sanye came to Jin Ling last time, he brought a personal maid to serve him, so he should be unaccustomed to being served by strangers."

Zou Min'er didn't find it strange when she heard this. She also came from a wealthy family. Young masters and young ladies were only used to being taken care of by people they were familiar with, and it was common to feel uncomfortable when someone else was changed.

But she heard Lingguan say casually again: "However, Cong Sanye doesn't live in the mansion every day. He comes back every two days to teach me and Douguan to read and write."

Zou Min'er suddenly understood something when she heard this, and she was dazed for a long time before sighing slightly.

……

The next day at noon, when Jia Cong came to Mingze Lane again, Zou Min'er found that Jia Cong was in high spirits, wearing a brand-new moon-white silver bamboo-patterned soft silk robe.

His black hair was like ink

This new robe had fine, dense stitches and neat craftsmanship, with exquisite and elegant embroidery on the lapels; it was perfectly fitted at the shoulders, arms, waist, and back.

Zou Min'er came from a wealthy family; she could see that this robe was not only perfectly fitted, but the style and embroidery were extremely suitable for Jia Cong, making him look even more handsome and distinguished when worn.

A robe with such craftsmanship and material selection could never be made in a ready-to-wear shop; only someone close to him, who was excellent at needlework and extremely familiar with Jia Cong, could have made it.

Zou Min'er suddenly understood, and she could not help but feel a pang of bitterness in her heart; with Jia Cong's romantic appearance and bearing, how could there not be a woman who captured his heart by his side?

She suddenly had an absurd impulse to ask which woman had sewn his clothes and tied his hair.

But in the end, she remained rational and did not ask, only remaining silently speechless.

He is a son of a noble house, a member of the imperial clan and nobility, and possesses such rare charm and appearance in this world; what is there to be surprised about if he holds beauty in his arms?

Although she is now free from the concerns of life and death and is at ease, she is a person of obscure identity; there is already a chasm between her and someone like him, so why seek out more trouble?

It was just that when she first saw Jia Cong at Ziyunge years ago, she had developed feelings and delusions; although she was filled with enmity afterward, it was still difficult to erase, so how could she let go just because she wanted to?

Seeing her strange expression, her somewhat low spirits, and the sorrow between her brows that was difficult to resolve, Jia Cong asked with concern: "Is your wound hurting again today?

Mr. Zhang said that your wound is quite deep and is in the process of healing, so it is inevitable that there will be lingering pain; there is no need to worry too much, it will be better soon."

Seeing the slightly old copper hairpin on her bun, Jia Cong took out a delicate box from his person and retrieved a plum blossom kingfisher-inlaid gold hairpin from it.

"I saw that the copper hairpin on your head was a bit old; last time I took Ling Qi Guan to Ziyunge to buy things, I picked out a gold hairpin for you."

Zou Min'er's heart trembled, and she blankly took the hairpin from Jia Cong's hand.

The hairpin was overflowing with golden light; the head was in the shape of a plum blossom, set off by green leaves and inlaid with jade, exquisite, noble, beautiful, and elegant.

The style and shape were very suitable for her; he must have carefully selected it based on her appearance.

The bitterness originally in Zou Min'er's heart was instantly diluted by the rising tenderness; although there was not the slightest possibility between her and him, he still had her in his heart, and that was enough.

Jia Cong smiled and helped her remove the copper hairpin, gently inserting the plum blossom kingfisher-inlaid gold hairpin into her bun; Zou Min'er was momentarily intoxicated, unable to say a word.

"I have already taught Ling Qi Guan how to change the dressing and bandage; the little girl is very careful and will take good care of you."

Zou Min'er's expression froze, and she blurted out: "Are you leaving?"

Jia Cong said: "I have already written the report on the Jin Ling matter and had someone send it urgently to the capital; I estimate that in six or seven days, I will receive news of the imperial edict.

I cannot wait idly in Jin Ling; there are some things that need to be done, and I must go to Gusu early to make arrangements, so I won't be able to come over for the next few days." (End of chapter)