Chapter 49

Dongfang Yan slowly lifted his eyelids and looked at Zheng Shirong, his gaze terrifyingly cold: "So it was you."

—So it was this bastard, who, as an aristocrat, didn't know how to keep himself clean, causing this Prince, with the dignity of a dignified Prince, to be dragged by Wang Ling'er into a ghost marriage and even become a father!

Damn it, damn it!

Although he was already furious in his heart and wished he could slice that person into a thousand pieces, he still appeared calm and indifferent on the surface, and even said: "Congratulations."

County Magistrate Zheng only thought that his son had truly gained Prince Jin's appreciation and hurriedly said: "My son has been intelligent since childhood, has quite a bit of talent, and is upright in character; he is an outstanding disciple cultivated by our Zheng family. I just don't know if he might have the opportunity to serve before Your Highness?"

Dongfang Yan sneered: "So, the most outstanding disciple your Zheng family has cultivated is like this? Very good, very good! Since today is the engagement banquet of the second young master Zheng, this Prince naturally must present a grand gift."

He untied the pouch at his waist: "This Prince's pouch will be gifted to the second young master; I wish the second young master the joy of having a noble son!"

That pouch didn't look very valuable, and even the embroidery on it was average. But because it was untied from Dongfang Yan's waist, the meaning was completely different.

Zheng Shirong immediately wanted to receive the reward happily—a pouch carried by Prince Jin, it was simply a huge face, what was there to worry about not rising in the world in the future?

But before he could touch it, Dongfang Yan turned his hand and threw the pouch to County Magistrate Zheng: "You should keep it on his behalf. Hold it well, your grandson's soul is attached to it."

County Magistrate Zheng asked awkwardly: "What grandson? This official only has five sons, and none of them have given birth to offspring yet. Your Highness, please don't make such jokes."

"Who is joking with you?" Dongfang Yan no longer had the patience to continue beating around the bush with them.

"Zheng Shirong, do you still remember the commoner girl from Wang Family Village, Wang Ling'er?"

A strange expression appeared on Zheng Shirong's face: "Your Highness, how... how do you know about Wang Ling'er?"

That was clearly just a village girl, how could Prince Jin know her name?

"It's good that you admit you know her. Wang Ling'er was pregnant with your child, and later drowned in the river, one corpse, two lives. Do you know about this?"

Zheng Shirong's face showed panic, "Wang Ling'er, she..."

County Magistrate Zheng kicked his son to the ground and shouted: "You wicked obstacle, what on earth have you done?"

Zheng Shirong looked around and saw that everyone around him was friends and relatives, as well as people from his fiancée's Zhou family.

He didn't want to mention anything related to Wang Ling'er at all, but Prince Jin clearly already knew that he had a relationship with Wang Ling'er, so he couldn't pretend not to know her.

"Father!" he cried out sadly, "The child was just confused for a moment!"

In front of Prince Jin, County Magistrate Zheng didn't dare to shield his son, so he had to take the stance of destroying his relatives for the sake of righteousness and said: "What on earth have you done, confess it properly!"

So Zheng Shirong had no choice but to tell the story of him and Wang Ling'er in public.

The story of him and Wang Ling'er was not complicated.

About eight or nine months ago, when Zheng Shirong was passing through Wang Family Village, heavy rain fell. Zheng Shirong took two servants and went to a nearby villager's house to hide from the rain.

The family they went to was Wang Ling'er's house.

Wang Ling'er had some beauty and was unwilling to be matched with just anyone, so even after she reached the age of fifteen, she was still not engaged.

And Zheng Shirong was the first aristocratic young master she had ever met; gentle, elegant, and polite, he quickly gained the young girl's favor.

She took out the best tea and snacks in the house to entertain the noble guest.

Zheng Shirong was also very grateful for the young girl's shelter, especially seeing that her family was poor but still generous in entertaining guests, so he developed some pity and appreciation for the young girl.

The rain continued until evening and still hadn't stopped.

Zheng Shirong didn't want to continue disturbing them, but the young girl stopped him and said: "It's still quite a distance from here to the county town, and you'll definitely get sick if you go back in the rain. My parents are doing small business in the capital, and I'm afraid they won't be able to return today because of the rain. Anyway, their room is empty, so why don't you stay there, Young Master."

Zheng Shirong was already physically weak and didn't dare to get rained on casually. After thinking about it, he agreed to stay the night.

To avoid suspicion, he specifically ordered his men to sleep in the kitchen and not to disturb the host family. He himself was arranged by Wang Ling'er to stay in her parents' room.

Zheng Shirong had never slept on the simple wooden bed of a farmhouse, and it was so hard he couldn't sleep soundly.

In the middle of the night, he suddenly felt a shadow drift past, and then he felt a hot young girl's body press against him.

He was startled and hurriedly questioned: "Miss Wang, why are you here? Don't be like this, a gentleman should remain unmoved when sitting with a woman, we must not have illicit relations without a matchmaker!"

But Wang Ling'er completely disregarded shame, rubbing against the man, and her words were even more bold:

"This young girl has grown to fifteen years old and has never seen a dragon or phoenix among men like you, Young Master. Seeing you today, I really like you very much. If I can't sleep with you, it will be a lifelong regret!"

Zheng Shirong was still trying to persuade her: "I am a descendant of an aristocratic family, and my family style is strict, not allowing marriage with commoner women. Miss Wang, stop quickly, I don't want to ruin your chastity!"

In the darkness came Wang Ling'er's low sobbing: "This young girl knows she is lowly and not worthy of you, Young Master. I can't be your wife, and I'm not even worthy of being your concubine. But I just can't control my feelings, I can't help but want to get close to you. Even if I have no name or status, I am willing to pay any price for this one night of joy!"

Zheng Shirong was a hot-blooded man, how could he withstand such temptation? That night, his head went hot and he ended up with Wang Ling'er.

After the event, he was full of remorse again.

But since the wood was already carved into a boat, it couldn't be treated as if nothing had happened.

So in the following period, he would often come to visit Wang Ling'er and send her some silver and supplements.

Later, Wang Ling'er became pregnant.

And it was only then that she revealed her greedy side.

She used the unborn child in her belly as a threat, forcing Zheng Shirong to marry her.

Zheng Shirong clearly knew that there was a world of difference between aristocrats and commoners. If he dared to marry a commoner woman, he would definitely be kicked out of the house.

So, after much consideration, he said to Wang Ling'er: "I will keep you as an outside mistress first, and after I marry a proper wife, I will discuss with my wife about taking you as a concubine. How about that?"

For a commoner woman to be a concubine to an aristocratic descendant could already be considered flying to the top of a branch.

But Wang Ling'er refused. Not only did she refuse to be an outside mistress, she didn't even want to be a concubine; she wanted to be a proper wife! She wanted to be married openly and honestly, and she wanted to take a step to the sky and enter the gates of the aristocracy.

How could this be possible?

For this reason, Zheng Shirong came out every few days to talk to her, but every time it ended unhappily. No matter how Zheng Shirong tried to persuade her, she was determined not to let go, and her belly was getting bigger and bigger, and she was about to give birth.

Zheng Shirong knew he couldn't drag it out any longer, so he invited her to the boat and even prepared exquisite food, hoping to move her heart with true feelings, so that she would make a slight concession for the sake of the child.

But she still didn't agree, and even threatened Zheng Shirong: "If you dare to marry any other woman besides me, I will go to the capital and file an imperial complaint, saying that you forcibly seized a commoner woman and refused to take responsibility! I don't believe that after your reputation is ruined, any noble young lady will be willing to marry you! I would rather destroy what I can't get than let others have it!"

In the argument, she didn't stand steadily and accidentally fell into the water.

When Zheng Shirong wanted to save her, the person had already sunk, and he couldn't find her anywhere.