flstandardbreds Chapter 160 The in-laws came to the door to confront the family, only asking that their lineage not
Chapter 160 The in-laws came to the door to confront the family, only asking that their lineage not
Xiao Hengzhi seemed to see what he was thinking and said, "Grand Tutor, are you not happy? You have finally taught a future emperor to behave like one."
Duan Zhi'an stared at him, unconsciously tightening his grip on the jade flute, a hint of coldness emanating from his knuckles.
He was a master of political maneuvering, yet in this game of strategy, he developed the illusion that he was being outmaneuvered.
He couldn't tell whether he was outmaneuvered by Xiao Hengzhi or had been kept in the dark by Ning Zhi for too long.
But he had a vague intuition—
In this game of chess, he was no longer the instructor sitting next to Ning Zhi, but his opponent.
The person next to him suddenly chuckled.
Duan Zhi'an composed himself, his brow furrowing slightly: "What is Your Highness laughing at?"
“Grand Tutor Xiao.” Xiao Hengzhi’s gaze was cold and sharp. “The Grand Tutor prides himself on being a master of political intrigue, yet he has been completely deceived by the very student he taught.”
Duan Zhi'an gripped the corner of the table tightly: "There might be a misunderstanding. Although the Crown Prince is exceptionally shrewd, he is kind-hearted. He is already the heir apparent; he wouldn't..."
Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Hengzhi's expression changed drastically, and his voice rose.
"Kind-hearted?!"
"He would burn down the Drunken Sound Pavilion to destroy evidence. He would also shield his beloved from harm to save his own life!"
"The crown prince you raised is ruthless and colder than I am!"
The man before him pressed closer with each word, gradually suppressing him.
His eyes were filled with a raging inferno, as if he had experienced a calamity caused by Ning Zhi.
No matter how powerful he was, he was the Grand Tutor, capable of stirring up storms, yet at this moment, he was rendered speechless by Xiao Hengzhi.
Their eyes met, and the air seemed to freeze for a moment.
Only when the aroma of tea on the desk dissipated and the ash from the bronze incense burner quietly fell did the oppressive atmosphere ease slightly.
Xiao Hengzhi composed himself, turned and slowly left, leaving only the words: "Now that the Grand Tutor has delivered the marriage invitation, please make your own way. I have other important matters to attend to and cannot linger."
Duan Zhian stood there, staring at his back for a long time, his heart filled with gloom.
Just now, behind the bamboo grove, he heard Xiao Hengzhi say—
"...I wouldn't mind killing Ning Zhi a thousand times over! Even if the Emperor himself intervenes, I will show no mercy..."
His hostility towards Ning Zhi was much greater than imagined.
If it were just because Jiang Mian and Ning Zhi had feelings for each other, why would things have come to this?
His intuition told him that something else had happened between Xiao Hengzhi and Ning Zhi.
What could it be...?
A familiar figure flashed past outside the hall door.
Duan Zhian snapped out of his thoughts and called out, "Miss Jiang."
Jiang Mian also stopped, her gaze calm.
"Greetings, Grand Tutor."
"Miss Jiang, were you perhaps eavesdropping just now?"
Jiang Wan smiled and said calmly, "When I arrived, the Prince had already left. I only saw the Grand Tutor sitting alone, looking unwell. I rarely see the Grand Tutor with such an expression, so I stopped here to take a few more glances. I didn't hear anything."
Her tone was calm yet measured, neither ingratiating nor evasive.
Duan Zhian nodded slightly and said, "You are quite generous."
She smiled calmly. After all, she had been an empress in her previous life, so she naturally knew when to remain calm.
Duan Zhian glanced down at her, recalling Wen Qian's instructions: "Qianqian's condition was unstable a few days ago, but it has finally improved a bit in the past few days. This is a letter she wrote herself, which she asked me to pass on to you."
Jiang Mian excitedly reached out and took it: "Thank you, Grand Tutor!"
Just as the two were about to exchange a few words, they suddenly heard a voice from the gatekeeper announcing: "The Marquis of Pingnan and his wife request an audience with the Grand Tutor."
Jiang Wan raised an eyebrow and said, "The two elders coming to the Prince's Mansion to see the Grand Tutor must have something important to discuss."
Duan Zhian narrowed his eyes and said, "It's more like you're here to ambush me than to see me."
He walked toward the door and soon saw a man and a woman waiting anxiously by the tea table in the front hall.
As Duan Zhi'an approached, he said, "The Marquis of Pingnan actually came to the Prince's residence to find me. If others saw this, they would think I was hiding from something."
Duan Zhian slowly began to speak.
Marquis Pingnan and his wife rose and bowed respectfully. Then Marquis Pingnan spoke, "I sent a letter to Qingxin Hall some time ago, but I have not received a reply yet. Today, my servant saw the Grand Tutor's sedan chair parked outside the Prince's residence, so I came to inform him. It was a last resort for me to request an audience. Please forgive me, Grand Tutor."
"Oh? Is that so?" Duan Zhi'an pretended not to know. "It seems that my servants need to be disciplined more strictly. What is it, Marquis? Why don't you tell me?"
"This...this matter..."
Marquis Pingnan wiped the sweat from his brow, looking somewhat embarrassed, and stammered, unsure how to begin.
"If there is nothing else, then I will take my leave."
Just as Duan Zhi'an was about to get into the sedan chair, Marquis Pingnan rushed forward and said anxiously, "No, no, no! Grand Tutor! Grand Tutor, please wait."
The Marquis of Pingnan bowed and said, "My son, Zhijing, has been ordered to rush to the perilous Fengyu Pass. My wife and I are truly worried about him and earnestly request the Grand Tutor to intercede with His Majesty on my behalf to recall him. Zhijing is the only son of my Pingnan Marquisate, and we cannot allow our lineage to end..."
Lady Hou quickly nodded, "Yes, Grand Tutor, please help Zhijing for the sake of your niece, Wen Qian."
“Wen Qian…” Duan Zhi’an suddenly spoke up, “Since Madam Hou has mentioned Wen Qian, do you know how Wen Qian is doing now?”
The two were stunned.
"this......"
The Marquis's expression flickered, and he lowered his voice: "I heard that the Emperor kept her in the palace, so she should be fine... The most important thing now is Zhijing..."
Duan Zhi'an chuckled and changed the subject: "I understand that the two elders are very concerned about their son. Please return to your residence to rest. The Prince of Beiqin's residence is not the place for us to discuss this matter."
"I humbly request the Grand Tutor's assistance. From now on, the Marquis of Pingnan's residence can be at the Grand Tutor's behest."
Marquis Pingnan spoke earnestly, but Duan Zhian did not respond. Instead, he simply took out a letter from his pocket and said, "By the way, this is a letter from Qianqian asking me to deliver to the two elders to let you know she is safe."
He finished speaking and got into the sedan chair without showing any mercy.
As the sedan curtain was lowered, a muttered voice came from outside: "Look at her, she's all settled now, even writing letters to show off. If it weren't for her, how could Zhijing have been sent by the Emperor to Fengyu Pass? She's a real jinx, ruining the Wen family and now she's dragging my son into this..."
The sound wasn't loud, but it clearly reached Duan Zhi'an's ears.
Duan Zhi'an sat in the sedan chair with his eyes lowered, but his palms had already clenched quietly, the veins were clearly visible, and even his knuckles were slightly white.
He didn't speak, only saying calmly, "Return to Qingxin Palace."
As the sedan chair moved further and further away, Jiang Mian, who had been watching the play from the sidelines, also turned her gaze away.
Duan Zhian's expression just now showed extreme anger.
He will definitely not let this matter rest.
Jiang Mian frowned and recalled carefully that not long after Li Zhijing returned to the court in her previous life, the Marquis of Pingnan passed away.
However, she never investigated the specific cause of her death.
So, could it be that Duan Zhi'an was the one who did it in my past life?