Ning Manor.
Prince Ning, Jun Moxiao, sat alone in his study, lost in thought.
His mother had died, and his sister was too young to help him. It would be even harder for him to ascend to that position.
Henceforth, he could only rely on the power of others to achieve his goals.
However, the two largest powers in the capital now were one faction supporting the Cold King, which included General Leng’s Manor, Grand Tutor Xia’s Manor, Su Manor, and the Assistant Minister of Works; and another faction supporting Prince Qing, which included the Lin brothers of Duke Lin’s Manor, Prime Minister Qin’s Manor, the Assistant Minister of Rites, and the Assistant Minister of Justice, with this latter faction having the most supporters.
But Prince Qing, as the second legitimate son of the current emperor, had numerous supporters. Yet, he was so disappointing. No matter how the Empress, the Lin family, and the Qin family supported him, he remained unenlightened, only knowing how to womanize all day, consequently ruining his own health. It was rumored that he had now lost his fertility and was secretly seeking renowned physicians across the land for treatment.
Although Prince Qing’s infertility had not been made public, the Lin brothers and Prime Minister Qin were as cunning as foxes. They likely already knew Prince Qing’s secret.
If he could draw them to his side and make them serve him, that would be the best outcome.
As he was pondering, a knock sounded on his study door.
“Your Highness, your subordinate just gathered some news from outside,” the guard said respectfully.
“What news?” Prince Ning asked indifferently.
“It’s about Prime Minister Qin’s family,” the guard added.
“Come in and tell me!”
Upon hearing that the news concerned Prime Minister Qin’s Manor, Prince Ning’s interest was immediately piqued.
Following this, the guard pushed open the study door and entered.
“Your Highness, something has happened at Prime Minister Qin’s Manor.”
“What happened at his manor?”
“Last night, while Prime Minister Qin was indulging with his concubine, he was given a potent aphrodisiac. As a result, Prime Minister Qin killed his concubine overnight. This morning, the concubine’s maid, unaware, called out to wake Prime Minister Qin and his concubine. The drug’s effects had not yet subsided in Prime Minister Qin, and he then dragged the young maid into the room and tormented her. Fortunately, Madam Qin intervened quickly, otherwise, Prime Minister Qin would have taken another life.”
The guard reported the news he had obtained truthfully to Prince Ning.
“Hmph! Qin Zhihong, that old lecher, has offended too many people. He deserves it!” Prince Ning sneered after hearing this.
“Your Highness, another incident occurred at Prime Minister Qin’s Manor,” the guard said again.
“Speak!”
Prince Ning uttered a single word coldly.
“Prime Minister Qin’s eldest daughter, Qin Xixue, has been disfigured,” the guard said, delivering shocking news.
“Oh, what happened this time? Hurry and tell me in detail.”
Prince Ning’s interest was immediately ignited by the news of Qin Xixue’s disfigurement.
“Your Highness, it is said that Qin family’s eldest daughter woke up this morning feeling pain on her face. When she touched it, she discovered that a green paste had been smeared on her face… Then… her maid saw that the words ‘Scum Girl’ had been tattooed onto her face. Those two words were tattooed dark and large. After Qin family’s eldest daughter looked in the mirror, she collapsed on the spot.”
The guard suppressed his laughter as he recounted, in detail, what had happened to Qin Xixue.
However, Prince Ning did not find it amusing. He stood up from his chair, turned his back to the guard, tapped his chin with a folding fan, and fell into thought again. Suddenly, a bright spark flashed in his dark, deep pupils.
“Moyan, go arrange a carriage immediately. This Prince will be going to Prime Minister Qin’s Manor.”
Prince Ning’s well-defined features creased as he spoke calmly to the guard with his phoenix eyes slightly narrowed, his back still to him.
“Yes, your subordinate obeys!” Moyan clasped his hands and bowed respectfully to Prince Ning.
Not long after, Prince Ning boarded a carriage and headed towards Prime Minister Qin’s Manor.
At this time, at Prime Minister Qin’s Manor.
Prime Minister Qin finally regained consciousness in bed as the night deepened.
“My Lord, you are awake?” Madam Qin asked in a displeased tone.
“Madam, how is Concubine Yang?”
Prime Minister Qin’s concern for his concubine as soon as he woke up further angered Madam Qin.
“That little slut was killed by you!” Madam Qin replied icily.
She thought to herself at that moment: Qin Zhihong, this heartless and unrighteous old thing, I shouldn’t have saved him. Today, I should have found a few alluring women and sent them into that room to have him exhaust himself to death.
“What? She’s dead?”
Prime Minister Qin showed a strange expression upon hearing this. Last night, as he and Concubine Yang were about to be intimate in the room, he suddenly smelled a peculiar floral scent. After inhaling the scent, they both became incredibly excited.
Subsequently, their consciousness became blurred.
Their actions also became uncontrollable, and they continued to engage in shameful acts without end. 138 Reading Network
“Are you reluctant? But you killed her. How about I have someone bring back her corpse, and you two can continue? Also, Concubine Yang’s personal maid, I’ll have her brought back too,” Madam Qin said with biting sarcasm.
“You, you woman are simply too…”
Prime Minister Qin was so angered by Madam Qin that he almost spat blood.
“You, what? You think what I’m saying is unpleasant, right? But I must also tell you that the doctor said you were seriously injured by the aphrodisiac and cannot touch women for at least a year or a half, otherwise, your frail body…”
Madam Qin glanced at Qin Zhihong lying on the bed and chuckled coldly.
After she finished speaking, Qin Zhihong remained silent for a long time before slowly saying, “Order the servants to give Concubine Yang a proper burial.”
Although Qin Zhihong spoke with a casual tone, Madam Qin could still discern a hint of reluctance in his words.
“Hmph! They truly are a devoted couple!” Madam Qin muttered again.
“You…”
Madam Qin’s brief remark once again caused Qin Zhihong chest pain.
But at this moment, a young servant suddenly walked in and announced.
“My Lord, Madam, Prince Ning has arrived.”
“Prince Ning? Consort Jing has only just passed her seventh-day mourning period. Why is he here at the Qin residence?”
Prime Minister Qin muttered softly.
“My Lord, this servant heard Prince Ning say that he is here to see the eldest daughter, and it seems he is here to ask her a question.”
The servant clearly conveyed Prince Ning’s purpose to Prime Minister Qin and Madam Qin.
“Ask a question, why can’t he come during the day, but must he come at night…”
Prime Minister Qin had spoken halfway when Madam Qin interrupted him.
“He is a Prince, he can come whenever he wishes. You are indisposed, I will go out to welcome him.” Madam Qin said, displeased with Qin Zhihong.
Furthermore, her daughter was now disfigured. It was difficult enough to find a Prince willing to get close to her daughter. She was determined to have Xue’er capture Prince Ning and become Prince Ning’s consort.
Subsequently, Madam Qin said to the servant, “Let’s go, you come out with me to welcome Prince Ning.”
Having said that, Madam Qin raised her foot and walked out the door towards the manor gate.