good season

It started raining again in the evening, and Xiao Zhen still hadn't returned, making Zhao Shiqing anxious.

Zhao Shiqing knew what Xiao Zhen was doing, and she knew even more that Xiao Zhen was doing something dangerous.

That so-called dreamlike life must have been his previous life.

Therefore, Zhao Shiqing neither stopped her nor insisted on going along.

The latter is that Xiao Zhen definitely wouldn't take her along, while the former is something she had already anticipated. This is the knot in Xiao Zhen's heart.

He had been to Tongzhou in his previous life, but he arrived too late. The situation was hopeless. All he could do was bring the corrupt officials to justice, but the dead people could never be brought back to life.

Zhao Shiqing thought that Xiao Zhen must have felt guilty for many years afterward. If he had had the ability to foresee the future, if he had been more capable, if he had arrived a step earlier, then things could have been salvaged.

Zhao Shiqing couldn't truly empathize with Xiao Zhen's past life, but she was willing to help him make up for the regrets of his past life.

In this life, all he cared about was the flood in Tongzhou. He valued the flood in Tongzhou even more than avenging himself.

Now he is going to stop those people from lining their own pockets, and even knowing there will be danger, Zhao Shiqing will not stop them.

Not seeing Xiao Zhen, Zhao Shiqing remembered Zhao Xingzhou and asked Ling Bo, "Has Grandpa Zhao's accommodation been arranged?"

Lingbo said with a smile, "He made the arrangements as soon as he arrived at the mountain."

Zhao Shiqing nodded. Just then, Xia Dachuan knocked on the door from outside. Ling Bo went out and came back in a moment later: "Second Miss, Old Master Zhao is not in the room."

Zhao Shiqing was taken aback: "Not inside?"

It's raining outside again, and we're on a mountain. It's getting dark, and the old man's eyesight is failing. If he's not careful, he might slip and fall off the mountain, which would be the end of him.

This is the retired emperor!
Although Zhao Shiqing held the retired emperor in utter disrespect, she couldn't let him die here for the sake of Xiao Yueyue, out of respect for the emperor's dignity.

Moreover, although Zhao Xingzhou appeared to be traveling alone, who knows if he had any hidden guards following him? On that day at Dongxian Temple, the old man definitely had hidden guards protecting him.

If he were to die on the mountain today, not only Zhao Shiqing, but everyone on the mountain would likely be buried with this old madman.

Zhao Shiqing must not be careless.

"Wait, I'll go too! Let's all search together!"

There are rules on the mountain that after dinner, no one except the patrolling guards is allowed to leave the accommodation area without permission. If anyone is found doing so, they will be sent down the mountain.

Therefore, the loss of one person, and Zhao Xingzhou at that, is a major event for all the guards.

Fortunately, Zhao Xingzhou did not hide in any crevice or cave. He sat alone on a rock, lost in thought.

Zhao Shiqing asked the others to step back, and she tiptoed over and sat down next to Zhao Xingzhou.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked with a smile.

Unlike during the day, Zhao Xingzhou did not enthusiastically call her goddaughter, nor did he even look at her. Instead, he stared intently at a large tree not far away.

"I thought life in the mountains was already very hard, but I never imagined that this was the kind of life they were living."

Zhao Shiqing understood; the old man had been provoked by chatting with those old men from the countryside.

“Those clad in silk robes are not silkworm farmers; they grow rice, yet they are reluctant to eat even millet. I don’t think this is a secret.”

Zhao Xingzhou finally turned to look at her, opened his mouth, and finally squeezed out, "I just didn't expect it."

Zhao Shiqing chuckled: "It's not that you didn't think of it, it's that you didn't want to think of it."

Zhao Xingzhou's face darkened: "Of course not. I've been to Wu, where every household is well-fed and clothed. I've even been there."

"You've been to the Wu region and only saw plenty of food and clothing. But have you ever inquired whether those well-off families have any daughters in their twenties or even thirties who are still unmarried?"

Zhao Xingzhou was taken aback, not understanding why Zhao Shiqing would bring up those people's daughters, such unrelated things, and why she would say such things.

"What does this have to do with their daughter?"

Zhao Shiqing laughed again: "Where did those well-fed and clothed families you saw in Wu come from?"

Zhao Xingzhou blurted out, "Of course it's spinning yarn and weaving cloth."

Zhao Shiqing asked, "Who is spinning and weaving the cloth?"

"Of course, it's the female members of the family." As soon as he said this, Zhao Xingzhou seemed to realize something, paused for a moment, and subconsciously asked, "Do some families not let their daughters get married in order to make money?"

Zhao Shiqing snorted: "Yes, and not just a few, but many."

Zhao Xingzhou sighed: "It's understandable that most people are driven by self-interest."

Zhao Shiqing thought of Wan Ruyi, what a wonderful Aunt Wan was, yet she had been imprisoned for forty years.

"Yes, people are driven by self-interest. Some people, in order to have a son to inherit the throne, do not hesitate to lock their own daughters in remote nunneries, preventing them from seeing anyone and preventing anyone from seeing them. All she can access is the ancient Buddha statue and a few vegetable gardens. Can you understand such a thing?"

Suddenly, everything fell silent. Zhao Shiqing could clearly hear Zhao Xingzhou's breathing, which grew increasingly rapid and heavy. In the darkness, she saw two cold glints flash in Zhao Xingzhou's eyes.

"Who is the person you're talking about?" In stark contrast to his cold and fierce gaze, Zhao Xingzhou's voice was unusually calm.

The words had already been spoken and could not be taken back; Zhao Shiqing had no intention of taking them back either.

Even someone like her, who grew up in a royal palace, rarely had the chance to see the Emperor Emeritus. Moreover, the old man was very old, and each meeting would be one of the few more. Zhao Shiqing did not want to give up this opportunity.

Even if not for herself, she should also do it for poor Aunt Wan.

"Who else could it be but that one in the palace who has an emperor son but can't become the empress dowager?"

Zhao Xingzhou stared intently at her and said, word by word, "Consort Li only has one son, so where did she get a daughter?" This isn't a chaotic era. Every concubine in the harem has her favored and her pregnancy recorded in detail, without any error. Moreover, there's the matter of childbirth. Consort Li has only given birth once, to the current Emperor Yongjia. They weren't twins, so how could she have a daughter? It's utter nonsense.

Zhao Shiqing chuckled: "You watched her give birth without blinking an eye? No, right? And the midwife who delivered her, the palace maids and eunuchs who served her at the time, how many of them are still alive now? By the way, those who died, when did they die? Did they die after Consort Li gave birth, or ten or eight years later?"

Zhao Shiqing spoke with absolute certainty. If Lao Deng didn't believe her, he could investigate. He wasn't afraid of Lao Deng investigating; he was just afraid Lao Deng would be afraid to investigate for fear of being cuckolded.

"Why would you say that? What do you know? To speak ill of the royal family and spread rumors out of thin air is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire family." Zhao Xingzhou's tone was no longer gentle.

Zhao Shiqing chuckled lightly, her voice laced with sarcasm: "My family didn't speak ill of the royal family, didn't spread rumors out of thin air, and just lived our lives honestly and lawfully, yet we were still wiped out, weren't we? You ask me why I say this? Of course, I'm not just making things up or relying on hearsay. I dare to say this because I have evidence!"

Zhao Shiqing didn't originally want to say it like that. She wasn't a bachelor. She had her maternal grandfather, the Liang Prince's Mansion, her master, and many friends. She didn't want to implicate them.

But now that things had come to this point, Zhao Shiqing didn't want to hide it anymore. She didn't believe that the old man could bring many guards. Her forty men were on the mountain, so she could just fight to the death.

“Tell me everything you know.” Zhao Xingzhou glared at her, his old eyes wide open.

Zhao Shiqing rolled her eyes: "You think I'll just tell you because you tell me? This is a royal secret, you know what a secret is? It's not something you can just hear whenever you want."

Zhao Xingzhou was a little overwhelmed, so he suppressed his surprise and said softly, "Good child, tell your godfather what you know, okay?"

Zhao Shiqing's lips twitched: "Who is your godfather? Did I agree to it?"

Playing the emotional card? No way!
Zhao Xingzhou: "Then tell me, what do you want in return for you to talk?"

Zhao Shiqing: The opportunity has arrived!

"Make a written agreement, an agreement that will ensure no one will pursue the matter or seek revenge for generations to come!"

Zhao Xingzhou: What kind of document is this? Isn't this a get-out-of-jail-free card? No, a get-out-of-jail-free card can still result in confiscation of property and exile, meaning that the matter won't be pursued or investigated for generations. It can't even cover up the confiscation of property and exile.

For ordinary people, a written agreement can be disregarded, but not for the retired emperor. His word is law, and unless there is a change of dynasty, it will remain valid indefinitely.

Seeing his hesitation, Zhao Shiqing snorted heavily: "I have two fathers, one who gave birth to me and the other who raised me. Both are good fathers, unlike some people who only have one father, but he only cares about giving birth to me and not raising me. No, that father doesn't even know that he has such a daughter. Tsk tsk tsk, he would rather raise other people's sons and grandsons than care about his own daughter."

Zhao Xingzhou's face changed like the seasons. What did he mean by "only giving birth but not raising"? That was too harsh. Oh, and what about "raising someone else's son and grandson"? What did that mean?
"Alright, it's just a written agreement, I'll sign it!"

Anyway, he's getting old. Once he ascends to heaven, he can leave the matter of that document to his descendants. Out of sight, out of mind.

Zhao Shiqing's eyes lit up. Oh my, this is it!

A written agreement alone won't suffice; when conditions allow, she'll need to exchange it for an imperial edict. By the way, does the Emperor Emeritus's decree count as an imperial edict?
With these thoughts in mind, Zhao Shiqing quickly grabbed Zhao Xingzhou and started walking back.

"Where can we go? Can't we talk here?" Zhao Xingzhou thought this place was quite nice. The mountains and forests were quiet and deserted, making it a perfect place to whisper secrets.

Zhao Shiqing: "There's no pen, ink, paper, or inkstone here. If you don't sign a written agreement, what am I supposed to say?"

Zhao Xingzhou: Okay, so this is my fault?
Back inside, Zhao Shiqing personally ground the ink, and after much hesitation, Zhao Xingzhou drew up a written agreement.

Zhao Shiqing picked it up, examined it, and shook her head. This won't do; it has a loophole. That old man is trying to trick her! Tear it up!

Zhao Xingzhou had no choice but to write it again, but Zhao Shiqing shook her head and tore it up to rewrite it.

Zhao Xingzhou wrote seven pages in total, Zhao Shiqing tore up six pages, and finally she was satisfied with the seventh page.

Zhao Xingzhou signed his name and affixed his personal seal. Zhao Shiqing glanced at it, then reached out and pulled a hairpin from Zhao Xingzhou's topknot.

This hairpin looks ordinary, but you can tell it's a good thing as soon as you pick it up.

"This hairpin is proof, so that your descendants won't deny it."

Zhao Xingzhou also wanted to roll his eyes like her. At this moment, he even suspected that this little girl already knew his identity.

"Can we talk now?" Zhao Xingzhou asked.

Zhao Shiqing pointed to the room: "Are you sure you want to say this here?"

Zhao Xingzhou said, "That place was very nice just now."

The old man and the young man returned to the rocky outcrop and sat side by side. The rain had long since stopped, and the shadows of the trees swayed in the darkness, with the occasional soft cry of a night bird.

Zhao Shiqing finally spoke: "Back then, there was a girl who, although born into a branch of a prominent family, had a father who was just a minor official. At that time, she had a sweetheart, but the man had a wife and children. As a daughter of an official family, she could not become a concubine. Her parents forced them apart. Not long after, the palace held a selection of concubines, and by chance, she entered the palace."

The surroundings grew quieter and quieter. For a moment, Zhao Shiqing couldn't even hear Zhao Xingzhou breathing anymore. She had to turn her head to look, worried that the old man might die from the shock.

Fortunately, although the old man's face was ashen, his neck was still straight. Well, as long as his neck could hold, he wouldn't die anytime soon.

Zhao Shiqing breathed a sigh of relief, but couldn't help but add insult to injury: "That favored concubine's favorite thing is a hooked nose, but unfortunately the emperor's nose doesn't have a hook, so the favored concubine can't like it."

Zhao Xingzhou: You naughty girl!
Zhao Shiqing continued, "But the emperor doesn't need to be so upset. Although he is raising someone else's son, it doesn't count as being cuckolded. After all, the son was born to another man and his wife, not to his wife. Don't you think that makes sense?"

Zhao Xingzhou gave a muffled "hmm," and at this point, that was all the old man could do to comfort himself.

"Didn't Consort Li give birth to a daughter? Where is she raising that daughter?"

Zhao Shiqing sneered: "Wrong, she never intended to raise that daughter. She had someone strangle and throw the daughter away, but her cousin had ulterior motives and secretly kept the child, raising her for forty years."

It was a small nunnery. Haha, the daughter's father was a Taoist, yet he raised her in a nunnery. Isn't that interesting?

From childhood to adulthood, the child had never seen anyone except the nun who looked after her. She worked from sunrise to sunset, spending her days chanting scriptures and farming. She knew nothing of the outside world; she was as innocent as a blank sheet of paper. She had never worn fine silks or tasted delicacies. She owned no jewelry, and had never even worn embroidered shoes. Her best garment was an unpatched monk's robe. She didn't know the taste of meat.

"Enough!" Zhao Xingzhou suddenly shouted, startling several night birds into flight. The little demon who had been dozing behind the mountain rock darted into Zhao Shiqing's arms.

Zhao Xingzhou's gaze fell on Xiao Yao's clear, bright cat eyes. He recalled the innocent girl Zhao Shiqing had described, as pure as a blank sheet of paper, and a pang of sorrow welled up in his heart: "Where...where is she?" (End of Chapter)