The maid's road to success

"Zi Zhong is the Grand Princess's son-in-law, but that's just on the surface. In fact, I am her man, and everything I do is just to help her get back everything she once had."

Prince Li looked at the inscription on the jade tablet and couldn't help trembling in his heart. It turned out to be the jade tablet of the old Marquis of Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion. He and the old Marquis of Huaiyuan Marquis' Mansion were sworn brothers. They joined the army together since childhood and fought to see who killed more enemies. They did bad things together and bullied the children of the royal family. Later, they married a pair of sisters one after another. He married the younger sister, and the old Marquis of Huaiyuan Marquis' Mansion married the older sister.

But later on, since he was a child of the royal family, he was inevitably involved in party and political affairs. The two of them often had conflicts, and later they became unhappy and rarely had the passionate feelings they once had. It was only after his granddaughter and the old ghost's grandson got married that they started to interact with each other.

Who knew that the world would change overnight? The old man's life's hard work would go down the drain. The only male member of the Huaiyuan Marquis's mansion died, and the only one left was his elder brother, who he saved with his own life. Even so, he was targeted and poisoned by the emperor many times. The women were exiled to the northwest, and the former noble ladies became exiled prisoners, and could never return to Kyoto, even if there was a general amnesty.

Now he actually learned that his great-grandson was spared from death because of the arrangement of Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion. All the affection they once had over the years hurt his heart every day. Why did he fall out with that old ghost in the first place? Why did he ignore the affairs of Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion? If he was willing to remind that old ghost not to be so stubborn and help his children and grandchildren more after his death, would Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion not have ended up like that, and Yong'an would not have been a widow.

"How did you get this jade token?"

This jade plate was custom-made together with me. When the old ghost was fighting in the north, he got a piece of fine jade, and the two of us agreed to make a jade pendant together. The inscription is ancient Chinese, and it was made by an old craftsman. The old craftsman's last work was this pair of jade pendants, and he later retired. However, my piece was broken when they had the most intense quarrel, but the old ghost kept wearing it. I just thought he was pretending. He was clearly a stubborn donkey who didn't care about brotherhood and kept covering it up.

"Your Highness knows the story of this jade tablet. My ancestor gave it to me. Before the old marquis died, he asked me to tell you that he had his reasons and asked you not to be angry. But later he regretted asking me not to tell you. You have always hated him, so it is better for you to know the truth."

Prince Li immediately stood up, grabbed An Zizhong by the collar, and asked him angrily.

"What truth?"

An Zizhong raised his head and looked at Prince Li, without a trace of retreat in his eyes.

"Zi Zhong doesn't know. I'm afraid the Empress Dowager is the only one in the world who knows. The old marquis didn't even tell his ancestors, but Zi Zhong probably guessed that it was your origin."

Prince Li suddenly felt his eyes go dark and his head buzzing. He looked at An Zizhong without a trace of hesitation in his eyes. What was wrong with An Zizhong's background that could make the old man give up years of friendship and stand against him?

Prince Li held on to the armrest of his chair to calm himself down, then he regained some of his senses and looked at An Zizhong.

"Then what do you want to do?"

An Zizhong took the jade token back from the small table and carefully put it into his pocket and put it back on his chest.

"During the Mid-Autumn family dinner, the Fourth Prince will expose a royal scandal. The Sixth Prince will sue the Fourth Prince for killing his siblings. Duke Cheng'en will also be hit. That will be your best chance to question the Grand Empress Dowager. I will arrange it. You only need to use the Sixth Prince to discuss with the Grand Empress Dowager and you will know the truth. This is your last chance."

Prince Li felt that everything An Zizhong said was for the Sixth Prince's sake. Could it be that he had already defected to the Sixth Prince? Although he looked down on the Emperor and the Fourth Prince, he also disliked the Sixth Prince.

"Are you helping the Sixth Prince? Do you know that when something happened at the Huaiyuan Marquis's Mansion, he..."

Before Prince Li could finish his words, An Zizhong stretched out his hand to stop him from saying the next word.

"Zi Zhong knows, don't worry, I will not let go any murderer who participated in the incident at Huaiyuan Marquis' Mansion, but I chose the Sixth Prince to overturn the case for us."

Prince Li nodded. Now he understood what An Zizhong meant. He was confused by what he said about the Mid-Autumn Festival family dinner, but now he knew everything. The Sixth Prince had recently destroyed many of the Fourth Prince's strongholds. He guessed that the Grand Princess must have done something. Considering An Zizhong's identity, it was not difficult to guess that he had done something to make the Sixth Prince and the Grand Princess true allies. It was not difficult to guess what he had done. The scandal of Baozhu and the Fourth Prince. And the experience of that idiot Bai Shoude showed that the Fourth Prince must have done something. An Zizhong told the Sixth Prince about this and asked him to join forces with the Grand Princess.

As for the Fourth Prince's intention to expose the royal scandal, that might also be the work of An Zizhong. And as for the fact that Duke Cheng'en would be hit, could it also be the work of the man in front of him?

"Who are you exactly?"

Prince Li was surprised by An Zizhong in front of him. A man who could play tricks among the most powerful people in the world was not a simple character. He had never heard of such a person in Kyoto. An Zizhong had been hiding his incompetence before. He was a poor boy who relied on the Grand Princess as his mother-in-law to become the first person in the Spring Examination. He was a coward who had to endure being cuckolded. Yet, he could play with so many people at his fingertips.

"Your Highness, why bother digging into the matter? Who Zi Zhong is doesn't matter. Everything you do is just to let the dead rest in peace."

An Zizhong did not say much to Prince Li. His goal for today had been achieved, and he took out a porcelain bottle from the things he brought.

"These are the last three red heart jade lotuses in Zi Zhong's hand. Master Zong can recover to be a normal person in the future. Please help Zi Zhong and Huaiyuan Marquis Mansion once you know the truth. Zi Zhong thanks you."

Even if they didn't reach an agreement today, An Zizhong would still give the Red Heart Jade Lotus to Prince Li, not for any other reason but because Zong Ge is the eldest brother's only son, and he would spare no effort to save Zong Ge.

Over the years, An Yun and An Qing have only made a dozen red heart jade lotuses. Except for the ones sent to the northwest, the others were given to Brother Zong, hoping that he could marry and have children like a normal person in the future to continue his eldest brother's bloodline.

Prince Li looked at An Zizhong's back and felt a strange emotion in his heart. This man really seemed like the old ghost from the past, insidious and cunning but also very principled.

Even now, he has never used the favor of detoxifying Zong Ge to negotiate with me. He just asked me to find out the truth and then consider whether to cooperate with him. He has completely put the initiative in my hands. Even if his situation is very critical, he will not harm innocent people.