After reading my mind, Daddy, why don't you smile?

With these few scattered clues, Emperor Jianxi ordered a hunt among officials for anyone with burn scars on their chests, but no clues were found in two days.

Why?

Shangguan Zhu is sick.

Didn’t go to court!

That night, he jumped into the river in desperation. He escaped, but he caught a cold and had to take two days of sick leave.

But Emperor Jianxi, instigated by Zhou Ji, was so curious that in order to find out who this person was, he asked all the officials to gather in the Yangxin Palace and directly took off their robes to examine the scars.

When the imperial edict reached the Duke Zhenguo's Mansion, the old Duke personally ordered his servants to place a lucky jar in Shangguan Zhu's yard. Old Huang asked the fire brigade to come to the Mansion in the afternoon to give the old Duke a lecture. Everything was arranged in an orderly manner, and the old Duke's worried heart finally relaxed a little.

The decree from the palace came.

"What? An official went to visit a prostitute?"

"Not caught? But there are two scars on your chest from the burn?"

"Your Majesty ordered all officials to go to the Yangxin Palace and take off their clothes to examine their scars?"

The old Duke found it funnier the more he listened. He thought that this "client" was unlucky as he had to undergo a physical examination in public...tsk tsk, so embarrassing!

The old Duke feels ashamed just thinking about this person!

Old Huang was worried, "Master, but our second and third masters are still sick..."

The old Duke waved his hand and said, "It's okay, it's okay, they are just entering the palace. They are not so bad that they can't get up. Besides, they are here to watch the fun. Maybe after watching the fun, their illness will be cured!"

Old Huang nodded when he heard this, and then went to inform Shangguan Zhu and Shangguan Dan in person.

"Second (Third) Master, the Emperor has issued an order to summon you to the palace!"

Shangguan Dan had no physical problems, but he had some mental illnesses. Sometimes he cried loudly, sometimes he laughed loudly, and sometimes he couldn't recognize people. He jumped onto the table with one foot, scratched his ears and cheeks, and shouted to everyone he saw, "Catch! Where are you running to, you dead pig monster? Take my stick!"

But most of the time, especially during the day, Shangguan Dan still acts like a normal person.

For example, at this moment, he nodded slightly, "Wait for me to change clothes..."

The situation in Shangguanzhu is more serious.

The weather is cold, so the burn scars didn't ulcerate, but slowly formed scabs, but they still hurt.

Headache, heartache, scar pain.

Shangguan Zhu was puzzled. Why did he get himself into this state?

After hearing what Lao Huang said, he was shocked and subconsciously a little scared. Could it be that Zhou Ji had directly told him out?

He doesn’t dare, right?

He didn't see his face, so how could he be sure it was him?

If he accused someone of making a mistake, wouldn't he be afraid that he would bite back?

Shangguan Zhuduo asked, "Are you calling only me?"

"No, I also called the old master and the third master."

"Oh……"

Shangguan Zhu breathed a sigh of relief. If he called everyone over, it wouldn't be that matter.

How could he have imagined that Emperor Jianxi would actually strip all the officials of their clothes in public!

Shangguan Zhu changed into court robes, and the two of them, father and son, set off.

The Hall of Nourishing Heart.

It was too late for Shangguan Zhu to escape.

In full view of everyone, he was held by two guards, took off his shirt, and revealed two bowl-sized scars on his chest.

He knelt down in despair.

The entire Yangxin Palace was as quiet as a chicken.

When the old Duke saw the two scars, his eyes went dark and he almost died.

Fire...So this is what a fire is!

Donkey meat is on fire!

It turns out that it is his son who is embarrassing himself!

puff--

Bastard!

They are all evil sons!

Shangguan Dan knelt down and was about to beg for mercy for Shangguan Zhu, "Your Majesty, there must be injustice here. Please listen to my second brother's explanation!"

Emperor Jianxi covered his mouth with his hand and glanced at the old Duke secretly. Seeing that the old Duke looked like he was about to make a fool of himself, he withdrew his suppressed smile and coughed lightly, "Shangguan Zhu, do you have an explanation?"

Shangguan Zhu was stiff, as if his soul had left his body.

Explanation?

What does he explain?

He explained that he was not going to visit a prostitute, but was going upstairs to see a venereal disease?

Then it’s still prostitution!

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Emperor Jianxi had no choice but to order him to be punished and dismissed from office.

"Thank you Lord for your grace!"

Shangguan Zhu looked at the culprit Zhou Ji, who was fearless when receiving his gaze. Shangguan Zhu hated him so much that he finally bit Zhou Ji.

Zhou Ji wanted to deny it, but Shangguan Zhu had evidence of his soliciting prostitution, so Zhou Ji was also dismissed from his post.

Zhou Ji accepted the order with a sad face, but he was happy in his heart, because his goal was achieved. Instead of getting intruded into the fight between the Crown Prince and His Majesty for no reason, it would be better to go home and plant potatoes, which would allow him to live in peace.

He really was... overthinking.

Having seen enough of the excitement, Emperor Jianxi waved his hand and asked all officials to leave.

Needless to say, this incident will become the talk of all officials for half a year.

It's so shameful. It's really shameful!

The old Duke returned to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion with a sullen look on his face. As soon as he entered the door, Old Huang came to greet him, "Master, the fire brigade is here."

The old Duke became even angrier when he heard this.

Fire burns...

He gritted his teeth and said, "Get rid of them! Get rid of them all!"

"I also smashed the jar in Shangguan Zhu's yard!"

"Fire... I would rather burn him to death!"

Therefore, at the end of the first month, Shangguan Zhu was also driven out of the house by the old Duke.

He was luckier than Shangguan Shu in that he had money and real estate.

Shangguan Zhu found a courtyard to live in and was followed by his two concubines. When Shen found out that he had gone to a brothel, she returned to her parents' home in anger and took the child with her.

Shangguan Zhu dismissed everyone and lay on the bed, looking at the bright moon in the sky. Its outline became increasingly blurred and farther away, just like him and Zhao Ying, becoming increasingly out of reach.

In another courtyard in Shangguanzhu, Zhao Yao woke up.

When she woke up and found herself paralyzed, she couldn't accept it, so she threw a tantrum like a madman, smashing things, beating and scolding the servants. It was not until the housekeeper brought Zhao Ziyin that she came to her senses. She cried and hugged Zhao Ziyin in her arms, muttering, "Ziyin, my Ziyin..."

Suddenly, she let go of Zhao Ziyin and said, "Let me see if you are hurt."

Zhao Ziyin shook his head, "Mom, I'm fine."

Zhao Yao looked at the housekeeper in confusion, and the housekeeper told him that it was the Second Master who sent her here and that the child was also rescued by the Second Master.

Zhao Yao then breathed a sigh of relief, vaguely understanding in her heart that Shangguan Shu wanted Shangguan Zhu to sell Ziyin, but Shangguan Zhu pretended to obey and secretly disobeyed. Not only that, he also saved her.

The system did not tell Zhao Yao what happened while she was unconscious, for fear that she would go crazy again.

Seeing that she was in better spirits now, I quickly said something nice to cheer her up.

[Host, don't worry, you won't die. The storyline will save you, and everything will return to where it was...]

[Moreover... Zhao Zihua has the help of a god, so she will definitely get what she wants! ]

Zhao Yao nodded when she heard the voice, but she looked absent-minded.

She was wondering why Shangguan Zhu helped her so much. It was originally for Shangguan Shu, but Shangguan Shu was obviously against her. Why would he rather betray Shangguan Shu to help her?

Could it be... Thinking of this possibility, Zhao Yao sneered.

How dare a bastard covet her!

Still, he was of some use.

Zhao Yao glanced at the housekeeper with disdain, "Where is Shangguan Zhu?"

"How can we, the slaves, find out the news about the Second Master..."

The butler smiled and said, "But the Second Master said before he left that he would wait for you to wake up and come to discuss the matter of Young Master Quan Yin with you."

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yao frowned.

"I don't understand either..."

Zhao Yao raised her hand and smashed a teacup, shouting, "You little slave! If you don't understand, call your master!"

The housekeeper had no choice but to send someone to notify Shangguan Zhu, who came over the next evening.

Zhao Yao's arrogant look made Shangguan Zhu speechless. Shouldn't she be grateful for his life-saving grace? Why did she act as if he owed her something?

Shangguan Zhu was already unlucky and in a bad mood. When he saw Zhao Yao, he felt even worse. When he was in a bad mood, his tone couldn't be good.

Zhao Yao asked him what he wanted to discuss with her about Quan Yin.

Shangguan Zhu sneered, "Of course it's about sending Ziyin to Zuixin Pavilion?"

"What do you mean?" Zhao Yao's eyes were as big as copper bells.

Shangguan Zhu did not hide it from her, "Brother has seen through my plan. Ziyin can't stay here for long. Rather than discussing it with you, I'd rather buy some time for Ziyin."

"In other words, you still want to send Ziyin to Zuixin Pavilion?"

Shangguan Zhu didn't answer, but the answer was obvious.

Zhao Yao was so angry that he spat out blood and fainted.

Shangguan Zhu looked at her with disgust and left.