Priceless: A widow with a baby asks the prince to marry again

Sun Zhizhao came with a group of officials and subordinates. They all wore veils that covered their faces and robes. Their uniform attire made people feel uneasy.

The family members panicked and shouted, "You running dogs! Are you still going to help the tyrant?!"

"That's not the case. I am a disciple of Prince Duan and have no connection with the Zhang family. It's just that Prince Duan is in charge of disaster relief and prevention. I'm afraid that if you leave the bodies on the streets in the city, it will easily cause epidemics." Sun Zhizhao persuaded gently.

Many people in Xingzhou City respected Prince Duan and his entourage. The second flood was solved immediately, and the people no longer suffered from hunger. Now they are helping those who lost their homes to build houses...

However, the hatred caused by the murder of a loved one cannot be mediated by others.

"If we don't display the body, how can we let people see the Zhang family's deep sins! They have stayed indoors until now and are trying to play dumb!"

"Everyone, please be patient. I have invited a few coroners to perform an autopsy on the street right now. The verdict can be made public immediately! With this evidence, you can report to the authorities and seek justice. It will be useless if the murderer continues to play dumb!"

Sun Zhizhao advised: "The dead should be buried as soon as possible, and their bodies should not be exposed on the streets after death!"

"Yes, we all remember it! We can testify when we report it to the police later!"

The people from the outskirts echoed the sentiment, saying that the people had been dead for five or six days and had already started to rot in this hot weather. The thirteen corpses placed here were even more smelly. If it weren't for the eagerness to join in the fun, no one would be able to stay here.

"But the Zhang family is all-powerful and there's no point in reporting it to the police..." As family members of Zhang family slaves, they were also aware of the power of the Zhang family. If someone hadn't told them that they could get an explanation if they came together to make trouble, they might have swallowed their resentment silently.

Sun Zhizhao laughed and said, "Even if the Zhang family can cover up everything, can they cover up His Royal Highness Prince Duan?"

The people immediately shook their heads. Even the most ignorant people knew that the prince was a top figure among the kings, dukes, generals and ministers.

"Your Highness Prince Duan is here to provide disaster relief, and he cannot interfere in the feud between the people and the Zhang family. But Prince Duan will also observe the people's sentiments during this period. If any officials, big or small, violate the law, His Highness Prince Duan will report it to the emperor!"

Sun Zhizhao spared no effort to portray his own prince as a wise man, and said passionately: "Everyone might as well give it a try, attach your grudges to the complaint, and bring the criminals to justice!"

The back door of the Zhang family’s house.

A woman in a veiled robe hurriedly looked around. The people were all attracted to the front door to watch the autopsy, and there was no one at the back door.

"Don't worry, mother. I will go and beg the prince." Concubine Zhang was also covered in cloth.

Prince Kang stayed in the government office when he came to Xingzhou, but he did not summon Concubine Zhang back. The Zhang family did not dare to return to the villa, fearing that they would be neglected if summoned, so they all stayed in the city. Today, they were all caught in the act...

"Sister, let me go with you!" Zhang Rujin was also anxious. The Zhang family's prosperity is the prosperity of all. Now that something has happened, she is also anxious...

Concubine Zhang frowned slightly under her veil and asked in an inexplicable tone, "I'm going to see His Royal Highness Prince Kang, what are you going to do?"

The mother and two daughters of the Zhang family all understood the thoughts of these women. Zhang Rujin could not be called a beauty, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that she was much more delicate than her elder sister...

Madam Zhang said nothing, looking at her two daughters, wondering what they were thinking. But Zhang Rujin immediately explained, "Sister, you misunderstood. I wanted to find Madam Liu who is by the side of His Royal Highness Prince Duan. Madam Liu is very favored..."

"Are you trying to say that I'm not favored?!" Concubine Zhang felt like her tail was stepped on.

"No! Of course not!" Zhang Rujin hesitated for a moment and said, "After Prince Duan and his men arrived... one after another, the Zhang family..."

The mother and daughter were suddenly shocked. Could it be that Prince Duan was behind this? Madam Zhang said angrily, "He just said a few gossips! He cheated the Zhang family of so much money, and the second branch is still half dead. Isn't that enough?!"

"Mother! Keep your voice down!" Zhang Rujin called out in a low voice, and then whispered, "I'm not sure what's going on. Anyway, I'll go talk to Madam Liu. Maybe it will help."

"But aren't Madam Liu and Prince Duan still in Hemiao Town? We won't be able to see them at the government office." Madam Zhang also thought it was worth a try. What happened to her son last time proved that Madam Liu had the final say.

"I heard that the epidemic in Hemiao Town is gradually easing. Maybe Madam Liu will be back soon. Besides, isn't Prince Duan's adopted son in the government office? The last time I saw him, the kid seemed easy to get along with. Maybe I can ask him to plead for me." Zhang Rujin was not sure, but there was nothing wrong in trying.

Concubine Zhang felt very uncomfortable. She was a well-known concubine of Prince Kang, but her mother and sister wanted to ask for help from the unknown widow of Prince Duan! But Prince Kang had said last time that he would not help, and she knew that it would be difficult to change Prince Kang's decision...

"Let's go! Go now while there's no one around, and don't let us get surrounded again!" Concubine Zhang suppressed her unhappiness. After all, she couldn't just watch the Zhang family perish.

Several women covered in full body veils passed by without attracting the attention of the people, as there were many of Prince Duan's people dressed like this on the streets.

The arrangement at the entrance of the yamen is now very peculiar. The guards of Prince Duan are guarding it, and the guards of Prince Kang are also guarding it, each occupying one side, clearly separated from the other.

Concubine Zhang naturally walked towards the guards on Prince Kang's side, lifted the curtain to reveal her face and said, "Take me in, and go and inform the prince that I have something to ask for an audience."

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment. I will report this to you right away."

One of King Kang's guards turned around and went in, but the remaining few were still blocking the door, with no intention of moving aside!

Concubine Zhang was immediately filled with anger and scolded, "Don't you understand this little bit of etiquette? Do you want me to stand outside?"

The guards looked at each other in embarrassment. King Kang had instructed that if anyone from the Zhang family came to visit, they would not be allowed in. Concubine Zhang was a relative of King Kang, but she was from the Zhang family. Was she considered a member of the Zhang family?

Fortunately, the guard who reported the matter came out quickly. He said in a low voice with an embarrassed look on his face: "The prince said that people from Prince Kang's mansion can enter, and others..."

Concubine Zhang was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at her younger sister behind her. The two maids beside her were brought from the palace.

Zhang Rujin suddenly felt a chill in her heart. This attitude was self-explanatory. Prince Kang would not help the Zhang family!

At this moment, someone walked by, took off his veil and handed it to the servant next to him.

Zhang Rujin's mind raced, and she shouted, "Mr. Sun, wait a minute. I'm Zhang Rujin. I've delivered something to Madam Liu at the Zhang family before. I want to talk to Madam Liu. Can you help pass the message on for me?"

Sun Zhizhao turned around and found that the Zhang family did look familiar, but they were not on the same side as him. To be more precise, they were the ones he wanted to punish.

"Sorry, Madam Liu is not in Xingzhou City." Sun Zhizhao bowed symbolically and was about to go inside.

"Is Young Master Qin Hao here? Last time we were chatting, I saw that he liked literature, so I found him a few poetry collections. Can you send them to him?" Zhang Rujin took out a few poetry collections that she had brought with her.

Sun Zhizhao paused. He could directly refuse on behalf of the young master, but the young master was the master, and it was a taboo for subordinates to make decisions directly for the master.

"Then I'll go ask the young master."

"Thank you, Mr. Sun." Zhang Rujin immediately thanked him. There was always a chance.

Concubine Zhang, who was standing by, felt aggrieved. She would feel awkward if she continued to wait, whether Prince Duan agreed or not. So she said stiffly, "Then I will go in to see His Royal Highness Prince Kang first. If you have nothing to do, go back earlier, sister."

When Concubine Zhang entered the government office, Prince Kang's servants led her to a courtyard.

The servant said respectfully, "Your Highness, please stay in this courtyard for the next few days. It has been cleaned and arranged."

"Live here? I'm here to see the prince." Concubine Zhang asked in confusion.

"The prince is giving the young master a lesson. It has just started and will take another half an hour." The servant looked at the courtyard and said with some embarrassment: "The larger courtyards are all occupied. If your majesty doesn't like this one, you can go and pick one."

"Which little prince?" Concubine Zhang was even more confused. Prince Kang didn't bring any children out. Even when she wanted to bring her son to meet her in-laws, Prince Kang said he was afraid of the serious epidemic here and didn't agree to her bringing...

"He is Prince Duan's adopted son, Young Master Qin Hao."

Concubine Zhang was immediately shocked! The widow's child?! But King Kang had never taught his own sons! Could it be that the mother and son had some kind of witchcraft?!

She had also heard her mother's detailed account of the widow surnamed Liu. She said she was beautiful, but as a prince, what kind of beauties had she not seen? As far as she knew, there were also several beauties in Prince Duan's mansion, but she had never heard of anyone winning Prince Duan's favor. Otherwise, why had she not been given a title until now?

Why would a widow from a farming family with a son be so attractive to Prince Duan? She didn't believe that there was no evil trick!

"Where is the prince teaching? I have something urgent to tell you and need to see him right away!" We must not let King Kang be deceived! It's only been two days since I came here, it should still be in time to remind the prince!

The servant refused to say anything, so Concubine Zhang turned around and left. She was familiar with this government office. Prince Kang liked quiet and peaceful places the most, so it was most likely that place!

In the small garden at the backyard of the government office, there is a pleasant pavilion.

Little Qin Hao taught King Kang all the tricks of mental arithmetic, and even included his own understanding in order to help King Kang master it faster.

When King Kang used the trick to calculate the addition, subtraction and multiplication of three digits in a few breaths, little Qin Hao couldn't wait to say: "Okay! Uncle King Kang has learned it! In the future, as long as you practice more and use the trick more, you can calculate faster and faster! The more you calculate, the more you can calculate!"

"So simple?" King Kang glanced coldly at the child in front of him. Why did he feel like he was being cheated?

"That's because Uncle Kang Wang is smart! If he were dumb, he wouldn't be able to learn no matter how much you teach him!" Little Qin Hao praised him while spreading out the books he was going to study. Then he said seriously, "The time we just spent learning mental arithmetic doesn't count. We've only started half an hour ago."

King Kang took a deep breath. He was not that angry. After all, he had learned a useful method of mental arithmetic. However, compared with the half-hour daily lessons in the future, it seemed too costly to learn this trick in just a little over a minute!

Whatever, a promise is worth a thousand gold. It's just a few days of teaching. King Kang resigned himself to his fate and picked up the book and said, "I have never taught anyone before. If you want to learn something, you can ask it yourself."

Little Qinhao was beaming with joy. He remembered all the questions he didn't understand! He could ask them without even looking them up in the book!

After the lessons began, King Kang gradually became more comfortable with the subject. He could understand things quickly and learn them quickly. Teaching such a child did not require much effort. It was more like revisiting the books of sages that one had read.

After only a few words of instruction, Sun Zhizhao came a few feet away from here, listened to their segment, then stepped forward and bowed to King Kang.

Then Sun Zhizhao turned to Qin Hao and said respectfully, "Young Master, the second daughter of the Zhang family came to see you and said she wanted to give you a few poetry collections. If you don't want to see them, just tell me and I will refuse them right away."

King Kang listened calmly. The Zhang family was so desperate that they had to seek help from a child?

Little Qin Hao tilted his head slightly. He had a very good memory, so he naturally remembered Zhang Rujin. He didn't have a good or bad impression of her. He was just a little curious: "What poetry collection is it?"

“Um… I haven’t read it, but I don’t think the Zhang family can get any rare books, so they can just refuse it directly.” Sun Zhizhao suggested.

Little Qin Hao was still curious. He only read the works of famous people. His mother had never bought him any poetry collections or other books. He made a decision in a blink of an eye: "Uncle Sun, I want to see what poetry collection it is. Let her wait a moment. I will go find her after class."

Sun Zhizhao couldn't resist, and thinking that there wouldn't be any problem in meeting a girl from the Zhang family, he nodded awkwardly, turned around, bowed to King Kang and took his leave.

"Are you curious about a few poetry collections?" King Kang said with a gentle but sarcastic tone.

"Just take a look. If it doesn't look good, I won't accept it." Little Qin Hao didn't take it seriously and continued to study.

But this time, just as he finished asking the question, a burst of noise was heard.

"Your Highness, you can't do that! The prince said that you can't disturb us without permission!"

Some servants were chasing after them, and the guards in front wanted to stop them, but Concubine Zhang kept walking forward, so the guards could only avoid her. As men, they were not allowed to have physical contact with the women of King Kang...

Concubine Zhang ran over eagerly, and she naturally saw the boy with bright eyes and white teeth first! Normally, anyone would like such a look, but Concubine Zhang had long been grudged against the mother and son, and this sight was like seeing a flood and a beast!

"Your Highness, don't stay with this little devil for too long! I'm afraid both mother and son have some evil magic that can bewitch people!"

King Kang glanced at the child coldly. To deceive people? If he hadn't been concerned about Chu Shiyu, he would have let this child know what the sky is high and the earth is thick.

Little Qin Hao was not happy. He frowned and asked, "Who are you? You should have never met my mother and me. Why are you saying bad things about us?"

"Why do we need to meet in person? Just ask around and you'll know that your mother must be a demon! Otherwise, how could the iron-hearted Prince Duan be obsessed with her?" Seeing that Prince Kang had no intention of stopping her, Concubine Zhang felt relieved and had no scruples anymore.

"So it was hearsay. I heard people mention the term gossip in the past, and my mother refuted that it was not only women who gossiped, but I think this term is used by some people and it is not wrong!"

This was the first time that little Qin Hao was stern and cold towards others. Although he was small in stature, he also showed his potential.

Concubine Zhang was stunned for a moment, then she became angry and raised her hand to wave at little Qin Hao!

"Zhang Ruxiu!" Prince Kang shouted coldly.

Concubine Zhang couldn't stop the slap in time!

But little Qin Hao was not stupid enough to stand there and get beaten. He dodged to the side quite flexibly! After dodging, he continued to sneer: "You have to fight just because you can't win the argument? It seems that it is not entirely true that clothes make people famous. Some people's true nature cannot be hidden even in their fancy clothes!"

Concubine Zhang was stopped by the shouting, so she naturally didn't dare to attack again. She couldn't scold him and was furious. Suddenly, she turned around and complained: "This little bastard insulted me with his outrageous words. Please, Your Majesty, help me!"

"You speak ill of others, but you say that others insult you. Isn't this what they say, that the wicked are the first to complain?"

Mei Hongzhu Qing had already hurried over to guard Xiao Qinhao's left and right, and many guards from Prince Duan's faction also came forward, pretending to protect their master.

Prince Kang was calm, looking at Concubine Zhang and asked calmly, "Why do you think I've been bewitched?"

"Your Highness has never taught anyone, yet he treats this little devil so well. I'm afraid you've been bewitched by him!" Concubine Zhang said sincerely.

King Kang didn't know what to say for a moment. Did he say that he was overjoyed at the sight of prey and was fooled by the child's trick?

But little Qin Hao looked up proudly and said, "That's not some witchcraft. Uncle Kang Wang is willing to teach me because I'm smart!"

Many people present, as well as Sun Zhizhao who hurried over, were ashamed. They could only say that fortunately little Qin Hao was only a five-year-old child and could be regarded as a child who spoke without restraint.

Only Concubine Zhang scolded him: "You are just sharp-tongued, don't try to be smart!"

"At least I'm smarter than you! If you don't believe me, let me ask you, if we divide 1,603 taels now, Uncle Kang Wang gets 999, I get 398, and you get the rest. And then Uncle Kang Wang gives you 44. How much do you have in the end?"

While the others were still calculating, King Kang, who had just learned the trick, got the answer immediately. He glanced at the child coldly and said to Concubine Zhang who was thinking hard, "You didn't listen to my advice and came to make trouble without permission. You are confined to the courtyard and are not allowed to go out before I leave the city."

Concubine Zhang immediately stopped caring about the math. If she couldn't go out, she couldn't help with the Zhang family's affairs! She quickly pleaded, "Your Majesty! I am worried about your safety, so I did this in a hurry!"

However, maids and old women had already arrived and were waiting around. When they heard Prince Kang's order, they stepped forward and tried to carry Concubine Zhang away!

"I'll leave on my own!" Concubine Zhang shouted hastily. If she was really carried away, she would lose all her face! She looked at Xiao Qinhao with resentment, then swung her sleeves and left in the manner that a concubine should have.

She had only walked a short distance when she met Sun Rujin who was waiting in the distance.

Concubine Zhang then remembered that her sister was coming to ask for help from the child! However, she had already made a grudge against the child, and Concubine Zhang didn't know what to think for a moment.

Zhang Ruxiu nodded to Zhang Rujin and walked away without saying a word. The two sisters seemed like strangers for a moment.