Prince! The political conspiracy is not a play, the show is real

The hot silver just came into my hands, but unfortunately I had to give it to someone else without even taking a second look at it.

In the courtyard at the back garden of the Shi Mansion, Tao Yao watched with regret as Huai Ling distributed the huge sums of silver to the eighteen "reinforcements" one by one. Dejectedly, she picked up a small stone at her feet and threw it into the pond, causing ripples to form on the water.

Her heart was like the pool of water, unable to calm down for a long time.

In just one day, she met An Jingshuang who fed the Gu with blood in Chunfeng Tower, and Yun Qing who was doing secret business in Fuxiangzhai, and both of them seemed to be working for Chu Huanjun.

Chu Huanjun is the only prince in the current dynasty, and he is highly favored. Logically speaking, he should be able to get whatever he wants in front of the current emperor and sleep soundly.

Why did he spend so much effort designing a Chunfeng Tower and a Fuxiangzhai? This was just what Taoyao saw with her own eyes today. Perhaps there were more organizations hidden in the dark.

What is Chu Huanjun planning? What is the purpose of all this? Is it related to the future national disaster that will leave no survivors?

From what she had seen, she could sense that Chu Huanjun seemed to be playing a big game. Yet, he always pretended to be an unrepentant playboy, spending his days indecently drinking and watching operas in brothels and wine alleys filled with beauties.

Who is he doing this for?

Huai Ling watched the silver in the sack being taken away one by one, feeling extremely regretful. She couldn't help but mutter to herself, "Oh my god, so much silver! If I had this much silver, I wouldn't have to worry about anything for the rest of my life."

Seeing Tao Yao standing there blankly with lifeless eyes, she secretly poked Tao Yao's elbow and asked in a low voice, "Second Miss, if this hundred taels of silver belonged to you alone, what would you do?"

Tao Yao's thoughts were still entangled in the tangled web about Chu Huanjun, becoming increasingly confused. Huai Ling's prodding brought her back to her senses, and she answered without a second thought:

"I plan to flee the capital overnight, especially to get away from Chu Huanjun and go to a place where no one recognizes me..."

Before she could finish, Huai Ling hurriedly covered her mouth and said anxiously, "Second Miss! Are you crazy? You actually called His Royal Highness Prince Yi by his name..."

At this moment, Tao Yao suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure flashing by not far away. Startled, he hurriedly shouted towards that place: "Who is it!"

The next moment, Shi Lanxin appeared at the garden archway with her hands on her hips, shouting, "Shi Taoyao, are you crazy? What are you doing? Are you gambling?"

Now Tao Yao failed to hide the truth and was punished more severely.

Tao Yao was about to explain, but Shi Lanxin immediately ran away at the top of her voice, shouting all the way: "Daddy! Daddy! Shi Tao Yao and a bunch of servants are gambling together!!"

After a while, Shi Lanxin appeared at the archway again, with a few burly men behind her.

"Go, capture her." Shi Lanxin gave an order, and the burly men immediately rushed forward and tied Tao Yao up.

"Father has an order! Shi Taoyao, I'm taking you to Zhuzheng Hall. Father will only question you."

Shi Lanxin smiled smugly, pointing at the eighteen "rescuers" behind her who had been so eager to share the money but were now dumbfounded, and scolded, "Take you along too. How dare you get together with Tao Yao? Aren't you afraid of getting into trouble?"

So, the group was tied up by several strong men and carried to the door of Zhuzheng Hall.

This Zhuzheng Hall, located in the side courtyard of the Shi Mansion, was used to punish servants who violated the rules. Although it was a place for punishing servants, Taoyao's body still had memories of Zhuzheng Hall.

When Shi Taoyao was a child, she would be punished for not doing her homework properly, stealing candy, or getting up late. There were hundreds of reasons for being punished, and it seemed that her existence in the Shi Mansion itself was a mistake.

After she grew up, it seemed that Shi Yiqian no longer felt comfortable to torture and punish his adult daughter, and Shi Taoyao had not been to Zhuzheng Hall for many years.

Facing Zhuzheng Hall again, the gate was still dark. The dense bamboo forests on both sides were deep and serene. The pointed bamboo leaves swayed in the cold night wind, and the sound of the swaying branches sounded like sobbing. The scene was solemn and eerie.

Although it was the first time for Tao Yao to come here after his soul entered this body, this body still carried the memory of being punished here. Just one look at the plaque hanging high up with the three big characters "Zhu Zhengtang" engraved on it made him sweat coldly on his back.

Shi Lanxin led a group of people to the front of the hall and shouted, "Dad, I brought them here."

"Come in." Shi Yiqian's voice came from inside the door.

Shi Taoyao was dragged and carried into the door by those strong men.

The Zhuzheng Hall is square and spacious, with high walls on all sides and not a single window that leaks air.

Perhaps to facilitate punishment, only a square table and two stools remained in the hall. Shi Yiqian was sitting on one of the stools, looking over with a serious expression. On the other stool sat Zhu Fengsheng, the wife of the Shi family. Zhu Fengsheng rarely appeared in public, but whenever there was something exciting going on in the mansion, she was always there.

Tao Yao was frightened by Shi Yiqian's fierce gaze and broke out in a cold sweat.

Two strong men held her down and made her kneel in front, forcing her to lower her head. At this time, Tao Yao saw that the tip of Shi Yiqian's shoes was still stained with a mixture of mud and blood, bloody and dirty, as if he had just experienced a massacre.

Perhaps the result of this killing did not make him happy - he looked heavy now, but Tao Yao knew that it was not because of family affairs, he never cared about these things.

Shi Yiqian said calmly, "Shi Taoyao, where did you go today?"

Tao Yao gritted her teeth, unsure what to do. There was no good outcome whether she spoke or not.

"Okay!" Shi Yiqian was already in a bad mood today and had no extra patience for this daughter who was not his biological daughter. "Since you don't want to say it, let Huai Ling say it for you."

The strong men then went to grab Huai Ling. They dragged her aside with brute force and pinned her to the ground. Then, someone brought a three-foot-long, two-inch-wide bamboo stick and hit her on the back and buttocks.

Huai Ling's body was weak to begin with, and she couldn't bear the heavy blow from the huge board. After a few hits, bright red blood seeped out of the fabric on her back.

But even so, she gritted her teeth and refused to say a word.

"Good! The master and servant are of one mind, what a noble character!" Shi Yiqian said with a hint of sarcasm.

Tao Yao could no longer bear it and grabbed Shi Yiqian's trouser legs and begged, "Dad, I'll tell you, I'll tell you. It's my fault. If you want to punish me, punish me, not Huai Ling. This has nothing to do with her."

Shi Yiqian lifted his leg and gently kicked Tao Yao away like an ant, saying, "Servants in the Shi residence should all know the rules. She knew you were making a mistake, but she still followed you. This is foolish loyalty, and she should be punished!"

Tao Yao got up from the ground, feeling a little aggrieved, and her voice inevitably tinged with tears: "Dad, do you know why I had to go out today?"

Shi Yiqian looked at her disdainfully and asked, "Why?"

Tao Yao choked up and said, "Because, because I'm almost starving to death. You don't know, I've never had enough to eat in the mansion, and I often have to fight with the guard dogs for food. Today is..."

Tao Yao suddenly felt a chill in her heart. After a pause, she continued, "Today I was really hungry and went crazy, so I climbed over the wall to find food. Huai Ling kept trying to persuade me not to act rashly, but I was really hungry and went crazy, so I didn't listen."

She hadn't revealed Chu Huanjun because she foresaw that in the future, Chu Huanjun would kill the entire Shi family. Hiding it from Shi Yiqian now might prevent him from getting close to Chu Huanjun, and perhaps prevent a disaster.

When Shi Lanxin heard her say that, she felt guilty and quickly said, "Why are you hungry? You're talking as if the Shi family has treated you unfairly. Tell me, in all your life, has your father ever lacked food and clothing for you?"

Shi Yiqian snorted coldly and said, "Taoyao, don't be ungrateful. I've sent people to investigate the whole matter and know that you went to Chunfeng Tower today. Did you get this hundred taels of silver from Chunfeng Tower? You're an unmarried girl, and you went to a place like that. I don't know how you managed to get so much money. Where can I put my face as a father!"

Shi Lanxin chimed in, "That's right. Daddy has always told us to maintain our chastity and reputation. How dare you go in and out of brothels like that? Tsk tsk tsk, and you even got so much silver and wanted to share it with the servants. Is this money clean? Oh, why did you share the spoils with the servants? You wouldn't have an affair with these servants, would you?"

At this moment, Zhu Fengsheng, who had been drinking tea silently beside her, suddenly chuckled, pulled out a handkerchief from his bosom to wipe his mouth, and said with a smile: "This girl is too old to be kept. If you ask me, it's better to find her a suitable marriage as soon as possible, so as to avoid making a joke again - she doesn't care, but it will be the Shi family's reputation that will be embarrassed."

Tao Yao knelt there, silently digesting their harsh words against her.

Tao Yao was a little confused. She had lived a peaceful and honest life in the Shi Mansion for half of her life and had never offended anyone. How could she end up in a situation where anyone could step on her head?

Could it be that her presence back then didn't keep Princess Jin Shen? But Princess Jin Shen's soul has passed away, and Shi Yiqian has long since found a new love. Is it possible that all the hatred from the past should be blamed on her, the innocent person involved?

Shi Lanxin hated Tao Yao because she thought Tao Yao had taken away the years of her life that belonged to her.

Zhu Fengsheng disdains Tao Yao because Tao Yao once lived with Princess Jin Shen day and night. Shi Yiqian might miss his past lover when he sees Tao Yao, but Zhu Fengsheng is jealous of the shadow of Shi Yiqian's deceased wife.

But what about Shi Yiqian? Why was he so harsh on Tao Yao? It was clearly him who brought Tao Yao here to please Princess Jin Shen. It was clearly him who wanted to adopt her as his daughter. It was clearly him who brought all this.

Tao Yao didn't understand why she was the one who had to bear all the blame and pain.