After deceiving the villain, I was forced to love him.

Beijing.

He Shidao, who was also looking forward to the rainy season, felt refreshed after seeing the heavy rain last night gradually subside by this morning.

"Father seems to be in a good mood?"

"Yes, this rain came just in time, just what I wanted."

With the arrival of the rainy season, the corpses in the desolate fields will decompose faster, and with so many rivers in Jiangzhou, it is self-evident what will happen next.

Moreover, since last autumn, the government of Jiangzhou has stopped sending people to repair the river embankment. If there are a few more heavy rains, the counties in the middle and lower reaches will inevitably suffer from floods and malaria.

He Congjun was puzzled. "Rain? I thought you were happy about the old master's letter."

"I suppose so," Baili Jiangluo said. Although he was a bit too cunning, he at least followed the agreement.

"Tell me about yourself. How's your work at the Censorate going? Have those guys raised any suspicions?"

"I have no doubts, but recently Prince Fu and the Empress Dowager have had many disputes, which has made things difficult for the Censorate. I shouldn't stand out too much."

"That's right, now is not the time to rush."

"But I noticed that Cui Yuanshu didn't stop the Ministry of Revenue officials from speaking up for Prince Fu. Could it be that he also has some ulterior motives?"

He Shidao shook his head. "If he really had any ulterior motives, he would definitely try every means to prevent Prince Fu from entering the court."

"What do you mean?"

"Some people always think that they can take advantage of His Majesty's absence from court to do something, but in reality, His Majesty is waiting for them to slip up."

"You mean..." He Congjun glanced around to make sure the servants couldn't hear him before excitedly approaching and lowering his voice, "His Majesty is out of danger?"

He Shidao nodded cryptically.

In an instant, He Congjun understood everything.

But as he thought about it, he suddenly became anxious again, "What if His Majesty returns and finds out something..."

"What can you find out?" He Shidao glanced at him, "Embezzlement, bribery, or disregard for human life? Forming cliques?"

"He served as an official for more than 20 years, and he lacked neither reputation nor political achievements."

“You entered the Censorate through fair and square examinations based on your talent and learning. I have never bribed you with a single tael of silver. Even if His Majesty wanted to investigate, what could he possibly find?”

Upon hearing this, He Congjun immediately felt relieved. "Father, you are right. I was confused."

"It's alright. Just remember, the more this happens, the more you need to stay calm."

"Um"

"As long as that old fox Baili Jiangluo doesn't move, we won't move either."

"What if he moves?"

He Shidao's eyes gleamed with shrewdness. "Then we'll have to see if the chips he offers are worth the gamble."

......

The tiger-shaped purse was personally delivered by Song Zhaohe to Wang Qingyan, but because they disliked each other, the two started arguing as soon as they heard the sound.

"Master Wang is really in high spirits. Even while in jail, he still thinks about other people's things." After having someone put the purse in, Song Zhaohe didn't seem very happy to see him like this.

Touching the purse, Wang Qingyan felt the stitching was just as clumsy as the one he had seen that day. He gently looked up and said, "Indeed, it's okay to be incompetent in this world, but you can't be without self-awareness."

"I, Song, have always had self-awareness, unlike some people who knowingly force others to do what they don't like, committing all sorts of bad deeds, only to end up with a gruesome death."

Whether or not we force it is a matter between my husband and me, what business is it of yours?

Whether it's killing or fighting between husband and wife, it's none of Song Zhao's place to criticize or interfere.

Song Zhaohe smiled faintly. He rarely looked down on others, but at this moment, he had a condescending tone. "Do you know what you look like right now?"

"A mangy dog, comical and ridiculous, was driven from one end of the street to the other, yet still fantasized about eating the pork from the butcher's hand."

Perhaps because Baili Ce was truly special to Song Zhaohe, Wang Qingyan was genuinely angered by the scolding, saying, "You'd better remember what you said today."

"What can you do?" Song Zhao asked coldly, his brows furrowed, his voice filled with contempt.

"..." Wang Qingyan touched his purse carefully but did not answer the question.

Thinking that he had been silenced by his scolding, Song Zhaohe did not linger any longer, but just as he was about to leave the prison, he was stopped by Wang Qingyan.

"Where's the stuff inside?"

"Who said there was anything inside?"

"You can't fool me, give it to me."

After a moment of silence, Song Zhaohe snorted coldly, "I only promised His Majesty that I would give you the purse, but I didn't say that I would give you the contents as well."

“That’s mine, you have no right to take it.”

"Oh~ You say it's yours, so it's yours? Did you write your name on it?"

"Song Zhaohe, you're asking for death."

Heh~ He laughed in exasperation.

"Alright, I'd like to see how Master Wang will kill me."

......

Song Zhaohe left gracefully, which infuriated Wang Qingyan to the point that he suffered a stroke and vomited several mouthfuls of black blood.

Can--

"Cough..." Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Wang Qingyan still gripped the tiger pouch tightly.

I was so angry on the island that day that I didn't have time to take off my purse to check it, and I don't even know if it contained his things.

However, the stitching on this purse is messy and the finishing stitches are haphazard, which is undoubtedly due to Bai Li Ce's skill level.

Furthermore, it has developed numerous loose threads, burrs, and damaged edges, indicating that this purse is quite old.

And he happened to be born in the Year of the Tiger...

Wang Qingyan was somewhat confused, fearing that this was another trap prepared by Baili Ce.

But it's impossible to say that you don't care at all.

He couldn't convince himself not to think, not to assume, that many years ago, Baili Ce had happily embroidered a purse, intending to express his feelings to him.

Song Zhaohe, that fool, clearly provoked him with what he did that day.

But isn't this also a form of jealousy?

Bai Li Ce probably really cared about his life, and he did indeed risk his life to protect him that day.

But this has nothing to do with love; as she herself said, it's just her nature.

But that's precisely why Wang Qingyan was even angrier.

He has spent so many years, yet he still hasn't been able to change her in the slightest.

Even the love he once loathed and scorned, which had been divided between him, had not given him a single bit.

Even so, he still wanted to know what was originally in his purse.

The feel of the purse told him that it must have contained something that was very important to its owner.

A letter? A jade pendant?

Or perhaps some other little gadgets?

Wang Qingyan knew that the most likely scenario was a scam, but once the idea took hold, he couldn't resist taking the gamble on that one in ten chance.

......

"Once people develop a gambler's mentality, even knowing the chances are slim, they still desperately hope their expectations will come true."

On the other side, Lu Jian was talking eloquently again.

Opposite him, of course, was Song Zhaohe, whose face was completely "blackened".

Honestly, he sometimes really thought Lu Jian was very unreliable.

"But why only an empty purse?"

"Hey, you just don't understand, do you?" Lu Jian said with a look that said, "You're obviously inexperienced." "True feelings are revealed in the moments between dreaming and waking."

Song Zhaohe frowned. He had long since given up on Baili Ce; now he only hoped that everything was well for her.

Therefore, he didn't understand Lu Jian's words at all, "The young lady fought with Wang Qingyan to such an extent, given his personality, how could he still...?"

Sigh... No wonder you couldn't catch up with Baili Ce.

Lu Jian shook his head and patted Song Zhaohe on the shoulder. "There are three things that can make people persist: love, hate, and resentment."

"And this unwillingness to accept defeat is the most captivating thing."

"..." Song Zhaohe was completely stunned and listened quietly.

Lu Jian's smile vanished, his expression turning stern. "Wang Qingyan will definitely take another gamble because of his unwillingness to accept defeat."