Jinghong Tower

Zong Qi returned to his house, which he bought after coming to the capital and had repainted.

Now that they were getting engaged, a few days ago Zong Qi invited the nanny who had been taking care of Lu Chang in the Wu'an Marquis's mansion to come over to his house. She gave some instructions on how to decorate the house according to Lu Chang's preferences, such as putting a blue and white porcelain vase here, a Xiangfei couch there, and what trees and flowers to plant in the garden.

After hearing this, Li Jinxiu waved her hand and sent the gardener from Wu'an Marquis's Mansion over. The gardener's ancestors had worked for wealthy families for generations, so he not only knew how to grow flowers, but also learned a little about gardening.

Zong Qi bought the most expensive items from the list drawn up by the nanny and the gardener, spending money like water.

After hearing this, Li Jinxiu was in a very good mood.

Zong Qi wanted to please her granddaughter. If a grandmother talked about frugality at this time, she would be stupid.

The first thing Zong Qi did after returning home was to take a walk around the garden to see the progress of the project.

As soon as he entered the garden, he heard the servant's voice behind him: "Master, Master."

Zong Qi stopped, looked at the servant who came running over, and asked, "What's the matter?"

The servant said, "Butler Han sent someone to say that Miss Han went out at noon and has not returned home yet. The capital is so big and they are unfamiliar with the place, so they would like to ask Master to send a few brothers to help look for her."

Zong Qi frowned slightly. Noon? Didn't Han Yuzhu run away just after he came out of Han's house?
What a coincidence, where did she go?
When Zong Qi thought of Han Yuzhu's attitude towards him, his brows furrowed even more tightly. It was most likely that Han Yuzhu went to look for him, but he happened to have gone to the Jinyiwei, so Han Yuzhu couldn't find him.

"Let Xu Kui take a few brothers out to look for it." Zong Qi said.

Although Han Yuzhu's martial arts skills were mediocre, ordinary thieves were no match for her. Besides, since she was looking for me, she would most likely have gone to the Zong family's shops in the capital.

Therefore, Zong Qi was not worried, and he would not go looking for him in person to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

At three o'clock in the morning, Xu Kui came back and found Han Yuzhu. She was in Qinghuan Tower, which Zong Qi had recently bought.

Qinghuan Tower, formerly known as Qingfeng Tower, was bought by Zong Qi after he came to Beijing. It was redecorated a while ago. After his engagement with Lu Chang was confirmed, he changed Qingfeng Tower into Qinghuan Tower, preparing to hold a wedding banquet here on the day of the formal engagement.

Han Yuzhu went to several other Zong family businesses and met a Cao Gang brother who asked her to come to Qinghuan Tower to take a look, hoping Zong Qi might be there.

Only then did Han Yuzhu realize that Qingfeng Tower had been renamed Qinghuan Tower.

Although she was not well educated, she immediately understood that the name was obviously changed for Lu Chang.

Han Yuzhu was furious and wanted to go in and smash things up, but the restaurant was not open yet and she couldn't get in.

There was a tavern near Qinghuan Tower. Han Yuzhu went in, ordered a pot of wine, and started drinking by herself.

In recent years, there have been female generals and female officials in the capital, and now there is a female top scholar. The customs of the people are much more open than before. She drinks alone in the tavern, and the waiter is no longer surprised.

It’s just that Han Yuzhu couldn’t drink much and got drunk after just a few drinks. The waiter was very anxious because she hadn’t even settled the bill yet.

Xu Kui said to Zong Qi, "I heard from the people at Qing Huan Lou that a girl came in at dusk and wanted to go in, but they didn't let her in. The girl got angry but didn't leave. Instead, she went to the tavern. I went there, but the waiter told me that the girl was drunk and unconscious. Fortunately, her mother-in-law came over, paid for the wine, and took her away.

At that time, I thought that the Han family had found the person first. I was about to go to the Han family to ask, when I saw Ah Xing running over and said that Miss Han was found outside the back door of Qinghuan Building.

When I went over, Miss Han was leaning against the door, reeking of alcohol. The restaurant hadn’t opened yet, so there were only two guards on duty, and they didn’t know when Miss Han came through the back door.”

Zong Qi said, "Ask the waiter of the tavern to recall the appearance of the old woman and whether she helped Miss Han out of the tavern in a car or a sedan chair."

Zong Qi looked at the dark night and decided to go to the Han family early tomorrow morning. After something like this happened, it would not be enough to just send Han Yuzhu back to the Han family. He had to go and tell Mrs. Han in person.

The next day, when Zong Qi arrived at Han's house, Han Yuzhu had already woken up, but her face was pale, as if she had suffered a serious illness.

Seeing Zong Qi coming in person, Mrs. Han was helpless: "I didn't expect that Butler Han would bother you for such a small matter. Yuzhu is too willful. Don't take it seriously."

Zong Qi looked at Han Yuzhu and asked in a deep voice, "Do you remember what happened after you got drunk yesterday?"

Usually when Zong Qi came over, Han Yuzhu would be beaming with joy, but today she looked lonely. When she heard Zong Qi asking her about yesterday, her eyes flickered and she dared not look at Zong Qi, saying, "I drank too much and I don't remember anything."

Zong Qi knew she was lying as soon as he saw her.

Zong Qi didn't dare to ask any more questions in front of Mrs. Han, so he exchanged a few more words with Mrs. Han and then said goodbye and left.

Watching his back as he left, Han Yuzhu breathed a sigh of relief.

When Zong Qi returned home, Xu Kui was already waiting for him.

"Oh no, that waiter is dead."

Xu Kui went to the pub he had been to yesterday, only to see the shopkeeper cursing. Upon asking, he learned that the waiter had not come to work without asking for leave. Xu Kui then went to the waiter's home according to the address the shopkeeper had given him.

The waiter lived in a large courtyard where more than a dozen families lived. He rented a small room with the door closed. Xu Kui knocked for a long time but no one opened the door, so he kicked the door open, only to see the waiter hanging on the beam with his body stiff.

The landlord went to report to the authorities, and the waiter's body was taken away by the government. Xu Kui then came back to report the news.

When Zong Qi heard this, he thought of what Zhong Yi had done yesterday and went to the Jinyiwei Yamen.

Zhong Yi happened to be about to go out, and the two met in front of the yamen. Zong Qi told him everything about Han Yuzhu and the waiter, and Zhong Yi narrowed his eyes slightly.

Han Yuzhu is not an ordinary woman. Her father is the former leader of the Cao Gang, and the current leader Zong Qi is her sworn brother.

Su Cheng's case was aimed at the northwest, and this case was closely related to the Cao Gang.

Now someone's dead again. It's obvious that the waiter was silenced. He has seen the old woman.

Zhong Yi said to Zong Qi, "I still say the same thing. You are not allowed to go anywhere within three months. When I need to find you, you must show up immediately."

At this time, He Ran was in the palace. Today was the first day of the lunar month. On the first and fifteenth day of every month, she would have meals with Zhou Jian.

As usual, Zhou Jian showed her his recently written article, looking at her expectantly like a child waiting for praise. If she was still the thin and lovely young man, she would be somewhat lovable, but the greasy fat man in front of her, with that self-righteous innocent and cute expression, was enough to make people lose their appetite.

He Ran praised Zhou Jian a few words as usual, and Zhou Jian became extremely excited, as if he had received a huge benefit, and acted exaggeratedly and pretentiously.

He Ran said indifferently: "Does Prince Zhao like Concubine Feng?"

Zhou Jian, who was still immersed in his self-performance, suddenly heard the three words "Feng Cairen" and opened his mouth in surprise. It took him a while to find his voice: "Why did my sister ask that?"

He Ran smiled: "Mrs. Feng is pregnant, this is Prince Zhao's child, right?"

Zhou Jian was shocked. Pregnant, Feng Cairen was pregnant?

He hadn't seen Feng Cairen for a month. Ever since Gao Cai was dismissed, he had been very cautious. He only met Feng Cairen briefly more than a month ago. Later, Feng Cairen left a secret code at the "old place", but he pretended not to see it.
He Ran is so powerful. Killing a person is as easy as crushing an ant. Gao Cai says death and it happens instantly.

After Gao Cai died, He Ran asked Yuan Ying to come and tell him that Gao Cai died in pain after being castrated.

He was horrified. He Ran not only killed Gao Cai, but also left Gao Cai with a mutilated body.

Gao Cai's real name is Feng Lingcai. He is Feng Cairen's cousin. He Ran killed him just because she wanted to.

Feng Cairen cried so hard that he finally calmed her down after a long time.

Thinking of Gao Cai’s death, Zhou Jian’s heart ached.

At this moment, he hated Feng Cairen. Didn’t she say that she had a miscarriage in her early years and hurt her body so that she couldn’t get pregnant?

She lied to him!

She could obviously get pregnant, but she lied to him and said she couldn't. What else could this be if not lying to him?
Ever since Chunwang was pushed into the lake and "drowned", there have been no real men in the palace. All of them are eunuchs. Guards are not allowed to enter the harem. Even the two teachers who taught him only came during the day, and they were accompanied by Yuanying every time. They only stayed in the palace for an hour. He couldn't push them out to take the blame.

Zhou Jian gritted his teeth, knelt on the ground with a plop, and secretly looked up at He Ran, only to see that He Ran had a blank expression on her face and didn't even glance at him.

Zhou Jian knelt forward, grabbed the corner of He Ran's robe, and burst into tears: "Sister, please save me. It was Concubine Feng who couldn't stand the loneliness in the deep palace and seduced me repeatedly. She is much older than me. I don't understand the relationship between men and women at all. I was deceived by her. Really, sister, you have to believe me!"

Zhou Jian was crying uncontrollably. Xiaoli stepped forward, pried his hands apart, and pulled the corner of He Ran's robe out of his hands: "Prince Zhao, please respect yourself. There is a difference between men and women. Please step back three steps!"

Zhou Jian didn't move at all. He was King Zhao, the future emperor, and a mere lowly maid dared to scold him.

Seeing that he didn't move, Xiaoli drew out her sword with a swish, and pointed the tip of the sword at Zhou Jian's throat: "Prince Zhao, please step back three steps!"

The sword energy was like a rainbow, flashing with cold light. Zhou Jian looked up at He Ran again. There was no sign of sadness or joy on He Ran's face, but it made Zhou Jian feel afraid.

He gritted his teeth and moved back little by little, and the tip of the sword followed him like a shadow, until he moved to a position that satisfied Xiaoli, and then he retracted the sword.

Zhou Jian's inner clothes were soaked.

He Ran said coldly, "You don't understand the relationship between men and women, but you know how to ask Feng Cairen's brother-in-law to pay a large sum of money to hire someone to kill you?"

Zhou Jian's eyes widened in astonishment. He Ran's voice continued, "I'm sorry to disappoint you. Feng Zhaoyan has been arrested and he confessed everything.

He was corrupt and committed many evil deeds. At that time, there was war and chaos, and the most dangerous place was the safest. Feng Zhaoyan did not dare to flee far away, so he hid in a house in Tongzhou. Gao Cai was the concubine of the Feng family. He was disliked by the mistress of the Feng family, so he left his hometown at a young age and happened to be in Tongzhou.

Feng Zhaoyan's concubine Feng Jianjian is Feng Cairen's half sister. Feng Zhaoyan took her away with him. Feng Jianjian knew Gao Cai, and they hit it off immediately. Through Feng Jianjian, Gao Cai found you.

Feng Zhaoyan wanted to spend money to take care of himself, and you took a lot of money from him.

Feng Zhaoyan started it, and your appetite has grown. I haven't been in the capital for the past two years, and you must have received a lot of money in private, from the Sun family in Qing County, the Zou family in Handan, and the Lu family in the suburbs of Beijing."

Zhou Jian was originally kneeling on his knees, but when he heard this, he sat down on the ground.

It’s over, He Ran knows everything.

When did she find out? Yes, it was Feng Cairen and Feng Zhaoyan. They must have betrayed him!

He Ran continued, "Tell them that you are the emperor. If you sit on the throne, they will have the merit of following the emperor. They will spend all their money to recruit people and build connections for you in the capital."

He Ran stretched out her hand and Xiaoli put a list in her hand.

He Ran took a look and threw the list heavily in Zhou Jian's face: "This is the list of people they have recruited for you in the past two years. Check to see if there is anything missing."

The list hit Zhou Jian's face, causing burning pain.

His hands were shaking, but he didn't dare open the list.

He Ran sneered, "I killed Gao Cai when I returned to the capital, and you were afraid. You asked Feng Zhaoyan to hire someone to kill me. Haha, your little tricks can fool the three families of Sun, Zou and Lu, but you can't fool Feng Zhaoyan, the old fox. He is different from the three families. If he were to perform an opera, he would be a traitor on the stage. What's more, why would Feng Zhaoyan want to cling to you? Is it just to give you money? He wants a future, he wants to be rich!
You want him to find a killer to deal with me?

Does he dare?
He was even afraid of the Prince of Jin. Before the Prince of Jin reached the capital, he was so scared that he hid himself.

Even if he had the guts of a tiger or a tiger, he wouldn't dare to go against me!

More importantly, he has already seen that you are a waste, so he did nothing but let Feng Jianjian go out and show his face, attract his wife and children, and let people know that he is in the capital!"

Zhou Jian's face changed drastically: "You said, you said Feng Zhaoyan fell into a trap? Impossible, how could it be possible? He is most afraid of death, he is so timid, impossible, impossible!"

He Ran smiled and said, "If he was really afraid of death, he wouldn't have embezzled so much money. People like him are not only bold but also cruel. He can even take away the ginseng that prolongs his mother's life. What else can't he do?

As for you, he no longer has any hope in you. Now, like you, he is crawling at my feet, hoping that I can give him a chance to atone for his sins."

Zhou Jian was stunned for a moment, and suddenly burst into tears. He struggled to hug He Ran's legs, but Xiao Li drew out her sword, and he was so scared that he dared not get close. He just sat there crying.

"Sister, I was deceived by them. You were fighting in Jiangnan, and I was extremely worried. I hated myself for being incompetent and unable to help you. Feng Zhaoyan asked Feng Cairen to tell me that he had money and connections and could raise military funds for you. I was young and ignorant, and I actually believed him." (End of this chapter)