The Grand Secretary’s Pampered Wife

Chapter 409 Breakthrough (Part 1)

The fact that Ning Zhiyuan and Xiao Liulang had a good relationship is not very clear to outsiders, and this coachman named Wu Laoer ran into him a few times by chance, only to know that Ning Zhiyuan and Xiao Liulang got very close in private.

He kept his mouth shut and didn't talk nonsense.

But now that something happened to Ning Zhiyuan, Wu Er Er couldn't care so much.

"What happened to Editor Ning?" Xiao Liulang asked.

Wu Laoer said anxiously and worriedly: "He broke an antique inkstone in Wenhua Pavilion. I heard that it belonged to the late emperor... What do you think about this? If you really ask about crimes, Ning Editor will lose his official career. what!"

It is indeed a big taboo to damage the belongings of the royal family, even Scholar Han can't keep Ning Zhiyuan.

Wenhua Pavilion is not far from the Gong Yuan, Xiao Liulang asked the people from the Gong Yuan to go there first, and he will arrive later after taking care of some things by himself.

Afterwards, Xiao Liulang and Wu Lao Er went to Wenhua Pavilion.

The plants, trees, bricks and tiles of Wenhua Pavilion are all the same as before, and the tangy scent of osmanthus from the four seasons is too easy to wake up people's memories.

Xiao Liulang's expression was in a daze.

"Xiao Xiuzhuan, Xiao Xiuzhuan?" Wu Er Er called him.

Xiao Liulang returned to his senses, looked at Wu Laoer and said, "I'm fine, where is he?" Without waiting for Wu Laoer to guide him, he nodded and said, "Got it, I'm listening to Fengyuan."

After finishing speaking, he walked towards Tingfengyuan.

Wu Lao Er was at a loss: "I don't seem to have told you that people are listening to Fengyuan... and have you been here before? You know where Tingfengyuan is?"

Wenhua Pavilion has one pavilion and three courtyards. The main pavilion is called Wenhua Pavilion. It is a place for collecting books. Tinglan Courtyard is the private courtyard of Princess Xinyang. The courtyard is where antique treasures are collected, as well as some classic books that need restoration.

The reason Han Xueshi came here today is because Princess Xinyang brought back a large box of paintings by famous masters from Mount Fengdu, including two copies of "Mencius" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" annotated by the great scholar Zhuge of the former dynasty.

Princess Xinyang intends to donate these two books to the Imperial Academy.

Because it was just moved back and was about to be sent out, the books were not placed in the Library Pavilion, but temporarily placed in Tingfengyuan.

Xiao Liulang came to Tingfengyuan with ease.

He found that nothing had changed here, at least the people inside were no longer familiar faces.

Now the steward in charge of Wenhua Pavilion has the same surname as Wu Lao Er, who is almost fifty years old, but looks only in his early forties.

This incident made a big fuss, not only him, but also several deputy stewards of Wenhua Pavilion followed.

Ning Zhiyuan was brought here by Han Xueshi. If something happened to him, he would not be able to escape responsibility. He is pleading with several stewards, asking if they can let him take the inkstone away. Let him try it.

Several stewards did not give Han Xueshi this face, insisting to detain Ning Zhiyuan and hand it over to Princess Xinyang for a while.

"Master Han." Xiao Liulang walked over, cupped his hands at Bachelor Han, and looked at Ning Zhiyuan who was beside him.

When Ning Zhiyuan saw him, it was like seeing a life-saving straw: "Liu Lang!"

Han Xueshi frowned and said: "Didn't you go to the Gongyuan? Why did you come here? This is not something you should meddle in. You should leave quickly."

Xiao Liulang said: "The Tribute Academy didn't start so early. I heard that something happened here. Editor Ning was recommended by me. If it wasn't for me, he wouldn't have this kind of thing."

"Six..." Ning Zhiyuan corrected the title, "Xiao Xiuzhuan, don't say that, I accidentally knocked off the inkstone, and it has nothing to do with you."

Xiao Liulang was not in a hurry to appease Ning Zhiyuan, but looked at the stewards on the opposite side: "Can I see that inkstone?"

Seeing that he was wearing the official uniform of the Hanlin Academy, Guanshi Wu knew that he was a Hanlin official, but he did not refuse his request, but... Wu Guanshi looked at his lame leg and crutches with strange eyes.

Xiao Liulang was used to this kind of scrutiny, and stood there neither humble nor overbearing, waiting for the servants of Wenhua Pavilion to carefully bring the broken inkstone on a tray.

This is the imperial inkstone used by the third king of the Daxi Dynasty. It belongs to the antiques of the previous dynasties. No wonder the stewards of Wenhua Pavilion are so nervous.

However, this inkstone was not broken by Ning Zhiyuan, it was broken long ago, it was broken by Xiao Heng when he was young.

Worried about being spanked by Princess Xinyang, he asked Long Yi to find fish float glue, and he glued it casually.

So Ning Zhiyuan was really tricked by him.

Xiao Liulang said without changing his face: "This inkstone was originally broken."

"You're talking nonsense!" Steward Wu sternly said, "How could it be broken? Are you mocking us for breaking the inkstone and blaming it on your Imperial Academy?"

Ning Zhiyuan was actually a little puzzled, but no one believed him, so he didn't dare to question him. Now Xiao Liulang opened his mouth, and he followed with some confidence: "I also don't think I fell It’s broken, it’s a wooden floor underneath, and it’s not placed high enough, who knows how it broke into two halves with a slight knock..."

Han Xueshi looked at Xiao Liulang: "What evidence do you have?"

Although I don't want Ning Zhiyuan to be guilty, but I don't want others to take the blame for Ning Zhiyuan's acquittal. Princess Xinyang doesn't have a good temper, and the consequences of slandering her servants are very serious.

Xiao Liulang showed the inkstone to Xueshi Han: "This crack is old for some years, and there are traces of glue glued by fish floats. If the stewards don't believe it, you can go and invite Dr. Nie from the Imperial Academy and Guozijian to offer sacrifices. The two of them knew it at a glance."

Dr. Nie is the Pentateuch doctor who is proficient in restoring antiques.

Not to mention the old Jijiu, he can not only identify antiques, but also counterfeit antiques.

As soon as Xueshi Han heard this, he immediately sent people to the Imperial Academy and Guozijian to invite the experts.

After careful identification by the two, it was confirmed that what Xiao Liulang said was true, the inkstone was indeed broken for some years.

However, several stewards still looked skeptical.

Han Xueshi smiled faintly: "Several stewards don't trust my Imperial Academy, so don't they also trust the Imperial Academy? Our Imperial Academy has nothing to do with the Imperial Academy!"

This is the truth, no one knows that the Hanlin Academy is the camp of Zhuang Taifu, and Zhuang Taifu and Lao Jijiu are doing their own things.

Old Jijiu: Apprentice, do you know about it in the Hanlin Academy?

The old Jijiu stroked his beard, and said solemnly: "Okay, okay, there are some things that shouldn't be said. After all, the young master has passed away. It's not inappropriate to talk about him again, but you can't kill someone just because of this." Innocent people are blamed. In fact, this inkstone...was broken by Xiao Heng! He was naughty when he was young, and he didn't dare to tell Princess Xinyang when he broke the inkstone. If you don't believe it..."

What if you don't believe me? Do you want to go underground to seek evidence from the young master?

The several stewards had images in their minds, Qiqi was shocked, and dared not speak anymore!

The old Jijiu waved his hand: "Okay, I will go and talk to Princess Xinyang about the inkstone, and I won't embarrass you."

At this point, the stewards were completely relieved.

Even if they have never served the young master, they still know that the old Jijiu is the teacher of the young master. Since he took the responsibility over, there is nothing wrong with them.

A storm broke out.

Han Xueshi thought he would meet Princess Xinyang, but until they left, Princess Xinyang did not come to Wenhua Pavilion, he was quite regretful.

After leaving the Wenhua Pavilion, Xiao Liulang looked at the old Jijiu with difficulty: "The teacher's mouth is still really..."

The old Jijiu waved his hand: "Excellent as always, I know!"

Xiao Liulang: "..."

as long as you are happy.

On the other side, Gu Jiao entered the palace.

She is now a frequent visitor to Renshou Palace, and she doesn't even need to check the token, she can directly enter the palace with her face.

She was going to deliver candied fruit to my aunt. Recently, my uncle has improved a candied fruit that tastes sweeter but contains very little sugar. My aunt can eat one more fruit every day.

When she was walking to Renshou Palace, she suddenly heard someone calling her.

"Miss Gu!"

It was Princess Rui's voice.

Gu Jiao hadn't seen Princess Rui for a while, mainly because she encountered a wave of assassinations on the way back from visiting Concubine Jing in the nunnery, King Rui was terrified, and she was not allowed to go out again for two months.

"I knew it was you!" Princess Rui came over and took Gu Jiao's arm affectionately, "You seem to have grown taller again! Unlike me, you can only grow flesh."

Gu Jiao looked at her slightly round body and said, "You're not fat."

It's really not fat. Princess Rui was too thin before, but now it's normal.

Princess Rui said: "That's what you and the lord said! The nuns don't allow me to eat too much, for fear that the fetus will grow too big and be difficult to bear."

Gu Jiao deeply believed that in the ancient times when medical care was underdeveloped, giving birth was all natural, and it was the best choice not to overeat while ensuring nutrition.

But looking at Princess Rui's expression, one could tell that the nuns had actually taken good care of her.

Princess Rui sighed: "I haven't been out for a long time, and I didn't even know that Concubine Jing had passed away. The prince kept it from me because he was afraid that I would be sad and angry."

Concubine Jing's matter was kept a secret, Gu Jiao was not sure if King Rui heard anything.

"How are you doing recently?" Princess Rui asked.

"It's okay." Gu Jiao said.

Princess Rui sighed: "Why don't you come to the house to look for me? You don't know that I've been suffocating for the past two months."

Gu Jiao looked at her swollen belly and said, "Are you bored with him by your side?"

Princess Rui's expected date of delivery is the same as Yao's, both in early October, and she is now more than seven months pregnant.

Her stomach looked bigger than Yao's.

Speaking of the child in her womb, Princess Rui showed a maternal tenderness: "I don't know if it is a son or a daughter, I want to give birth to a son for the prince! If it is a son, it will be the first grandson of the father, and the father will definitely very happy!"

Others wouldn't dare to say that, Princess Rui has an outspoken temperament, and she trusts Gu Jiao very much, so she doesn't have any scruples when speaking.

Just when Gu Jiao was about to listen to the fetal heartbeat in her stomach with a stethoscope, a woman's exclamation came from behind the rockery not far away.

"What—uh—"

As soon as Princess Rui opened her mouth, Gu Jiao covered her mouth vigilantly!