Chapter 48: ne Servant, Two Masters

Chapter 48: One Servant, Two Masters

"Princess, at that time I was a death row criminal in prison. The family chose Qingyu to..." Although Gu Xinglang wanted to explain about Qingyu, he found it hard to voice the words even after multiple tries.

"Leave a heir?" Yu Xiaoxiao finished for him.

Gu Xinglang nodded.

"Actually, women won't get pregnant just because they want to," Yu Xiaoxiao told Gu Xinglang matter-of-factly. "It depends on whether Qingyu was in her ovulation period as well as your own-"

"Oval what?" Gu Xinglang interrupted.

"You think you can get a child just by climbing into bed?" Yu Xiaoxiao knitted her brows. They haven't even heard of ovulation periods. Just what do the people of this world know?

Gu Xinglang inadvertently blurted out, "What else do you need?" He regretted it as soon as the words left his mouth.

Just as Yu Xiaoxiao was going to explain the reproduction method to Gu Xinglang, Xiao Wei called out from the window. "Princess, are we going to the big stone bridge?"

"Mhm," Yu Xiaoxiao was successfully distracted once again. "We're going to that vendor's stand you mentioned. I'll treat you guys to eat."

Xiao Wei grinned and thanked Yu Xiaoxiao. Xiao Zhuang was in a gloomier mood and asked his brother, "What happens if that building falls down?"

Xiao Wei rolled his eyes and said bluntly, "We're already gone, so what's it to us if it does?"

Xiao Zhuang rubbed his nose. Since everyone else didn't care, why should he? Better think about what I'll eat later. The nanny at the big stone bridge sells a bunch of different food.

Yu Xiaoxiao asked Gu Xinglang, "Who's the neighbor that lives next to Complacent Winery?"

"That's the Zhao Estate," Gu Xinglang said with disdain.

Yu Xiaoxiao turned sideways so her ear was facing Gu Xinglang's mouth. "Who?"

"The prime minister's estate," Gu Xinglang said. "Princess didn't know?"

"Zhao Qiuming?" Yu Xiaoxiao verified.

Gu Xinglang nodded. "Our dynasty only has one prime minister, princess."

Yu Xiaoxiao felt it was a pity. If she knew that the big estate next door belonged to Zhao Qiuming, she would have set it on fire.

—

Currently, the Prime Minister Zhao who had escaped a fire was standing in front of Jing Mo. His mind was clear, but he still had some difficulty speaking. The guards had dragged the occupant of the crushed carriage out from a giant pile of wooden fragments. Their faces were covered in blood, but they were alive. After they removed the wooden boards crushing their chest, he was able to breathe and even groan.

The two aides by Jing Mo's side raised their torches up high to illuminate the victim's face, then looked back at their master simultaneously. They recognized the man as an aide to Zhuri's Third Imperial Prince Jing Qian (景阡). Furthermore, he was one of the prince's more important assistants.

Jing Mo's gaze next swept over the mess of gold, silver, pearls, and jewels scattered on the ground. Clearly, these were gifts from Zhao Qiuming to his third brother, which numbered no less than the presents he'd gotten from the same man.

"A guest?" Jing Mo asked Zhao Qiuming.

With witnesses and evidence against him, Zhao Qiuming couldn't deny a thing. Jing Mo flicked his sleeves and turned to leave, but Zhao Qiuming chased after him with a forced smile. "Your Eldest Highness, His Third Highness sent someone here himself. I couldn't very well avoid meeting them, so I ask Your Eldest Highness to forgive me."

"It's getting late," Jing Mo replied, "Prime Minister Zhao, if there's anything to say, save it for tomorrow."

Zhao Qiuming consented weakly.

Two guards picked up third prince Jing Qian's aide while more went to gather the scattered remnants of Zhao Qiuming's gifts. Together, they headed for Complacent Winery. Zhao Qiuming watched them pass him but didn't dare to speak with Jing Mo again. Once the group was gone, he only stood speechless before the smashed remains of the carriage. How could a wooden platform suddenly fall down from the skies?! How did it just happen to hit this carriage? Zhao Qiuming turned to look at the high walls of Complacent Winery. Just who has me marked as their enemy?!

Two servants from the Zhao Estate came to help up the driver while the steward ran to Zhao Qiuming's side. "Prime Minister, what should we do with this driver?"

Zhao Qiuming glanced at the driver's bloody face. He had been brought along by Jing Qian's aide, so couldn't die unattended. "Find him a doctor," he said quietly.

The steward obeyed and led the two servants away with the crash victim.

This can't be a coincidence, Zhao Qiuming thought as he stared at the high walls again. Jing Qian's men must have been tailed after they entered the capital. Who could it be? Jing Mo? Or someone against me in the palace? The wooden platform was so heavy that even ten strong men would find it difficult to lift into the air. Whoever threw it must have superb martial arts. Moreover, they had hidden themselves in Complacent Winery.

Zhao Qiuming's mind moved quickly. Very soon, he was certain that the whole thing was a setup from Jing Mo himself. Leaving aside the question of the powerful martial artist, the main point was that anyone who wanted to hide themselves in Complacent Winery would need Jing Mo's permission first.

"Father?" Behind him, Zhao Beicheng finally spoke up. Father and son had walked up and down the alleyway once by now.

"Things are going to be difficult from now on," Zhao Qiuming muttered back. "Jing Mo and Jing Qian are irreconcilable enemies. Father originally wanted to play both sides, but now that looks impossible."

"Then just pick one, ah," Zhao Beicheng said.

Zhao Qiuming smiled bitterly. Even if I want to, will Jing Mo let me now?

—

Inside Complacent Winery, Jing Mo's face turned gloomy as soon as he was out of public sight. He kicked over a table and snarled, "What a Zhao Qiuming! Fooling me by playing one servant to two masters! Does he take me for a fool?!"

The two aides saw their master losing his temper and stood on one side, afraid to speak. Jing Mo paced back and forth in the room a few times before he gradually calmed down. As he settled in his armchair, he broke into an icy smile. "Ol' third's influence truly likes to linger on."

A guard by the doorway came by with a report. "Master, it looks like Zhao Qiuming's men have carried the driver back to the prime minister's estate. I heard Zhao Qiuming said he would find him treatment."

"Understood," Jing Mo replied.

Once the guard left, the room fell into silence. Eventually, Jing Mo said, "That driver is one of ol' third's men too. Looks like Zhao Qiuming doesn't want to offend him."

One aide stepped forward and said, "Master, Zhao Qiuming only wanted options for both sides. He wouldn't want to offend master, either."

"Why would I want someone who goes wherever the wind blows?" Jing Mo said frostily.

"Master," the other aide stepped forward this time. "The Zhao Clan holds the power in Fengtian, after all. It'd be a shame to lose them."

Jing Mo's eyes glowed with a vicious light. "That's right," he mumbled, "It'd be a shame, so it's better to put a chain on that dog."

The two aides hastened to ask, "Then, master's meaning is?"

"Yu Ziming is Consort Zhao's son," Jing Mo told the two. "Since the Zhao Clan thinks too much, I'll just take His Sixth Highness to Zhuri."