Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Chapter 335 Towards the Golden Palace (39)

The following evening, at the Cao residence.

The steward came to report that Xie Zhao had arrived, and Yan Zhen said calmly, "Please let him in."

Xie Zhao followed the steward into the Cao residence and met Yan Zhen, Xue Lin, and Wang Xiaocui and her son in the flower hall.

Xie Zhao was somewhat surprised to see so many members of the Cao family for the first time, but thinking about what he was about to say, he greeted them and then gestured for Yan Zhen to find a quiet place to talk in detail.

Yan Zhen fiddled with the chess pieces in his hand and said, "There's no need to avoid us. These are all my trusted confidants. There's nothing they can't listen to."

Xie Zhao subconsciously looked at Xue Lin.

Seeing this, Yan Zhen explained, "Let me reintroduce you. This is my younger brother, Xue Lin."

Xie Zhao immediately understood—Xue Lin had feelings for Luo Yun, but Luo Yun treated him like a younger brother. The two had pretended to be husband and wife before, probably to spite him.

Thinking of this, Xie Zhao suddenly felt much more confident in front of Xue Lin, and he explained his plan to kill Meng Zhenyue.

After listening, Yan Zhen's face remained expressionless: "Do you need my help?"

Xie Zhao originally wanted to drag Yan Zhen into the murder of Meng Zhenyue. Only when they shared a common secret and interests could the two truly become one side.

Seeing that she offered to help, Xie Zhao's last worry about her not cooperating disappeared: "My connections are not as extensive as yours. Help me find a dozen or so highly skilled assassins."

Yan Zhen readily agreed: "Okay."

"However, there is a drawback to this."

"Ok?"

"Everyone outside says that Meng Zhenyue and I have a very deep affection for each other. Even the Emperor has praised me for this. In order not to arouse suspicion, I must wait a year or two after Meng Zhenyue's death before I can marry you. Can you wait that long?"

Yan Zhen didn't care about this: "We've waited all these years, what's another year or two? Go and get it done as soon as possible."

Xie Zhao was pleased to see that she supported his plan, but there were many people in the flower hall, so he couldn't say anything too intimate and got up to take his leave.

But when he was leaving, he asked Xue Lin to see him out.

The two walked out one after the other. When they reached the door, Xie Zhao stopped and turned to look at Xue Lin.

His eyes held a hint of revenge, but his words were eloquent: "I misunderstood your relationship with your wife before. I apologize to you here, Brother Lin. From now on, we are family. Don't hold it against me."

Xue Lin narrowed his eyes and sneered, "Stop trying to claim kinship with me. Who's family with you!"

After saying that, he turned to go inside.

"Wait a minute." Xie Zhao called out to him, and said with a low, cold laugh, "Xue Lin, some things are only known to heaven, earth, you, and me, but it won't look good if we say them out loud. I don't care what you think of my wife, you better keep it to yourself! Otherwise, once my wife and I get married, I'll make sure you can't stay in this house anymore."

Xue Lin gritted her teeth, glared at him fiercely, and left in anger.

Xie Zhao felt a surge of satisfaction as he watched Xie Zhao's impotent rage.

As Xue Lin entered the flower hall, the anger on his face vanished instantly.

The housekeeper brought up a late-night bird's nest porridge, which Xue Lin took and distributed to Yan Zhen and Wang Xiaocui.

While drinking bird's nest porridge, Wang Xiaocui asked Xue Lin, "Xie Zhao specifically asked you to see him off. He definitely didn't have good intentions. What did he say to you?"

"I didn't say anything," Xue Lin said, deciding it was best not to say those disgusting things to her older sister.

The steward, seeing through everything, laughed and said, "What else can we say? Lord Xie probably thinks he's about to become the new master of the Cao family and can't wait to show off to the young master."

"Ugh." Wang Xiaocui gave a disgusted look. "I knew he was up to no good. The way he looked at Xiao Xue in the flower hall was weird... He's planning to drag us into killing someone, so why can't we strike first and kill him?"

Xue Lin said, "Murder is a crime, but killing an official is an even more serious crime."

“But he had evil intentions first,” Wang Xiaocui said. “Otherwise, we should expose all the despicable things he did. I don’t believe the court can tolerate such a scoundrel who killed his wife and married her by deception continuing to serve as an official.”

The steward said, "No, if this matter gets out of hand, our manager's concealment of her identity will be exposed. She is now a royal merchant, and this matter, to put it bluntly, is a crime of deceiving the emperor."

Wang Xiaocui: "..."

Xue Lin continued, "Moreover, several officials are involved in this matter. Xie Zhao is one, I am one, my elder sister is one, and Meng Zhenyue's father, Meng Zongrong, is also one. If this matter comes to light, how will His Majesty make a judgment? If we offend His Majesty, we might all be implicated."

Whatever private squabbles occur among his subjects is none of the Emperor's business.

However, if things were to come to light and those complicated relationships were exposed, Xie Zhao would certainly not have a good ending, but those involved would not fare well either.

They wouldn't do something so foolish as to kill a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of their own.

It took Wang Xiaocui quite a while to figure out the pros and cons. She shook her head and said, "When it comes to cunning, you cultured people are the most shrewd."

-

Xie family.

Xie Zhao kept quiet for a few days and didn't mention the divorce again.

Meng Zhenyue didn't cause him any trouble, and the two maintained a silent and harmonious relationship without tacit agreement, which actually relaxed the tense atmosphere in the Xie family.

June is almost over.

Every three months, Meng Zhenyue would go out to inspect the estates under her name to ensure that the business on the estates was running smoothly and that her accountants were not making false or deceptive reports.

Most of the manors were located in the far suburbs outside the capital, and it took a whole day to travel there and back. Going out was not an easy task, and the maids and servants in the house would start preparing several days in advance each time.

On the day before their departure, Xie Zhao unusually offered to accompany Meng Zhenyue to the estate.

Faced with Meng Zhenyue's suspicious gaze, Xie Zhao explained, "I have a day off tomorrow. Instead of staying home and listening to my mother nagging, I'd like to accompany you to the estate to relax."

Meng Zhenyue accepted his suggestion and agreed: "Okay."

The next day, the two went out together.

Meng Zhenyue rode in a carriage, while Xie Zhao rode ahead on horseback. On the way out of the city, they encountered several acquaintances, and Xie Zhao greeted them with a smile.

"Lord Xie, where are we going?"

"I have a day off today, so I'll accompany my wife to the estate outside the city."

"Your relationship with your wife is still as good as ever."

"You flatter me, Lord Chen. Let's have a drink together another day."

Xie Zhao made his presence felt quite prominent along the way, only quieting down once they left the city.

The carriage traveled towards the village and soon left the main road, entering a secluded, dense forest.

Not long after, Xie Zhao, who was riding ahead on horseback, suddenly raised his hand and told the convoy to stop.

The coachman, puzzled, asked, "Sir, what's wrong?"

Xie Zhao listened intently to the approaching footsteps in the woods, a smile playing on his lips. He spurred his horse forward, creating some distance between himself and the carriage, then turned his horse around and coldly stared at Meng Zhenyue.