If it were exposed that He Qing had the intention to rebel, wouldn't all their previous efforts go to waste?
You know, the real purpose for Bai Zheng to get close to He Qing back then was never those so - called "leverage" she claimed.
What they wanted was He Qing herself, a ready - made pawn.
A pawn that had been firmly planted in the Grand Tutor's Mansion without arousing any suspicion from the Zhao family.
Hearing this, He Qing's face suddenly changed.
She had come here today, determined to break away from the Grand Tutor's Mansion and return to the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion.
She really didn't want to see Zhao Yujin anymore.
She had thought that with the key in her hand and the leverage she held over the Grand Tutor's Mansion, she would surely regain Feng Linyuan's favor and get his help to deal with the Grand Tutor's Mansion.
But unexpectedly, Feng Linyuan showed no interest in these two things at all. As soon as he opened his mouth, he asked her to go back?
"But... doesn't Your Lordship want to know what despicable things those scoundrels in the Grand Tutor's Mansion have done?" He Qing still refused to give in.
Feng Linyuan didn't say a word. It was Bai Zheng beside him who shook her head and counter - questioned instead, "Do you think the Marquis has been idle all these years?"
He Qing's face turned deathly pale.
How could she forget that the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion, which had once been so powerful that Feng Linche would rather cut off his own arm to destroy it, must have its extraordinary aspects.
She hated Zhao Yujin. She hated this man for ruining her life. She wanted to repay him in kind and make Zhao Yujin taste the pain of betrayal.
But she also knew that with her meager strength, she couldn't deal with the legitimate son of the Grand Tutor's Mansion at all. That's why she had set her sights on Feng Linyuan.
After all, in Yongding City, apart from Feng Linyuan, who else had such a deep - seated hatred for the Zhao family like her?
But no matter how much she calculated, she didn't expect that the leverage she had was not worth a thing in Feng Linyuan's eyes.
"I won't go back!" Just thinking about going back and facing the man who had deceived her for so many years made her skin crawl.
He was the culprit who had ruined her life and caused her family to be destroyed!
How could she be polite and pretend that nothing had happened in front of such a man?
She only wished she could pick up a knife and fight him to the death!
"My Lord, please let me stay in the Marquis's Mansion! No one here knows the Grand Tutor's Mansion better than I do. If you need to do anything, I can offer advice.
If I go back, it will be difficult for me to communicate with you. How can I help you... and the old Marquis avenge?"
She crawled forward and tightly grasped the corner of Feng Linyuan's robe, as if clutching at her last straw. Her eyes were full of pleading.
But Feng Linyuan raised his head and didn't even look at her. He gently pinched the knuckle of his middle finger. The pale knuckle looked very beautiful in the flickering candlelight.
He Qing's gaze gradually stopped on Feng Linyuan's knuckle.
"Are you done?" Feng Linyuan said quietly.
He Qing immediately understood what he meant and burst into tears again, "My Lord..."
Mo Li couldn't stand it anymore. He casually kicked her again and said, "Enough already! The Marquis has told you to go back, so just go back obediently. Why are you making such a racket here and disturbing the Marquis's peace?"
He Qing was kicked and fell heavily to the ground. She didn't dare to cry anymore and just timidly looked at Mo Li and Feng Linyuan.
Just then, Bai Zheng suddenly reached out, walked around the table, and patted Feng Linyuan on the shoulder. She gently shook her head at him.
Feng Linyuan exchanged a glance with her, nodded slightly, and then got up and walked out.
Mo Li followed closely behind. Without even giving He Qing a second look, he also rushed out of the main hall.
Only He Qing was left there, helplessly watching their departing backs, "My Lord..."
When there were only He Qing and herself left in the hall, Bai Zheng finally spoke, "Why are you so reluctant to go back?"
He Qing suddenly turned her head and looked warily at the woman in front of her who was looking at her with a half - smile.
Bai Zheng noticed her expression and couldn't help curving her lips.
"Now that the Marquis is not here and there are only the two of us women, you don't have to hide anything from me.
You're so resistant to going back to Zhao Yujin's side. Did he do something extremely evil to you?
Otherwise, if you were so deeply in love with him that you could abandon your father and the Marquis back then, why have you changed your attitude now and keep saying that you want the Zhao family to be destroyed?"
Bai Zheng raised her eyebrows and stared sharply at her.
He Qing felt uneasy under her gaze. She lowered her head and said, "That scoundrel... I was just blind back then."
"So, what exactly did he do to you?" Bai Zheng asked deliberately.
As soon as she heard this question, He Qing's heart ached. She gritted her teeth and said, "He seduced me and then abandoned me. He's going to marry the princess."
"And then?" Bai Zheng smiled faintly, as if this was the most normal thing in the world. "He's the legitimate son of the Grand Tutor's Mansion. If he doesn't marry the princess, is he going to marry you, the daughter of an unknown junior soldier, as his main wife?"
He Qing's face turned deathly pale. She heard the sarcasm in Bai Zheng's words, but still unwillingly raised her head. Her eyes were blood - red as she said, "I know I'm not worthy of him! That's why I forced my father to betray the Marquis and steal things for him. I gave him everything he wanted. What else does he want from me!"
"Stupid." Bai Zheng coldly looked at the woman in front of her whose emotions were on the verge of collapse again. There was not a trace of pity in her heart.
He Qing straightened up and stared at Bai Zheng hysterically, "Yes, I'm stupid! Do you think everyone is as lucky as you? If the Marquis of Dingyuan's Mansion hadn't suffered that disaster six years ago, would a little third - rank official's daughter like you be able to marry into the mansion and become the majestic Marquis's wife?"
Bai Zheng sneered and slightly raised her chin, "Why not?"
"Of course not!" He Qing shouted, "No one can fight against their fate. No one!"
Bai Zheng suddenly laughed. There was not a trace of anger in her laughter. Instead, it was as if she had heard something interesting.
She raised her eyebrows and looked at He Qing mockingly, "Then why didn't you think about helping the old Marquis back then and bringing the Grand Tutor's Mansion to its knees? Pull Zhao Yujin down to a position worse than yours. Then, wouldn't you be able to be his legitimate wife just like me?"
These words left He Qing completely speechless.
She stared blankly and blinked her eyes, obviously having never considered such a way.
Bai Zheng stopped smiling and lowered her head to straighten her sleeves, "Although your words sound a bit rough, you're actually right.
Back then, His Majesty arranged the marriage between me and the Marquis. Of course, there were many of his own considerations.
But a large part of the reason why this marriage was successful was that at that time, the Marquis seemed to be on a par with me, the daughter of a third - rank official.
Look, for two people to get married, they must be well - matched and evenly matched to make a good couple."