Phoenix Reborn: the Prime Minister’s Scheming Daughter - Chapter 331

Baili Junyi curled his lips and joked, “Well, this is a new experience. Back in the capital, there were always people who wanted to treat us to a meal, but now, we can’t even buy vegetables or meat for our meal.”

“I don’t mind if it’s hard to buy ingredients for our meal. Anyway, Huajun Pharmacy is nearby, and the daily delivery of food is enough to cover our meals. I’m worried that one day, I can’t carry out Father Emperor’s order because it goes against the Zhou Family’s motto. At that time, things will be serious.”

Baili Junyi closed his eyes and thought about how the people outside the government office supported Zhou Ziqing. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, and a sharp light flashed across them.

“If this goes on, Zhou City and the surrounding cities will probably become the Zhou Family’s property.”

“The Zhou Family is extremely cautious with their works and has cleaned up their trails completely. However, from what we have investigated, the Zhou Family should have embezzled a lot of money. In addition, the money from the disaster relief is all in the form of silver ingots, not banknotes. It is not easy to hide so many silver ingots. If we can find out where they hide the stolen goods, the Zhou Family will be guilty as charged, but where did they hide so much silver?”

“I have been sending people to investigate. Previously, when I was raiding the Zhou Family, I let the people who are proficient in secret mechanisms mix in, and they found some secret chambers, but there was nothing inside.”

In his heart, Baili Junyi admired the Zhou Family’s cautiousness. The Zhou Family built the secret chambers to confuse others instead of hiding the stolen goods.

“The Zhou Family is so cautious. It is understandable that they do not hide the money in their home. Did they send the cash to the sky or bury them in the ground?” Shen Ninghua cupped her chin and sighed.

Baili Junyi blinked in realization. “It’s impossible to keep them in the sky as the silver is heavy, but the ground! Could they have buried the silver somewhere?”

“Is it possible?” Shen Ninghua raised her eyebrows slightly.

“I think so. Ninghua, you don’t have to worry about this matter. Take a good rest at home these two days. I will send someone to investigate.”

“Alright.”

Now that he had a general understanding, the investigation would become easier. It was impossible to bury so much silver in the ground without leaving some clues behind.

After Zhou Jingshu was sent home, she felt extremely humiliated. She locked herself in the room and refused to open the door no matter who called.

Two days later, Zhou Ziqing came to her courtyard with a cold face and asked the servants to kick the door open.

Zhou Jingshu was not in the mood to wash up and dress up. She had not eaten much for two days, and she was very thin and haggard.

A trace of impatience flashed through Zhou Ziqing’s eyes. “I thought you were smart, but no! You’re imbecile and incompetent!”

Sensing his dismay, Zhou Jingshu immediately panicked. She knew in her heart that she could live her current life because of the Zhou Family’s protection. Without the Zhou Family, she would be a nobody. Thinking of this, she hurriedly apologized.

“Brother, brother! I’m sorry! I won’t do it again.”

Zhou Ziqing looked at her swollen cheek. After she was slapped by Shen Ninghua, no one applied ointment for her to reduce the swelling, so the palm print was still visible on her cheek. “Do you know what you did wrong?”

“I should not have directly shown my hand to Shen Ninghua.” Zhou Jingshu touched her face and felt extremely embarrassed. She had always been the most adored lady in the city and had never been humiliated like this.

Zhou Ziqing raised his hand and slapped her face fiercely. He slapped at the same spot as where Shen Ninghua’s palm print was, but because he used inner strength, it caused Zhou Jingshu to spit out blood from the corner of her lips, and the palm print on her cheek was bluish.

Zhou Jingshu was hit so hard that she felt dizzy and tears rolled down. “Brother…”

“Wrong answer. You can show your hand, but you didn’t know how to seize the opportunity after showing your hand,” Zhou Ziqing rebuked bitterly.

Zhou Jingshu was a little dumbfounded. “Seize the opportunity?”

“Do you know how chaotic the situation outside is right now? After you came back, the people knew that you had been wronged, and they all wanted to seek justice for you. Many people were guessing that Shen Ninghua was jealous of your beauty, so she deliberately took revenge.”

Zhou Jingshu’s eyes lit up. “Brother, are you saying…”

Seeing that she understood, Zhou Ziqing calmed down a little. “Our family does not have a noble background, so we need to find another way in order to achieve our goal. You are a commoner, but it’s not difficult for you to get a noble title. Now is your best chance!”

Zhou Jingshu was worked up. Shen Ninghua’s reprimand lingered in her head, and the former’s words were like a thorn that stabbed her throat, making her feel irritated and discomfort. As long as she had a noble status, she had every right to marry Baili Junyi.

Thinking of this, she knelt down with a thump. “Brother, please help me.”

Her previous good reputation was all built up by Zhou Ziqing. She believed that as long as he was willing to help her, anything would be possible.

“Alright. Today I have already exchanged half of the Zhou Family’s family property for food and medicine. You can help send food and medicine to the disaster victims.”

“Right now? But my face…”

“Just go like this!” Zhou Ziqing snorted coldly, “Now that the Second Prince is in charge of the disaster relief, Prefectural Prince Yi and Prefectural Princess are both idle in the posthouse. If you go out and the people see the injury on your face, they will only be more touched by your kindness, and they won’t remember Shen Ninghua’s credit. Do you understand?”

“Yes, brother, I understand.” Zhou Jingshu raised her hand to touch her swollen cheek. “I’ve suffered the injury, so I can’t suffer it in vain.”

The next day, Shen Ninghua and Baili Junyi were playing with the two children in the room. Hong Ling came in with the latest news of the day, looking rather angry.

Shen Ninghua was carrying Baby Girl, who was playing with the pearl in her arms. Baby Girl had already broken half of the pearl. Shen Ninghua carefully collected the pearls that fell so that Baby Girl wouldn’t pick them up and eat them.

“Your Highness, Miss, today, the Zhou Family exchanged half of their family property for food and medicinal herbs, which made the disaster victims grateful and happy.”

“Well, we’ve expected that kind of effect, but why are you so angry?”

“Miss, this is not the most important thing. The most important thing is that Zhou Jingshu came out. Her face is covered with scars and bruises, and she still helps to distribute food and medicinal herbs. Now all the people and disaster victims know that you slapped her very hard. It has been three days, but the palm print has not dissipated.”

“What a wicked trick.” Shen Ninghua raised the corners of her lips. She knew how much strength she had used. If Zhou Jingshu had applied ointment to the wound, the swelling would have subsided in two days, or three if she hadn’t done anything. It was impossible that the bruise would become purplish. Zhou Jingshu must have done something to the wound.

However, Baili Junyi did not care at all. “Ninghua, you should have been more ruthless at that time. You should have directly applied some special ointment to disfigure her. In that case, we can see if she is still in the mood to fool around outside.”

Shen Ninghua immediately laughed out loud, “You really don’t pity her at all.”

“Why should I? I only care about my dear wife. The other women are nothing to me.”

Shen Ninghua glared at him for being so childish and foolish in front of the children.

With a smile, Baili Junyi got up and looked at Big Boy, who was playing by himself. He flipped the boy over and pressed his hand on his back. The boy looked like a little turtle that was swaying his limbs but couldn’t get up no matter how hard he tried. However, he did not cry or make a fuss. He only continued to struggle with a bitter and resentful look.

Shen Ninghua felt helpless. Why was this man like a child?

Big Boy frowned and let out a loud cry to express his dissatisfaction.

Baby Girl put down the broken pearl in her hand and spat out two mouthfuls of saliva. “Pfft! Pfft!”

Shen Ninghua picked up a handkerchief and wiped her chin. “Alright, stop messing around with your son. Can’t you see that your daughter is spitting on you?”

Baili Junyi carefully carried Baby Girl over and whined sadly, “How can you treat me like this, darling? I’m sad.”

Baby Girl reached out and fidgeted Baili Junyi’s stubble on his chin. She seemed to be intrigued by the stubble. Then, she hooked her fingers and tried to dig them.

“Ninghua, come and save me quickly. Baby Girl has treated my chin like her pearl!” Baili Junyi treated his son like a class enemy, but his hands were tied around Baby Girl. He felt a little pain after being scratched, but instead of resisting her, he cried for help from Shen Ninghua.

Shen Ninghua snickered, “Looks like there is still someone who can deal with you!”

Big Boy was released. He crawled to Shen Ninghua’s side and glared at Baili Junyi angrily. He imitated his younger sister and spat two mouthfuls of saliva at him. Baili Junyi was so angry that he directly picked him up and pricked him with his stubble for a long time.

It was not until seven days later that the food and medicinal herbs that the Zhou Family bought were distributed. The disaster victims regarded Zhou Jingshu as a living goddess. The surrounding cities all knew that the Eldest Young Lady of the Zhou Family was particularly kind. There were even disaster victims who proposed to write down a letter to the capital and hoped that the capital could give Zhou Jingshu a token of appreciation.

Zhou Jingshu repeatedly refused, saying that she had only done what she could, and she shouldn’t take merits for it. The disaster victims insisted on doing so because they were grateful. When Zhou Jingshu tried to dissuade them, she fainted due to exhaustion and was taken home by the Zhou Family’s maids.

After Shen Ninghua heard this news, she smiled and did not speak. Zhou Jingshu felt that she had earned enough reputation and did not need to continue staying in the disaster camp.

Baili Junyi strode in from outside. There was no expression on his face, but his eyes were fluctuating violently. Shen Ninghua saw that he was hiding his excitement and immediately felt happy. “How is it? Have you found the whereabouts of the silver?”

“Yes!” There was a trace of joy on Baili Junyi’s gazes. “Do you know the mountain in the northwest direction of Zhou City?”

“Yes. Isn’t the farmland of the two brothers, Sun Da and Sun Er, located at the base of the mountain? Has the silver been kept in the mountain?”

Baili Junyi’s eyes flashed, and he sighed, “Most of that mountain has been dug up, and it is filled with gold and silver!”

“What? That mountain is very big, and most of it has been dug up and filled with gold and silver. How much silver does it contain?”

In fact, it could be called a gold mountain.