Zheng Xiao Mistake: The Mistake of Rebirth Provoked the Cold Master

September in Shengjing was not a peaceful month.

Just as October began, on the second day of the first lunar month, the national funeral bells rang and the emperor passed away.

During the morning court session, Crown Prince Gong Yixiu, dressed in mourning clothes and a dragon robe, ascended the throne and changed the reign title to Dingyuan.

The funeral ceremonies of the late emperor were unusually put on hold. Three days after the new emperor ascended the throne, he changed his low-key attitude and eliminated many political enemies.

The methods he used were extremely brutal and he would often execute entire clans, making everyone in the court feel insecure.

Many people saw the political immaturity of the new emperor's move and hoped that the usually steady Grand Tutor would advise and check the situation.

However, he did not expect that the Grand Tutor, who had long been expected to become the Emperor's teacher, would be quickly sidelined and only remain with the empty title of Grand Tutor.

After the Grand Tutor lost his power, it was rumored that his temperament changed drastically. He could no longer maintain his usual aloof and pure-hearted appearance, and now he only knew how to linger in the Jinxiang Tower every night, drinking and enjoying music, and sleeping with prostitutes.

This rumor may sound a bit far-fetched at first, but it is not groundless.

In the private room at the end of the top floor of Jinxiang Tower, when Gong Yihao came in with the incense burner, he saw a large piece of paper spread on the desk. Rong Yan was reading the local reports that were like snowflakes, while crossing out the names on the paper one by one with a red pen.

He leaned in to take a closer look at the paper. "He hasn't even sat on the throne for long, but he's moving fast enough."

Rong Yan didn't even raise his head, "Yeah."

Seeing that Rong Yan had no time to pay attention to him, Gong Yihao raised his eyebrows, put down the incense burner, and looked around.

The doors and windows were closed, and candles were lit to illuminate the night, so the sound of stringed instruments outside was blocked out.

Not only did Rong Yan use the best private room in Jinxiang Tower as his study, but he also almost used up all the red and ink used for painting flower ornaments in the tower.

"You're wasting resources." Gong Yihao complained helplessly, "It won't affect my work whether I give you an official position or not, so why bother staying here?"

Rong Yan said calmly, "I can't find a place with a worse reputation than yours."

Gong Yihao: “…”

"Isn't this your ultimate understanding of 'debauchery'?" After a while, she realized his intention and shook her head helplessly, "As expected of you who grew up in a temple, your life is no easier than that of a monk."

"It's a view." Rong Yan corrected.

Gong Yihao: "What do you want to drink?"

Rong Yan stroked his forehead and looked up at Gong Yihao, "Your Highness, do you have nothing to do?"

They think he's an eyesore and want to drive him away.

The OP can no longer give him any face.

"Remind me, Qingqing's medicine is almost ready. Go feed it to her later." Gong Yihao said casually, but he didn't move. He just fiddled with the incense burner in front of him.

There were two inky black incense towers placed in the gilded Panlong furnace. Gong Yihao lit them and then closed the lid.

Curls of white smoke floated out of the incense burner, and a heavy fragrance began to fill the air.

When Rong Yan heard this, his brows slightly frowned and he continued, "He knows that you have hidden people here, and he will come to encircle and destroy Jinxiang Tower sooner or later."

"I can't stay in the palace anymore, and I can't really go to Shanqie City. If I don't come here... could I be sent to your Taifu Mansion?"

"No, your Taifu Mansion is about to be lost." Gong Yihao didn't care. "Besides, he hasn't come yet. There will be a flood in Jiangnan in a few days, and he won't be able to take care of it here."

Rong Yan: "How do you know?"

Gong Yihao paused, then smiled and said, "A Yan is not the only one in the world who can make predictions and calculate. I have many talented people under my tutelage as well."

Rong Yan didn't pursue the matter any further, but he sensed the arrogance in his words and frowned, "Things have changed, so don't take it lightly."

Gong Yihao bowed like he did when he was little, "I know, I know, Master."

Rong Yan frowned even deeper, "Your Highness is not as steady as before."

Gong Yihao suffered from palace turmoil in his childhood and acknowledged a thief as his father for ten years. He endured humiliation and hardship as a teenager, and his romantic and heroic appearance was just an act.

But I don’t know when it started, but I started handling many things quite aggressively and my personality changed a lot.

Gong Yihao's expression froze, and he said vaguely, "No one remains unchanged."

Facing Rong Yan's scrutinizing gaze, she suddenly changed the subject, "I heard that the Nie family went to the Zhu Mansion to deliver the engagement gift."

Rong Yan knew that he was trying to escape, so he didn't plan to continue what he had just said. Once the arrow is shot, there is no turning back. The current situation is so complicated that it is not the time to correct one's character.

Not wanting to pay attention to the topic he changed, Rong Yan just said "hmm".

Gong Yihao continued, "Fourth sister's wedding date has been set."

Rong Yan: “… Yeah.”

Gong Yihao: "Don't you want to know what day it is?"

Rong Yan was silent for a moment, "The first day of the first lunar month."

Gong Yihao was surprised, "How did you know?"

The pen in Rong Yan's hand stopped unconsciously, and the vermilion ink was about to drip.

“…Because I decided it.”

This was the last thing Gongyi Helu did before his death, when he still had the power to interfere in the Imperial Observatory.

Gong Yihao was dumbfounded. Rong Yan had not discussed with him about the marriage arrangement on the spot. He kept all matters concerning Zhu Zheng completely to himself.

He and Rong Yan have known each other for many years and have experienced his temper a lot. If he didn't have such a stubborn temper with his outstanding looks, he would have gotten what he wanted long ago.

However, this was the first time he had seen such an abnormality. Feeling that things were not going well, Gong Yihao's face turned serious.

"Ah Yan, no matter what you are planning, I just want to warn you, don't think that letting her go is so noble. If you replace someone who can't protect her with someone around, it will be too late for you to regret it."

Rong Yan put down his pen and no longer had the mood to read the court bulletin. The white smoke from the incense burner filled the air, giving him a headache.

"Put out the incense," he said.

Gong Yihao: “Just lit it.”

Rong Yan picked up the teacup and reached out to pour it into the incense burner, but Gong Yihao quickly moved him away.

"What are you doing? I spent a lot of effort to get this fragrant tower from Nanzi."

When Rong Yan heard Nan Zi, his expression became even more complicated, "Destroyed."

Seeing that he insisted, Gong Yihao lifted the lid of the incense burner and sighed, "I am a blind and deposed prince with nothing. I miss my mother in the middle of the night and can't even light a stick of incense."

Rong Yan glanced at him, "…think about it somewhere else."

Gong Yihao closed the lid again, "I just want to think here."

Rong Yan stood up and opened the window. The noisy sound of stringed instruments immediately flooded into his ears, and the air outside was filled with spices.

He raised his hand and rubbed his brow, and finally couldn't stand it anymore and went out.

Gong Yihao watched the figure disappear out of the door. For some reason, his steps were not as steady as usual. He stood at the door and waved his hand to call for his attendants.

"Ask someone to follow the Grand Tutor and see where he is going, and send him back safely. Then pass a message to his attendant Liu Feng, who will know who to look for."

*

At night, Zhu Zheng had just gone to bed when there were two knocks on the door.

She thought it was Mingcui, so she got out of bed, put on her clothes and opened the door, but what she saw was a face she hadn't seen for a long time.

An Fengxue stood at the door, panting, his face full of anxiety.

Zhu Zheng was first shocked that the person was An Fengxue, and then she was shocked that she had never seen An Fengxue like this. Before she could ask, An Fengxue had already grabbed her hand.

"Girl, something's happened to the master."

Liu Feng was squatting on the carriage at the back door. When he saw An Fengxue bringing Zhu Zheng out, he jumped down and said with tears streaming down his face, "Fourth Miss, go and see the master!"

The imperial power has been in turmoil these days, and the new emperor has ascended the throne. Zhu Zheng's heart is also in a knot. Gongyi Helu died more than a month earlier than in his previous life, and Gongyi Xiu did not rebel like in his previous life, and he succeeded to the throne smoothly. Zhu Zheng felt uneasy, but thought that not using weapons should not be a bad thing...

But she didn't know how much this change would affect, but she couldn't do anything about it.

When the news came that Rong Yan was sidelined, her heart skipped a beat. Gong Yixiu had never truly regarded Rong Yan as a teacher, and now that he had power, he would probably be the first one to settle accounts with him.

When she heard the news that Rong Yan was in trouble in the middle of the night, the heavy rock hanging in her heart finally fell down, knocking her unconscious.

In the blank, all kinds of bad thoughts popped up. Zhu Zheng stood in front of the carriage and asked in a daze, "What happened to him..."

Liu Feng wiped his tears and said, "The master locked himself in Tingxiao Garden and refused to see anyone. I heard him talking to himself all the time, as if he had become a fool..."

The moon was bright and the stars were sparse. Two partridges flew overhead and called twice.

Zhu Zheng's dazed expression gradually calmed down. After a long silence, she said, "That's it?"

"That's right!"

"…Are you sure he's not drunk?"

"of course not!"

Liu Feng sniffed and said angrily, "When the master gets drunk, he will just sleep. He never does this. This time someone secretly gave the master a strong dose of medicine!"

Zhu Zheng was confused, "What do you mean?"

Liu Feng gritted his teeth, "Literally!"

Zhu Zheng was even more confused. Their master didn't even let others handle his tea, so who would dare to plot against him like this?

Liu Feng was so anxious that his face turned red. He wanted to say something but couldn't. In short, he just cried as if the sky had fallen.

An Fengxue, who was standing aside, spoke at the right time.

"My Lord...I came back from Jinxiang Tower."