Chapter 53 Conspiracy

  Collusion

  Xiling Hao's carriage was packed to the brim, leaving barely any room to sit. Yin Ruofei finally stopped loading things. Xiling Hao deeply regretted why he had caused trouble earlier, causing his father to punish him by not allowing him to ride a horse for a month and only letting him take a carriage. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been laughed at by those few kids for having so many things loaded onto his carriage.

  Xiling Hao has always been generous to his friends, but now that he's taking up so much space in the carriage, he can't bring himself to say anything. However, as they're squeezed in so tightly there's no room to even put their feet, he can't help but shoot resentful glances at all the large and small packages.

  Yin Ruofei looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile. She had already figured out that Xiling Hao was a shy person, so she deliberately picked up a package of osmanthus cake and stuffed it into his hand, "Brother Xiling, you can eat as much as you want, no need to just look at it."

  Xi Ling Hao's breath was stuck in his throat, but looking at Yin Ruo Fei's clear and bright eyes, he felt that the other person was really considerate of him, afraid that he would be hungry.

  "No need... " Xiling Hao felt a bit embarrassed, letting someone younger than him think he was greedy, it was really embarrassing.

  Yin Ruofei was about to say a few more words to tease this new friend, and as they approached Pingkangfang in front of them, he suddenly had an idea.

  "Xiling brother, what's going on here?" Yin Ruofei pointed in the direction of Pingkangfang and asked. "It looks quite unique, shall we go have some fun?"

  "Just call me brother, and you can call me Xiling Brother. Anyone likes cleanliness and beauty, and Xiling Hao is no exception. He was curious about Yin Ruofei anyway, so he took the opportunity to get to know him when Ze Wang was not around. Unexpectedly, Yin Ruofei had a surprisingly good temper, and he was particularly interested in what Xiling Hao said. As he spoke, he really opened up. Later on, he frequently made small movements, just to see how Yin Ruofei's temperament was. Who knew that the other party didn't show any annoyance towards him at all? It was really beyond his expectations, and it also made him feel like he might have met a kindred spirit."

  Xiling Hao was not good at studying, but he liked to read some miscellaneous books and look at the rivers and lakes, strange heroes, brotherly righteousness and other things written in those books. Before that, his friends were also like-minded, playing together, but after meeting Yin Ruofei today, he suddenly felt that those people were friends, but the person in front of him was a kindred spirit, although he was several years younger than himself.

  Yan Jian saw Ruo Fei pointing at Ping Kang Fang and asked him, Xi Ling's face turned slightly red, "Ruo Fei, this isn't a good place, we shouldn't go."

  This Pingkang Lane is a gathering place for brothels, where elegant young men linger and forget to return. Before, Xi Linghao also learned from books and made friends with several Jianghu friends, but after going to Pingkang Lane to drink flower wine once, he was beaten by his father when he returned, not even Old Master and Old Madam intervened, instantly making him remember, never willing to go there again.

  This is also where Xiling Hao is clever, he knows the depth and will only make trouble within the allowed range. Although he frequently takes action against his father's concubines, he is very filial to his grandfather, grandmother and even his mother, so no matter how naughty Xiling Dao is, he will not hurt his legitimate son for a few concubines, his son is his bloodline, beautiful concubines can be remarried at any time.

  That time, my husband and his parents were also angry, letting him know that Pingkangfang was not a good place. Since then, he has been avoiding it, even the so-called friends I took him to before have quietly distanced themselves from him.

  He regarded Yin Ruofei as a confidant, and whenever he asked him something, there was no obstruction. It's just that the other person is younger than him, so it's not good to say this, and he stammered and said that it wasn't a good place.

  "Isn't it a good place?" Yin Ruofei feigned surprise. Yin Ruofei didn't expect this twist, so he looked at Xi Linghao's expression with some confusion, but since someone had picked up the conversation, he naturally continued to play along. "I think that house looks beautiful, how could it not be a good place?"

  "Don't ask anymore... That... That..." Xiling Hao didn't know how to say it, and he was just an inexperienced young man who couldn't bring himself to say it. "Anyway, it's a place where good men won't go!"

  Yin Ruofei's heart was about to burst out laughing, he had previously wanted to bring up the topic, but now looking at Xi Linghao's extremely embarrassed expression, he suddenly found amusement.

  It's rare to meet interesting people, and Yin Ruofei naturally wants to continue playing. Talking to Rong Jingze requires constant attention, or he'll be led astray. Facing the straightforward Xiling Hao, Yin Ruofei has indeed developed a desire to make friends.

  Xiling is a good person, filial and righteous. As for being mischievous, which boy isn't? He's just more notorious than others.

  Xī Líng Huò is a straightforward person, people like him are easier to get along with and interact with compared to those who have complex thoughts.

  The last and most important point is that Xiling Shou Lao Gongye appears to be a loyal and honest person on the surface, but in reality, he has a deep understanding of the way of being an official and a minister. He seems to be wandering outside the core of power, but his position is as stable as Mount Tai. If you can get along with this family and enter Lao Gongye's eyes, getting his help will make your road to revenge much smoother.

  To be honest, Yin Ruofei didn't particularly trust his father. As for revenge, he naturally never counted on him from the bottom of his heart. If the other party was truly a person with feelings and intentions, things would not have developed to this point.

  "Xiling brother, this really isn't a good place, is it?"

  "Yes... Yifei...... what's wrong with you?" Xiling Hao found that Yin Yifei was hanging her head, and her tone was also somewhat off.

  Xiling Hao thought it was because the other party couldn't go out to play, so he was disappointed and hurriedly went to comfort him. "This place is not good, actually I know many more fun places, I'll take you there, guaranteed to be much better than here."

  Yin Ruofei slightly raised her head, glanced at Xi Linghao and quickly looked down, "Brother Xiling, I'm not playing, I am..."

  Yin Ruofei's hesitant words satisfied Xi Linghao's appetite, and as he looked at Yin Ruofei's dense eyelashes fluttering back and forth, covering those clear black and white eyes, Xi Linghao suddenly felt his mind go blank.

  "You want to play, I'll take you..." Xiling Hao said as he walked out.

  "No, no." Yin Ruofei pressed down Xiling Hao's hand. "Brother Xiling said this isn't a good place, it reminded me of something."

  "What's wrong?" Xiling Hao hastily asked, seeing Yin Ruofei's expression, his heart moved, "Did someone bully you?"

  The matter of the Marquis of Zhenjiang's estate is known by a few people, but it's also not uncommon, especially among the aristocratic families, who always have some sources of information.

  Although the Yinhou family has a legitimate son, this legitimate son came too late and was not as favored as the eldest son. Moreover, this legitimate son also lost his biological mother, and when the stepmother entered the house, she gave birth to another child, whether it's a boy or girl, who knows what will happen next.

  The back house is private and there are many cases where the eldest son in front has been abandoned.

  However, Ze Wang intervened and the Emperor decreed that Yin Hou's youngest son would become Ze Wang's study companion. With such a powerful backer, the future of the Town River Marquis Manor was truly unpredictable.

  Xiling Hao originally didn't take it to heart when he heard these things, and he didn't know Yin Hou's youngest son, so why bother. But now that he and Yin Ruofei are close, they've become brothers, of course he'd stand up for the other person. As soon as Pu Yi heard Yin Ruofei say it, he immediately thought of how he was bullied in the Hou Mansion.

  "No." Yin Ruofei shook his head, "There's nothing going on at home." Even if there was, he would have handled it.

  "Come on... say it quickly, you're killing me!" Xiling Hao was a straightforward person and couldn't stand his slow and hesitant way of speaking.

  "Yes, he is my second sister's future husband..." Yīn Ruò Fēi saw that Xī Lǐng Hào's emotions had been stirred up, so she didn't keep him in suspense anymore. "I passed by here a few days ago and happened to see him come out. Brother Xī Lǐng said this isn't a good place, I..."

  "Your second sister's future husband? Who is it?" Xiling Hao couldn't think of it for a moment. In fact, it was no wonder, there were many noble families in the capital, and many daughters who were about to get married, who could remember which family was engaged to which family, let alone Xiling Hao liked to play and didn't bother to remember such trivial matters, so he had no idea who Yin Ruofei was referring to.

  "He is the son of General Song's family." Yin Ruofei reminded.

  "Is it him?" A strange expression appeared on Xi Ling's face, seemingly a mix of disdain and ridicule. Recalling that he was Yin Ruofei's second brother-in-law, it turned into an inexplicable sympathy, and finally connecting to the fact that Yin Ruofei was his confidant, it suddenly turned into anger. "That bastard is not a good thing."

  "Xiling brother." Yin Ruofei seemed to be very surprised and also somewhat unacceptable, "General Song has been friends with my father for many years, he seems...not bad."

  "Hey, where did you know that? General Song is a good person, but unfortunately, his son Song Zirong is completely different from him. Don't look at his usual appearance, actually, hum."

  Several young children surrounding the carriage had been listening to their conversation, at this time although the weather was not as sultry as in previous days, Xi Ling Hao originally disliked his father for making him ride a carriage and lose face, naturally he would not pull down the curtains or anything, lest people think it's some noble lady coming out.

  There was no curtain on the car, and several others could hear the conversation between the two very clearly. Suddenly, someone shouted strangely, saying what Song Zirong had done before.

  It seemed that someone had taken the lead, and these people became more and more enthusiastic as they spoke. In a short distance, Yin Ruofei heard no less than ten or so shameful things about Song Zirong.

  However, Xiling Hao remained silent, his facial expression was also very strange, Yin Ruofei looked at him and wanted to speak but stopped. On the other hand, the person beside them couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Yin Xiao Di, you don't know, Xi Ling Di had previously suffered a loss at the hands of Song Zi Rong."

  "Shut up!" Xiling Hao was suddenly enraged, and Yin Ruofei hastily grabbed Xiling Hao's sleeve.

  "Xiling brother, I'm really sorry, I'll apologize on his behalf."

  Yin Ruofei's big eyes sparkled with an unspoken apology.

  "You are you, he is him, clearly Song Zirong is a scoundrel." Xiling Hao sighed. He had previously been confused, thinking that Song Zirong and he were the same kind of person, but it turned out that Song Zirong was a petty man, with one set of words on his face and another behind his back, using his name to borrow money from others, and getting his father beaten up. "At that time, everyone saw me and him together, no one believed my explanation, after that, I kept my distance from him."

  "Has he ever explained?"

  "Hmph, he naturally wants to explain." Xiling Hao sneered, "Just let him talk freely, can't I go and investigate?"

  "So it was."

  "Fei, listen to me, Song Zirong is not a good person to entrust one's life to, it's better to advise Yin Hou to call off this engagement!"

  "This is going to be tough, but if Brother Xiling is willing to help, I have an idea!"