Chapter 670: Chapter 399: Old Acquaintance_2

"Help me prepare some top-quality tea and also some snacks."

Fu Zhen instructed her, then walked directly into the courtyard where Yang Yi had once stayed, looked back at Mrs. Zhang, and sat down on the stone bench under a tree.

After the beginning of spring, the weather had been consistently clear. The trees in the courtyard were in bloom, the spring scene was bright, and the breeze was pleasant.

The wind also stirred the hair casually pinned up under Mrs. Zhang’s headscarf.

She slowly sat down. "It seems spring has been here for quite some time, yet it is only today that I have taken notice."

Fu Zhen turned to look at her. "Where are you living now? At the Zhang Family?"

Ever since Prince Rong and his son were arrested and imprisoned, Fu Zhen had paid no more attention to the matters of Prince Rong’s Mansion. She only knew from bits and pieces of news that after all the men from Prince Rong’s Mansion were detained, the women were also confined.

Now that she had come out, it seemed that the palace indeed hadn’t been too harsh on them.

"The Zhang Family has also fallen." Mrs. Zhang looked up at the sky, her expression very calm. "My father and brother are still in prison. My mother has been seriously ill for a long time, and she doesn’t have many days left."

"Both the Zhang Family and Prince Rong’s Mansion have been ransacked. I’ve had a hard enough time bringing up the child, and I can’t afford to treat her illness."

Fu Zhen paused for a moment, then said, "And you all..."

"We are now staying in the southern city. Our Prince used to have quite a number of connections outside. Although when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter, and when the wall collapses, everyone pushes, there are many ungrateful people, but there are still some who are loyal and righteous.

"There is a shopkeeper at a silk shop in the southern city who remembered the kindness our Prince showed him by giving him money to treat his injuries when he was down and out. He vacated two rooms for us to stay.

"He is not wealthy, and for him to do this, I am already very content. At least the child doesn’t have to follow us to sleep under a bridge."

Fu Zhen remained silent.

This situation was entirely expected. For the crimes committed by Prince Rong and his son, the Emperor and Empress sparing their lives was already a tremendous favor.

If it hadn’t been for unforeseen circumstances, it would have been Yang Yi who died in Baiyu Lane seven years ago. If Yang Yi had died back then, Great Zhou would now be facing the tricky situation caused by the Yi Family and others. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

So, what does exile and confiscation of family property count for?

However, Mrs. Zhang, in this case, was indeed innocent. If she harbored resentment, though it shouldn’t be so, her feelings were understandable.

"This dagger, if you sold it, it could be worth at least a hundred or so Silver Taels. Why haven’t you exchanged it for money?"

Fu Zhen looked at the dagger resting on the table and said.

This was one of the protective weapons her older brother Liang Qin gave her when she first arrived in the northwest; it had also accompanied Liang Ning’s father for many years. Later, her father gave it to her older brother, who then gave it to her.

Later on, when she decided to become engaged to Xu Yin, Liang Ning shared the story of the dagger with him. In her impression, this dagger should have stayed with the Liang Family. She did not know why it appeared here after so many years.

"Because this dagger wasn’t found by me." Mrs. Zhang looked at her. "I was just entrusted by someone to return it to you."

"’Return’?"

Fu Zhen felt astonished. "What do you mean by that?"

Even if this dagger were lost for some reason, it should be returned to the Liang Family, not to her.

Unless someone knew she was Liang Ning!

But who could it be?

Who else would know she was Liang Ning?!

"It’s Yongping."

Mrs. Zhang calmly uttered these three words.

Fu Zhen was stunned, Yongping?

This name she hadn’t thought about for even longer.

"I don’t know how she knew, but ever since she moved out of the Xu family, this dagger has always been with her.

"Last night she suddenly told me that this dagger was yours, and she asked me to bring it to you."

A flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Fu Zhen’s mind, fleeting yet so real.

She took the dagger back in her hand, looked at it for a moment, then said, "Where is she? I want to meet her."

"She’s living with us with her child," Mrs. Zhang said as she stood up. "Before I came, she also told me that if you want to see her, I should take you — come with me."

...

Mrs. Zhang and her family lived in the most secluded alley in the southern city, and the neighboring street was the most famous red-light district in the capital city.

As they passed through the alley and reached the entrance of the courtyard where they lived, the rabble in the alley all stared at their carriage.

Mrs. Zhang led Fu Zhen through a small side door, and just as they pushed it open, the harsh rebuke of a woman scolding a child was heard from the courtyard. This was immediately followed by the cries of a child.