Chapter 43 Invitation to a Chat

When Wen Liyu saw Chen Er and several officials surrounding her, she immediately protected her bag, which contained clothes and jewelry brought from the palace, and most importantly, a lot of underwear.

"What do you mean, officer? This bag is light. What can a girl pack that she shouldn't? How can I let grown men like you easily see all these personal belongings?"

Cheng Weiyao took a step forward and stood in front of Wen Liyu, looking like a hen protecting her chicks, while the imperial concubine sat quietly beside them with Wen Chengming, with admiration in her eyes.

She was actually a little envious of Cheng Weiyao's drive. As a young girl waiting to get married, it was indeed not appropriate for Ayu to have her luggage checked in public.

"Just take it out when I tell you to. Why all this nonsense?"

"What's so shameful about it? Why do you have to hide it? Today, my brothers must see it!"

Chen Er, Li Kui and several other officers exchanged glances and planned to conduct a forced search by taking advantage of their positions. After all, searching was one of the officers' duties.

The county yamen runners responsible for issuing travel documents stood by and watched coldly. They had no right to interfere with the exile procession. Furthermore, they heard that thanks to the Prince Qingping's Mansion, half a street's worth of tributes were lost yesterday. Just thinking about that loss was heartbreaking...

"Using public office for personal gain? Officers, please tell us why you're singling out the Prince Qingping's Mansion? Do you really think we're easy prey? If we find some forbidden items, it's fine. But if we find nothing, we can't just suffer this loss in vain..."

Cheng Weiyao snorted coldly. The officers' wishful thinking was written all over their faces, especially Chen Er, whose greedy eyes had been lingering since she appeared.

Chen Er frowned. Cheng Weiyao's sharp tongue was clearly beyond his calculation. Ever since he started working, he had always searched whenever he wanted, so why would he need a reason...

Just as he was hesitating whether to take advantage of the large crowd to conduct a forced search, a clear female voice broke the stalemate.

"Can Her Majesty the Imperial Concubine rest in this inn?"

Cheng Weiyao looked up and saw that the person had a double bun on her head, which was common among maids, but she was wearing a soft silk dress and lightly applied rouge and powder. It seemed that her master's family was either rich or noble.

When the Imperial Concubine heard her name being called, she stood up with some confusion and looked at the person's appearance.

This girl looked about the same age as Ah Yu, so I probably didn't know her. Even though I did have a few close friends before I got married, and they got married and had children, I'd never heard of anyone marrying so far away...

"Hey, isn't this Miss Tao, who serves as Princess Jian'an's attendant? What brings you here? If the Princess has any instructions, please let me know and I'll do it right away..."

The few yamen runners who had a very low presence just now suddenly became active, nodding and fawning around Xiao Tao, like a few pugs wagging their tails and begging for mercy.

"Go away, what do you want to do..." Xiao Tao frowned and drove away several yamen runners. After taking a quick look around, she walked straight to the front of the imperial concubine, bowed and saluted, behaving very respectfully.

"My Lady Imperial Concubine, my princess invites you to her house for a chat. Would you be so kind as to accompany me?"

"Miss Xiaotao, you're too polite. I'm currently a criminal, not a noble concubine... I don't think I know your princess, do I?"

The Imperial Noble Consort was confused by this situation. She had no memory of ever dealing with Princess Jian'an. She had always lived in seclusion in the palace and only knew a few people.

Cheng Weiyao saw a good opportunity to escape danger from this little girl named Xiaotao. With such a respectful attitude, even if she was not a friend, she was at least not an enemy. Taking a trip could also help her avoid being exploited by the officials. Why not do it?

"Mother, since the Princess Jian'an has sent her maid to invite us, we shouldn't offend her and go, right?"

Cheng Weiyao gently pulled the Imperial Concubine's sleeve and comforted her softly.

"Then I'll have to trouble Miss Xiaotao to lead the way..."

Although the Imperial Concubine didn't know what Cheng Weiyao was thinking, she was a smart woman with her own ideas. She knew she would never suffer any loss if she listened to her, so she nodded happily.

"That Miss Xiaotao, right? We exiles are in a hurry to get on with our journey. I'm afraid it wouldn't be appropriate for your master to take her away rashly!"

When Chen Er saw this, he immediately became anxious. The officers could not bear to watch the duck that was in their mouth fly away, so they immediately stepped forward and blocked Xiao Tao's way.

"There's no rush to travel. Since the Imperial Concubine and her family have arrived in the county, they are our princess's distinguished guests. How can we allow you to be so presumptuous here?"

Xiao Tao's pretty face turned cold, she was clearly angry. Before she even entered the inn, she heard these officers making things difficult for the people from Prince Qingping's Mansion. Now they even wanted to meddle in the princess's affairs?

"In my opinion, you are quite audacious, servant! You even dared to interfere in my princess's affairs, and your chieftain didn't even say a word. What kind of watchdog are you acting as here?"

This Miss Xiaotao has such a quick tongue... Cheng Weiyao was secretly shocked. With such a clever maid, this Princess Jian'an must be no ordinary person.

After hearing Xiao Tao's words, several officers turned around and saw Wang Gang standing at the stairs on the second floor with a calm face. They all called him "Big Brother" in a wronged manner.

"Miss Xiaotao has a point."

Wang Gang briefly let them go and turned a blind eye to it. He had no intention of offending the local powerful forces. It was just a matter of delaying the departure time.

Xiao Tao led the female members of the Qingping Palace through the courtyard. Wen Chengyun, the grown man, was naturally sent to the front hall with Wen Chengming to entertain them. The backyard was where the female members drank tea and chatted.

Along the way, the courtyards were decorated with rockery and flowing water in an orderly manner. Cheng Weiyao was admiring the charm of the ancient architecture and was in a good mood, while the Imperial Noble Consort had a frown on her face, and it was obvious that she had no impression of the Princess Jian'an.

"Mother, are you still thinking about the princess? Now that you're here, make the best of it. Maybe you helped her sometime, but you don't remember it."

Walking in the elegant courtyard, Wen Liyu's back straightened unconsciously, and the noble aura of a royal princess emerged again.

My mother has always been kind to others in the palace, so what I said is entirely possible. Besides, as a princess, I am one level higher than the county lord, so I cannot lose face.

As soon as she turned around the corridor, she saw a slender figure sitting on a small building in the middle of the lake. She saw everyone from Prince Qingping's Mansion first, and hurried over to them, holding the Imperial Concubine's hand with tears in her eyes.

"My lady, it's been so long since we last met. Are you feeling well?"