Chapter 15 Your child and wife are in Chongzhou

"I have been keeping in touch with my uncle over the years, so I have specially trained flying pigeons."

“These pigeons are already familiar with the route and will be much faster than usual.”

Meng Mingshu's eyes brightened a little: "How long at the earliest?"

What she cares about most now is speed.

She didn't want Xiao Yan to be immersed in sorrow, nor did she want him to suffer physical damage. She wanted to grow old with Xiao Yan in this life.

"Four days will be enough to reach the capital. If all goes well, you will receive a reply in eight days."

This was much faster than Meng Mingshu had expected.

If you take a horse carriage from Chongzhou to the capital, it will take a full month.

Even if you travel fast on horseback, it will take about thirteen days.

If a messenger was sent on a special messenger errand, even if they took turns traveling day and night, it would still take seven or eight days to reach the capital.

"good."

Xu Shaozhang then reminded Meng Mingshu: "I usually release a few more pigeons to avoid any accidents along the way. Write a few more letters for you and write them on the notes."

Meng Mingshu nodded: "Okay."

Although Xiao Yan should be familiar with Meng Mingshu's handwriting, just in case, Meng Mingshu still asked Tuan'er to draw a secret code between her and Xiao Yan.

If Xiao Yan saw them, he would naturally believe their identities.

Xu Shaozhang acted quickly. Upon arriving in Chongzhou Prefecture, he did not return to the mansion to rest, but released the carrier pigeons one by one.

"If there is any news, I will tell you as soon as possible."

Xu Shaozhang looked outside the door with anticipation in his eyes, but the person he wanted to see never showed up.

"I promised your second sister that I would escort you. Now that you and Tuan'er have returned safely to Chongzhou Prefecture, my mission is complete. I have finally lived up to your second sister's trust."

After arriving in Chongzhou Prefecture, Meng Mingshu did not return to the Meng Mansion, but took Tuan'er back to Meng's mother's private residence first.

"Thank you, second brother-in-law."

Meng Mingshu knew very well that if Xu Shaozhang hadn't been there along the way, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

At least people like Wu Niangzi, human traffickers and brothel owners will not easily tell the truth.

"No need to thank me. If you want to thank someone, thank your second sister. I only help you because you are her sister."

Xu Shaozhang was depressed. "Now that we're in Chongzhou Prefecture, please stop calling me brother-in-law. Just call me Master Xu. If someone with ulterior motives hears it, it will be detrimental to your second sister's reputation."

Meng Mingshu nodded: "Okay."

She was used to shouting in her previous life.

After his second sister died in his previous life, Xu Shaozhang remained alone and never married.

He got married with only his second sister's ashes in his arms, and despite opposition from the entire Xu family, Xu Shaozhang still insisted.

Moreover, Meng Mingshu knew clearly that her second sister only liked Xu Shaozhang.

Second sister’s thoughts are the most important.

Therefore, Meng Mingshu had already determined that Xu Shaozhang was worthy of being her second brother-in-law.

"I won't call you brother-in-law now, but you will be one sooner or later. You and my second sister will definitely be together forever."

In this life, she will also save her relatives.

She would not let her second sister go to Prince Qi's mansion to die.

Xu Shaozhang's eyes flickered, and his dark pupils became bright and spirited: "Okay, I'll borrow your good words."

The majesty of the emperor cannot be violated, and the crime of deceiving the emperor is a capital crime.

If Meng Mingshu was lying, she had nothing to do with the prince.

What awaits Meng Mingshu and him is only death.

Xu Shaozhang is well aware of the risks involved.

But he still chose to deliver the letter, and the person he was asking for was Meng Mingyue.

If Meng Mingshu had married a wealthy man, Mingyue would not have to go to Prince Qi's mansion to be a concubine.

Therefore, Xu Shaozhang was more nervous than Meng Mingshu and was more looking forward to receiving a reply from the capital.

————

Four days later, in the capital.

"Godfather, there's a letter from your hometown."

Liu Zhongquan was originally lying on the couch, with five or six people serving him. When he heard the letter from home, he immediately sat up:

"Show me the letter."

Liu Zhongquan had no children, so he treated his nephew as his own son.

Every time Liu Zhongquan received a letter from Xu Shaozhang, he would be happy for a long time.

But this time, the more he looked at the letter in his hand, the more solemn his expression became.

"Godfather, is there something wrong back home?"

Liu Zhongquan shook his head: "My nephew has given me a difficult problem."

Liu Zhongquan put down the letter, and there was an obvious struggle in his eyes.

When His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was first found, His Majesty was ecstatic and extremely excited.

But after seeing the prince grieving over his deceased wife and falling ill.

His Majesty was angry at his lack of fighting spirit and resumed his usual gloomy expression.

The prince was too infatuated and hurt himself.

Not to mention any woman sent by His Majesty, this has almost become a source of worry for His Majesty.

Your Majesty is unable to have children, and after finally having a son, all hopes are placed on the Crown Prince.

I wish the prince could have a son tomorrow.

But now the nephew's letter said that the prince had children and women living among the people.

If this is true, he will definitely receive a great reward if he passes the news on.

But if this is false, His Majesty will be disappointed, and he will also suffer losses, possibly even his life.

After all, the life and death of anyone depends solely on your Majesty's thoughts.

Liu Zhongquan was hesitant.

He paced back and forth in the room, thinking for a long time.

"Forget it, let's take a gamble. Zhang'er is not someone who does things without a purpose."

This matter involves both risks and opportunities. If he wants to go further, he can only take a gamble.

————

"I remember you weren't on duty today?"

The emperor is over sixty years old this year. His health has been deteriorating in recent years and his temperament has become increasingly gloomy and unstable.

Liu Zhongquan always paid great attention when serving and did not dare to slack off even for a moment.

"Yes, I learned a piece of news today that is related to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, so I came to report it."

Liu Zhongquan presented the letter.

The emperor flipped it open casually, his face showing surprise at first, then his expression darkened.

"This is impossible. He only cares about his deceased wife. He would degrade himself to this extent for a dead person. How could there be another woman?"

The emperor thought of Xiao Yan's appearance of having lost the will to live, and anger surged in his heart.

He tore up the letter and snorted coldly: "I wish he had other women and children, but it's impossible."

The emperor looked so majestic that Liu Zhongquan was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground, his voice trembling.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was not thoughtful enough. I thought about how precious the royal heir was, and Your Highness had lived in Chongzhou Prefecture for several years."

"Perhaps there really was some fleeting romance. I dare not gamble on that possibility, so I came to report this to you out of confusion. Your Majesty, please forgive me."

Liu Zhongquan knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly: "I deserve to die a thousand times."

The emperor paused while tearing the letter and muttered to himself:

"You're right... I only have this one child. Even if there's only a one in a million chance, I should still send someone to check it out..."

It's possible that the prince had been involved in some romantic affairs before he fell in love with that woman.

In the end, the hope for grandchildren prevailed, and the emperor stood up:

"Only this one letter?"

Liu Zhongquan quickly handed over the remaining few identical letters.

"I will ask the prince myself."

As soon as one stepped into the prince's bedroom, one was greeted by a strong smell of medicine.

The other princes would compete to perform in front of the emperor.

The princes of all dynasties were extremely fearful and conscientious in handling government affairs every day.

Only Xiao Yan did nothing.

In front of Xiao Yan, he, the father, is more like a son.

She coaxed him to take care of himself and advised him to take medicine, and she didn't dare say a single harsh word for fear of irritating the fragile Xiao Yan.

"Yan'er."

No matter how much resentment the emperor had in his heart, he still softened his tone at this moment, acting like a truly loving father.

Xiao Yan was still lying on the bed, without even looking at the emperor.

The emperor was used to it.

"I received a letter from Chongzhou Prefecture today."

Just hearing the three words Chongzhou Prefecture, Xiao Yan felt a dull pain in his chest, as if a sharp knife was cutting into his heart.

Chongzhou has become a taboo for him.

I couldn't bear to listen to it, let alone take another step forward.

In Chongzhou, he was rescued by Meng Mingshu.

From then on, he had a sweetheart for the first time.

Later they had a daughter.

The happiest and most joyful days in life all happen in Chongzhou.

But the most heart-wrenching time also happened in Chongzhou.

The emperor's voice sounded again.

"The letter said that your children and women are stranded in Chongzhou Prefecture."

"Father doesn't know whether it's true or not, so he comes to ask you, do you want to see this letter?"