Chapter 460: Caught

Lu Qiniang was standing under the corridor, holding the infant Chi Chi.

The sun was shining brightly, making the courtyard warm.

She watched Lu Jin walk in with his men. The familiar face that was always stern and serious now had even tighter lines and a complicated look in his eyes.

"Second brother," Lu Qiniang smiled peacefully and greeted him as usual, as if he was just a guest. "The weather is nice today, how about a cup of tea before we get down to business?"

Because the Jinyiwei had surrounded the mansion an hour in advance, it was normal for her to know something was happening at this time.

Lu Jin's footsteps paused slightly.

He looked at the woman in front of him who had just given birth a few days ago. Her face was still a little pale, but her eyes were clear and calm as water. The heavy feeling in his heart that he had been following orders increased a little.

He said stiffly: "Madam Xiao, I have the emperor's order, and official business is more important."

The voice was deliberately cold, but it couldn't hide a subtle bitterness.

Xiao Yan had already walked out of the house upon hearing the sound. He looked calm, as if he had expected it.

He walked to Lu Qiniang's side and naturally took Chi Chi from her arms. He bent down and kissed his daughter's face, then looked at Lu Jin: "Commander Lu, thank you for your help."

The tone is calm.

"Dad..." Daya, Erya and Sanya also came out.

Daya looked calm, Erya had bright and open eyes, and Sanya looked curiously at the Jinyiwei in Feiyu uniforms, without any fear on her little face.

They all stood beside their mother tacitly, without crying or panicking. The whole family standing together would be a pleasure to watch at ordinary times, but now it made people feel bitter.

Lu Jin considered himself a hard-hearted person, but he felt very uncomfortable at this moment.

"Well, is everything packed?" Lu Qiniang asked.

"Okay, Mom." Daya said.

Lu Qiniang stepped forward, looked at Lu Jin, and said in a gentle but clear voice: "Second brother, I know you are following orders, and I won't make things difficult for you. It's just..." She paused and glanced at the Jinyiwei.

"Don't use torture, okay? If you need to ask anything and make them confess, have them tell me, or come and ask me in person. I, Lu Qi Niang, will tell you what I mean and won't hide anything. If they don't confess, I'll find them."

Lu Jin looked at Lu Qinniang's frank, sincere and resolute eyes, and admiration surged in his heart again.

This woman, no matter good times or bad, is always as strong as a rock.

He had been a Jinyiwei for so many years, and when the disaster of property confiscation came, no one could be as calm as Lu Qiniang.

He avoided her overly clear gaze, nodded slightly, and said in a cold and hard voice: "We have our own rules. Come on, take away everyone except Madam Xiao and her newborn daughter!"

A hint of relief actually flashed across Xiao Yan's face.

Fortunately, the emperor finally showed mercy to Lu Qiniang because she had just given birth.

Lu Qiniang was the one he was most worried about.

The Jinyiwei stepped forward.

Xiao Yan carefully placed Chi Chi back into Lu Qiniang's arms and said softly, "Take care of the house and Chi Chi."

He raised his hand and gently tidied up the wind-blown hair on Lu Qiniang's temples in a very natural and natural manner.

Daya, Erya and Sanya also came forward to hug their mother one by one.

"Mom, don't worry, we will be back soon." Daya's voice was steady.

"Mom, I'll make money for you when I come back!" Erya said it deliberately in a light-hearted manner.

"Mom, I want to hug my sister when I come back!" San Ya snuggled up to her mother and rubbed against her.

Then, they turned and followed Xiao Yan, walking out the door calmly, their backs straight, without a trace of delay or hesitation.

Lu Jin took a last look at Lu Qiniang, who was standing alone in the sun, holding the child.

There were no tears on her face, just a long silence.

Lu Jin's Adam's apple rolled, but he said nothing in the end. He only whispered to the two Jinyiwei guards who stayed behind to guard the door, "Guard the door well and don't disturb Madam Xiao and the young lady."

Then he turned around and strode away.

The heavy wooden door slowly closed, and the sound of the lock being locked was particularly clear in the silent courtyard.

Lu Qiniang held Chi Chi in her arms, patted him gently, and paced slowly in the yard.

The sunlight fell on her and her child, bringing warmth.

Are you anxious? Of course I am.

But right now, there is no other way except to struggle.

All the servants in the house were also taken away. Fortunately, they were probably sold to other families in the end.

Those who did not sign the indenture, such as Aunt Sang, should be released after investigation.

I feel very sorry for them, but I can't care about them anymore.

Lu Qiniang returned to the room and gently placed the sleeping Chi Chi on the kang.

Then, she found paper and pen - which Xiao Yan had specially prepared for her after teaching her to read.

She could not recognize many words, wrote slowly, and her handwriting was crooked, but she sat very straight, her expression focused and calm.

She began to write letters to the man who, in her heart, was both a majestic emperor and the once approachable elder.

Mr. Li:

I'm Qi Niang. Are you okay? Little Si Ya is asleep. Her name is Chi Chi. It was given by her father. It sounds nice, right?

Something happened at home, you know about it.

You know my man Xiao Yan best.

If he knew his origins, he would have told you long ago, and would never have kept it secret. Bloodline is given by God, he can't choose it, just like I was born to raise pigs, and you were born to be the emperor. Who can you blame?

I know you are in a difficult situation, but considering that Xiao Yan has saved so many people, can you please give him a chance to live?

If that's not possible, then since he's being punished by you for his bloodline, can you let go of his three daughters who have no blood relationship with him? They're all good kids.

I wrote some words incorrectly, please forgive me.

Hope you are well.

Abandoned Mother Kneeling

After writing, she blew the ink dry and folded it carefully.

When he reached the gate of the courtyard, he said to the young Jinyiwei guarding the gate as naturally as if he was asking a neighbor to do something for him: "Young man, please help me pass this letter to Lord Lu Jinlu and ask him to pass it on to the emperor."

She even had a gentle smile on her face.

Imperial Palace, Imperial Study.

The emperor unfolded the letter with crooked handwriting, corrections and typos, and read it for a long time.

Teng Wenfu stood aside, holding his breath and not daring to make a sound.

Just as the emperor's fingers unconsciously stroked the ink stain on the letter, his heart wavering, the eunuch outside the door announced: "Your Majesty, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince requests an audience."

The emperor suppressed the confusion on his face and gently placed the letter on the imperial desk: "Announce."