Chapter 58 Chapter 58 Tiger Xue
"Men should choose young and handsome women, so that when spring passes, the flowers will still be there, and when people come, the birds will not be startled."
"Huh? You've really made it, but what does this poem have to do with a young man?" Chu Xian was bewildered.
"Well, didn't you say that birds can also describe men? Even if an old man has a beautiful woman in his arms, he can't stand up."
"Cough cough cough cough..." Chu Xian covered the little prince's ears awkwardly.
What kind of lewd words are these!!
"Go away, stop using poetry randomly."
"Xian'er, quickly bring the scoop net." Wan Ning was busy reeling in the fishing line.
Chu Xian handed the scoop net to Wan Ning and looked up at the peach blossoms beside the stone steps. The flowers were in full bloom, and suddenly, the rouge-pink petals fell down one after another.
Wan Ning swayed the peach branch, her black hair dotted with peach petals.
In the Jiangning Weaving House, petals fell in all directions. Yinzhen stood quietly in front of the courtyard with his hands behind his back, gazing wistfully at the willows and flowers on the steps.
"Your Highness, the Concubine is in Haining County. She and the Eighth Concubine boarded a ship in Hangzhou Prefecture bound for Haining County. It's unknown where they ended up."
Cao Yin's eyes were dark blue. In the past few days, the entire Jiangnan region had been combed through like a comb. He finally found Xian'er's whereabouts, but he only knew that she was in Haining County.
The huge Haining County has more than ten villages and towns under its jurisdiction, with a population of more than 300,000. There are also many homeless people, beggars, fishermen, and boat people wandering around. It is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
If Xian'er was in Jiangning City, it would be easy for the Cao family to find someone, and it would be in Haining.
Haining is the Chen family's sphere of influence. There are many aristocratic families in the south of the Yangtze River, and they keep to themselves. Thinking of those old men in the Chen family who are conservative and old-fashioned, Cao Yin looked at Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince with concern.
"Thank you, Lord Cao." Yinzhen bowed.
Cao Yin was quite surprised that Prince Yong was following the Han Chinese etiquette for younger generations. He felt relieved that Fei Yanggu had chosen the most suitable son-in-law for Xian'er.
"Su Peisheng, pass the order to mobilize 3,000 Han troops from the Jiangnan Green Camp, Bordered White Banner, to surround Haining County and exterminate Zhu San's rebels."
"From now on, Haining County is open to all but the most vulnerable."
Yinsi clenched the teacup and looked thoughtfully at his fourth brother who was giving orders.
With 3,000 troops, he was not afraid of alarming Khan Ama. The royal palace had no more than 100 soldiers, but he dared to openly mobilize 3,000 troops to wipe out Zhu San's rebels.
The cold-faced fourth brother said nothing, turned around and boarded the ship heading for Haining County. Yinsi hesitated for a moment and followed behind his fourth brother, but they were a hundred steps apart. The two brothers never said a word to each other.
The masters had nothing to say, and the servants were also on edge.
Su Peisheng and Yan Jin retreated to the mast and rolled their eyes at each other coldly.
Nanny Gui and Nanny Chun looked at each other in bewilderment. Although the Fourth Master and the Eighth Master were not good guys and were always scheming and harming each other's wives, the two wives were each other's close friends.
I wonder how Fu Jin and the young prince are doing? Nanny Chun's heart tightened, and she lowered her head to hold back her tears.
Early that morning, Chu Xian handed the little prince to Wan Ning and followed Old Chen to Chenjiayu Garden.
Entering the Chen Mansion from the corner gate, two tall and strong maids led her and two other young women into the back house.
Arriving at an elegant wing room, the round-faced old woman looked at Chu Xian's face and spoke softly.
"No matter what you see or hear later, don't make any noise or whisper to each other. You won't be shortchanged on your monthly allowance of three taels. When you return home, don't eat strong-smelling condiments like onions, ginger, and garlic, and don't eat cold foods like crabs and mung beans."
"You three should take a shower and change clothes quickly. The eldest master is waiting for breakfast."
"Young Master?" Chu Xian's eyes were filled with surprise and suspicion. "Didn't you say you were going to make cakes for the Third Young Master?"
"What? You chose the master's family? If you don't want to do it, get out! There are many people begging for this lucrative job." The square-faced old woman said sarcastically.
"Thank you." Chu Xian was feeling uneasy. Seeing that the other two women had already undressed, she could only suppress her anxiety and take a shower and change clothes.
She thought that wealthy families had many rules and regulations, and they must be dissatisfied with her because she was not clean and needed to take a bath and change clothes before she could do the work. She was short of money and could not straighten her back for a while.
After they bathed and changed their clothes, the old woman brought a large bowl of pig's trotter soup with soybeans and impatiently urged the three of them to drink it.
This pig's trotter soup with soybeans has the effect of promoting lactation. Not long after taking it, Chu Xian turned her back awkwardly and wiped her wet collar with a sweat towel.
Suddenly seeing the other two women wiping their bodies with towels in embarrassment, Chu Xian became more and more suspicious. She quietly pulled out the silver hairpin and hid it in her sleeve.
The old woman led the three people into a dim house, where several round holes were clearly visible on a wooden wall with carved beams and painted rafters.
"You! Go over there quickly! The young master is waiting anxiously." The old woman pointed at the plump woman in purple clothes on Chu Xian's left.
It was obviously not the first time for the woman to come here. She unbuttoned her clothes and walked towards the wooden wall.
When Chu Xian saw the woman unbuttoning her bellyband and moving her plump body toward the round hole in the wooden wall, she was completely confused.
Suddenly, there was a sound of swallowing and sucking, and occasionally a man's frivolous laughter. Chu Xian's face turned red immediately.
He immediately turned around and left: "I'm sorry, I'm not qualified for this job, please find someone else."
"Hey! Don't go! Where do you think Yuyuan is? You can come and go as you please!" One of the old women raised her hand to block her way with a ferocious look.
"Old Chen only said he was here to make cakes for the Third Young Master, but he didn't say he was here to be a wet nurse. I don't want to be a wet nurse!"
Chu Xian was furious. It was impossible for her to be a wet nurse to someone else's child, let alone a strange man.
"That's between you and Old Chen. You must serve the young master before you can leave today!"
"The Chen family is full of nobles, are they going to disregard the law and forcibly seize a commoner's daughter? My family is still waiting for me to return. If she doesn't see me, she will definitely go to the authorities and report it!"
"Haha, report to the police? Within the boundaries of Haining County, the Chen family is the law! If you don't appreciate it, even if I beat you to death and throw you on the street, no one will dare to collect your body!"
The two old women looked at each other and came towards Chu Xian with a fierce look.
"Go away!" Chu Xian waved her hairpin in fear, opened the door in panic, and ran away.
"Someone! Catch this bitch!"
An old woman's angry curse came from behind her. Chu Xian clenched her hairpin and plunged into a quiet peach forest.
"Where's the person!!" The old woman chased to the stone steps of the peach forest, panting, and dared not step forward.
"We just saw her running into the peach forest. We didn't dare chase her... If the Third Young Master saw us, he would definitely break our legs."
"Hey, what should I do?"
The round-faced woman stamped her feet and said, "If she insists on going down a dead end, let her go. If she gets beaten to death by the Third Young Master, we can't be blamed."
"Mrs. Zhao, let's put together a confession and tell the public that the eldest son's wet nurse has evil intentions and trespassed into the peach forest with the intention of stealing."
"Hurry up and find another wet nurse. The eldest master just had a big temper. You and I are both going to have a meal today."
"Shunzi, you stay here. If that bitch comes back, just beat her to death with sticks."
Meanwhile, Chu Xian got lost in the peach forest and climbed out the window to hide in a quiet and dim waterside pavilion.
After drinking the pig's trotter soup with soybeans, every time I took a step, my chest felt like it was burning stone, and the pain was so severe that I could hardly move.
She endured her fear and shame, hid behind the screen, and anxiously drained her milk.
"presumptuous!"
A man's deep, angry roar came from behind the green gauze tent, and Chu Xian was so scared that she pulled her clothes tightly together.
"I'm sorry, I... I'm the new cook who came here today. I came here by mistake. Please forgive me."
"Qinghe!" Before the man finished speaking, the door was pushed open.
Chu Xian raised her hand to block the glaring warm sunlight, and a young man who looked like a servant came hurriedly towards her with an angry face.
"Get out of here now!"
"I'm sorry...but I don't know how to get out of the house. Could you please show me the way?" Chu Xian suppressed her panic and bowed to the servant.
"Who are you?"
The curtain was opened, revealing a handsome face. The young man walked over with graceful steps, but Chu Xian's gaze fell on the young man's phoenix eyes.
My nose felt sore and I couldn't help but burst into tears.
It was really crazy. Just a pair of phoenix eyes that were 30% similar to that person's were enough to make her lose control and cry in front of strangers.
Subconsciously, she felt that the young man in front of her was not a vicious person, and she might still have a chance of survival.
Chu Xian lowered her head and wiped away her tears. "I'm an ordinary woman from Shuangyu Lane. I was introduced to make cakes for the third young master of the mansion, but the middleman lied to me. When I arrived at the mansion, I found out that I was to be a wet nurse for... for the eldest young master."
"I don't want to be chased here by two women and disturb your rest. I'm sorry, I just want to go home. My child is crying for food and is waiting for me to come back."
"Please, will you spare my life? Please..."
Chu Xian choked with sobs and shed tears, kneeling at the feet of the nobleman, clutching the silver hairpin hidden in her sleeve tightly, she was ready to die together with him.
"Oh, you know you missed out on a great job. The eldest master is very demanding of his wet nurses, but he won't treat you unfairly. If you are favored by the eldest master and become his concubine, wouldn't it be good to live a life of luxury? Why sell yourself out?"
Chu Xian frowned. What does it mean to sell yourself out?
"Sir, I am from a decent family. You are a rare talent. I am a humble girl and not worthy of you. I only ask you to give me a way to live." Chu Xian bowed to the young man.
Chu Xian tensed up as she heard the boy's ambiguous chuckle, trembling with fear.
The young man sat down at the square table, seemingly eating snacks leisurely.
Chu Xian bravely looked up and saw the young man frowning and throwing a piece of lotus cake into the spittoon.
"Sir, I am an expert in pastry making. I...the pastries I make are better than the ones on your plate."
"You are talking nonsense. How old are you? How dare you say that your pastries are better than those made by the retired imperial chef?" The servant looked at him with disdain.
Chu Xian spoke slowly, neither humble nor arrogant, "At least the cakes I make won't leave you with tasteless food."
"Please let me try. If it doesn't suit your taste, you can kill me or chop me up as you please." Chu Xian looked at the young man in despair with tears in her eyes.
The young man held his forehead with one hand and stared at her for a long time without saying a word, wondering what he was thinking.
"Qinghe, take her to the small kitchen. If she can't make good pastries, kill her."
"Thank you, sir, thank you, sir!" Chu Xian stood up with her hands on the ground, her calves trembling, and followed the servant to the small kitchen.
"Young man, may I ask if the young master has any dietary restrictions? I can also avoid them."
The servant crossed his arms and said coldly, "The young master is still ill. The doctor has instructed not to eat meat or fish, but there are no other taboos."
Sick? Could it be that the other party is Chen Jingqing, the third son of the Chen family?
"Thank you for the suggestion, young man." Chu Xian bowed politely and turned to prepare the pastries.
In order to save her life, she racked her brains to show off her skills.
Qing He, the servant who was standing by and watching the cook, was initially full of contempt, but was gradually impressed by the woman's superb cooking skills.
As exquisite dim sum came out of the oven, Qinghe was the first to pick up a piece of lotus cake to try it, and was instantly dumbfounded.
"What is this? Why does it taste so strange? Crispy on the outside and soft like a cloud on the inside."
Chu Xian didn't stop making the cakes, and patiently explained: "This is lotus cake. It's made with glutinous rice flour and sugar. First, steam it until cooked, then slice it and deep-fry it until golden brown. It's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside like a cloud. Then sprinkle a thin layer of osmanthus honey on it. Try it."
As she spoke, she had already placed the red bean and lotus seed paste cake on a plate. The red bean paste was layered into the crystal clear rice cake, and the sweet fragrance filled the air. The servant picked up a piece, which melted in his mouth and he couldn't help but savor it.
"What is this?"
"Five-spice cakes, with gorgon fruit, codonopsis, white atractylodes, poria, and amomum villosum in them, can replenish qi and nourish blood. Since the young master is ill, he needs medicinal food to strengthen his body and replenish his essence. I also made sesame rolls, which also have the effect of nourishing blood."
"How do you eat this peony flower?"
"This is a Touhuaci. I carved it into the shape of a peony flower. It's pleasing to the eye, and filled with five kinds of petals. One bite fills your mouth with the floral fragrance, quenches your thirst, and regulates your internal organs."
The servant swallowed the cake, still wanting more: "Just now I was blind to recognize the great man. Your cooking skills are indeed better than the imperial chef. I will send the cakes to you right away. How much silver will you be paid per month?"
Chu Xian's eyes lit up, and she suppressed her ecstasy: "I'll give you three taels a month. Come here at noon every day and return home within two hours."
The servant nodded and said, "Don't worry, if the young master likes your cakes, he will give you a lot of monthly salary."
"Thank you, young man." Chu Xian was eager to leave this hell immediately. No matter what the servant said, she humbly agreed.
After leaving this damn place, even if she was so poor that she had to beg for food, she would never set foot in Yu Garden again.
She huddled in front of the stove in fear, waiting for the final judgment. She didn't know how much time had passed before the servant came up to her with a smile in his eyes.
"Come here tomorrow to make cakes. I'll have someone pick you up at the north corner gate. Your monthly salary will be ten taels, and it will be paid on the fifteenth of every month."
"Just make the pastries according to today's standards."
"This is the reward the young master gave you today."
"Thank you, sir. Thank you, little brother." Chu Xian took the ingot of ten taels of silver, pondered for a moment, and then stuffed the ingot into the servant's pocket: "Thank you for your help, little brother. This is my thank you gift to you."
The servant waved his hand, "We don't have such bad habits in Qingsong Court. This is a taboo. If someone else were to do this privately, they would be beaten to death. Today, considering that this is your first offense, I will forgive you this time. If you do your job well, the young master will definitely treat you well."
"I'm sorry." Chu Xian apologized repeatedly.
The servant was replaced by a smart and capable old woman, who led Chu Xian through the peach forest and soon arrived at a corner gate.
"Remember the location of this northern corner gate. When you come tomorrow, give this badge to the concierge and someone will lead you to the small kitchen."
Chu Xian thanked him repeatedly and ran away from Yu Garden.
He stumbled along the way and was still in shock. From afar, he saw Wan Ning standing at the door holding the little prince, looking around anxiously.
Chu Xian took a deep breath, suppressed her fear, and walked quickly towards Wan Ning.
"Wan Ning, let's go. Leave Haining County immediately. I...I seem to be in trouble."
Chu Xian's eyes were filled with guilt. If she hadn't been so greedy, Wan Ning and she wouldn't have had to suffer so much.
"Okay, I'll pack up and leave right away." Wan Ning stuffed Xiao Hui'er into her arms.
"Wan Ning...why didn't you ask me the reason..." Chu Xian burst into tears due to guilt.
"What are you asking? If I asked you to leave with me, would you still ask questions and refuse to leave?"
"No." Chu Xian felt relieved, and she and Wan Ning hurriedly packed up their few belongings.
She originally wanted to tell the two teachers in the academy, but she was worried about complications, so after hesitating for a long time, she left a letter of apology and left the city with Wan Ning.
As we approached the South Gate, we discovered that a large number of soldiers dressed in white flag uniforms were pouring in from outside the city.
The Green Camp army replaced the gate guards and surrounded the city gate tightly.
"Strange? Why are there so many soldiers from the Bordered White Banner and Green Camp here?" Wan Ning's eyes were full of surprise and doubt.
When Chu Xian heard the word "bordered white flag", her brows twitched and she looked towards the city gate in fear.
If she remembered correctly, after that man was named Prince Yong, he was assigned to the lower five banners as per convention. He was one of the leaders of the Bordered White Banner, in charge of the affairs of the Manchu, Mongolian and Han Bordered White Banner.
Why did the Bordered White Banner appear in Haining County?
"Xian'er, I'm a little worried. Could it be..." Wan Ning hesitated to speak.
Before Chu Xian could respond, a burst of frantic horse hooves suddenly came from the city gate. When Chu Xian saw the man in armor in the front clearly, she felt like she was struck by lightning.
"Waaaaaaaa..." The little prince suddenly burst into tears. Chu Xian was so scared that she covered the little guy's mouth with her hand.
Fortunately, the cries of children could be heard from the crowd, so the little prince's crying was not too abrupt.
"Xian'er, let's go quickly. I see Yinsi is here too!" Wan Ning turned around in panic.
"Everyone, go back! The imperial court has issued a decree of martial law! The remnants of the previous dynasty are hiding in Haining County. From now on, you are only allowed to enter the city, not leave!"
"Go back!" shouted a bearded soldier.
"Where are we going now?" Wan Ning asked in panic.
Where to go? If that person can chase them all the way to Haining County, he will probably be able to find the courtyard where they stayed soon.
Chu Xian hugged the little prince tightly and gritted her teeth: "Let's go to Yu Garden!"
Since she couldn't leave, it was just the difference between a wolf's den and a tiger's lair. The Chen family of Haining was all-powerful, and that person would never have expected that she would hide in Yuyuan.
Chu Xian hurriedly took Wan Ning and the young prince to Yu Garden and begged the doorman to take her to see the third young master's servant.
The servant informed the Third Young Master that the cook had reduced her monthly wages and was looking for a place to stay.
Chen Jingqing was just about to go to his father's study to discuss matters. Today, Yu Garden was decorated with splendor. His Royal Highness Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince came together and stayed in Yu Garden.
"Sir, the cook has brought her sister-in-law and her child, begging you to arrange for them to stay. She is willing to reduce her monthly salary by half."
"She is a miserable person, without a father or mother. Her husband died young, and she has been raising her young son and her divorced sister-in-law alone. She said she was being harassed by local thugs and asked for your protection."
Chen Jingqing nodded nonchalantly: "Put them in the back room of Qingsong Courtyard."
After saying that, he picked up his robe and hurried to the study in the front yard.
The direct descendants of the Chen family had all gone to Beijing to study as companions to the children of the powerful and wealthy when they were young. He and his elder brother Chen Jingshen had even been companions to the princes when they were young.
His elder brother Chen Jingshen was the study partner of Prince Zhi, and he had been the study partner of Prince Yong for three years.
Prince Yong has come to visit today, and he must do his best to be a good host both publicly and privately.
In the study, Chen Yuanlong, the head of the Chen family, was whispering with his followers. When he saw his third son coming, his eyes showed solemnity.
"Bangzhi, Prince Yong has come to visit. You must entertain the prince and do not neglect him."
"Father, I heard that the Green Camp army has surrounded Haining County. Prince Yong must have a hidden agenda behind this trip."
Chen Yuanlong nodded: "Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince have been ordered to come to Haining County to encircle and suppress Prince Zhu San."
"Prince Zhu San?" Chen Jingqing looked at his father meaningfully.
Others may not know it, but the Jiangnan families all know that Prince Zhu San is not in Haining, but is hiding in Jiangning City.
Chen Yuanlong had been immersed in officialdom for several years, so he naturally noticed something strange and calmly instructed his three sons.
"Regardless of whether it's Prince Zhu San or someone else, Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince are on this trip to Haining County to search for someone. Our Chen family will do their utmost to cooperate. You will be responsible for entertaining Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince."
Chen Jingqing nodded. "Bangzhi will definitely live up to his father's trust. However... the Chen family members need to be more restrained, lest they give us a handle and think that our Chen family is all-powerful and lawless in Haining County."
Chen Yuanlong stared intently, his face suddenly filled with anger. "Have your two good-for-nothing brothers done something wicked again? Rebellious sons! I'll have them go back to the old house and reflect on their mistakes immediately! And those two from the third brother's family are so shameless!"
"Don't worry, before Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince leave, I will never let them embarrass themselves."
Chen Jingqing calmly walked to his father's side and said, "The most urgent thing is to find out the purpose of Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince's visit as soon as possible. Otherwise, if we fail to do so, our Chen family will be overthrown in a single day, and we will be ashamed of our ancestors."
"They seem to be looking for someone, but they are not looking for Prince Zhu San, but a woman, a young woman." Chen Yuanlong told his third son every detail of the information he had obtained.
"Prince Yong and the Eighth Prince are secretly interrogating young women, and perhaps even infants, in Haining City."
"This is all I can find out."
"Young woman? Baby?"
Chen Jingqing seemed to be lost in thought, and suddenly a pair of stubborn and arrogant eyes filled with tears flashed through his mind.
Then he quickly rejected the absurd idea. Since he had decided to hire the woman as a cook, he must have already investigated her background.
She is just an ordinary woman with decent looks. How could she possibly alarm His Royal Highness the Prince to come and look for her in person?
Prince Yong was a cold-hearted person and would never be so infatuated with a woman as to mobilize troops and do something foolish like mobilizing them.
"Sir, His Royal Highness Prince Yong's carriage has arrived at the front gate." The servant came to report breathlessly.
"How is Qingsong Courtyard?" Chen Jingqing knew Prince Yong. He liked quietness and elegance the most. In the entire luxurious Yuyuan Garden, only Qingsong Courtyard where he lived was barely worthy of Prince Yong.
"Everything has been packed. The Eighth Prince has been taken to Chengping Court by the eldest son to stay."
"Oh." Chen Jingqing was not too excited. His elder brother had always been on good terms with the Prince of Zhi and the Eighth Prince. It was understandable that he couldn't wait to welcome the Eighth Prince.
"Bangzhi, your father will first greet Prince Yong with you, then go with you to greet the Eighth Prince, and then you need to rush back to the Imperial Academy in the capital overnight."
"Father? Why are you in such a hurry to come to Beijing? Could it be..." Chen Jingqing smiled.
Chen Yuanlong nodded proudly and said, "I will first be transferred to the Ministry of Personnel as the Left Vice Minister. After three years, when I report on my work, I can be sent out as a governor."
"Congratulations, father."
Chen Yuanlong raised his hand and stroked his beard: "The future of the Chen family rests on your shoulders. It's a pity that you missed the imperial examination this year due to illness."
Chen Jingqing smiled but said nothing: "Father, the person who presided over this imperial examination is the one from Yuqing Palace. I can't go to this imperial examination."
"If you go, it would be like entering the court at the end of the world." Chen Wenlong was stunned for a moment and looked at his third son. "You are still young, and the affairs of the court are changing rapidly. You are different from other princes after all. You can see the situation clearly, but others can't understand it?"
"Why do you think the Zhang family of Tongcheng allowed Zhang Tingyu to enter the government at this critical moment?"
"Bangzhi, get closer to Prince Yong." Chen Yuanlong looked solemn and reminded in a low voice.
Chen Jingqing was shocked: "Father, could it be..."
Chen Yuanlong did not respond, but shook his head slightly at his third son, unwilling to say anything more.
He had been in the Hanlin Academy for many years. Although Hanlin had no real power, he was a close minister to the emperor and was in front of the emperor almost every day.
In addition, the Chen family members are spread across the six ministries in the court, and they can sense the direction of the wind by connecting all the details together.
If he couldn't detect even the slightest clue, the Chen family's century-old foundation would have been destroyed in his hands long ago.
"Bangzhi, you are already nineteen, it's time for you to get married. A daughter of the Cao family in Jiangning is a good choice."
"Father, except for the Cao family, all girls from Jiangnan families can be married off." Chen Jingqing said in a firm tone.
"Why don't you like the girl from the Cao family?" Chen Wenlong was puzzled.
"Father, the Cao family is too powerful. Sooner or later, something bad will happen. If you choose to marry into a noble family, you are choosing the power of your wife's family. The Cao family is not acceptable."
"Hey, which girl do you like? Just tell me! If they are a good match, you should decide on her as soon as possible." Chen Wenlong sighed helplessly.
The third son Bangzhi is the designated next head of the family. He has to be extremely careful in choosing his wife. He is not just choosing a wife, but the future mistress of the Chen family.
If the mistress is virtuous, her family will benefit three generations of descendants. If the mistress is not virtuous, the Chen family's century-old foundation may be destroyed at any time.
"No rush. I must choose a woman who is useful to me as my wife."
"I don't care about that. You must get married in the spring of next year. If you still don't have a suitable wife by autumn, don't bother with my random matchmaking. Either the girl from the Cao family in Jiangning or the girl from the Zhang family in Tongcheng, you must choose one."
Chen Jingqing said helplessly: "Okay."
The father and son put aside their worries, got ready and went to welcome Prince Yong.
In the back room of Qingsong Courtyard, Chu Xian and Wan Ning were arranged to live temporarily in the room to the west of the back room.
"Ms. Lu, the three of you must stay in the back room for the next few days and are not allowed to move around freely." A long-faced old woman stood at the door and gave instructions.
"Do you still need me to go to the small kitchen to make pastries?" Chu Xian felt increasingly uneasy.
"You must go at dawn every day and return to the back room to report before noon. If you fail to report, you will be beaten to death."
Chu Xian was terrified when she heard this and quickly nodded in agreement.
"Sister, is there a distinguished guest coming? I saw a lot of unfamiliar faces just now." Chu Xian asked tensely.
"Well, in short, don't run around. If you disturb the distinguished guests, the young master will not forgive you." After the old woman said this, she turned around and left anxiously.
After the old woman left, Chu Xian turned around and closed the door tightly: "It's over, we are not just entering a tiger's lair, we are simply sheep entering a tiger's mouth, wuwuwu..."
"Could it be that the distinguished guests are Prince Yong and Yinsi..." Wan Ning was in tears.
Chu Xian's face was ashen: "Almost exactly."
"Xian'er, what should we do? How about we escape at night?"
Chu Xian's voice was tinged with tears. "We can't escape. Without a badge, we can't even get out of the corner gate. Even if we leave Yu Garden, where can we hide?"
He originally wanted to use the Chen family's overwhelming power in Haining County as a cover, but now he has shot himself in the foot.
Chu Xian took a deep breath and decided to go for broke.
"Never mind. At this point, we'll have to give it our all. They can't find us in Haining, so they won't leave easily. It's safest to hide under their noses."
"Yes, we are hiding right under his nose. He will never guess that we are hiding in Yu Garden."
Wan Ning's eyes lit up: "Yinsi would never have guessed that I was hiding right under his nose."
That night, Yinzhen sat alone in the cold, deserted courtyard, sighing with his eighth brother.
They walked in a hurry, as if they were aware of the wind. There was still lunch left on the stove and baby's clothes were drying in the corridor.
Yinzhen smiled bitterly. His son, the dignified prince Yong, was so shabby that he had to wear tattered clothes made of scraps of cloth.
He grasped the patchwork quilt in his palm, his face livid as he grasped the nightgown stained with her scent. The neatly patched cuffs of the nightgown stung his eyes.
She would rather live in poverty than go back to him or want him.
The pain of being separated from his wife and children was excruciating. He couldn't sleep at night. He clutched his pajamas in anger, lay on his back on the simple bed, hugged his pajamas tightly, and only then did he feel a little at ease.
It was getting late and quiet when suddenly there was a sound of falling rocks outside the window.
Yinzhen sat up happily and rushed out of the house.
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