Hong Yingrong and her son Xue Zhongfu returned to the Marquis's residence in a carriage. The driver was present, and the mother and son exchanged only a few glances without saying much. The carriage slowly stopped, and the two entered the residence, heading straight for the Auspicious Cloud Hall.
Madam Zhao served them hot tea, then quietly withdrew, waving off the other servants. Only mother and son were left in the hall, and the atmosphere was somewhat solemn.
Xue Zhongfu picked up the teacup, took a sip, and finally broke the silence: "Mother, why don't you want to tell them that we have found the tiger talisman blueprint left by father?"
Hong Yingrong's gaze passed through the hall, landing on the pea-green and yellow peonies in full bloom outside the courtyard. She whispered, "Zhongfu, this matter is of great importance, and we must be cautious. Chen Jin and Yan Boxi want to use the tiger talisman drawings to reveal all of Prince Linjiang's private mines. This is indeed a good thing for the court. But if this is exposed, our mansion will also be implicated."
Xue Zhongfu nodded, his brow furrowed. "Mother is absolutely right. This is indeed a risky move. Although we trust Eunuch Chen Jin, we are still concerned about Yan Boxi. What if he uses the tiger talisman blueprint to create a real tiger talisman, and Prince Linjiang uses it to rebel at the border? The consequences will be unimaginable."
"That's right," Hong Yingrong sighed. "We have hundreds of people in the Xingyuan Marquisate, as well as those relatives in the northern ancestral home. If they were implicated, there would be rivers of blood."
Xue Zhongfu's heart tightened after hearing this. He took a deep breath and said, "Mother, what should we do? We can't keep hiding this tiger talisman blueprint forever, can we?"
Hong Yingrong pondered for a moment and said, "We need a foolproof plan that will ensure the safety of the imperial court while preventing our mansion from falling into danger. This matter requires long-term consideration and we must not act rashly."
"Zhongfu, have you ever thought deeply about this? Our Xingyuan Marquisate is not always peaceful and secure. Perhaps a sudden storm, an unexpected turn of events, could push our entire estate into the abyss."
Hong Yingrong's gaze was still fixed on the blooming flowerbed outside the yard, and her words revealed deep worry.
Xue Zhongfu turned to look at his mother. He never expected that she had such deep worries in her heart.
He had always thought that after his father's death, he and his elder brother would be able to shoulder the responsibilities of the Marquisate. But at this moment, he deeply realized that it was his mother who had been silently protecting the entire Marquisate from behind, saving the Marquisate from danger many times.
Looking at Hong Yingrong's slightly hesitant and expectant expression, he softly comforted her, "Mother, please relax. Although there have been some setbacks at home recently, fortunately, everything has cleared up. My eldest brother has changed his mind, and my eldest sister-in-law is pregnant. Everything will be fine."
He paused and continued, "Besides, my third brother has already secured a position in the court, and my fourth sister is about to get married. As for my youngest sister, I was indeed inconsiderate back then, but now that the Queen Mother and His Majesty have not yet granted her marriage, we still have a chance to bring her home and make other plans for her."
Hong Yingrong sighed softly and said, "Zhongfu, I've witnessed your growth, and it truly brings me great joy. However, the matter of the Tiger Tally blueprint is different from ordinary household chores. It involves the stability of the court and the fate of the country. Although our mansion has been loyal for generations, we still need to be cautious and careful in this ever-changing court."
Xue Zhongfu nodded seriously, but he couldn't help thinking about the details of the meeting with Chen Jin and Yan Boxi. This meeting was related to the future of the Marquis' Mansion and might even affect the fate of the entire Great Zhou.
…
In the luxurious tent of Zuo Xian Wang Zhahemu in the royal court of Western Rong, the morning light shone through the tiny gaps in the curtains, casting patches of light in. The faint light made Princess Xianning Li Yunting frown slightly.
"Princess, the prince has returned from the hunting ground." A maid dressed in Western Rong clothing respectfully lifted the curtain and reported in a soft voice.
Then several maids came in one after another, holding ceramic jars filled with fresh milk, which they gently poured into the copper bath basin and carefully prepared toiletries for Li Yunting.
Li Yunting responded lazily, then slowly stood up.
When she first arrived in Xirong, she thought it would be a wild and desolate place, but the reality surprised her - as long as she held power, even in this remote frontier, she could enjoy the same prosperity as the imperial city, or even be more comfortable, without many constraints of etiquette.
"Princess, these are the new fruits that arrived today. Please enjoy them." A maid walked in from outside, knelt down to salute, and held the fruit bowl filled with various fruits high above her head, waiting for Li Yunting to choose.
But Li Yunting did not respond immediately. Her hands were dipped in warm milk, and her eyes were cast outside the tent, where horses galloped past from time to time, raising a cloud of dust.
"Where will the prince have breakfast today?" she asked casually.
"Princess, the prince hunted a deer this morning and plans to hold a barbecue banquet outside." The maid replied respectfully.
"Eating barbecue so early in the morning?" Li Yunting chuckled. "However, since Your Highness is so in the mood, and the sun is shining brightly today, let Him know that I'll be joining you for dinner."
"Yes, I'll arrange it right away." The maid replied and turned to leave.
"Wait!" Li Yunting suddenly called out to her, "Is Dozier back?" She bit her rouge lightly and asked herself in the mirror lightly.
"Prince Doziger returned late last night and brought back a large amount of food," the maid replied.
"I understand. You can leave now." Li Yunting nodded, signaling the maid to leave.
The maid bowed again and quietly left the tent.
After Li Yunting arrived in Xirong, all the palace maids and eunuchs who had accompanied her had returned to the capital.
Now, the maids around her are all Western Rong women with the blood of the Great Zhou. They are not only beautiful, but also proficient in the official language of the Great Zhou, and serve her carefully and considerately.
At first, Li Yunting thought that the Left Xian Wang Zhahemu would be an old, frail man, nearing death. However, to her surprise, Zhahemu, despite being nearly 70 years old, was still energetic and his skills in horseback riding and archery were as strong as ever. This made Li Yunting experience a different kind of passion and vitality within the inner court.
However, as time passed, the novelty gradually faded, and Li Yunting began to yearn for the youthful vigor of young men.
Her eyes wandered over the clothes racks, where hung exquisite Xirong robes, their collars and cuffs trimmed with gorgeous fur, which not only showed the luxury of the nobility but also could protect against the cold wind on the grassland.
The wide leather belt around the waist is inlaid with dazzling gems and metal decorations, sparkling charmingly in the sun.
These costumes are mainly in dark green, navy blue and deep red. Each piece exudes dazzling brilliance and shows a unique exotic style.
Li Yunting stood in front of the mirror, admiring her charming and passionate peach blossom makeup.
With a flick of her finger, she selected a pomegranate-red brocade robe. After getting dressed up, she walked slowly towards the banquet set outside.
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