"According to the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty, forging iron weapons without authorization is punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family. If the iron arrowheads you used today are discovered, do you think your master will push you out?"
She didn't know why the person was hesitating, but since there was hesitation, she could struggle for a while longer.
"I wonder if you'll still be this talkative in the underworld."
A very unfamiliar male voice came through.
Sheng Ping's forehead was dripping with cold sweat. "Then let me die knowing why."
"It was your good father who sent me, your third brother, to kill you. Who else in the world can mobilize the Imperial Guards? And who else besides the Imperial Guards can use iron arrows?"
Sheng Ping quickly stabbed his finger with a dagger and wrote three under the carriage.
That was indeed her third brother's voice, especially the words "Father Emperor," which were exactly the same.
Would Third Brother really be so stupid as to reveal his identity like that?
Suddenly, the sound of fighting broke out outside.
"Princess, do not be afraid! Your Majesty, I have arrived too late to save you!"
Sheng Ping's eyes were cold and stern; this voice was unfamiliar to her.
She smeared the blood from her finger onto the three characters.
Once the fighting outside had stopped, the curtain in front of Shengping's carriage was lifted.
Before her stood a very handsome young man, kneeling on one knee, his eyes filled with excitement as he looked at her. "Your subject, Wang Yinian of the Imperial Guard, pays respects to Your Highness!"
Sheng Ping smiled, looking at him with amusement in his eyes. "Please get up quickly. You saved my life, so you are my savior."
If his surname is Wang, then he must be inextricably linked to the Wang family and his sixth brother, Prince Duan.
Since it was a complex scheme, she decided to play along and get involved herself, determined to see what the person behind it all was up to.
Before Shengping could even disembark from the carriage, Li Gao arrived breathlessly. "Princess Shengping, His Majesty has heard of your assassination attempt and summons you to the palace immediately! You are not to leave the palace again."
This imperial decree arrived far too quickly. It should take at least half an hour for it to get here from the Imperial Study. How did Li Gao arrive so fast?
It was obvious that her father had already received news of her assassination attempt before she was even assassinated, and she had just left the palace.
Sheng Ping glanced at Wang Yinian again, not missing the smile he had just managed to hide; his eyes were never truly concealed.
It seems that he hasn't brainwashed himself enough.
She nodded, propping her head up with one hand. "I am tired. Please have a carriage ready. Lord Wang, you may come with me to the palace to receive your reward."
They left the palace quietly, but returned with great fanfare.
Sheng Ping knew very well that in top-level power struggles, there was no room for the slightest mistake.
The power struggles in the imperial court were suffocating, but at this moment they had nothing to do with the common people far away.
Ye Panjiu's three shops were so successful that they attracted the envy of many people within three days.
Some people may just be envious, but others are already having designs on it.
Diagonally opposite Ye Erniu's shop, there is a noodle shop with dismal business.
The noodle shop is inexpensive, but hardly anyone eats there.
The shopkeeper's name was Tian Chi. He would stand at the door all day, watching the customers who had been eating braised food for a long time, and sighing endlessly.
His wife, Du Lian, got annoyed by the sighs and slammed her hand on the table, "Alright! Stop being so pessimistic, I'm going to go talk to Granny Wang, okay?"
Tian Chi ran up to her in a flash, "Why didn't you just agree earlier? Why make me sigh and feel miserable all the time!"
His eyes darted around excitedly.
Du Lian glanced at him, "I'm afraid such a heartless act will shorten my lifespan! The owner of Jiujiu Braising Shop saw that Granny Wang had no children and had just lost her husband, and was afraid that she would be sad and had no money to spend, so he specially gave her such a good job. But I want to take advantage of our past neighborly relationship and let her steal the braising ingredients!"
Tian Chi quickly covered her mouth and looked around. "My dear wife, why are you saying such nasty things! What do you mean by stealing? I just wanted to take a look and see if it could improve the taste of our noodle shop. It won't affect Jiu Jiu Lu or anything. Why are you making yourself unhappy?"
Du Lian glared at him and flung his hand away. "I was blind when I was young to have gotten on your pirate ship. This is the only time!"
As she spoke, she strode towards the Wang family's house.
No wonder Wang Pozi's job is so good. She only works for a little over two hours a day, and can stay home the rest of the time, yet she still earns so much money. Who wouldn't be envious?
When Granny Wang saw that it was Du Lian, she quickly invited her in.
They were all neighbors, and they had helped a lot when her husband was buried.
We usually get along well and have a good relationship.
As soon as Du Lian entered the room, she knelt down on the ground.
Granny Wang helped her up in a panic, saying, "Sister Du, what are you doing! Get up and talk to me. I'll do anything I can."
Du Lian stood up, took out her handkerchief and wiped away her tears, crying incessantly without saying a word.
Granny Wang was extremely anxious. "Tell me what's wrong, why are you crying!"
Du Lian sniffed, "Aunt Wang, if I had any other way, I would never have come to you today! I really have no other choice!"
She wiped away her tears again. "You've seen it too. Tianchi and I make a living from this noodle shop. Quan'er is only six years old this year. Because our family is poor and we don't have enough to eat, he's a head shorter than everyone else!"
Granny Wang sighed as she listened. She took out fifty coins from her purse and handed them to her, saying, "Sister Du, take this money and buy some meat for Quan'er."
Du Lian felt even worse looking at the money and pushed it back, saying, "Aunt Wang, I didn't come here today to ask for money."
She pinched herself hard. "I want the Jiu Jiu Lu seasoning."
Before she could finish speaking, Granny Wang's face darkened.
Du Lian quickly supported her arm, "Aunt Wang, don't be angry. We're not trying to sell braised food and steal Jiu Jiu Lu's business. We just want to see what's so magical about this seasoning so we can add it to our noodles and make the noodle shop's business better."
Granny Wang looked troubled. "This won't do!"
Du Lian knelt down before her again, tears streaming down her face.
"Aunt Wang, please, please help us, for the sake of Quan'er who is still so young!"
Granny Wang frowned deeply, her mind in turmoil.
She married her recently deceased husband when she was young, and they never had any children. However, her husband never argued with her, and the two always lived a harmonious and happy life.
When her husband finally fell ill, he emptied the family's savings of decades, and by the time of his burial, they couldn't even afford the coffin.
The money for the coffin was pooled together by the neighbors, with Du Lian contributing the most.
Now she is kneeling before him, crying and begging in every way.
Granny Wang covered her face in anguish, "Sister Du, can you get up first?"
Du Lian refused to get up, remaining kneeling and clutching her sleeve as she cried, "Aunt Wang, the three of us really have no other choice!"
Granny Wang covered her face, "Get up! Can I do it?"
Du Lian was overjoyed and stood up immediately. "Aunt Wang, don't worry, we will definitely not make things difficult for you."
She had bought those braised dishes before, and they were indeed delicious, but the couple just couldn't figure out what was in them.
Add some of this broth to the noodles, and the noodles will taste even better.
Granny Wang sighed, raised her trembling hand, and pushed Du Lian's hand away, not wanting her to grab her sleeve anymore.
Du Lian didn't seem to care and continued whispering in her ear, "You just need to..."
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