Bai Tuantuan was fast asleep in bed, but the palace was brightly lit.
Tong Runing knelt on the ground, crying loudly to proclaim her innocence. Leng Zhizhi, standing to the side, looked at her coldly, biting her lip tightly. She knew she couldn't say anything now and could only place her hopes on the Emperor.
She was an orphan with no one to rely on, and she had always tolerated it, but this time it involved two children, and she couldn't tolerate it!
“Your Majesty, Shui Shui and Bing Bing are feeling better now. Why don’t we let the two children tell us what happened?” Leng Zhizhi took a deep breath and said slowly.
"Your child will naturally side with you!" Tong Runing looked at Leng Zhizhi with tears streaming down her face. "Your Majesty! I'm innocent!"
The emperor sat high on the dragon throne, his face dark and horribly grim.
Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Empress left. Looking at Tong Runing below, a hint of disgust flashed in the Empress's eyes: "I have seen all your struggles in the harem. I will not say anything about the petty squabbles, but how could you lay a hand on the princes and grandsons of the emperor!"
"You say the two children are siding with Consort Li, then why don't they wrong anyone else, but specifically you?"
Tong Runing was about to speak when the Empress spoke first: "Zheng Fangyu also accused you. Could it be that your own cousin is also wronging you?"
Tong Runing opened her mouth, then lowered her panicked eyes.
"Investigate!" The Emperor's voice, though not angry, rang out. "This matter must be thoroughly investigated and the truth revealed!"
The Empress readily agreed.
"Guards! Drag the Imperial Concubine away. She is not allowed to leave the courtyard until this matter is thoroughly investigated!"
When the Emperor issued the decree confining Tong Runing to her quarters, she became frightened and cried loudly, claiming that she was innocent, but she was still dragged out.
The Empress Dowager sighed and said, "I told you long ago that the Tong family is narrow-minded and intolerant of others. Did you believe me this time?"
"It is my fault that Mother suffered such a fatal injury." The Emperor's face was full of remorse.
The Empress Dowager waved her hand: "I am fine. Imperial Physician Huang has already obtained the Ganoderma lucidum. I will be able to detoxify soon. My son, you don't need to worry too much. However, you should reward the Chen family son well."
"As for that little girl Changning," the Empress Dowager smiled, "she should come to the palace more often."
The Emperor smiled and said, "If Mother Empress likes her, then please keep that girl."
Consort Li left first because she was worried about her two children.
Upon arriving at the palace, looking at Yang Shuishui and Yang Bingbing who had already fallen asleep, he said, "Zhan'er, thank you very much, County Princess. Go to the storeroom and pick out some things that children like to send to the Xiao family."
Zhan'er nodded.
Leng Zhizhi touched her two daughters' foreheads, remembering what they had told her: if Bai Tuantuan had arrived any later, her two children would have died in the well.
She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and knew she was all alone with no one to rely on, but she wasn't afraid of anything!
The next day, Bai Tuantuan woke up at noon.
"Miss is awake." Ruotang walked in with a faint smile on her face. "Madam said that from now on, you don't need to pay your respects to the Old Madam. You can sleep as long as you want."
Bai Tuantuan agreed and asked while washing up, "Where did Mother go?"
"The Lady of the Marquis has arrived and is currently in the back garden with the Lady."
Bai Tuantuan nodded, and after washing up, she went to the back garden with Ruotang.
"Tuantuan, come here, this is your enrollment postcard."
Du Chunhua smiled and pulled Bai Tuantuan into her arms: "You scared me yesterday, so don't be so reckless in the future."
Bai Tuantuan nodded obediently, then picked up the post and looked at it again: "Is this a post from a prestigious academy in the capital?"
"Yes, I went to the Bai family today. Your grandmother found out I was coming, so she asked me to bring you the invitation. You will have to go to school in three days."
"The academy in the capital is a complex place, and the students there are all from families of high-ranking officials and nobles. Although you are a county princess, you are still not good enough for them."
Du Chunhua frowned and said slowly, "So we must be careful in everything we do."
“Nan Xiao was thrown into the guard team by your uncle, otherwise he could have gone to the capital academy with you and protected you.”
"Aunt Chunhua, I'm not afraid, I'm very capable!" Bai Tuantuan patted her chest, her chubby little face full of seriousness.
Du Chunhua sighed, "It's because you showed off your skills at the banquet that I'm worried! What if they keep bothering you to tell their fortunes?"
“No.” Bai Tuantuan shook her head. “If anyone forces me, I’ll tell my grandparents.”
"You're not so stupid, little girl," Du Chunhua laughed. "You're still just a child, you won't do anything too outrageous. If you really offend someone, you must tell our elders, understand?"
Bai Tuantuan nodded quickly.
Chen Zhixu, sitting to the side, said with a smile, "Sister Chunhua, don't worry about her, she's very clever! By the way, has any news come from the palace?"
Du Chunhua shook her head: "All I know is that the Imperial Concubine has been confined to her quarters, and the Empress has taken over the investigation. I heard that during the morning court session this day, Lord Tong and Lord Zheng were at loggerheads, and they must have developed a rift because of this matter."
Chen Zhixiu nodded: "It's just a pity for the two children."
"Who can argue with that? I've heard that these two children are still too afraid to be alone in the courtyard; they insist on having Consort Li accompany them!"
A flash of anger crossed Du Chunhua's eyes: "These people are too cruel. Why would they lay a hand on a child?"
Just then, Eunuch Cai from the palace arrived.
Upon receiving the news, the group quickly went outside.
"Princess, County Princess, these are little trinkets bestowed by the Emperor. The Empress Dowager and Consort Li also gave some. Do you like any of them?"
With a smile, Eunuch Cai had someone open the box.
"Why didn't you inform Master and me of Eunuch Cai's arrival?" Zheng Fangyu walked out with a rosy complexion, and Xiao Guangyuan beside her quickly bowed to Eunuch Cai.
Upon seeing Du Chunhua, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he hurriedly said, "I did not know that Madam Hou would grace us with her presence. Please forgive me."
Du Chunhua stepped aside and said calmly, "I'm here to see my sister, Lord Xiao, there's no need for such formalities."
Eunuch Cai chimed in, "His Majesty instructed this old servant to keep a low profile, so I did not have anyone report it. Lord Xiao, please continue with your own affairs."
Xiao Guangyuan forced a smile: "Madam Hou and Eunuch Cai are too kind. Since you have come to the manor, we should naturally treat you well. Yu'er, please prepare tea and refreshments."
“Master, I have already had preparations made,” Zheng Fangyu said with a smile, then blamed herself, “It’s also my fault for being busy serving you in the study and not noticing our distinguished guest has arrived. I’m sorry to have troubled you with entertaining him.”
"My sister has just returned to the manor and has not been very hospitable. Please forgive her."
Chen Zhixiu scoffed lightly: "Husband, why don't you find a doctor to check my sister's ears? Why can't she understand human speech?"
Du Chunhua covered her upturned lips.
Eunuch Cai suppressed a laugh and said, "The goods have been delivered. This old servant must return to the palace to report."
"Take care, sir."
Du Chunhua exchanged a few polite words and left. After the two figures disappeared from sight, Zheng Fangyu said aggrievedly, "What do you mean by that, sister? Although Madam Hou and Eunuch Cai came to see you, you are, after all, the lady of the Xiao family. If you are not treated well, people will laugh at the Xiao family and your husband!"
"Then if guests come, it would be better if my sister notified me, so as to avoid making a fool of myself by not being able to entertain them properly."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Guangyuan nodded: "Yu'er is right. Xiu'er, you should learn more from Yu'er."
Zheng Fangyu smiled, her eyes filled with undisguised pride: "Sister has just arrived, no rush. I will definitely teach you everything I know. Men, carry all these rewards into the public treasury."
"Public storeroom?" Chen Zhixiu repeated, looking at Xiao Guangyuan, "Does my husband think so too?"
Xiao Guangyuan coughed twice and said calmly, "We're all family, there's no need to be so formal."
Zheng Fangyu feigned surprise and asked, "Sister, you wouldn't be unwilling, would you?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Zheng Fangyu looked enlightened: "That's right, it's normal that my sister is unwilling to share since she has never seen such good things before. Well then, sir, let's not force her."
Xiao Guangyuan's face showed impatience. He glanced at Chen Zhixiu and Bai Tuantuan and said righteously, "We're all family, why distinguish between you and me? What's wrong with putting your rewards into the public coffers? Alright, Yu'er, put these things away, that's settled!"
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