Madam Zhang knew that the Yicheng family had been patient for a long time and it was impossible for them to be forced to endure those troubles because of her and her daughter, so she inquired about the situation of Yu Zizhen and others and agreed.
It's not that she doesn't want to be a civilian, but she really can no longer protect her daughter and herself under the relentless pressure from the Zhang and Liu families.
Just as the postmaster said, it is not easy to find a good family like the Zhenbei Palace. She and her daughter are lucky to be able to take shelter under the prince of the palace.
With this thought in mind, Madam Zhang served Yu Zizhen with extra care.
The next day, the eunuch who came from the capital to deliver the imperial edict and the accompanying officials heard the news and came to Yu Zizhen with mixed feelings.
Doctor Feng had told Yu Zizhen to stay in bed and rest, so she could only sit there and awkwardly return gifts to those officials and eunuchs who came to visit her in the name of visiting the patient but were actually there to gather information.
Because the high fever had not completely subsided, Yu Zizhen's face was red, her lips were pale, and she looked listless, but she still smiled sweetly and politely forced herself to greet the officials and eunuchs.
She was so humble and polite, and did not neglect others just because she was a prince of a superior rank. This immediately made the officials and eunuchs have a better impression of her.
Everyone knew that she still needed to rest, so they sat for a while and then followed Mr. Jiang away. Yu Zizhen was not idle either. She found the indentures of Zhang Niangzi and Liu Ping'an and threw them directly into the brazier to burn.
Madam Zhang was terrified and knelt down in front of Yu Zizhen with a thud, "Prince..."
"Don't be nervous. I'm not trying to chase you away." Yu Zizhen gestured for Xinghua to help her up. "I just don't want the orphans of the border soldiers to become slaves."
Mrs. Zhang's tears suddenly flowed even harder. This was the first time that someone recognized her husband's efforts and looked up to them because they were orphans of border soldiers.
She wiped away her tears, feeling that she had thousands of words to say in her heart, but she didn't know how to say a single complete sentence.
Yu Zizhen knew that she must be feeling complicated at the moment, so he smiled and comforted her and Liu Pingan, "From now on, you can rest assured to follow me. As long as you are loyal to me and work hard for me, I will always protect you."
Madam Zhang pulled her daughter and kowtowed to her three times without saying anything. "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Your Highness! This servant and I will be loyal and do our best."
Yu Zizhen smiled and said, "Don't call yourself a slave anymore. Just call yourself 'your subordinate'."
Mrs. Zhang was filled with excitement and pulled her daughter to answer loudly, "Yes."
Yu Zizhen added, "I don't need your service here for the time being. Before our caravan leaves, go and catch up with the postmaster's wife. We'll be so far apart from each other that it's unlikely you'll have the chance to meet again."
Madam Zhang hesitated, "Slave, I'll stay and take care of you."
"No need." Yu Zizhen lay down slowly. "I'm going to sleep for a long time next. Let Xinghua stay in the room and touch my forehead from time to time."
Madam Zhang gritted her teeth and said, "Then I'll be back soon."
She didn't want to go find the postmaster's wife to reminisce about the past, but she wanted to buy some things to thank the postmaster's family for protecting her and her daughter over the years.
When she agreed to sign the death contract and enter the palace, she actually thought about leaving some money for the postmaster's family as a thank you. After all, at that time she didn't know that Yu Zizhen would give her a vacation, giving her time to prepare a thank you gift.
But the postmaster's wife firmly rejected her at that time. The two of them argued back and forth several times. Every time she finally managed to stuff the money into her hand, the postmaster's wife would stubbornly stuff it back into her hand.
Madam Zhang was helpless. She was busy going to see Mr. Jiang with the postmaster, so she naturally couldn't continue to argue with the postmaster indefinitely. She had no choice but to take back the silver.
Now that Yu Zizhen was willing to give her a chance to reminisce with old friends and say goodbye, the first thing she thought of was to prepare a thank-you gift for the postmaster's family.
Leaving Liu Ping'an behind, asking her and Xinghua to look after Yu Zizhen together, Madam Zhang hurried out the door.
She didn't know that Yu Zizhen had other purposes in doing this, so she was full of admiration for the generosity and kindness of her new master.
After hurriedly buying two bags of candies, two roast chickens, two pieces of fine cloth, and a pair of heavy but smooth silver bracelets without any patterns, Madam Zhang wiped the sweat from her forehead and happily went to find the postmaster's wife.
The wife of the postmaster had an engaged daughter, and Madam Zhang gave her the fine cloth and silver bracelet in the name of adding to her dowry.
This time, the postmaster's wife did not insist on refusing. After the two exchanged a few polite words, the postmaster's wife accepted the gift brought by Madam Zhang.
At the same time, one of the guards of the Zhenbei Palace also told Mr. Jiang about Yu Zizhen burning his body contract and Madam Zhang thanking the postmaster's family.
Mr. Jiang stroked his beard and pulled the corner of his mouth, "The prince is trying to win people's hearts."
He was clever, but his methods were too immature. This clumsy and straightforward approach could only win over ignorant country women like Madam Zhang.
But it was also better this way. For them and the King of Zhenbei, whether Yu Zizhen, as a hostage, was stupid and unaware, or too smart and mature, the trouble level was actually the same.
On the contrary, her current appearance made it most convenient for them to guide her.
Mr. Jiang was just thinking about it when suddenly there was a burst of curses that became louder and louder outside the post station.
The guard went out to check the situation and said, "Sir, it's the Liu family."
The Liu family came to pick up Liu Ping'an. They found a husband's family for Liu Ping'an who was willing to pay twenty taels of silver as a betrothal gift. The other party was anxious for Liu Ping'an to marry in to bring good luck to their seriously ill son, so the wedding date was set very soon.
In order not to delay the auspicious time tomorrow, the Liu family insisted on bringing Liu Ping'an back to the Liu family today.
Because they held the firm belief that they had to take people away today no matter what, the Liu family did not restrain themselves this time just because this was an inn.
They cursed and shouted, and relied on their numbers to rush into the post station.
However, to their surprise, the one who stopped them outside the door this time was not their old acquaintance, the postmaster, but a team of elite soldiers in armor and with awe-inspiring aura.
These soldiers were different from the postmaster who mainly spoke. When they faced the Liu family, the first thing they did was to draw their weapons.
The sharp gun tips and knife blades lined up in a row, frightening the Liu family so much that they no longer dared to rush forward rashly.
"What's going on?" The old lady of the Liu family, who had led the commotion, felt weak all over. She tightly grasped her eldest son's hand, "Why are there so many soldiers suddenly in the post station?"
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