Chapter 61
Prince Jing returns to Yanbei
Qin Hu made a promise to Chang Qing and asked him to listen to it tomorrow.
Chang Qing led the group back.
On the way, Chang Qing was unsure and asked Cheng Mu, "Madam Cheng, can Manager Qin really handle this matter?"
Cheng Mu: "We've already applied all the necessary eye drops. Let's see how far he can go."
At the Wuwei Escort Agency, the people Wu Tao had arranged to contact him had already informed him of the information they had gathered. Wu Tao was surprised. "Madam Cheng is trying to rescue Madam Cheng? Who is the captured Madam Cheng?"
"She's a widow from Zhaojia Village. She's been a big fan of Madam Cheng's kindness. She's clever and courageous. Seeing that Steward Lu was looking for trouble with Madam Cheng and had mistaken her for someone else, she decided to take the blame."
Wu Tao showed his approval, "Madam Cheng didn't make a mistake in choosing this person."
"Back when Manager Lu was causing trouble in Zhaojia Village, the people from Shangguan Horse Farm plotted to capture Madam Cheng. All the farmers in Shang'an Township went to demand her return. Qi Song said the village elders had warned that they would not give up if Madam Cheng was mistreated. If Madam Cheng were truly captured by Manager Lu today, it's impossible that not a single person in Shang'an Township would come to Yunzhou."
Wu Tao nodded. "Madam Cheng has benefited the village, so she's naturally loved. But this troubled lady—" She instructed, "Since no one in Yunzhou City knows what Madam Cheng looks like, we'll pretend we don't know. But if we hear about it, we can say a few words to the prefect."
"I'll make the arrangements right away."
"Who do you say is looking for Manager Qin?" Lu Cricket was lying on the couch. She was not feeling well after taking a nap and her mind was still a little confused.
The servant hunched over and reported, "The man who fought us in Zhaojia Village has found an accomplice, and he's come to Steward Qin. If Steward Qin intervenes—"
Lu Cricket sat up and suddenly became awake.
The servant came forward to help him put on his shoes.
Lu Cricket asked, "Has Madam Cheng relented?"
"without."
Lu Cricket kicked the man down and said, "Useless thing!"
While threatening people with the name of "traitor" and forcing them to death, Lu Quer also put out a fishing line. He persuaded "Madam Cheng" that as long as she agreed to compensate for the loss of a thousand acres of government fields this year, she could escape the death penalty of "traitor". The death penalty could be avoided, but the living penalty could not. She had to increase the production of government fields for three consecutive years. If she signed, he, Lu Quer, would guarantee that she would be safe.
This "Mrs. Cheng" was very unyielding and insisted that she was not a traitor. If she was guilty, it would not be judged by a mere steward like him.
Feeling looked down upon, Lu Qun'er angrily kicked her in the heart. After that, this "Mrs. Cheng" stopped talking. After her subordinates settled the people, they specifically asked Lu Qun'er whether she really wanted to escort this "Mrs. Cheng" to the provincial capital.
If Manager Qin wanted to intervene, Lu Quer would naturally send the person somewhere else, either to the government office or to the capital.
He hurried to the place where "Madam Cheng" was imprisoned. When he saw the guards outside the house, his hurried steps suddenly stopped and asked, "What's going on?"
In addition to the guards he arranged, Manager Qin surrounded another circle of guards.
He tried to move forward but was stopped by the guard, who said arrogantly, "I'm sorry, this is the order of Steward Qin."
Lu Cricket turned around angrily and went to find Qin Hu.
Qin Hu sat in his house, waiting for Lu Cricket.
Lu Cricket kicked the chair reserved for him, "Qin Hu, what do you mean!"
Qin Hu refused to play along. "I already know who you brought back. This Madam Cheng was the one who donated grain for the emperor's personal army to enter the capital. You arrested her in a fit of rage, betraying your integrity. Now you're accusing her of collaborating with the enemy and plotting treason. Do you dare say that to Chief Steward Lei's face?"
Lu Qu'er was worried, but he had always been at odds with Manager Qin, so he had no choice but to continue the performance. "I have my own arrangements. Today I will take my men to the capital and let your men withdraw."
Qin Hu sneered and slowly walked over to him. "Manager Lu, you'd better stay here. I've already sent a letter to the capital to report this matter, and I should have a reply within three days. Treason is a serious matter. Since Manager Lu has come forward to testify, you should stay put for the next three days."
Lu Cricket's face was ferocious. She grabbed Qin Hu's collar and said, "Who the hell are you? Do you think you can detain us?"
Qin Hu had already taken the initiative. Lu Qu'er's chest was burning with anger and his fists were clenched tightly. He had suffered at the hands of Qin Hu before and this time he absolutely could not bear it anymore. He would beat him first!
He punched and earned a punch. Lu Quer beat Qin Hu so hard that he vomited blood.
Qin Hu's face was bruised and swollen. "No matter what, you have to stay at home. The capital will make the final decision."
If Chief Steward Lei arranges someone to take charge of this matter, Lu Quer's beating of Qin Hu will also be considered a crime.
This guy did it on purpose! Lu Cricket also realized that he had fallen into his trap again!
A servant hurried in from outside the hall, "Two stewards! Prince Jing's men are here!"
Qin Hu and Lu Qu'er were stunned for a moment. "Prince Jing? Who?"
After the current emperor ascended the throne, he named the former crown prince Prince Jing.
Everyone speculated that Prince Jing would be appointed as the crown prince, but unexpectedly he was granted a fiefdom and returned to Yunzhou.
It will arrive tomorrow.
Qin Hu and Lu Qu'er had no time to think about the argument just now. The most important thing at the moment was to prepare for the reception.
In the inn, after dinner, Guier couldn't sit still.
"Madam Cheng, the fox is still watching over there. How about I go in and check it out at night?"
"No," Cheng Mu advised, "You don't know the internal structure, and you don't have the lightness skill. It's too dangerous to go there rashly."
Gui'er always felt it was too mysterious: "I don't think that Manager Qin is stupid. If we just make an empty promise, will he do his best to do the job?"
Cheng Mu said, "Manager Qin is not stupid. It's enough that we have the same goal for now."
Sao Hu knocked on the door outside, "Madam Cheng."
Gui'er rushed to open the door and asked, "Why are you back? Any news?"
When Sao Hu told Cheng Mu the news, she was shocked. "Prince Jing is returning to Zhen Yanbei?"
Sure enough, the ending was the same as in the book.
After the emperor ascended the throne, he did not appoint his only legitimate son as the crown prince, but instead asked him to come back and continue to guard the nine states of Yanyun.
The Sixteen Prefectures of Yanyun were the foundation laid by the Xu family's ancestors, and there are no more powerful defenders than the descendants of the Xu family. If anyone else were to command such a large army, the current emperor would be unable to eat or sleep.
After learning that her original sister and brother-in-law were coming back, Cheng Mu was no longer as calm as before. After they came back, they would definitely ask about "Madam Cheng". In the end...
The next day, Cheng Mu still dressed up as Mr. Chang's maid, and the group booked a private room on the second floor of Qingyun Restaurant. Cheng Mu sat by the window, paying attention to the movements on the main street from time to time.
The streets were bustling with people, especially in front of the Jixiang Baozi Shop, where a group of people gathered.
The lid of the bamboo steamer was opened, steam was rising, and the crowd was getting busy. Some people bought freshly baked hot buns and stuffed them into their mouths without caring about the burn.
The aroma from the bun shop seemed to be wafting over from across the street. Chang Qing and his friends could not help but talk about how delicious the auspicious buns were.
Cheng Mu took out some money and asked Guier to go across the street and buy a basket of buns.
As soon as Gui'er went down, she met the prefect who was going out of the city to welcome her.
From the moment the prefect's carriage left the city, the shop owners and clerks on the street seemed to have sensed something and would come out from time to time to look around.
Cheng Mu saw from the second floor that Gui'er didn't buy any ready-made buns in front of the bun shop, so she had to pay and wait for the next batch. As she waited, circles of diners gathered around her.
When the next pot of buns was cooked, the waiter was the first to pick up thirty buns for Guier and put them in a basket. Guier held up the basket covered with paper and finally squeezed out of the crowd.
"Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" Horse hooves were flying on the street, and cavalrymen with swords on their belts spread a net all the way from the direction of the city gate, separating the people on the side of the street, and the center of the street suddenly became wide and unobstructed.
Gui'er was also stopped across the street with the basket in her arms. She tried to rush across the main street before the big shot came over.
The cavalryman slashed with his sword and shouted, "Retreat!"
Gui'er was indignant and almost jumped up to fight with him. Cheng Mu leaned out of the second-floor window and signaled her to calm down.
Gui'er swallowed her anger and stood back.
After a cup of tea, a large group of people came from the direction of the city gate.
Walking side by side with the prefect was a man of extraordinary bravery. Judging from his gorgeous attire and the prefect's humble posture, he was Prince Jing.
The person in the gorgeous carriage in the middle is Princess Jing.
Gui'er's heart was beating like a drum. This was the first time she met such an important person.
Cheng Mu's gaze shifted from Prince Jing to the carriage.
When the carriage passed by below, the people in the carriage lifted the curtain, and Prince Jing on horseback leaned over to listen to what the princess said to him.
Cheng Mu stared closely at the elegant and graceful Princess Jing, and the person in her original memory gradually overlapped with this person.
Princess Jing seemed to sense something and looked over here. Cheng Mu hurriedly hid behind the window.
When I looked down again, Prince Jing had already passed by.
Guier came back happily carrying the basket.
"Madam Cheng, guess who I saw just now?"
Cheng Mu only took one bun, asked Gui'er to take a few, and then shared the rest with Chang Qing and others.
Gui'er said excitedly, "I saw Mr. Huang! He was following the prefect and passed by me. I made eye contact with him, and he was stunned, and so was I."
Cheng Mu was also stunned. She didn't pay any attention at all, she was only focused on watching Prince Jing and the Princess. Huang Nian'an, is he back too?
With Prince Jing?
Cheng Mu pinched the soft bun and pondered for a moment, "Gui'er, follow him immediately. Find an opportunity to secretly meet with Master Huang. Just say that Madam Cheng was arrested by a steward in the palace. Don't tell him about Xiuying replacing me yet. Just say that you were not at the scene at the time and rushed to Yunzhou after hearing the news. Just pretend you don't know. Your purpose in going to him is not to ask him to save people, but to find out why he came back, and ask him if he is now working for Prince Jing." After a pause, Cheng Mu continued, "If he is not working for Prince Jing now."
Gui'er took note, but she still didn't understand why she didn't just ask Master Huang to rescue them.
"We don't know his situation right now, so it's hard to speak rashly. If we can help him, he will take the initiative to help."
And no matter whether he helps or not, Prince Jing's return will only speed up the progress of Manager Qin in dealing with Lu Quer, and Xu Xiuying will be fine.
Indeed, Manager Qin brought everyone to renovate the old palace overnight. Now the old palace has been completely renewed and a plaque has been hung up again, becoming Prince Jing's Palace.
Prince Jing and his entourage returned to Prince Jing's Mansion. Steward Qin warmly welcomed them. There were many things to arrange inside and outside the mansion, and he was very busy. Fortunately, this was Prince Yanyun's Mansion not long ago, and everything was regulated. Everyone was familiar with Prince Jing and the princess, so nothing went wrong.
After everything was arranged, Prince Jing and the Princess met with the steward of the mansion and finally asked what happened to Steward Qin's face.
On the second day after being beaten, the bruises on his face were the heaviest. The color on his face made Manager Qin lose some dignity, but it was also his best evidence. Manager Qin reported Manager Lu what he had done truthfully.
Before Prince Jing returned home, he heard something from the prefect. It involved the person personally favored by his father... After all, it was his family affair, so he handled it behind closed doors.
Manager Lu was called in for a confrontation.
Seeing that the situation in the mansion had changed and that there was a master in charge, the few people who had originally been under Lu Cricket's command became active and told him everything about what Lu Cricket wanted to plunder from Madam Cheng.
Lu Cricket had no way to deny it and his face turned pale.
He had touched the royal family's bottom line, and even his brother-in-law, the chief steward of the forbidden area, could not protect him.
He collapsed on the ground like a pile of mud and heard Prince Jing coldly order his guards, "Drag him out and beat him to death."
After finishing the household affairs, Prince Jing and the Princess went to play chess in the inner hall and asked someone to bring Madam Cheng over.
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