Just then, a servant ran up to report, "Princess, the eldest young mistress has returned by carriage and is looking for you."
"Sister-in-law is back?" Jiayin was overjoyed and quickly returned to the old house.
Sure enough, Wan'er was standing in front of the door, chatting with the old and young women from the village.
She already had a dignified and composed appearance, and now, as she chatted and laughed, she became even more approachable, without the slightest airs of an official's wife.
The women all liked her and kept inviting her to their homes.
Wan'er couldn't handle such enthusiasm, but luckily her sister-in-law returned.
Receiving her sister-in-law's pleading look, Jiayin stepped forward and said with a grin to her aunts and grandmothers, "Auntie, ladies, my grandma and mother aren't home, and my sister-in-law is managing the mansion in the city. Even if she wanted to visit you, she wouldn't have the time."
"So, I'll take this honor! We're slaughtering a pig at home today, so let's have a pig-killing feast first. When I come back in a few days, the aunties and grandmas will kill a chicken for me, and we'll stew it with mushrooms we picked on the mountain last autumn! Don't be stingy with your food then!"
"Haha, how could that be! If the princess wants to eat, I'll kill all the chickens in the house and stew a big pot of them!"
"That's right, that's right. Life is much better now. We stew one every few days. It's not like the poor days of the past."
"I also have a goose at home, which is even tastier when stewed with potatoes. Princess, please come to my house first."
The women started talking all at once, vying to let Jiayin come to their house for dinner first, creating a lively and noisy scene.
The village elder and his wife happened to be nearby. They initially thought they were arguing, but when they heard that they were fighting over the princess to come to their house for dinner, the village elder put his hands behind his back, smiled, and went in.
Aunt Wu stayed behind to say a few words, then sent everyone to the kitchen to help, which finally rescued Wan'er and Jiayin.
Wan'er and Aunt Wu went to arrange the bowls, chopsticks, tables, chairs, and other chores, while Jiayin went to the backyard to check on the various suites.
It must be said that Granny He was very dedicated. Even when the masters were not around, she would have people clean the rooms every day, and even the bedding would be aired out every two days, giving it a wonderfully sunny smell.
Jiayin sat in her grandmother's room for a while longer, thinking of the happy times of her childhood. She missed her grandmother and mother and felt a little sad.
She didn't let her mood sour; she quickly went outside and then gave tips to Granny He and the others.
The reward was meager, two taels of silver per person, with an additional pair of silver hairpins for Granny He.
But this made Granny He and the others extremely happy, as it was a recognition of their hard work by their master.
As night fell, wooden sticks were lit in the iron barrels at the four corners of the Li family compound, and torches were also placed on the walls, illuminating the surroundings as bright as day.
Everyone in the village, young and old, gathered together to eat the pork stew and chat, creating a lively atmosphere.
The men inevitably had to have a bowl of strong liquor. After a couple of sips, their faces would turn red, and they would start talking non-stop.
Of course, Lao Hei and his group were still the main characters, sharing many of their experiences on the road, which broadened everyone's horizons.
This commotion lasted until the moon was high in the sky.
Once the men strolled home and the women had finished cleaning up the "battlefield," the whole village finally quieted down.
Uncle Zhao led his patrol team, strolling around the village and its outskirts, taking good care of every place.
This is one of the reasons why the villagers can sleep peacefully.
Jiayin stood at the gate of the courtyard for a while and chatted with Uncle Zhao for a few more minutes.
The old man was very happy, saying repeatedly, "Luckily I didn't go to see the King of Hell back then, otherwise I would have missed out on this good life."
Jiayin smiled and coaxed him, "People say that after hardship comes happiness. Grandpa Zhao has suffered a lot, so he deserves this good life now."
"In a year or two, when things have calmed down in Xindu, I'll take you and Grandpa Village Chief to the seaside for a walk, and also to see our family's businesses in the south. Maybe we can even visit the Kingdom of Golden Buddha!"
"Haha, that's wonderful! I've crawled out of piles of dead bodies my whole life, I'm not afraid of anything. My only wish is to be buried outside the village after I die."
"While we're alive, we can go wherever we want. Every extra day we live is a bonus!" The old man was magnanimous, speaking of life and death as simply as drinking water.
After exchanging a few more casual words, Zheng He came out to invite someone.
"Princess, the Earl and Mr. Wen have had their hangover soup and are looking for you to speak with."
Jiayin quickly greeted Grandpa Zhao and went to the study.
Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen had drunk quite a bit with the villagers earlier, and they were still a little tipsy.
But with Jiayin back, there are some things that need to be said clearly, otherwise, even the slightest mistake could lead to major trouble under these circumstances.
Just then, Jiayin also had something to say. She personally poured tea for her second uncle and Mr. Wen, and said in a low voice, "Second Uncle, Mr. Wen, someone secretly broke into the palace last night, entered the Imperial Study, and met with the Emperor."
"Who is it?" Li Lao Er frowned. "Whom does the Emperor wish to summon, and why not during the day?"
Jia Yin replied, "It is the Marquis of Dingbei."
"The Marquis of Dingbei?!" Li Lao Er and Mr. Wen exclaimed in unison, then exchanged a glance, their expressions turning serious.
"The Marquis of Dingbei has always been one of the Empress Dowager's men, even before the capital was moved. Now, what's going on?" Mr. Wen hesitated for a moment, then continued, "Is he now seeing that the Empress Dowager's power is waning and planning to switch allegiances? Or has he always been a pawn that the Emperor placed on the Empress Dowager's side?"
Li Lao Er frowned and pondered for a long time before replying, "Regardless of what happened before, he is now a member of the Emperor's camp."
"I originally thought the Emperor only wanted to clean up the court and pick out those who harbored disloyal intentions. But it seems that the Emperor also intends to eliminate the Empress Dowager and her faction in one fell swoop!"
Mr. Wen nodded, "That's for sure, but it's a bit risky."
He sighed and said in a low voice, "It seems that the Emperor's condition is more serious than we thought, otherwise he wouldn't be in such a hurry to eliminate all the hidden dangers at once."
Jiayin already had doubts, and seeing that the conversation had turned to this point, she asked, "Second Uncle, what kind of poison did Uncle Huang suffer from? Is it serious?"
Li Lao Er coughed twice and looked at Mr. Wen.
As a result, Mr. Wen lowered his head and drank his tea, clearly indicating that he was unwilling to respond.
Left with no other option, he could only vaguely say, "According to Physician Zhang, the poison His Majesty has been afflicted with is similar to Hibiscus Ointment. Initially, inhaling it only causes restlessness, which can be relieved by smelling a fragrance made from a type of herb called Qinghe grass."
"But long-term use will drive people crazy and make them fall into delusions from which they cannot wake up, thus ruining their health. Moreover, those who become addicted... will gradually lose their fertility."
Jiayin blinked twice and gasped.
The stinger of a wasp is most poisonous, like the heart of a woman!
Seeing the Consort's gentle and kind demeanor, and her deep affection for the Emperor, no one could have imagined that she would be so ruthless.
Not only should the emperor be driven mad and die, but he should also be deposed and have no descendants!
"What...what is the Imperial Concubine's motive?"
Mr. Wen put down his teacup and sighed, "What could it be for? It's all about that chair! No matter how noble a concubine is, she's not as secure as the Empress Dowager."
Li Lao Er nodded in agreement, "Whether the Second Prince is made Crown Prince or not, it would be more reassuring for the Consort than if he were to ascend the throne."
Jiayin suddenly realized a possibility, and her heart clenched painfully...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com