Jiaren thought about it and hesitated.
From the time Lu Zong and Jia Xu went south to Quanzhou that year, they took the initiative to get close to the brothers.
They truly do their best to help when needed, and they never fail to show the proper etiquette during holidays.
Both of them were upright in their conduct and character.
Cat Brother just let slip a few things. If we don't tell them anything, it would seem like we're treating them like outsiders, which would chill their hearts.
However, since this matter involves the Wu family and the Empress, and the family has not obtained any crucial evidence, it is not appropriate to say too much.
If word gets out, and the Li family is accused of falsely accusing the Empress, they will be at a complete disadvantage!
Having no other choice, he could only offer a few words that avoided the main point.
"Actually, I'm not hiding it from you. We've been friends for so many years. If it were up to me, I would definitely tell you."
"But this matter involves too much, and our family hasn't investigated it thoroughly, so I can't bring it up."
"What exactly happened?" Jia Xu was even more puzzled.
Lu Zong's expression also changed, and he guessed, "Could it be that the princess's illness has not improved, or that she has been poisoned?"
Jiaren was afraid they would go too far, so he quickly waved his hand to stop them, "No, the princess is fine. She was forced to pretend to be sick because of rumors."
"However, some people are foolish enough to think that the princess is truly blessed and want to take a bowl of her heart's blood to cure her illness..."
"What?!"
"My heart's blood!"
Lu Zong and Jia Xu stood up abruptly in surprise and anger, their impact causing the table to shake violently.
"Which beast is this? Has their brain been eaten by a dog? How could they believe such stupid things?!" Lu Zong was so angry that his face turned pale.
Jia Xu gritted his teeth and said, "Have you identified who's behind this? They're utterly despicable; they must be torn to pieces!"
In fact, they didn't see the princess often, but many of the things they received from the Li family were prepared by the princess.
Summer ice cream and snacks, winter fresh fruits and vegetables, and even some novel and fancy sewing supplies.
Of course, the Jiaren brothers used the ones sewn by the princess herself, while the ones given to them were sewn by the Li family's embroiderers.
But each piece is well-designed, with interesting and novel embroidery patterns, showing that a lot of thought and effort was put into it.
They come from wealthy families and have no shortage of these things, but what is rare is their sincerity.
Naturally, they also often looked for nice things that young girls liked and entrusted Jiaren to give them as gifts in return.
The bond between us deepens through this back-and-forth exchange.
Now, just the thought of someone killing and gouging out the heart of such a lively and beautiful girl as the princess fills them with rage!
Jiaren quickly persuaded them to sit down again, poured them tea, and whispered, "Don't worry, we have a plan at home."
"But this matter involves too much, so it's really inconvenient to say too much..."
Lu Zong and Jia Xu both frowned, thinking carefully, this matter was indeed not simple.
A princess of high status, backed by the Li, Liu, and Wen families, and even the Marquis of Xinting who holds military power, is not someone that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry would dare to covet.
The person behind this dared to make a move... their identity must be extraordinary!
Lu Zong paused for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Brother Jiaren, is Dr. Zhang from your village still alive?"
"Don't be fooled by my current good health. I was actually born prematurely and had a congenital weakness. When I went to Beijing, my father told me to find a good doctor to help me recover."
“I think the doctor in your village is quite good. Since I have some free time recently, could you please let me stay for a few days?”
"I don't need the food and supplies to be too good, but I need spacious accommodations. I also have fifty guards who will definitely be living with me in the village."
Jiaren paused for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.
Lu Zong's real intention was not to seek medical treatment or improve his health, but to move into the village with his guards to protect the Li family.
Although Lord Hou, Fourth Uncle, and Uncle Dayong were not at home, there were no elite troops stationed in the village.
But the younger sister had Dongmei and Yeshan, a married couple, as well as Shuiling and Shuiyun to protect her, and the brothers were also protected by servants from Zhengjiazhuang.
The wounded and veteran soldiers in the second village can also protect the village.
So, all things considered, the family doesn't actually lack manpower to protect themselves.
But in times like these, having an extra source of support always makes family members feel safer.
“Okay,” Jiaren readily agreed. “However, there’s no room in our house. Let me talk to Grandma and see how we can arrange things.”
"It should take about ten days to half a month for your body to recover."
"Haha, it's settled then. I'll pay my respects tomorrow." Lu Zong had always envied the lively atmosphere of the Li family and was very excited about the upcoming "cohabitation" life.
Jia Xu loved to join in the fun, and seeing them like this, he also clamored to get involved.
The major exams were postponed to next spring, so he didn't need to go to the academy, and his family didn't interfere with his actions. So, under the guise of accompanying Lu Zong for his medical treatment, he also stayed in the new village for a few days...
The three friends talked for a long time, and after it was completely dark, the kitchen sent out some congee and side dishes as a late-night snack.
Just then, Cat Brother and the others woke up, and everyone gathered together again to drink porridge and warm their stomachs.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cat Brother and the others were completely sober.
Cat Brother and Zhimin Xiujie were bouncing around again, ordering fruit, snacks and treats, and then setting up a table to play cards.
Zhimin and Xiujie are mischievous and playful, and they have already learned from Cat Brother, but Guo Wenhao is a complete novice.
Fortunately, Li Ge'er, Gu Li, Jia Xu, and Lu Zong also set up a table.
Jiaren was left behind, so he became a military advisor to his junior brother, fighting against Maoge'er, Zhimin, and Xiujie.
As a result, an hour later, Cat Brother, Zhimin, and Xiujie's faces were covered with paper strips, like a curtain.
Guo Wenhao only has a "white beard" on his chin!
It was a resounding victory, a complete rout!
The three cats protested loudly, saying that Guo Wenhao must have secretly learned the skills, but was just pretending to be weak to deceive others!
Guo Wenhao was pinned down on the kang (a heated brick bed) and tickled, laughing until tears streamed down his face.
At the other table, the competition was evenly matched. If a winner had to be determined, it turned out that Li Ge'er had the fewest pieces of paper on his face!
Gu Li, Jia Xu, and Lu Zong followed suit, knocking down Li Ge'er, who had won the most games, and using the tickling technique!
Li Ge'er was chased and crawled all over the kang (a heated brick bed).
In the middle of the night, a group of "paper note monsters" were shouting and yelling, almost lifting the roof off...
A light snow fell last night. This morning, the servants in the Li family's courtyard were sweeping everywhere with large brooms. Occasionally, they would playfully make snowballs and throw them at each other, which brought laughter to the air.
They had been with the Li family for some time now, and at first they were very cautious and obedient, but they gradually realized that their masters were truly kind-hearted and would never beat or scold them for no reason.
They would also make sure they were warmly dressed and well-fed, and had a warm kang (heated brick bed) to sleep on at night.
This finally put them at ease, and they occasionally dared to show some of their childlike side.
Grandma Li came out of the house wearing a brand-new brocade jacket with a five-blessing and longevity pattern. Her white hair was neatly combed and a gold hairpin with a jade head was inserted at the back of her head, making her look very clean and neat.
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