Long San returned at lunchtime, saying that a family had offered 18,000 taels of silver, but Lady Qingping refused, though not decisively.
Shen Qingyu understood immediately: this meant she was interested, but wanted to wait and see if anyone offered a higher price.
"What's the situation with that company? Are they usually domineering?"
The third princess was familiar with the story, so they started talking about it.
The one who made the offer was the second young mistress of the Marquis of Changping's mansion.
He wasn't exactly domineering, but he was certainly a shrewd businessman.
The second young master was not the legitimate son and had no hope of inheriting the Changping Marquis's mansion. Fortunately, the second young mistress's family was a merchant family and made money, so they lived a very comfortable life.
In summary: They're not short of money, but they won't act without a reason.
Shen Qingyu understood: "Then let's wait a little longer."
Qi Yunxiao didn't come back that night.
As evening fell, the new emperor sent two guards to deliver the message. After delivering the message, they stood at the door and refused to leave.
Shen Qingyu was startled: "What's going on here?"
The taller one explained respectfully, "Lady Crown Prince, His Majesty said that you just encountered such a thing, and now that the Crown Prince has been left in the palace, he was afraid that you would be worried and scared, so he sent us to protect you for a few days."
Shen Qingyu understood. Since it was an imperial decree, she would obey.
When it was time for dinner, Shen Qingyu brought out the food for them.
Two large bowls of mixed rice and millet, served with fragrant pickled cabbage and braised pork belly, the broth poured over the rice...
The two guards took turns eating, and both were amazed by the taste of the pickled cabbage and pork belly.
The rice and soup...
After finishing her bowl of rice, Shen Qingyu came to collect it and asked, "Is there any more rice?"
The two guards exchanged a glance, and the taller one chuckled, "Then let's each have another bowl."
The two of them served in the palace year-round, eating communal meals, only concerned with filling their stomachs, not with how delicious the food was.
It's not easy to have such delicious home-cooked meals.
When Shen Qingyu brought the food again, the two guards were much more familiar with each other and took the initiative to introduce themselves: "Your Highness, you can call me Gao Er from now on. I am the second oldest in my family, and he is Chen San, the third oldest in his family."
"Okay. This is all the food we have for today. If it's not enough, I'll make more for the next meal."
They had eaten about 80% of the two large bowls of food, so they were too embarrassed to eat any more.
So the two of them said they'd had enough.
Shen Qingyu smiled.
Not long after, the Third Princess finished her meal and was about to leave. Gao Er and Chen San saw her, but they only bowed respectfully and did not say a word.
The third princess felt at ease.
As long as His Majesty doesn't forbid me from associating with Qi Yunxiao, things will be easy.
Otherwise, she would have had to go through a lot of trouble to find out about her elder brother, the Crown Prince, and her eighth brother.
Shen Qingyu told everyone to wash up and go to bed.
The triplets were anxious: "Mom, why hasn't Dad come back yet? Is he locked up?"
Shen Qingyu patted their heads: "Who said that? Your father just went there for some business. He'll be back in the next day or two, maybe even tomorrow?"
"Really?" Da Bao asked incredulously.
Shen Qingyu said helplessly, "Your father values you very much now, so he will come back. Don't worry, he'll be back as soon as he's done with his work."
"Okay! Let's go to sleep!" Xiao Bao agreed first, lay down in one gulp, and immediately closed his eyes.
When Da Bao and Er Bao saw this, they both lay down as well.
Shen Qingyu was both amused and exasperated: What can you say when you encounter a child like this?
As night deepened, Shen Qingyu looked at the empty window. The chaise lounge, which Qi Yunxiao had been sleeping on for the past few days, was now empty.
After staring at the empty chaise lounge for a long time, Shen Qingyu finally realized that she was actually worried about Qi Yunxiao!
This is truly bizarre!
Shen Qingyu mumbled something, turned over to face the inside, and after some time, finally fell asleep.
In the triplets' room, the mother dog quietly got up, lightly jumped onto the bed, and reached out to tug at the baby's pajamas.
Xiao Bao woke up groggily and reached out to pat his mother's head: "Big Flower, I'm awake."
Da Hua stuck out her tongue and licked Xiao Bao's hand, then quietly jumped off the bed and curled up at the door to wait.
Xiao Bao nudged Er Bao and Da Bao, successfully waking up his two older sisters.
The two older sisters rubbed their eyes and began to get dressed.
"Xiao Bao, can Da Hua protect us?"
"Yes! And I'll tell the animals not to hurt us," Xiao Bao said confidently.
"But I heard that those places are guarded by very powerful people."
"It's alright, I have my master's token, which he said allows me to see the emperor directly." Erbao took out the token he had taken from the mad Taoist.
Da Bao did some thinking: He wouldn't get bitten by snakes or carried off by wolves if he went out, and he could use Er Bao's token to enter the place when he arrived...
No problem, let's go!
The triplets, dressed neatly, each carried their shoes and walked towards the gate.
In the hazy moonlight, Gao Er and Chen San were dumbfounded as they watched the three little ones file out one after another.
What's going on? Are the three young masters and ladies sleepwalking?
I've heard that you shouldn't wake a sleepwalker, or something serious will happen. So what should I do now?
Just as Gao Er and Chen San were looking at each other, not knowing what to do, the three little ones reached the door.
We can't just let them sneak out like that, can we?
Gao Er and Chen San had no choice but to show themselves.
Seeing the opportunity, Da Bao quickly put a finger to his lips and shushed him.
Gao Er and Chen San were stunned for a moment: This isn't sleepwalking! They seem quite lucid.
Da Bao explained in a low voice and quickly, "I heard my mother say that you are His Majesty's guards. Could you take us to find my father? We miss him..."
Gao Er and Chen San looked at each other in disbelief: This... this happiness came too suddenly!
Before coming here, His Majesty instructed that if we could find an opportunity to persuade Shen Qingyu to take the three children to the imperial palace, then we should find an opportunity to take the children there.
The Crown Prince's wife didn't go, but the three children volunteered to go...
Agree or disagree?
Gao Er and Chen San remembered those two bowls of rice with pickled cabbage and pork belly, drizzled with meat broth...
My apologies, Your Highness's wife!
Chen San, the senior high school student in charge, said, "You stay here and guard the place. I'll lead them over there."
Chen San reminded the second-year high school student: "Take a few more people with you to ensure safety."
"That's natural."
To the delight of the three children, the tall guard actually led them out.
After leaving Xinghua Lane, the tall guard set off another firework, and someone jogged over. Soon after, a carriage arrived...
The three little ones hugged Big Flower tightly, feeling both excited and apprehensive.
If I went to see my father in the middle of the night like this, and he knew how much I missed him, he would never abandon me again, right?
This was Da Bao's first time going out at night. Looking at the crescent moon on the horizon, he was filled with wonder and satisfaction: "Wow! I've gone out in the middle of the night before! I've seen the world now..."
After drinking two cups of tea, Chen San knocked on Shen Qingyu's door, then took a step back and knelt outside the door...
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