Chapter 3 What kind of corrupt official are they?
Ling Ruofeng was immediately startled, and his voice changed when he spoke: "Who's here?"
"Yes... Princess Consort of Jin has arrived."
The guard glanced at Yun Zhao, then at the marquis with a grim expression, and said cautiously, "They said they've come to take Miss Yun Zhao back..."
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao's face lit up with joy.
"My mother is here?"
She shouted happily, took short strides, and ran towards the gate without looking back.
Ling Xuerou couldn't hide her smile when she thought about how Prince Jin would be exiled and his property confiscated.
Yun Zhao didn't care what she thought. When she ran outside, the carriage of the Prince of Jin's mansion was already parked there.
Thinking of how she refused to acknowledge him in her past life, Yun Zhao slowed down her movements.
Princess Xu Qingyi of Jin stood at the bottom of the steps. When she saw her biological daughter, she was excited, but hesitated and dared not move.
"Zhaozhao, your mother has come to pick you up."
Her voice trembled as she opened her arms wide, afraid of frightening her daughter; her beautiful face was full of hope.
Yun Zhao's nose suddenly stung with tears, and he quickly stepped forward, burying his face in Xu Qingyi's arms.
Xu Qingyi carried a faint fragrance of magnolia blossoms, and Yun Zhao nestled affectionately against his mother.
With a sob in his voice, he uttered the first words he had ever spoken to Xu Qingyi in both his lives.
"mother!"
Xu Qingyi's heart skipped a beat, and she hugged the child tightly in her arms.
"Zhaozhao, my Zhaozhao! I'm so sorry, I'm so late to pick you up!"
Ling Xuerou has been back at the manor for three days, but Yun Zhao has not yet returned to the Prince of Jin's manor.
She thought her child was angry and didn't want to acknowledge her as his mother!
Unexpectedly, last night the Marquis's residence suddenly sent a message to the door, saying that we should come to pick up the child today.
Upon seeing the letter, she rushed over without even having breakfast.
This is, after all, outside the gates of a noble man's residence. It's really not a good sight to have an adult and a child crying in front of someone else's house.
The head maid, Zhichun, wiped away her tears and quickly whispered, "Your Highness, let's go back first. It's cold, don't let the young princess catch a cold!"
"Yes, yes, let's thank the Marquis and then go back!"
Upon hearing Xu Qingyi's words, Yun Zhao immediately grabbed her.
The imperial decree to confiscate our property will arrive soon, so we need to hurry back and empty the house!
"Mother, something has happened at the Marquis's residence, and it's not convenient for us to receive guests. Let's go back now and come again another time!"
Xu Qingyi felt that it wasn't right for someone to leave after helping take care of her child for five years.
While she was still hesitating, Yun Zhao grabbed her arm and said in a coquettish tone, "Mother, Zhao Zhao didn't have breakfast, I'm so hungry!"
Upon hearing that her daughter was hungry, Xu Qingyi completely forgot about etiquette.
"Quickly, Zhichun, go back to the manor and prepare breakfast for the young lady!"
Xu Qingyi pulled Yun Zhao, turned around, got into the carriage, and drove away.
Inside the carriage, Xu Qingyi placed the hot water bottle in Yun Zhao's hand.
"Come here, hold the hot water bottle, don't let your hands get cold."
Yun Zhao looked at the hot water bottle in his arms, which was carefully wrapped in a thin layer of cotton brocade to ensure that it would not burn him.
Seeing Yun Zhao looking down at the hot water bottle, Zhi Chun thought of getting the princess and the young master closer together.
"Princess, this is a magpie and the character '福' (fortune) that the Princess herself sewed for you. She hopes that you will enjoy good health and longevity!"
Yun Zhao looked up at Xu Qingyi, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Thank you, Mother!"
"Silly child, what's this? It's only natural for a mother to love her daughter. Your father is inspecting the dikes in Jiangnan on behalf of His Majesty."
When he comes back, he'll definitely dote on Zhaozhao! Your maternal grandfather will also be back in a couple of days.
"I'll take you to visit them then. You have three uncles, and they all really want to see you..."
Xu Qingyi held Yun Zhao in her arms and chattered on about her family situation.
Her voice was very gentle. Yun Zhao nestled in her arms, her nose tingled, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Afraid that her mother would be sad if she saw this, Yun Zhao buried her head in her mother's arms, her little hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes.
Mother, don't worry, in this life, I will definitely protect you well!
Xu Qingyi felt Yun Zhao's closeness, and the last trace of worry in her heart disappeared.
The maids, seeing this, were all happy for Xu Qingyi.
Back at the Prince of Jin's residence, the wet nurse held her younger brother, Yun Huaijin, and waited expectantly in the warm pavilion.
When Xu Qingyi walked in leading a little baby, the wet nurse's face immediately lit up with a smile.
The young princess is fair-skinned and looks just like the princess!
She carried Yun Huaijin forward and squatted down slightly so that Yun Zhao could see the baby in the swaddling clothes.
This is the first time Yun Zhao has seen his younger brother in his two lifetimes.
She was tiny, wrapped in a brocade quilt, her cheeks puffed out like a little steamed bun.
Those eyes were very similar to Yun Zhao's, and they were now curiously looking at Yun Zhao.
Xu Qingyi's eyes welled up with tears, and she gently encouraged her daughter, "Zhaozhao, come here and hold your brother's hand."
Yun Zhao held the hot water bottle in her arms the whole time, so it was very warm even though she had come in from outside.
She nervously rubbed her hands on her clothes before reaching out.
Yun Huaijin suddenly grabbed her fingers with her small hand, squeezed them hard, and then giggled.
"Look, my little brother likes Zhaozhao too!"
The baby's hands were very soft, and Yun Zhao's little hands could easily wrap around his.
Yun Zhao looked at his younger brother's bare mouth, which had only produced a small amount of saliva, and secretly made up his mind.
Yes! She must prepare plenty of easily digestible food for her younger brother!
Yun Zhao withdrew her hand, tilted her head, and asked, "Mother, may I see the Prince's Mansion?"
"Of course! From now on, all of this belongs to you and your brother!"
Xu Qingyi agreed without even thinking.
Strangely, Yun Zhao said he was tired as soon as he reached the door.
She only went to the door of each room and storeroom.
To others, Yun Zhao simply took a walk around the courtyard.
When they were going to raid the house later, Yun Zhao left only a few simple things behind to avoid the house being empty and causing any unforeseen complications.
After Yun Zhao finished circling around, her heart sank even further.
In her past life, they all said that her biological father, Prince Jin, was a corrupt official who disregarded human life.
Despite being a prince, he coveted the money meant for building the dike.
After months of torrential rains in Jiangnan, the dikes suddenly burst, causing countless deaths and injuries in various prefectures and cities in Jiangnan.
Even the Prince of Jin, the current emperor's own brother, could not escape punishment.
The luxury of the Prince of Jin's mansion is not even comparable to that of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion!
What kind of corrupt official is this?
Yun Zhao was filled with resentment; her biological father was clearly wronged!
So, my maternal grandfather, because he was transporting stones for the dam construction, was implicated by my father and was most likely framed!
Xu Qingyi noticed that Yun Zhao's expression was off and assumed that she felt the furnishings and landscaping of the Prince of Jin's residence were not luxurious enough.
She quickly explained, "Your father is usually in charge of supervising the construction of dikes and karez wells. Sometimes the national treasury doesn't have enough money."
Your father will subsidize it; as a prince, it's his duty. Although the manor isn't extremely luxurious, don't worry, your mother will absolutely not let you suffer!
Upon hearing this, Yun Zhao felt a mix of emotions.
At that moment, the guards outside rushed in in a panic.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Before he could finish speaking, the Imperial Guards, dressed in black soft armor, surged in!
Yun Zhao's heart tightened.
What was destined to happen has finally happened!
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