When Xie Yuan said this, his gaze lingered for a moment on the tattoo on Zheng Yurong's forehead.
This was forcibly pierced before the prisoner was exiled, just to show his status as an exile.
It is both a form of criminal law and a form of humiliation.
Zheng Yurong's father was originally a general in the Northwest Army, but he was punished for his greed for merit and recklessness.
With tattoos covering their faces and being exiled to the army, their entire family was banished to Lingnan.
If it weren't for Xie Yuan, Zheng Yurong would have died four years ago. Her family members would either have become cannon fodder in the army or been tortured to death.
Zheng Yurong was Xie Yuan's top henchman and also the most capable and loyal person under Xie Yuan's command.
Because of Xie Yuan, Helian Jue also promoted Zheng Yurong's two older brothers.
Currently, the brothers Zheng Xin and Zheng Cheng are both serving in the Xuanjia Army.
When Helian Jue personally led the expedition, the Zheng brothers also went with him.
The Zheng family returned to the capital once again because of Xie Yuan.
With their daughter serving as a lady-in-waiting to the Empress and their son as a general leading troops into battle, the Zheng family could certainly be considered to have returned home in glory.
Wealth is known even in remote mountains, let alone in this prosperous and beautiful capital city.
After the Zheng family returned to the capital with Xie Yuan, all their old friends and relatives came to visit.
Among them were Zheng Yurong's cousins.
They were not beyond the fifth degree of kinship, but they were not very close blood relatives either.
Therefore, when Zheng Yurong's father was convicted, these uncles and aunts were not implicated.
They even held minor official positions of the sixth or seventh rank, and thanks to their ancestral property, their lives weren't too bad.
"Your Majesty, this is indeed true!"
When Zheng Yurong mentioned her cousin from her uncle's family, a slight smile appeared on her face.
The relationship between the Zheng family and these relatives was neither good nor bad.
When I was exiled, although my uncles and aunts were unable to help me, they still secretly slipped me some money.
This act of kindness, offered in times of need, is something Zheng Yurong and her family will always remember.
After returning to the capital, the Zheng family prospered again, and Zheng's parents repaid their relatives even more generously.
For example, when my cousin got engaged, the Zheng family gave her a lot of dowry.
“Speaking of which, the heir of the Marquis of Anle is actually my cousin.”
Xie Yuan only understood why cousins were always paired up when he traveled to ancient times.
Besides the importance of matching social status and knowing each other's backgrounds, it's also because most families in this circle can establish connections with each other.
Even if we're separated by three thousand miles, we're still cousins!
Xie Yuan didn't care much about the Chen imperial family, but since he lived in the capital, there were always some unavoidable kinship ties!
Even if Xie Yuan himself doesn't care, others will see it.
For example, the marriage between the Marquis of Anle's family and the Zheng family, if viewed by someone with a keen eye, would be quite intriguing—
The man is the former crown prince and the current empress's cousin;
Although the woman was the daughter of a minor official, she had a cousin who served as a lady-in-waiting to the Empress.
Both sides had intricate connections with the Empress, and even Empress Xie Yuan herself wouldn't believe it was a coincidence.
"..."
Zheng Yurong was stunned for a moment. She was so happy for her cousin that she didn't think much about it.
She even overlooked the fact that the Empress and the Marquis of Anle's family were related!
This, this—
With a thud, Zheng Yurong knelt down.
She was no longer the ordinary daughter of an official who had been exiled, but a strong woman who had followed Xie Yuan and served as her right-hand woman for four years.
I wouldn't say Zheng Yurong has become incredibly capable, but she still possesses at least basic intelligence and the necessary knowledge!
There are no coincidences in this world!
"Your Highness, this servant has completely overlooked the status of the Marquis of Anle's family!"
Zheng Yurong readily admitted her mistake.
She served the Empress and had the right to enter the palace at any time, so she had to be extra careful with her words and actions.
Her family should also be exempt from any problems.
Just like the previous "smallpox incident", Empress Dowager Ashina attempted to bribe the wet nurses of the four princes.
Fortunately, the wet nurse was reliable. Knowing that her family was being coerced, she chose to confess to the Empress.
Subsequent events proved that the wet nurse's choice was absolutely correct.
She not only performed meritorious service, but also saved her family.
Yes, Her Majesty the Empress has that kind of ability.
Unlike Empress Dowager Ashina, who had ambition and scheming but lacked the ability and courage to match them!
Faced with coercion and enticement, the wet nurse did not betray her. Instead, she followed the Empress's orders and devised a plan that led to the death of Empress Dowager Ashina.
Xie Yuan achieved complete success in this matter, but it still served as a wake-up call for the Emperor and Empress—[the text abruptly ends here, likely due to an incomplete sentence or a formatting error.]
The people around you, and those around your children, must be extremely reliable.
Even their families cannot afford to make any mistakes.
Otherwise, even a small, insignificant detail can lead to a major disaster.
Zheng Yurong has a relatively close relationship with her cousin.
If my cousin's marriage is not a good match, but rather a scheme by an ambitious person, there will definitely be many troubles in the future.
Of course, Zheng Yurong's thinking in this way is inevitably an exaggeration.
But, as I said before, when it comes to the Empress, you can never be too careful!
"It's not your fault! Hehe, even I almost forgot that I had a relative like Marquis Anle."
Xie Yuan laughed. She wasn't saying that to appease Zheng Yurong; she had genuinely overlooked it.
She brought it up now only to remind Zheng Yurong: "You don't need to be so alarmed."
"Or perhaps this marriage is truly a good match."
It was not some conspiracy or trickery.
Xie Yuan was indeed cautious, but he didn't want to be paranoid.
There are more beautiful things in this world than so many conspiracies and schemes.
This chapter is not finished, please click the next page to continue reading!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
