Chapter 132 Eyewitnesses from That Year
Zhou Ruiyuan continued to ask, "I heard that the Wu family is a famous family in the capital. Why would they travel all the way to a brothel to redeem a woman?"
Madam Xu smiled and said, "Madam Liu's sister is exceptionally beautiful. Perhaps she was redeemed and brought home to be a concubine. But being a concubine probably isn't easy. I heard from Madam Liu that her sister hasn't contacted her for three years. I wonder how she is doing now."
Zhou Ruiyuan and the Third Prince both turned pale upon hearing this.
Fearing that it would arouse Xu Niangzi's suspicion, Aunt Zhou quickly said, "It's fortunate that Madam Liu has this sister, otherwise she would probably still be in that brothel."
Madam Xu nodded. "That's right. She's been keeping the door closed these past few days because she's afraid Madam Li will come looking for her. I'm going to visit her at her house later."
Du Wanchun suddenly thought of something, "That Madam Li is so vicious, she will probably use the same trick again. Madam Xu, if you have any problems, you can come to Changliu Village to find us."
"Alright, don't worry, I have a few skilled waiters in my teahouse, nothing should happen." After saying that, Madam Xu looked at her belly, "Has the little baby in your belly been behaving well lately?"
Du Wanchun raised her hand and gently stroked her belly. "She's very well-behaved and hardly ever makes a fuss."
Madam Xu smiled and said, "That's good. After your baby is born, I'll teach him how to make tea."
Du Wanchun looked down at her belly. "A while ago, Lady Liu said she would teach him how to make rouge."
Madam Xu stood up and said, "It's not just about making rouge. I saw that old man Zhang who sells pastries is even thinking of teaching him how to make pastries. In the future, your little one will probably be a genius! He'll know everything!"
Du Wanchun listened with great anticipation.
Aunt Zhou added with a smile, "We also need to teach him our family's incense-making skills, but we don't know if he can learn them."
Zhou Ruiyuan coughed lightly twice, "Mother, you have to see if he's willing to learn."
Aunt Zhou smiled and said, "If you're as smart as Wanchun, you don't need to learn. Just watch me a few times and you'll know."
As he spoke, he looked at Du Wanchun.
After chatting for a while, the group got back to setting up their respective shops.
Zhang Qiuhe looks frail, but she is quite good at accounting and doing business. She is very patient with customers, and whenever someone comes in, she will make sure they buy some incense.
With Madam Li no longer causing trouble, business at the shop resumed.
Du Wanchun and Aunt Zhou were relieved and followed the Third Prince and Zhou Ruiyuan home with a cart full of things.
After the group alighted from the carriage, the Third Prince stood at the door, pondering for a moment, and then said to Aunt Zhou, "Zhou'er, have you seen that Lady Liu?"
Aunt Zhou quickly replied, "Of course I've seen it."
The Third Prince frowned slightly and said, "Doesn't she look a lot like one of your former palace maids?"
When Aunt Zhou was in the palace, she had many maids around her, about thirty or so. Now that she has been out of the palace for three years, she doesn't remember clearly. "I don't think so."
The Third Prince then asked, "Do you remember if there was anyone in Consort Wu's palace who looked like her?"
Aunt Zhou thought about it carefully, "No, Lady Liu is very charming, but the palace maids in Consort Wu's palace are all very plain-looking."
Du Wanchun approached and asked, "Your Highness, are you suspecting that Lady Liu's sister is working in the palace?"
The Third Prince nodded. "That's right, it's all too coincidental. Lady Liu's sister was redeemed by the Wu family, and coincidentally, she suddenly lost contact three years ago. Perhaps she is related to the matter of your mother being wrongly accused three years ago."
At that time, Consort Wu was pregnant and accidentally miscarried, so she falsely accused Granny Zhou of having a problem with the incense.
Several palace maids were indeed among those who testified against Granny Zhou back then.
But later, all of these palace maids disappeared.
Meanwhile, inside the palace, Consort Wu asked the maid beside her, "Has that Liu Xiangxiang been found?"
"Your Majesty, not yet," the young palace maid replied cautiously, bowing her head.
Consort Wu ate a fruit and said slowly, "Keep searching for her. Once you find her, just bring her head back."
The young palace maid quickly replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Consort Wu spat out the pit from her mouth and said coldly, "Back then, Father sent her into the palace to teach me how to serve the Emperor. I never expected that she would actually try to denounce me for the sake of the Empress! I'll break her legs and sew her mouth shut!"
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