Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said, "Thank you. Go to sleep now, it will be dawn soon."
Just as dawn broke, someone from the Marquis's side came to call Xu Rao. Xu Rao's eyes were bloodshot. He rubbed his face to clear his head a little before getting dressed and going to the front yard.
The Marquis was already sitting at the table eating. When he saw Xu Rao coming over, he said, "Let's eat first. If we eat and then hurry back, we'll be there just in time for the city gates to open."
Xu Rao hadn't slept much all night and had no appetite. He drank a bowl of rice porridge made from the rouge rice he grew on the estate, ate a few bites of side dishes, and then put down his chopsticks.
Seeing that Xu Rao was eating very little, the Marquis put down his chopsticks and said, "I know you can't eat either, and neither can I. The old lady has kept it from me all these years, and I've never paid much attention to the inner quarters. Alas, I really feel guilty towards you."
Xu Rao said, "Father, please don't say such things anymore. Even if someone is scheming against you, there will always be a way for them to take advantage of you. Our family has been thriving these past few years. In the future, we should learn to keep a low profile and quietly make a fortune."
The Marquis said, "That's what I was planning too. Over the years, I've been managing the properties in the manor with all my heart, and I've made quite a bit of money. I'm afraid that if others knew how much money we have, they wouldn't dare to spend it. Otherwise, I wouldn't have secretly sent so many cotton-padded clothes to Hexi back then."
Xu Rao smiled and said, "We really owe a debt of gratitude to Father for the things he sent over during those days. Without those things, we don't know how long we could have lasted. Father, the Emperor will always remember your kindness because of these things. As long as our family doesn't do anything too outrageous, we can still be safe."
The Marquis said, "We can't speculate about the emperor's mind. If we do our own thing well and don't meddle, we can always find a way to make a living for our family."
After breakfast, when it was broad daylight, the Marquis and Xu Rao, accompanied by several guards, rode their horses to the Marquis's residence.
Upon arriving at the city gate, which was already open, the group checked their identification and continued their journey to the Marquis's residence.
The Yongning Marquis's residence is not far from the palace. The Marquis thought he should rush back before the end of the court session. Although Xu Rao was disguised as his guard, it was inevitable that some people would recognize him. Now that the people that Consort Zhu had scattered outside had not yet been captured, the Marquis was still uneasy. It was better to avoid trouble.
Arriving at the Marquis's mansion with trepidation, the guards opened the side gate, and the Marquis led the way, riding directly through the side gate into the mansion. He rode straight to the hanging flower gate, and upon dismounting, servants led the horses to the stables near the front yard.
The Marquis led Xu Rao to his study. After they sat down, the Marquis said, "I have arranged for people to clear the road to Consort Zhu's courtyard. I will take you there later. I want to hear what this wicked woman has to say to me."
Seeing the Marquis's gritted teeth, Xu Rao remained silent. Anyone who had been kept in the dark for decades would harbor resentment, especially since Consort Zhu had committed the crime of deceiving the emperor. If it weren't for the emperor's leniency, the entire Yongning Marquis's mansion might have been wiped out.
After the Marquis's attendant reported back, the Marquis took Xu Rao and headed towards Consort Zhu's courtyard.
Concubine Zhu's courtyard was actually quite far from the front. As an unfavored concubine, although she had given birth to a son for the Marquis, and a rather promising one at that, Concubine Zhu had ignored him and cared for him in no way over the years. The Marquis's wife had always been indifferent to this concubine in the mansion, never allowing her to pay her respects. Concubine Zhu, on the other hand, locked herself in her courtyard, spending her days eating vegetarian food and chanting Buddhist scriptures, never vying for favor. Over time, many people in the mansion could no longer remember what Concubine Zhu looked like.
Walking from the Marquis's study in the front courtyard to Consort Zhu's courtyard, Xu Rao didn't encounter a single person along the way. This must be because the Marquis had ordered the area cleared out. Actually, this was quite good. Xu Rao had originally returned with a secret decree, and once the matter was settled, she needed to hurry back. The fewer people who knew, the better. This arrangement was also for Xu Rao's benefit.
Aunt Zhu's courtyard has been placed under surveillance by several people. The old woman who used to guard the gate has been arrested and sent to where she was supposed to go. As for Aunt Zhu, she has been locked in her room for the past few days. The people in the courtyard are all people who have experienced similar things many times. All the items in Aunt Zhu's room that could lead to suicide have been put away, and people have been specially assigned to guard her every day, so that the Marquis can return to deal with the matter personally and find out some things.
Concubine Zhu must have already realized her current situation. When the Marquis brought Xu Rao in, he saw Concubine Zhu sitting upright on the kang bed in the outer banquet area, brewing tea for herself. When she saw the Marquis bring Xu Rao in, she nodded and said, "Please sit down, Your Highness. I will brew you a bowl of tea."
The Marquis sat down and said, "Zhu Shi, you already know why I've come here today. I believe I've treated you well, so how could you do this?"
Madam Zhu chuckled softly, then sighed gently and said, "You think you've been fair to me, but who have I been fair to? Back then, everyone knew my grandfather was innocent, everyone knew the Crown Prince was a good man, but who spoke up for them? Of the hundreds of people in our household, I'm the only one left. I didn't want to live anymore, but I was carrying the Crown Prince's child. My mother told me to live, just for the sake of the child in my womb. There's always hope in living, so I stayed."
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