Except for the young children who didn't understand what was going on, everyone else in the room stood up in surprise.
Su Qingyu walked out from the inner room and asked in a deep voice, "How many people are there? Are they at the main entrance?"
After she finished speaking, she ordered, "Spread my message. All the maids and servants serving in the outer courtyard should come to the inner courtyard and find a place to hide."
"All the guards and servants in the mansion are to obey Jiang Qi's orders and commands."
The old lady also came back to her senses and looked at Su Qingyu, "What happened?"
She saw from Su Qingyu's expression that she was prepared.
The old lady suddenly understood. No wonder Su Qingyu had called all the family members to Qingyuan Residence. It was obvious that she was afraid that they would be unable to take care of them if something happened, so she gathered them together.
There were also a few people from Prince Ning's Mansion, who I think were specially brought here by Shen Zhixiu.
Su Qingyu explained, "Don't panic, mother. I don't know exactly what happened. But our family has made preparations in advance. You two mothers can just stay in Qingyuanju with peace of mind."
Lin Wanyin recalled the scene of her childbirth that year, and suddenly blurted out: "Is one of the princes planning a coup?"
Su Qingyu nodded, "It should be His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
When they heard that there was a palace coup, everyone in the room changed their expressions.
A palace coup is a major event that can turn the capital upside down and also turn the Shen family upside down.
Today they can sit here and drink tea and chat, but tomorrow they may become prisoners or even lose their lives.
Xiangdong glanced at the eldest wife's two children, Shen Xi and Shen Cheng. Although she was panicking, she forced herself to remain calm. If someone really broke in, she would protect the eldest wife's two children at all costs. Even if it was the last moment, she would give Shen Zhiheng an explanation.
Yang hugged her two children tightly, her hands as cold as ice.
Su Qingyu planned to go to Jiang Qi to ask about the situation, so she said, "My two mothers and sisters-in-law, stay in Qingyuan Residence and don't go out. I'll go to Jiang Qi to ask what's going on."
Su Shunci immediately said, "Big sister is pregnant, so I'll go."
The old lady and Lin Wanyin also said that Su Qingyu should not be allowed to go out, but they were also worried about letting Su Shunci go.
Xiangdong placed the two children beside the old lady, then stood up and said, "I'll go now. If there's anything, I'll come back and discuss it with the Third Madam."
Just as everyone was at a stalemate, Han Cui came in and reported, "Madam, Jiang Qi wants to see you."
Upon hearing this, Su Qingyu immediately walked out. Before leaving, she turned around and said in a deep voice, "The Third Master has handed the family over to me, and I will definitely protect the Shen family."
After that, he instructed Second Madam Yang, "Second sister-in-law, leave the old and young in this room to Second sister-in-law."
"It's not that I have to show off my ability, but Third Master often talks to me about the affairs of the court. So I can make a judgment on what's going on outside. If Madam Xiang or Second Sister-in-law went there, I'm afraid they wouldn't be able to make up their minds about many things."
Seeing that the old lady and Lin Wanyin were still worried and disapproving.
Su Qingyu continued, "Mother, if the family can't be saved, how can the child be safe?"
The old lady moved the corners of her lips, wanting to say something but not saying it.
Lin Wanyin said, "Qingyu, after all, mother has experienced the palace coup. If mother goes with you, she will have someone to look after her."
There was something else she didn't say: after all, she was younger than the old lady of the Shen family.
Su Qingyu shook her head, pulled Lin Wanyin aside, and spoke in a voice that only the two of them could hear.
"Mother, you are a guest in the Shen family. If you were to run around and work hard, I'm afraid Third Master would feel bad."
"There are so many people in this house, old and young. I'm afraid my two sisters-in-law are not as calm and composed as mother. I will entrust this whole family to mother."
Lin Wanyin also knew what Su Qingyu was talking about, so she could only nod.
He also instructed Su Qingyu, "Just arrange for the guards in the mansion, and don't put yourself in danger. Even if you don't consider yourself, you must consider the child in your belly."
Su Qingyu repeatedly assured that she would never let anything happen to the child.
After that, he turned around and left Qingyuan Residence. He heard Su Shunci say from behind, "Big sister, I'll go with you."
Then came the voice of the Third Young Master Shen Xi, "Aunt San, I am already sixteen years old and can go with you to take care of the affairs of the mansion."
Su Qingyu turned around to look at the two of them and said, "You two come with me."
Shen Yue also wanted to go, but was rejected by Su Qingyu. Shen Yue had been raised in the inner house since she was a child, and she was afraid that she would not be as calm as Su Shunci in the face of such a thing.
Afterwards, Su Qingyu walked to the side hall of Qingyuanju, where Jiang Qi was already waiting.
Seeing Su Qingyu coming in, Jiang Qi wanted to step forward and salute.
"No need to be so polite, just get down to business." Su Qingyu said in a deep voice.
Jiang Qi reported, "Madam, there are nearly two thousand elite soldiers surrounding our mansion. Their purpose is very clear: to charge in."
"Before this, I have been keeping an eye on the situation in the city. Now the four gates of the capital have been occupied by Rong Junwang's men. I suspect that the people surrounding the Shen family may also be Rong Junwang's men."
Su Qingyu wasn't surprised that the Rong family got involved. After a moment's hesitation, she said, "According to your estimate, how long can we hold out?"
The Shen family had only about 200 guards, and with the young and strong servants, there were only about 300 of them. It would be difficult to resist the attack of 2,000 people.
Fortunately, the Shen family's house, Prince Zhao's mansion, and the residence of Lord Zhou, the chief academic officer of the Imperial College, are in the shape of a Chinese character "品".
If the enemy wanted to attack the Shen family, they could only attack through the main gate and the corner gate facing Zhuque Street.
Jiang Qi calculated in his mind and said, "If they are Prince Rong's men, they are all elite soldiers and generals. I estimate that they can hold out for an hour at most."
Su Qingyu remembered what Shen Zhixiu said before he left, and said, "Tell the brothers below that reinforcements will arrive in less than an hour."
"After this matter is over, the Third Master will reward you according to your merits."
"Everyone from the Shen family and Prince Ning's Mansion is here. Qingyuan Residence is packed with people of all ages. Jiang Qi, we can't make any mistakes today."
Su Qingyu deliberately emphasized the tone of the last sentence.
Jiang Qi knelt on one knee and said, "Madam, don't worry. The brothers in the mansion are all sworn to be loyal to the Third Master and the Shen family until death."
"As long as I am still breathing, I will not let anyone enter the mansion today."
Su Qingyu gestured for Jiang Qi to stand up and said, "Let's go to the outer courtyard now. I'll be in charge of the hall. Report anything to me."
Jiang Qi immediately stopped Su Qingyu, "Madam, you can't do that. I will definitely bring people to guard the gate. Madam, please stay in Qingyuan Residence with the old lady and the other ladies. That way, you will have someone to look after you."
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