Even though all the concubines who had not borne children were sold, there were still quite a few people left in the fourth branch of the Chu family.
The second wife alone had fourteen people, including children and adults. These people alone would need fourteen sets of clothes. In ancient times, most people would buy fabric and make their own clothes at home. Even if there were clothing stores, they wouldn't prepare too many ready-made clothes. It was normal for the servants not to have enough to buy.
Looking at the clothes, Old Madam Chu felt extremely guilty. At this moment, she understood Ning's plan, and the slight unpleasantness she had felt before because of her daughter-in-law's threat to divorce disappeared.
If she doesn't get a divorce, she won't get her dowry. Without a dowry, she won't have money. Without money, she won't be able to protect Lin'er, let alone take care of their whole family.
Her judgment was correct; the Ning family is a good family!
Ning Yan beckoned to Yan Jie'er from the main house, "Come here, this outfit is for you, quickly change into it."
Nine-year-old Yan bowed and said, "Thank you, Fourth Aunt."
The old lady and the heir's wife both looked at Ning Yan. Ning Yan neither asked her to change her address nor responded. She wasn't stupid. This was the future princess. She wouldn't deliberately try to please her, but she had to gain favor so that her son could have a good life in the future.
"Hurry up and change. You should still wear the old clothes over them. Also..."
She pursed her lips.
The Crown Prince's wife said, "Sister-in-law, just speak your mind. There's nothing we can't talk about as a family."
"Sister-in-law, I will definitely follow you all the way to the North."
However, I cannot guarantee that I will always be aware of you.
The Duke's mansion has suffered this misfortune, and too many people have been implicated by us. They must hate our family a lot. Therefore, the women in the family must be extremely careful.
Many people at the inn requested hot water tonight.
She glanced at Yan Jie'er and said, "Actually, whether you wash or not isn't that important. It's only for two or three months. How dirty can it get? Living is the most important thing."
In her previous life, the little girl was alone and had an accident. Even though she later became a princess, she couldn't stop the rumors.
Yan Jie'er was melancholy and never married. Moreover, her life was too short; she passed away after the Empress.
No one present was a fool; even Yan Jie'er understood her aunt's meaning.
She grew up in the Duke's mansion, where she was pampered and spoiled. Even among exiles, she stood out at a glance.
Because of her involvement with the Duke's mansion, all her distant relatives were exiled. They harbored resentment and often mocked her family. Some of them looked at her with disgust.
Her aunt was telling her how to protect herself.
"Fourth Aunt, I understand."
Ning Yan said, "Good that you understand. Starting tomorrow, you'll be all sloppy. You don't need to comb your hair, and try to make your outer clothes as dirty as possible. Your face doesn't need to be too clean either..."
"Okay, I'll do whatever Fourth Aunt says."
"Don't forget to tell your two older brothers."
Old Madam Chu: ...That's right, her two grandsons are also exceptionally handsome with rosy lips and white teeth.
The Crown Prince's wife: "...I'll go and talk to him."
"Sister-in-law, wait a minute. I asked Yu Zhu to get some food. It's steamed buns and mantou that I had someone buy in the city. Please take some to the children while you're at it."
"Thank you very much, sister-in-law."
Ning Yan smiled, and soon Yu Zhu came and knocked on the door. The nanny opened the door, and Yu Zhu brought in the food. The young lady of the house was quick-witted; the men were in the communal sleeping area, and if she took the food there, it would be snatched away.
This is probably why her younger siblings brought the food to their room.
"Mother, I'll go call the child."
The old lady nodded, "Go ahead."
The two boys from the eldest son's family, the eldest Chu Yu and the second Chu Zheng, were still children, so it was somewhat inappropriate for Ning Yan to stay here. "Madam, please remember to have the children change their clothes. I'll head back now. Oh, and here's this for you."
She took out a purse containing some loose silver coins and a few banknotes.
"I'm still young, so there are bound to be things I can't think of or take care of. If you need anything, and you don't want to tell me, just go directly to the constables to buy it. I'll give you more money when I run out."
Madam Chu: There's nothing you can't think of or take care of. You just gave me the money because you were afraid I'd be embarrassed to ask you.
"Then, I'll shamelessly accept it. When the Chu family returns to the capital, I will surely repay you."
"You are Lin'er's biological grandmother. When I was in the manor, it was you who always protected me, which is why I was able to live so comfortably. I truly regard you as my own mother. Please don't say anything polite to me. Just don't blame me."
The old lady knew that Ning Yan was talking about divorce, so how could she blame her?
Ning Yan took Chu Lin back to her room.
"Quickly, have a bowl of dumpling soup to warm yourself up. And wouldn't you like some freshly heated steamed buns?"
"I want to eat them! I can eat three!"
Ning Yan accompanied the child to drink a bowl of hot dumpling soup and eat two steamed buns. After washing her feet, she went to bed to rest.
On the old lady's side, Chu Yu and Chu Zheng were taken into the house by their mother. Chu Jingxuan, with his sharp eyes, saw the two little rascals leave the house and followed them.
The Crown Prince's wife didn't kick them out. After all, the old lady was there, and besides, they were already exiled, so who cared about anything else?
Just then, Yu Zhu brought over a bowl of dumpling soup, and they ate their first hot meal on their journey of exile.
After a hearty meal, half of the steamed buns were still left. Chu Jingxuan said, "I'll secretly give a few to the third brother and his two legitimate sons. Should I give some to the second brother as well?"
The old lady said, "Give it to them. The two brothers can each have half. As for how they decide to divide it, that's none of your business."
Everyone says that having a large family is a blessing, but now she's really annoyed by this large family.
We can't take care of them all, we simply can't.
...
While the Chu family ate and drank their fill and slept peacefully, the capital was in an uproar!
In the afternoon, when the old emperor wanted to reward his concubines, the chief eunuch and his junior eunuchs went to fetch the gifts, only to find that the emperor's private treasury was empty!
It was completely empty; there was nothing inside.
The steward rushed to report to the Emperor, who was furious. The commander of the Imperial Guards was punished and nearly lost his life after receiving fifty strokes of the cane, but the beating was in vain because he truly knew nothing.
The Imperial Guard Commander had just been punished when someone else reported that the national treasury was empty.
The emperor felt a sudden dizziness, and just as he was about to faint, the Duke of Cheng'en entered the palace.
The old man came in wailing, "Your Majesty, please do me justice! My house was emptied overnight, and now I'm destitute. I don't even know how I'll manage to eat tomorrow!"
The Emperor was even more dizzy, overwhelmed by his father-in-law's weeping. He ordered someone to help the Duke of Cheng'en up and carefully inquired about the situation. Just like the theft from the national treasury, everything had been stolen inexplicably, as if it had vanished into thin air. The Emperor was certain that the person who stole from the national treasury, his private treasury, and the Duke of Cheng'en's residence was the same person. (End of Chapter)
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