Chapter 164 The Situation
Upon entering the imperial estate, the estate manager was already waiting with a group of servants. However, he had only prepared enough things to entertain the Crown Prince, but ended up receiving more than a dozen imperial grandsons instead.
The head eunuch had a long face and kept glaring at the little eunuch who had brought him the news. What if so many young imperial grandsons got hurt if he wasn't careful enough?
I wonder if the people around them can keep an eye on them.
He bowed and said obsequiously, "Your Highness, Eunuch Wan, I have cleaned the house and put on new mats. My lords must be tired from your journey. Would you like to go to the bedroom to rest?"
Did they come all this way just to sleep? Aze was displeased when he heard this. Li Xiaoxiao looked around and asked, "Manager, are there any fruits or melons ripe this season?"
The head servant hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, yes! A batch of melons in the field are ripe, and there are also a few plums and pomegranates on the hillside that can be picked. I've already picked a lot and soaked them in the well water. I'll bring them up for the young masters to eat right away..."
He turned to go to the well to get it, but Li Xiaoxiao quickly stopped him: "Wait, don't pick the good ones, we'll pick them ourselves."
Go pick them yourself? But the ground is so sunny now, and the plums and pomegranates are all growing on the trees; you have to climb the trees to pick them.
He was about to speak up to stop her when Li Xiaoxiao turned around and said to the group of little kids, "Change all your clothes into something light. We're going to pick plums and pomegranates later, so take off all those jingling ornaments. You're not allowed to wear any of them."
They were overjoyed to be picking plums and pomegranates themselves. Without her prompting, the young princes, beaming with delight, immediately pulled their companions to help them change into comfortable clothes, and then followed Li Xiaoxiao out the door towards the hillside of the imperial estate.
Li Xiaoxiao led them to pick plums and pomegranates by themselves, put them in bamboo baskets and brought them back. They also went to the melon field and picked a bunch of melons. They asked the head of the village to help them pick out a few sweet ones to take back to their families. The little princes were as busy as little bees, carrying as many melons as they could to their cars, afraid of not carrying enough.
After this round of activities, the little prince, who was clean, fair-skinned, and well-mannered just an hour ago, had instantly transformed into a filthy mud monkey. His face, hands, and feet were all dirty, and his clothes were snagged by tree branches. But the children's smiles were all bigger and happier than the last. The attendants finally understood why Li Xiaoxiao insisted that they go back and bring back two sets of clothes. They wouldn't dare take them home looking like this without washing them up first...
When it was lunchtime, the young princes were starving. They ate their rice with the melons, vegetables and radishes produced in the fields. Even the pickiest grandson of Princess Changping ate a full bowl of rice and wanted to have another half spoonful after finishing.
Fearing he wouldn't be able to digest the food, the maidservant didn't dare let him eat anymore. She was both worried and happy, worried that he would have a stomachache and not be able to eat properly, but happy that he finally had an appetite.
After lunch, the young princes kept rubbing their eyes. The palace servants helped them change into clean clothes, wiped their hands and feet, and put them on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a nap.
They thought they could return to Beijing after waking up, but Li Xiaoxiao took them fishing again in the afternoon. Several strong young men were selected from the imperial estate to pull the nets, and one by one, the lively fish were trapped in the nets and pulled to the shore. Li Xiaoxiao made them catch the fish in the nets and put them into buckets themselves. The little princes had never played this before. They were scared and wanted to catch the fish, and their screams almost deafened the young men pulling the nets, but they were all eager to do it and had a lot of fun.
Finally, four large buckets of fish were caught. Li Xiaoxiao broke off some cattails from the bank and threaded them through the fish's gills, giving each person two fish: "Take these back to your grandparents, father, and mother, and say that you caught them."
Even the youngest, Li Jin, wouldn't let go of the two strung-up fish, insisting on personally delivering them to his grandparents as a sign of filial piety.
The palace servants were exhausted. The clean clothes they had changed into during their lunch break were now filthy and unsightly. In addition, the clothes were now covered in mud and water, and had a fishy smell. The palace servants were on the verge of tears. How long would it take to wash them?
No wonder Li Xiaoxiao insisted that they prepare two sets of clothes; it turns out the second set was for this situation…
As the sun gradually set in the west, a busy and fulfilling day was finally coming to an end. One by one, the young princes bid a reluctant farewell to the head of the imperial estate, expressing their intention to return if they had the chance.
The head of the farm was so happy his face was stiff. He thought to himself that these little princes weren't so difficult to please. They were already so happy just to pick some fruit or catch a fish.
Aze was also going back to the palace with Wanquan. With so many playmates by his side, he had a great time all day. It wasn't until it was almost time to part that he remembered Ruirui would be returning to Biyang County in a couple of days.
On the way back, he held Rui Rui tightly, reluctant to let go, wishing the carriage would move slower.
He earnestly instructed Rui Rui: "When you go back, you will begin your studies. Once you can read, remember to write to me, and I will write to you too."
Rui Rui nodded seriously: "Write a letter, write a letter to my brother."
Aze suddenly hugged his head and murmured, "If only you were my younger brother. If our Xiao San were still alive, he would be about your age and would definitely like to play with you too."
Li Xiaoxiao felt a pang of sadness upon hearing this and reached out to pat Aze's head.
Aze raised his melancholy eyes: "Sister Xiaoxiao, when will Rui Rui return to the capital? Does he have to wait until Magistrate Meng returns to the capital before he can come back?"
Li Xiaoxiao nodded and said softly, "A county magistrate's term is three years. My father-in-law's term was just renewed last year, so it will be at least another two years."
A determined glint flashed in Aze's eyes: "Two years later, when Rui Rui is five years old, I will definitely ask my father to transfer Magistrate Meng back to the capital. Then I will be able to see Rui Rui more often."
Li Xiaoxiao did not respond. Two years is not a long time for adults, but it is a long time for children.
Two years is enough time for Aze to grow. More and more playmates and peers will appear around him. These people will try to please him and flatter him. His "sense of lack" will gradually weaken until it disappears.
Li Xiaoxiao didn't know if his current feelings for Rui Rui were because he had always had a younger brother in his past life, and when he lost him, Rui Rui just happened to fill the void. That's why Aze always acted like he really liked Rui Rui, treating him like a younger brother.
But the reality is that the longer time goes by, the more painful the memories will fade. Moreover, Rui Rui is not only thousands of miles away, but also five years younger than him, so he may not even remember him anymore.
Li Xiaoxiao hoped he would remember, because at this moment Aze still had a sincere heart, and she hoped he could always retain this sincerity and innocence, instead of being gradually submerged in the struggle for imperial power.
Even though it was hard to part, it was time to say goodbye. Aze's eyes were red as he hugged Rui Rui and said, "When you return to Biyang County, you must listen to your father and learn to read quickly, okay?"
Rui Rui pouted and said, "Okay."
Aze asked Wanquan to take a large bag of things out of the carriage: "These are all my favorite toys. I've taken them all out to give to you. When you play with them, just think of me as someone playing with you, okay?"
Rui Rui struggled to carry the bundle, which was almost taller than him, and Li Xiaoxiao tried to help him carry it, but he wouldn't let her.
Aze turned his head and shed a tear: "Two years will pass quickly. You have to eat well and grow taller. Of course, I will also try my best. If you still take a boat to Tianjin, I will send someone to pick you up."
He quickly jumped onto the carriage, leaving Rui Rui with his back turned: "I'm leaving now, I'll wait for you to come back."
The carriage rattled away, and Rui Rui chased after its retreating figure, crying loudly.
These two little ones are acting like lovers are separated.
For a moment, Li Xiaoxiao even considered leaving Rui Rui behind, but then she thought that both she and Meng Guanqi had to go to work, and if Rui Rui stayed here, who would give him his early education? He still had to go back to Biyang County to stay by Magistrate Meng's side, but he would have to find a way to be transferred to the capital in two years so that the family could reunite.
It was almost dark when Li Xiaoxiao and Rui Rui got home, but strangely, Meng Guanqi hadn't returned yet.
She asked Zhao Jian, "Where did he go?" In the Great Wu Dynasty, the summer days are usually over by late afternoon, and it's almost late afternoon now, and he still hasn't returned.
Zhao Jian said, "People from the old mansion came and took the young master away."
People from the old mansion? She immediately recalled what Meng Guanqi had said to Meng Mao. Several days had passed, and the old Minister Meng had finally responded? Was this related to her injuring Lu Ke?
Just as she was about to ask Zhao Jian to send someone to bring Meng Guanqi back, the sound of a carriage came from the alley; Meng Guanqi had returned.
Seeing that she had returned, Meng Guanqi took her hand and said, "Come with me."
He pulled Li Xiaoxiao back to the room: "Grandfather called me back today and asked me a lot about the Sixth Prince. He also asked about the details of your competition with Lu Ke. Although he didn't express his opinion immediately, I feel that he has already made a decision in his heart and will not form a marriage alliance with the Wang family again."
Li Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows: "Lu Ke is still lying in the Imperial Hospital and hasn't gone home yet. How come your grandfather has such good information?"
Meng Guanqi said, "It must be the Crown Prince's doing. Although Lu Ke has not returned home yet, rumors have already started circulating in his family that he was framed and made a scapegoat."
All of this seemed to be pointing to the Sixth Prince.
Since the signs are already pointing towards the Sixth Prince, wouldn't rushing to arrange a marriage with the Wang family just be asking for trouble? Besides, Meng Guanqi and Li Xiaoxiao are clearly on the Crown Prince's side, so even if Minister Meng is slow to realize it, he should have figured it out by now.
Meng Guanqi laughed and said, "By the way, let me tell you something funny. When I went back today, my grandmother sent someone to ask why I didn't come back with her. She also asked when my mother and Rui Rui were going back to Biyang County, because she wanted to send them off on their journey."
Li Xiaoxiao looked horrified: "Really? How could she suddenly be like this?"
Meng Guanqi blinked: "Your amazing kick has already flown over the palace walls. Almost all the high-ranking officials and nobles in the capital know about it. Fifth Uncle was even extorted a large sum of money by Lu Biao for drinks. He said that when he came to your door that day, he pretended to beg for mercy but actually provoked you. He also said that he was defeated by you without even using a third of his strength, which made him lose face..."
Li Xiaoxiao laughed heartily, her knuckles cracking as she clenched her fists: "It seems that people from your hometown all have a masochistic streak. I have to use force to suppress them before they'll obediently learn to behave."
Meng Guanqi thought about it and realized that it was indeed true. When Minister Meng opposed their marriage, he almost used family law on him. He also ridiculed Li Xiaoxiao's status in every way. As a result, she almost demolished the study with one kick, which successfully frightened him. After that, he dared not say another word.
The couple laughed for a while, and then Li Xiaoxiao remembered what Rong Si had said earlier that day: "The Emperor has placed the Empress under house arrest for some reason. Have you heard about this? The eunuchs of Jinghe Palace first sought help from the Sixth Prince, but the Sixth Prince didn't plead for her. The Crown Prince only found out this morning. The Crown Prince went to plead with the Emperor, but I don't know if the Emperor saw him."
Meng Guanqi's smile gradually disappeared: "The Crown Prince has already sent someone to tell me that the Emperor claims that the Empress is unwell and should not see anyone, not even the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince has not yet found out what the Emperor and Empress had argued about."
Li Xiaoxiao asked curiously, "I've heard that the Emperor and Empress have always had a harmonious relationship, and the Empress is known for her virtue. What could possibly cause her to quarrel with the Emperor?"
A glint flashed in Meng Guanqi's eyes: "Although the Crown Prince was unable to find out the reason for their quarrel, he did find out that the Empress had seen Madam Lu and Madam Lu yesterday. Later, the Imperial Physician was summoned from Jinghe Palace. It seems that the two ladies fell ill due to excessive grief. In the end, the Empress specially sent a sedan chair to send the two ladies out. Not long after, the Empress went to see the Emperor."
Then the Empress was placed under house arrest. Li Xiaoxiao asked, puzzled, "So they argued because of Lu Ke?"
Meng Guanqi said, "Lu Ke should just be the trigger. The Empress may know that Li Chengyao used Lu Ke to cause his disability, but would she really hold a grudge against the Emperor over this, to the point that the Emperor wants to put her under house arrest? The palace servants in Jinghe Palace clearly said they didn't hear the Emperor and Empress arguing loudly inside the room... And what's even stranger is that the Sixth Prince didn't plead with the Emperor after hearing this news? This is incomprehensible. What did the Emperor and Empress say that made him disregard even the most basic filial piety of a son?"
Not only could he not understand, but the Crown Prince could not understand either. When he went to see Emperor Jian'an, Liang Qisheng stopped him at the door. When he went to Jinghe Palace to visit the Empress, the guards outside stopped him as well.
Even he dared to stop him, which shows that this was Emperor Jian'an's decree. The Crown Prince went to Taiji Hall and Jinghe Palace but was turned away, so he had no choice but to return to the East Palace.
Meng Guanqi murmured, "The Sixth Prince is getting married on July 28th, which is less than ten days away. Why is the Emperor putting the Empress under house arrest at this time?"
Li Xiaoxiao said, "Could it be that the Empress suddenly opposes the Sixth Prince's marriage?" But then she thought that was impossible. If she wanted to oppose it, she should have done so before the imperial edict was issued. There was no reason for her to oppose it now that the marriage was about to take place.
Li Xiaoxiao felt that they didn't know enough information at the moment, and guessing here for a long time would be useless: "No need to rush. Although the Empress has been placed under house arrest, isn't the Sixth Prince about to get married? The Empress is his own mother, and she will have to come out in person to receive the rites and pay her respects. She can't be locked up forever, can she?"
Meng Guanqi thought about it again and realized that it made sense. Although they all felt that it was strange for the emperor to put the empress under house arrest at this time, they should be released after a few days. In the end, this matter would not have much impact on them. They could not think of a suitable reason, so they put it aside.
Prince's Mansion.
Wang Liuniang was dressed in a pink silk nightgown, newly made from a tribute bestowed by the emperor. It felt as smooth as flowing water to the touch, and when worn, it accentuated her curves, arousing the imagination.
Tomorrow she will marry into the Prince Xin's mansion and become the Princess Xin. This is an honor for the entire royal family, and she will soon be the most honored woman in the entire mansion.
Her room was filled with chests tied with large red silk ribbons, containing gifts bestowed by the emperor, each item looking both noble and exquisite.
Madam Wang gently stroked her dowry and said softly, "The dowry list has already been given to your dowry maid. The servants' indentures are all in this box. I'll have Yingxiu keep the key safe. Think carefully, is there anything you're missing?"
Wang Liuniang's gaze swept over the boxes, and she suddenly asked, "Where is my whip?"
Madam Wang held her hand: "Sixth Sister, from now on you will be Princess Xin, no longer a young lady. Even if you want to teach someone a lesson, just say the word. There are plenty of guards and servants to help you. You don't need to do it yourself."
Wang Liuniang gave a cold laugh: "Mother, my whip must go with my dowry. I've said it more than once. Are you pretending not to hear me?"
Lady Wang said, "Prince Xin is the Empress's youngest son. Besides the Crown Prince, he is the second most honorable person in the land. After you marry him, you should think about how to win his favor, keep him in your quarters, and give birth to a legitimate eldest son as soon as possible. Also, Prince Xin is of royal lineage; he will inevitably have concubines and mistresses. You must not be like those petty, jealous women who can't tolerate others. Remember, you are His Majesty's personally bestowed wife. Serve the Emperor, Empress, and Prince sincerely. Those other women are nothing but illusions; they pose no threat to your position..."
Wang Liuniang covered her ears and screamed, "I want a whip! I want a whip! Did you hear me? You've been saying this for almost a month now, my ears are getting calluses! I don't want to hear it anymore! I want a whip!"
Her scream pierced the night sky and carried far, startling Madam Wang. She hurriedly covered Wang Liu Niang's mouth, saying, "Why are you shouting so loudly? Did all my advice go to waste? I told you that you would trust the Princess Consort from now on, and that you could kill someone just by opening your mouth and raising your hand. Do you really want to lower yourself to do it yourself?"
Wang Liuniang wouldn't listen at all. If she wasn't given the whip, she actually tried to smash the dowry in the room, which scared and angered Madam Wang so much that she had to order someone to find her whip.
Wang Liuniang solemnly tied a piece of red silk to the whip and carefully placed it separately in a rattan box: "It is also part of my dowry, my most important possession."
Lady Wang leaned weakly against the couch, supporting her forehead with her hand, extremely angry.
After receiving the whip, Wang Liuniang's mood improved considerably. She even came to her senses and sat down next to Madam Wang, suddenly saying, "Mother, do you know why I insist on carrying this whip with me?"
Madam Wang did not look up.
Wang Liuniang's eyes gleamed: "Because I'm worried, Mother. You've pushed me into a den of dragons and tigers, and you're even going to pull out my only tooth. I'm scared..."
Madam Wang shouted, "What dragon's den and tiger's lair? What nonsense are you spouting? That's the Prince Xin's residence. Prince Xin is His Majesty's youngest son. He was granted the title of Prince Xin and a residence in the capital even before he was married. Do you know what that means? It means you won't have to go with him to the outskirts of his fiefdom, you won't have to eat dirt in the west, be exposed to the wind in the east, suffer the cold in the north, or be bitten by insects in the south! Do you know what kind of effort and price the other princes have to pay to stay in the capital? How can you be so ungrateful?"
Wang Liuniang stared intently at her: "Mother, do you really think this is a good marriage? Then let me ask you, why did Meng Yueniang and Second Brother's marriage go so well, and they were almost engaged, but suddenly she canceled it? Madam Meng was so eager before, practically offering her daughter for free, but she just canceled it like that?"
In her eyes, Nie was the most vain woman. If Prince Xin was truly a popular figure, why would she suddenly turn off the flame? Something must have happened that she didn't know about.
Unfortunately, she couldn't leave. Minister Wang and Madam Wang used the excuse that she was waiting to be married, so apart from the royal summons, she couldn't even leave the house. She couldn't even ask Meng Yueniang in person.
Madam Wang's face turned pale and then red. This was something she had never expected. After Wang Liuniang was betrothed to the Sixth Prince, Nie's attitude became very obsequious. She couldn't wait to finalize the marriage between Meng Yueniang and Wang Erlang. She wanted to put on airs as the mother-in-law of the Prince of Xin, so she gave vague answers several times when Madam Wang asked about the date. Seeing the disappointment in Madam Wang's eyes but her forced smile and continued flattery, Madam Wang was extremely pleased with herself.
Who would have thought that just before Wang Liuniang's wedding was about to take place and her status as Wang's mother-in-law was to be confirmed, Nie suddenly turned cold. Suspicious, she sent her trusted nanny to inquire about the news and learned that Meng was no longer planning to arrange a marriage with her family.
Lady Wang was furious. Ironically, it was she who had been putting on airs time and time again. Now that the marriage was truly off, she was the one who had a hard time explaining things to Minister Wang!
Yes, when Vice Minister Wang found out about this, he scolded her severely and ordered her to go to Nie's house immediately to apologize and send her Wang Erlang's birth chart. She had no choice but to shamelessly go to Nie's house to beg for peace and presented Wang Erlang's birth chart, but Nie once again clearly refused.
Wang Shilang hadn't spoken to her for several days because of this matter, and now that Wang Liuniang had brought it up again, she felt as if she had been slapped hard across the face.
Wang Liuniang stared at Madam Wang: "Mother, when the Empress summoned me to the palace, I listened to you and bribed one of her maids with a large sum of money. That maid secretly sent me a message saying that the Empress was being held under house arrest by the Emperor in Jinghe Palace and couldn't get out. I'm about to get married to Prince Xin, so what important matter could possibly warrant the Empress being held under house arrest at this time? And just two days after the Empress was placed under house arrest, the Meng family rejected my second brother's marriage proposal. Do you think these two things are related? How could it be such a coincidence?"
The key point is that all of these things happened after Li Xiaoxiao crippled Lu Ke with a kick. She witnessed it firsthand; the Sixth Prince's face turned terribly pale, as if the kick had struck his chest.
Wang Liuniang's mind was much like her temper—neither of them were particularly good—but she possessed a woman's natural intuition—a sixth sense.
She was also present on the day Li Xiaoxiao competed with Lu Ke. She could sense that the relationship between the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince was very strange. She had five older brothers, each with a different personality. Some were quiet and some were active. They would quarrel and argue, but none of them had the same attitude as the Crown Prince and the Sixth Prince.
Her intuition told her that the two brothers didn't get along.
The Crown Prince is the future emperor. He has a bad relationship with the Sixth Prince. Who knows what her fate will be after she marries into the family?
She almost instantly believed her intuition: this Prince Xin was definitely not as simple as he seemed.
The naive Lady Wang still wanted to deceive her by saying how wonderful the Prince Xin's Mansion was.
Ever since she was deceived into believing she could marry Meng Guanqi, she no longer trusted Minister Wang and Madam Wang. The only person she could trust was herself, and the only thing that could protect her was that whip.
If she practices diligently and as hard as she can, and develops a whip technique like Li Xiaoxiao's that allows her to control the whip according to her will, wouldn't she be able to protect herself?
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Author's note: Don't worry, Old Deng will be offline soon! [cheering emoji]
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