"Really? Let me see."
An Lingrong took the letter and opened it casually. Her mother had gone to the capital for eye treatment and had asked Aunt Xiao to bring her younger brother along, under the pretext of taking care of him and helping him with his studies.
She didn't care about the people Songyang left behind. Of course, those people didn't care about her either.
Could it be anything good that a letter was sent to her, the favored daughter of the palace?
Sure enough, upon opening the letter, they learned that County Magistrate Jiang Wenqing was escorting military supplies to the Northwest, and An Bihai was among them. However, they encountered enemy troops halfway there, resulting in the supplies being stolen.
Fearing repercussions, Jiang Wenqing not only deserted his post but also absconded with a significant amount of the remaining silver.
But being an official was useless, and so was trying to escape. They were quickly captured by the imperial soldiers, and Anbihai was implicated and imprisoned as well.
She already knew these things, so she wasn't surprised.
If it weren't for this, she wouldn't have been so eager to bring her mother and younger brother to the capital once she had gained a little status in the palace.
Besides not wanting her mother to be implicated and worry, she also wanted to teach Anbihai a lesson.
Shen Meizhuang asked, "Lingrong, what's wrong? You don't look well."
"But if there's anything we can do to help, just say so."
Zhen Huan said, "Yes, isn't it said that one person's plan is short-sighted, but two people's plans are long-sighted?"
An Lingrong said, "I'll have to trouble you sisters again this time."
“The magistrate of Songyang County was ordered to escort military supplies, and my father was among them. On the way, they encountered enemy troops, and Magistrate Jiang Wenqing absconded with the money.”
"Now all of them have been detained, and the case is being handled by Sister Mei's father, Lord Shen, the Assistant Commander of Jeju."
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang were shocked. They knew this was no small matter; if they were implicated, it would be a matter of life and death.
An Lingrong's life in the palace had just become a little better when this happened at home. If An Bihai is convicted because of this, she will have no family to rely on in the palace, although she never really could.
But once she bears the title of daughter of a disgraced official, she no longer needs to worry about her future.
Sun Miaoqing knew that An Lingrong was different now than before, but seeing that she was not in a hurry at all, and even had the mind to drink tea, she tentatively asked,
"Lingrong, such a major incident has occurred, yet you don't seem worried?"
An Lingrong said, "These things can't be rushed. Sister Sun, have you forgotten that you must remain calm and not panic at any time? That's what you taught me before."
Sun Miaoqing was bewildered. She knew that An Bihuai had escaped unharmed this time, but others didn't!
Zhen Huan and Shen Meizhuang both seem more anxious than An Lingrong, the person directly involved!
[An Xiaoniao has learned too well; she acts as if the person locked up inside, whose life is in danger at any moment, isn't her father.]
An Lingrong paused in her action of putting down the teacup. Would Sister Sun think she was too cruel, so heartless to her own father?
But I like her just the way she is; that scumbag deserved it!
An Lingrong breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile appearing on her face, and explained to the group,
“My father is timid and always cautious, only seeking to protect himself. He would never dare to get involved in something like this.”
“If it involves military matters, the Emperor will definitely intervene. My father is just a county magistrate, not a chief official.”
“No matter how low my rank is, I am still the Emperor’s woman. As long as my father doesn’t get his comeuppance, the Emperor won’t just take his life for the sake of his own reputation.”
Zhen Huan asked pointedly, "Lingrong, are you sure Uncle An wasn't involved?"
An Lingrong nodded, "Of course, he doesn't have the guts. He can show off in Songyang County all he wants, but he'd rather avoid something this big than anything else."
Sun Miaoqing said, "I think Lingrong is right. Uncle An is a civil official, not a military general. He is not strong enough to kill a chicken."
"Not fleeing when encountering enemy troops is already an act of loyalty. The Emperor is a wise man. Even if he wants to make an example of someone, he won't choose Uncle An."
Anbi Huai's official position was simply too low; he couldn't even serve as the chicken used to make an example of someone.
Killing him would not only fail to establish authority, but would also lead to public opinion that he was ruthless and heartless.
Shen Meizhuang said, "Then I will write a letter back and ask my father to have someone take good care of him, so that Uncle An won't suffer in prison."
An Lingrong shook her head slightly. Baojuan and the others had already tactfully retreated when she mentioned this matter.
"Thank you, Sister Mei, but rather than having someone secretly take care of me, I would prefer that you let Uncle Shen have a good scare."
"Let him know what's what, otherwise he'll think that I, a nobody, have any real power. He's committed such a serious crime, yet I managed to get him out unharmed."
“From now on, they’ll grow bolder and I won’t be able to control them in the palace. Let them use my name to cause trouble outside.”
Zhen Huan knew the situation of An Lingrong and her daughter at home. For such an important event as the imperial concubine selection, only an old concubine accompanied them to the capital, which clearly showed that they were not taken seriously.
An Lingrong's mother was weak, and the household was run by a concubine, who truly didn't understand etiquette. It's no wonder that her daughter, An Lingrong, felt resentment at being forced into such a situation by a concubine, despite being a lawfully wedded wife.
Zhen Huan said, "That makes sense. It's good for a large family to have some kind of restraint."
Shen Meizhuang nodded and said, "In that case, I will write a letter and send it back."
An Lingrong said, "Thank you, sisters. The luckiest thing in my life is that I have become friends with you all."
Shen Meizhuang said, "It's just a small matter. The palace is only so big. It's better for us to chat, laugh, and play mahjong together than to be alone."
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