By the time Jiang Lili was called back to the house by Xin Che to have lunch, the villagers of Langyan Village had already arrived with gifts of thanks such as eggs, herbs, and vegetables.
Xin Che went up the mountain early in the morning to catch a black pheasant and a pheasant, stewing one into soup and roasting the other.
At this moment, Jiang Lili was sitting at the door chewing on a chicken leg when she was suddenly surrounded by villagers. Seeing that so many people came to express their gratitude, Jiang Lili called out Xin Che and others.
Village chief Yan and his son were also the masterminds and have been tied up.
The person in charge now is Mr. Xing, a highly respected man in the village. He limped forward and said, "Thank you all, benefactors. The people in our village can finally be freed from suffering."
"May I ask where you are from? Although our village is small and remote, if you have any requests, we will do our best to fulfill them."
"We appreciate the kindness of our fellow villagers." Jiang Lili wiped the oil off her hands awkwardly. She felt a little embarrassed to be watched by so many people while she was eating a chicken leg.
Xin Che came out of the gate and added another chicken drumstick to Jiang Lili's bowl. Then he bowed to everyone and said, "It's just a small favor. Don't worry about it."
He thought it would be better to keep a low profile on the road, but the reputation of Marquis Zhaoping and the Prince had already spread widely among the people.
The only scholar in the village slapped his thigh and said, "You are so skilled in martial arts and so resourceful, yet you are among the exiles. May I ask if your benefactor is the Marquis of Zhaoping and his family?"
When the scholar said this, everyone was amazed.
"What about this Great Sheng God of War, Prince Xin, who defeated the Northern Frontier's Iron Cavalry with 500 extraordinary soldiers?"
"The Zhaoping Marquis's family is full of loyal and brave people. They are the pillars of our Great Sheng Dynasty. Why were they exiled?"
"Second Young Master Xin Cheng also built a water windmill to improve irrigation. How could such a skilled craftsman be exiled?"
"If you say these loyal and good people are plotting rebellion, I don't believe it!"
Marquis Zhaoping looked at the increasingly excited crowd and quickly signaled for silence: "The Xin family has devoted themselves to the country and is grateful for the love of you all. Please refrain from discussing the affairs of the court."
At this time, Wang Er, who was herding cattle at the village entrance, came running over excitedly and shouted loudly:
"Fellow villagers, Mr. Li, the governor of Linzhou, has brought officials to arrest the criminal!"
"And they sent the children back with them!"
The villagers were ecstatic upon hearing this and hurriedly looked towards the village entrance. They could hear the children's laughter from afar, and the children's parents' eyes were instantly red.
The pain of separation from family members is like a knife cutting through their veins every night, and they have to assist in doing things that go against their conscience. This past year has been extremely difficult.
"Dad! Mom!"
The children jumped off the carriage and ran into the arms of their families, telling each other how much they missed each other.
This large reunion scene made many fugitives' eyes tear up and they held their children tightly. If those evil-hearted criminals had succeeded last night, they would probably be facing the situation of being separated from their wives and children.
Some people also understood that even though Zhao Pinghou's family was in trouble now, they were still the patron saints of their team!
The people in the exile team were gradually moving towards the Zhaoping Marquis Mansion.
Here, Li Sicong sent the children back and assigned them to their households one by one, very rigorously.
The villagers praised Li Sicong's actions.
"Mr. Li, the prefect of Linzhou, is such a good official!"
"Yeah, they actually asked the eldest son to personally send the kids back!"
"Should we send a plaque?"
......
The reputation of Mr. Li spread again.
Li Sicong had a warm smile on his face throughout the whole process, and he even gave out new products from his dessert shop to his fellow villagers for free, making men, women, young and old all laugh in a daze.
Someone said, "Mr. Li, our fellow villagers can't afford the sweet soup in your shop!"
Li Sicong smiled amiably: "No problem, your face shows that you are a blessed person. I hope you will patronize my business when you become rich in the future."
Jiang Lili had finished eating the chicken leg, but Li Sicong was still chatting and laughing. She shook her head and said that with his business ability, he deserved to be the sales champion.
"Li Bao Li Bao——"
After sending the chicks home, Li Sicong exchanged a few words with the villagers to establish his image, then came to Jiang Lili with some snacks and roast chicken.
Xin Che couldn't bear to see Jiang Lili's greasy little hands pulling his sleeves and wiping her with a handkerchief.
Li Sicong's call of "Li Bao" successfully attracted his attention.
Li Sicong glanced at Xin Che who was wiping Jiang Lili's hands, and then said, "Miss Jiang, we'll be in Linzhou soon. I have something to discuss with you."
*
The Empress Dowager's Shoukang Palace.
Empress Dowager Yu leaned against the couch and spoke to the emperor, "I heard that the emperor banished Yingshu to the cold palace?"
Emperor Qingning hesitated as he offered the Empress Dowager tea: "But what I did was wrong?"
After all, Xin Yingshu was raised by the Empress Dowager when she was still the Empress of the late Emperor, so it is normal for the Empress Dowager to be reluctant to part with Xin Yingshu.
"No, you did very well. This is the act of an emperor."
The Queen Mother opened her eyes, her cloudy pupils fixed on Emperor Qingning: "I am still worried that you still have feelings for Concubine Ying."
Emperor Qingning smiled and said, "I was taught by your mother, so whatever your mother thinks is what your son thinks."
Emperor Qingning was peeling grapes for the Empress Dowager while saying, "Mother, the news from the front says that Princess Dunlun has arrived at the Bol Grassland Tribe."
The Queen Mother was calm and composed: "Don't worry, I have already instructed that the maidservant beside Princess Dunlun will hand the poison and dagger to Princess Dunlun on her wedding night."
"Xin Ningyu is as strong-willed as the Xin family. How could he possibly submit to his former enemies?"
Emperor Qingning replied, "That grassland Khan is brutal and lustful. With weapons and poison in hand, Xin Ningyu will surely fight to the death."
The Queen Mother stroked her armor and said, "With the cooperation of our spies, even if the Khan doesn't die, he will inevitably be seriously injured."
Emperor Qingning's eyes were filled with determination. "The Khan's two brothers are eyeing us covetously. I'm sure civil war will break out among the Bor tribe on the grasslands. Our army on the grassland border will be able to reap the benefits."
"It's a pity for Ning Yu, she's only seventeen years old."
The Queen Mother sighed softly, looking extremely regretful.
"Your Majesty, your words are wrong." Emperor Qingning shook his head. "Princess Dunlun died a worthy and glorious death for our Great Sheng in this way."
The Queen Mother nodded and said, "If her remains are found later, she will be buried according to the rank of a first-rank princess."
"The Queen Mother is still kind-hearted."
Emperor Qingning rubbed his temples and said, "It's because that elder brother Xin Ningyu is so troublesome, otherwise why would he end up in this situation?"
"Report from the front: Marquis Zhaoping and his family have survived and are almost to Linzhou. After crossing the Qinglin Mountains, they are not far from Haizhou."
The Queen Mother pondered for a moment and said, "The Miaojiang tribe is entrenched in Qinglin Mountain. They are adept at using poison to kill people without their knowledge. Why not ask the Miaojiang tribe to help?"
Emperor Qingning's eyes lit up: "Who should be entrusted with this matter?"
The Queen Mother narrowed her eyes and said, "I heard that the ancestors of the Hou family, the wife of the Prince of Jin, migrated from Miaojiang and have deep roots in the Miaojiang tribe."
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