Jiang Jiuniang didn't find anything strange about it. Granny Pang had been gone for so long, and she had exchanged letters with her family and the palace several times. Madam Peng's letter was only arriving late, so she didn't feel there was anything to be happy about.
But Peng Yuan obviously didn't think that way. After all, she was her own mother, and the emotional bond and blood ties she had shared since childhood were unbreakable.
More importantly, Peng Yuan is simple-minded. The incident with Granny Pang might have been a bit cruel to her, probably because she was worried about her mother's wrath.
Seeing her smiling face, Jiang Jiuniang guessed what was going on and asked, "What's wrong? Auntie isn't angry with me, is she?"
"No, my mother has no idea that this was done by you and me! I don't know if Granny Pang has changed her ways. She told my mother that she lost her eyeballs when she encountered bandits on the way. My mother just felt sorry for her suffering at her age and told me to be careful here."
After learning of her mother's attitude, she finally felt relieved. She was afraid that Granny Pang would go back and say something that would cause her mother to hold a grudge against Sister Jiu.
Jiang Jiuniang merely twitched the corner of her mouth, not intending to tell her that Granny Pang hadn't changed her ways, but rather had been threatened by her.
They wouldn't tell her that Granny Pang was sent to take care of her, and why she went back halfway through.
Even if Granny Pang didn't say anything, how could the maids and servants around her not know?
If Madam Peng wanted to investigate, she would naturally be able to find out. Pretending to be unaware in the letter suggests she has other plans.
Jiang Jiuniang felt that a mother who would give away her daughter's room to someone else couldn't have a very deep maternal love. Similarly, Madam Peng's feigned ignorance could not possibly be for Peng Yuan's sake.
The silly little boy next to her was laughing so happily, I don't know if it was genuine or just a forced performance, I guess he didn't want to think too badly of his mother.
Thinking of this, Jiang Jiuniang said, "Then you should tell your aunt that everything is fine here and there will be no bandits. The city is heavily guarded, and if any bandits come, they will definitely not return."
She tried to comfort her in a lighthearted manner, and Peng Yuan nodded with a smile: "Hehe, that's what I told my mother too."
The two chatted as they strolled casually through the streets.
The city's economy is now stable, and the people live and work in peace and contentment. The streets are bustling with activity, selling all sorts of trinkets. Peng Yuan took a liking to many of the toys and said she would buy them for her future baby to play with.
Jiang Jiuniang also thought these things were very unique, and bought quite a few.
Just as they were about to wander around other places, several people suddenly ran towards them. The one in front was a little beggar, who was being chased by the people behind him and rushed straight towards them.
Peng Yuan was stunned and didn't know how to react. The Chunhua and Chuncao sisters were following far behind and couldn't catch up at all.
Just when Peng Yuan thought the little beggar was about to bump into her, Jiang Jiuniang stepped forward, blocked the little beggar's path, and lifted him up.
The people behind them caught up, cursing and swearing. Perhaps feeling guilty, they glanced at Jiang Jiuniang before saying to the little beggar, "Where did this little beggar come from, daring to steal my things!"
When the little beggar saw that he had been caught, he hurriedly threw the money bag he was holding to the ground and said pitifully, "Here you go, please spare me!"
He then said to Jiang Jiuniang, who was holding him, "Madam, spare my life, I didn't mean to."
As he spoke, he shifted his body uneasily.
The people who had been pursuing him had taken the money and left, leaving him all alone, and he felt a little scared.
Jiang Jiuniang put the person down, looked at the timid little beggar, and asked, "I was standing outside, it was obvious that I would bump into her, why did you bump into her?"
The little beggar's face stiffened, and he said, "Madam, spare me! I was too hasty just now, I didn't... I didn't think that much..."
"Yeah?"
Jiang Jiuniang didn't want to expose him. His acting was so obvious. Did he really think she was blind?
Those people who came over just now were looking at her guiltily, clearly knowing who she was. They even glanced at the little beggar as they left. Such blatant eye contact shows absolutely no respect for the audience.
The little beggar, oblivious to the fact that she had already figured it out, kept nodding.
With so many people on the street, Jiang Jiuniang didn't want to make things too difficult for him. Seeing his confident demeanor, she said, "Then you can apologize to this lady and leave."
The little beggar's face instantly lit up with a smile. He sincerely apologized to Peng Yuan and then ran away in a flash.
At this moment, Chunhua and Chuncao also arrived. Jiang Jiuniang simply instructed, "Follow him and find out what happened."
The two responded and quickly followed.
Peng Yuan's heart pounded with fear. She clutched her chest to calm herself down. Seeing Jiang Jiuniang send someone to investigate, she asked, "Sister Jiuniang, do you suspect they're after the baby in my belly?"
Jiang Jiuniang nodded: "Pretty much, the intention is too obvious."
Peng Yuan was still very frightened: "But we haven't offended anyone in this city. Who would treat me like this? Could it be someone from Dongting again?"
"That's hard to say. Let's go back and wait for news from Chunhua and Chuncao."
Jiang Jiuniang came over and helped her walk back, her face looking as if it were shrouded in gloom.
During this time, they stayed here. Huizhou City was heavily guarded, and no one from Dongting could possibly sneak in. Since they were not from Dongting, then only their own people remained.
That's how people are. When there's an external enemy, they fight together to defend against it, but once the enemy retreats, internal strife begins.
However, the other party's actions were truly dirty; targeting a pregnant woman is despicable.
"Then I think I'll stay home for a while. I was really scared just now. If it weren't for Sister Jiu Niang, I probably would have..."
At this point, she patted her chest, trying to calm herself down.
Now she finally understood why Sister Jiu Niang had said to wait until after the war to consider having a second child. In this border region, there weren't many people she could trust, and there were always unexpected situations, making it extremely dangerous.
After returning, Jiang Jiuniang accompanied Peng Yuan back to her courtyard. The two ordered some food and ate while waiting for Chunhua and Chuncao to return.
When they had almost finished eating, Chunhua returned and said, "Madam was indeed right. Those people were indeed a group. The little beggar was just someone we found temporarily. They gave him a few copper coins and sent him away. The others secretly returned to the prefectural government office and entered through the back door."
"The prefectural government office?"
Peng Yuan's eyes widened: "Why would the prefect want to harm my child? My child hasn't bothered him in any way, has he?"
Just a few days ago they had dinner with the prefect's family, and they were all very warm and friendly people. How could they stab each other in the back like this?
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