Just like in southern Jiangsu, the 10,000 troops that went to northern Jiangsu were also quickly captured.
Meanwhile, another 10,000 troops followed Shi Yan into the deep mountains, losing contact with the outside world and having no idea what was happening in southern and northern Jiangsu.
After the surrendered soldiers were incorporated into the imperial court, Ye Zhen led the imperial garrison, following the clues left by Shi Yan, and together with Shi Yan from the inside, they captured the remaining 10,000 troops.
Li Chengye never dreamed that the private army he and his father had raised with so much effort and money would be dismantled and taken down by Ye Zhen and his daughter.
He was so angry that he wanted to kill Ye Zhen on the spot.
But he was locked in the cellar of the nunnery and could not break free, so he could only curse loudly.
The head of the village, who was in charge of guarding him, couldn't stand him cursing Ye Zhen. He took his two sons down to the cellar, and the three of them beat him up. His daily diet of a bowl of thin porridge and a steamed bun was reduced to half a bowl of thin porridge.
Although he did not grow up in the Prime Minister's mansion, Li Chengye was supported by Li Heng's vast wealth, and his life was always at the level of a prince of Xiyue, much more luxurious than that of his two older brothers.
Looking at the half-bowl of thin porridge in the broken bowl, he felt extremely humiliated and decided to go on a hunger strike.
He knew very well that Ye Zhen hadn't killed him because he was going to send him to the capital to see the emperor. Ye Zhen wouldn't dare let him die before he saw the emperor.
"Call Ye Zhen here. If you're so capable, then let me starve to death."
"Pah! You bastard from Xiyue, how dare you call yourself this young master?"
The head of the estate scolded, "Our princess is busy with important matters and has no time to see you."
He only learned that Li Chengye was planning to lead troops to conquer southern Jiangsu after the princess arrived there.
When the rebels entered the city, it was easy to imagine what would happen to these ordinary people.
If he hadn't never killed anyone before, he would have loved to kill Li Chengye.
How could she possibly be threatened by him with "eat it or don't"?
A few days of starvation won't kill you; anyway, the princess said that as long as people don't die, it's fine.
Li Chengye was used to being fawned over by his subordinates and thought that he could scare the head of the manor by going on a hunger strike, but the head of the manor ignored him completely.
Therefore, when Ye Zhen reappeared, he was so hungry that he was barely breathing and didn't even have the strength to curse.
After being locked up for so long, he became skin and bones.
"What's wrong with him?"
Ye Zhen asked the head of the village.
She came with a secret imperial order to arrest Li Chengye, and she wanted to bring him back alive, which would further confirm Li Heng's ambition to usurp the country.
When Zhuang Tou heard her ask this, he thought he had done something wrong, so he quickly told her about Li Chengye's hunger strike.
“Princess, he’s just very hungry. Feeding him will help him recover. I have no intention of killing him.”
Ye Zhen looked at the head of the village and smiled, "Then I'll trouble Uncle Ai to let him rest a bit, just so he doesn't die on the way."
Before Ye Jinghong and Yin Jiuniang became her support, Ye Zhen was mistreated by the previous head of the manor. The head of the manor and his wife secretly gave her food a few times.
Later, Ye Jinghong dealt with the former head of the estate, and Ye Zhen suggested that Ye Jinghong promote the Ai family.
Over the years, the Ai family has been very loyal to Ye Zhen.
Seeing that Ye Zhen still addressed him as before, Ai Zhuangtou grinned and said, "Don't worry, Zhen girl, I'll go right away."
Thinking of something, he added, "If you have time, please come to my house for a visit. My wife has been asking me to invite you to dinner."
"I've prepared a lot of smoked and pickled side dishes for you; please take them with you when you go back."
For Li Zhuangtou, Ye Zhen had only been away from southern Jiangsu for a few years, but for Ye Zhen, it felt like two lifetimes.
She also wanted to go back to the estate, so she said, "Let Hongwen and the others feed it. Uncle Ai will accompany me back to the estate."
Ai Hongwen was the eldest son of the village head, and was about the same age as Ye Zhen. Upon hearing this, he quickly responded.
Ye Zhen introduced Shi Yan to Ai Zhuangtou, "This is my father."
Ai Zhuangtou had already heard about Ye Zhen's background and learned that she was Ye Jinghong's daughter. Now that she had her biological father by her side, he was very happy for Ye Zhen and invited Shi Yan to his home for dinner.
Worried that the family was not adequately prepared, she sent her youngest son to deliver the message in advance.
Shi Yan smiled and thanked him.
The three of them returned to the manor together.
Aunt Ai pulled Ye Zhen up and down, looking him over with great delight.
When the other villagers and those who were on good terms with Ye Zhen learned that she had returned, they all brought gifts to visit her.
Some were homemade cured meats, some were eggs saved up, and some were homemade food.
Ye Zhen accepted them all with a smile.
Aunt Ai then took her daughter and daughter-in-law to cook.
The villagers saw that Ye Zhen, now a princess, was as unpretentious and uninhibited as before, and became as familiar with her as ever.
An aunt said, "I heard you were bullied in the capital. Yinyue and the others led people to rescue you. We were very worried about you. Fortunately, your suffering has come to an end, and you will have good fortune from now on."
"Yes, Zhen girl, good deeds are rewarded. When you were in the village, countless people in the surrounding area benefited from your kindness."
Now you've exempted us from taxes for another year, and we don't know how to thank you enough. Many families now observe vegetarianism on the first and fifteenth of each lunar month and go to the temple to pray for your blessings.
“The Ye family couple are truly despicable. We were furious when we heard about it. No wonder you couldn’t come back for the past few years; you must have been bullied quite a bit.”
Knowing that you were criticized for opening a charity hall, the head of Aizhuang Village and the village chief of Huangtu Village gathered a lot of people, planning to go to the capital to testify for you. They only returned after receiving Yinyue's letter.
I never imagined that the capital city, where the emperor lives, would have even more wicked people than our southern Jiangsu. They must be jealous of you. You must remember to be careful from now on.”
Ye Zhen nodded; she knew about it.
Not wanting the villagers to worry, he had Yinyue deliver a letter to them saying that everything was fine and inviting them to come to the capital for a visit.
When the village head and his men learned that she was alright, they immediately returned to southern Jiangsu, not wanting to trouble her by going to the capital.
Ye Zhen was touched by everyone's concern for her. She had her own discernment and knew that most people were sincere.
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