Chapter 323 The Fall of Dingzhou, Another Round of Peace Negotiations
The news spread that the Xiao family was growing 'wild vegetables' in their fields.
Everyone laughed at them for wasting their time, saying that instead of planting rice, they were planting wild vegetables, and that they could just go up the mountain to pick them.
Wang Youcai, Lu Wenyuan, Doctor Chen, and several others went to the Xiao family to inquire.
Xiao Xuance was chopping firewood in the courtyard.
"Young Master Xiao, I heard you're growing wild vegetables in the fields. Are you going to grow them to sell?"
The Wang family only has one mu of land, and no one knows how to farm. Growing rice is troublesome, and besides, it only yields about a hundred jin, so it's better not to grow it at all. They might as well learn from the Xiao family and grow some wild vegetables.
He said, "It's not a wild vegetable, it's a type of food, like rice and noodles, that can fill your stomach."
"Can it fill our stomachs? Where did you buy the seeds? I want to plant some too."
"We bought it from a foreign merchant. If Master Wang wants to plant it, why don't we wait a few months and see if we have a harvest before deciding whether to plant it or not?"
This is their first time planting it, so the yield can't be guaranteed. Let's not even talk about that. What if they follow suit and fail to grow it, then it'll be a waste.
“That’s fine. I’ll plant rice this season, and then I’ll plant wild vegetables with you next season to fill my stomach…”
"It's not a wild vegetable, it's a sweet potato."
Wang Youcai said, "Yes, yes, it was a slip of the tongue, it was sweet potato."
Xiao Xuance told the guests to finish chopping the last bit of firewood on the ground, then put down his axe and invited them into the house.
Xiao Mingshu brewed a pot of tea to serve them, saying, "Please have some tea, everyone."
Thank you!
"I have another matter to discuss with Your Highness today. Would it be convenient for you to come?"
Madam Yang came out of the house. "It's convenient, Lord Lu, please speak."
The men rose and bowed, saying, "Your Highness."
"The Xiao family has been exiled, and I am no longer a princess. Lord Lu, you may call me Madam Xiao from now on."
"I have a favor to ask, and the most important thing is that Your Highness agrees. The Fourth Miss is still unmarried, and my son Tingzhi and several of my nephews are all of marriageable age. If Your Highness wishes to choose a husband for the Fourth Miss, could you perhaps consider the men of my Lu family?"
"Well... children and grandchildren have their own blessings; it mainly depends on my daughter's wishes."
Xiao Mingshu, who was sewing clothes inside the house, paused when she heard the conversation outside.
The eyes of her eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law were both on her.
Xie Wanyun asked, "Does Shu'er have someone she likes?"
Xiao Mingshu shook her head. "No, I don't want to get married. I just want to stay with my mother and family."
She had been back with her family for less than six months and didn't want to leave them.
She wanted to focus on learning medicine and become a qualified doctor.
Once married, she is expected to stay at home to support her husband and raise her children; her husband's family would certainly not support her going out into the world.
Lord Lu made the repeated requests and even listed several outstanding younger members of the Lu family.
When Yang heard him say that Lu Tingzhi passed the imperial examination at the age of twenty-three, her eyes lit up.
He was able to pass the imperial examination at the age of twenty-three; he was indeed a talented person and a good match for Shu'er.
She was somewhat tempted by the suggestion and did not refuse Lord Lu's recommendation. Xiao Mingshu, who was listening inside, could not sit still and rushed out to say, "Mother, I don't want to get married."
...
The Xiao family had ten mu of land, five mu of which were planted with high-yield crops such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, corn, and cassava.
The remaining five mu will be used to grow rice, with one mu used for sowing and seedling raising, and then the seedlings will be transplanted into the ground later.
Meanwhile, news of the Great Zhou's defeat in battle came from the north.
Xiao Xuance left the city defense camp in the middle of the night and went to a manor in the town to discuss important matters with his men.
"Your Highness, news has come from the north that Dingzhou has fallen and is besieging Zhending Prefecture. The army has retreated to Daming Prefecture. The court is panicked and has sent envoys to negotiate peace."
"They've already reached our doorstep. Wanyan Zonglie isn't stupid; how could he possibly let go of the meat that's about to be fed to him? What's the point of negotiating peace now?"
Xiao Xuance put down the note in his hand. "Da Jing will agree to their demands for ceding territory, paying reparations, and providing grain or slaves to strengthen their army, ensuring that the rear supplies are secure, allowing them to conserve their strength, and then launch a surprise attack south. They can also deceive the court, making them stay in the capital and wait to be captured when the city falls."
“What the young master says makes sense.”
"So, should we do something?"
"It's too late."
They received news of the peace negotiations, and the imperial court may have already sent envoys to Dajing.
Half a month later, news came from the north again that the two countries had reached a peace agreement. Dingzhou was to be the border, and all the territory beyond Dingzhou would be ceded to Dajing. Dajing would never invade Dazhou again for ten years.
The 300,000-strong army of Dajing also retreated to Dingzhou.
The imperial court and everyone in the Great Zhou breathed a sigh of relief. As long as there was no war, they could live in peace.
When Zhao Xuan learned of the devastation in the north, he realized that the capital was not far from falling.
He soon became emperor and was overjoyed. Every day he had his servants serve him fine wine and food, and he had a wife and a concubine on each side, living a very happy life.
"Your Highness, tomorrow will be the forty-ninth day. When will we deal with that vile woman Su Wan'er and avenge our son?"
These days, Su Wan'er has been locked in the woodshed. She tried to escape, but was caught and brought back.
During this time, the Su family sent people to deliver things to Su Wan'er, including silver and some daily necessities.
The other party was curious as to why Su Wan'er hadn't appeared, so Yun Jiaoyue made an excuse, saying that Su Wan'er and Zhao Xuan had gone out.
The other party believed her and even left an address for Su Wan'er to contact them.
Yun Jiaoyue ordered her servants to put the note in the stove and burn it.
"Your Highness, Wan'er already knows she was wrong, can you please let her go?" Liu Yiyi grasped Zhao Xuan's arm.
"Liu Shi! Shut up! She killed the young master of the Xuan Prince's mansion, why should I let her go!"
Liu Yiyi, "Your Highness, the dead cannot be brought back to life..."
"Shut up! You and she are two peas in a pod. I bet you'd love for my son to die. You're the one who ordered Su Wan'er to kill him! Tell me..."
Yun Jiaoyue lunged forward, grabbed her arm, and shook it violently.
Liu Yiyi's lower back hit the edge of the table, causing her to hiss in pain. Tears welled up in her watery eyes. "It wasn't me, I didn't, Your Highness, you've misunderstood me."
"It was you! You killed my son! I'll kill you all!" Yun Jiaoyue glared at her, her hatred so intense she wanted to drink her blood and eat her flesh.
Her son is gone, and this bitch still makes such sarcastic remarks. How could she not be angry?
These days, Zhao Xuan has been in Liu Yiyi's room almost all the time, while she can only stay alone in the empty room. Hearing the noise they make, her heart aches.
He also hated Liu Yiyi to the core.
He grabbed Liu Yiyi's neck with both hands.
"Are you crazy? Stop right now!" Zhao Xuan pulled Yun Jiaoyue away.
Yun Jiaoyue lost his balance and was thrown to the ground. He braced himself with his hands, his right hand pressing on the broken porcelain shards. "Ah!"
Liu Yiyi leaned against Zhao Xuan's chest, sobbing softly. Smelling blood, she suddenly pushed Zhao Xuan away, turned her head to the other side, and gagged, covering her mouth. "Ugh..."
"Ugh, ugh..."
"Yiyi, are you pregnant? Carrying my son?"
Liu Yiyi was stunned, as if she had been hit by a sudden surprise, and stared blankly at Zhao Xuan.
She raised her hand to her belly and murmured softly, "Pregnant...I'm pregnant?"
Yun Jiaoyue was even more incredulous. How could this be?
How could she get pregnant?
Did the sterilization drug she received at the mansion become ineffective?
It must be fake.
She was masochistic, pressing her hand tightly against the broken pieces of porcelain on the ground.
However, Zhao Xuan didn't even glance at her; his eyes were only on the pregnant Liu Yiyi. Otherwise, he laughed loudly, "Hahaha, that's great! I'm going to have another son! Double happiness!"
"Quickly, fetch a doctor! Tell him that Consort Liu... Consort Liu is pregnant. Have him come to confirm the pregnancy; the consultation fee will be double."
He carefully carried Liu Yiyi, avoiding the broken porcelain shards on the ground, and placed her on a chair on the other side, then ordered the guards.
"Your Highness, it's not certain yet. What if it isn't? I'll have disappointed you again..."
Zhao Xuan's lips curled into a confident smile. "I've tried so hard for so long, staying up so late every night, and knocking you out several times. You must be pregnant."
"Your Highness, there are still people around."
"What's there to be afraid of? They know perfectly well enough to know."
Before long, Doctor Li arrived, took his pulse, and bowed to Xuan, saying, "Congratulations, Your Highness! Consort Liu is more than half a month pregnant."
Yun Jiaoyue retorted loudly, "Impossible! She couldn't possibly be pregnant!"
Liu Yiyi blinked. "What does Your Highness mean by this?"
Yun Jiaoyue said, "Because... you couldn't get pregnant before, it's impossible for you to suddenly get pregnant."
"So that's how it is. I thought the Princess had given me some kind of medicine. When Wan'er fainted earlier, Doctor Chen happened to be passing by. I had him take her pulse. He said that Wan'er's body was severely weakened and that she had also been found to have drunk extremely cold medicine. He said that she might have difficulty conceiving in the future."
Back when she was still at Prince Xuan's residence, Yun Jiaoyue entered the mansion. She was extra careful about the food sent from the kitchen, checking it carefully every time. She even specially found a female physician who knew medicine to be her maid. Once, she discovered that safflower and musk had been added to the medicinal food.
Su Wan'er was also drugged around that time.
That's what Liu Yiyi said.
Zhao Xuan, recalling Yun Jiaoyue's confident words, understood everything. Pointing at Yun Jiaoyue, he said, "You poisonous woman! You drugged them and harmed my offspring! You poisonous woman!"
He admired Yun Jiaoyue's ruthlessness, but he couldn't tolerate her plotting against him.
He raised his hand to slap her.
Yun Jiaoyue knelt down at his feet first, reaching out to hold his robe. "Your Highness, I only gave them contraceptives, not a drug to kill their offspring. I was thinking that when our child is born, he will be the eldest son of the legitimate wife. If the eldest son of the concubine is born before the legitimate son, the brothers will fight each other in the future, which will be difficult for Your Highness."
"You said you would deal with Su Wan'er today and give me an explanation. You can't go back on your word. After today, I will have no complaints about how you want to deal with me."
"No……"
"Yiyi, I know you and she are very close, but she killed my son, so she should pay with her life. Don't worry about this matter, I have my own plans. Just focus on your pregnancy. Guards, take Consort Liu away to rest."
"If anything else goes wrong, I will take your lives!"
"Alright! We'll do as Your Highness says." Liu Yiyi followed the maid downstairs. As she passed Doctor Li, she said, "Doctor Li, His Highness wants to kill Wan'er. Are you sure you want to keep this a secret?"
"I... Your Highness, I humbly beg Your Highness to spare Consort Su..."
"Imperial Physician Li, what are you hiding from me?"
"Before the princess fell, her baby was almost stillborn, so..."
"It was my fault for being foolish. I was worried that the Princess would be upset, so I kept it a secret. It was all my fault."
He had accepted bribes from Yun Jiaoyue, and now that the matter had been exposed, he dared not place all the blame on her and could only take the blame himself.
"Your Highness, Wan'er is innocent. The Su family sent many gifts and wanted to see Wan'er. Could you please forgive her for the sake of the Su family?"
"Very well! I understand. Men, pay Doctor Li's follow-up consultation fee and see the guest out."
Domestic affairs are none of our business.
"The Su family has sent people; why was I unaware of it?"
The maid and guards all looked at Yun Jiaoyue, then lowered their heads.
"It's you again! How much trouble have you caused me these past few days?" Zhao Xuan lowered his eyes and looked down at Yun Jiaoyue on the ground.
She secretly sent assassins to kill the escorts and ordered the guards to first humiliate and then kill Aunt Chen, all of which he resolved.
"I...no, Your Highness, I can explain all of this." Yun Jiaoyue knelt down and grabbed his robe.
"What else do you have to say for yourself!" Zhao Xuan was extremely disappointed in her. What use was a woman who couldn't even protect her own child?
He pulled his leg away, and Yun Jiaoyue was thrown over. "Ah!"
"Someone, go and release Aunt Su."
"yes!"
The guard bowed and withdrew.
A moment later, he returned and said, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Concubine Su has disappeared."
"Gone? How did they disappear? Did they run away on their own, or were they taken away?"
Zhao Xuan's sharp gaze fell on Yun Jiaoyue's face.
"The window was smashed open from the inside out, so he must have run away on his own."
"Go find it quickly!"
"Your Highness, that person seems to be the manager of the silk shop that the Su family has set up in Panyu. She was the one who came to see Wan'er last time."
"No one is allowed to reveal that Wan'er is missing. Just say that she is sick and cannot receive guests."
"yes!"
Zhao Xuan went out to greet them, and the maids and guards hurriedly cleaned up the broken pieces on the ground and the leftover food on the table.
On the other side, Su Wan'er secretly ran away. The only passage into the city was guarded by the city defense battalion, so she couldn't get out and lingered behind the bushes.
She waited and waited, but the gatekeeper still hadn't left. When she saw Zhao Xuan's guards walking towards her, she quickly crouched down and hid herself in the bushes, covering her mouth and nose with her hands and holding her breath.
The guards went to ask the gatekeepers of the city defense camp if a woman had gone out, but the gatekeepers said they hadn't seen her.
He went to look elsewhere.
Su Wan'er breathed a sigh of relief when she saw him leave.
Suddenly a hand landed on her shoulder, and Su Wan'er froze. She slowly turned her head and saw that it was not a guard, but Chen Yurou.
"What are you doing here? Was that guard looking for you?"
"Yes, he came to find me. Today is the forty-ninth. They want to kill me. I want to escape. Please, help me."
Chen Yuru hesitated for a moment, then pulled her away, saying, "Okay! Come with me."
Su Wan'er clung tightly to her, as if grasping at a lifeline, looking around and following her step by step into a grove.
"Where are you taking me? This place is all mountains, there are wild animals, I...I'm scared..."
"Don't be afraid. I've walked this road many times. Someone will come out with you in a little while. I'll have him escort you into the city."
She had also heard about Su Wan'er killing Yun Jiaoyue's child.
They are all unfortunate people; we should help them if we can.
Chen Yuru took her to a cave.
Inside the cave, two men dressed as hunters were roasting wild rabbits and pheasants by a fire.
Hu Feng often disguised himself as a hunter to go hunting in the mountains and bring food to Chen Yuru.
Zhao Jiu had nothing to do today, so he went hunting in the mountains with Hu Feng.
Hearing the noise at the door, I saw Chen Yuru walking ahead.
Zhao Jiu nudged Hu Feng's arm and winked at him, "Brother Feng, your wife is here."
He picked up a knife, cut off a piece of meat from his leg, stood up, and prepared to leave, leaving the cave interior to them.
Suddenly, a figure rushed over, slapped his chest, and knocked him back. "Zhao Jiu, you heartless bastard, you're eating and drinking like a king here, and you didn't even come to save me. Do you know how much I've suffered these past few days?"
Who are you?
Zhao Jiu was so frightened that he stepped back.
Su Wan'er hadn't showered or washed her hair for over ten days; her hair was a mess, her clothes were so dirty you couldn't tell their original color, and she had an unpleasant odor. Her voice was hoarse and rough from prolonged dehydration.
"I'm Su Wan'er! You've already forgotten me? Do you have another lover?" Su Wan'er was so angry she wanted to hit someone.
Zhao Jiu, "I'm innocent! I didn't..."
Su Wan'er may not genuinely like him; she may be using him to inform the Su family.
He kept his promise to her.
From now on, let's keep our paths separate. Her behavior makes it seem as if I've wronged her.
"How did you end up like this? I've already contacted the people at the Su family's shop and told them about your situation, but they haven't been able to find you?"
"It's a long story. We'll talk about it on the way. Please take me away from the city defense camp. I want to go back to the Su family."
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