Shangguan Li had a similar reaction, which showed that the two little girls didn't want to stay in the palace for even one more minute. The two girls huddled in the same bed not only because they had a good relationship, but also because they were scared.
This made Zhulan and the old lady of the Shangguan family very sad.
The prince's traveling party stopped at Lijia Village, a mountain village. As the weather was gloomy and they were afraid of heavy rain, they decided not to move on and planned to rest here for one night.
Most of the houses in the mountain village are made of mud, and the best blue bricks belong to the headman's house.
The team was so large that the headman’s house could not accommodate them all. The others did not want to stay in the carriage in the heavy rain, so they had to stay at the homes of their fellow villagers in the village.
Lijia Village is not big, with more than 50 households. Although it is Lijia Village, it is a village with mixed surnames. The head of the village said that when they fled, they saw this place as suitable for hiding, so they stayed here to settle down. Dozens of households came here one after another and formed the village. Why is it called Lijia Village? Because the Li family was the first to arrive here.
The home of the village head became a hot commodity. The young man who could travel with the prince was either a favored one in his family or the future pillar of the family. They all enjoyed the best resources. No one liked the mud house.
Mingrui didn't want to argue. It didn't matter where he lived. He could endure the same hardships as his father.
Shangguan Liu came over and asked, "Can I live with you?"
Mingrui, "I don't live in the village head's house."
"I know. I've already chosen one. Will you come with me?"
Mingrui and Shangguan Liu have similar personalities, and they are both somewhat excluded. Well, how can they not be excluded? The prince likes to take them out the most, and who wouldn't be jealous after seeing them do that so many times
Mingrui followed Shangguan Liu out and saw a little boy of about seven or eight years old waiting. The little boy was holding the hand of a little girl about five years old. The little boy was very embarrassed and said, "Sir, my eldest brother has already run back to inform grandma."
Shangguan Liu stroked the little boy's hair and said, "Okay, let's go over there. You lead the way."
The little boy was very happy. He thought that the money he got from the loan would help his family get some money and their life would be better.
Mingrui observed that the little boy's clothes were worn but clean, so he must come from a family that loves cleanliness.
Shangguan Liu said in a low voice: "The Zhao family has a small population. They are very hardworking and their house is one of the better ones besides the head of the village."
"You have inquired clearly."
Shangguan Liu pointed to his face and said, "I'm good-looking and all the kids like me. I told him everything when I asked him."
The Crown Prince knew that Mingrui and the other two had left. The King of Qi smiled and said, "I thought Your Highness would keep them."
Prince, "I want to see who can endure hardship. If I say to keep them, I will miss the opportunity to observe."
The King of Qi's eyes deepened. He had to admit that his brother was indeed good at educating the heir. The prince had his own ideas and considerations. He should be happy!
In the capital, Zhulan took her granddaughter out of the palace and sat in her own carriage. Yujiao threw herself into her grandmother's arms and said, "Grandma, the maids who followed Shangguan Li and I today are gone. I didn't dare to ask where they went. Fortunately, I didn't take Yunduo out, otherwise, would Yunduo have disappeared too?"
Zhulan touched her granddaughter's head and asked quietly, "What happened today?"
Yu Jiao said sullenly, "Today, the Second Prince and Miss Xue were talking in the garden. They were holding hands. Shangguan Li and I were terrified. The maids behind us screamed. We were discovered."
She was confused by what happened next and was really scared.
Zhulan hugged her granddaughter tightly. The palace maid was punished not only because she saw things she shouldn't have seen, but also because she plotted against the Zhou and Shangguan families. How could the two little girls see things they shouldn't have seen without anyone leading them on purpose? This was Concubine Liu's plan, but I don't know if Concubine Liu will get what she wants.
Zhulan remembered that Yujiao was so young and she had underestimated Concubine Liu's courage. However, Zhulan was speechless. The Second Prince was so young and the children in the palace were too precocious.
In the carriage of the Shangguan family, the old lady did not ask her granddaughter. The granddaughter was frightened and asked the maid who followed her into the palace. Knowing how the Zhou family took care of her granddaughter, the old lady touched her granddaughter's hair and said, "In the future, you should interact more with the girls of the Zhou family."
Shangguan Li was more energetic. "Grandma, Yujiao also has a sister. Yujiao's sister is also very capable."
The old lady became interested. She had heard a lot about the good reputation of the girls from the Zhou family, but she didn't take it seriously because there were too many girls in the capital.
Inside the palace, the emperor was discussing matters with his ministers. After they were done, they heard about what happened in the harem. Zhulan had already taken her granddaughter home.
The emperor held the pearls in his hand. One family should not dominate the harem. He turned a blind eye to Concubine Liu's torment. The previous dynasty needed the Liu family. As for his second son, the emperor remained silent. He ascended the throne from the position of crown prince. He knew the gap between the crown prince and his brothers. Now his eldest son had to go through it again.
The Xue family, the emperor muttered to himself. This time, letting several girls enter the palace was indeed intended to arrange a marriage for the second prince. The families were all good, but the Xue family was not his favorite candidate.
Eunuch Zhang didn't dare to breathe. He had followed the emperor since he was a child, and he knew best whether the emperor would get angry or not. He thought the emperor would be angry, but he didn't. This also meant that the emperor was planning something.
The emperor asked, "How is the queen?"
Eunuch Zhang, "The maid reported that the Queen is doing well."
At this time, the eunuch came in to report, "The Second Prince wants to see you."
The emperor closed his eyes and said nothing. Eunuch Zhang understood and stood up and went out, saying to the second prince: "The emperor is resting, Your Highness, please go back."
The second prince wanted to say, "I'll wait for my father to wake up," but he didn't dare. His father hated this the most. His father just didn't want to see him. "Thank you, eunuch."
Eunuch Zhang smiled and said, "I dare not."
At Zhou's residence, Zhulan watched over Yujiao until she fell asleep. Qingxue came in and said, "The housekeeper from Ninghou's residence is here."
"What's the matter?"
Qingxue whispered, "Lord Ning wants to send something to the King of Qin, and would like to ask if you would like to take it with you."
Zhulan counted the days and remained silent. "We don't have anything to bring back."
She remembered clearly that Ning Xu had sent a team out of the capital five days ago. Ever since the news of Xue Han's pregnancy was sent back to the capital, Ning Xu no longer stayed in his mansion. From time to time, one could see the stewards of Ning Xu's mansion or Ning Xu himself doing shopping on the streets of the capital.
She calculated carefully and realized that this was the third time she had sent things out of the capital. Ning Xu was looking forward to the baby in Xue Han's belly.
Qingxue stood up to reply, and Yuyi released her sister's hand, "Grandma, I'll stay with Yujiao, and your granddaughter will help you go back and rest first."
Zhulan was indeed a little tired, and she told Yuyi, "She was a little frightened, if there is anything wrong, come to the main courtyard."
Yuyi, "My granddaughter will always be watching."
"Don't tire yourself out."
Yuyi, “Yeah.”
At the Liu family, Guo personally escorted Zhao out of the house. When the carriage had gone far away, she turned around and saw her second son, "He followed me out."
Liu Yuanbo said stubbornly, "My son wants to go out to buy something."
Mrs. Guo circled around her son twice as if she had seen a ghost. "You are willing to buy something?"