So, when the weather got cold, the troops were divided into two groups.
The female relatives followed the Night King back to the capital, while Murong Jie returned to Northern Desert with Su Qing, Xiao Tuodao Boss and others.
In addition to the secret guards, the Night King also assigned some manpower to Murong Jie.
Since it was a private action, Murong Jie could not dispatch troops. The palace soldiers had to stay in the palace to protect Zi'an. Therefore, he could only rely on the Night King's men and his own secret guards.
It was already noon when Zi'an returned to the capital.
The carriage first went to Old Madam Chen's house. Liu Liu said that she would go to visit the old madam first and then return to the Marquis' Mansion.
Zi'an saw that he had already arrived at the Chen family's door, and that Old Lady Chen had delivered medicinal herbs to Beimo as he had requested, so he had to go and express his gratitude.
After entering the Chen family, Zi'an felt as if she was in another world. After staying in the epidemic area of Beimo for a long time, when she returned to Da Zhou, every place made her feel like home.
The weather had started to get hot. Cicadas were chirping in the tall locust and sycamore trees. Girls were circling in front of the trees with sticks in their hands.
The doorman had come to report it long ago, and just as Old Lady Chen asked someone to cut the tea, she saw a figure flying over and rubbing against her arms hard.
Old Lady Chen's usually cold and hard face softened, "Silly girl, you must have suffered enough recently, right?"
Liu Liu thought of everything she had encountered in Beimo, her nose felt sore, and she burst into tears, "It's not a big deal if it's hard, but Rouyao is in trouble."
Chen Taijun naturally knew about this and comforted her, "Don't worry, the county lady is a blessed person. I'm afraid she has been rescued, but she just hasn't returned yet."
After comforting Liu Liu, the old lady looked at Zi An and sighed softly, "It's good that the princess is back."
Zi'an felt indescribably helpless and aggrieved after hearing what the old lady said. He thought that this old lady, who had always been stubborn, might have suffered a little.
Zi'an entered the Chen Mansion, firstly to thank the old lady, and secondly, to understand the current situation. What King Ye said was rather general, and if he wanted to know the specific situation, he would have to ask the old lady, who knew everything.
The old lady dismissed her attendants, ordered the door to be closed tightly, and left some sturdy guards outside to guard.
Seeing the old lady making such a big fuss, Zi'an could not help but stare at her solemnly. It seemed that the earthquake in Da Zhou was no less serious than the one in Beimo.
The old lady picked up her pipe and took a puff.
In the past, the old lady was a straightforward person, and this was the first time she was keeping someone in suspense like this. However, seeing that she looked serious, it was not that she was keeping someone in suspense, but that she didn't know where to start.
Smoke lingered in front of her, and her eyes were as sharp and cold as knives. "Princess, don't blame me for being so cautious. A few days ago, a few maids came to this mansion. They were all sent by Empress Dowager Shengde. They said that the Chen family was very wealthy and there were too few people to serve in the mansion, so they sent some people to help me. Not only in my mansion, but also in the Regent's Mansion, there are now a bunch of black-hearted cabbages. These people seem very kind on the surface, but they are black in their bones."
Before Zi'an could say anything, Liu Liu asked, "Why is that? Could it be that we don't have enough manpower? What is the Queen Mother planning?"
Zi'an answered on behalf of the old lady, "I'm afraid all the military families have it. I'm afraid it's not the Empress Dowager's intention, but the Emperor's intention. The Emperor is on guard."
The old lady's eyes showed a trace of admiration, "What the princess said is correct. I think this is what the emperor meant. This Xi Concubine was originally the criminal concubine of the previous emperor. She has been silent for many years but she has never been promoted for no reason. Her family is also a prominent family. The emperor promoted her to win over her family and secondly, some dirty things have to be done by someone."
She paused, took a few more puffs of her cigarette, and continued, "The Empress Dowager Shengde held a tea party a few days ago and invited a group of ladies to the palace. She first tried to appease them with good intentions, and then severely reprimanded them, saying that the morals of the marquisates in the capital are now corrupt and they don't know what filial piety is. She even brought up the princess's family, pointing out that the princess framed her grandmother and father and ruined the reputation of the prime minister's family in order to cling to wealth and status. She also said that if the late emperor were still alive, he would never let such a woman become a princess."
Liu Liu was furious. "Old Madam Xia and Xia Huaijun have already been convicted and are criminals of the Great Zhou. How can it be said that Zi'an murdered them and ruined their reputation?"
"Haha," the old lady's eyes were cold, "This case in the Prime Minister's Mansion was not tried by the emperor himself."
"So what? The evidence is irrefutable. Xia Huaijun colluded with the traitors, causing the zombie disease to spread and killing countless people. Could it be that Zi'an is making up a false accusation? Even though her palms are big, she can't cover up the Ministry of Justice and the Dali Temple, right?"
"It's just that Empress Dowager Shengde said so, and the emperor didn't express his opinion." The old lady looked at Zi'an, "So, do you understand what it means?"
Zi'an naturally understood, "My reputation was terrible before, but I was supported by the people only after I cured the zombie disease. If they want to reduce my reputation, they must have framed me. The women who enter the palace are all from noble families. I believe my bad reputation will soon spread throughout the capital. However, no matter what the people say about me, the emperor is always right, because he has not denied my contribution to the zombie disease plague, and he has never acknowledged what Empress Dowager Shengde said."
The old lady said calmly, "That's right. Empress Dowager Shengde said that she wants to rectify the atmosphere. Huizu ruled the country with benevolence and filial piety, and now she wants to put things right. These old women, to put it bluntly, are here to find faults with the families. Which wealthy family doesn't have something shameful? Once they are caught, and it happens to be during the rectification period, I'm afraid they will be used as sacrifices. So, Princess, your Regent Palace will bear the brunt and will become the focus of Empress Dowager Shengde's rectification."
Zi'an said: "There are no elders in my house, let alone a bunch of messy relatives and elders involved. How can I deal with it?"
Xiaoyi also needs an elder to point out her faults.
The old lady looked at Zi'an and said, "Now, all the princesses, first, fourth, and seventh, must come to the palace to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and the Queen."
Zi'an sneered, "I'm afraid it's targeting me, right? Other princes have concubines in their houses, but I don't."
"That's good to know." The old lady paused and said bitterly, "Not to mention you, the princess, even those of us who have imperial decrees have to go three times a month. It's said that the women of noble families should be role models for women all over the world. It's a pity that I have never learned the palace rules in my life, and that old woman is a show-off. The last time I went to the palace to pay my respects, I was punished to kneel down."
Zi'an was shocked, "What? The emperor won't care about this matter?" She remembered that the emperor respected the old lady very much.
"In her inner palace, everyone belongs to her strictly. After I am punished, would I follow that child's example and go to the emperor crying and complain?" the old lady said hatefully.
"She is taking chicken feathers as a token of authority!" Liu Liu said angrily, her eyes wide open.
(End of this chapter)