Chapter 448 - 448: The Mole in the Wei Family
Chapter 448: The Mole in the Wei Family
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Qin Canglan withdrew his troops just like that. 3,000 armored horses escorted Su Xiaoxiao back to Pear Blossom Lane. If not for the fact that he was afraid of disturbing the people in the middle of the night, he would have made it look like the emperor had returned.
After that, it was much easier to send Princess Hui An off.
“All of you can go back.”
It was enough for him to escort her alone, plus a coachman from the Public
House.
“Master, is this really fine?” the coachman asked.
Qin Canglan glared at him. “What do you know? It’s very expensive to fight once!”
Did he think the soldiers followed them out to blow up the streets for nothing?
They had to pay the army!
Princess Hui An returned to the palace safely.
In the Imperial Study, Emperor Jing Xuan heaved a sigh of relief. Consort Xian had not slept the entire night. She hugged her lost daughter and cried uncontrollably.
“Hui An… Mother’s Hui An…
In the palace, concubines could not call themselves mother, nor could they let the princes and princesses call them mother. They only had one mother, and that was the Empress.
However, at this moment, no one cared about this.
No matter how Consort Xian set up her persona in the harem, her feelings for the two children were real.
“How did you end up like this? Were you bullied?” Consort Xian held her daughter’s disheveled face with her messy hair. Countless ominous guesses flashed across her mind.
Hui An said tiredly, “Mother, I’m tired. Can we talk tomorrow?”
She, who loved to complain, could not say a word now. It was obvious that she was really exhausted.
Consort Xian hurriedly said, “Alright, alright, alright! Mother will bring you back to rest. Your Majesty…”
Emperor Jing Xuan nodded.
He also had many questions for Hui An, but he couldn’t bear to see her so tired. Eunuch Fu got someone to prepare a soft sedan chair and sent Consort Xian
and Princess Hui An back to Qi Xiang Palace.
Emperor Jing Xuan looked at Qin Canglan, who was dressed in divine armor, and sighed. “Thank you, Minister Qin, for saving my Hui’an.”
Qin Canglan cupped his hands and said, “Your Majesty, this matter is not my credit.”
Emperor Jing Xuan replied, “Oh?”
Qin Canglan said seriously, “It was my granddaughter who sneaked into the tiger’s den alone and saved the princess. I only went to receive her.”
Emperor Jing Xuan looked at him doubtfully. “Your granddaughter?”
Qin Canglan said, “That’s right. When Princess Hui An wakes up tomorrow, His Majesty can ask her.”
Emperor Jing Xuan naturally had to ask, but for Qin Canglan to say this, it was most likely true.
“I thought… she was a physician.”
Qin Canglan smiled. “This girl has been bold since she was young and learned some martial arts from her father in the countryside.”
Although he said it humbly, the pride in his eyes could not be hidden.
As long as Qin Canglan thought of how calm his precious granddaughter was when he shot that traitor with a spear, endless pride surged in his chest.
In this world, even men were probably not as bold as her.
As expected of his granddaughter!
Emperor Jing Xuan did not continue this topic and asked, “Have you found out who did what happened today?”
Qin Canglan said in a normal tone, “Ah, His Highness went to investigate.” In the small courtyard at the back of the mountain.
The guards of the Third Prince’s residence were tying up the rebels of the White Lotus Society on the ground.
Xiao Zhonghua walked towards Wei Ting under the peach tree.
Wei Ting was tasting the wine. When he saw him come over, he smiled faintly. “The White Lotus Society has brewed very well. Remember to ask for the recipe for the wine when you interrogate them.”
Xiao Zhonghua used to be the gentle Third Prince, but there was no need to pretend in front of Wei Ting.
After all, they had fought a few times.
“Are you sure you want these people to be handed to me?” Xiao Zhonghua asked.
Wei Ting said, ‘What else? Did I ask you to come over and drink with me?”
Xiao Zhonghua looked at Wei Ting meaningfully and did not say anything else. He turned around to survey the event location.
Yuchi Xiu stood under the peach tree with a sword in his arms. He curled his lips and said, “Are you addicted to being a hands-off shopkeeper? Why did you call Xiao Zhonghua over?”
Wei Ting said calmly, “Isn’t it good for someone else to investigate the case? Must you butt and rack your brain out?”
Yuchi Xiu snorted. “I think you’re just lazy! Xiaohu learned it from you!”
Lazy babies snoozed every day!
But how old was Xiao Hu? And how old was Wei Ting?
He didn’t know how to teach him well!
In the carriage back, Changping asked in confusion, “Your Highness, could Wei
Ting be up to something? To think he didn’t want such a huge contribution and gave it to the Third Prince for free? Would he be so kind?”
“He’s not being kind,” Xiao Zhonghua said. “The Wei and Qin families have been in the limelight recently. Su Cheng’s inheritance of military power has already angered Father. Now that the Qin and Wei families are in-laws… Father is even more afraid. At this juncture, retreating bravely is the right thing to do.” At the mention of this, Changping felt indignant for His Highness.
Originally, the eldest daughter of the Qin family was His Highness’s fiancée, but His Majesty betrothed her to Wei Ting. What was going on?
Xiao Zhonghua thought of how Emperor Jing Xuan had flushed with agitation in the throne room and closed his eyes slightly. “This matter is in the past. There’s no need to mention it again.”
“Yes,” Changping agreed gloomily.
Thinking of something, Changping said, “Your Highness, I heard that His First Highness also went to look for Princess Hui An tonight. Why didn’t Wei Ting give him the credit?”
Xiao Zhonghua said, “Big Brother touched Su Cheng.”
He and Wei Ting targeted each other and did not harm others around them.
Wei Ting had never cared about himself.
Changping scratched his head. “But in this way, His First Highness will hate Your Highness even more.”
Xiao Zhonghua said calmly, “Letting me bear a portion of Big Brother’s hostility is one of Wei Ting’s goals.”
Changping frowned. “Then Your Highness still—”
Xiao Zhonghua held the warm teacup in his hand and said indifferently,
“Brother and I were fighting for that position to begin with. It doesn’t matter if Wei Ting helps to encourage us or not. Everyone takes what they need and lives according to fate.”
When Wei Ting arrived home, his family had already rested, leaving Su Xiaoxiao still burying her head in arranging the herbs.
Wei Ting went over to help her and told her about destroying the White Lotus Society’s nest.
“More than twenty disciples, including three shadow guards and a guardian.”
This was the first time the Imperial Court had caught a guardian-level rebel. The credit could not be said to be small.
Xiao Zhonghua received this credit. Xiao Duye was probably going to explode from anger.
Su Xiaoxiao felt that this was good.
Not only did it deal a blow to Xiao Duye, but it also prevented Jing Yi from being sandwiched between them.
“Is the royal court officially purging the White Lotus Society this time?” she asked.
Wei Ting nodded and said, “In the past, the Imperial Court had never paid much attention to the martial arts organizations and sects. However, the White Lotus Society’s provocative actions have already angered Emperor Jing Xuan. Next, the Imperial Court will officially attack the White Lotus Society.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “There seem to be many believers of the White Lotus Society among the commoners.”
Wei Ting nodded. “That’s right. This isn’t something that can be done overnight. It’s really tricky to distinguish between ordinary believers and rebels with ulterior motives.”
Therefore, it was better to give such a tricky credit to Xiao Zhonghua!
Su Xiaoxiao continued, “Do you think… this operation was done by the White
Lotus Society or the Wei family’s mole?”
“You suspect that the mole is from the White Lotus Society?” Wei Ting was deep in thought. “That’s not ruled out.”
At the Wei family, the moon was dark and windy.
Two sneaky figures quietly approached the second door. Just as they were about to take a step out, they were bumped into by someone.
“Third Sister-in-law? Fifth Sister-in-law? Where are the two of you going in the middle of the night?”
Madam Chu asked doubtfully.
Madam Jiang pulled down the black cloth covering her face in embarrassment.
“Sister-in-law, our faces are covered like this. Why did you still recognize us?” Madam Chu glared at the two of them. “It’s just the two of you. I would know you even if you turn to dust!”
Madam Chen scratched her head foolishly.
“We want to look for Seventh Sister-in-law,” Madam Chen said honestly.
Madam Chu sighed. “She’s already back. There’s no need to look.”
Madam Chen said, “Oh.”
Madam Jiang asked, “But Sister-in-law, you came back so late. Did you go out to do something?”
Madam Chu said, “Mother suddenly felt a little uncomfortable at night. I went to the pharmacy to get some medicine. You came at the right time. Come with me to see Mother.”
Madam Jiang was stunned. “Ah…”
Looking at her sister-in-law walking over, Madam Jiang frowned. “Third
Sister-in-law, can I say that I have a stomachache?”
Madam Chen looked at her worriedly. “Does your stomach hurt?”
“No… I’m…” Madam Jiang stomped her feet bitterly. “I don’t want to go to
Mom…”
“Why?” Madam Chen did not understand.
Madam Jiang whispered, “Don’t you think… Mother is a little scary? Every time I go to her place, I feel nervous. She actually doesn’t like us disturbing her. Don’t you see that she’s not happy every time?”
“Really?” Madam Chen looked confused.
Madam Jiang looked at her insensitive third sister-in-law and resigned herself to fate. She pulled off the black cloth on her head. “Sigh, forget it. You won’t understand even if I tell you. Go see Mother.”
The three of them went to Madam Wei’s courtyard.
The peaches in the courtyard were well-knotted and emitted an alluring peach fragrance.
Madam Wei sat at the head of the bed and coughed softly.
Madam Chu came to the bed and poured a glass of warm water for her. “I’ve already asked the kitchen to boil the medicine. Mother, drink some water first.”
Madam Wei took a sip and said calmly, “It’S not a serious illness. There’s no need to take medicine. Go back.”
Madam Jiang asked in confusion, “Mother, where are you feeling unwell?”
They had come to visit during the day. Madam Wei was clearly fine at that time.
Madam Wei said weakly, “She has a headache and a cough. Perhaps she got a shock from trimming the peach branches in the afternoon.”
Madam Chu looked around and asked, “Ping’er isn’t back yet? Why don’t I get
Chunhong to come over and take care of you for a few days?”
Madam Wei lowered her eyes and said, “There’s no need. I’m not used to being taken care of..”