Zhao Jiaqi put down her chopsticks, rinsed her mouth, and then said, "Husband, go and meet him. Godfather has treated us well. If not for his sake, then for the sake of Buddha."
"Hmm, I've had the meat packed into the carriage. See if there's anything else you want to pack for Erlang. When I'm done meeting people, we'll leave!"
"I know, you go!" Zhao Jiaqi saw him out of the dining hall, and she herself, cloaked in a thick fur coat, went to the second gate.
Looking at the carriage full of fresh meat, Erlang could finally rest well. She wondered if the little thing missed her.
Qiufen handed her a hand warmer, "Your Highness is so good to Erlang!"
"I raised Dalang and Erlang with my husband from scratch. They are like my own children. Erlang even saved my life this time. If I'm not good to it, who should I be good to?"
If it weren't for Dalang's death, she wouldn't have sent Erlang back to the mountains.
Fan Zehao returned, cursing and fuming, "How can Godfather have such a shameless brother? He's reached the peak of shamelessness!"
Didn't she already know that Fang Jingwan was shameless? Why get so angry!
"How exactly is he shameless that he's made you curse? That's rare!" Zhao Jiaqi teased him with a smile.
Last time he cursed someone for farting, this time he cursed someone for being shameless. Who knew what he would curse next time?
Well, she was looking forward to it now!
Fan Zehao flicked the fur coat at his side, pointed towards the front hall, and his nostrils flared with anger. "Fang Jingwan, that shameless old man, actually wants his younger daughter to be my legitimate daughter, to be fostered under your name, and participate in this selection!"
"His daughter is already nineteen, only a year or two younger than you. I refused him, and guess what? He actually wants to foist her off on me as a concubine!"
Fan Zehao withdrew his finger and laughed angrily. "If I let this kind of person live a comfortable life, I would be letting down all the anger I've expressed this morning!"
He's caused you trouble, bothered you, time and time again. Why would I keep him around for the New Year?
What's even more infuriating is that if he can't participate in the selection, he'll find another way and push his daughter onto me?
Does he really think the Prince's mansion is a place for collecting junk?
How can they be so deluded!
Listening to her husband grumbling, she hugged her arms and watched Fan Zehao. She raised an eyebrow subtly. Although not handsome, he was resolute and strong, possessing a manly aura that attracted the attention of young ladies.
After venting his anger, Fan Zehao saw his wife smiling and staring at him. Based on years of experience, his wife was likely about to dig a pit for him.
"Wife, I refused him on the spot. That Fang Yan is so ugly, I didn't even glance at her. Truly, in this life, besides you, I won't cast a second glance at any other woman. I can swear to heaven."
He was so nervous, as if Zhao Jiaqi was a jealous shrew.
"I didn't say anything, why are you swearing!"
Fan Zehao let out a cold sigh and said obsequiously, "I'm just afraid you'll misunderstand. You see, it's not worth it for us to get angry over them!"
Zhao Jiaqi nodded seriously. That made sense.
The moment she got into the carriage, she looked back at the people on the ground and suddenly asked, "Since you didn't even look at Fang Yan, how do you know she's ugly?"
Fan Zehao was stunned on the spot and turned to ask Dazhuang, "Did I say Fang Yan was ugly?"
Dazhuang nodded vigorously and ruthlessly told him, "Yes, this servant heard it!"
It's over, there's no explaining this now!
When he turned back to get into the carriage, he found that Sixi had already driven the carriage away. He had no choice but to chase after it.
All morning, the couple spent time with Erlang. Although they weren't sure which wolf in the pack was Erlang's offspring, the wolves bore them no ill will.
Sixi and Dazhuang looked at the harmonious coexistence of the couple and a pack of wolves, and a brief moment of daze appeared. A scene of tranquil years.
Upon returning home in the afternoon, they learned that Bailu had been waiting for her in the warm room for over an hour.
Qiufen took her fur coat and also lifted the cotton curtain for the Princess, saying as they walked, "Bailu has been waiting for a long time. She said she had an urgent matter to discuss with Your Highness. She seemed quite anxious!"
Bailu's business was doing well, so what urgent matter could she have?
Changing into a different set of clothes, Zhao Jiaqi came out of the inner room and asked Qiufen, "Did you not hear what urgent matter it was?"
"This servant did not find out!"
She said nothing more, took the hand warmer handed to her by Qiufen, and went into the warmth.
As soon as she entered the room, Bailu stood up. Seeing Qiufen present, the words on the tip of her tongue got stuck.
"You wait outside. I'm not seeing guests for now!"
Qiufen understood the Princess's meaning, bowed, and withdrew from the room.
The room was exceptionally quiet, with only the two of them left. Zhao Jiaqi looked at the person who was sweating with urgency and felt her heart tighten. "What urgent matter is it?"
"I've found out that Prince Xiaoyao is colluding with ministers in court to collectively impeach Your Highness, and many people have already agreed!"
This was big news. How did Bailu obtain such confidential information!
"Your Highness, Prince Xiaoyao has a private room booked long-term in the teahouse we opened. He invites the adults there separately. They always pretend to be watching a play, but in reality, they are discussing matters in the private room."
"It was just by chance that I was negotiating a deal with a merchant once, and when it didn't work out, I was about to leave. Coincidentally, I heard voices from the next room. I didn't know what they were discussing, but when they mentioned Your Highness's name, they became very excited and spoke very loudly. When I listened carefully, I couldn't hear the rest."
"At that time, I became suspicious. After they left, I pried a hole in the wall of the private room he had booked and covered it with a landscape painting. That's how I got the chance to eavesdrop."
This spy work was quite thorough!
Zhao Jiaqi discovered that Bailu had the potential to be a spy!
"The teahouse is yours, doesn't Prince Xiaoyao know that?"
She shook her head. "I opened it with my close friend, using her name. I don't usually go to the teahouse; I only go to check the accounts. This time was just a coincidence."
Bailu took out a neatly folded piece of paper from her wide sleeve and handed it to Zhao Jiaqi. "Your Highness, this is a list of the ministers he has met. I haven't found out anything else!"
A string of names was written on a piece of paper, including someone from the Ministry of Rites. It seemed that many people were dissatisfied with her husband.
Zhao Jiaqi sighed. To ensure the Crown Prince's enthronement, her husband had incurred the wrath of many. What's so good about being a loyalist!
These were not important. What was important was what the Emperor thought, how he saw it!
She slowly folded the list along its creases and put it into her sleeve.
"Do you know under what pretext they will impeach Your Highness?"
"Hoarding military power, arrogant and rude, threatening and intimidating officials, and having absolute control in Yun Kingdom. The world knows about Your Highness and Your Highness's Consort, and they don't know about the Emperor!"
These reasons were quite laughable. These words could be summarized in one sentence!
Excessive power overshadowing the ruler!
Some people were probably unable to bear it and had no intention of letting it slide.
Prince Xiaoyao! He wasn't so carefree either. His mind was full of schemes!