Qiao Chuan: " surnamed Fan, this is no secret!"
"Then let me ask you, high-yield rice, and sweet potatoes, and the most famous sausages. That thing was the first food the Empress researched. Few places in our Lu'an Prefecture sell sausages because they are too expensive. But Madam Fan's sausages, she said she cured them herself."
"Also, the Empress comes from a farming family and is proficient in farming. Our barren land, after Madam Fan's efforts, not only can be cultivated, but will also yield a harvest. Do you think this is a coincidence?"
After Qiao Min finished speaking, he suddenly thought of something else and clapped his hands, "Also, the Emperor and Empress love their people as their children. It is said that in Xikou Village, the Empress successfully planted rice on rented land and then returned the land to the villagers. Thinking about it now, Father, do you think Madam Fan might be the Empress!"
After his son's analysis, Qiao Chuan immediately felt it was true. He didn't bother to wash up and ran out of the courtyard. However, when he reached Madam Fan's house, the door was wide open, but there was no one inside. Even the carriage was gone.
The father and son looked at the clean and tidy room, with bedding, furniture, and everything in place, but the people were gone. At this moment, they finally realized why Madam Fan had said that yesterday afternoon.
"With such an Emperor and Empress in Yun Country, why would the common people not live good lives!" Qiao Chuan looked up at the sky and uttered this sentence.
After returning home and having breakfast, the bell in the ancestral hall of Qingshan Village rang, and everyone gathered in the ancestral hall in a short while.
They were all waiting for the village chief to announce something important, but what they heard was such momentous news.
When the villagers learned that Madam Fan and her husband were the Emperor and Empress, they didn't believe it and rushed to their house. However, all they saw was an empty courtyard.
"The Emperor and Empress are righteous and have the people in their hearts. They are truly fortunate for our common people."
"Yes, this is all thanks to the Emperor and Empress, otherwise we would have starved to death or been forced to leave our homes!"
"Our lives were saved by the Emperor and Empress. From now on, we must all be grateful and never shame our saviors!"
"Yes, Old Man Wang is right, we must never shame the Emperor and Empress!"
After the villagers' discussion, the village chief finally decided to change Qingshan Village to Gratitude Village. This was reported level by level, and when the prefect learned that Commander Fan was the Emperor, his legs went weak. Without a word, he directly approved Magistrate Qiao's suggestion.
This news spread like wildfire, and with a gust of wind, it reached every corner of Yun Country. Even ten-year-old children knew about the Emperor and Empress's benevolence.
Fan Zehao and his wife, in the neighboring Yongdie City, heard the news and looked at each other and smiled.
"Wife, my father-in-law and mother-in-law do not have the spirit of great love and selflessness, nor do they have broad minds. Who do you think you inherited this kindness from?"
Fan Zehao played with her long hair and said with a smile, as if unintentionally, but he also had doubts in his heart.
Zhao Hongchang and Chen Haijuan were outright villains, but his wife was the opposite. This didn't make sense!
Zhao Jiaqi gave him a sideways glance and said with a straight face, "Who else would I resemble if not my mother?"
Chen Haijuan?
It was better not to mention her. Just thinking about her malicious behavior was enough to fill a book.
Resemble her?
He would never believe it, even if he were to die.
Zhao Jiaqi looked at her husband's confused expression and sneered, "Did you forget that my mother died early, and Chen Haijuan is my stepmother? I told you when we first got married!"
Reminded of this by his wife, Fan Zehao slapped his head. He had forgotten, he had truly forgotten.
He really shouldn't have doubted his wife. It was his fault, but he didn't dare to say it out loud.
Zhao Jiaqi saw his remorseful look and wanted to laugh. To challenge her? Did he not know who her master was?
Shi He hurried into the back courtyard of the yamen and said, "Your Majesty, Your Empress, the Eldest Princess was snatched on the street!"
"What? Snatched and you didn't chase!" Fan Zehao's eyes turned red with urgency.
He grabbed his sabre and was about to rush out onto the street, but Zhao Jiaqi stopped him.
"Yu Meng has two guards, Shi He and Feng Xiao, protecting her, one openly and one in secret. How could she have been snatched before their eyes? Why are you in such a hurry? Let's ask for clarification first!"
Not to mention the two guards, even if just one person tried to carry Yu Meng away, she would bite and scratch the person. How could she have been so easily taken away without a sound!
Seeing this, Shi He immediately replied, "Feng Xiao is secretly protecting the Princess, and it was the Princess who signaled for me not to pursue!"
That wicked child, she was unwilling to give up without facing danger!
She had truly learned the story of 'nothing ventured, nothing gained' thoroughly from her.
"Take a few more guards and follow the clues left by Feng Xiao to pursue. Investigate the situation clearly and report back!"
After Zhao Jiaqi gave the order, Fan Zehao personally led Shi He away.
Zhao Jiaqi knew that the child had been taken away voluntarily, but as a mother, she was still very nervous.
In the evening, Fan Zehao and Prince Xian returned together.
That night, three thousand soldiers were mobilized and set off towards the nearby Qinglong Mountain to suppress bandits. Later, they learned from Prince Xian that the child had been abducted by a leader of the mountain stronghold.
Huangfu Xian had lost all face. Such a vicious incident had occurred in his territory.
"Sister-in-law, don't worry, I will raze this bandit stronghold to the ground and thoroughly investigate the bandit menace. I guarantee to bring Mengmeng back safely, or my head will be yours."
Zhao Jiaqi had no interest in his head. It couldn't be eaten, drunk, or used. Looking at it was terrifying, and having it would be useless.
"Stop talking nonsense and go up the mountain to suppress the bandits quickly!" Her dawdling was annoying her.
Mengmeng would only be rescued by her father. As long as Huangfu Xian could govern his territory well, she would be grateful.
At night, Qinglong Mountain was ablaze with fire, illuminating half of Yongdie City. At dawn, the flames subsided.
Three thousand soldiers were dispatched. A few died, over thirty were seriously wounded, and the rest sustained minor injuries. The bandit stronghold was destroyed, and over fifty bandits were captured and over seventy were killed. The number of people in the stronghold was astonishing. If this had been allowed to develop further, the consequences were unimaginable.
"Mother, I'm back. I've made another great contribution and found the bandit stronghold. Father captured those bandits at once. Unfortunately, the bandit leader escaped and wasn't caught. But I saw what he looked like. Next time I see him, I will definitely capture him!"
She spoke and clenched her fists, gesturing a few times.
Zhao Jiaqi pulled her hand back into the house and couldn't help but nag her again. She was a ten-year-old girl, why couldn't she be more obedient?
At dawn, Fan Zehao returned, with a sullen expression, as if he was owed half a string of coins.
"Have the children been found?"
Fan Zehao nodded. "Some have been found. The rest have been sold. As for where they were sold, these bandits don't know!"
"Then let's follow the clues. Issue a notice in every prefecture and city to investigate children within the city, especially in brothels and teahouses. If any are found to have been sold, they will be sent back to their original residences immediately."
Fan Zehao squeezed his wife's shoulders and turned to issue the notice.
By the time the incident of stolen children was resolved, it had been five days. If the Prime Minister hadn't repeatedly sent letters urging them to ask if Wei Country could open trade with them, they would have stayed in Yongdie City for a while longer.
"Let's head directly to Mingyuan Prefecture and take a trip to the border to inspect the situation!"
Fan Zehao gave the order, and the carriage headed straight for Mingyuan Prefecture.