The Secret of 78 Mountain Villa/Fat Mama Turns Good

  Li Ji-yao and Qi Yun-yan were in another carriage, leaving the Princess's Mansion alone to head for the Summer Resort Villa. Qi's father and mother personally escorted their daughter to the gate, watching as she boarded the Duchess's carriage.

  When Ziyunyan got on the horse carriage, she looked towards the corner of the alley and saw a shadowy figure of another horse carriage. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly, as if worried.

  In the carriage, Li Ji Yao had prepared tea and refreshments, and warmly welcomed Qi Yun Yan as soon as she got on. This was a distinguished guest that Hua Xi Yan had specifically asked to be treated with courtesy. Although she had never known of Qi Yun Yan's existence before, it just so happened that they could ask her questions along the way.

  Zi Yunyan made a bow and Li Jiuyao invited her to sit down. She sat down carefully, lowering her eyebrows and eyes, not daring to look around randomly.

  Look at this woman in front of you, she looks a bit like your sister-in-law. Li Jiuyao raised an eyebrow: "Did you know my sister-in-law before?"

  The county lord's sister-in-law?

  After a moment of stunned silence, Ziyunyan thought about her identity as the princess and lowered her head, speaking in a soft voice: "The Empress Dowager passed away seven or eight years ago. As a low-ranking concubine, I never had the opportunity to enter the palace and speak with the Empress Dowager."

  "Didn't you go into the palace just now?" said Li Jiuyao, as Sanqi pulled her sleeve again, being careful not to speak out of turn.

  "Was it the last time you entered the palace? Is the young lady referring to the tea party held by Yan Shangshu in Baihui Garden?" Qi Yunyan seemed puzzled, "Yan Shangshu is the imperial preceptor of the emperor, but Baihui Garden was bestowed upon the empress by the emperor. No matter how much Yan Shangshu tries to curry favor with the emperor, it's impossible for him to bestow Baihui Garden on the empress again. My daughter saw the garden's signboard and stone stele, all of which were inscribed with the name of the empress."

  Listening to the other party's meaning, with the intention of maintaining the palace imperial concubine, made Li Jiuyao's heart itch even more, and she smiled slyly: "Yes, what you said is all correct. The palace imperial concubine is the only legitimate wife in the emperor's heart, and this Yan Shangshu is just a eunuch official."

  Qiyun Yandao said: "However, Caiyan Shangshu used the garden given by the Emperor to the Palace Queen Mother to hold a tea party."

  The latter's words, however, carried multiple meanings. Even if Li Jiuyao was still naive and innocent, she could hear several layers of meaning in them. The problem was how to continue the conversation. For example, this sentence could be interpreted as: Hua Xiyan was being presumptuous, relying on the emperor's favor and the imperial garden bestowed upon her to flaunt an identity comparable to that of the empress. In that case, Li Jiuyao should have been outraged and scolded Hua Xiyan, which wouldn't have been a big deal given her status as a princess scolding an official. The problem was that this garden originally belonged to Hua Xiyan, who was also the palace's imperial concubine. How could she explain this to Qi Yunyan without revealing too much, and why hadn't the empress told her whether or not to mention it?

  Li Ji Yao was worried.

  It's said that Hua Xiyan deliberately chose Baihui Garden to host a tea party for the wives of the upper class in Beijing, but how many people can see the hidden meaning behind it. Probably most people would scold Hua Xiyan for being ungrateful if they didn't know her identity, after all, she had deceived so many families into donating money, and it's strange that the Empress Dowager wouldn't use her power to crush Hua Xiyan.

  Actually, such impeachment memorials had already reached the emperor's desk soon after the Baohui Garden tea party. Li Zimo looked at these impeaching memorials of the empress by the empress and could only scratch his head, neither crying nor laughing, as if he was suffocated to death, just like what Yundeng Jing said.

  Hua Yu Nian was waiting for him to bring these memorials to her, saying that she would laugh at them, and she wasn't afraid. Originally, this matter was something she wanted to do to make him happy. He had enough trouble dealing with those annoying memorials every day, so what's wrong with making some jokes to relax his facial muscles?

  Because he also understood her intention, but didn't want to let her get too proud and forget herself, this was the nature of being an emperor and a man, so he simply put away these memorials, pretending not to know anything, and didn't even mention the donation with her.

  The horse carriage had not left the city gate when Sanqi lifted the curtain and leaned close to Li Jiuyao's ear, saying: It seems like there is a horse carriage following us for quite some time.

  Li Ji-yao held her tea cup, seemingly indifferent to the matter, and said: "Follow what? The main thing is that the imperial family goes to their mountain villa, everyone in the capital knows about it. Does she have the ability to follow them there? Even if she did, would she be able to get in at the door?"

  This is absolutely true. Sanqi stood silently beside him.

  Qī Yún yān was as if she hadn't heard their words, her personal maid, Jīn yāo, who was assigned to her by her mother this morning, listened to Lí Jì yáo's words and her eyes rolled around.

  When the carriage arrived at the Summer Resort, it was only then that they knew the Emperor's sedan chair had not arrived yet. The only guest who had arrived earlier in the courtyard was precisely Yun Chen Jing, whom Li Ji Yao had been trying to avoid. Li Ji Yao simply lingered at the entrance and did not go in for the time being.

  While waiting, Li Ji Yao still cared about the people who were waiting with her. She cleared her throat and asked Qi Yunyan: "Everyone says that the master of the Cloud Sect is the number one good man in the world, I wonder if Miss Qi thinks so too?" Thinking that if Qi Yunyan had a crush on Yun Xingchen, Li Ji Yao could take advantage of the situation, be a good person, and let Qi Yunyan go in first to have a private meeting.

  "The clouds and mist are still calm and unruffled, with a humble brow and eyes, she replied: 'Young Master. I only remember one sentence, the heart is higher than the sky, then life is as thin as paper. The status of the Cloud Sect Master is higher than the sky, like me, it's beyond reach.'"

  Li Ji-yao rushed towards her face which had a few similarities with Hua Xi-yan's, and blinked her eyelashes.

  The carriage that had been following all the way here, the person sitting inside saw that the people in front were slow to get off the car, and their hearts became anxious. The one sitting inside was none other than Jiufuren, who had been harboring resentment in her heart all along, feeling as if she had been wronged greatly, thinking about the confrontation with Hua Xiuyan and others at the garden gate, accompanied by her daughter Li Xiuyan.

  Listening from afar, separated by a courtyard wall, the royal garden emitted the sound of a flute. The beautiful flute sound was like flowing water, clear and bright, with a hint of elegance and serenity. People say that nowadays in the garden there is only one noble person, if it weren't for this noble person playing the flute, no one would believe it.

  The flute sound, like the heavenly music, outlined a stunningly handsome man in the minds of the nine ladies and their mother. He was dressed in luxurious attire, sitting on a dragon chair that was not inferior to Lí Zǐ Mò's. It is said that Lí Zǐ Mò had promised the world that he would only take one empress, and all the women in the world had already given up half of their hearts for such a man. Pursuing a man who has another woman in his heart and becoming a resentful wife for life was not as good as pursuing someone like Yún Chén Jǐng, who was no worse than Lí Zǐ Mò, a wealthy and powerful golden bachelor. Anyway, didn't Empress Hú say before she passed away that Yún Chén Jǐng and the Yún clan seemed to have intentionally chosen their daughter-in-law from the Dōng Líng family in order to form an alliance with them?

  "Alas..." Madam Ji sighed deeply. If she had martial arts skills, she could have climbed the wall with her daughter.

  It's just a wall apart, but it feels like there are ten thousand mountains between us.

  Li Xiuyan said she was just coming of age, but in the circle of the Ninth Lady, she had long heard about how to find a man. For an ancient miss like her, getting married was the most important thing. Encountering this once-in-a-lifetime good opportunity, it should be said that she was more anxious than the Ninth Lady herself.

  "Girl, otherwise, let's try it at the entrance."

  "What's the point? Can we even get in? This is the imperial family's courtyard." The Ninth Lady still had some self-awareness. If they had sneaked into the imperial family's garden on their own, even if they were allowed to enter, once the emperor found out later, they would still be beheaded.

  "What's to be done? Are we to let the daughter of a fifth-ranking official from the Qi family push ahead of our own daughter, who is the daughter of a second-ranking official?"

  "This is exactly what I wanted to wait for the Holy One to come, and discuss with the Holy One in front of the county master." The Ninth Lady dared to make this move because everyone in the capital knew that County Master Li Jiuyao was a master who did not play by the rules, in other words, he often did things without following the rules, and had been scolded by the emperor many times.

  It took half a day to get from the capital to the Summer Palace even by fast horse, and when the sun began to set, there was still no sign of the imperial carriage. These people did not know that the emperor had taken a detour to inspect the people's livelihood and educate the young prince.

  Due to concerns about the health of her two sons, Huaxi Yan did not dare let her son stay in Renxinzhai for too long and quickly rushed him back to the horse-drawn carriage. The young prince suddenly discovered that his younger brother was not a fool from start to finish, trying to pry open his younger brother's small mouth, in order to learn more knowledge from his younger brother's mouth. For this, the young prince used his shameless trick of asking questions, applying honey to his lips and holding a small wooden stick, calling the small wooden stick the only little divine doctor in the world.

  This made Huā Yèyán's face sweat as she hid behind the carriage door and eavesdropped on her two sons' conversation.

  Xiao Mu Mu is like a young medical genius, the sky can collapse. Turning back, I must warn my eldest son not to spoil his younger brother. Xiao Mu Mu is not as humble as the crown prince, and with some boasting, he can float up to heaven.

  She got on the emperor's carriage. As the emperor had more questions to ask her, as soon as she made a suggestion, someone was ordered to investigate the scene immediately, and it was found that the river had been floating some dead bodies recently, including not only pigs and cattle, but also some stray dogs in the wild.

  Things seem to have become even more complicated.

  Generally, dead objects are unlikely to be concentrated in the drifting water source, unless natural disasters such as floods occur upstream, causing a large number of animal deaths to enter the river. However, without such a disaster, the human factor of intentionally throwing dead objects into the river has increased. These people unintentionally threw dead objects into the river, or intentionally threw dead objects into the river, making the epidemic worse.

  "Except for the capital city, are there any reports of outbreaks in other places?" the Emperor asked.

  In the carriage, several ministers all hung their heads, carefully pondering the same question.

  It is said that only Beijing has it and other places do not have dysentery, which is absolutely impossible.

  Li Zimo is now worried that if there are cases elsewhere apart from the capital, then when the time comes and the epidemic spreads nationwide, neighboring countries will easily be able to attack Dongling. If there are no cases elsewhere but only in the capital, then the possibility of internal rebellion is somewhat greater.

  Since the Emperor mentioned the possibility of war, Huajiu Yan and several ministers in the carriage thought of the military camp first. If an epidemic breaks out in the military camp, the problem will be even bigger.

  Li Zimo had twelve elite guard units under his command, known as the Twelve Guards, which were considered the most elite troops in the Dongling army and its backbone. As time was of the essence, Zhang Ming drafted an urgent order to the Twelve Guards, instructing the military doctors within the army to be vigilant about any epidemic situation at all times. Although temporarily, there had been no such reports from within the army.

  Huā yù yán xiǎng, nà shì yóu yú wèi dào shí hòu, yì qíng bào fā yǒu gè qiàn fú qī de. Dàn shì, zhè ge shí hòu cóng zhè ge mín jiān yì qíng màn yán de qū shì lái kàn, zhè ge shì tóu mào xiàng yǐ jīng shì hěn bù miào le.

  The Emperor and the cabinet members all thought so, Te organized a temporary survey team to investigate the source of the epidemic. After the emperor signed the appointment letter, someone immediately took the imperial decree to do things.

  Due to this little episode, it seems that Tianzi's enthusiasm for visiting the mountain villa after having just destroyed Sun Manor was somewhat dampened.

  After the cabinet retired, Hua Xiyuan had Li Shunde cook a pot of silver lotus seed soup. Apart from giving some to the two young princes, she took a bowl herself and handed it to Emperor Ling. Lei Zimo accepted the bowl, took a sip, furrowed his brow, and asked: "Has the Crown Prince and Master Hua drunk any?"

  When Dad worries about the kids, Hua Xiyuan replies: "Everyone has already sent them over."

  Li Zimo drank all the soup in the bowl and said to her, "If it weren't for you noticing first, this matter would have been exposed when the east window was opened, and I would still be sleeping."

  "I also thought of relieving the Emperor's worries, and planned to let those people take out a few copper coins from their own rich purses, but unexpectedly, this matter was exposed."

  He patted the cushion beside him and let her sit down.

  At this time of national crisis, there was no time for romance. However, he reached out and re-pinned the hairpin that she had accidentally dislodged while getting off the carriage in a hurry.

  She sat quietly and let him play with her hair.

  "I recall the last time at Lingyuan Temple, you combed the crown prince's hair. I wonder when will you comb my hair for me? Later on, I thought that from ancient times to present, it is the husband who should comb his wife's hair, called 'binding the black silk'. Seeing her not speaking, he lifted her chin and softly said, "I know that your heart belongs to me."

  Her heart is with him. After deciding to marry him and becoming his empress, she shares the same fate as him.

  His slender eyes gazed at her lowered head, and his hand suddenly relaxed on her hair bun.

  He always does this, one moment he's enthusiastic about her, the next, he seems to be intentionally keeping his distance. And over the years, she has also figured out some of his habits. For example, when he's being enthusiastic, it's usually because she did something without asking him first, taking matters into her own hands. Originally, if this kind of thing happened, he should have scolded or punished her, but instead, he becomes even more passionate and supportive of her ambitions. And now, his sudden intentional distance is often when she makes constructive suggestions for him, doing great things for him.

  At this time, he often flattered her, saying that she was a benevolent queen of a generation. Strangely, at the same time, he also deliberately kept his distance from her.

  The emperor's mind is just so strange. Completely different from ordinary people. Not to mention that her confidant sometimes can't understand, even his brothers and ministers like Zhang Ming who are outstanding, it's hard to guess what he really thinks.

  You're saying that staying with someone like this, she can't keep herself from being reserved, and leave some room to protect her own life, is it possible?

  After drinking the medicinal soup she had sent over, he seemed a bit drowsy and leaned against the couch. She took out a book and read to him. As before, after reading about one page, he closed his eyes. She took a blanket to cover him up.

  Her brother seemed to have received some news, and when he lifted the car curtain and came in, he heard that it was quiet inside the car without any sound. He slowed down his movements and looked again to find that Tianzi had fallen asleep, so he could only beckon to her.

  It was only later that her brother had several doubts about her when she first made the suggestion. Perhaps others couldn't see it, but as a world-renowned doctor, Gong Xiangru understood her suggestions more deeply.

  She quietly left his side, got down from the imperial carriage and boarded her brother's carriage.

  "Because elder brother has never heard of those knowledge you mentioned, don't know where you got to know."

  "Brother, I don't know how to answer this."

  "Is it related to the mysteries of fate?"

  Her brother is not a fool. Since this knowledge of hers did not come from ancient times, it can only be from another world that her soul has been to.

  Jing Xiangru's two slender eyebrows furrowed, and a pair of eyes revealed deeply buried melancholy.

  She said some words that didn't belong in this world, whether fate would punish her for it was unclear.

  Hua Yu Yan felt that since it's been said, then it's been said. Moreover, this matter involves some very serious issues. It can't be ruled out that the person behind the scenes plotting against her is unrelated to the one who cursed her to death.

  "Brother, last time I held a tea party at Baihui Garden. The ladies who attended the banquet didn't necessarily show great respect for the current emperor."

  "You were in the palace before, because of Empress Hu's relationship, so you couldn't see it. In fact, after His Majesty ascended to the throne, due to the policies he implemented, many people's interests were affected, and there are many who are not pleased."

  And so, the Emperor and Empress Hu's relationship became increasingly distant.

  "Did you know everything?" Gong Xiangru looked up at her and asked.

  Know, know that even during Empress Wu's time, the imperial mausoleum was inaccessible.

  You're talking nonsense about Empress Wu. Having a son who's already an emperor is good enough. Why bother with rebellion? Does Empress Wu herself want to sit on the dragon throne? It's unthinkable.

  "Do you know why His Majesty insists on going to the mountain villa?"

  "The Liang De summer resort was the summer retreat of emperors from past dynasties. It should have stored the calligraphy and paintings of emperors from all previous dynasties. The former emperor and Emperor Ming Cheng's ancestors were no exception."

  That is to say, the emperor's casual paintings and calligraphy might reveal some secrets. Furthermore, Empress Hu had the intention of rebellion, but she didn't want to be the empress herself, so she must have wanted to support someone to replace her son. If there was no reason, it would be unreasonable. Therefore, people would suspect that Empress Hu had another son.

  At that moment, Hua Yu Nian suddenly remembered that night when her eldest son hugged her to sleep and said: "Mother, mother is not around, I don't know how lonely father is."

  His own mother was in the palace, but he was such a lonely emperor. Because he had never received true maternal love. So much so that his eldest son looked at him sitting on that dragon chair, without admiration, only worry, worrying that one day he would be like him.

  Pity.

  Who would have thought that the emperor who sat on the dragon throne and could behead someone with just a word was actually such a pitiful person.

  Gong Miao Ru saw that she was indeed in a trance, and a faint ripple flashed at the bottom of her eyes. She said in a low voice: "Your Majesty can take care of the emperor by his side, which is indeed a blessing for all the people in the world."

  His loneliness, perhaps only she could understand, because she sat in the same position as him, filled with solitude. No one can be easily trusted, no. Because no one knows if the other has come with a hidden dagger, and their purposes are all different.

  He lowered his voice and said, "Brother, I've called Qi Yunyan this time."

  "Oh——" her brother said softly.

  The flower's beauty fades as she lowers her eyelids.

  The sun sets, and the mountains are shrouded in twilight. The Li De summer resort is located on a scenic spot with mountains and lakes, covering an area of nearly 100 hectares. Inside, there are mountains, lakes, palaces, and islands. To be honest, there are many more things to play with than in the imperial palace or the capital city. No wonder the emperors often came here when they couldn't go anywhere else.

  The imperial carriage arrived at the main gate of the mountain villa. Seeing that the carriages of Princess Li Jiuyao had already arrived, knowing that the Emperor had arrived, Princess Li Jiuyao led Qi Yunyan to get off the carriage and welcome the Emperor.

  The emperor in the carriage could stay without getting off, just slightly lifting the curtain to nod his head at the county lord and others who were paying their respects, then asked the person beside him: "Has Yun Zhongzhu arrived?"

  Yun Chenjing and they all took different roads, by herself, she could run quickly here.

  "The master of the Cloud Sect said that the meal is already prepared inside and it's known that Your Majesty's party will definitely arrive late." Li Shun De said according to the message he received.

  Logically speaking, once the curtain is dropped and the royal carriage enters the villa, the inquiry at the gate should be over. Unexpectedly, a sudden appearance of Cheng Yaojin from the side.

  Thinking of the Ninth Lady and Miss Li, they had waited for half a day, their stomachs growling with hunger. Finally, after waiting so long, the imperial carriage arrived, and they wanted to plead for justice. How could they just let the emperor's family go in and eat while leaving the mother and daughter at the door, continuing to starve?

  "Your Majesty." Before the imperial carriage was about to depart, the Ninth Lady rushed out, ignoring the obstruction of the guards on the side of the road, and immediately knelt down in front of the Emperor's carriage to plead her case.

  Huā Yùyán sat in a dead angle next to the Emperor, just out of sight of the Ninth Lady. She listened as the Ninth Lady accused her below, each accusation clear and well-rehearsed, making it seem like she had prepared a draft beforehand. The Ninth Lady's accusations were threefold: Firstly, Huā Yùyán was ignorant of her place and dared to compare herself to the Empress Dowager, even using the Empress Dowager's garden to host a tea party as if she were the mistress. This was an insult to the deceased Empress Dowager. Secondly, Seasonal Jade, the young lady from Qi Manor, did not understand the situation and followed others in causing trouble, violating imperial orders by summoning a fifth-rank official's daughter to accompany her into the imperial garden to keep company with the Emperor, which was against the rules. Thirdly, Miss Qi, an intelligent and knowledgeable young lady, had fawned upon Huā Yùyán and Seasonal Jade, who were sycophants of the Emperor, and had come to the resort to indulge in excessive luxury, violating both wifely and ministerial virtues, deserving severe punishment.

  It's impossible not to mention these nine ladies, who, having received the title of Second-Rank Imperial Concubine, still understand some rules for lodging complaints. When she spoke about Hua Xiyan and Li Qiuyao, because one was a favorite of the Emperor and the other was a noble lady with the title of County Princess, the words used in the complaint were brief and seemed to imply that they too had been incited by others and only then did such foolish things. By the time she got to the last complaint, accusing the daughter of a fifth-rank official, since her own husband was already several ranks higher than the girl's father, it didn't matter how much dirty water she splashed. It should be said that all these grievances thought up by the Ninth Lady were directed at the Qi family.

  We can't compare with the imperial secretary or the county lord's daughter, but how can we be compared to a fifth-rank official's daughter?

  After a day of traveling, and then discovering the epidemic on the way, Long Yan was already tired. Even if this emperor had a good temper, he was hungry, tired, and annoyed in his heart. One of his two sons was most afraid of being hungry, and then listening to the ninth lady's nagging here, all for her own family's trivial matters.

  Have these nine ladies ever thought that once the capital undergoes a political upheaval and the common people suffer, their official hats will also be difficult to wear? No, these nine ladies are not afraid. They are not afraid of this emperor no longer sitting on this dragon chair, so what if there is a change in ruler?

  Hua Yu's eyelid twitched as she saw a hint of displeasure flash across Tianzi's face, and she knew that the ninth lady was done for.

  "As a second-rank imperial concubine, one must be superior to those of the fifth rank." The emperor's voice was low and measured, full of profound meaning in the twilight.

  The nine ladies were overjoyed upon hearing this and knocked their heads in response: "Your Majesty is wise and just."

  "We hereby grant, by imperial decree of the second rank, Lady Li and her entourage of a thousand pieces of gold to proceed to the Avoiding-the-Heat Mountain Villa to accompany the Imperial Carriage."

  The nine ladies-in-waiting heard the imperial decree and were overjoyed, as if they had won the lottery. They knocked their heads on the ground so hard that they almost bled: "Your humble servants welcome Your Majesty."

  The gate of the Summer Palace is open, and the royal carriage enters the palace.

  The ninth lady who had obtained the pass, puffed out her chest and deliberately walked in front of Qi Yunyan: "Miss Qi?"

  Li Ji Yao tried to block Qi Yunyan, but was pulled back by Sanqi: "Princess, didn't you hear her just now accusing you in front of the Emperor? The Emperor didn't say she was wrong. Don't interfere."

  Li Ji Yao wasn't afraid for herself, but rather that Hua Xi Yan would be implicated, so she hesitated and slowed her pace.

  Zi Yunyan could only bow her head and greet the second-rank lady: "Your humble servant's daughter pays respects to the lady."

  "Your father is a government official, just right. When my family's Xiuying came out, that maid was ill and there was no one to serve her."

  She was sent to serve Li Xiuying as a maid.

  How dare you!

  Li Jiyaos heart was seething with anger.

  Qī yún yān wēi suǒ xià méi tóu, méi huà shuō, yào zǒu guò qù. Tā zǒng děi gù jí zì jǐ diē ba.

  Translation:

  With a faint smile and slightly furrowed brow, she had nothing to say, wanting to walk over. She must consider her own father after all.

  At this time, Liu Aunt walked out of the mountain villa and said to them: "Yan Shangshu said that she invited County Master and Qi Miss to have a meal with her."

  Seeing an opportunity, Li Ji Yao didn't say another word and grabbed Qi Yunyan's hand, following Liu Gugu as she walked.

  Liu Auntie smiled and bowed to the Ninth Lady, saying according to the script given by Hua Xiyuan: "As for Lady Li, since Lady Li is a second-rank noblewoman bestowed by the Emperor, Yan Shangshu dares not invite Lady Li to dine with him together. I hope Lady Li will excuse this."

  Madam Ji heard this and was taken aback, seeing Qi Yun slipping away. Her face suddenly turned cold, and in her heart, she hummed: I'd like to see just how long you, Yan Shangshu, the emperor's favorite, can protect this daughter of a fifth-rank official.

  On the way, the little servant had already fallen asleep. The young master used this time to finish reading a book. Turning his head, he saw that his younger brother was sleeping with drool flowing out of his mouth, and carefully took a handkerchief to wipe it clean for him. Outside the carriage curtains, there was a rustling sound, as if something had flown by. Thinking that they were in the mountains now, where all sorts of animals roamed, the young master didn't think much of it.

  But it was Yi Feng, who was guarding the crown prince's carriage, frowning and grasping at the shadow of the flying object, seeing that it was a crow, furrowed his brow.

  "Yi Feng, where is the young master?" someone shouted loudly from the steps.

  Li Zimo had just dismounted from his carriage when he saw his sworn brothers ignoring him and rushing to the carriages of his two sons. For someone like Yun who loved to have fun, the dull and serious sworn brothers were no match for the two young princes.

  The little foodie was sleeping soundly, suddenly realizing that someone was pinching his face. Thinking that the only person in this world who dared to pinch his face was his mother, he opened one eye and pouted his small mouth, saying: "Mom, don't pinch me, I'm dreaming of eating baozi."

  This kid is so adorable. He dreams of eating baozi all night long.

  The fox's eyes, cloudy with dust, smiled brightly as they gazed at the small bread on Xiao Yan's face, as if looking at a treasure.

  The sleepy eyes opened to find, instead of his mother, the rascal who had once tried to pursue her. The little foodie stared blankly for a moment before suddenly sitting up.

  Xiao Taizi saw that his younger brother seemed to be frightened, so he kindly introduced the two parties: "Mumu, this is Yun Shushu, my father's sworn brother."

  "Hmm, I've seen him." Xiaochi's face sank, and his tone was unusually sharp.

  This momentum is fierce and has a deep-rooted hereditary factor of the Dongling royal bloodline.

  Yun Chen Jing couldn't help but admire the sudden transformation of this little bread's appearance, and held up the white fan in his hand to fan the wind for the little foodie, like a flattering hound dog: "The humble Yun Chen Jing has seen Master Hua Gongzi."

  Xiao Mu Mu ignored him and grabbed the hand of the young prince, walking down from the horse carriage.

  Yun Chen Jing followed behind the two of them, wagging his tail like a Qilin lion dog and said: "Your father and mother are busy tonight, let me accompany you to have dinner together."

  The little prince's eyes were slightly dazed. Thinking that the whole family came out to travel, they must have thought that they could stick together with their parents all day.

  Xiao Mu Mu turned around and looked at him: "Who are you? You're not my father or mother. I'm accompanying the Crown Prince for a meal, so we don't need you."

  Even if it's just a bystander, the green tiger has to call out in admiration for this little foodie's sharp tongue. Looking at his master with a pair of eyes shining brightly: This kid is a treasure!

  Watching the two little brothers hand in hand entering the house, Bai Shanzi shook her head and sighed: "It seems that the children I raised with Master Wan are not as spirited as the ones she raised."

  In his words, Qinghu heard a deep admiration for the child's mother.

  As for this Miss Gong, Gong Qianxi, Empress Gong, Princess Consort Gong, those who don't know the situation and those who haven't truly understood her all don't know that she's such a formidable woman.

  Thinking of why Master rushed back to the Cloud Clan and for whom he hurriedly returned from the Cloud Clan, Qing Hu's face was hidden in the shadows.

  A big white fan was swinging back and forth, as if escorting, following two little kids into the house.

  With the protection of sworn brothers, Li Zimo felt at ease about the safety of his two sons. When he heard that Li Shunde had come to report that Madame Ji had asked about dinner after entering the manor, Yunmei raised an eyebrow impatiently: "Let Yan Shangshu handle it."

  Treat these nine madams and their daughters as mice, send them over for her to play with.

  Huā Yù Yán received the holy decree and understood his intention to please her, so she said to Liu Gūgu: "Don't bother with them. If they want to disturb the Holy One, stop them and say the Holy One is busy. If they want to come to my place, tell them this is a place for people of low status, it will tarnish their reputation. Let them go hungry for one night first."

  Liu Auntie nodded and went out to carry out her orders. Lü Cuì came over to help her change clothes. Hua Xiyan instructed her, "I don't need anyone to serve me here. You go back to the Crown Prince's place and see if you can be of any assistance."

  She knew that her master was worried about the two children and wanted her to help keep an eye on them. Green nodded cleverly. After changing her clothes, when she was re-styling her hair, a jade pin was found on her bun, which was taken down and handed to her: "Master, isn't this what the emperor gave you?"

  She thought of him on the horse-drawn carriage with his ambiguous attitude towards her, and this jade hairpin felt very subtle in her hand.

  Lü Cuì helped her put the jade hairpin bestowed by the emperor into a box, hugging the clean clothes and backing out. She backed out to the doorway, where she met Lí Jì Yāo and Qí Yún Yān, bowing her head in greeting.

  "Is your master at home?"

  "In."

  Upon hearing this, Li Ji Yao eagerly entered the house. Inside, someone had already set up a table with a sumptuous feast, waiting for the guests to arrive and dine.

  Zi Yunyan stood by the table, not daring to move.

  Huayu came out from behind the screen, looked at her and said in a gentle voice: "Miss Qi, please sit down. I'm not of any high status, to be honest, maybe even lower than yours in Dongling."

  Qī Yún yān was seemingly startled and raised her head, seeing that she had a smile on her face, her expression was one of surprise, and then somewhat relaxed.

  Li Jiyaohad Sanqi move a chair for Qi Yunyan, and the three of them sat down around the table together. By Yunchen Jing first brought over the head chef from the imperial kitchen, who had carefully prepared dinner, and of course, everyone who had gone hungry all day praised it.

  The two little foodies were eating with their mouths full of rice and gravy. Yún Chén Jǐng looked at the empty bowls stacked up one by one, forming a small mountain that could collapse on the little piglet below who was still scraping for rice. Her blue eyes narrowed slightly, and the fan in her hand almost fell to the ground. Witnessing this with her own eyes, these two little foodies could probably eat an entire mountain empty without any problem.

  In comparison, Xiao Tai Zi's appetite was tiny and he only ate vegetarian food.

  The cloud dust scenery is fanned by the palm-leaf fan, and the eyes are filled with wonder. The crows standing on the branches outside the window keep peeking into the room, constantly rolling their eyeballs.

  After dinner, Qi Yunyan didn't say a word. Li Jiuyao teased her for being a mute calabaza. Hua Xiyuan held the tea cup and asked if the rooms for the two of them had been arranged by Aunt Liu. Aunt Liu replied, "Yes, they have all been arranged."

  Li Ji-yao was reluctant to return to her room to rest so soon, but the journey had been tiring and even she felt a little sleepy. Hua Xi-yan said to her: "The young mistress is just feeling stifled, let's play another game of chess with Miss Qi before we leave."

  "Miss Qi's chess skills are how?" Asked Li Jiuyao, her eyes suddenly brightening.

  Hua Yuexuan replied: "How is Miss Qi's chess skills? After the county master and Miss Qi finish a game, won't you know?"

  Hearing this, Li Jiuyao grabbed Qi Yunyan and said that she had to go down no matter what.

  While they were playing chess, she occasionally heard Li Jiuyao coughing a few times.

  Huayexuan naturally asked Sanqi: "Is the county lord unwell?"

  "It's said that the weather is turning cool, and the young lady has a habit of catching autumn cough every year. So the young lady didn't take it to heart," Sanqi said.

  Hua Yu Yan seemed to be deep in thought for a moment, then said: "It just so happens that Gong Da Ren is accompanying the Emperor on this trip. Later, I'll have Liu Gu Gu go invite Gong Da Ren over to take the pulse of the Jun Zhu and see if there's any way to cure this stubborn illness."

  Li Ji-yao heard that Gong Xiang-ru was coming and hastily waved her hand: "No need. A monk once came to our mansion and told the princess that there is a secret recipe that can cure my illness, the princess has already prepared it. It would be too much trouble for Lord Gong."

  This remark is so ridiculous that anyone who knows the inside story can't help but burst out laughing.

  Zi Yunyan's attention seemed to be all on the chessboard.

  Li Ji-yao said in a low voice: "Miss Qi, is your father often bullied by others in the Ministry of Justice?"

  "County Master." Qi Yun lowered her eyes and said, "Our whole family is very well."

  Li Ji-yao furrowed her brow at this, unsure of how to respond.

  Watching the two of them focus on playing chess, Hua Xiyan quietly slipped out. Liu Gugu walked up to her side and whispered something in her ear. A hint of color flashed across Hua Xiyan's eyes as she said, "Stay here and watch over the young mistress. I'll be right back."

  "Yes. Young lady."

  Madam Ji and her daughter Li Xiuyan were taken to a courtyard, where they waited for a long time without anyone bringing them food or inviting them to eat with the emperor. What's more, guards were stationed at the garden gate, effectively trapping them inside. This must have been someone's vicious idea. Madam Ji gritted her teeth and cursed Hua Xiyuan and Li Jiyu. Li Xiuyan was so hungry that she went into the house to find a place to lie down.

  The nine ladies were so hungry that they felt dizzy and their heads were swelling, so they had to put their heads on the table as if they were dreaming.

  It was unknown how long it had been, but suddenly a gust of wind blew open the window. The only lamp in the room swayed precariously in the wind. Madame Nine lifted her head and saw a figure standing before her. As the dim light from the lamp grew brighter, it gradually illuminated the features of the person's face.

  Bang.

  The ninth lady slid off the chair and fell to the ground, her eyes wide with fear, her voice trembling: "You, you——"

  "What? Seven years without a meeting. Has Lady Li forgotten about me?" Hua Xiuyan sat on the stool in front of her, smiling slightly at her.

  "Your Majesty, Your Majesty..." Madam Ji's throat was dry and her eyes were wide with fear, but she didn't forget to crawl out of the door.

  One foot stretched out and blocked in front of Madame Nine.

  The nine ladies didn't even dare touch it and immediately withdrew.

  "Madam Li, I just heard you complaining about me at the entrance of the mountain villa. If Madam Li didn't have such deep feelings for me and move me to tears, I wouldn't have thought of coming down to see you."

  The ninth wife felt that something had flowed down between her legs under her skirt. Her stiff tongue could only utter a sound: "Your Majesty, you crawled out from underground, is it to see me?"

  "Of course."

  The nine ladies shed two streams of clear tears from their eyes: they were thinking of the deceased empress!

  Seeing that the other party was almost scared, fearing that if they were scared to death, they would become a fool. After all, it was this Ninth Lady who reported to the mountain villa gate and suddenly remembered her and his origin. This Second-Rank Commanding Wife's background was far from being just the wife of the Ministry of Rites' Shangshu.

  Madam Ji had been renowned for her beauty in the capital since ancient times, and the previous emperor had allowed her to follow him on many occasions, so it was only natural that she would be resentful of being left out when Lei Zimo invited Qi Yunyan to the mountain villa but not her.

  Since these nine ladies followed the previous emperor and Empress Hu to this summer resort frequently, it's likely they would know some secrets that others didn't.