Adoption brings disaster

Chapter 144

Gossip is human nature, and the secrets of the bedroom are naturally the most talked about. Moreover, this matter involves royal secrets, which is definitely the favorite gossip material of the people in the capital.

Not to mention that His Royal Highness Prince Yong intentionally let the guards and servants spread the news. Even if it was expressly forbidden, it would be rare for no news to be leaked. Naturally, the affair between His Royal Highness Prince Yong and I spread throughout the capital in no time.

But I don't really care about this matter. It's not a big deal. It's okay for people to spread it around after dinner. It's just for fun.

Of course, these are just bullshit to comfort myself. The main thing is that I understand one thing: this matter cannot be explained. Explanation is covering up, and covering up means that this happened.

The more you explain this matter, the darker it gets. On the contrary, if you ignore it, people will lose interest over time, and when new gossip comes out, naturally no one will care.

Besides, there are many important matters to deal with at the moment, and I am very busy every day. For example, I always have to pay attention to the battle between the Escort Agency and the Eighty-Eight Villages.

It has been more than a month since the escort agency and the Eighty-Eight Strongholds had an appointment to fight. Most of the masters of both the good and evil factions have now gathered in the capital. The Eighty-Eight Stronghold naturally has no helpers. It is only a matter of time before they are a bunch of rabble and are wiped out by the escort agency. Just now, a battle report has been sent back.

Li Er respectfully handed me the battle report. I didn't even look at it. I just put it on the table and said, "How long will it take for them to return? Can they come back for the New Year? If they do, have you made all the necessary arrangements?"

Li Er heard my question and bowed, "The battle report says that only one in ten of the eighty-eight strongholds has survived. However, the twelve bandits in Longxi have not yet been annihilated. It will take some time, so I'm afraid I won't be able to return to pay New Year's greetings to Your Highness."

I frowned upon hearing this news and said in confusion, "It's still a long time before the Chinese New Year, at least three months away. The Wudang Sect's Heavenly Master, the Living Buddha of the Bodhi Temple, and the Thief Saint of Shuiku Mountain all went there a while ago, so they should have arrived by now. Why is it taking so long for these remnants of the defeated army?"

Li Er, upon hearing this, explained, "The battle report states that the twelve bandits of Longxi, along with the remnants of the eighty-eight strongholds, have fled into Yandang Mountain. Yandang Mountain is extremely difficult to attack and defend, so it will take some time to surround and destroy them."

After hearing this explanation, I understood it. However, it is not a bad thing that the people from the escort agency cannot come back to celebrate the New Year.

The current situation in the capital is unclear. If such a group of combat-capable people are in the capital, they might be used as pawns. It would be more likely that they would avoid trouble if they don't come back.

I nodded to show that I understood. Li Er then took out a list and handed it to me with a sad look in his eyes. He said, "This is the list of those who died in this battle. Your Highness, please review it."

I took the list but didn't look at it. I put it aside and said, "These are all people who died for the escort agency. They are all heroes of the escort agency. We must do a good job in providing compensation and not let the escorts down."

There are always casualties when escorting goods. Li Er is used to doing the relief work, so there will naturally be no mistakes.

Li Er saw that I emphasized this and said, "Your Highness Qianqiu is absolutely right. However, escorts are a life of blood and knife. There are rules for compensation. I will definitely not let you down."

I nodded to show I understood, then asked, "Is there enough money in the account? If not, I'll naturally find a way to get some. Money can be earned again, but once people's hearts are scattered, they can never be brought together again."

Li Er naturally knew this truth. He had always calculated the matter of silver and money, so he naturally knew what he was going to get. He didn't mention this matter, so he knew it would definitely be enough.

As expected, Li Er continued, "The escort agency has been closed for some time, and there's been no income in the accounts. We're certainly running low on silver, but the Eighty-Eight Village is just a bunch of good-for-nothings, and our casualties are few. The silver in the accounts is definitely enough, Your Highness, please rest assured."

Li Er is a very capable person. Since he said it is definitely enough, I have nothing to worry about.

I didn't care, took a sip of tea and continued, "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon, how are the holiday benefits arranged?"

Li Er, upon hearing my question, replied, "Silver and money have already been distributed to every household. As for rice, flour, and cloth, they are on their way to the capital. They will be distributed in time for the Mid-Autumn Festival."

I have never been involved in these matters. Li Er was the one who handled them all, and there has never been any problem. Naturally, there is no need to say more.

However, this year's expedition to the Eighty-Eight Villages was different from other years, so I suggested a few more things: "This year's Mid-Autumn Festival benefits will be more generous. For example, families with elderly people over fifty years old will receive one pound of meat and a pot of wine. Families with children under ten years old will receive two pounds of cotton for each child."

Li Er took note, looked up at me, and asked, "This year, the three women, Spring Rain, Autumn Harvest, and Winter Storage, all have children. They have always served Your Highness. I'd like to give each of them an extra ten taels of silver as a reward for their loyalty over the years."

When I heard this, I was shocked. I didn't expect that these little girls have become mothers. Time flies so fast.

I do remember that one of them married a young and promising escort, and the other married the manager of the farm. I don’t remember who Chunyu married.

I also asked, "When I left Beijing, Chunyu hadn't chosen a husband yet. I don't know who she ended up marrying."

When Li Er saw me asking, a flicker of envy flashed across his eyes, and he said, "Ms. Chunyu is quite famous now. She is the wife of an official appointed by the imperial court, and a very popular figure in the circle of noble ladies in the capital."

After hearing what Li Er said, I immediately understood that Chunyu still did not listen to my advice and marry a capable and wealthy ordinary citizen. In the end, she insisted on marrying Wang Pianjiang. No, now she should call him Wang Shilang.

You choose your own path in life, and you have to taste it yourself, whether it is bitter or sweet. Others can't help you. I understand this clearly in my mind, so I won't pay attention to it anymore and won't mention it.

Not to mention the spring rain, let’s talk about the autumn harvest and winter storage. These two palace maids have been very dedicated in serving me. As their boss, I cannot be biased towards them, but I can still let Xiaotao walk around to show my concern.

After I finished thinking about it, I shouted outside, "Xiao Tao, come quickly. I have something for you to do."

Not long after I shouted, a girl in pink clothes and eating snacks came skipping into the house.

Xiao Tao looked so adorable, and it made me happy. I excused him from his greeting and said, "Did you know that Chunyu, Qiushou, and Dongzang all have children?"

"I have visited Sister Chunyu's children, but her two younger sisters Qiushou and Dongzang live on the farm, which is quite far away. I have never had the chance to visit them." Xiaotao said sadly.

"Don't be unhappy, the opportunity has come now." I touched Xiaotao's head and said with a smile.

When Xiaotao heard this, she naturally knew what I meant, and her eyes immediately lit up, just like the Xiaotao in my memory that I would never see again.

No, as long as I figure out what the Four Saints Fall means, I can go back and see the lovely and charming Xiao Tao again.

I felt happy at the thought, and my speech became more cheerful. I said, "We have some Mid-Autumn Festival gifts that need to be sent to the farm to be distributed to the farmers. If you have time, come along."

After hearing this, Xiao Tao was naturally very happy thinking about seeing the autumn harvest and winter storage. She was spinning around in circles in the house, looking lively, cute and charming.

I was even happier, and with a smile on my face, I continued, "You can't go empty-handed. Go to the treasury and get some silver, and prepare some gifts for the children before you go."

"I know." Xiao Tao ran out happily, took the silver and went out of the house to buy things without saying anything.

Looking at Xiaotao walking away, I knew very well that this Xiaotao was not the Xiaotao in my mind after all, and I wanted to go back even more urgently.

Seeing that I treated Xiao Tao differently, Li Er also advised, "Miss Xiao Tao is in her prime. It's not appropriate for her to stay with Your Highness all the time. Your Highness loves Xiao Tao so much. Why don't you let Your Highness act as a matchmaker and find a good husband for her? Time flies. Don't waste your youth."

I understood what Li Er wanted to say, but I didn't want to respond. I just smiled and said, "Boss Li is addicted to matchmaking. He can't stand seeing anyone around him being single."

"Your Highness," Li Er leaned forward and spoke earnestly, "Things in the capital have been settled. His Highness Prince Yong is undoubtedly the future emperor. Do you still want to stay with Miss Xiaotao forever? Heaven's grace is unpredictable. Although His Highness Prince Yong loves you deeply now, there is no guarantee that he will offend Your Highness in the future because of Xiaotao. Your Highness should make a decision as soon as possible."

This made me feel extremely embarrassed, and I coughed twice before saying, "Chongguang and I are innocent, and the rumors are not to be taken seriously."

Seeing that I was still deceiving myself, Li Er said earnestly, "Rumors in the streets are naturally not to be taken seriously, but what His Royal Highness Prince Yong did for you is undeniable. Your Highness treats Miss Xiao Tao particularly well, and this is an indisputable fact. Why should Your Highness deceive yourself?"

It's hard to explain matters of the heart. Li Er said all this for my own good, but I really can't accept His Royal Highness Prince Yong.

It’s not that he’s mean to me, but I really am not gay. However, I’m afraid Li Er won’t believe a word I say.

Moreover, Li Er is a man with strong opinions. He has come to discuss this matter with me frankly today. If there is no result, it will not be as easy as I imagined to get rid of Li Er. After all, he is sincerely doing this for my own good, and I can't disappoint someone who is good to me.

Just as I was scratching my head, thinking of how to get rid of Li Er, Ah Er hurried in, grabbed my hand, and rushed out, saying, "Your Highness, please follow me quickly. Someone from the palace is here to arrest you."

Ah Er was extremely strong, and without using my internal strength, I was almost dragged by him. Ah Er's panicked look also made me a little panicked unconsciously. For a moment, I could only let Ah Er pull me to the back door of the palace.

When I arrived at the back door, a carriage was already waiting there. The coachman was someone I knew, the five people who had been guarding me before.

When they saw me, they didn't greet me, but just looked around vigilantly and urged me to get on the carriage quickly.

I hurriedly boarded the carriage. The moment I entered, I suddenly realized what was happening. I turned around and looked at the anxious Ah Er, asking, "Why should I leave? I'm a noble father, a prince. I can be punished for anything other than treason and conspiracy."

Ah Er didn't explain, but simply urged me to get on the carriage, saying, "Your Highness Qianqiu, please stop talking and hurry up. The news came from the prince's personal guards. It must be something big that happened in the court. If we don't leave now, it will be too late."

After hearing this, I began to wonder what had happened in the court that required me to flee far away and seek refuge.

After careful consideration, there are only two things. One is that something happened to His Royal Highness Prince Yong, but this matter should not involve me. The other is that incident.

Seeing that I didn't say anything or move, Er anxiously kept saying "forgiveness" and pulled me into the carriage.

"The Crown Prince is already at the end of his strength and won't be able to keep going for much longer. Your Highness, please go outside and relax. It won't be long before His Royal Highness Prince Yong succeeds to the throne and takes you back to the capital. Your Highness should leave quickly."

Ah Er's words further proved that if something didn't happen to His Royal Highness Prince Yong, then it could only be that incident.

I knew it was that incident, so I jumped off the carriage without a second thought and said fearlessly, "My father is noble and has done nothing wrong. I think it's just some groundless rumors. I need to explain myself clearly to set the record straight. I can't just leave and let people make up stories at will." After saying that, I pretended to be angry and went to the lobby.

When Ah Er saw this, he became extremely anxious and quickly chased after me, trying to persuade me. I didn't want to pay any attention to him and just walked towards the mansion.

Ah Er kept talking until I was tired of it. I said speechlessly, "Ah Er, we've known each other for more than ten years, right?"

Ah Er was stunned for a moment, not understanding what this meant. However, the matter was urgent and he had no time to think about it. He just said anxiously, "Your Highness, please don't say these things. It's important to leave now."

I continued walking forward and said, "For the past ten years, have I always lived under the wings of His Royal Highness Prince Yong?"

"We can discuss these matters on the way. It's not too late to leave now."

"Er, how could you not understand? Since I dared to go back, I must have a way to deal with it." I said with a bit of amusement, "Besides, if I leave, is it appropriate for Chongguang to face it alone?"

His Royal Highness Prince Yong is the master of Ah Er and the others, so naturally they should be treated with the utmost importance. After hearing this, Ah Er's voice of dissuasion became much softer, and later he just stood behind me respectfully and did not dissuade me anymore.

I returned to the lobby, lying comfortably in the rocking chair, leisurely waiting for people from the palace to arrive, no need to mention it.

Predict what will happen in the future, and listen to the next decomposition.