Chapter 574: Afraid What Uncle Heng Might Do

"What? So soon?" Hu Shi was surprised, then quickly asked, "Madam, what else do we need to prepare? I'll go prepare it now."

"We'll do it together," Ye Muyu tidied up the writing tools, took the six cloth strips, and went into the kitchen, followed closely by Hu Shi.

"Madam, is this jar too small?" Hu Shi asked puzzledly as she saw Ye Muyu taking out the smallest ceramic jar to store the pickled vegetables.

Ye Muyu explained, "These are all for Chu Heng to take on the road. It's not safe for everyone to share a jar of pickled vegetables and we don't know everyone's habits."

"Is Madam worried that someone might poison Master Chu?" Hu Shi asked.

Ye Muyu looked at her in confusion, "Why would you ask that?"

Hu Shi smiled, "I heard about a incident before. There was a scholar going to take the exam but he had diarrhea before the exam. When he entered the exam room, he hadn't even started answering the questions when he soiled his pants, causing great harm to the scholars around him. As a result, the exam scores of that year were invalidated."

"Because many scholars were affected, this incident became a topic of conversation."

"At that time, my family was still working for a small merchant family in the capital and I also heard about it. There's more to the story. After the scholar woke up, he was told that he had taken a laxative."

"Think about it, who would voluntarily take a laxative? It must have been a set-up."

"Afterward, the scholar sued his fellow scholar from the same hometown for poisoning him. Although there was insufficient evidence, everyone knew it was that fellow scholar who did it. This incident was talked about for a long time. It is said that the scholar who was poisoned was very talented. They say if he hadn't been poisoned, he would have passed the exam on the spot."

"After that, did the scholar pass the exam?" Ye Muyu asked curiously.

Hu Shi felt Ye Muyu's focus was a bit strange and smiled, "Madam, I don't know. He probably did pass, right?"

Seeing Ye Muyu's thoughtful expression, Hu Shi hurriedly said, "Madam, the key point is to remind Master Chu not to eat food given by others before the exam, to prevent someone with ill intentions."

"Yes, I'll tell Chu Heng when he comes back."

"Madam is indeed insightful. By separating these pickled vegetables, it won't ruin Master Chu's relationship with his classmates, and Master Chu will be safe too."

"No, these things won't be given away." Ye Muyu said.

"Huh?" Hu Shi didn't understand.

Ye Muyu explained, "I hadn't thought about it until you mentioned it, but since there's a precedent, other scholars will definitely prepare their own food. I guess everyone will just assume to eat their own food to ensure safety and avoid harming relationships."

"Do we still need to use small jars?" Hu Shi found the reasoning convincing.

Ye Muyu nodded, "Yes, just use three jars."

Ye Muyu thought to herself: If something unexpected happens while dealing with the Wang family's affairs, Chu Heng can still take a jar of pickled vegetables, rice, and other necessities and leave.

Of course, this was just a precaution.

"Okay." Hu Shi saw that Ye Muyu didn't say much more, so she sensibly didn't ask further.

In addition to preparing pickled vegetables, Ye Muyu also prepared some white wine, gauze, and other items.

At the old house.

Chu Heng's arrival made Zhang feel a little guilty, so she stayed in the house and dared not come out. It was only when she saw Chu Liushi accompanied by Chu Heng enter the main hall that she patted her chest and stood up straight.

Chu Qingxiang sat on the bed making her wedding dress. Seeing Zhang's reaction, she couldn't help but speak up, "Mother, why are you so afraid of Third Uncle?"

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Chapter 573: Setting Off Tomorrow

After Hu Shi finished her work and came in, she saw the scene and quickly took the cloth from Ye Muyu's hand, saying, "Madam, it's my job to do this. How can you do it yourself?"

"It's just some small tasks, it's fine. If I don't do anything, I'm afraid I'll end up being unable to do anything at all." Ye Muyu smiled.

Hu Shi's eyes softened. "Doing things for Madam's sake is what I should do. If I still need Madam to do things, then I'm not qualified."

"Hu Shi, you're really good." Ye Muyu praised sincerely. Having such a servant to take care of her was her good fortune.

Hu Shi smiled faintly. "If Madam says so, I'm satisfied."

"By the way, Madam, I've already arranged the jars of pickled vegetables. Do you need me to hang cloth strips on them and write names on them?" 

"Okay, I'll write them. Let's go to the side room." Ye Muyu nodded, agreeing, and got up to enter the side room.

Hu Shi helped with the grinding. With Ye Muyu's guidance, she finally understood that grinding was not a difficult task.

"Madam, am I grinding fast enough?" Hu Shi couldn't help but ask.

Ye Muyu smiled lightly. "Don't worry, just be bold. If there's any problem, I'll let you know."

Hu Shi was reassured and continued grinding.

Ye Muyu cut six cloth strips and laid them out neatly before taking out a brush and dipping it in ink to write words such as 'pickled radish,' 'pickled green beans,' 'fermented bean paste,' and 'fermented tofu' on them.

"What are you doing?" Chu Heng's voice sounded from the door.

Without looking up, Ye Muyu continued writing on the remaining three cloth strips. "I'm marking the jars so it's easier to recognize them in the future. We don't need to open every jar and let air in which could affect the taste of the pickled vegetables."

"Have you finished your discussion?" Ye Muyu asked.

Chu Heng responded with a "mm-hmm." "I'm going to the old house in a while to leave early. I'll let them know first."

"Do I need to go with you?" Ye Muyu finally looked up.

Chu Heng asked in return, "Do you want to go?"

"I want to prepare your luggage at home. I don't know what else you need for the journey. If you're not well-prepared, I'll worry." Ye Muyu didn't hide her thoughts and spoke truthfully. She felt that she could endure anything at home, but going on a journey required more preparation.

"In that case, you stay at home and prepare my luggage. I'll go to the old house to inform my parents. If I don't come back later, you don't have to prepare my dinner." Chu Heng reached out to touch her head out of habit, looking at her bright eyes with a smile, feeling very reassured by the gentle touch of her face, "If there's anything, call Zhang Shu to the old house to find me."

"Okay, you go ahead. I'll be fine. It's so close anyway." Ye Muyu wrinkled her nose, rubbed her face, and knew her face was turning red without needing to look in the mirror.

Chu Heng brushed her nose with his hand, a doting smile overflowing in his eyes. Without further delay, he took a bag of pastries from the house and went to the old house.

Chu Heng left the courtyard and stood in the yard. Hu Shi, who had just returned to the house, smiled as she saw him, "Madam, why didn't you go to the old house with the master?"

"I need to stay here to pack his luggage. We're leaving for the exam tomorrow, and we don't have much time left." Ye Muyu explained.

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 Chapter 1072: Eyeing Dabai

Shu Yu narrowed her eyes, looking at the stableman in front of her.

She didn't believe him; he was avoiding eye contact while speaking, clearly lying.

However...

Shu Yu looked at the reins in her hand, which indeed had torn marks, as if they had been violently pulled apart.

But Dabai was taken care of by her and Ying Xi personally. They were both meticulous in their care for Dabai. Moreover, since it concerned their safety, they naturally used the best quality reins. They had just inspected them yesterday, and the ropes had no issues; they wouldn't break just by struggling a bit.

Someone had set this up.

Shu Yu glanced at the stableman and then at the middle-aged man and his group in front of her.

They had formed a circle, surrounding her and Ying Xi in the middle.

Shu Yu sneered, "So, what do you want? Compensation?"

The middle-aged man furrowed his brows but shook his head, "No need. The collapsed wall is the inn's responsibility, and we will talk to the innkeeper about compensation."

"So..."

"But our two horses have been with us brothers all the way, and we have a deep bond with them. We feel really sad about their deaths. Most importantly, our horses had the chance to escape, but they were harmed by your white horse. We don't ask for money, just let us handle your white horse."

Shu Yu suddenly realized. They were eyeing her Dabai and saw two vulnerable young women they could take advantage of to swindle them?

She glanced at the innkeeper, who turned his face away, avoiding her gaze.

Shu Yu understood. One person wanted her Dabai, and the other didn't want to pay more compensation, so they struck a deal to scheme against her, right?

It seemed that reasoning with them wouldn't work, and it would only waste time and effort.

If that was the case, then...

"I'll report this to the authorities."

The crowd gasped in surprise.

The innkeeper and the middle-aged man's faces visibly changed.

Shu Yu raised her head and smiled, "I don't admit that my white horse kicked your horses. Now, I suspect that you are trying to extort money from me by deliberately spreading rumors and causing trouble. I also suspect that the innkeeper doesn't want to compensate and is letting the stableman give false testimony to make me a scapegoat. As a weak woman, I can't beat any of you, and I have no assistance while I'm away from home. Reporting this to the authorities is my only option."

Someone in the crowd quickly spoke up, "Miss, reporting this to the authorities isn't a good idea. Dealing with the officials will cost you a fortune. It's better to negotiate with them again."

Shu Yu turned her head and smiled towards the crowd, "No, I'll report it. The officials are there to ensure justice for the people. I believe the authorities will clear my name. We must have faith in the officials and the court."

Others, "..."

The middle-aged man didn't want to involve the authorities. He frowned and said, "There's no need for all that trouble. We just want to handle this white horse."

"That won't do. You say your horses had a deep bond with you, and my Dabai has been with me for over a decade. If I just hand it over to you, am I heartless?" Shu Yu retorted.

Ying Xi silently lowered her head, thinking, Miss, Dabai has only been with you for a few days, not over a decade.

The middle-aged man was also taken aback. The white horse looked barely mature. How could it have been with her for over a decade?

"Enough, give way. I'll go report this to the authorities."

After saying this, Shu Yu led the horse and began to walk outside. The middle-aged man's face turned stern, and he exchanged a glance with the people behind him, giving them a signal.

The people behind them rushed forward, as if they were going to snatch the horse directly.

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300: Hu Shi's Calculations, Mo's Family's Plea (2)

With no more spectacle to watch, the onlookers dispersed, still gossiping about the grievances and grudges between the Li and Zhang families.

Zhang Ming, being rather incompetent, dared to come and cause trouble repeatedly because he believed Li Xiu wouldn't be so heartless to him. He thought that as long as he insisted a few times, given her gentle nature, she would obediently return to the Zhang family. So, as soon as he got home, he couldn't wait to secretly tell Hu Shi about encountering Li Xiu.

Hu Shi, thinking that the shop she had sold had been given to Li Zhong by Mo Yan, began to hatch a crooked plan. She wanted to bring Li Xiu back to serve them and then manipulate Li Zhong to hand over the shop to them through her. So today, accompanying Zhang Ming, they came to persuade Li Xiu, the former daughter-in-law.

In her view, as long as Li Xiu agreed to return to the Zhang family, Li Zhong's resistance would be futile. But they ended up empty-handed; Li Xiu wasn't in the shop, and they only encountered Li Yan. So, the mother and son teamed up to bully a young girl, pressuring her to reveal Li Xiu's whereabouts.

Li Yan hated the Zhang family, so she naturally refused to disclose her aunt's whereabouts, leading to a conflict between the two parties. If it weren't for the timely arrival of Mo Yan and the others, Li Yan might have escalated the situation with the rod.

Throughout the ordeal, Mo Yan watched Li Zhong deal with the Zhang family coldly. Dealing with such shameless scum, reasoning with them was pointless; a good beating was more effective than anything else.

If they weren't on the street, she would have rushed up and given that scum surnamed Zhang a good beating, so he wouldn't dare to show his face in public!

Li Zhong picked up the broom and rod from the ground, feeling guilty. "Yan'er, we've caused you trouble again."

This commotion caused by the Zhang family would definitely affect the business in the shop. If they caused trouble a few more times, they wouldn't be able to run the business anymore.

"Grandpa Li, how can this be blamed on you!" Mo Yan's eyes were cold as she stared in the direction where the two scumbags were leaving. "They're digging their own graves; no one can stop them."

Li Zhong felt a pang of anxiety and quickly said, "Yan'er, you mustn't act rashly! I'll handle this matter, don't get involved."

"Haha, Grandpa Li, don't worry. I won't do anything that breaks the law. I just want to teach them a lesson and prevent them from causing trouble again!"

Seeing that Li Zhong had misunderstood, Mo Yan couldn't help but laugh. Naturally, she wouldn't dirty her hands for the sake of two scumbags.

"That's good, that's good! In the end, this is just a feud between our two families, and it shouldn't involve you."

Li Zhong's face was full of self-blame.

Mo Yan felt a headache coming on. "Grandpa Li, this isn't just a feud between our two families! Even without you, the Zhang family wouldn't willingly let go of the shop like this. Sooner or later, they'll find another excuse to cause trouble."

Back then, they had deceived the Zhang family, and they might still be suspicious of them now. She thought that with Zhang Fugui in prison, they would behave themselves, but she had underestimated the shamelessness of the Zhang family. If she had put this family in prison earlier, there wouldn't be such a problem today.

Li Zhong thought Mo Yan was trying to console him, deepening his guilt.

With the Zhang family causing trouble, there was basically no business in the shop for a while. After instructing Li Zhong and his granddaughter, Mo Yan went to Huixian Residence.

"Xiao Zhu, still busy?"

As soon as she entered, she saw Xiao Zhu rushing down from upstairs. Mo Yan greeted him.

Seeing her, Xiao Zhu thought she was looking for the shopkeeper and quickly said, "The shopkeeper is entertaining guests upstairs. If Miss Mo has urgent matters, I'll go call him."

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  Chapter 126: Exiled Immortal

"Did I just hallucinate? Why do I feel like that Snow Maiden looks so similar to Miss Chen from the Chen family?"

"Similar? It's more than just similar! They look exactly alike!"

"So, that was her then!"

Despite their banter, waves of shock and amazement surged within the crowd.

With such deep snow, walking was difficult for them, yet Chen Xue moved effortlessly, almost like a celestial being. How could this not astonish them?

However, when they tried to look again, Chen Xue had already disappeared.

"That couldn't have been a dream, right?"

"So many people saw it, how could it be a dream!"

"So, was the one flying just now the Snow Maiden or Miss Chen from the Chen family?"

"Well..."

They were more inclined to believe it was the Snow Maiden, especially those who were jealous of the Chen family.

"Weren't there rumors before that Miss Chen from the Chen family was a disciple of the Immortal of Kunshan? Could it be true?"

Some couldn't help but speculate.

"Well..."

Upon hearing this, the others were stunned, murmuring to themselves. Could those rumors be true?

This made them nervous. Should they try to please the Chen family?

At the same time, they began to understand why Xu Tian wanted to please the Chen family and why General Ping Wei had such a good relationship with them...

If Chen Xue wasn't a disciple of the Immortal of Kunshan and didn't possess immortality techniques, how could she fly over the snow like a fairy?

Not only were these prisoners astonished, but Xu Tian and the others were also shocked. Although Xu Tian knew that Chen Xue had many extraordinary abilities, this incident was particularly surprising.

...

Chen Xue was unaware of their thoughts as she returned to her parents' side. Chen Yuan looked at her with anticipation.

"Xiao Xue, can we learn to do what you did?"

"Of course."

Seeing the hopeful eyes of her parents, Chen Xue naturally wouldn't disappoint them. She patiently taught them step by step.

It was impressive how quickly Chen Yuan mastered skiing, gliding smoothly on the snow in no time. However, Madam Chen and Xiao Die seemed afraid and struggled to learn.

"Mother, Xiao Die, don't be afraid. Even if you fall, the ground is covered in snow, so it won't hurt your appearance."

Hearing the words "hurt appearance," Madam Chen and Xiao Die became even more hesitant to move.

Chen Xue couldn't help but smile wryly. She had been terrified when she first learned to ski, but once she mastered it, she felt liberated.

"Mother, bend your knees slightly, hold onto the stick with your hands, gently push against the ground, and move forward..."

As Chen Xue taught them, Madam Chen had already disappeared somewhere.

The Chen family's servants and others watching were shocked but not surprised. Anything related to the young miss was no longer astonishing because even more surprising things were to come.

Even if the young miss suddenly soared into the sky, they wouldn't be surprised.

On the other hand, although Chen Yuan seemed skilled, he was only good at balancing and had a strong ability to learn. However, once he picked up speed, he became somewhat unsure, especially when it came to turning at high speeds.

So when the prisoners nearby heard a shout and looked up, they saw a figure flying over their heads and disappearing before their eyes with a swoosh.

"What just flew by..."

"It couldn't have been a bird, right?"

"Have you ever seen such a large bird?"

"The Chen family's eagles are quite large, almost the size of a child."

"..."

Silence fell.

"Did you guys notice that what just flew by looked like a person?"

"I did!"

"I think it looked like the head of the Chen family!"

"I agree!"

"So do I."

Everyone echoed, convinced that it couldn't have been an eagle. What flew by just now with a swoosh was definitely a person, most likely the head of the Chen family.

"Well..."

Their legs were stuck in the snow, making it difficult to move, let alone run in the snow.

Meanwhile, the Chen family father and daughter were flying around nearby, seemingly mocking them.

Though they were angry, they were more shocked and terrified.

They had thought they were all just exiled prisoners, and even though the Chen family was being pampered by the officials, they would soon be thrown to the ground harshly. Then they would realize they were no different from jesters.

But now, it seemed that they were the jesters, and the Chen family were reincarnated immortals!

When Chen Xue flew over just now, they could dismiss it as an illusion. But when the head of the Chen family flew over their heads, could it still be explained as an illusion?

Though they wanted to deceive themselves, they couldn't.

In that moment, all the exiled prisoners had one thought in their minds: they must not offend the Chen family and must find a way to please them.

Even Zhang Yiquan, sitting despondently in the snow, found that his hatred couldn't emerge.

If the Chen family were truly reincarnated immortals, could he still seek revenge?

"No!"

"The Chen family cannot be reincarnated immortals!"

Zhang Yiquan clenched his fists, suddenly roaring furiously. The people around him were startled and quickly distanced themselves from him.

But Zhang Yiquan didn't seem to notice, continuing to mutter to himself, "They definitely aren't immortals, otherwise, how could they end up as prisoners like us!"

His words caused others to furrow their brows; it seemed to make sense!

If the Chen family were truly powerful, they wouldn't have been exiled!

But the fact remained that Chen Xue and the head of the Chen family had just flown over, a feat impossible for ordinary people.

Either they were immortals or ghosts!

In broad daylight, how could there be ghosts!

That left only one possibility!

Chen Xue might truly be a disciple of the Immortal of Kunshan, which would explain her immortality.

...

Chen Xue was unaware that the crowd had come to believe she was a disciple of the Immortal of Kunshan and capable of performing immortal arts.

If she knew, she might openly accept the carriage and establish herself as the disciple of the Immortal of Kunshan.

"Xiao Xue, help! How do I stop this?!"

After circling around, Chen Yuan finally returned, looking at Chen Xue as if she were his savior, forgetting all about his dignity as he shouted for help.

"Um..." Chen Xue touched her nose. "Father, didn't I teach you how to stop?"

"Did you teach me?"

With a yell, Chen Yuan slid away from Chen Xue and disappeared from her sight.

"Did I not teach him?"

Chen Xue was puzzled. She wanted to demonstrate on the spot, but her father had vanished again.

After waiting for a while, Chen Yuan appeared in front of her again. Chen Xue hurriedly shouted, "Father, run towards the mountain!"

There were many ways to brake, but she was afraid she couldn't explain them in just a few words, and her father might not learn them right away, so she had to resort to drastic measures.

As a result, Chen Yuan disappeared from her sight again, leaving behind his words echoing in the snow.

"I don't know how to turn!"

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Due to her connection with Feng Xuanbin, Concubine Zhou had a bit more standing in the residence compared to other concubines. However, maintaining such standing wasn't easy. Any mistake on her part could potentially drag Feng Xuanbin down with her, which was a result she absolutely did not want to see.

Concubine Zhou understood the gravity of what Qi Wangfei had said. As soon as the words were spoken, she knelt properly and repeatedly kowtowed, pledging to be cautious and adhere to the rules.

As for her family back in Wenzhou...

Concubine Zhou was troubled by the thought. She had already warned her closer relatives about the importance of not causing trouble, as it would jeopardize their standing if the Prince became displeased. However, it was difficult to manage the more distant relatives with whom she had infrequent contact.

The previous incidents, since Prince Qing had provided some protection, were not too severe, and Qi Wangfei did not intend to impose harsh penalties. Nevertheless, there was still a concern for Feng Xuanbin.

So, Qi Wangfei offered a brief reprimand and then signaled that Concubine Zhou could leave. Concubine Zhou, her legs feeling weak, was helped out by Fang Xing.

 Aunt Qiu, smiling, saw them off and then, outside the door, deliberately recounted what had happened earlier to Concubine Zhou. The matters were lengthy and complicated, and Qi Wangfei had not elaborated much, but Aunt Qiu needed to ensure that Concubine Zhou and her servant knew what had transpired so they could properly manage their relatives in the future.

After explaining the earlier incident, Aunt Qiu sighed lightly, "The main culprit has been taken to the Dali Temple's prison. If you feel any attachment to family ties, you may visit him. But as for any attempts at pleading for leniency, don't even think about it."

This meant that visiting was acceptable, but asking for leniency was out of the question. The culprit had targeted their Sixth Young Master, which was a serious offense.

Hearing this, Concubine Zhou completely lost her strength, slumping down. She now understood why Qi Wangfei had spoken so sternly.

Feeling desolate, Concubine Zhou wondered why her family was causing her such trouble when she was merely a concubine in the Prince's residence. As soon as she returned to her room and closed the door, she sank to the floor and wept bitterly.

Qi Wangfei, however, had moved on from this issue and was focused on Suisui’s matters.

"Have the seamstress from Jinxiu Fang come over tomorrow to measure Suisui for her clothing. She has nothing yet, so we’ll start with four outfits per season, with spring and summer clothes prioritized. The rest can wait."

"If they have any new styles, add a few more spring and summer outfits."

"And also, open my private wardrobe to see if there are any suitable accessories for her."

"By the way, choose two alert servants and arrange for an older one to assist Suisui. If there aren’t any good candidates in the residence, go to the reputable agency and select from there."

...

Qi Wangfei had many tasks in mind, which she discussed in detail with Aunt Qiu. Since Aunt Qiu had ample experience, Qi Wangfei entrusted many tasks to her.

After everything was arranged, Qi Wangfei checked on Suisui once more and, seeing the little girl sleeping peacefully, finally returned to her own quarters.

On the way, Aunt Qiu cautiously asked, "About the young lady’s household registration..."

Suisui was still an unregistered citizen. Although not a major issue, it needed attention.

After considering it, Qi Wangfei waved her hand, "Let's set it aside for now. When the Prince returns, we'll see what he thinks. If he doesn't agree, Suisui can take my family name, Song. The Song family can certainly support a child."

The Prince was currently preoccupied with potential concubines and hoped for a daughter of his own. Qi Wangfei had no objections to this. She found Suisui adorable but acknowledged that not everyone might feel the same way.

Thus, Qi Wangfei's stance was not to insist. If the Prince liked Suisui, she would be registered under the Feng family; if not, she would be under the Song family. Either way, she was her child.

Aunt Qiu understood how to proceed after hearing this.

The next day was clear and sunny.

Suisui adapted well and probably slept particularly well due to the warmth from her mother's gentle patting.

Upon waking, Suisui was greeted by Haitang’s smiling face, "Young Lady, are you awake? Shall we get up now?"

Suisui had never really slept in before; it was only recently, during her time with her brothers, that she had learned to enjoy a bit of laziness. Naturally, she got up obediently.

Previously, Suisui had heard that the water for rinsing in the morning was quite expensive. Now that she was truly in the Prince's residence, she found it was indeed true!

After dressing, Haitang handed her a cup of warm tea with a hint of floral fragrance, reminding her, "Young Lady, this is for rinsing, not drinking."

Suisui followed the instructions carefully. The tea was pleasantly warm and fragrant, and she nearly drank it but managed to control herself. After savoring the aroma, she spat it into a small basin.

Haitang then handed her a cup of warm water, "This is for soothing your throat, drink it slowly."

After drinking half the cup, Suisui got out of bed, put on her shoes, and, with Haitang’s help, brushed her teeth and washed her face.

Haitang carefully dried Suisui’s hair, commenting softly, "I hope it grows long and shiny soon!"

Haitang was worried about the little girl being teased for her sparse hair and felt anxious. Her soft, tender voice and the way she addressed Suisui made her heart melt.

She felt a pang of longing, thinking: Ah, she’s so cute! How I wish I could pinch her cheeks!

As they walked together, Haitang’s steps seemed light and carefree. When they arrived at the dining area in the side hall, it was still early, and the others hadn't arrived yet, nor was the Prince's wife present.

Haitang, puzzled, asked one of the attendants at the door, "Where is the Princess consort?"

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Chapter 299: Hu Shi's Calculations, Mo's Family's Plea (1)

Although Li Zhong was old and not as agile as before, he was still much better off than Hu Shi, who was old and obese. Seeing her rushing over recklessly, he didn't confront her head-on. Instead, he stepped aside a few steps, feeling regretful that he didn't manage to hit Zhang Ming's face hard with the broom earlier.

Hu Shi wasn't as lucky. Despite her exertion, she didn't hit anyone and fell straight to the ground, intimately embracing the cold, hard surface with a dull thud. Even the onlookers winced in sympathy at the sight.

"Oh my goodness, committing violence in broad daylight! Is there no justice anymore? I, an old woman, just want to reunite my daughter-in-law's family, but that wicked person just won't allow it. Oh, my life is so bitter—"

Hu Shi lay on the ground, refusing to get up, tearfully recounting her grievances. Her pitiful appearance, with tears streaming down her face, did indeed evoke some sympathy.

The more people watched, pointing and gossiping, the louder she cried. When someone criticized Li Zhong for holding his daughter, she felt even more victorious.

Li Zhong looked on coldly at Hu Shi's pretense, paying her no mind. He walked straight to the back of the crowd and dragged Zhang Ming out of hiding. Seeing the bloodstains on his face from being hit with the broom, he felt a wave of satisfaction, wishing he could hit him a few more times.

"Hurry up and take your shameless parents and get lost. Otherwise, don't blame me for hitting her along with you! And you shameless scumbag, since you couldn't control your lower body and went to seduce a widow, and even divorced my daughter, don't come here pretending to be a gentleman now. I won't fall for your act! If you dare to cause trouble again next time, I'll come to your house with a knife and slaughter your whole family, so you won't disgust us anymore!"

"F-father-in-law, y-you shouldn't—shouldn't be like this." Hearing Li Zhong's murderous words and seeing his eyes filled with killing intent, Zhang Ming's face turned pale, and he stammered, "I-I just wanted to bring Xiuer—bring Xiuer back home."

The more Li Zhong heard, the angrier he became. He punched Zhang Ming's abdomen fiercely. "Xiuer has been divorced by you and has nothing to do with your Zhang family anymore. If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll kill you now. Even if it costs me my life, I'll make sure you're dead."

Just now, he really had murderous intent. If this family kept clinging to them like sticky plasters, he would definitely kill them all for the sake of his daughter and granddaughter's peaceful life.

Feeling a pain in his abdomen, Zhang Ming bent over, his already pale face turning even paler.

"Don't think I'm just joking. If you push me too far, I'll kill your whole family sooner or later! Get out of here now, and don't come back!"

Li Zhong said, kicking him hard again. He felt nothing but disgust for this man who was controlled by his own mother, weak and useless. He regretted being blind and allowing his daughter's life to be ruined by such a useless person.

"F-father-in-law, please, please stop!"

After this severe lesson, Zhang Ming developed a deep fear of Li Zhong. He quickly broke free from Li Zhong's grasp and, under his terrifying gaze, staggered away, half supporting and half dragging Hu Shi.

"No, I won't leave. I want to bring my daughter-in-law back. Let go of me, you unfilial son, I won't leave—"

Hu Shi, having failed to achieve her goal, refused to leave! She screamed desperately for Zhang Ming to let her go, but Zhang Ming was terrified by Li Zhong's intimidation and somehow found the strength to drag her away.

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 Chapter 125: The Snow Maiden

With the matter of the birthday cake temporarily settled, the key issue now is how to move the carriage.

After thinking all night, Xu Tian and the others finally decided to dismantle the goods inside the carriage to reduce weight so that the carriage could be pulled.

However, since the food was already packed, they first had the bailiffs carry it. If they couldn't carry it all, they would have the prisoners help. Xu Tian and the others had been around for so long that they knew which prisoners were more honest, so they would have them help to prevent theft.

Although the result was much better than yesterday, the snow continued unabated, and the snow on the ground grew deeper, making it even more difficult for everyone to move forward.

Soon, everyone was exhausted.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Items in everyone's hands fell into the snow one after another.

Lighter items were fine, just falling onto the surface of the snow, but heavier items instantly sank into the snow and disappeared.

Everyone hurried to search, but because the snow was too deep, they couldn't find anything.

Helpless, they had to give up.

But as time passed, more and more people became weak, and items continued to fall onto the snow like dumplings.

People had to reach in to dig them out, but their hands quickly went numb from the cold snow, forcing them to give up.

So, to avoid further losses, they had to put the items back into the carriage.

By noon, the distance traveled by everyone had not increased much.

"Hurry and nail wooden planks to the wheels to increase the contact area."

Chen Xue got off the carriage and directed the servants. She planned to convert the carriage into a sled so they could travel.

The servants and guards naturally followed Chen Xue's instructions. They quickly went to chop down trees nearby.

Seeing Chen Xue and the others at work, Xu Tian and the others quickly followed suit.

"Captain, this tree is too big. Our knives can't even cut it into wooden planks."

Not long after they started, the bailiffs began to complain. The vibration from chopping the tree made their arms go numb, especially since it was already cold, and their limbs were stiff. The vibration made the pain worse.

"Yeah, this idea from the Chen family is just harming us."

A prisoner complained. Clearly jealous of the Chen family, they seized the opportunity to criticize.

"Wait, look at that!"

Xu Tian wanted to reprimand the person but was surprised when the other bailiffs pointed ahead.

They saw Chen Xue and the others' carriage swiftly moving across the snow, seemingly unaffected by the heavy snowfall.

In fact, they even saw the carriage drifting on the snow, stunning everyone.

"Is this real?"

The prisoner's voice trembled. With fewer people from the Chen family, how could they have accomplished this so quickly?

However, they soon saw the carriage rushing towards them. When it was about a dozen meters away, it turned and drifted, splashing snow over them.

They were shocked awake. Looking at the carriage, they realized that instead of chopping down large trees to make wooden planks, the Chen family had bundled small trees together, similar to building a raft.

Then, they tied the raft to the wheels of the carriage, preventing it from sinking into the snow. It seemed like the carriage was floating on the snow.

"That's right, why didn't we think of that?"

The bailiffs were suddenly enlightened, feeling pleasantly surprised.

Afterward, they began to act. Although they didn't mock the prisoner who had spoken earlier, that person was already ashamed and buried their head in the snow.

"Hurry up, let's all pitch in. Otherwise, we'll have to sleep in the snow tonight."

With Xu Tian's words, everyone's enthusiasm instantly increased. After all, it was already cold, and sleeping in the snow would likely lead to freezing.

As everyone continued on their way, Chen Xue, with her parents, stayed back from the crowd, seemingly not in a hurry to leave.

"Is Xiao Xue thinking of something again?" Chen's mother knew her daughter well and could tell she was up to something.

"Exactly."

Chen Xue revealed her white teeth. "I had them make a few sleds along the way."

"Sleds?"

The others were stunned. They always heard strange words from Chen Xue's mouth. They thought she must have had some new ideas since she had traveled to the north and experienced skiing before. So, this time, she had them turn the carriage into a sled.

Due to limited materials, the sleds were very crude, but that didn't dampen Chen Xue's enthusiasm.

"Let me show you how to slide!"

She strapped the sled to her feet and used two sticks to support her body, instantly leaving the snow behind.

Then, with a gentle push, she moved forward.

Chen Yuan was startled and wanted to reach out to grab her, afraid she might get hurt. However, Chen Xue swooshed past him before he could react.

Everyone stared wide-eyed.

This was even more shocking than seeing a snow man.

Why could the young miss of the Chen family fly?

This question lingered in everyone's minds, but they couldn't find an answer.

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Feng Xuanbo’s words shifted the other two brothers’ resentment entirely to him. Feng Xuanbin no longer mentioned returning to find his sister.

Feng Xuanrui's mood improved significantly.

Aunt Qiu, watching from the side, finally relaxed her anxious heart.

As the three brothers were playfully heading back to the South Courtyard, Suisui was washing her face and brushing her teeth.

Mother said that after dinner and having dessert, if she didn’t brush her teeth, her teeth would rot!

How could a child withstand such a scare? So, Suisui obediently brushed her teeth.

Although Suisui could brush her teeth herself, Qi Wangfei couldn’t resist wanting to help.

Suisui allowed her to awkwardly brush her teeth and wipe her face, then changed into clean nightwear before returning to bed.

Among the many rooms in the main courtyard, Qi Wangfei chose one closest to the main house.

The room was tidied up early by Haitang and the others.

The bedding was also sun-dried to be soft and comfortable.

After Suisui was cleaned, Qi Wangfei carried her to bed and tucked her into the warm blanket.

The blanket was very warm and soft.

The satin fabric felt smooth to the touch.

Suisui’s hands were still a bit rough.

She felt that if she wasn’t careful, she might damage the fabric.

Suisui was scared and didn’t dare to move much, curling up in the blanket with only her eyes visible, looking at Qi Wangfei obediently.

Though Qi Wangfei had raised two children, she had no experience in putting a child to sleep.

The children had had wet nurses since they were young, and later on, servants and attendants.

As the princess, she mostly provided decorative companionship and didn’t need to do much.

Now facing the task of putting Suisui to bed, Qi Wangfei was somewhat at a loss.

Suisui, lying quietly, with her bright eyes watching her mother.

The servant Shaoyao, watching from the side, couldn’t help but smile.

After a while, Shaoyao gently turned off the inner lights, leaving only a candle burning dimly outside.

The dim atmosphere made Suisui, already tired, slowly become drowsy.

Qi Wangfei, unsure of how to lull Suisui to sleep, could only rely on instinct and lightly pat Suisui’s blanket.

She remembered that when Xiao Liu(little six) was small, the wet nurse seemed to pat the child to sleep?

Children grow up, and many things are not remembered clearly.

Especially things she had never truly experienced or touched.

Qi Wangfei's movements were very gentle; even through the thick blanket, she was afraid of hurting Suisui.

In the dim room, with the soft blanket and Qi Wangfei’s gentle patting, Suisui’s eyelids quickly began to droop. She tried to say something through her sleepiness, but it turned into a vague “Goodnight…”

The words were too soft and unclear.

Qi Wangfei didn’t hear clearly, but it didn’t affect her good mood.

She tenderly adjusted Suisui’s blanket and smoothened her hair, then softly said, “Goodnight, Suisui.”

Qi Wangfei didn’t hear the last part clearly, but the system picked up on it.

Mother.

The system felt a pang of sadness.

Originally, it was worried that Suisui might not adapt well to the new environment and silently hoped that a gentle and reliable sleep assistant would be arranged for tonight. 

But as it turned out, Suisui fell asleep and didn’t need one.

Still, it was fine this way.

Fewer people in the virtual world caring for Suisui was acceptable, as long as there were more in the real world.

Qi Wangfei was uneasy and stayed for a while after Suisui’s breathing became steady. Only then did she quietly leave the room.

When the princess came out, Shaoyao, holding a lantern, walked ahead.

Qi Wangfei, still uneasy, gave some instructions to Haitang, who was on night duty, before slowly heading out.

The night was slightly cool, and Qi Wangfei lightly adjusted the cloak around her shoulders, quietly asking Shaoyao, “Have the people arrived?”

Shaoyao nodded in response, “Yes, they are waiting in the side hall.”

Hearing this, Qi Wangfei nodded lightly. Her previously gentle demeanor gradually turned cold.

In the side hall, Concubine Zhou was anxiously standing.

Servant Fangxing had suggested she sit, but she dared not, nervously clasping her hands in front of her, fidgeting with them.

No matter how she held them, it felt uncomfortable.

In the end, she simply let them rest by her sides.

However, without something to grip, she couldn’t sort out her tangled emotions.

This made Concubine Zhou even more anxious.

When Qi Wangfei had sent someone to invite her for dinner, saying she would wait until the young masters returned to the South Courtyard, Concubine Zhou had been perplexed.

Qi Wangfei was known for her gentle nature and leniency towards concubines and servants.

As long as they didn’t cause trouble or create disturbances, the princess was generally tolerant.

Concubine Zhou hadn’t expected that she needed to come over that night, not waiting for the next day.

By the time Qi Wangfei arrived, Concubine Zhou’s mind had spun through numerous unpleasant thoughts, and she was sweating profusely.

Yet, when she heard Qi Wangfei’s footsteps, Concubine Zhou carefully wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief, fearing that any sign of disarray might lead to punishment.

When Qi Wangfei entered, both Concubine Zhou and her servant were tense.

If something truly happened to their mistress, what would become of the servant?

Fangxing repeatedly reassured herself that there was still Seventh Young Master.

No matter how big the issue, surely it would be somewhat mitigated by Seventh Young Master’s influence?

When Qi Wangfei entered and took her place at the main seat, Concubine Zhou properly greeted her.

Qi Wangfei did not call her up immediately, sitting there quietly drinking tea.

Concubine Zhou did not hear any summons and thought to herself: It's over!

Qi Wangfei deliberately left her standing, taking a few sips of tea before finally raising her hand.

Shaoyao, standing by, smiled and said, “Concubine Zhou, please rise. It’s chilly in spring, so be mindful of your knees.”

Concubine Zhou didn’t dare to accept help from Fangxing. Shivering, she stood up and dared not sit down, standing quietly with her head bowed.

Seeing her this way, Qi Wangfei sighed lightly, “I remember you are from Wenzhou, correct?”

Hearing the mention of her origin, Concubine Zhou’s heart skipped a beat, and her face showed a hint of fear. Her voice trembled as she replied, “…Yes, Princess.”

After this, Qi Wangfei remained silent.

She intentionally kept Concubine Zhou waiting, and Concubine Zhou did not dare to speak, her head still bowed.

After a while, Qi Wangfei sighed again, “You are Xiao Qi’s(little seven) biological mother. Besides maintaining propriety within the residence, you must also restrain your maternal family to avoid causing trouble for Xiao Qi. He is a prince of the Wang family, and his status is prestigious. If there are any hindrances from his maternal relatives, how will he manage among his brothers?”

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 Chapter 1071: Demanding Compensation

Shu Yu nodded, "If the veterinarian comes later, let him check on Dabai too."

After speaking, she walked towards her own white horse.

The horses and the carriage were separated; the carriage neatly arranged on the other side of the backyard, while the horses were tied in the stable, taking shelter from the rain and being fed.

The carriage had not been affected and was still intact.

Shu Yu walked up to her beloved Dabai and reached out to touch its head.

Dabai recognized her and affectionately nudged her. Shu Yu smiled at this and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that Dabai had calmed down now. Unlike the other horses nearby, which were still agitated, even their owners didn't dare to get close.

Shu Yu nodded to the stableman, "I can handle this myself."

She wanted to lead Dabai a little further away so that the other horses' behavior wouldn't affect it.

However, as she led Dabai a few steps to the side, several people suddenly rushed towards her and blocked her way.

"Stop, you can't leave," they said.

Shu Yu frowned and looked at the people in front of her.

These people... seemed to be the owners of the two distressed horses, right? Earlier, they were standing by the injured horse, looking anxious and waiting for the veterinarian to arrive.

Ying Xi stepped in front of Shu Yu, with a stern expression, and asked, "What are you going to do?"

"We don't want to do anything; we just want to seek justice from the young lady," one of them, a middle-aged man who seemed to be the leader, stepped forward, staring sharply at Shu Yu.

He looked quite fierce, and the onlookers nearby stepped back, keeping their distance from them.

Shu Yu's expression remained unchanged, finding it somewhat amusing. "Are you joking? I don't seem to know you, so why would you ask for justice from me? I haven't done anything to you."

"You may not know us, but our two horses suffered because of you," said the middle-aged man, taking a step forward.

He appeared menacing, and the onlookers continued to keep their distance.

Shu Yu couldn't help but find the situation amusing. "You're saying that your horses died or got injured because of my horse? How is that even possible? The wall collapsed, and it's none of my business. Surely you're not suggesting that my horse deliberately kicked your horses and caused the wall to collapse?"

"The collapsed wall was indeed one reason, but our horses were smart enough to break free from their ropes and escape from the stable before the wall collapsed on them. Who knew that when they ran out, they encountered your horse, and during the collision, your horse kicked, leading to the death of one horse and injuries to the other."

Shu Yu didn't quite understand. "You're telling me that my horse caused the death of your horses?"

"Yes."

Shu Yu pointed to where their horses were tied and then to the left side of the stable. "My Dabai is on the far left, still tied with a rope, while your two horses were on the far right. With this distance between them, are you seriously telling me that my horse somehow kicked yours?"

The middle-aged man nodded, "Yes, and I have witnesses."

"Who?"

The middle-aged man pointed to the stableman behind Shu Yu, the one who was holding another horse. "This young lady, indeed, it is as he said. Your white horse is much more responsive than the others. As soon as there were signs of the wall collapsing, it became very agitated and broke free from its reins. When it ran to the right side of the stable, that guest's horse was also coming out, and the two horses collided. Your white horse kicked out directly, and that's how..."

He trailed off, lowering his head. The implication was clear.

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