Chapter 673: Misjudged

"Second Sister, what nonsense is this?" Chu Zhiwen spoke up, and naturally Chu Yonghua couldn't sit idly by. He scolded and wanted to minimize the issue.

Chu Hongmei realized how low her status was in her maternal family when she saw her elder brother from her natal family siding with Qian. For a moment, she felt resentful towards them for being blind to her worth. After all, she was the lady of the Luo family and lived a life of wealth and luxury. Yet, these people didn't try to please her?

However, when she looked at Chu Heng, she quickly concealed her displeasure and held back, smiling somewhat aggrievedly. "Big Brother, Third Brother, you know I'm used to following the rules, so I don't agree with what Fifth Sister-in-law said. But she deliberately accused me... I've never been treated like this in the Luo family."

"You should also listen to me. Heng is now a successful candidate in the imperial examination. He will definitely become wealthier in the future. We should gradually adhere to these customs, or else when interacting with those landlords, gentry, and officials in the future, we might be ridiculed."

"We might lose face ourselves, but I'm afraid they will speak ill of Heng."

"As scholars value their reputation, you should understand better than me. I'm just speaking out for Heng's good."

"If you don't want to listen, then forget it. I've just done a bad thing with good intentions." Chu Hongmei picked up a handkerchief and pretended to wipe away tears, looking pitiful.

Having dealt with the wives of wealthy families for a long time, she had mastered the skill of changing her demeanor completely. At this moment, in order to achieve her goal, she didn't argue with Qian and instead put on a show of being wronged, making the elders of the Chu family feel somewhat embarrassed.

After all, bullying a woman was not justifiable.

Moreover, her words struck a chord with several people.

Chu Yonghua's face turned red, so he simply drank some wine to cover up, otherwise, he might embarrass himself in front of the younger generation. He cleared his throat and said, "Let's not argue anymore. Today is Heng's happy occasion after all."

"But what you said is also correct. We should indeed learn some etiquette."

Qian glared, feeling somewhat displeased.

Chu Fengsheng saw that his elder brother obviously favored Chu Hongmei and saw his wife's angry expression. He couldn't help but mutter softly, "Even if Second Sister is right, she shouldn't bully my wife."

"We might not understand the rules, but we shouldn't follow Second Sister's example."

Qian felt somewhat relieved and gently reminded, "Even if Second Sister is right, etiquette isn't set in stone. Heng's health is the most important. If he has to drink with outsiders, so be it. But when dealing with relatives, is it a sin to drink tea?"

"Alright, alright, you don't need to argue anymore. Heng needs to eat, so let's all go back to have our meal." Chu Yonghua hoped for some harmony. After all, no one liked to argue on a joyous occasion.

Chu Hongmei wanted to stay, but obviously, it wasn't possible.

Unexpectedly, her elder brother, who seemed to be persuaded by her, didn't care about her identity at all and didn't give her any face. He simply continued speaking, leaving her feeling as if her efforts to set up a scheme had been completely misunderstood, and she was even being looked down upon for her mistake.

"Heng, I won't bother you anymore. We'll talk later." Chu Hongmei was angry, but there was nothing she could do. Since she couldn't force it, she turned around and left.

Seeing Chu Hongmei's dissatisfaction, Qian felt satisfied herself. She also turned around and returned to the dining table.

Chu Heng didn't want to pay attention to Chu Hongmei.

But he noticed that several elders in the family were hesitating to speak.

Chu Heng said lightly, "Uncles, you don't need to worry. Etiquette isn't something you can learn in a day. If you want to learn, I'll send someone to teach you. If you don't want to, it doesn't matter."

"After all, no family relies solely on etiquette to live."

Chu Yonghua and the others felt relieved.

Next Chapter ▶▶

Chapter 674: Being Generous as the Mistress

Regardless of age, no one likes to be looked down upon. Chu Heng passing the imperial examination was a joyous occasion for the entire Chu family.

They didn't want to be disliked or scorned everywhere they went.

Speaking of which, Chu Hongmei's attitude made these old masters feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Having worked hard all their lives, although they were poor, they still had dignity.

Just because they were poor, did that mean they should be looked down upon? That would be too unjust.

It must be said that Chu Hongmei thought she had been clever but she left a bad impression on several of her brothers. The difference in values between the two worlds was quite significant, and naturally conflicts would arise.

Chu Hongmei obviously ran into this issue.

Chu Heng took a sip of tea and slowly eat his food.

Meanwhile...

When Chu Hongmei returned to her seat, she noticed that Sun Shi from the second household had left her seat.

So, she quickly called for Luo Qingshu.

After sitting down, Chu Qingxue behaved very maturely, calling everyone respectfully.

Several elderly ladies of the Chu family nodded and smiled. They naturally wouldn't say much to the younger generation, let alone make things difficult for them.

Even though Qian was angry, she didn't vent her anger on Chu Qingxue.

"Ye Muyu, I heard that those landlords have sent over many beautiful maidservants?" Chu Hongmei brought up a very sensitive topic as soon as she spoke.

Ye Muyu looked at her performance calmly.

Chu Hongmei continued, "It seems like it's your fault. Heng is already a successful candidate in the imperial examination, how can the inner courtyard only have one woman?"

"Could it be that you forcefully prevented Heng from taking concubines and maidservants?"

"Second aunt, you're thinking too much. I'm very busy, and I didn't have time to look at the gifts. Naturally, I wouldn't force my husband. I wonder how many concubines Second aunt's husband has in the inner courtyard?" Ye Muyu truly thought Chu Hongmei was out of her mind to slander her like this.

Chu Liushi also coldened her face. "Heng is still young, and the family has some wealth now. Of course, he needs to continue his studies. What does Second Sister mean? Do you want Heng to indulge in beauty and delay his studies?"

Others also looked at her with surprise and curiosity.

Chu Hongmei had thick skin. Thinking that these rural relatives would never appear in the social circle of Luoyun County, she wasn't afraid of offending them at all.

However, Ye Muyu's question made her face darken. "Ye Muyu, I've said before that you don't understand the rules. Can you, a junior, inquire about the inner courtyard affairs of your aunt's family?"

"I'm sorry, I'm also curious," Chu Liushi immediately retorted.

Chu Hongmei choked, "Third Sister, my husband does have concubines, and naturally, I personally selected them. In wealthy families, it's customary for wives to ensure the continuity of their husband's lineage."

She looked proudly at the surprised expressions of several people. She didn't lie. It's just that the concubines in her family were completely under her control, and they couldn't resist her. Naturally, she was proud of it.

"Let me tell you, which wealthy family's inner courtyard only has one woman? If there really is only one, that would be jealousy, leading to numerous problems."

"I think the maidservants sent over this time are quite beautiful. I was admiring them from afar earlier."

"These concubines are different from what you know. They all have skills, either in dancing, playing musical instruments, outstanding looks, or excellent service."

"Ye Muyu, if you want to be a good wife to Heng, you need to learn a lot. Being the mistress requires generosity. If you're still so jealous, I'm afraid it will affect Heng's future. At that time, it will be a minor matter if he divorces you."

"Mother." Luo Qingxue called out softly, with a helpless look in her eyes. She looked at the elderly ladies and said, "I'm sorry, my mother tends to speak nonsense whenever she drinks too much."

Next Chapter ▶▶

 Chapter 1196: No Problem with the Medicine

After being away from home for three or four months, Shu Yu couldn't help but overeat when she finally had a home-cooked meal.

Grandma Lu asked her to take a walk to aid digestion, so Shu Yu took the opportunity to distribute the gifts she brought from the capital to everyone.

Especially the wedding gift box from the Yao family to Shu You, she handed it over all at once.

When she finished distributing the gifts, Da Niu had returned.

Instead of going to eat as instructed by grandma Lu, he went to see Zhao Xi first and handed the two medicine packets to him, asking him to take a look.

He also asked Zhao Xi to check on Zhou Qiao's condition to ensure that everything was safe.

After confirming that Zhou Qiao was fine, Da Niu finally went to the flower hall to have his meal.

Shu Yu looked at the two medicine packets. Weren't these the ones Li Shi and Zhou Qiao's Auntie brought?

Zhao Xi quickly finished checking and said to Da Niu, "The medicines are not a problem."

He pointed to Zhou Er Auntie's packet, "This is indeed a medicine for stabilizing the fetus, but its effectiveness is greatly reduced. Moreover, it contains a bit of toxicity. Eating this ineffective medicine for stabilizing the fetus is no better than eating two eggs."

Then he pointed to Li Shi's packet, "This one is also a medicine for stabilizing the fetus, but it's an old recipe that is rarely prescribed in current medical clinics. It's slightly better than the previous one, but not by much."

After Zhao Xi finished explaining, grandma Lu quickly asked what was going on.

After hearing about what had happened at the estate, grandma Lu was furious. "These two women are just loafing around all day without doing any proper work. They're all grown up and still so irresponsible. Where are they now?"

Da Niu said, "I sent them back home." He patted grandma Lu's back. "Grandma, don't be angry. I've already told both of them, and they won't go to the estate anymore."

Although Li Shi and Zhou Qiao's Aunt were angry after hearing this, Zhou Qiao's Aunt didn't dare to say much due to Shu Yu's presence. However, Li Shi was crying and causing a scene.

But no matter what, Da Niu wouldn't back down when it came to Zhou Qiao and the safety of the child.

Both he and Zhou Qiao felt that the medicine brought by Zhou Er Auntie couldn't be trusted. After all, they knew her quite well, and especially because she wasn't Zhou Qiao's biological mother, Zhou Qiao didn't trust her very much.

The first time Zhou Qiao's Aunt brought the medicine, it was obviously a mixture of broken bits and had a damp smell. Zhou Qiao didn't want to take the risk, so she had never taken it.

Fortunately, Zhou Qiao's Aunt would just deliver the medicine and leave after a meal, so they didn't have to keep the medicine. It wasn't until they met Li Shi that they stayed overnight at the estate, leading to this trouble.

Zhou Qiao had never taken Zhou Qiao's Aunt medicine, but she had taken Li Shi's medicine.

Da Niu knew that his mother had some extreme behaviors and had many problems, but at least she was sincere when it came to her children. This was not only what Da Niu thought, but also the consensus of anyone who knew Li Shi.

Moreover, Li Shi had never shown any bias towards boys or girls. The Lu family's approach in this regard was significantly different from others. Both Grandma Lu and Third Aunt Liang treated their sons and daughters with equal love.

Li Shi was no exception; she had always treated her two daughters very well, and she was especially happy to have her first child as a daughter.

Who could have thought that she would go and buy some secret formula for bearing sons?

Grandma Lu even suspected that Li Shi might have been influenced by some kind of evil charm and lost her mind.

Fortunately, there was nothing wrong with the medicinal materials. Otherwise, if something happened, grandma Lu would definitely make the eldest son divorce her.

After this one unreliable act, Da Niu would never let Li Shi get involved in Zhou Qiao's pregnancy again.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1195: Not Afraid Even of Blood

Inside the house, everyone was laughing. However, Ruan shi's eyes were sharp, and she saw Shu Yu outside. She immediately exclaimed, "Ah Yu is back!"

Shu Yu quickly walked forward, and except for her younger brother who was still studying at the academy, everyone else gathered around her.

An Ning hugged Shu Yu's waist and raised a jade pendant in her hand, "Second sister, second sister, this was given to me by Master. An Ning has a master now."

"Yes, An Ning will study diligently under Master Zhao from now on." Shu Yu patted her head and smiled.

With Shu Yu's return, the entire Lu family was delighted. Although they had already heard a lot about the happenings in the capital from Zhao Xi, they still gathered around her, asking all sorts of questions.

But Grandma Lu noticed that it was getting late and waved her hand, chasing everyone away, "Alright, it's already noon. Ah Yu rushed back in a hurry and must not have had lunch. Don't crowd around here, go have your meals."

The others had already eaten, thinking that Shu Yu might have been delayed at the estate for some time, and it would at least be in the afternoon when she returned. They didn't expect her to arrive just after noon, so they knew she must not have had lunch.

Shu Yu and the others were then surrounded and taken to the flower hall.

An Ning clung to Shu Yu for a while before being brought forward by Grandma Lu.

Then, she saw Xiao Songle.

The little girl stared at him with round eyes and cautiously asked, "Xiao Lele?"

Shu Yu was quick to notice that Xiao Songle had once again started to hide behind her, lowering his head and not looking at An Ning.

Now, Shu Yu was certain. Xiao Songle wasn't afraid of adults arguing or fighting, but he was afraid of children.

She thought of the little boy's previous living conditions. Those children from the Hong family were a bit older than Xiao Songle, and influenced by Hong's daughter-in-law, they weren't friendly to Xiao Songle.

If they had hurt Xiao Songle before, then it wouldn't be surprising for him to be afraid when facing other children.

Sometimes, the younger the child, the more direct and ruthless the malice they released, and the greater the harm they caused.

In contrast, adults, due to aunt Hong's presence, might not have directly laid hands on Xiao Songle. At most, they would scold him or not give him food. Their main target was Hong's mother-in-law.

As for Hong's mother-in-law, she was even more protective in Xiao Songle's eyes.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would have their arguments, and from Xiao Songle's perspective, it seemed like a rare and common occurrence.

As a result, he wasn't afraid. He even seemed to watch with great interest when Zhou Qiao's Aunt and Li Shi were arguing.

After all, during this journey, he had been traveling with them for a long time and hadn't seen such a scene in a while. Perhaps he missed it.

Thinking of this, Shu Yu felt that she should discuss with Master Zhao later to see if it was possible that Xiao Songle didn't speak because of his fear of children.

However, An Ning felt a little upset when she saw Xiao Songle avoiding her.

She tugged at Shu Yu's sleeve and asked in a soft voice, "Second sister, does Xiao Lele not like me?"

"It's not that. He's just in an unfamiliar place and feels uneasy."

An Ning suddenly understood, "So that's why. Then, I can totally understand him. I used to be like that too. Whenever I saw strangers, I wanted to hide myself. But now, I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not even afraid of blood."

Very brave.

Her master had praised her like that just now.

Shu Yu nodded repeatedly. Before An Ning could say more, Grandma Lu pulled her away by the collar.

"Don't disturb your second sister while she's eating."

Next Chapter▶▶

 "IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON."

  **Chapter 120: Falling from Grace (Seeking Monthly Votes)**

Yao Yi looked at Madam Jie and her maidservant, “May I ask if Madam Jie has anything she wishes to explain?”  

The maid felt inwardly vexed that the Xuanzhe Army would pay attention to such trivial matters!  

At that time, nothing had happened in the building; why would they keep an eye on when their bearers left and whether they had a lantern or not for no reason?  

Madam Jie’s expression was cold and aloof: “Since I entered the building, I haven’t left. How would I know where the bearers went or what they did? I don’t know what you wish me to explain, Minister Yao.”  

Yao Yi didn’t engage her in a verbal spar: “Since Madam Jie doesn’t know, we can only bring that bearer up to clarify, so there won’t be any misunderstandings about Madam Jie.”  

Madam Jie sneered inwardly: “Feel free, Minister Yao.”  

After receiving a nod from Cui Jing, a member of the Xuanzhe Army quickly went downstairs and soon brought the bearer back up.  

The bearer felt a surge of anxiety as he entered the building, feeling flustered under the gazes of Minister Yao and the others. He frequently glanced at Madam Jie and the maid.  

However, Madam Jie didn’t look at him.  

“I ask you, do you know whether this maid beside Madam Jie went downstairs to fetch tea before?”  

Hearing the title of “I” from official, the bearer was scared, and he instinctively looked at the maid: “Qiao Mama, what… what’s going on?”  

Yao Yi frowned, raising his voice slightly: “I ask you a question; why are you asking someone else?”  

The bearer’s face turned pale in fright, and he immediately knelt down.  

Though he was also one of Madam Jie’s people, compared to Qiao Mama, he was merely a nameless bearer, whose courage and status were equally insignificant.  

The maid reprimanded sternly, “Just answer truthfully to how Minister Yao asks you!”  

The bearer’s expression changed repeatedly as he knelt there. Although he was timid, he was still smart; he quickly thought for a moment and nodded: “Yes… Qiao Mama did go downstairs to fetch tea.”  

Yao Yi continued, “Did she say anything to you while fetching the tea?”  

“Um…” The bearer stumbled over his words: “She instructed me to keep an eye on the sedan!”  

“Then why did you leave alone after she went upstairs?”  

The bearer’s expression shifted again, and he could only reply, “I… I went to relieve myself!”  

“Then why did you have a lantern when you left, but it was gone when you returned?”  

Sweat instantly broke out cold on the bearer’s forehead.  

How… did they know this?  

He recalled Qiao Mama’s low voice instructing him: to hang the lantern in Fenggu Alley, not to speak to anyone, not to linger, to go quickly and return quickly, and if anyone asked later, to say he went to relieve himself.  

He only knew this much!  

Although he thought the instruction was a bit strange, he was just a bearer and had to follow orders, not daring to ask for reasons.  

But now he was suddenly brought up for questioning…  

The man stealthily raised his eyes, looking at the serious faces of everyone in the room... with this atmosphere, could something major be happening?  

Seeing him remain silent, Yao Yi coldly asked, “Did you leave that lantern in Fenggu Alley?”  

The bearer’s mind exploded with a “bang,” and he instinctively said, “No… I didn’t go to Fenggu Alley!”  

Qiao Mama had already instructed him not to speak carelessly, especially in times of trouble; it was even more essential not to admit anything!  

Yao Yi pressed, “Then where is the lantern?”

“Lantern…” The bearer stammered, “It accidentally fell into the urinal when I was… relieving myself and I didn’t pick it up again!”  

Some of the women frowned upon hearing this.  

Yao Yi asked again, “Where did you relieve yourself?”  

“Right at the end of the back street… under that old willow tree!” The bearer answered without hesitation this time, “If you don’t believe me, you can send someone to check! But that lantern… it’s probably been blown away by the wind!”  

Yao Yi pondered for a moment.  

Setting aside the fact that more than an hour had passed and any traces would have dried, just the claim of relieving himself at the back street didn’t explain anything—it was normal for him to take a break on the way back from Fenggu Alley.  

This bearer was timid, but his mouth was tight…  

At that moment, a subordinate who had been sent to Fenggu Alley returned: “Sir, we didn’t find any lanterns near Fenggu Alley.”  

Madam Jie raised her brows slightly and said calmly, “There’s a new batch of palace attendants in the Eastern Palace recently. I must go to the Eastern Palace tomorrow to inspect the palace rules. It’s getting late, so I’ll take my leave.”   

Her words clearly implied using her connections in the palace to pressure them. Yao Yi understood her intention.  

Like Chang Suining , he had already discerned the connection between Madam Jie and this matter—after handling so many cases, the answer was nearly clear.  

However, mere speculation wouldn’t convince the public; he needed evidence to support his claims. Without evidence, everything could be dismissed as mere “coincidence.”  

Given more time, he was confident he could find other leads, but due to her status, he didn’t have sufficient reason to detain her.  

Once she left, she would undoubtedly take measures to erase the evidence.  

At this moment, the most crucial lead was…  

Yao Yi instinctively glanced at the bearer when he heard Chang Suining say, “Madam Jie can leave, but this bearer must stay.”  

Earlier, she had exchanged a glance with Cui Jing.  

As soon as she agreed to demonstrate her innocence through drawing, they had shared a moment of eye contact.  

At that time, Cui Jing had spoken a few words to Chang Kuo, after which Cui Yuanxiang had left the Dengtai Tower at Cui Jing’s command.  

From that moment, Chang Suining had known that Cui Jing was sending someone to investigate.  

Thus, her deliberate act of creating an intricate, time-consuming painting, along with her earlier “rebellious” remarks towards Madam Jie, were both aimed at stalling for time.  

Now, her insistence on keeping the bearer behind had a similar purpose.   

Madam Jie was infuriated by this demand and sneered, “How long do you intend to harass me, Lady Chang?”  

“Is this harassment?” Chang Suining looked at the bearer, “Who can prove that what he said is true? Can we just dismiss suspicions based on a few of his words?”  

“Exactly.” Wei Shuyi stepped forward, “Unless he can prove that he hasn’t been to Fenggu Alley—”  

The mention of “proving” made Madam Jie’s expression darken: “Minister Wei is a high-ranking official, so you should be quite familiar with our laws. May I ask which law this farce has violated tonight? Is there a dead body or theft? On what grounds do you detain and interrogate my family’s servants?”  

A farce?  

They were on the verge of ruining someone’s reputation, yet she lightly referred to it as a farce!  

Wei Miaoqing, unable to endure any longer, stood up: “What law has that woman broken in terms of her alleged innocence? Is there a dead body or theft? Why can anyone come and interrogate and discuss? It was Madam Jie who publicly demanded that Lady Chang prove her innocence; now, the time has come for her own servant, who clearly has accomplice suspicions, to prove his innocence, and she questions the grounds for this?!”  

She finished in one breath, surprised at herself.  

Did she really just say all this?  

Indeed, it seemed that she had been inspired tonight; otherwise, how could she speak so smoothly against Madam Jie?!  

Madam Jie’s face turned frostier as she fixed her gaze on Wei Miaoqing. She recognized her immediately as the legitimate daughter of Marquis Zheng.  

Or rather, she remembered very well those who behaved improperly yet refused to be controlled.  

She barely deigned to reply to Wei Miaoqing, coldly saying, “The things that are fabricated, I allowed Yao Yi to interrogate just now to give him face and to provide everyone with an explanation. But I’ve already answered everything I needed to. If you persist in this stubbornness, it would be suspicious!”  

Her usual demeanor was one of sternness; now, her face was completely cold, and her voice deep and powerful, easily intimidating the crowd, especially the women, into silence.  

“Has Madam Jie spoken too soon—” It was Cui Jing who spoke up.  

His gaze passed over Madam Jie, looking toward Cui Yuanxiang, who was hastily coming up the stairs.  

Ming Luo, who had remained silent until now, also turned to look; upon seeing Cui Yuanxiang approaching, she already had her answer.  

Cui Yuanxiang had not returned alone; he was accompanied by two people, one large and one small.

The larger figure was a young man dressed like a peddler, while the smaller one was an eight- or nine-year-old boy.

“That’s him! He’s Zhou Er!” The boy pointed directly at the kneeling man named Zhou as he walked over.

The man was taken aback: “What are you doing here?”

“I’m here to testify!” The boy glared at him. “I saw you sneaking around this afternoon, clutching a bundle like you were about to run away... I followed you all the way to Fenggu Alley, and when I saw someone hanging a lantern, you left, so I knew you must have been up to no good!”

The man stared back at him: “You… I only borrowed ten coins from your sister! Is that why you’re following me?”

The boy scoffed, “What borrowing? You pretended to be sick to swindle it! Who knows if you were planning to run away without paying it back? You and your uncle are no good!”

So he had picked up that lantern and waited near Dengtai Tower until Cui Yuanxiang, who was searching around, stopped him to ask questions.

At this moment, Jiantong also recognized the boy.  

On that day, when he had followed Zhou Ding, Zhou had nearly harmed the boy when he was leaving the gambling den, but he had thrown a stone to wake a black dog in the alley, saving the boy’s life.  

Unexpectedly, this child had become a witness today.  

“I’m not a good person; I’ve been bribed, and I’m not denying it…” Zhou Er slumped to the ground with a sigh.  

“This young brother just said he saw someone hanging a lantern in Fenggu Alley with his own eyes?” Yao Yi interjected at the right moment.  

The boy quickly nodded: “Yes! I was keeping a close watch, and I saw it clearly!”  

Yao Yi nodded in satisfaction.  

The child was energetic; only kids could manage such things in this hot weather.  

“Then can you tell me if that person is in the building or not?”  

The boy immediately pointed at the bearer: “It’s him!”  

The bearer’s face changed in shock: “You’re talking nonsense!”  

“I saw it clearly; you were the one who secretly hung that lantern at the alley entrance!” The boy didn’t give him a chance to argue and told Yao Yi, “He was rolling up his sleeves, and I saw a big black mole on his arm! It seemed to be on the right side!”  

It was common for laborers to work bare-chested in hot weather, but Madam Jie had strict rules against her servants wearing revealing clothing, so the bearer wore a long-sleeved shirt.  

At this moment, his sleeves were down, and hearing the boy’s words, he shook his head repeatedly.  

At Chang Kuo’s gesture, two servants stepped forward: one restrained him, while the other rolled up his right sleeve, revealing a prominent black mole.  

One of the servant women beside Madam Jie gritted her teeth: “Where did this little brat come from… How dare he collude with someone to slander my lady!”  

Her words backfired, provoking an accusation:  

“It’s her… she bought the lantern from a small vendor.”  

The peddler said to Cui Yuanxiang.  

The servant woman suddenly recognized him as the lantern vendor, and her face turned pale.  

Although they had thought such matters would leave no trace, she had been very cautious, not daring to use any lanterns from her own household and instead buying a plain, nondescript lantern on the way…  

Little did she know that these people could trace it back to the vendor!  

Cold sweat broke out on her face, but she still insisted, “You… you must have colluded beforehand!”  

However, the crowd had already formed their own conclusions.  

Today, the victim was Lady Chang; how could the victim collude?  

Countless gazes turned toward Madam Jie.  

The bearer trembled as he knelt on the ground.  

Zhou Er moved closer to him and said in a brotherly tone, “I say, big brother, you should learn from me and just confess… think about it, if you go back like this, can you still live?”  

After crying and howling all night, he was exhausted, his knees were aching from kneeling, and he just wanted to end this quickly.  

This heartfelt advice, tinged with concern, nearly made the already crumbling bearer break into tears, snapping the last remaining thread of his composure.  

“It was… it was Qiao Mama who asked me to hang the lantern! I didn’t do anything else, and I don’t know anything! I lied just now because Qiao Mama told me to; I’m just a lowly servant; my life depends on my master’s words… I truly dare not disobey!”  

As the bearer spoke, he suddenly lunged forward, clutching Yao Yi’s leg, and pleaded, “Lord Yao, I’ve heard you’re a good official; please have mercy and help me escape this fire pit! I’m willing to work like an ox or horse for the rest of my life to repay your kindness!”  

“…” Yao Yi paused for a moment before nodding: “I can help you redeem yourself.”  

The bearer was overjoyed and quickly kowtowed.

Zhou Er was taken aback.  

Just like that, with a little push from him, this big brother had soared to new heights!  

At this point, the truth was beyond dispute, and the crowd erupted in an uproar.  

The gazes of the women turned toward Madam Jie had completely transformed.  

Madam Jie felt those accusatory looks were like hands, the very hands that once held her up high, now threatening to pull her down from her pedestal.  

“Using such despicable and underhanded tactics against an innocent girl—this is the so-called way of a teacher that you, Madam Jie, pride yourself on?” Chang Kuo asked furiously.  

This was also what the other women wanted to know.  

In their anger, they felt a chill.  

How could someone so respected, with the power to elevate or destroy a person with a single word, possess no corresponding morality? Wasn’t that a disaster for them?  

“I have never wronged you, Madam Jie.” Chang Suining looked at the stiff-faced Madam Jie, “Your actions today seem to indicate you are acting on someone else’s behalf.”  

Madam Jie’s heart jolted.  

As she locked eyes with the girl, her fingers trembled, digging into her palms, and she squeezed out a cold laugh from between her teeth.  

---

(End of Chapter)

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 394: Exploiting His Weakness and Establishing Village Rules (2)

He had ways to deal with those who harbored ill intentions, but he couldn't expose his weakness and give them any opportunity. In this world, besides the Crown Prince, she was his weakness. Even if the possibility was one in a million, he wouldn’t let these letters put her in danger, nor let anyone with ulterior motives discover her existence and harm her...

"Bang!"

After hearing the whole story, Yang Bao slapped the table and looked at Mo Yan, who was sitting calmly, gritting his teeth as he said, "Yan girl, this is entirely Wang Dali and his group's fault. Don’t worry, Uncle will not cover for them and will definitely give you a satisfactory explanation."

This time, Yang Bao was truly angry. He had been the village head for over ten years. In the past, Liuyang Village had only a dozen households. The biggest conflicts were minor disputes, like who lost a chicken or whose vegetable garden was missing a cabbage. Now, it was either arson or false accusations for money, causing him endless headaches.

Not to mention that Mo Qingze was the village's only scholar, the benefits the Mo family had brought to Liuyang Village over the past year made Yang Bao somewhat biased towards them. Moreover, this incident was entirely caused by Wang Dali and his group. He couldn't let it slide. This was a good opportunity to rectify the village’s atmosphere. Otherwise, if others followed their example, it would be unmanageable.

Hearing this, Mo Yan’s expression softened further. "I trust Uncle Yang's judgment. But I'm curious about how you plan to punish them. After all, they are also villagers of Liuyang Village, and I don't want it to be too awkward when we meet in the future."

These words were like adding fuel to the fire, making Yang Bao even angrier. "If they truly considered themselves part of Liuyang Village, they wouldn't come up with such bad ideas to ruin our village's reputation!"

Seeing Mo Yan’s troubled expression, he softened his tone and comforted her, "Yan girl, Uncle knows you are kind-hearted. But those people need a lesson, or such things will keep happening, making it hard for everyone to have peaceful days."

Mo Yan nodded, seemingly resigned. "Uncle Yang, you are the village head. You handle village affairs fairly and justly. I have no objections to however you decide to deal with them. However..."

She hesitated, looking at Yang Bao as if finding it hard to continue.

Yang Bao, feeling pleased with her praise, quickly urged, "Yan girl, just say whatever you want. Don’t hold back with Uncle."

Hearing this, Mo Yan let go of her concerns and smiled brightly. "Since Uncle Yang says so, I won’t hide my thoughts. If you think my idea is feasible, we can implement it this year. If not, please forgive me."

Yang Bao sensed that Mo Yan was about to propose something significant. He straightened up and signaled her to continue.

Mo Yan hadn’t planned this beforehand, so she organized her thoughts before speaking slowly. "Uncle Yang, the village now has over a hundred households, making it quite large. However, most people come from various places with different customs and habits. Such a mix inevitably leads to many conflicts. Handling each issue individually would be troublesome. It might be better to gather the village elders and knowledgeable people to discuss and establish a comprehensive set of village rules. With these rules, villagers will be mindful of their behavior. If anyone breaks the rules, they can be dealt with accordingly, ensuring that no one accuses you of being unfair."

The more Yang Bao listened, the brighter his eyes became. When Mo Yan finished, he stroked his beard and laughed heartily, "Good, good, this is a great idea! Don’t laugh at Uncle, Yan girl. Since last year, when so many people flooded into the village, minor disputes have been constant. Sometimes I feel like I’m running a marathon, dealing with conflicts in the west one moment and then rushing to the east the next. Even though I try to be fair, some people still think I'm biased, which makes me feel misunderstood and sometimes lose sleep over it."

By the end, Yang Bao was shaking his head self-deprecatingly, unable to continue.

Mo Yan didn’t know how to respond, so she awkwardly comforted him, "Uncle Yang, you are a good village head. Most villagers recognize that." This wasn’t flattery but genuinely from her heart.

Being the village head sounded prestigious, seeming to control all the village's affairs. But Liuyang Village was so poor that even its land was thinner than others. Even if Yang Bao wanted to embezzle, there was nothing to gain. On the contrary, he had to endure countless grievances to maintain village stability. Despite the hardship, he had to bear it because he was the village head and had an official title.

Other people's disputes were mostly minor issues, but her family's conflicts with other villagers were significant enough to reach Yang Bao.

"Haha, with Yan girl's words, it's worth it even if Uncle has to endure grievances!" Yang Bao laughed and comforted himself, then eagerly asked Mo Yan more about establishing village rules.

"Uncle Yang, I can only give general ideas. I’m not clear on the specifics; you will have to decide." Mo Yan modestly declined. She had some thoughts but didn’t want to overstep. After all, Yang Bao was the village head. Whether he liked it or not, he wouldn’t appreciate too much interference. Moreover, setting village rules required input from other villagers. Collectively, they could come up with better suggestions suitable for Liuyang Village.

She suggested creating village rules to deter ill-intentioned villagers. Even if it didn’t completely stop them, it would reduce her troubles.

Leaving Yang Bao's house, Mo Yan walked home in a good mood, only to hear villagers discussing Wang Dali and his group getting injured by wild animals while hunting.

Before dawn, Wang Dali’s wife and two other women had tearfully rushed through the snow to fetch a doctor. The doctor braved the snow to treat their wounds.

But injuries from a tiger weren’t so easily healed.

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 1195: Not Afraid Even of Blood

Inside the house, everyone was laughing. However, Ruan shi's eyes were sharp, and she saw Shu Yu outside. She immediately exclaimed, "Ah Yu is back!"

Shu Yu quickly walked forward, and except for her younger brother who was still studying at the academy, everyone else gathered around her.

An Ning hugged Shu Yu's waist and raised a jade pendant in her hand, "Second sister, second sister, this was given to me by Master. An Ning has a master now."

"Yes, An Ning will study diligently under Master Zhao from now on." Shu Yu patted her head and smiled.

With Shu Yu's return, the entire Lu family was delighted. Although they had already heard a lot about the happenings in the capital from Zhao Xi, they still gathered around her, asking all sorts of questions.

But Grandma Lu noticed that it was getting late and waved her hand, chasing everyone away, "Alright, it's already noon. Ah Yu rushed back in a hurry and must not have had lunch. Don't crowd around here, go have your meals."

The others had already eaten, thinking that Shu Yu might have been delayed at the estate for some time, and it would at least be in the afternoon when she returned. They didn't expect her to arrive just after noon, so they knew she must not have had lunch.

Shu Yu and the others were then surrounded and taken to the flower hall.

An Ning clung to Shu Yu for a while before being brought forward by Grandma Lu.

Then, she saw Xiao Songle.

The little girl stared at him with round eyes and cautiously asked, "Xiao Lele?"

Shu Yu was quick to notice that Xiao Songle had once again started to hide behind her, lowering his head and not looking at An Ning.

Now, Shu Yu was certain. Xiao Songle wasn't afraid of adults arguing or fighting, but he was afraid of children.

She thought of the little boy's previous living conditions. Those children from the Hong family were a bit older than Xiao Songle, and influenced by Hong's daughter-in-law, they weren't friendly to Xiao Songle.

If they had hurt Xiao Songle before, then it wouldn't be surprising for him to be afraid when facing other children.

Sometimes, the younger the child, the more direct and ruthless the malice they released, and the greater the harm they caused.

In contrast, adults, due to aunt Hong's presence, might not have directly laid hands on Xiao Songle. At most, they would scold him or not give him food. Their main target was Hong's mother-in-law.

As for Hong's mother-in-law, she was even more protective in Xiao Songle's eyes.

The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law would have their arguments, and from Xiao Songle's perspective, it seemed like a rare and common occurrence.

As a result, he wasn't afraid. He even seemed to watch with great interest when Zhou Qiao's Aunt and Li Shi were arguing.

After all, during this journey, he had been traveling with them for a long time and hadn't seen such a scene in a while. Perhaps he missed it.

Thinking of this, Shu Yu felt that she should discuss with Master Zhao later to see if it was possible that Xiao Songle didn't speak because of his fear of children.

However, An Ning felt a little upset when she saw Xiao Songle avoiding her.

She tugged at Shu Yu's sleeve and asked in a soft voice, "Second sister, does Xiao Lele not like me?"

"It's not that. He's just in an unfamiliar place and feels uneasy."

An Ning suddenly understood, "So that's why. Then, I can totally understand him. I used to be like that too. Whenever I saw strangers, I wanted to hide myself. But now, I'm not afraid anymore. I'm not even afraid of blood."

Very brave.

Her master had praised her like that just now.

Shu Yu nodded repeatedly. Before An Ning could say more, Grandma Lu pulled her away by the collar.

"Don't disturb your second sister while she's eating."

Next Chapter▶▶

 "IF YOU LIKE THE TRANSLATIONS, CONSIDER SUPPORTING US ON PATREON."

  **Chapter 119: Hanging Lanterns 

The man's expression changed.  

His nephew...  

His nephew had been silenced and dumped into the city moat!  

He had been shocked to hear that before, but now it suddenly dawned on him that he seemed to have fallen into the same situation as his nephew...  

“Do you really think that if you don’t say anything and don’t reveal who that person is, they will really let you go?” Chang Suining said. “On the contrary, the more you keep things under wraps, the less they will hesitate to silence you.”  

A cold sweat broke out on the man's back.  

He had been told that even if things were exposed today, as long as he kept his mouth shut and didn’t say anything, he would be helped to avoid the Chang family’s revenge, and he would be sent away from the capital safely...  

All along, he had been more afraid of private retaliation from the Chang family than any minor punishment from the authorities.  

But now, Chang Suining's words reminded him that perhaps the real threat was his “employer.”  

Or rather, both were the Grim Reaper!  

At this moment, the man wished he could slap himself a hundred times—he had no skills at all and had been living off his luck, so why had he foolishly dreamed of making a fortune by walking such a dangerous path?  

The man, who had come crying and shouting, now wanted to cry but found he had no tears left, only boundless fear.  

The girl, whom he regarded as the Grim Reaper, spoke again, “If you tell the whole truth, I won’t hold today’s mistakes against you. I can spare your life.”  

The man was taken aback.  

Why had the situation turned around like this?  

But this temptation was indeed enormous; he hesitated for a moment, looking at the girl, “Do you really... keep your word?”  

“Of course!” Chang Kuo interjected, his voice booming like thunder, “The Chang family always keeps their word!”  

Chang Suining said, “This is your only chance to live. Whether you take it or not is up to you.”  

“I choose…” Under the gazes of everyone, the man no longer hesitated: “I’ll tell everything! I’ll say anything!”  

Those who recognize the situation are wise, and the clever bird chooses its roost. Taking a step back opens up vast horizons, and he just wanted to keep his life!  

A flurry of literary phrases unrelated to his situation popped into the man’s head, and he spoke, “I was sent here to cause trouble by someone. They gave me the painting, and everything I said was taught to me by them!”  

As a stir arose around them, everyone grew increasingly angry.  

It turned out he was indeed instructed to deliberately ruin Chang’s reputation!  

Whether out of loyalty to the Chang family or genuine admiration for the painting, they instinctively began to view Chang Suining as one of their own—empathy flooded their expressions as they shot glares at the man surnamed Zhou.  

Seeing that even Hu Yi and others had joined the ranks of those wishing to punish him, one anxious thought crossed Chang Kuo’s mind—shouldn’t he hurry and wake the man up with a pot of cold water? Otherwise, once the man sobered up tomorrow, he would surely regret missing such an important opportunity for the rest of his life!  

“Quickly tell us, who exactly was behind this?” Chang Suining returned the painting to the desk and quickly stepped in front of the man who was kowtowing and admitting his wrongs.  

“This small man truly doesn’t know!” the man replied. “The one in charge looked like a maid and covered her face with a hood! I was just here for the money and didn’t dare ask too much!”  

Hearing this, Chang Suining couldn’t help but think that this man and Zhou Ding truly deserved to be uncle and nephew; they were both so focused on money that they didn’t care about the people involved.  

Seeing her expression, the man grew anxious—wasn’t this an indication that he couldn’t even provide useful information and was about to go back on his word?  

He quickly added, “But I know they arranged for others to come too!”  

The maid beside Madam Jie slightly trembled in her eyes.  

The man continued, “I have long admired General Chang’s reputation, and doing such unscrupulous things made me quite nervous. Initially, I didn’t dare to accept the job... But that maid told me as long as I followed her instructions and made a scene, others would come to handle it, and I would be perfectly safe!”  

Even from behind the hood, he felt the other party’s calculated confidence, and hearing such an arrangement seemed quite meticulous; a sense of security immediately washed over him.  

Looking at it now, he felt like a fool!

This framing of the situation didn’t harm anyone else, but it certainly harmed him!  

“Does that mean you had another accomplice present tonight?” Chang Suining asked, showing no surprise on her face as she looked at the crowd. “Did you see each other before coming here?”  

Since the other party was determined to ruin her reputation at this banquet, they couldn’t possibly rely solely on this man.  

He could only make a commotion; if they truly wanted to besmirch her name, they would need someone else working in the shadows to stir the pot.  

Who that person might be, and who would be most suitable for this task, didn’t seem too difficult to guess.  

The crowd immediately began to murmur among themselves.  

The man’s face was filled with bitterness: “This small man doesn’t know who it is; I didn’t even see them…”  

Now that he thought about it, those people were very cunning and had no intention of dirtying their own hands, fearing that he would drag them out later!  

The maid by Madam Jie’s side breathed a sigh of relief in her heart.  

For a moment, she had worried that the lady’s actions were reckless and that she had revealed her lady's identity to this unreliable man.  

Now it seemed that this person didn’t know much.  

Although she had been embarrassed by Chang Suining earlier, Madam Jie’s expression gradually calmed down.  

Earlier, she had considered the worst outcome—compared to that, the current situation was at least controllable. As for being contradicted, after tonight, she had ways to ensure the other party would remember their lesson.  

“But since you are accomplices, to avoid any discrepancies, there must always be a timetable in place!” Yao Yi stepped forward and asked firmly, “How do you communicate, and how did you know when to appear here?”  

Seeing a “case officer” step up, Chang Suining felt relieved.  

Xi'er simply moved a chair over, and Chang Suining sat down to rest.  

Yao Xia took the initiative to pour a cup of tea and handed it to Chang Suining, standing by her side in a posture of shared enmity.  

“We use lanterns to communicate!” The man pointed out the window as he spoke: “That maid told me to wait in the alley across the back street; as long as I saw someone hang up a lantern at the alley entrance, that would be the signal!”  

Once the signal was given, he would immediately rush over to cause a scene outside the building.  

“I only came because I saw the lantern, but the alley was pitch dark, and that person hurriedly hung the lantern and left. I only heard footsteps and didn’t have a chance to see who it was!”  

Yao Yi frowned and asked, “Which alley? How long does it take to get there from here?”  

“It’s Fenggu Alley across the back street…” The man thought for a moment. “It takes about a quarter of an hour!”  

Yao Yi immediately said, “Someone, send the bookboy downstairs to come and answer!”  

As soon as he finished speaking, before he could call for anyone, two bookboys who had been eavesdropping on the second floor hurriedly ran over by themselves.  

“About a quarter of an hour before this person showed up to cause trouble outside, who in the building went out?”  

The two bookboys thought for a moment and recalled that three people had gone out.  

One of them was a scholar; according to the bookboys, he had been dragged away by his wife, who had come looking for him, and hadn’t returned since.  

Another was a maidservant from the Duan family, who also hadn’t come back.  

Duan explained, “Seeing that it was getting late, I instructed the maidservant to return to the residence and inform the Marquis so he could rest early.”  

At that time, she had planned to leave, but upon seeing the incongruous Madam Jie suddenly appear, she felt a bit uneasy, so she had asked the maidservant to return to deliver the message her husband, letting her husband wash up and go to bed first.  

“I trust Duan Shi,” Chang Suining directly bypassed the topic and asked the bookboys, “Who is the other person?”   

The two bookboys looked toward the maid beside Madam Jie in unison: “It’s this Madam’s maid beside Madam Jie…”  

Seeing everyone look at her, the mentioned maid coldly replied, “I did go out, but it was because my lady couldn’t stand the tea in this building. I went downstairs to fetch some tea for her.”  

Yao Yi glanced at the two bookboys, who nodded in agreement.  

The maid indeed had a bundle of tea in her hands when she returned.  

She raised her chin slightly: “I was only gone for a moment; there was no time for me to run to that Fenggu Alley to hang any lanterns.”  

Someone instinctively followed her words to think... should they investigate the scholar who had been dragged away?  

But they heard the girl, casually seated in her chair, speak up: “That lantern didn’t necessarily have to be hung by you, right?”  

The maid furrowed her brows and looked at her.  

“Madam Jie arrived by sedan chair; there are four bearers, so there’s no shortage of people to hang the lantern. You only needed to discreetly instruct someone while you went to fetch the tea.” Seeing the maid’s angry expression, Chang Suining added, “Of course, this is just my speculation—whether it’s true or not needs further investigation.”   

As her words fell, she looked at Cui Jing: “Is it possible for someone from the Xuanzhe Army to come up and answer?”  

Madam Jie’s eyebrows twitched slightly.  

What does this mean?  

Is she implying that there are people from the Xuanzhe Army stationed outside?  

But she hadn’t seen any Xuanzhe soldiers when she arrived...  

Cui Jing nodded, and soon a subordinate hurriedly left his side.  

Facing the fearful and puzzled gazes, Cui Jing explained for once: “Today, there are many people here, so I had my people patrol near the Dengtai Tower to prevent any thieves or troublemakers from disturbing the festivities. We didn’t want to disrupt the joyous atmosphere, so they’re dressed in common clothes.”  

Upon hearing this explanation, everyone felt relieved, with those of lower status and strong emotions beginning to tear up in gratitude—how could they, of such humble origins, deserve the protection of the Xuanzhe Army while enjoying their drinks?  

This experience, when shared, would undoubtedly bring honor to their families!  

And the experience wasn’t over; it seemed that as long as they hadn’t stepped out of the Dengtai Tower, they would never know what might happen next—  

Soon, five or six members of the Xuanzhe Army in common clothes ascended the stairs with disciplined steps.  

As she watched those soldiers, who, despite being in casual attire, were clearly well-trained, a bad feeling rose in Madam Jie’s heart.  

The Xuanzhe Army was already tasked with maintaining stability in the capital, so Cui Jing's actions were understandable.  

But the Xuanzhe Army was not like the usual incompetent officials; they were always secretly watching the area. Would they...  

No, it shouldn’t come to that.  

While they were monitoring the area, they couldn’t possibly follow every person coming and going for no reason.  

Madam Jie slowly relaxed her tightly clenched fingers in her sleeve, masking any signs of worry on her face.  

Until one of the Xuanzhe soldiers answered Yao Yi's question, stating that after Madam Jie’s maid brought the tea upstairs, one of her bearers had left with a lantern, returning about a quarter of an hour later—  

“I saw with my own eyes that when that bearer returned, he no longer had the lantern.” The Xuanzhe soldier said sternly.  

Upon hearing this, everyone’s expressions changed dramatically.  

(I feel like I can’t keep up with the speed at which I’m repaying my debts _(:з」∠)_ Good night, see you all tomorrow!)

Next Chapter▶▶

 Chapter 393: Exploiting His Weakness and Establishing Village Rules (1)

After an intense battle, Xiao Ruiyuan returned to the main tent, utterly exhausted. He hadn't closed his eyes for two days and nights.

Lifting the tent flap, he ignored the heavy, cold armor weighing him down and headed straight for the bed in the corner. In the middle of the bed lay a furry creature, sound asleep. It was none other than Mao Mao, the messenger. But what was that thing tied to its back?

Xiao Ruiyuan's heart skipped a beat. He quickly, yet carefully, untied the small cloth bundle from Mao Mao's back.

The sudden movement woke Mao Mao from its slumber. It blinked sleepily, then, seeing the bundle in its master's hands, it perked up and bounced around the bed, chirping excitedly.

Xiao Ruiyuan, however, was entirely focused on the bundle, ignoring Mao Mao's noise.

The bundle was tightly bound, and it took some effort to untie it. Inside were two peculiar items that resembled hands. Curiously, he picked one up and examined it before slipping his hand inside.

The soft fur snugly enveloped his hand and fingers, feeling slightly unfamiliar but wonderfully warm. He clenched his fist, finding his hand movement unimpeded. Satisfied, he confirmed they were indeed gloves for keeping warm.

He put on the other glove, finding both fit perfectly. Seeing the fine stitching, the corners of his stern lips lifted slightly, and a gentle warmth spread across his usually cold face. His eyes softened with an inexplicable tenderness.

Did this mean Yan'er had feelings for him?

Once this thought took hold, it wouldn't let go, causing his heart to beat faster. Unconsciously stroking the soft gloves, Xiao Ruiyuan's eyes were filled with overflowing affection.

"Squeak—squeak—"

Sensing its master's good mood, the ever-attention-seeking Mao Mao jumped onto his shoulder, chirping proudly: Master, wasn't I great? Praise me!

Xiao Ruiyuan shot it a cold glance, carefully took off the gloves, and placed them back into the small bundle. Then, with a swift motion, he grabbed Mao Mao, opened the message tube attached to its leg, and took out the letter, tossing Mao Mao to the ground as if the previous tenderness had been an illusion.

Mao Mao scrambled to its feet, standing cautiously, not daring to misbehave again. It knew it was lucky to be merely thrown to the ground after "offending" its master.

Holding the letter, Xiao Ruiyuan walked to the desk and sat down, unfolding the paper. He spent a moment reading each word carefully. Only during these moments did he feel truly relaxed.

Noticing the concern hidden in the letter, Xiao Ruiyuan's eyebrows lifted with joy, but the underlying worry made his heart ache.

He refrained from mentioning the battlefield conditions in his letters, as each battle was filled with death and bloodshed—something unimaginable to those who hadn't experienced it firsthand. Despite this, he couldn’t bear to tell her, fearing it would plunge her back into the nightmares she had before.

After reading the letter multiple times until he could recite it by heart, Xiao Ruiyuan took out a fire starter, lit the edge of the pages, and watched as the flames slowly consumed them. A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

Although he was the emperor’s appointed commander of the 100,000-strong army, the accompanying generals were pushed forward by princes vying for the crown. As the situation at the border remained uncertain and the lost cities had yet to be recaptured, these men remained cautious. But once they reclaimed the territory and drove the enemy back to the north, those men would undoubtedly unite against him.

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