Tianliangyuan

Chapter 301 Moving reinforcements

Xu Junfeng was not at home, but his wife, Princess Anhe, sent good news.

Xu Zhaozhao rewarded the person who had come to deliver the message, and then ordered a carriage to be prepared, intending to visit her second sister-in-law in person.

Xu Zhaozhao brought a lot of tonics, a small portion of which were part of her dowry.

Supplements are not always better the longer they are stored.

Eat what you should eat, and collect what you should collect.

When Xu Zhaozhao married into the family, her dowry was so abundant that it made all the ladies and young wives in the household extremely envious.

The fine porcelain alone was enough to make them envious.

I heard that the tea sets alone come in several types, including ordinary, pure gold, pure silver, gilded, and silver-gilded, with twelve sets of each type prepared in various colors and patterns.

You want to go? Just these tea sets alone could fill an entire room.

Xu Zhaozhao wasn't a stingy person to begin with. This time when she went back, she picked out some supplements that were just right for pregnant women. After that, she thought about getting a gold lock made for the baby so that the baby could wear it when the baby was born.

Xu Zhaozhao didn't want to buy it on the spot, so she thought about having it custom-made.

Princess Anhe is now three months pregnant, which is why this news has been released.

Not long after Xu Zhaozhao arrived, more guests came to offer their congratulations.

It was Madam Li, the mother of the third sister-in-law.

After chatting and laughing for a while, Xu Zhaozhao suggested that her mother accompany her to buy some things. Since Madam Li was also there, they decided to go together.

The three of them went directly to a jewelry store in the East Market, intending to have a small gold lock made there, and then make a few gold necklaces so that their child could wear them when he/she got older.

In the eyes of the ancients, gold jewelry could ward off evil spirits and drive away bad luck and illness. Therefore, wealthy and powerful families would prepare more gold jewelry for their children.

Because the child is young, they usually prepare a gold necklace or gold bracelet.

Xu Zhaozhao and Wang Ruolan each ordered two sets, while Madam Li went to the silk shop next door to select fabrics.

After leaving the silver shop, the mother and daughter went to the silk shop to meet Madam Li.

"The colors of the silks on the market are a bit off, and the two I just looked at had some flaws. Should we go to another store and take a look?"

The three of them were just out shopping, and since they had nothing else to do, there was no harm in visiting a few more stores.

However, after admiring the green plants in the hall for a while, Xu Zhaozhao gave a few instructions to Mai Dong, and then asked Zisu to go to Wang Ruolan's side.

"master?"

"I just overheard the conversation between the innkeeper and the waiter. They said they were going to attack the three of us in an attempt to force the generals to surrender to Prince Qing. Whether it's true or not, we have to find out."

"But?"

"Don't worry, Mai Dong has already gone to find help. Besides, we brought our servants and guards with us when we went out, so we won't let them succeed easily."

After Xu Zhaozhao finished speaking, she raised her voice again: "Shopkeeper, is there a quiet place here for us to sit and choose at our leisure?"

"Yes, of course we have them. Please come upstairs, ladies."

The shopkeeper was just waiting to hear those words.

Once they've gone upstairs, things will be much simpler.

Xu Zhaozhao smiled faintly, as if she wanted to scheme against her.

Next life!

Xu Zhaozhao gestured for Zisu to follow Wang Ruolan closely, while she herself stood beside Madam Li.

Mai Dong deliberately went to the silver shop next door first, then went out through the back door of the silver shop and ran all the way to the Jingzhao Prefecture.

Zhao Changqing was just about to leave when Mai Dong blocked him at the yamen.

"Who are you?"

"Lord Zhao, I am a guard by the side of the Princess of Anle County. I have been ordered to come and request troops."

Zhao Changqing's eyes widened instantly. Had something happened to Princess Anle?

Along the way, Zhao Changqing asked Mai Dong several times, but Mai Dong only said that it was the county princess's order, and that Madam Xu and Madam Li were also traveling with them in the shop, and that he was afraid that the thieves would make a move against the three ladies.

Zhao Changqing quickly led his men to surround the silk shop. At the same time, Xu Zhaozhao also led her men downstairs and happened to meet Zhao Changqing.

"This humble official pays his respects to the County Head."

"Lord Zhao, there's no need for such formalities. The people in this silk shop are quite audacious; they intend to kidnap the three of us and then use us to blackmail the three generals, hoping to force them to surrender to Prince Qing. This is a serious matter. Would Lord Zhao like to come with me to the palace to meet the Emperor?"

Zhao Changqing wasn't stupid; if he could enter the palace to meet the emperor at this moment, it would be a sure way for him to gain merit.

However, he couldn't just believe it immediately.

"Does the county magistrate have any evidence?"

Xu Zhaozhao walked to his side and whispered, "My men know some martial arts, and they overheard them taking out their swords from the woodshed in the backyard. Why don't you send someone to search them first, Lord Zhao?"

Zhao Changqing immediately understood: "Thank you for informing me, County Princess."

"No need. Under the emperor's nose, to dare to lay a hand on the family members of a court official is to have the audacity of a bear and the gall of a leopard! I hope Lord Zhao can find out the evidence as soon as possible."

At Zhao Changqing's command, some people rushed in.

As soon as they entered, swords were drawn.

Even if Zhao Changqing didn't believe it before, he believed it now.

After all, daring to draw swords against government troops is tantamount to rebellion!

Zhao Changqing brought quite a few men, but they easily took down a dozen or so traitors.

"Search!"

With the clear objective given by the Princess of Anle, a large number of weapons were indeed discovered in the woodshed.

Not only that, they also discovered a secret passage beneath the woodshed.

"Someone, go down and investigate!"

This investigation will lead to something extraordinary.

"My lord, this is full of gold and silver!"

After Zhao Changqing went down to see for himself, everyone was so shocked they couldn't recover.

"Guard this place well, and no one is allowed to approach. I will go to the palace immediately to request imperial permission."

"Yes, my lord."

Zhao Changqing's official position was not low, and most importantly, he held real power.

Xu Zhaozhao ordered someone to send the two ladies back first, and then she accompanied Zhao Changqing to the palace to meet the emperor.

Emperor Yong'an's expression was extremely cold and stern.

"Zhao Zhao, are you sure you heard them mention Prince Qing?"

"Your Majesty, I am not certain it is Prince Qing. I only heard them say that they were going to tie up the three of us, then threaten several generals, and then take control of the generals before Your Majesty arrives in the capital, and then make their plans after Your Majesty arrives."

After speaking calmly, Xu Zhaozhao added with a hint of lingering fear, "Your Majesty, this matter was all thanks to my two guards. They know some martial arts and are sharp-eyed and perceptive. They saw through their plan and went to ask Lord Zhao for reinforcements."

Emperor Yong'an nodded: "The two of them have rendered meritorious service, and I will make a note of it for now."

Knowing what would happen next, Xu Zhaozhao knew it was no longer appropriate for her to get involved.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. This humble woman takes her leave."

Emperor Yong'an's face darkened: "How many weapons did you say were found in that woodshed?"

"Your Majesty, we found twenty-six Mo Dao (a type of long-handled sword) and thirteen Ma Shuo (a type of lance) in the woodshed. In addition, we found two chests of gold and silver, and about ten chests of copper coins in a secret underground room. Weapons were piled up in a corner, and roughly estimated, there were more than a hundred of them."