When Zhou Siming saw Lu Chen, he hurriedly said, “Your Royal Highness, after Sisi jumped off the carriage, she disappeared. I wonder if you can help us to put the entire Chang’an under martial law to block all the exits of Chang’an?”
Duke Wu knelt down to Lu Chen and said, “His Royal Highness, Sisi is not clear in her mind. We can’t imagine what terrible things will happen to her. Your grandmother has already been angered into fainting by Zhou Shihui last time. I don’t know if she can survive this time if anything happens to Sisi…”
Lu Chen frowned. His grandmother was an elderly person after all, so he said to Duke Wu, “Uncle, it is extremely inappropriate to put Chang’an under martial law and block all the exits, but I’ll order the Imperial Guards to search carefully in Chang’an.”
Lu Chen followed Zhou Siming and Duke Wu out of the East Palace to dispatch the soldiers.
Although Qiao Jinniang was accustomed to taking a nap after lunch, she couldn’t sleep because Zhou Sisi disappeared, so she could only wait in the East Palace for news from outside.
Mrs. Zhou cried bitterly outside the palace gate. “Why was Qiao Jinniang so mean to Sisi?! And why did Her Majesty set the deadline of three days? If something happens to Sisi, I won’t live!”
Mrs. Tong and the others tried their best to comfort Mrs. Zhou.
But Mrs. Zhou cried more and more loudly.
…
In a villa in Chang’an, which was decorated in accordance with the Southern style.
The second young master of the Xie family was lying in a pavilion, shaking his fan gently, and seeing the woman who appeared in front of him, he said, “Miss Mu, it must be hard for you to come to me with such a big belly. You’re about to give birth, right?”
Mu Qianqian said, “Second Young Master Xie, my master has already agreed to your conditions and wants to do those big things with you!”
The second young master of the Xie family sneered. “Although your master was quite famous when he was young, he has just regained his status as Prince Huai. Compared with the Crown Prince, he is nothing.”
Mu Qianqian said, “Second Master, you can rest assured. My master is His Majesty’s eldest son. Although the Crown Prince is well praised, my master is no worse than him at all. Besides, my master has a trump card, which is Zhou Sisi.”
The second young master of the Xie family said in surprise, “Zhou Sisi? Isn’t she Duke Wu’s daughter? How can she be your master’s trump card?”
Mu Qianqian touched her abdomen and said, “Yes, you can think about it carefully. Although Xie Yun has canceled the engagement with the Crown Prince, the two of them are very close. I heard that Xie Yun is secretly doing business with Qiao Jinniang!”
The second young master of the Xie family pondered carefully. Although there was only Xie Yun left in his eldest uncle’s family, Xie Yun could never be taken lightly.
What the second young master of the Xie family wanted was not only the Xie family, but also the dignity of the Xie family as the largest old distinguished family today. Looking at the whole situation, it was better to choose Prince Huai than the Crown Prince.
“Miss Mu, let me think about it carefully.”
Mu Qianqian said, “Second Young Master, do you know that Fourth Miss Qin has become the concubine of Prince Huai. Although everyone says that the Duke Qin Mansion is nothing but an empty husk, Qin Shu is now in a high position, and the Qin family has both military power and a noble title.”
Seeing that the second young master of the Xie family hadn’t agreed to cooperate, Mu Qianqian showed more trump cards Prince Huai had.
The second young master of the Xie family smiled and said, “But I heard that Qin Miaomiao and Lin Mo have been engaged?”
“Your news is wrong. The heir to Duke Wu fell for Qin Miaomiao.”
The second young master of the Xie family said, “But Qin Shu is the husband of the Crown Princess’ sister, and the brother-in-law of the Crown Prince. If Qin Miaomiao marries the heir to Duke Wu, the Qin family will not be stupid enough to help the eldest prince!”
Mu Qianqian smiled. “Then please wait and see, Second Young Master!”
…
After Mu Qianqian left the Xie family’s villa, she turned and entered the Mu mansion in Chang’an.
Seeing Zhou Sisi on the ground who was tied up, she took out the rag in Zhou Sisi’s mouth, but didn’t untie the black cloth blindfolding Zhou Sisi’s eyes.
“Miss Zhou, I’m sorry. I just wanted to invite you to have a talk. How could they put a rag in your mouth!”
Zhou Sisi frowned and said, “Who are you? Let me go!”
Mu Qianqian said, “I’m here to help you become the crown princess. Miss Zhou, I’m afraid that you’ve gradually sobered up last year, right? If it weren’t for the rumors this morning, I would have believed that Miss Zhou had been retarded!”
“Who are you? What do you want to do?”
Mu Qianqian said, “Miss Zhou, you began to take Tianshan Snow Lotus last year. I’m afraid that you don’t have enough Tianshan Snow Lotus now, right? I still have a few here to keep Miss Zhou sober!”
Zhou Sisi frowned and said, “What on earth are you going to do? If you want money, the Zhou Family can give it to you!”
Mu Qianqian said, “I don’t want money. I want Miss Zhou to marry into the East Palace and do something for me!”
Zhou Sisi shook her head and said, “I won’t betray Imperial Cousin. Don’t even think about using me! I’d rather be crazy than help you deal with Imperial Cousin.”
Mu Qianqian said, “But I heard just now that Queen Zhou has ordered you to find a husband within three days. What if I could help you marry into the East Palace?”
Zhou Sisi felt silent. She was a little tempted.
“Don’t worry. I won’t ask you to kill the Crown Prince!” Mu Qianqian untied the ropes that bound Zhou Sisi’s hands. “I wonder if Miss Zhou is willing?”
Zhou Sisi said, “Can you help me marry into the East Palace? How is that possible? Qiao Jinniang doesn’t allow Imperial Cousin to take any concubines!”
Mu Qianqian was surprised when she heard Zhou Sisi’s words. Was Qiao Jinniang out of her mind?
Mu Qianqian said, “I mean what I said. But after you marry into the East Palace, you have to listen to me!”
Zhou Sisi thought that after she married into the East Palace, Mu Qianqian wouldn’t be able to force her to do anything she didn’t like.
…
Zhou Sisi disappeared, and soldiers were searching for her all over Chang’an.
The people were all terrified.
After a day of investigation, her whereabouts still were not found, so the soldiers could only search from door to door. All the Imperial Guards had been mobilized, searching every single corner of Chang’an.
Zhou Sisi’s disappearance was a big thing and everyone in Chang’an was jittery.
Qiao Jinniang was teaching Xi’er characters in the East Palace. To her surprise, he had known a lot of characters.
And Lu Xi could even write some characters.
However, Qiao Jinniang didn’t allow Lu Xi to write. He was too young, and writing was not good for his bones. He shouldn’t learn to write before he was five years old.
“Mommy, why can’t I write? My classmates all started writing when they were three years old.”
Qiao Jinniang smiled at Lu Xi and said, “Xi’er, you’re still young. Writing at this age is not good for the growth of your hands. You can learn to write in another two years. Now learn to read first.”
Lu Xi obediently listened to Qiao Jinniang’s words.
Yuyan hurried in and said, “Your Highness, His Royal Highness said that he was not returning home tonight.”
Qiao Jinniang nodded. She wasn’t jealous but was just curious. How could Zhou Sisi just disappear?
What she was more curious about was whether Zhou Sisi was really retarded. If she wasn’t, why did she pretend to be retarded for so many years?
If she was really retarded, she wouldn’t run away when the Queen asked her to marry another man.
Soon, Luhe came in and said, “Your Highness, good news! Miss Zhou has been found. She climbed up to the Wild Goose Pagoda!”
