In Lin’an, it had been drizzling, and even cloudy days were rare.
With proper flood control, Lin’an in the upper reaches wasn’t flooded.
Qiao Ruoyun had been in the Qiao Mansion in Lin’an for a whole month. It rained more in a month in Lin’an than it did in her twenty years in Chang’an.
Fulu didn’t live in her palace but in the Qiao Mansion with Qiao Ruoyun. She said to Qiao Ruoyun, “Eldest Sister, Qiao Lu said the rainy season is about to be over, and the flood water in Yin County has receded. We’ll be back in Chang’an soon. Also, it’s your birthday in a few days. Do you have any plans for it?”
Qiao Ruoyun said, “There are refugees everywhere outside. And my husband and my brother are busy in Yin County, so I don’t plan to hold any birthday banquet.”
Fulu said, “Why not? I’ve missed Jinniang’s birthday banquet in Chang’an. I can’t miss yours too.”
Qiao Ruoyun said softly, “Yes, the Crown Princess’ first birthday after marrying into the East Palace must be very lively.”
Fulu continued. “So, just celebrate your birthday happily. Seeing you so unhappy all day, I’m about to become unhappy too.”
Qiao Ruoyun said, “I’m happy.”
Fulu frowned. Qiao Ruoyun looked obviously unhappy.
“Madam, the Qiao clansmen came to ask for money again.”
When Fulu heard the maid’s report, she said angrily, “These shameless people! Didn’t they cause enough trouble in Chang’an? Why don’t they dare to ask the Crown Princess for money? They are just bullying you because they think you are weak!”
Qiao Ruoyun said to Fulu, “It’s okay, it’s okay. They don’t ask for too much silver. Besides, it rains every day, and many crops were drowned. Just give them some silver!”
Fulu stomped her feet in anger. “Why do you have such a temper… alas!”
Qiao Ruoyun said, “I know that I’m weak and easy to bully, but they are still my relatives, so I can’t just ignore them. More importantly, I’m afraid that they will spread rumors and destroy the reputation of the Duke Qin Mansion in Lin’an.”
She didn’t care about her own reputation, but she didn’t want the reputation of the Duke Qin Mansion to be tainted.
Fulu and Qiao Ruoyun weren’t quite congenial, so she simply planned to leave Lin’an and go to Yin County to find Qiao Lu. It would take her four or five hours to ride a horse to Yin County from Lin’an by main roads.
Therefore, Fulu took a shortcut and walked some mountainous village trails. There were many mountains in Lin’an. Seeing that it should not rain any more today, Fulu took a rest in a cave for a while.
However, she suddenly heard someone speaking outside, and she hurriedly motioned for her guards and maids to keep quiet.
“Brother, are we really going to kill Qiao Ruoyun? She is the daughter of Earl Lin’an. The Earl Lin’an couple did a lot of good deeds when they were still alive. We might have died if they hadn’t given us that bowl of leftover rice!”
“That’s one thousand taels of silver! The leftovers they gave us back then were nothing more than the leftovers of the guests in Myriad Taste, which would otherwise have been fed to dogs!”
“But Qiao Ruoyun is not only the future Duchess Qin, but also the eldest daughter of Duke Anyuan, and the elder sister of the Crown Princess!”
“What are you afraid of? Duke Anyuan just doesn’t want to lose face, so they haven’t abandoned this adopted daughter yet. She is not Duke Anyuan’s biological daughter. The Crown Princess probably hates this fake sister who stole her identity and comfortable life! Why would she care about her life?”
After these strong men left, Fulu wanted to go back but was stopped by her maids and guards.
“Princess, there are only a few of us. Isn’t it courting death to go back now?”
“Yeah, Princess, why don’t we go to Yin County to get reinforcements first? Otherwise, even with the guards in the Qiao Mansion, we won’t be those strong men’s opponents at all. They seem to be bandits!”
Princess Fulu was very anxious. She and Qiao Ruoyun were both jobless, and they didn’t think the South was a dangerous place, so they didn’t bring many guards with them.
She said to the guards, “Half of you follow me to Yin County to get reinforcements, and other half of you go back to the Qiao Mansion to remind them. Be quick!”
“Yes!” The guards responded in succession.
Fulu stopped the guards who were about to go back to the Qiao Mansion and said, “Wait, when you find Qiao Ruoyun, take her to the Qian family for refuge. Protect her, and don’t let the Qin family’s guards follow her!”
A maid asked Fulu in a puzzle, “Why?”
“Qiao Ruoyun has never had any feud with anyone. The Qiao clansmen have bullied her so much, but she still gave them money. Who would want to kill her?!”
Fulu could only think of the Qin family.
After all, the Qin family almost killed Qiao Ruoyun last time.
Fulu took off her jade pendant and gave it to the guards. “The Qian family never meddles in other people’s business. Take my jade pendant and tell them that Qiao Ruoyun is me.”
…
After Fulu left, Qiao Ruoyun was making small clothes in her room. She heard that her mother had given birth to a daughter and she wanted to make a small dress for her little sister.
A maid said coldly on the side, “Young Madam, why bother? You’ve been married into the Qin family for five years, but you still can’t give birth to a child. Do you think making a few pieces of clothes can bring you a child?”
This maid was given to her by Old Madam Qin, so Qiao Ruoyun never dared to refute her.
Her mammy told her that the maids given by the elders were like elders and must be well respected.
But after what the Zheng family did was exposed, Qiao Ruoyun realized that the mammy was purposely misleading her as instigated by the Zheng family, but she could no longer change her character.
Qiao Ruoyun looked at the Southern-style courtyard and embroidered flowers with peace of mind. She looked at her belly. Everyone said that she was still young and she could have a baby sooner or later, but women at her age had almost all had a child.
In the Qiao Mansion, there were still many toys left by Tuan’er.
Qiao Ruoyun looked at them enviously.
“Young Madam, Young Madam!” There was a hurried burst of knocks on the door.
Qiao Ruoyun put down the small clothes in her hand, and saw that the sky was already dark outside. Realizing that it was the voice of a guard of Fulu, Qiao Ruoyun hurriedly opened the door.
The guard hurriedly said, “Young Madam, someone wants to murder you. Run! We are here to protect you, and the guards of the Qin family can’t be trusted!”
Qiao Ruoyun frowned and said, “Why would someone want to kill me? If it’s for the money, I can give them all the money…”
“Young Madam, please believe me. We are Princess Fulu’s guards and will not lie to you.”
While Qiao Ruoyun was in doubt, the sound of horses’ hooves came from the door in the dark night. Hearing it, the guards could only carry Qiao Ruoyun up and put her on a horse, saying, “Sorry to offend you, Young Madam, but we have no choice!”
“Brother, someone ran away on horseback!”
“Chase him. Don’t leave anyone alive. Kill everyone inside to silence them!”
…
In the East Palace, Qiao Jinniang was awakened by a nightmare not long after she slept.
Lu Chen was also awakened and asked, “What’s wrong?”
“I dreamed that my home was burnt, and the swing you made for me was covered in blood.”
Lu Chen ordered the imperial maid who was on duty at night to hand a cup of water to Qiao Jinniang. “The Qiao Mansion in Lin’an doesn’t even have a gatekeeper now. The dreams are all fake.”
“No, there are people there.” Qiao Jinniang said in a panic, “Ruoyun is there.”
