The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1630 - 1625: Truths and Mysteries

Elopement?

Although Wang Yongzhu had some suspicions in his heart, he was still stunned by the news that Lady Gao threw out.

Lady Gao’s expression was slightly cold, her tone carrying obvious disdain: "Indeed, who would have thought? Ming Zhu, the jewel among the noble ladies, the predetermined future Crown Princess Consort, the next Mother of the Nation, actually eloped with a wild man from the grasslands! It’s simply a disgrace to the Imperial Court!"

Wang Yongzhu swallowed and didn’t speak.

"Naturally, this matter cannot be made public, so Qi Le was declared deceased due to illness. In the palace, all the Chamberlains and Palace Maids who knew the inside story, except for a few confidants around the Empress Dowager and the late Emperor, were all executed."

Lady Gao remembered those days, the lingering smell of blood in the palace, hundreds died because of this, and every night, corpses dragged out from the palace were thrown into the mass grave, where sky-shrouding crows gathered...

She couldn’t help shivering.

"What happened with the Third Prince’s death?" Wang Yongzhu thought for a moment and asked.

"The Third Prince..." Lady Gao was silent for a while before sighing: "He was actually quite sentimental; Qi Le utilized him to successfully elope with the Great Prince of the Grasslands. After learning the truth, the Third Prince was severely hit, vomited blood on the spot, and fell ill upon returning home—"

Wang Yongzhu understood.

"Didn’t the late Emperor send people to chase after Qi Le and that Great Prince of the Grasslands? Just let them escape like that?" Wang Yongzhu couldn’t believe it. Considering what Qi Le and the Great Prince of the Grasslands did, it was like delivering a harsh slap to the face of the late Emperor and the Imperial Court. How could they leave the borders of Great Chu so easily?

Lady Gao said faintly: "The late Emperor was furious and first sent people to surround the residence of the Grasslands Delegation, only to find out that the main members of the Grasslands Delegation had somehow already left Capital City without a trace. The ones left inside were just some insignificant pawns!"

"As for the subsequent pursuit of the Grasslands Delegation, that was the matter of the former dynasty. My mother and I don’t know the depth of it."

"It’s just that we vaguely heard the pursuit was extremely difficult, and suffered considerable losses. Somehow, Qi Le and that Great Prince of the Grasslands still managed to escape."

Wang Yongzhu sorted out the information Lady Gao had mentioned in her mind, clarified the sequence of events, and asked puzzledly: "Since Qi Le eloped with the Great Prince of the Grasslands and indirectly caused the Third Prince’s death due to illness, why was the Qi Family only raided a year later? Is there any other hidden story?"

Lady Gao also showed a look of confusion: "Logically speaking, after such a scandal, even if the Royal Family wants to save face and won’t immediately act against the Qi Family, considering the late Emperor’s character, he certainly wouldn’t let the Qi Family off the hook. Once the matters calm somewhat, he would definitely make the Qi Family pay the price."

"But after Qi Le’s incident, the late Emperor did not take out his anger on the Qi Family, instead urgently summoned Scholar Qi back and entrusted him with important matters. Until a year later—"

Lady Gao recalled that day, reportedly everything was smooth during morning court, and there was no significant issue, Scholar Qi didn’t even speak in the morning court that day.

The late Emperor was supposedly in a good mood, even praised Scholar Qi a few times.

Then during the report in the Imperial Study Room, for some unknown reason, Scholar Qi angered the late Emperor, who flew into a rage, ordering Scholar Qi be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison and the Qi Family be raided.

Wang Yongzhu suddenly had a notion rising in her heart.

But she quickly suppressed it, steadied her mind, and asked: "Did the grasslands attack our Great Chu border after or before the Qi Family was raided?"

Lady Gao hesitated but soon understood, thought for a while, and said resolutely: "It was after the Qi Family was raided! Approximately three months after the Qi Family was raided, news came from the border that the grasslands had suddenly assaulted our border—"

Upon saying this, she suddenly fell silent, and after a long moment, muttered: "So it was Qi Le! Qi Le learned that the Qi Family was raided, so she incited the Great Prince of the Grasslands to attack our Great Chu?"

Wang Yongzhu did not answer her, rapidly sorting out the complex and chaotic relationships in her mind.

If it is so, then Qi Le learned that the Qi Family was raided and, to take revenge, incited the war between the grasslands and Great Chu.

Then could it be boldly guessed, when Qi Huan left Capital City at that time, was there Qi Le’s scheming behind it?

Otherwise, how could Qi Huan, a weak woman, break away from the control of the late Emperor and Song Hong, appear thousands of miles away, and still safely give birth to Song Chongjin?

That makes sense then.

Why did Qi Huan die? Is the Small Golden Seal in her belly related to Qi Le? If Qi Le really had sent people to protect Qi Huan, why did Qi Huan die!

If Qi Le really started the war for the Qi Family, why did she let Qi Huan die?

Also, the Qi Family was exiled to the border, so close to the grasslands frontier, is it a coincidence? Or did the late Emperor deliberately do it?

If Qi Le really cared for the Qi Family, why didn’t she rescue the Qi Family instead of letting them live or die on their own?

Even if Great Chu strictly watched over the Qi Family, Qi Le managed to escape from Capital City and has elite soldiers from the grasslands. If she intended to rescue the Qi Family, she might succeed.

There remain too many mysteries to solve here!

But the information Lady Gao disclosed has already given Wang Yongzhu enough surprise.

At least, the raiding of the Qi Family is definitely related to Qi Le.

As for why it was delayed until a year later, there are some unknowns for now, but Qi Le is definitely the catalyst for the Qi Family’s downfall.

Thinking of this, Wang Yongzhu pursued a few more details.

Lady Gao did not hide what she knew, but most of it was unknown to her.

After all, one reason is that the matter happened decades ago, another, these royal secrets, Lady Gao can only know a bit due to County Monarch Rongyi, which is already quite rare.

It was an unexpected gain!

Wang Yongzhu felt quite satisfied, seeing Lady Gao indeed knew nothing else, she didn’t ask further. 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Standing up: "The information provided by Madam is quite sincere. In that case, I agree to the conditions Madam proposed earlier!"

Lady Gao finally relieved herself of her worries and revealed a brief smile: "Then I am at ease! I shall let Sister Zhao and the others know—"

As she spoke she moved closer to Wang Yongzhu, whispered a few words, and placed something in Wang Yongzhu’s palm.

Only then did she step back and solemnly gave Wang Yongzhu a deep bow: "I entrust these people to you!"

Wang Yongzhu stood firmly, accepted Lady Gao’s bow, agreeing to take charge of these people’s lives and futures.

She pinched the item in her hand, "If that’s the case, I shall take my leave now!"

Lady Gao’s burden was lifted, finally revealing a relaxed expression: "In the future, there’s no need to see me if there’s nothing."

Wang Yongzhu nodded, walked to the door, thought for a moment, and said: "If Madam truly cares for them, then live well. Sometimes, living longer than your enemies is the best revenge—"

Lady Gao was stunned, contemplating these words, and when she lifted her head again, Wang Yongzhu was already gone. Except for Sister Kang, the trusted old woman guarding the door, the courtyard was empty, not a person in sight.

Lady Gao, after a long time, finally smiled softly, murmuring: "I will live well, live long and lasting—"