The Evil Mother-in-law: Torment Children, Work Hard, Be Rich!-Chapter 313: Court Criminals

Tong Huaqiong hardly slept a wink all night.

She got up at the second crow of the rooster and went to Gu Jingzhe’s room to check on the patient.

Gu Jingzhe stayed awake the whole night, happily informing Tong Huaqiong that although Su Chengmin hadn’t woken up, his fever had subsided.

As long as the fever subsides, he should recover.

Tong Huaqiong couldn’t pay attention to Su Chengmin’s condition.

She pondered all night; if Man Er’s story unfolds like in the previous life, then Xiao Long is the deposed Crown Prince’s son, an unmitigated remnant of traitors.

Currently, he and Su Chengmin are like buried thunder in the Gu Family.

Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Jingzhe, "Have you learned about the Emperor at the academy?"

Gu Jingzhe raised his head and gave Tong Huaqiong a surprised look.

He didn’t understand why his mother, who never cared about current affairs, was asking such a question.

Wasn’t it always said that whoever becomes Emperor won’t affect their lives?

Why start to care now?

Gu Jingzhe replied, "Mr. Su mentioned that the current Emperor was once the most inconspicuous Prince because the former Crown Prince rebelled. The late Emperor executed the Crown Prince and either executed or deposed several other Princes. Before the late Emperor passed, only the current Emperor was of age among all the Princes, so he inherited the throne."

No wonder this Emperor is so suspicious; turns out the throne fell into his lap.

"Mom, remember Aunt Hong mentioned fleeing from Shengjing with her family to our place back then? It was when the Crown Prince rebelled, rebel forces entered the city, and the situation was unstable. Many affluent families in Shengjing fled desperately fearing involvement."

Tong Huaqiong nodded slightly, then asked, "How is the current Emperor’s relationship with the Crown Prince?"

Gu Jingzhe said, "Mr. Su also mentioned that the Emperor is highly suspicious."

Tong Huaqiong understood.

Gu Jingzhe couldn’t fathom what Tong Huaqiong was thinking, asking, "Mom, why are you asking these questions?"

As Tong Huaqiong gazed toward Gu Jingzhe’s room, about to speak, the village chief walked in, carrying the morning sunlight.

The village chief saw Tong Huaqiong and smiled, saying, "Dashi Mom, I heard you return last night as I was passing your house on my way back to the village."

Tong Huaqiong asked curiously, "Where has the village chief been early this morning?"

The village chief sighed, "Don’t ask, last night several village chiefs were summoned by the village chief for a meeting, which lasted till midnight, followed by us being dragged to search the mountains for someone half the night."

Tong Huaqiong felt her heart skip, asking, "What’s the matter?"

The village chief said, "Don’t ask. They say a month ago, the Crown Prince rebelled, the Crown Prince got executed, and someone fled with the Crown Prince’s son. Don’t know where the news came from, saying they escaped to our Yan Guan Town. Yesterday night a group of officers searched the mountains overnight. The village chief gathered us, village heads, to help search around too."

Tong Huaqiong’s heart pounded in fear, asking, "Did they find anything?"

The village chief said, "Didn’t find a damn thing. I think it’s all just full bellies going around. What does the Crown Prince’s rebellion have to do with us? The affairs between him and his Emperor father have nothing to do with us common folk. After searching with the officers from Shengjing, I hid in a haystack to sleep. People pulled back in the morning, I stealthily returned to the village. I can’t hold out, heard they’ll start searching villages too for the Crown Prince remnants."

"I’m here now to inform everyone in the village, don’t let strangers inside to avoid being misunderstood by the officers. Dashi Mom, did you encounter anyone suspicious when you passed through Yan Guan Town last night?"

Tong Huaqiong shook her head and said, "No, I didn’t."

The village chief shook his head, saying, "In my opinion, it’s all pointless fuss. Crown Prince remnants, I think they’re just looking to report back to their superiors, no Crown Prince remnants would flee here, this isn’t a border area fit for hiding."

The village chief shook his head, hands behind his back, and left Tong Huaqiong’s courtyard to notify villagers not to let strangers in.

Tong Huaqiong stood with a solemn face, frozen for a long time.

Gu Jingzhe tightened the door, his face pale, calling out, "Mom."

Tong Huaqiong glanced at Gu Jingzhe.

Gu Jingzhe, being so clever, must have guessed the identities of Su Chengmin and Xiao Long.

If they really got caught, it would be their end, including Tong Huaqiong and the entire Gu Family.

It might end in a massacre in Qinghe Bay.

Tong Huaqiong shivered slightly.

She knows too well how terrifying imperial power is during this era.

The more Tong Huaqiong thought, the more afraid she became.

A storm of inner conflict raged, contemplating whether to send Su Chengmin and Xiao Long away.

Seeing her usually confident mother showing fear, Gu Jingzhe started panicking too.

Gu Jingzhe asked, "Mom, should we send them away?"

If they were to be sent away, one severely injured and unconscious, the other a child unable to defend himself, they’d likely get killed by the officers or starve to death.

Tong Huaqiong steadied her nerves, saying, "Sending them away isn’t possible, at least not just yet. Officers could show up any moment, we might not be able to send them away, but get captured instead."

"Mom, the village chief said...could it be our two are..." Gu Taohua asked, trembling.

Gu Dahuan, Chen Sufen, Liu Yueer, and Gu Taohua stood together, each with a serious expression. Tong Huaqiong knew they heard the village chief and guessed the identities of the two in their home.

Concealing court felons could get one beheaded; who wouldn’t be scared?

Liu Yueer said tearfully, "Mom, send them away. Hiding court felons is risky; we’ve just started living a good life and shouldn’t ruin it."

Even the usually gentle and kind Chen Sufen agreed to send them away.

Chen Sufen said, "My sister-in-law is right. Mom, should we secretly let Dahuan send them to hide in the mountains, taking silver and food with them?"

Tong Huaqiong gave Chen Sufen and Liu Yueer a cold look, saying, "Who told you our family is hiding court felons? Those two in our house, one is a driver I hired, injured by a startled horse, the other is his nephew, pitied for being an orphan, who just tags along with his uncle driving."

"Enough with your nonsense, all of you."

Gu Dahuan was the first to regain composure, saying, "That driver was careless, why hurry so at night and get injured. Having to spend silver for treatment; it’s just mom’s kindness. A regular employer would have fired him."

"He owes us silver, write it down. He can work it off for us later," Gu Taohua said.

"Yes, yes, can’t let him leave without paying off the silver, that wouldn’t do," Chen Sufen said.

Tong Huaqiong nodded.

They’re all starting to perform well.

Just then, Tong Huaqiong noticed a figure emerging from the side room, darn it, the Lu Family’s driver.

His slumped head indicated he’d heard the village chief.

What’s the status of the Lu Family? Each a shrewd one, how could he not deduce the identities of the two inside?

Tong Huaqiong instructed Gu Jingzhe, "Jingzhe, get a knife out."

Gu Jingzhe glanced at the driver, nodding, saying, "All right, only a mute wouldn’t speak."

The Lu Family’s driver almost knelt.

This Widow Tong was so ruthless, intending to kill to silence?

No, he planned never to reveal the rescue of the two from last night. Keep it buried until death.

Otherwise, if exposed, it might lead to annihilation.

No, does Widow Tong consider him a fool?

This driver reflected on what had made Widow Tong think him a fool in this matter.