o have been plundered everywhere, with every household having their doors wide open, people running around in chaos, children crying and the elderly shouting.Once the most prosperous and desirable pla...Tao Hongying couldn't help but laugh and cry, she tapped her daughter's head, "You're a grown girl now, you haven't even learned about stars and moon phases!"
Although she complained like that, she still crouched down and smiled, saying, "Come on, let Mama carry you for a few steps. If I do this, you won't be so sad."
Jia Yin immediately jumped onto her mother's back, hugging her mother's neck and happily kicking her little feet, "My mom is the best!"
Tao Hongying gently lifted her daughter, sighing with a smile, "Mother is getting too old to carry you. Your father would be helpful if he were at home."
Jia Yin lowered her head and saw that there were a few white hairs in her mother's bun. She stopped smiling, her nose feeling sour with unshed tears.
Their small household consisted of only four people. Their father was away fighting, their brother had disappeared, and as for her, the daughter, she spent every day causing trouble and making a mess. It must be very hard on their mother.
But she was still busy every day, filial to her elders, taking care of her children, and managing the household...
Jia Yin quickly struggled down from her mother's back and then turned to the front, desperately carrying her mother.
"Mother, I'll carry you for a while too!"
Tao Hongying didn't know her daughter felt sorry for her, haha she chuckled and half leaned on her daughter's back, "Alright, mom will enjoy it too!"
Actually, Jia Yin was only as tall as her mother's shoulders. Tao Hongying just wrapped her two arms around her daughter's shoulders, but she still had to walk on her own two legs.
The two of them were laughing and joking, entering the courtyard like conjoined twins.
Li Laotai, Wenjuan, and Wan'er were sitting in the main hall. Seeing this, they all couldn't help but laugh along.
"Grandma Li took this opportunity to urge her two daughters-in-law, "You girls better try your best and give yourselves a little girl. "
"Look, your daughter is so thoughtful, she even stays with her mother. If it were a mischievous boy, he'd be long gone without a trace!"
Wan'er and Wenjuan both nodded with blushing faces, their hearts filled with a mixture of happiness and complexity.
Elders who pressure their daughters-in-law to have children, disregarding their health and wellbeing, all hope for a son.
Only the Li family, from the oldest to the youngest, yearned for a daughter...
That evening, when night had fallen completely, Li Laoer and Mr. Wen returned together from the city.
Then, Li Zhensheng brought his three brothers-in-law into the yard.
Everyone washed up and changed into clean clothes and shoes, then gathered in the main hall to eat.
Mrs. Wen knew that Bai Ri had something happen, and was worried. She asked Qiong's sister and Grandma Tian to take care of Yue Ya'er, and she also came over to listen to a few words.
Old Mrs. Li and others had finished their meal and were now sitting in the east room talking.
Not until Li Zhensheng and the others had finished their meal, cleared away the table, and set out tea and fruit did everyone gather together.
Meow Meow hugged the fruit tray and ate oranges in big bites.
Jia Yin noticed that his face wasn't looking good, so she didn't stop him. Instead, she told Shui Ling to go to the backyard and get some pears for him.
Li Laotai had endured for half a day, and now she could finally ask a few questions. "Zhensheng, these children are afraid that I'll worry, so they won't tell me anything in detail.
"Did someone else lay hands on Funiu again today Have you brought the bad guy back"
Li Zhensheng nodded, trying to sound as casual as possible.
"Mother, please rest assured, these children are clever. Someone disguised as a woman selling dumplings tried to poison them, but the children discovered something was amiss early on and even designed a plan to catch Wu family's people."
Moreover, it so happened that Zheng Yi and Zheng San of the Zheng family, along with Mu Xu, had just returned to Xindu from outside, lending a helping hand as well. Things went very smoothly.
"Before, the Wu family schemed against Fu Niuer, but we didn't have enough evidence. Now, we don't have to worry, tomorrow we can go before the Emperor and file a complaint."
Li Laotian let out a long sigh of relief and said, “This is really great. These days, keeping Funiu at home has been suffocating for the child, and I've been on edge.”
"Now that we have evidence, the Wu family can't shirk responsibility any longer, and we don't have to live in constant fear anymore!"
After she finished speaking, she frowned again and instructed, “Even if you go to the emperor to complain, you still need to think carefully and be mindful of your words.”
For the Emperor, even if the Empress and the Wu family were unpleasant, they were still his wife and in-laws. If things escalated too much, it would inevitably damage the Emperor's reputation. The Emperor wouldn't be pleased.
"But our family isn't trying to make things difficult for the Emperor. We just need justice, and we need to ensure that no one dares to bully Funiu again!"
Everyone could hear the worry in Lao Li's words.
After all, the Li family came from a too humble background. The Empress and people like the Wu family were figures they had barely heard of, let alone become enemies with.
But the Empress and the Wu family were simply too egregious. The Li family had to protect their child and punish their enemies, filing a complaint was also a necessary step!
Li La Er quickly said, “Mother, please rest assured, we have a plan.”
I just brought back two more witnesses, both of them serving Wu Dafu's wife. They revealed a lot of important information.
"Not only can we nail Wu's family with their crimes, but we can also clear our own name. The Emperor definitely won't hold us accountable, and there might even be rewards!"
"Really" Lao Li exclaimed in surprise, "That's wonderful! We don't need any gifts, we just want to live a peaceful life."
"Speaking of which, having the Wu family as an in-law is nothing but trouble. They can't help with anything and always cause problems. I bet even the Emperor has a headache because of them..."
Everyone started laughing and nodded in agreement.
"Yes, back then Wu Jia's son refused to go serve in the army, and the Empress Dowager's grandfather risked his life to plead for forgiveness."
The entire Wu family, from young to old, are all holding empty positions. They are neither scholars nor warriors, just a bunch of drunkards and good-for-nothings.
After chatting for a while, everyone coaxed the old lady into a state of delight. Then, they let Wan'er and Wenjuan accompany her to the backyard to rest.
But Tao Hongying, Mrs. Wen, and Jia Yin stayed behind.
Li Zhensheng and Li Laoer then laid out all the evidence they had, and everyone brainstormed about how to file a complaint tomorrow.
Just as the old woman said, the Li family's aim is to punish the Wu family, and ideally get the Wang family, the mastermind behind this, exposed and brought down as well, attracting the emperor's ire.
But the accomplice in the deep palace who cooperated with the Wang family, the Li family didn't want to get involved.
Even, they'd better pretend they don't know...
The Marquis was not at home, and relying on the Li family's power alone was still too weak.
And, with the struggle for imperial power involved, if the Li family were to be caught in it by accident, there would be no peace for them...
Without saying how the Li family discussed matters, it is only said that in the deep palace, after half a day, the Empress finally received news from home.
She angrily tore the handkerchief in her hand and exclaimed, "How come I only receive news about such a big matter now"
The maid serving close by felt bitter in her heart, but dared not argue.
The Wu family is currently under investigation by the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Punishment, confined to their home in deep reflection. Where is the former grandeur they once possessed
And the Empress had never given birth to a prince, and rumors of establishing a crown prince abounded outside the palace. Everyone in the palace was flattering the concubine and her son. Who would put the Empress and the Wu family in their eyes!
It's already great that Wu Jia could get the message in, there's no need to be picky about speed...
Unfortunately, this can't be told to the Empress. It's a pity that it is only us servants who suffer.
Fortunately, the Empress was terrified by the news of her scheme being exposed. She didn't care about anything else anymore.
She paced the whole room for countless circles, finally coming up with a “solution” to save herself!
Three more chapters are here, my dears! This book has reached 1.8 million words, and it's the time when it really tests Huahua's writing skills. The weekend is coming up, so Huahua will apply for double updates because she needs to arrange the outline for the future. Writing will go more smoothly that way. Please wait a little longer for Huahua, triple updates will resume on Monday as usual. Look forward to the following plot developments, heart!id Fu Niu'er is a young lady!"The emperor understood and laughed even more heartily. He quickly comforted, "Uncle Emperor, I'll keep it a secret for you, your grandmother definitely won't know!"After...