Chen Qiao'er, understanding Cui Hongyu’s words, nodded obediently. “Sister-in-law, I know. I’ll go right away. Oh, and Sister Ziyan said to tell you she’s back too.”
Cui Hongyu nodded. “Then you should really go to school sooner.”
Chen Qiao’er wriggled free from Cui Hongyu’s embrace, hugged Chen Xiaobei again, and then went inside to get her schoolbag.
Little Hua, anxious, called out from behind, “Qiao’er, don’t rush off, you haven’t eaten yet.”
Hearing Little Hua’s call, Chen Xiaobei and Cui Hongyu exchanged a glance, and couldn’t help but laugh.
Meanwhile, in Jizhou City, Liu Rumei was far from happy.
Early in the morning, she had received a carrier pigeon message from Liu Liukai, stating that her father had been imprisoned in the imperial jail.
She understood all too well what being imprisoned meant: the Emperor had murderous intent, and was merely waiting for the right moment.
Xiao Qing, standing beside her, couldn’t help but complain, “Miss, our Liu family has contributed so much to Da Cang, only to end up like this. This Emperor is truly muddle-headed.”
Liu Rumei shook her head slightly. “That’s enough. Don’t say such things. Even if it’s just a rumor, the Emperor’s actions show he believes it.”
Xiao Qing’s face was filled with worry. “Miss, you should quickly seek help from the Crown Prince. If he says a word, perhaps this matter can be resolved.”
Liu Rumei sighed. “Yes, seeking the Crown Prince’s help is perhaps our only option now.”
Xiao Jingyun, after getting out of bed and about to have breakfast, was surprised to hear that Liu Rumei had arrived.
“Why are you here so early?”
He then looked at Zhou Quan beside him and said, “Have him meet me in the study.”
Xiao Jingyun had just arrived at the study when Liu Rumei entered.
Upon seeing the Crown Prince, she lifted her skirt and knelt down with a thud. “Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Seeing Liu Rumei perform such a solemn kowtow, Xiao Jingyun was a little bewildered. He waved his hand. “Rumei, what are you doing? There’s no one else here, why go through such formality?”
Overwhelmed with emotion, Liu Rumei spoke with a tearful voice, “Your Highness, please be our arbiter. My father, my father is in trouble.”
Hearing this, Xiao Jingyun frowned. “Oh, what has happened to the old minister?”
“Your Highness, my father has been arrested by the Emperor and thrown into the imperial jail. My brother has also been imprisoned in the Law Department’s jail.”
At this, Xiao Jingyun was stunned.
“What is going on?”
Liu Rumei took out the letter written by Liu Kai from her sleeve and handed it up.
“Your Highness, this is a letter from the old steward Liu Kai. Please examine it.”
Zhou Quan stepped forward, took the letter, and placed it on Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun’s desk.
After reading it, Xiao Jingyun slammed the table. “Outrageous! Truly outrageous!”
“To imprison the old minister without rhyme or reason! I think my father has become senile.”
Saying this, Xiao Jingyun stood up. “Rumei, please get up quickly. I will write to my father right now and tell him to release them immediately.”
Hearing Xiao Jingyun’s words, Liu Rumei’s anxious heart relaxed. She thanked him repeatedly and stood up.
“Rumei thanks Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
Xiao Jingyun smiled and waved his hand. “Alright, alright, there’s no need for politeness. Don’t worry, I guarantee your father will be safe and sound as soon as the letter arrives.”
“Besides, our army will set off tomorrow. You and your father will be reunited in a few days.”
Liu Rumei returned to her tent, feeling somewhat more at ease. She took up her brush and wrote a reply to Liu Kai. In her opinion, with Crown Prince Xiao Jingyun’s letter arriving, this matter would soon be forgotten.
Meanwhile, a thousand miles away, in Hetou Village.
The sun was high in the sky when an uninvited guest arrived: Feng Xiaoyue.
Seeing it was her, the village guard Chen Xiaowen couldn’t help but smile. “It’s Sister Xiaoyue! You’re here again.”
Feng Xiaoyue nodded. “Brother Xiaowen, has Sister Hongyu returned?”
Hearing this, Chen Xiaowen finally smiled. “She has returned. She came back early this morning. By the way, she should be in the new house. You’ve been there before.”
Chen Xiaowen’s guess was correct. Cui Hongyu was indeed in the new house.
Before she was kidnapped, she had decided to cook for the villagers and soldiers. Although this incident had disrupted her plans, the work couldn’t stop.
So today, Cui Hongyu intended to clean up the site, as the work had to continue tomorrow.
Just then, she heard the small dog in the yard suddenly let out a low growl. Turning her head, she saw Feng Xiaoyue standing at the doorway with a smile.
Seeing Feng Xiaoyue, Cui Hongyu couldn’t help but smile. She stepped forward and took her hand. “Sister Xiaoyue, you’re here! Come in and sit down.”
Feng Xiaoyue nodded. “Sister, it’s so good that you’re back! Every time I came these past few days, they said you hadn’t returned yet. My heart was in my throat.”
Cui Hongyu appeared calm and smiled slightly. “Alas, it was nothing serious. Just a few petty thieves who tricked me.”
“Oh, you’re here at the right time. At three quarters past noon, we’re going to drown those three in the river. Since you’re here, you can watch with us.”
Feng Xiaoyue waved her hands repeatedly. “I won’t watch, I won’t watch!”
“It’s too pitiful to drown people.”
Hearing this, Cui Hongyu knew Feng Xiaoyue was also a kind-hearted person and didn’t insist.
“Ah, if you don’t want to watch, then don’t. Oh, you mentioned last time that you would teach me some cooking methods.”
Feng Xiaoyue nodded and pointed to the large pots and stove in the yard.
“Sister, the method for cooking in a large pot is different from stir-frying at home. You can’t stir-fry, you have to boil.”
Boil?
Cui Hongyu looked at Feng Xiaoyue with some surprise.
“That’s right. I brought a few winter melons. Today, I’ll first demonstrate how to cook with these winter melons.”
Hearing this, Cui Hongyu laughed. “Cooking, let’s not rush. I’ll go and ask how many people are eating today first. If I make too much and it’s left over, won’t we lose money again?”
“Okay, let’s go together and see how many people are eating.”
Hand in hand, Feng Xiaoyue and Cui Hongyu left the yard and headed straight for the four-acre field.
In the four-acre field, Chen Xiaobei was directing everyone, working with great enthusiasm.
Since Chen Dachun was injured, everyone had been working with some difficulty, lacking a leader. After Chen Xiaobei arrived, he streamlined the process, and not only did everyone work with spirit, but their efficiency also improved.
Suddenly, someone started teasing and shouted towards the distance, “Chief Xiaobei, look, the madam is here!”
“You’re talking nonsense! Where is the madam? That’s not…”
“Hey, look who that is!”
The villagers all turned their heads to look.
A few who had seen Feng Xiaoyue a few times knew she was from Xiaojia Town and shouted, “That’s the restaurant owner from Xiaojia Town!”
Seeing Feng Xiaoyue arrive, Chen Xiaobei was also slightly surprised. He put down his work and walked towards her.