“A few pieces of fine silk and satin… and those are already my sisters-in-law’s most treasured possessions.”
The entire Duke Dingguo was so impoverished that it was no better off than an ordinary household in the capital.
Xin Long let out a soft sigh and carefully stored every item into her space.
She looked around, her gaze drifting beyond the courtyard.
After surviving ten years in the apocalypse, she had become an expert at stockpiling supplies.
The kitchen should still have plenty of useful things.
Making sure no one was watching, she quickly slipped into the kitchen.
Steam billowed from the bamboo steamers. Inside were ten large white steamed buns prepared for the children to eat the next day.
“White-flour buns will be a luxury on the road to exile.”
Without hesitation, Xin Long stored the entire steamer—buns and all—into her space.
“Even the leftover cornbread shouldn’t go to waste.”
She packed away the coarse steamed buns left over from dinner as well.
The rice jar still held around a hundred catties of white rice.
“This is good rice. Better save it.”
She emptied the entire rice jar into her space.
“And the flour is valuable too.”
Several sacks of white flour disappeared next.
“The iron wok will be useful during the journey.”
The iron cooking pot resting on the stove also vanished into her storage.
The woodshed was stacked neatly with dry firewood.
“Firewood will definitely be scarce in the place of exile.”
She collected every bundle.
In the vegetable garden, lush Chinese cabbages, crisp white radishes, and bright red carrots flourished.
“Fresh vegetables will be a rare delicacy during exile.”
With a wave of her hand, every last vegetable disappeared into her space.
Stockpile, stockpile, stockpile!
Xin Long felt immensely satisfied.
She almost wanted to dig up the soil of the entire manor and take that too.
She scanned her surroundings again, wondering if there was anything else worth taking.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the courtyard.
A shrill voice shattered the silence of the night.
“Imperial decree!”
Xin Long’s eyes darkened as she hurried back to her chambers.
Rui’an had arrived several hours earlier than Xiao Jinghe had predicted.
Did Xiao Jinghe’s early return to the capital alter the timeline?
Knock! Knock! Knock!
She had barely caught her breath when hurried knocking sounded at the door.
“Your Highness, the imperial decree has arrived. The Dowager Madam requests your presence in the main hall to receive the edict.”
The maid’s voice trembled so badly that Xin Long could easily imagine how pale she must be.
Xin Long opened the door.
“I understand.”
The main hall was brilliantly lit, yet the bright lights could not dispel the gloom hanging over the Xiao family.
The Dowager Madam, dressed in a dark crimson robe, sat upright in the grand chair. Her face was ashen, but she still carried the imposing dignity of the matriarch of a noble household.
The six sisters-in-law stood on either side, all pale-faced with tears glistening in their eyes.
The younger nieces and nephews huddled behind their mothers, trembling with fear.
Standing in the center of the hall, the eunuch Rui’an held a bright yellow imperial edict. His shrill voice echoed through the silent room.
“By the Mandate of Heaven, His Majesty decrees…”
“Reports have been received that Duke Dingguo has secretly concealed the Imperial Jade Seal with the intent to commit treason…”
Every word struck the Xiao family like a heavy hammer.
The Dowager Madam gripped the armrest until her knuckles turned white, suppressing her fury.
She knew this was nothing but a frame-up.
Xin Long calmly walked to her side, sweeping her gaze over everyone present before settling on the imperial edict in Rui’an’s hands.
Her eyes grew deep and unreadable.
“Eunuch Rui’an, there must be some misunderstanding.”
The Dowager Madam spoke in a low voice, barely restraining her anger.
“For generations, the Xiao family has served the throne with absolute loyalty. How could we ever commit such an act of treason?”
“With all due respect, Dowager Madam,” Rui’an replied with a mocking smile, “words alone prove nothing. His Majesty will naturally conduct a thorough investigation.”
With a wave of his hand, the guards behind him surged into the hall like a pack of wolves.
“Search!”
At his command, the guards began overturning everything in sight.
Cabinets were ripped open, curtains torn down, porcelain smashed to pieces.
The once orderly hall was reduced to complete chaos.
Watching the scene unfold, Xin Long sneered inwardly.
She had worked so hard emptying half the manor.
These guards were destined to return empty-handed.
The Dowager Madam watched helplessly as her home was wantonly destroyed, grief and rage welling inside her.
Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to remain composed.
“Eunuch Rui’an, the Xiao family’s loyalty to His Majesty is as clear as the sun and moon!”
“If we truly intended to rebel, why would we hide the Imperial Jade Seal inside our own residence? This is clearly someone’s deliberate scheme!”
“Those matters aren’t for this humble servant to decide,” Rui’an answered in his affected, high-pitched voice, his plump face covered in a hypocritical smile.
“Once the search is complete, you may explain everything to His Majesty yourself.”
After a brief pause, he added,
“Of course, if we happen to find the Jade Seal, that would save everyone a great deal of trouble.”
As he spoke, his eyes drifted toward Xin Long.
The thought that before long he would have the noble Princess beneath him, free to toy with her as he pleased, made the useless part of his body tingle with excitement.
He could hardly wait.
“Hmph!”
The Dowager Madam snorted coldly, swallowing her anger without another word.
Like a swarm of locusts, the guards tore through every corner of Duke Dingguo.
Silks were ripped down.
Porcelain was smashed into fragments.
Even the ancestral tablets were knocked onto the floor.
The once dignified residence looked as though it had already been thoroughly looted.
Yet no matter how hard they searched, they could not find the so-called Imperial Jade Seal.
The captain of the guards wiped the sweat from his brow before stepping up to Rui’an.
“Your Excellency… we found nothing.”
The smile froze on Rui’an’s face.
His plump body quivered slightly as he fixed Xin Long with a sinister glare.
The Emperor himself had told him that he had personally handed the fake Imperial Jade Seal to Xin Long.
Now the search had yielded absolutely nothing.
How was he supposed to report this back to the Emperor?
“How can there be nothing?” Rui’an shrieked, unable to hide the panic in his voice.
He stared at Xin Long again, suspicion and accusation filling his eyes.
Could it be… the Grand Princess never placed the Jade Seal where they had agreed?
Seeing that the guards had found nothing, the Dowager Madam finally relaxed.
She let out a long breath.
“Eunuch Rui’an, what else do you have to say now?”
“Someone has clearly slandered the Xiao family. I ask that you investigate this matter fairly.”
Rui’an’s expression shifted repeatedly.
Though furious inside, he dared not continue searching without evidence.
Forcing a stiff smile, he cupped his hands.
“Perhaps… it truly was all a misunderstanding.”
“In that case, this humble servant shall return to the palace and report to His Majesty.”
He called for the guards to withdraw.
But just before leaving, he suddenly stopped and turned back toward Xin Long.
“Your Highness the Grand Princess, His Majesty commands that you accompany this humble servant to the palace.”
His shrill voice carried the unmistakable tone of an order.
Xin Long’s heart sank.
She knew Rui’an would not let her off so easily.
By failing to place the Jade Seal where they had planned, she had disrupted the Emperor’s scheme and aroused Rui’an’s suspicions.
“Very well.”
She answered calmly, her eyes sweeping over the Xiao family.
She knew they were all filled with confusion.
The Emperor had first sent men to raid the manor, only to summon her to the palace immediately afterward.
Anyone would find that suspicious.
Walking over to the Dowager Madam, Xin Long spoke softly,
“Mother, I’ll go to the palace. I’ll be back soon.”
The Dowager Madam’s hawk-like eyes studied her intently, as though trying to see straight into her heart.
After a long silence, she reached out, took Xin Long’s hand, and gently patted the back of it.
“Go,” she said earnestly. “Leave early, and come back safely.”