At this moment, Hesheli Shi at the Tongjia Residence also received news from outside.
“What did you say?!”
“A noble lady from a prominent family in the capital has gone missing?!”
“Tell me! How could a noble lady from a prominent family go missing in the capital?!” Hesheli Shi was both shocked and fearful.
Her Lanzhu had also gone out today.
Hesheli Shi swayed slightly, and Nanny Yun and Yiyun quickly supported her.
“Madam, please don’t worry. There’s no mention of the Eldest Miss. The Eldest Miss is surely safe and sound,” Nanny Yun reassured her mistress, suppressing her own anxiety.
“Even East Main Street has incidents, and with Lanzhu’s appearance, she stands out in a crowd.” Hesheli Shi was filled with regret.
Why did she let Lanzhu go out today? Knowing that the capital would be bustling today, with all sorts of people around, she should have stopped Lanzhu from going out.
If anything were to happen to Lanzhu, she would never forgive herself!
“Quick!”
“Have everyone in the residence go look for her!”
“Hurry!” Hesheli Shi said, her lips trembling.
Her heart was pounding fiercely, and she couldn’t maintain the composure expected of the lady of the house.
“To be able to take someone away quietly on East Main Street, the kidnappers must have considerable power.”
“Madam, rest assured. I’ve already sent someone to wait for Master at the palace gate,” the steward said.
“Buddha, please protect us!” Hesheli Shi could do nothing but anxiously wait at home.
After what felt like an eternity, half an hour later, Tong Guowei came running in, his face flushed. Hesheli Shi snapped back to reality: “Master!”
“Lanzhu went out!”
“I know, don’t worry.”
“Our people have already found Lanzhu. She’s fine.”
“She’ll be back soon.” Tong Guowei couldn’t describe his feelings when he heard the news at the palace gate. Fortunately, Lanzhu was blessed and nothing happened to her.
Hesheli Shi’s eyes lit up: “Really?”
Tong Guowei felt the strength in his arm and smiled reassuringly: “Really.”
“I was scared to death,” Hesheli Shi finally relaxed, her limbs going weak.
Supported by Nanny Yun and the others, she sat down, feeling utterly drained.
“Madam, wait at home for Lanzhu. I have matters to attend to outside, and there’s no need to leave the door open for me tonight.” With such a major incident in the capital, they probably wouldn’t sleep well tonight.
Acting on the second day after the Emperor’s amnesty, the intentions of those behind this were clear. It was likely related to Wu Sangui or the faction of Prince Zhu San.
After all, those who dared to act so brazenly now were either Wu Sangui or Prince Zhu San. In any case, it was a significant entanglement!
“I understand,” Hesheli Shi nodded, still shaken.
Not even a quarter of an hour after Tong Guowei left, Lanzhu returned to the residence under the escort of guards. As soon as she stepped through the gate, she saw her mother hurrying towards her.
Seeing her mother, Lanzhu realized her back was soaked with sweat.
This was her first time facing such danger up close. To say she wasn’t scared would be a lie.
But outside, she was the older sister and had to stand in front of her younger brother.
Once home, Lanzhu finally felt the fear and rushed into her mother’s arms: “Mother, I was so scared!”
“Now you know fear!”
“Let’s see if you’ll run around recklessly next time!”
“You even went to West Main Street. Why didn’t you just leave the city altogether!” Knowing where her daughter had been, Hesheli Shi’s heart sank.
There were incidents on East Main Street, let alone West Main Street. Fortunately, her daughter was smart enough to find a restaurant, or else she might have…
“Mother~”
“Always so restless!” Hesheli Shi playfully glared at her daughter.
Even Longkodo beside them wasn’t spared: “And you didn’t even keep an eye on your sister.”
Longkodo didn’t argue. He was also frightened by the near incident.
So he kept his head down and said nothing.
“Mother, you can’t blame my brother. It was my idea to go. It has nothing to do with him.”
“Besides, I’m an adult now. How could my brother possibly keep an eye on me?” Lanzhu knew her mother was scared, but today’s incident had nothing to do with Longkodo.
It was her and Wenyuan’s decision. If anyone was to blame, it was her.
“Mother misspoke. Mother was just too worried about you both. Longkodo, don’t be angry with Mother.” Hesheli Shi knew she had wronged Longkodo, but she couldn’t bear to scold her daughter, so she naturally turned to her son.
“Mother, I know you’re worried about me and my sister.” Longkodo understood that his mother wasn’t blaming him; she was just concerned about them.
“Mother has prepared calming soup. You and Longkodo should each have a bowl, then go back and get a good night’s sleep.” Hesheli Shi touched her daughter and son’s heads, slowly regaining her composure.
“Okay.”
Neither of them refused, obediently taking the calming soup their mother handed them and drinking it all.
“Go back and rest well.”
“Everything is over now.”
Back in her courtyard, Lanzhu forced herself to stay alert and gave an order: “Liu Chun, keep an eye on the situation in the capital. Let me know if there are any developments.”
“Understood, Gege.” Liu Chun knew that Gege was worried about the noble ladies who had been abducted, so she quickly agreed.
“Maybe I should have warned them earlier. Perhaps fewer people would have been captured.” Regret was rare in Lanzhu’s eyes.
Liu Chun knew Gege was overthinking: “Gege, even if you had spoken up earlier, while it might have reduced the number of people captured, there’s no guarantee they wouldn’t have acted out of anger and harmed those already captured.”
“You’ve done very well. Without you, they might have easily left the city.”
Lanzhu’s eyes were a bit lost: “Really?”
“Of course. Now that the city gates are closed, they’re definitely still in the capital. It’s only a matter of time before they’re found. The capital’s guards have been deployed, and it won’t be long before good news arrives.”
“Perhaps by the time you wake up, the matter will be resolved,” Liu Chun said softly.
“Then remember to keep an eye on the news and inform me of any developments.” Lanzhu couldn’t resist the effects of the medicine and fell into a deep sleep after saying this.
Seeing this, Liu Chun and Liu Xia carefully lowered the bed curtains and quietly stood by the bed, watching over Gege.
In the palace
“Tell me!”
“How did Wu Sangui’s people manage to infiltrate the capital without any of you knowing? Do you have to wait until Wu Sangui brings his army to the capital before you get the news?” Kangxi was so furious about today’s events in the capital that anger radiated from him.
If their actions hadn’t been noticed and reported to the Nine Gates Infantry Commander, would they have only realized it after those people had disappeared without a trace?
“Malaji!”
“Tell me! What kind of Nine Gates Infantry Commander are you?!” In his anger, Kangxi threw the celadon teacup beside him.
As the crisp sound of breaking echoed, the atmosphere in the Palace of Heavenly Purity grew even quieter.
“All of you, aren’t you usually so eloquent? Why are you all mute today?! On the second day after I appointed the Crown Prince and granted amnesty, Wu Sangui sends people to slap me in the face like this!
If it were any later, would Wu Sangui be sitting on my throne?!”
No one dared to speak. The Emperor was clearly furious, and no one was foolish enough to become the scapegoat.
They weren’t idiots.
At this moment, the “idiot” Tong Guowei stepped forward: “Your Majesty, please calm down. The city gates are now closed, and those people are definitely still in the capital. If we deploy the guards to search for them, they won’t be able to escape!”
“Lord Tong is right.” Once someone stepped forward, a chorus of agreement followed.
Kangxi listened expressionlessly, his gaze sweeping the room before locking onto Soetu.
“What do you think, my loyal subject?” With the Crown Prince just established, Kangxi didn’t mind promoting someone from Hesheli Shi’s family.
In the future, the Crown Prince would rely on Soetu in the court.
Hesheli Shi didn’t have any other outstanding talents, so this person must be well-trained for the Crown Prince.
“I also think Lord Tong’s suggestion is excellent.” Being singled out, Soetu’s heart skipped a beat.
Although the Emperor had established the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince was only a year old. The future was uncertain, and given the Emperor’s age, the position of Empress couldn’t remain vacant forever. If the Emperor had another legitimate son in the future, the Crown Prince, without a mother’s support, would struggle to survive in the palace.
It was time to choose a Gege from the Hesheli Shi family to enter the palace.
But precautions must be taken to prevent her from developing any inappropriate ambitions.
After all, the status of the Crown Prince was a significant advantage!
“Who do you think is most suitable to handle this matter now?” Kangxi’s eyes narrowed slightly, hiding the light in his eyes.
Soetu pondered for a moment: “I believe that since the Nine Gates Infantry Commander is responsible for the capital’s security, it’s most appropriate to entrust him with this task.”
Soetu had considered giving Tong Guowei a hard time, but now was clearly not the right moment. Such obvious troublemaking wouldn’t escape the Emperor’s notice.
The Tongjia clan was the Emperor’s maternal family, and Tong Guowei’s legitimate daughter was of age. He had to plan carefully to avoid ruining the current favorable situation for Hesheli Shi.
As long as the Crown Prince was around, the Emperor would plan for him.
There was no need for him to step forward.
Kangxi stared at Soetu for a while before slowly shifting his gaze: “Malaji, I’ll leave this matter to you. Make sure it’s resolved today, or else someone else will take your position as the Nine Gates Infantry Commander.”
“I accept the order,” responded a burly man below.
Wu Sangui, huh!
Daring to act in the capital, he’ll have all his claws cut off!
“Everyone, leave. I want some peace and quiet.” With the families of the ministers being abducted, Kangxi had been disturbed for a long time today, and his head was still buzzing.
In fact, Kangxi easily guessed Wu Sangui’s motive for this move. It was nothing more than an attempt to disrupt the Qing court.
However, Wu Sangui’s luck wasn’t great. The people he captured weren’t that important, otherwise, he might have really been in a bind.
This time, thanks to Lanzhu, she was indeed wise.
Instead of panicking, she calmly notified the Nine Gates Infantry Commander. His judgment was indeed different!
“Liang Jiugong.”
“At your service.”
“Find those two bolts of Liuguang Brocade that were tributed from Jiangnan last year and send them to the Tongjia Residence.” Feeling a bit better, Kangxi wanted to find something to give Lanzhu.
After thinking it over, he decided that a young girl of her age would love beautiful things, so she would surely like these two bolts of fabric.
He wondered if he would have the chance to see Lanzhu wear them for him.
Liang Jiugong was momentarily stunned, then immediately said, “I’ll go right away.”
If he remembered correctly, Concubine Ma Jia had asked the Emperor for them a few days ago, but the Emperor hadn’t given them.
Only six bolts of Liuguang Brocade had been tributed from Jiangnan. Two were given to the Grand Empress Dowager, two to the Empress Dowager, and only these two remained in the Emperor’s storeroom. He thought they would eventually go to Consort Zhao, but he hadn’t expected them to go to Tongjia Gege.
It seemed Tongjia Gege’s importance was greater than he had imagined.
She hadn’t even entered the palace yet and already had the Emperor’s favor. What would happen once she was in the palace?
Author’s Note:
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrient solutions between 2035-05-17 05:00:00 and 2035-05-17 21:35:15~
Thank you to the little angel who provided nutrient solutions: Dundun 3 bottles;
Thank you all for your support, I will continue to work hard!