The Prime Minister’s Darling-Chapter 527 - 262 Beat Up (One More)_4
Chapter 527: 262 Beat Up (One More)_4
Chapter 527: 262 Beat Up (One More)_4
Indeed, she was a woman who held the power of strategy, controlling two dynasties. When the Marquis of Xuanping was still playing with mud, she had already become the queen who was favored above all others in the palace.
But even the most capable person can have a fall; how did she contract leprosy?
Zhuang Taifu spoke in a cold voice, “Xiao Liulang is not who you thought he was. I’m afraid he recognized the Empress Dowager long ago. His intention for approaching her from the very beginning was not pure. Regrettably, we were kept in the dark. We even let him bring the Empress Dowager into the Capital City and persuaded the Emperor to reopen the Guozijian. Fortunately, the control of Guozijian hasn’t fallen into the Emperor’s hands, and there is still room for recovery. But no matter what, we can’t let the Empress Dowager stay with them any longer.”
This time, he did not rebut his grandfather’s words.
However, thinking about something, he remained silent for a moment, and then asked, “What does grandfather plan to do?”
Zhuang Taifu dusted his wide sleeves and said, “We will visit her in broad daylight and acknowledge our identities.”
In Bishui Alley, the old lady had just finished a round of cards and pushed the card table away, “That’s enough for today, no more games!”
The neighbours reluctantly went home.
Yes, even though they lost money, they still had fun playing.
This was mainly thanks to the old lady’s strategy of winning money. The old lady wouldn’t play cards with the same group of people every day, nor would she always take advantage of one person. For example, if Aunt Zhao lost yesterday, she would let her win a bit today. Everyone found it normal when there were wins and losses.
But if they calculated carefully, they lost their own money and won money from their companions. Nobody ever won any substantial amount from the old lady.
The old lady yawned and went next door to check on Gu Yan and Gu Xiaoshun.
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Gu Yan was lazily lying on the bed asleep, and Gu Xiaoshun was sitting obediently on a small stool doing woodwork.
The old lady was pleased.
Xiaoshun was a good kid.
She didn’t have high demands for Gu Yan; it was enough for him to stay alive.
The Yao family was doing embroidery, and Xiao Liulang and the others were out and about. They hadn’t returned even though it was getting dark.
The old lady was hungry and went to the kitchen for some food.
The maid had gone to the Embroidery Building to pick up the clothes. The old priest was cooking dinner.
The old priest stir-fried a few common dishes, made a pot of asparagus chicken soup, and fried a few brown sugar glutinous rice cakes.
Next, he prepared food especially for the little monk – lily egg custard, tofu vegetarian meatballs, and fried vegetarian shrimp with vegetables.
“Have the children returned?” the old priest asked while setting the table. His tone was familiar and his address natural, just like Uncle Zhao and Aunt Zhao talking about their own children.
“Not yet.” The old lady started looking for something to eat.
“Here.” The old priest seemed to know she would be hungry and took out a small plate of brown sugar glutinous rice cakes prepared especially for her. The children didn’t like the brown sugar glutinous rice cakes sprinkled with white sesame seeds.
The old lady didn’t find anything amiss. She held the plate and sat down on the small stool, starting to enjoy her food.
One was busy in front of the stove, and the other was eating behind the stove. Oil sizzled in the pot and filled the room with a fragrance of butter and onions.
Boom Boom Boom!
A knocking sound came from outside.
“Who is it?” The Yao family member put down her embroidery and walked outside.
The old priest walked out of the kitchen quickly and said to the pregnant Yao family member, “Let me handle it.”
“Oh, alright.” The Yao family member obediently went back inside.
The courtyard door was ajar, so it couldn’t be the neighbors; otherwise, they would have pushed the door open and entered.
“Who’s there?” he asked as he pulled open the wooden door.
When he saw Zhuang Taifu at the door, his heart gave a violent thump. He closed the door quickly, smeared some ash from the wall onto his face, and then pulled the door open again, asking in a strange voice, “Who’s there? What do you want?”
Zhuang Taifu looked at him strangely, obviously bewildered by his opening and closing of the door. He then saw the man’s face covered in dust and his plain clothes. He instantly dismissed him as a lowly servant in the courtyard and didn’t bother to look at the old priest anymore.
Otherwise, with another few glances, he might recognize him.
Zhuang Taifu said indifferently, “Call your old lady out. I have something to discuss with her.”
The old priest had never anticipated that Zhuang Taifu would come personally. The old lady from the Zhuang family could not recognize her kin.
Everyone knew that before the old lady from the Zhuang family lost her memory, the one she doted on the most was the Prince of An County. When the Prince was sent to the Chen Kingdom as a hostage, the old lady was so upset that she fell ill and didn’t eat for days.
Now that Xiao Liulang has taken the top scholar position that should have belonged to the Prince of An County, the consequences would be dire if her memory was jogged by the Zhuang family.
The old priest straighten his chest and said, “What old lady? Who are you? You might have found the wrong person. Off you go! If you don’t, I’ll call the authorities!”
“A lowly dog dares to block my master’s path! Get out of the way!” A guard beside Zhuang Taifu strode forward and ruthlessly pushed the old priest aside.
The old priest staggered, nearly falling to the ground. Fortunately, a hand came out in time to steady him.
When he looked back, he realized to his dismay that the old woman had come out.
The old lady didn’t even look at the guard. Her chilly gaze landed on Zhuang Taifu’s face.
She was dressed modestly, without excessive hairpins or jewelry. However, an innate aura of nobility seemed to radiate from her bones, causing even the old priest, who she was supporting, to shudder involuntarily.
This was by far the most chilling encounter he’d had with her since living together, even more intimidating than when she held a knife to rob him of his secret stash of money.
