Time Travel: The Noble Family-Chapter 1374 - 562: The Cold and Warmth of Human Relationships

An Zhichen entered the palace, and shortly afterward, news spread from the palace that he had been cast into the Heavenly Prison. The Heavenly Prison is a place where serious criminals are detained; those who enter seldom come out.

Xiang Wei received this news and was extremely anxious: "Even if the Earl privately deployed military forces, it shouldn’t warrant being cast into the Heavenly Prison, should it?" Yueyao hadn’t told Xiang Wei that the Emperor had permitted An Zhichen to deploy military forces within certain limits, which was why Xiang Wei was so worried.

Yueyao also didn’t expect the Emperor to be so harsh, to directly cast An Zhichen into the Heavenly Prison. However, doing so had a better effect. Since she initially didn’t inform Xiang Wei, there was no need to tell her now; the more people who knew, the greater the risk of leaking the information.

The news of An Zhichen being cast into the Heavenly Prison spread quickly, and soon, Yueyao heard the Chief Steward come over, saying: "Madam, Old Master Ma has arrived."

Ma Peng hurried over upon receiving the news: "Yueyao, what exactly happened? How did my brother-in-law end up being cast into the Heavenly Prison by the Emperor?" Ma Peng was still confused about the situation.

Yueyao, her face covered in tears, said: "The events of the past left a thorn in Heyue’s heart. Now, he is urgently trying to capture Zhou Shu and lost his composure, privately deploying over a hundred Imperial Guards. It’s a sensitive time now, and Heyue’s actions must have aroused the Emperor’s suspicions, thus he was cast into the Heavenly Prison."

Understanding the sequence of events, Ma Peng was somewhat reassured: "Don’t worry, even though my brother-in-law made a mistake, it doesn’t amount to the crime of treason."

Yueyao’s tears flowed: "The Emperor’s wrath is unpredictable. Zhou Shu has yet to be caught, and Heyue has been cast into the Heavenly Prison—I don’t know what to do."

Ma Peng consoled Yueyao, saying: "As long as he is in the Capital City, we will certainly capture him. As for my brother-in-law’s situation, you don’t need to worry; the Emperor, no matter how angry, wouldn’t execute a meritorious official over this matter."

Yueyao wiped her tears and asked: "Cousin, what should we do now? I’m truly worried what tricks that lunatic Zhou Shu might use next; I don’t even dare to go out." Especially when it came to her three children, Yueyao really couldn’t feel at ease letting them go out.

Ma Peng said: "Don’t worry, I’ll go outside and inquire about the situation; I’ll tell you as soon as I hear anything." Just as it was Keyue’s wedding on the twenty-sixth of October, the household was tight with Zhuang Ruolan, or else Ma Peng had wanted Zhuang Ruolan to come and keep Yueyao company.

Not long after Ma Peng left, Princess Wanhe arrived.

Observing her gait, Yueyao said: "You’re pregnant?" It looked like she was about three or four months along.

Princess Wanhe felt her abdomen and nodded, saying: "Almost four months." After speaking, Princess Wanhe held Yueyao’s hand and said: "Don’t worry, the Earl of Pingyang certainly will be fine."

Hearing this, Yueyao’s tears again flowed: "They all say those who enter the Heavenly Prison face a one-in-ten chance of survival; I don’t know if he will return safely." Outsiders knew only that she and Kexin had been assaulted, and the bandits took Kexin away, leading An Zhichen to recklessly mobilize three hundred troops in his desperation to save his daughter.

Princess Wanhe asked: "You shouldn’t be too worried; I asked the Heir Apparent, and he said the Earl of Pingyang might endure hardship but wouldn’t face life-threatening danger."

Yueyao disbelievingly asked: "Really?"

Princess Wanhe answered: "Could I possibly deceive you? Yueyao, how is Kexin?" Outwardly, the news was released that Kexin had already been rescued, suffering only minor injuries.

Yueyao, her eyes reddened and her speech choked with emotion, said: "The child was frightened, afraid to see anyone after being rescued. She just drank medicine and is sleeping now. It’s unknown whom we have offended to suffer such a sinister attack?" Staying true to the act, after retrieving the substitute, they were sent to the courtyard, though Yueyao would not let outsiders see her.

Princess Wanhe was very surprised that even Yueyao didn’t know who they had offended. Princess Wanhe refrained from further inquiry and consoled Yueyao for quite some time.

After sending off Princess Wanhe, Brother Sheng and his two brothers came over. Brother Sheng looked at Yueyao and asked: "Mother, I heard the servants discussing, saying father was cast into the Heavenly Prison?" An Zhichen’s being sent to the Heavenly Prison had left the An Mansion anxious.

Initially, Yueyao didn’t want her children to know about these matters, but she remembered An Zhichen’s words, and told them why An Zhichen had been cast into the Heavenly Prison by the Emperor.

Seeing Yueyao’s red-rimmed eyes and knowing she had cried, Brother Sheng said: "Mother, you don’t need to worry, father will be alright and will surely return safely."