The people of Daqi and Beimo both do not wish for war.
Once war breaks out, they are the ones most affected by the chaos, forced to leave their hos and families torn apart.
With the people of Beimo and ministers loyal to King Beimo, Beimo Cheng King’s trip to Daqi is unavoidable.
As long as Beimo Cheng King is in Daqi, there will be no war at the border.
And with Beimo Cheng King being sent away, it will be easier for King Beimo to reclaim power upon his return.
King Beimo and Marquis Dongxiang have sowhat similar personalities; once they make a promise, they will not break it.
This is also why Marquis Dongxiang repeatedly urged the Emperor to release King Beimo and chose to risk letting him go.
To soone who breaks promises, Marquis Dongxiang would not be so accommodating.
Imprisoning "King Beimo" at Duke Chong’s Mansion is not just to provoke Duke Chong and make him uncomfortable.
Back when the Flying Tiger Army was annihilated, Marquis Dongxiang suspected it was linked to Duke Chong.
The destroyed secret letter vaguely showing the words "Nanliang" further convinced Marquis Dongxiang.
With Nanliang’s ambitious intentions, King Beimo dying in Daqi would provide the perfect excuse for Beimo to attack Daqi, benefiting from the conflict while Nanliang reaps the rewards like a fisherman watching a snipe and clam fight.
Imprisoning King Beimo elsewhere could not guarantee Duke Chong wouldn’t help Nanliang.
With King Beimo imprisoned at Duke Chong’s Mansion, should anything happen to him, Duke Chong couldn’t escape the bla.
Duke Chong would not risk getting himself into trouble with Nanliang’s affairs.
Duke Chong’s Mansion, inside the study.
Duke Chong walked in with a grim face.
Walking to the desk, he clenched his fist and slamd it hard on the desk.
Marquis Dongxiang indeed suspects him of colluding with Nanliang.
Placing King Beimo right under his nose forces him to be an enemy of Nanliang.
Stabbing him in the back silently.
Duke Chong constantly thinks of destroying Marquis Dongxiang.
Li Zhong ca in and said, "Duke, King Beimo has been settled."
"The people of Marquis Dongxiang left?" Duke Chong asked.
Li Zhong nodded, "Both the people of Marquis Dongxiang and Prince Zhenbei left, but the Emperor’s guards stayed."
Duke Chong’s forehead veins bulged with anger.
Having soone he wants to destroy placed under his nose, unable to fight or scold, yet required to treat with good food and drink, worrying he might be killed, makes Duke Chong feel an inner tornt.
Agarwood Pavilion, backyard.
In the bamboo house, Su Jin and Xingxing were busy making ice popsicles.
After days of experints, the popsicles were becoming more like the real thing.
Looking at the sweet and sour popsicles, Xingxing was full of satisfaction.
"What if we can’t finish all these?" Xingxing said.
"The Master and Hidden Guards don’t want to eat popsicles anymore."
"I don’t want to eat anymore either."
"..."
Su Jin exasperatedly tapped Xingxing’s forehead, "If you didn’t want to eat, why did you make so many?"
Rubbing her barely hurting forehead, Xingxing said, "I’m just bored."
With the sun so hot, no one wants to go out.
Su Jin could pass ti by reading, while Xingxing couldn’t concentrate on books, and didn’t know how to do needlework. Occasionally she might knot sothing, but there was no need.
She didn’t need to make knots to sell like other little maids did.
Su Jin sighed, "Pack a few popsicles, and send them to the Old Prince to taste, and the rest to Qingqiu Garden."
Xingxing swiftly packed the popsicles, keeping them cool with ice.
Su Jin carried the food box to find Xie Jingchen.
Xie Jingchen feared just looking at the food box.
The master and servant hold onto one thing to eat until they tire of it.
Previously it was beggar’s chicken, now it’s popsicles.
Su Jin lifted the food box slightly, "Accompany to the front yard to visit the Old Prince."
Xie Jingchen twitched his mouth corner; this was genuinely having no more to send and giving it to the grandfather.
However, with Su Jin’s kind thought, Xie Jingchen wouldn’t oppose.
He put down the account book and accompanied Su Jin to the front yard, while Xingxing went to Qingqiu Garden.
From a distance, Su Jin saw Mrs. Wang stepping into Wutong Garden.
Su Jin secretly rolled her eyes.
The Old Prince’s health had just improved, and the Old Madam was already thinking of returning to the mansion.
As Su Jin predicted, when she and Xie Jingchen entered the house, Mrs. Wang was kneeling, pleading with the Old Prince.
"Old Prince, I beg you to let the Old Madam return to the mansion, the Great Buddha Temple is stifling, the Old Madam has suffered heatstroke," Mrs. Wang implored.
Mrs. Wang regretted deeply.
If she hadn’t been montarily lost in thought, Mrs. Li in Qingqiu Garden wouldn’t have been saved by the Heir’s wife.
The ointnt incident wouldn’t have caused such an uproar.
The Old Prince wouldn’t have been disappointed with the Old Madam, sending her to the Great Buddha Temple to reflect.
Looking at the Old Madam haggard, plagued by nightmares night after night, Mrs. Wang felt as if her heart was being cut.
If it weren’t for the Old Madam saving her, she would have died more than thirty years ago.
People do change.
The Old Madam has changed, becoming less kind than before, becoming domineering.
She has also changed, becoming less loyal than before.
During the ti spent at the Great Buddha Temple, Mrs. Wang reflected a lot and even thought of confessing her mistakes to the Old Madam.
But she’s afraid that if she speaks, the Old Madam will not forgive her.
These days, she’s been tornted within.
She wants to make up for this mistake, so she returned to plead with the Old Prince.
When Mrs. Wang spoke, the Old Prince was moved to so extent. Though disappointed in the Old Madam, after all, she had given him two pairs of children.
In those years following him, the Old Madam endured much hardship.
Although he didn’t understand how she could beco less sensible in her old age compared to her youth, the old prince always rembered her rits and hard work in his heart.
But this softness hardened again when he saw Su Jin.
No amount of rit and toil could offset her indulgence or participation in the cri of Princess Nanzhang administering sterility dicine to Su Jin.
Such lack of restraint deserves so suffering to think about how kindness was lost and how she could be so ruthless to a young girl.
"Let her continue reflecting at the Great Buddha Temple," the Old Prince’s tone was firm.
"Old Prince, the Old Madam has realized her mistakes. You cannot be so heartless..."
Mrs. Wang pleaded, but the Old Prince interrupted, "No need to persuade anymore. Without enough suffering, she won’t rember."
Xie Jingchen and Su Jin stepped forward.
Mrs. Wang saw Su Jin and begged her to help persuade the Old Prince.
Can Su Jin help the Old Madam?
When the Old Madam returns, no matter how hot the weather, she must go to Qihao Hall to pay her respects in the morning.
She feels for the Old Madam, but the Old Madam does not feel for her.
Since she is not so kind, why pretend to be?
She changed the subject, "Why does the Old Madam have recurring nightmares? What nightmares did she have?"
This question left Mrs. Wang perplexed.
She didn’t actually know what kind of nightmares the Old Madam had.
But every ti the Old Madam woke up from a nightmare, she was covered in sweat, her eyes filled with fear, unable to co to her senses for a long ti.
That look was very familiar.
More than thirty years ago, not long after the Old Madam gave birth to the eldest young lady, she went to the Great Buddha Temple to burn incense, and the carriage suddenly went wild, running wildly down the path.
The Old Madam was thrown out of the carriage, her head hit a stone.
After returning, she started having recurring nightmares.
But the Old Madam hadn’t had nightmares for many years; it’s unknown how they started again.
Mrs. Wang shook her head, "I’ve asked, but the Old Madam never says."
Su Jin believed Mrs. Wang.
When Mrs. Wang spoke, her eyes did not dodge or seem guilty.
She was telling the truth.
But Su Jin did not believe the Old Madam.
Who knows if it’s like the Empress Dowager’s situation, dreaming of Xie Jinyu getting into trouble, bringing her into the palace to avoid reflecting in the Buddhist Hall?
Such tricks have been used too many tis; they seem false at a glance.
Unrepentant, yet still deceitful, the cri should be increased.
The Old Prince raised his hand, dismissing Mrs. Wang.
Mrs. Wang knelt on the ground, begging the Old Prince to change his mind, but Manager Li dragged her out.
The Old Prince looked at Xie Jingchen and Su Jin, "Why have you co?"
The Old Prince’s injuries had almost healed, no longer requiring visits.
Xie Jingchen put down the food box and said, "Su Jin made sothing to eat and brought it for Grandfather to try."
The Old Prince looked a bit surprised at Su Jin, "You can cook?"
These words made Su Jin feel a bit guilty.
After all, the Old Prince had seen the real Su Jin.
As Xingxing would say, her cooking was more frightening than arsenic.
Su Jin hurriedly said, "Mainly the maid did it, I just lent a hand."
Xie Jingchen handed the ice candy to the Old Prince.
The Old Prince, feeling novel, took a bite and was quite chilled.
After eating half of the ice candy, the Old Prince’s brows furrowed tightly.
Xie Jingchen looked at him, "Grandfather, what’s the matter?"
"I’m getting old, can’t enjoy it anymore, just a little cold and my teeth hurt," the Old Prince said, holding his cheek.
Su Jin, "..."
Xie Jingchen, "..."
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