CHAPTER 252: CHAPTER 249 DISAPPOINTMENT

The housekeeper’s words were vague, and the anger of Princess Jiahui surged from her heart.

Princess Jiahui gritted her teeth and said, "What do you mean by ’it seems’?"

The housekeeper pressed her lips: "Only one person we left in Mingzhou managed to run back. He said those people acted quickly, and before they had reacted, the post house, inns, and teahouses were all surrounded by soldiers. He dared not stay long and immediately ran back to the Capital City.

Although he ran back, he didn’t manage to gather much information."

Seeing such a formation, it’s clear that the matter is significant, and reporting it is naturally the most crucial task.

As for those uncertain pieces of news, they are probably factual.

Princess Jiahui’s head heated up, and she forcefully suppressed her emotions to calm down. Finding both the post house and inns means that it wasn’t just Nanny Xu beside Miss Lin who failed. It also meant Nanny Liu was caught as well.

Nanny Liu didn’t officially manage affairs at the Princess Manor, but she was still a servant at the manor and often came and went. Through Nanny Liu, they could certainly be connected to her.

Nanny Liu knew a lot, and her son was secretly placed at the post house. On the surface, these actions were secretive, but once the relationships were discovered, connections could be made.

Even if she now pushes a steward to take the blame, it requires the Emperor to be willing to give her this favor.

Planting spies in the post house violated the Emperor’s taboo, and he would become suspicious of her.

Originally, dealing with Song Xian and the Chen Family Village seemed like a trivial matter, surely with the Du Family and Cai Rong standing in front, she didn’t expect this fire would directly burn her.

This suddenly placed her in a position of crisis everywhere.

Princess Jiahui’s fingers were ice cold, and she turned her head to the steward: "Invite Steward Han over."

Steward Han was now in his fifties, and was a capable aide by her father’s side during his time at the territory, and after her father passed away, Steward Han continued to help manage the affairs of the Princess Manor.

The housekeeper couldn’t help but shiver, suddenly feeling as if the entire Princess Manor was on the verge of collapse.

Princess Jiahui had just given her orders when another housekeeper quickly walked into the courtyard.

"Princess," the housekeeper said, "A troop of soldiers has come to guard the entrance of our Princess Manor, with orders that nobody is allowed to leave."

Princess Jiahui clenched her hands. It seemed the news had reached the palace, provoking the Emperor’s anger, sealing the gate first and then sending people to interrogate.

What should she do? Princess Jiahui’s mind was in chaos. What can she do now? What manpower can she use?

The manor was in chaos. Chun Shan went to the front courtyard to check the situation: "It seems to be the Capital Camp’s troops."

Capital Camp? Princess Jiahui’s eyes brightened. Empress Xu’s nephew, Xu Yuanyu, was employed at the Capital Camp.

Princess Jiahui suddenly grasped at the lifeline. She took a deep breath and looked down at the Jade Token hanging from her waist. It was given to her by the Emperor two years ago when the Empress was ill, enabling her to enter the palace without a summons to visit the Empress.

She cannot wait in the manor, sitting idly will only result in being at the mercy of others. She can let a steward take the blame, she can lose her salary—she would even ask to be confined to the manor, as long as she gets a chance to negotiate...

Princess Jiahui ordered: "Prepare my clothes. I want to enter the palace to see the Empress."

The steward hesitated: "But those outside said we are not allowed to leave the manor."

However, Chun Shan understood. Maybe others would not relay a message, but since General Xu always had an admiration for the Princess if he came, he would surely find a way.

Princess Jiahui looked at Chun Shan and said: "Seize the opportunity."

Chun Shan dared not delay and hurriedly fetched clothes, helping Princess Jiahui dress carefully. She put on a light green dress, with a face bare of makeup, giving her a pitiful look.

Princess Jiahui holding the Jade Pendant walked towards the manor’s entrance, where the military envoy moved forward to block her.

Princess Jiahui lightly raised her head, lifted the veil on her head, revealing her slender neck, and handed over the Jade Token: "Please deliver this token to the palace."

The Phoenix-patterned Jade Pendant was an item close to the Empress herself, causing the military envoy to frown upon looking at it.

Princess Jiahui choked up, saying: "I only hope to see the Empress, and the kindness of the military envoy today, I will surely repay in the future."

Her slender, long fingers kept holding the Jade Pendant, as if she wouldn’t retract unless the envoy accepted it.

The military envoy frowned and was about to speak when a voice nearby said: "This Jade Pendant was given by the Empress, and holding it allows access to Qianqiu Palace."

Hearing Xu Yuanyu’s voice, Princess Jiahui’s hand trembled slightly, making her look even more fragile, as if a breeze could blow her away.

Xu Yuanyu felt a surge of compassion in his heart.

The military envoy hesitated to speak but dared not intervene. He had long heard that General Xu was fond of Princess Jiahui, and perhaps the Empress would help her. If they forcibly obstructed her, they would surely be punished once this incident was over.

Xu Yuanyu said: "This is the Empress’s intimate Jade Pendant, and it allows one to enter and exit Qianqiu Palace at any time. I will send this Jade Pendant into the palace, and everything will be decided by the Empress."

...

In Qianqiu Palace.

Empress Xu sat frowning on the soft couch while a palace attendant reported matters from the previous court.

"The Emperor was furious," the palace attendant said, "throwing the memorials on the table at the Minister of War, it is said they even caught death warriors at the post house."

Empress Xu exclaimed: "What?"

The palace attendant nodded: "Xingzhou is arresting people everywhere. Those death warriors had no place to hide, so they simply hid in the post house, intending to leave via the prefecture’s exclusive post route."

Empress Xu drew a breath of cold air, not expecting Princess Jiahui to be caught with such a large handle.

The palace attendant continued: "The Emperor has ordered Song Xian and Du Zhuo to escort the criminals to the capital, and they will arrive in two days."

Such a large formation indicated that this case was almost certainly true.

Empress Xu stood up: "This is a serious mistake."

"Your Majesty," the palace attendant lowered their voice, "Princess Jiahui often visits Qianqiu Palace. Won’t the Emperor..." suspect Qianqiu Palace as a result?

Empress Xu pressed her lips, pondering, when an eunuch outside the hall came in with a Jade Pendant, saying: "Your Majesty, General Xu sent this Jade Pendant along, Princess Jiahui wishes to enter the palace to see you."

Delivering her Jade Pendant at this time.

Empress Xu’s gaze flickered, thinking Xu Yuanyu must have lost his mind, wanting to drag the entire Xu Family into this?

"Wasn’t the Capital Camp supposed to guard outside of the Princess Manor? How could they possibly send the Jade Pendant out?" Empress Xu said coldly, "The Emperor always favored her because of Prince Guangyang, yet she disregards the law like this, it is also my fault, my lack of discipline."

Empress Xu said: "Find out how this Jade Pendant was brought into the palace?"

As she spoke, Empress Xu looked to the palace attendant beside her: "Take some people to the Princess Manor and give her a proper lesson; her actions truly disappoint me."