The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 1026 - 105: Secret News (Happy Birthday to Zhu Xiaoxue)

Chapter 1026: Chapter 105: Secret News (Happy Birthday to Zhu Xiaoxue)

Madam Tang slowly lifted her eyelids and stared at Manbao for a while before speaking, "Alright, but the Prince of Yizhou hasn’t had any recent news, nothing different from previous years. After he arrived in the capital, he visited the court daily to greet the Empress Dowager."

Madam Tang paused there, suddenly leaned closer to Manbao, propped her elbow on the table, and stared into Manbao’s eyes as she asked, "What are you investigating the Prince of Yizhou for? Did County Magistrate Tang tell you to investigate?"

Manbao was startled by her sudden closeness and shook her head like a rattle.

Madam Tang glanced sideways at Bai Shan and Bai Erlang. Bai Shan nodded repeatedly, indicating that what Manbao said was true.

Bai Erlang, on the other hand, shook his head along with Manbao to signal that they were not asked to investigate by County Magistrate Tang.

Bai Shan’s head stopped moving for a moment; he turned his head to look at Bai Erlang and was forced to also shake his head, but then Bai Erlang nodded along with him.

Manbao glared at her two foolish junior brothers, too angry to speak.

Madam Tang let out a slight smile and asked, "Have you been in correspondence with County Magistrate Tang recently?"

"Occasionally, we’ve sent a letter or two to say hello," replied Bai Shan cautiously. "After we arrived in the capital, both County Magistrate Tang and County Magistrate Yang have taken good care of us."

"It seems so; even my father-in-law knows about you, I’ve heard him instructing the steward to take good care of you," she said, as she lifted her gaze towards them.

Bai Shan and Manbao’s expressions remained composed, filled with puzzlement, "Is that so? But we haven’t met the steward of Tang Residence."

Madam Tang’s gaze slid toward Bai Erlang.

Sweat beaded on Bai Erlang’s forehead as he nodded repeatedly, "I haven’t met him either."

He felt he had made a mistake in coming; he shouldn’t have come just for a taste of good food. Madam Tang was truly fearsome, it would be better to leave such matters to Bai Shan and Manbao in the future.

After pausing for a moment, Bai Shan asked, "Madam Tang, if the Prince of Yizhou is not in trouble, is there something troubling the court right now?"

Madam Tang turned her head to look at him.

Their eyes met and they silently stared at each other for a while before Madam Tang asked, "Is this question something you wanted to ask, or did County Magistrate Tang want you to ask?"

After a brief silence, Bai Shan said, "County Magistrate Tang would agree with us asking."

Madam Tang’s fingers twirled her teacup before saying, "Troublesome matters, eh? Mid-Autumn is coming; everyone seems very happy, it’s just a bit unfortunate."

Madam Tang continued, "A few days ago, a concubine died in the Eastern Palace, they say she hanged herself, and just before her death, she miscarried a child of three months. The Crown Princess has been ill because of this and hasn’t improved much."

Bai Erlang and Manbao were puzzled, "Why would she hang herself? How was the child lost?"

Bai Erlang even lowered his voice to ask, "Could it be the Crown Princess who harmed her?"

"Impossible!" Bai Shan interjected. Though he heard little in the National Academy, he occasionally heard bits and pieces, and said, "The Crown Prince has always been without a son, and the Crown Princess is anxious. If the concubine was pregnant, she should have been pleased."

Madam Tang nodded, "Yes, that’s right."

Manbao then looked up at Madam Tang for a while and asked, "But that concubine was harmed by someone, wasn’t she?"

Madam Tang did not answer but simply said, "Perhaps that’s the only troublesome matter. The Emperor even admonished the Crown Prince a couple of days ago."

Thinking of the papers they had received, Manbao couldn’t help but slap the table and exclaimed, "I understand now; it was the Prince of Yizhou’s doing. Without a son, the Crown Prince’s position is unstable, the foundation of the state is unstable, and naturally, the court would also be unstable."

Madam Tang sprayed out the tea in her mouth and stared wide-eyed at Manbao, "What did you say? The court unstable?"

Manbao blinked and asked nervously, "Did I say that?"

Bai Shan shielded his face with his hand, and after a while, looked up and earnestly said to Madam Tang, "Madam Tang, you must have heard wrong; she didn’t say that."

Madam Tang: ...These two troublemakers, acting as if I’m deaf!

She said irritably, "There’s another little piece of gossip, who knows if it’s true or not. Do you want to hear it?"

Manbao and Bai Shan nodded eagerly while Bai Erlang shook his head.

Seated next to him, Bai Shan reached over and pushed his head down to give a nod.

Madam Tang, however, didn’t care about his opinion and continued, "I’ve inquired discreetly and heard that the Crown Prince was reproached by His Majesty because he hit the Third Prince and smashed up his residence. However, the incident happened within the mansion, the Imperial Censors did not submit a memorial, and both the Emperor and the Empress wanted to keep this matter quiet, so no one dared to openly talk about it."

Manbao and Bai Shan’s mouths hung open in shock, falling silent as if deep in thought after a while.

Madam Tang watched their expressions, also musing thoughtfully.

The meal was not enjoyable because no one had the appetite. They hastily concluded their gathering, and Madam Tang gave them a few invitations, telling them they could come to see her if they needed anything.

Manbao then gave her their home address and invited her to visit whenever she could, offering to gift her some beautiful plants.

Knowing her love for money, Madam Tang asked with a smile, "You’re gifting them to me, not selling them?"

"Not selling, not selling. Those plants aren’t like orchids; they aren’t worth much."

Madam Tang thought of a unique plant she had seen the day before at someone’s house and couldn’t help asking, "There’s a plant called flower of small pipewort; you didn’t sell it, did you?"

Manbao blinked and replied, "Madam Tang, you’ve seen it, huh?"

Madam Tang: ...I thought that plant was very unique. It’s actually not valuable? Why is it not valuable?"

Bai Shan gave a light cough and pointed ahead, "Madam Tang, your carriage has arrived."

Madam Tang glanced at him, let out a light laugh, and stopped inquiring further, waving her hand and saying, "Alright, I understand. I won’t talk about this outside."

Saying this, she got into the carriage with the help of her servant girl.

As soon as Madam Tang entered the carriage, her smile fell, and she nervously twisted her handkerchief.

What does it mean when the state governance is unstable?

She faintly guessed the matter her husband and his colleagues were investigating and why he wouldn’t share it with her.

This was a matter of life and death; a careless mistake could lead to someone’s end.

Madam Tang paused at the thought, but it didn’t seem right. If it was such a critical matter that he wouldn’t even tell her, why would he involve three children?

How old were those three anyway?

Madam Tang furrowed her brows and turned to ask Daya, "What does Zhou Man’s family do again?"

Daya paused for a moment before responding, "They’re farmers, aren’t they? They also grow medicinal herbs, which is why Miss Man studied medicine, and they even started a business in grain seeds with the master."

"And Bai Shan? Right, he’s the descendant of a meritorious official... a meritorious official..." Madam Tang pondered for a moment and then said, "Upon returning, look into what exploits his father accomplished and where he has held official positions."

"Yes."

The three who also boarded the carriage were equally unsettled, their expressions serious.

With their rich experience in storytelling, they had already come up with several scenarios.

Manbao raised a finger and said, "One scenario, the Crown Prince doesn’t have a son, but the Third Prince does. He wants to compete with his elder brother for the throne, so he hears that one of the Crown Prince’s concubines is pregnant and causes her to miscarry. Then he frames the Prince of Yizhou, but the Crown Prince doesn’t believe it while the Emperor does. Thus, the Emperor is mad at the Prince of Yizhou and instructs us to accuse him."