The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure-Chapter 1634 - 1629: Can’t Wait Any Longer

Luckily, the person who came in simply reported something and then left.

The conversation between the Empress and the Late Emperor did not continue, and the Late Emperor left in a hurry.

Cai Yun waited for a long time before daring to sneak out from under the Buddha statue and slip back to her room along the small path.

Initially, she was on edge, unable to sleep all night, and had to feign calm during the day.

A few days later, the palace maid she had replaced went out late at night, slipped into the water, and drowned.

Everyone thought it was an accident, but Cai Yun knew it was no accident!

The Empress must have discovered something, inquired about which maid was on duty that day, assumed she overheard, and got rid of her.

Logically, with the palace maid dead, the matter should have ended; no one knew Cai Yun was the one who heard.

She should be safe.

But for the past few days, she felt uneasy; the Empress looked at her as if she was already dead.

She knew she probably wouldn’t live much longer.

Cai Yun realized she couldn’t escape, and before she could request leave for the palace banquet, she was told she was not needed.

She knew those days were numbered.

Originally intending to wait quietly for her end, she didn’t expect Sister Zhao to find her, and she couldn’t hold back.

After speaking, Cai Yun felt both relieved and regretfully frightened.

She quickly pushed Sister Zhao out, telling her to find a place to hide and not to admit they had met.

Sister Zhao, scared, was hurriedly pushed out by Cai Yun, and after calming herself, she took a detour.

She circled halfway around the Imperial Garden before returning to the Empress’s palace, not daring to look for Cai Yun, and joined the rough-handed palace maids drinking tea and eating snacks.

Because she often went in and out of the Empress’s palace, everyone knew she was the Maid beside County Monarch Rongyi and was accustomed to it, inviting her to sit and drink tea.

Sister Zhao, fearful inside but pretending everything was fine on the surface, waited for the feast to end to return home with her County Monarch.

Unexpectedly, unrest occurred in the palace that day; the front palace banquet was interrupted, ending hastily.

County Monarch Rongyi returned with the Empress, with an anxious look, and left the palace quickly, barely saying a few words.

Sister Zhao dared not ask, carefully attending to her.

Later, she learned what happened.

She was shocked and terrified, realizing how frightening the information Cai Yun overheard was; if anyone knew she knew, her Lord County Monarch might not be able to protect her.

Therefore, Sister Zhao kept Cai Yun’s words deeply buried in her heart, not daring to speak of them.

After the palace calmed, she returned, and as expected, never saw Cai Yun again.

Since then, Sister Zhao became more cautious, never leaving her Lord’s side when entering the palace, safely living until now.

Decades passed, and Sister Zhao thought she would take the secret to the grave.

Yet, who knew the Wife of the Heir-Apparent had such a connection with the Qi Family?

Had it been before, Sister Zhao wouldn’t have divulged the information, but now, she knew her and others’ survival and future depended on Wang Yongzhu’s whim.

They couldn’t help the Madam anymore; if they could use this information to gain a better treatment for the Madam from the Wife of the Heir-Apparent, it was worth it.

As for anything else, she had lived most of her life, and if anything unexpected happened, it was worth it!

Sister Zhao’s thoughts were almost entirely discerned by Wang Yongzhu.

But she didn’t mind; regardless of the reason, obtaining this information was a pleasant surprise.

After Sister Zhao finished speaking, she respectfully bowed deeply to Wang Yongzhu: "Every word from this old servant is true, never daring to deceive the Wife of the Heir-Apparent. Besides the deceased Cai Yun, this old servant hasn’t disclosed a word to anyone."

Wang Yongzhu nodded: "Alright, I understand! Rest assured, the Madam will be well in the mansion!"

After speaking, she didn’t glance at Sister Zhao’s grateful face and left directly.

In the returning carriage.

Wang Yongzhu verified the information Sister Zhao provided against Lady Gao’s words.

The previous inconsistencies and unexplainable parts now made sense.

For instance, Qi Le was so high-profile, yet the Late Emperor tolerated him, even suggesting his Princes for Qi Le to choose; that was simply impossible!

The Emperor saw himself as above all, valuing his lineage highly as the exalted Son of Heaven. His bloodline was naturally noble beyond compare, never allowing a subject’s daughter to pick and choose!

Wasn’t this a slap in his own face, allowing others to disdain the Royal Family’s dignity?

Though unclear what conditions the Late Emperor offered Qi Le to stop him from becoming the Crown Princess Consort and the next National Mother and instead embrace the Great Prince of the Grasslands.

It might be that the Late Emperor directly told Qi Le she couldn’t become the Crown Princess Consort or, if Qi Le didn’t charm the Great Prince of the Grasslands, she’d be at risk?

Thinking about it, the so-called elopement was merely a staged act by the Late Emperor and Qi Le.

Otherwise, on Great Chu’s territory, how could Qi Le and the Great Prince of the Grasslands escape to the grasslands? Ridiculous!

Moreover, after Qi Le escaped to the grasslands, the Qi Family was not implicated.

Only a year later did the Late Emperor act.

Something must have occurred leading the Late Emperor to target the Qi Family.

Qi Le must have learned of the Qi Family’s confiscation and thus influenced the grasslands to war against Great Chu.

However, if Qi Le truly wanted to save the Qi Family, why didn’t she send help when the family was exiled, allowing them to die in exile?

Also, was the Late Emperor’s choice to exile the Qi Family near Chicheng City a coincidence or intentional?

The proximity to the grasslands – if exterminating the Qi Family were intended, exiling them to Lingnan would’ve been better?

It seemed more like delivering the Qi Family into Qi Le’s hands.

Although the most crucial links were still not connected, Wang Yongzhu was already very satisfied.

Now, probably only Qi Le, or perhaps the current Emperor knew the truth.

She didn’t expect the Emperor to clarify but thought of seeking ways through Qi Le.

If connecting the grasslands trade routes, there would be a chance to enter the grasslands and meet Qi Le, possibly uncovering the truth.

Having realized this, Wang Yongzhu felt she couldn’t wait any longer.

Originally, she intended to wait a few days for the Emperor’s decree.

But who knew why there had been no movement from the Emperor, even days after Gu Changque’s wedding and the bride’s return home?

Messages from the Empress had been probed several times, each time the Emperor laughingly agreeing, yet withholding the decree – the reason remains unknown.

Wang Yongzhu contemplated presenting her card for entrance into the palace tomorrow.