Can't a princess ascend the throne?

Chapter 161 Rescue
"Don't worry, I just want an answer, I won't bother you. If you know, please tell me. It's been three whole years, and I haven't heard a single word from him. That fool has to know that I've been waiting for him for the past three years. Ruohua is also waiting for him to come back and call him 'Father'..."

As he spoke, Boss Fang finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears. Ruohua, who was standing next to him, was a little confused, but she understood the key point and started crying too.

Chunyu Shuang was completely stunned. She couldn't help but glance at Xie Mingchen, only to find that this little imperial physician, whom Jiu Que had personally dubbed a 'naive and innocent' doctor, was turning his face away and refusing to meet her gaze. "Fine," she thought, "he's just waiting to leave all the problems for me to solve!"

However, to be fair, the mother and daughter were crying so hard that it wasn't really appropriate for a strange man to help comfort them. Chunyu Shuang sighed quietly, feeling that her life was truly full of misfortunes. But she still skillfully helped the two up and earnestly explained the preconditions to Boss Fang.

"Sister Fang, I know you are a strong person. What I am about to say may not meet your expectations, but it is what I saw with my own eyes. I don't dare to tell you things that I'm not sure about. And my knowledge is also very limited. If you don't care about any of that, I can tell you what I saw."

Boss Fang nodded repeatedly. For the past three years, she had waited day and night, almost turning into a statue waiting for her husband. Now that she finally had a glimmer of hope in finding him, she had to seize the opportunity!
After the other party repeatedly assured him that he would not be disappointed, Chunyu Shuang hesitated for a moment before telling him what he had seen at the salt field.

"...That's how it is, Sister Fang. I didn't dare to look closely to see who was inside or how many people were there. I only glanced at them from afar before running out, afraid of being discovered. Perhaps your husband is still at the saltworks, or perhaps he is still alive. Don't be sad, things will get better."

From the moment Chunyu Shuang began her narration, tears streamed down Boss Fang's face. Finally, she couldn't hold back any longer, and large tears welled up in her eyes. She had long known that something had happened to her simple-minded husband. But she truly hadn't expected that the recruitment of salt workers for the salt fields had such a hidden story. And how much suffering her husband must have endured at the salt fields? Not enough to eat, not enough to wear, and forced to do backbreaking labor every day. Although salt is something we eat every day, those who actually refine salt always get stung. Let alone working non-stop.

But after crying, Boss Fang felt lost again. From what Miss Noble said, those men who went to the salt fields never came out again, and the whole thing was a scam. But everyone in Yancheng knew that the real owner behind the vast salt fields of Yancheng was none other than the Prince of Binyang.

The Prince of Binyang was not only the war god of Dajing, but also the benefactor of this land. When he first took up his fief, he reduced their taxes by 20%. Because of this benevolent act, countless newborns were born in Yancheng over the years, as everyone had food to eat and no longer had to abandon children they couldn't afford to raise. The entire city of Yancheng was grateful for the Prince's kindness, and whenever he went out, everyone was overjoyed, even going out to watch. The joy of those times is still vivid in their minds.

Can a person really change so much in just two years?

Boss Fang stared blankly at the distinguished woman opposite her. She was just an ordinary woman who had single-mindedly supported her family and raised her daughter well over the years. Her only wish was for her husband, whose whereabouts were unknown, to return soon. But now, although she knew where her husband was, she couldn't find him. After all, he was a prince of high rank and power. Who in the world could compare to a prince?
No wonder this distinguished lady told me not to be disappointed beforehand; it's simply an unsolvable problem...

Just as Boss Fang was about to fall into despair, Chunyu Shuang quickly comforted her.

"Don't worry, Mr. Fang. I thought it was the same person who paid you before. She's upright and honest, and she can't stand seeing people starve. She secretly entered the city this time to investigate this matter. Sister Fang, you just saw those guards from the Prince's Mansion searching everywhere, right? I suspect it's because she found something important that she made such a commotion. So don't worry, this matter will definitely be resolved soon, and I will inform you as soon as possible."

Boss Fang wiped away her tears and nodded haphazardly. She keenly sensed a certain possibility in the words of this distinguished person. For example, that generous young lady from before—if she were just an ordinary person, why would she be judged as upright and incorruptible? Such an evaluation didn't seem directed at a noblewoman; it sounded more like an assessment of an official—yes, like an assessment of an official. Even in the heavily guarded salt fields, news could be heard from the outside; the salt city itself received even more information, given its excellent transportation network. In that instant, Boss Fang suddenly remembered the news that had come in a few days ago.

Isn't there a righteous official from the capital in Qianzhou? Oh no, a female righteous official. It's said that as soon as she arrived, she turned the whole of Qianzhou upside down. That corrupt prefect Liang Heng, who ate the people's flesh and wrote letters written by the people, was arrested. That heartless prefect tried to escape, but he was beaten to death by the people.

The thought of the news that had come in filled Boss Fang with joy. She stared intently into Chuan Yishuang's eyes, her expression unconsciously questioning.

Chunyu Shuang was actually somewhat surprised. She hadn't said anything important, but the boss opposite her seemed to understand her meaning. No wonder she was a boss who could manage the household so well even three years after her husband's departure.

She nodded, and Mr. Fang's eyes lit up with joy. It seemed her husband's return home was in sight.

As they were talking, they suddenly heard a faint rustling sound outside. Suddenly remembering the guards who had gone to the pharmacy to buy medicinal herbs, Chunyu Shuang quickly got up and went to the backyard. Through the wall, she heard one of the guards asking in a low voice.

"Lord Chunyu? Physician Xie?"

Chunyu Shuang breathed a sigh of relief. She was surprised to hear they had been allowed in. She wondered how Wei Yuan's men had found them at Boss Fang's house, but those guys always had their own methods, so Chunyu Shuang wasn't curious. She was more interested in the information they brought.

"How is it? Any news? How are Jiu Que and the others?"

"Rest assured, my lord. Lord Ying has taken control of the Prince's residence. The guards who came out to search have also returned. The situation here is very complicated. Lord Ying has invited you two into the residence, seemingly to rescue someone."

"Rescue?"

Chunyu Shuang and Xie Mingchen exchanged a glance, somewhat surprised. Who should they save at this moment? They instinctively felt that things in the Prince's mansion were somewhat complicated.

(End of this chapter)