Lian Erye in the Red Mansion

Chapter 723 Protecting the Young

Ningrong Street.

With such a commotion in the city, it was impossible for the two prefectures not to have heard about it.

Rumors spread like wildfire, and opinions varied widely.

Upon hearing the rumors, Sister Feng immediately recalled Jia Lian's unusual behavior before his departure and the arrangements he had made.

Despite this, when she learned that overnight, the entire capital of the Great Wei Dynasty, the land under heaven, had become "chaotic and disorderly," she was still shocked and worried.

Shocked by the magnitude of the matter, they were also worried about Jia Lian's safety.

Her husband was like a general leading troops, and in the current situation, she was very worried that Jia Lian would be dragged into it and get hurt.

Fortunately, since Jia Lian officially entered officialdom, he has always escaped danger and turned misfortune into good fortune.

Given the previous situation, Jia Lian should have anticipated the current predicament. It was her confidence in Jia Lian that calmed her down and made her start to think about what she should do now.

Inside the two mansions, apart from a group of women and children, there was no one in charge. She felt that at this moment, it should be her, and only she, who could step forward to take charge of the situation.

So he took charge of the outer courtyard, ordering people to continue gathering information while also increasing manpower to strictly guard the entrance, prohibiting people from entering or leaving, and forbidding any unauthorized discussions.

Suddenly an old woman came and called, saying that Grandmother Jia and others wanted to see them.

This was exactly what Sister Feng had expected.

After giving Lin Zhixiao and the other stewards some instructions, she hurried to Rongqing Hall.

Inside Rongqing Hall, there were Grandmother Jia, Lady Xing and Lady Wang, and even Lady You and her daughter-in-law.

They all looked surprised and uncertain.

Madam Xing was the most impatient. As soon as she saw Feng Jie, she grabbed her and asked, "Feng Jie, have you found out what's going on outside?"

Without making a sound, Sister Feng pushed Madam Xing's hand away, walked to the middle of the crowd, her expression solemn, and her voice low:

"I heard it's the Crown Prince plotting a rebellion! The city is now ablaze with searches for traitors, and people are being killed..."

"The Crown Prince plotted rebellion? Murder?"

Everyone was shocked, even Grandmother Jia couldn't sit still and asked in alarm, "Is it true?"

"I don't know if it's true or not, but it's all over the city now, and everyone's panicking. All the mansions are keeping their gates tightly shut, afraid that those heartless Imperial Guards will come knocking on their doors!"

The women in Rongqing Hall looked at each other, unsure of what to say.

The Crown Prince, what a high and mighty figure he is, how could he possibly plot a rebellion?

In the capital city, right under the emperor's nose, even marauding soldiers commit murder?

At the same time, they couldn't help but worry whether such a huge event would affect the Jia family and their personal safety and wealth.

Seeing that her children, grandchildren, and even the servants around her had started to gossip, it was Grandmother Jia, who had experienced the most, who was the first to calm down and shouted, "Quiet!"

"How could you possibly understand such a momentous matter? Shut up, all of you."

As she spoke, Grandmother Jia looked at Feng Jie and said, "Feng Jie, now that your master and Lian'er are not at home, you are the one taking care of everything inside and outside the home."

At such a critical juncture, we absolutely cannot afford any mistakes. We must be extremely careful, both inside and out, and not give any opportunity to malicious individuals, for that would be a catastrophic disaster…”

Sister Feng immediately stood at attention, "Don't worry, Grandma, I understand."

I have ordered all the doors and windows of the house to be closed, and additional guards to protect and watch over the area. Apart from sending out a few clever and quick-witted people to gather information, no one else is allowed to enter or leave, and they are not allowed to gossip. Anyone who violates this rule will be severely punished.

I've also checked the house. The kitchen and storerooms are fully stocked with fruits, vegetables, rice, and flour. Even if things go turbulent outside for ten days or half a month, our household will never run out of food and supplies.

Before leaving, the Second Master left me with thirty soldiers, and I had them take turns standing guard to protect the streets in front of and behind our mansions, so that no unauthorized people were allowed to enter the territory of our two mansions.

I've made up my mind that until the rumors die down and our second master returns, we'll stay home and live a secluded life. Unless absolutely necessary, no one is allowed to go out and cause trouble.

When Sister Feng said this, everyone was stunned. Some people couldn't help but turn their gaze to Sister Feng.

Faced with such a major incident, they were all panicked and had no idea what to do.

However, Sister Feng had already thought of and implemented all the countermeasures. She had even considered the possibility of the commotion outside lasting for ten days or half a month, and she comforted Grandmother Jia and others, telling them not to worry about food shortages at home...

Also, Jia Lian left thirty soldiers for Feng Jie? Were they his personal guards?

Even after looking at her a few more times, Grandmother Jia couldn't help but say, "You've really improved a lot by following Lian'er all these years. You've thought things through very well. The outside world is in a lot of chaos right now, so it's really best not to get involved in any trouble."

There's no other way right now, so let's do it your way.

I also give you a special decree: from now on, all matters, large and small, in the manor will be handled according to your arrangements. Anyone who disobeys your orders should be sent to me.

Madam You stood up and added a compliment: "Indeed, Feng'er has become increasingly efficient in her actions. When I came over just now, I found everything here to be very orderly. Even I had to announce myself before I could enter the manor... The security is also very thorough. In this respect, I am far inferior to her and should learn from her."

Grandmother Jia glanced at her as well, "That's right. Things are even more complicated on your end, and your master's funeral is coming up soon?"

But you should understand that in the current situation, if the situation remains unchanged, even if it delays things, it will be unavoidable.

Therefore, you should prepare everything as it is. The actual funeral must wait until things are stable outside. Otherwise, if anything goes wrong, it will be beyond your ability to handle.

Madam You replied, "I will follow the old lady's teachings."

……

With the capital in chaos, Tiewangshan, as the epicenter of the incident, was naturally even more chaotic.

The two emperors led most of the imperial clan in this hunting expedition, which was a grand affair with a huge number of participants.

The imperial family members, princes, ministers, and their sons alone numbered over a thousand. Add to that the palace maids, eunuchs, and their respective entourages, and the total number was at least tens of thousands.

These people are usually living a life of comfort and luxury; they have never encountered a grand occasion before.

Most of the royal family members and princes were still engrossed in the hunting activities, thinking about how to get a good ranking in the last few days and show off in front of the two emperors and their elders.

Suddenly they were informed that the hunting trip was canceled, and that the Crown Prince had led a large army to surround the mountain and was about to attack...

They were all stunned and dumbfounded.

Not to mention them, even those princes, dukes, imperial relatives, and nobles who were usually calm and collected, as if they could remain unmoved even if Mount Tai collapsed in front of them, lost their composure one by one, and wandered around like headless flies, ultimately gaining nothing.

The retired emperor refused to see them, and Emperor Ningkang wouldn't even let them into his temporary palace.

There was a wide, flat area on the mountain.

Here stretches a long line of houses and wooden cabins, as well as countless tents.

The fourth prince, accompanied by his guards, rode his horse to a small courtyard on the outermost edge.

Ignoring the stares of the royal guards, he leaped off his horse and hurried inside, calling out, "Royal Sister! Royal Sister!!"

As soon as I entered, I saw a courtyard full of female soldiers in gleaming armor.

Their faces were solemn, their posture upright, and their rows were neat; at a glance, there were one or two hundred of them.

Before them stood a dozen or so fine horses clad in iron armor and saddles, and before one of them stood his elder sister, dressed in similar attire to the female soldiers.

She is holding a golden whip and is giving instructions on something.

Upon seeing him enter, his expression changed, and he mounted his horse, slowly approaching him.

The fourth prince was a little stunned. He was about to ask his elder sister where she had found so many decent-looking girls when he remembered the purpose of his journey. So he stepped forward and grabbed his elder sister's horse reins, anxiously saying, "Elder sister, do you know that my eldest brother has taken some kind of wrong medicine and actually led troops to surround the mountain?"

Everyone's saying that the eldest prince's troops are about to storm the mountain, but nobody knows what he's up to!

My dear sister, what should we do now?

I just went to find my father, but he wouldn't see me. Let's go find my grandfather together...

Princess Zhaoyang looked calmly at her younger brother. Seeing that his expression was genuine, she sighed inwardly, but her expression turned serious.

"I was just about to send someone to find you, and your arrival is just in time."

From this moment on, you stay right here. You're not going anywhere until I get back.

After saying that, Princess Zhaoyang waved her hand, and the maids who were standing at the front of the line mounted their horses in unison.

The fourth prince immediately became anxious: "Sister, where are you going? I'll go with you!"

The fourth prince held tightly to Princess Zhaoyang's horse reins, like a child about to be abandoned.

Princess Zhaoyang's gaze softened slightly, but her expression remained uncompromising.

Without her giving any instructions, several maids immediately stepped forward and forcibly dragged the Fourth Prince away, ignoring his struggles.

Then Princess Zhaoyang cracked her whip, and she led more than ten of her maids out of the courtyard gate.

Suddenly remembering something, she stopped her horse and said to the person behind her, "Take some men and invite the Fourth Princess and the Fifth Prince over here. Make sure they are safe."

Princess Zhaoyang, having received the reply from her attendants, said no more and once again spurred her horse in one direction.

Behind her, more than ten riders, fully armed and armored, followed by the guards who had been waiting outside.

Outside the courtyard gate, the guards from the Xiao Prince's residence who had come with the Fourth Prince looked at each other in bewilderment.

They knew, of course, that their master had been detained.

As personal guards, they should have rushed to rescue their master at this time.

However, seeing the dozens or even hundreds of Princess's guards staring at them, they consciously chose to stand still like wooden statues.

Listening to their master's angry shouts and curses coming from inside, as well as the comforting words from the eunuchs and maids of the Princess's residence, they couldn't help but feel emotional.

His Majesty truly dotes on the Eldest Princess.

Leaving aside the dashing and attractive sword attendants, they guessed that there were no less than two or three hundred guards protecting the house and its surroundings.

Is this just the force that the eldest princess brought this time?

Heaven knows how many more princesses there are in that vast mansion in the imperial city.

Looking at their Prince Xiao's mansion, all they have are a few dozen guards in total.

Their Prince Xiao's residence and the Princess's residence are simply incomparable.

……

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