PROOFREAD BY AFREANA

Chapter 38.1

“Why do you want to catch the spies?” Big Long asked her.

The words ‘I want to defeat them’ were on her lips, but An Ruochen turned it around. “To stop the war.” She said. “My life, my sister’s life, they all come after the war in Great Xiao and the peace of the people in Pingnan County.”

“So it was me who plotted against you? Against your fourth sister?”

“Naturally not.” An Ruochen glared.

“Then it was you who caused the death of Xu Matchmaker and Old Chen?”

An Ruochen’s face turned red. “I know I’m wrong. I didn’t think like that before, but I was just sad in my heart and talked nonsense for a while ……”

“Still arguing? If you are wrong, then you are wrong. Why are you explaining? Is this the attitude of admitting mistakes?” 

An Ruochen was ashamed and lowered her head: “I know I was wrong. Please punish me.” The General called himself strict, which was not a false word.

“Good. Then you will be punished by copying the ‘New Biography of General Long’ twice.” Big Long’s face remained serious.

“Yes.” An Ruochen was confused by Big Long’s expression and answered without any precautions. After answering the question, she froze and carefully examined Big Long’s face. Did you joke again, General? But he looked serious. An Ruochen pursed her lips. Copy, then she’ll copy! She nodded vigorously and answered, ‘yes.’

Big Long smiled, and this smile warmed An Ruochen’s heart. She felt Big Long’s voice seemed to be much softer when he said: “Isn’t it good to have a spirit like this?”

The Lord General left, leaving An Ruochen alone in the room to reminisce. Wait a minute, what did you say about the biography? The new biography? Not a historical biography? Where did ‘General Long’s new biography’ come from?

The General played tricks again. It was too much. An Ruochen bit her lips. After eating, she began to grind ink and write. She wanted to write a new historical biography of General Long, which was more interesting than the new biography of General Long.

It was a busy night. When she fell into bed exhausted, An Ruochen realized that she had spent the night thinking about the new biography and had no time to be sad. The General was a careful and considerate person, although a bit harsh. She must not disappoint him and must be a character that satisfies him.

The next day, An Ruochen was no longer depressed. She went to the old nanny’s grave to kowtow and offered incense for the old nanny. After wiping away her tears and shaking her spirit, all her grief turned into her strength. She swore that she would get justice for her old nanny.

Back at the Purple Cloud House, An Ruochen gave An Ruoxi a reply and agreed to her visit, which would be tomorrow. At that time, the scout reported a message that Li Xiu’er’s side showed movement. She had gone to the Zhaofu Restaurant.

In the Zhaofu Restaurant, Zhao Jiahua looked unhappy and lowered her voice to Li Xiu’er in a compartment in the backyard: “Didn’t we agree that you shouldn’t come to me? If you have something to do, ask Dun’er to send me a message, and I will come to see you. If you come here like this, you will be exposed.”

Li Xiu’er was panicked: “Yesterday, An Ruochen went to my mother’s house and asked many questions.”

Zhao Jiahua frowned: “What did she ask?”

Li Xiu’er told Zhao Jiahua what her sister, Zhu’er, said when she came over early in the morning. Zhao Jiahua listened to this and said: “Those are nothing. Didn’t you tell Zhu’er how she should answer? If anyone asks you, answer truthfully. We have agreed on the origin of your money. It was earned by you selling your embroidery work in your spare time. Didn’t we already take care of Mrs. Mo’s embroidery workshop? There is nothing flawed here. Even if it is the government officials, they can’t convict people without evidence. Besides the money you gave to your family, what else can they use as evidence? Mrs. Xu has died. As long as you say that nothing happened, who knows what happened? Even if there was something between you and Mrs. Xu in the past, are women forbidden to talk about family matters? You haven’t done anything harmful to justice, so why feel guilty?”

“But she approached my mother.” Li Xiu’er was most concerned about her mother. Her situation today was all because she wanted to give her mother a good life.

Zhao Jiahua grabbed Li Xiu’er’s hand. She stared into her eyes and said. “It is precisely because she found your mother that you need to be calm. You think about it, the government has previously asked questions, but you did not leave any traces behind. An Ruochen didn’t have any methods available anymore, so she went to your mother instead. Live your life as usual, and she will not be able to do anything about you. But, if you’re in a panic, you’ll attract suspicion. If something happens to you, then what about your mother?”

Li Xiu’er bit her lip. Right, her mother’s life still depended on her.

“Remember, Mrs. Xu is dead. Only I can ensure that you have enough money to make your mother’s life better, and Zhu’er will take care of her. You and I are on the same boat. I will only help you if you can help me.”

Li Xiu’er nodded her head forcefully. “I will naturally do what I promised you.”

The two of them talked a bit more. Zhao Jiahua told Li Xiu’er to go quickly and not to come by herself again in the future. After thinking about it, Zhao Jiahua called her again, took out some money from her bosom, and asked her to go to the restaurant in front and order an Eight Treasure Duck to create a reason for coming here.

Li Xiu’er answered affirmatively, put the money into her sleeve pocket, then went away.

Zhao Jiahua followed her out and looked around carefully. When she saw Li Xiu’er had left the back door without incident and no one noticed her, Zhao Jiahua was relieved. She turned around to return to her room, but then she saw her husband, Liu Ze, walking towards her, and she froze.

Liu Ze walked up to her, looked behind her, and asked, “Who is that? Why is she looking for you?”

Zhao Jiahua laughed and said, “The second wife of the Jiang’s clothes store wanted to buy a duck. Because I made clothes in her store, she asked me if I could give her a lower price by saying hello to the shopkeeper Li. Not good, ah. I told her it was inconvenient, but when her family hosts a banquet or something, I’ll ask for her.”

Liu Ze lost his smile. “You, ah. Since she asked you, why not do her a favor? Then when you make clothes in her store, let her do it more carefully and keep good material for you. Isn’t this quite good?”

Zhao Jiahua pouted: “I can make a few pieces of clothing myself, but I have to earn money. I am afraid if this happens, every family will come to us to take advantage in the future.”

Liu Ze dragged her to the front yard, talking all the way. “How can all families come? Where is Yin’er?”

“Inside the room with the nanny.”

“You’re not going out for a stroll today?”

“No, I’m not going. I’ll finish embroidering those shoes for you at home today.” Zhao Jiahua smiled.

The two of them talked while walking to the front yard. Liu Ze pulled Zhao Jiahua through the side door, went in through the back kitchen of Zhaofu Restaurant, and walked to the restaurant hall. Li Xiu’er had just arrived there and ordered an Eight Treasure Duck from the shopkeeper. Liu Ze saw it and went over to ask, taking the initiative to say that he would reduce the price. Li Xiu’er was surprised, glanced at Zhao Jiahua, and thanked them. Liu Ze smiled while asking her to take care of his wife when she orders clothes at her store in the future.