Peach Blossom.

In the following days, Xiuping told Wang Jing and others many things that happened before and after Yuer was tattooed on her face.

Ever since Wang Jing left Jiankang, Princess Si Yao had been sending people to search for him secretly, but there was no news. Until one day, she accidentally "heard" on the street that Wang Jing and Tao Ye eloped to Yongchang and was pregnant. She was so angry that she almost vomited blood.

The road to Yongchang is long, and Si Yao is someone who cannot endure hardship. She cannot reach to punish Wang Jing and Tao Ye, so she comes up with this bad idea.

At first, the Wang family only heard that the princess asked for an order to betroth Yu'er to the son of Prince Yongchang, but they didn't expect that she would suddenly break into Yu'er's room one night, first have someone hold Xiuping down, and then forcibly tattoo words on Yu'er's face.

Yu'er had her mouth stuffed and she cried with tears and blood.

The next day, when the mistress Xiao Rui learned about this, she was so angry that her old illness relapsed and she was bedridden for many days; the third son Wang Ao scolded the princess and was dismissed from his post; even the eldest son Wang Dun, who always respected the princess, went to the palace to complain, but the complaint was useless, so he resigned in anger, but was finally persuaded by his aunt, the Queen Mother Zhou.

Empress Dowager Zhou was Concubine Zhou at that time. Although she became the empress dowager, she was still suppressed by the Grand Empress Dowager. She hoped that her son would grow up quickly and take power, but before that, she needed the support of her maternal relatives.

Until the day Xiuping and Yuer left the Wang family, Xiao Rui was still in a coma, and Wang Ao had been serving him by his bedside.

The people who brought Xiuping and Yu'er to Yongchang were, of course, sent by Princess Si Yao. They walked very fast along the way, and the young Yu'er vomited countless times due to the bumpy ride.

At the border of Yongchang, the people from the Princess's Mansion threw Yu'er to King Yongchang like throwing away garbage, and immediately turned around and drove back the same way.

Prince Yongchang looked very unhappy at the time, but he had to take Yizhi and Yu'er back to Yongchang Palace, and then what happened next happened.

On the surface, the row of houses built by the Wang family was an ordinary residence, but in fact, they chiseled a hole in the ground of one of the houses and began to dig downwards.

Although Tao Ye didn't ask, she had already guessed that the vault here should be under the barren mountain behind their house.

The newly dug hole must lead to the vault.

Wang Yi asked Wang Jing to go to the palace to report to King Yongchang that the gold and silver did not need to be unearthed. They just needed to count the quantity and remember the specific location. If needed, they could take them as needed. It would not be too late to take them all out when they left Yongchang.

This is because it is safest and most convenient to keep the things that have been placed here for many years where they are. There is no need to move them, let alone gather the eight vaults in one place for safekeeping.

Yongchang Wang Siyuan agreed with this statement.

Since the Wang family brought Yu'er back from the palace, Chen Ji has never targeted the Wang family again, but has focused on training troops.

In Yongchang, except for young children and those with disabilities or infirmities, almost everyone, regardless of gender, enthusiastically participated in practicing martial arts.

Because they had money, the people of Yongchang no longer had to farm and weave all day long. The food, clothing, and weapons they needed were basically purchased from the neighboring State of Wei. The person who helped purchase the supplies was Wang Xiao, who was stationed on the border between Qi and Wei, and was Wang Yi's younger brother and Wang Jing's uncle.

However, even if all available men in Yongchang were used up, the number of soldiers obtained would still be far from that of the soldiers guarding Jiankang.

Therefore, what Si Yuan hoped for was that every soldier in Yongchang would have the courage to fight against a hundred enemies at once.

Chen Ji was not very trusted by Si Yuan, but since the Chen family was a family of military generals, Chen Ji had been familiar with the art of war since he was a child. He treated every soldier with care, taught them everything he knew, and gradually became one of the most beloved generals among the recruits.

At the same time, Wang Jing had been trying to find a way to heal the tattoo scar on Yu'er's face. He asked his relatives and friends to look for doctors who were good at healing scars, and either went to ask for medicine in person or invited doctors to his home to see Yu'er. He tried many times, but the tattoo was too deep on Yu'er's face. He spent four years, and the effect was only not so obvious when viewed from a distance.

Four years later, Yu'er had become more pretty and charming, but her eyes no longer had the liveliness she had when she was a child. She never left the house easily, seldom spoke to people, and never took off her veil in front of anyone, and she never smiled again.

During the long years of living in Yongchang, Yuer has slowly understood the real reason why her father Wang Jing left home. However, since Wang Jing and Tao Ye's marriage is a fact, she is still unwilling to talk to Wang Jing much, and is even more unwilling to give Tao Ye a good face.

Out of consideration for Yu'er's mood, Tao Ye always kept a proper distance from Wang Jing during the day, and they lived separately at night. She often took care of the family's meals, needlework, and other matters with Xiuping, and she became more and more like an old nanny.

Such a life is certainly not good, but Tao Ye had taken care of Yu'er when she was in the Wang family and had feelings for her. Then, she married Wang Jing under the auspices of Wang Yi. She thought that she should treat Yu'er as her own daughter. In this way, she felt that everything could be tolerated.

According to the report from the spies sent by Yongchang to Jiankang, the contradiction between Grand Empress Dowager Meng and Empress Dowager Zhou was becoming increasingly acute. In the past, they were mostly hostile behind the scenes, but recently they had erupted into several head-on conflicts, causing the young Emperor Side to be restless every day and the entire court of civil and military officials to talk about it.

The subjects of Yongchang all believed that the good time to enter Beijing was approaching.

Wang Jing was quite worried about this matter. Although he lived a poor life in Yongchang, it was peaceful at least. Compared with the possible bloody storm after going to Jiankang, he was more willing to live this kind of peaceful life.

But going to the capital was inevitable, so Wang Jing had to discuss it with his father alone: ​​"It is hard to predict whether Prince Yongchang will go to the capital, and whether he wins or loses, our life may not be easy. I always feel that we have to think of a way to keep our family away from trouble."

Wang Yi smiled slightly, and then couldn't help but sigh: "Once you wade into muddy water, how can you get out just because you want to? Ever since Emperor Xiaozong asked me to look for treasure, I knew that I would never have peace in my life."

"Even if it's hard to get out, we can't all get stuck in it. Due to my status, I have to accompany Prince Yongchang to the capital. But you, father... you don't have to go to the capital..."

Without Wang Jing having to finish, Wang Yi already understood: "You want me to fake my death?"

Wang Jing nodded and said, "I want you to go to Wei State to seek refuge with my uncle Wang Xuan. Since its founding, Wei State has never had any internal strife and is much more stable than Qi State. When you have a place to stay there, I will persuade you to resign. Then, we will bring mother and my third brother to find you. Wouldn't it be nice for us to live a civilian life together?"

Wang Xuan was Wang Yi's distant cousin. He had been doing business in the State of Wei for many years and had stayed away from state affairs. He focused only on his business and lived a rich and stable life, which was exactly what Wang Jing longed for.

Wang Yi had been busy and hardworking for most of his life, so he naturally agreed with Wang Jing's ideas, but he was worried that these ideas would be difficult to realize.

But always give it a try.

So Wang Jing came to ask for an audience with Yongchang Wang Siyuan, and Madam Han was still by his side.

Wang Jing appealed to Si Yuan, "If the prince wants to come to the capital to marry, Yu'er must return to the capital first. But Yu'er is already in Yongchang, so there must be some reason for her to return to the capital. I have discussed with my father, and the best way is to let my father "die of illness" in the capital, so Yu'er can go back to "attend the funeral" with a legitimate reason! My father has been claiming to be seriously ill and bedridden for many years. It is reasonable for him to "die of illness" after being bedridden for so many years. If he rashly returns to the capital and is seen by others, it may cause trouble."

Si Yuan thought it made sense, so he nodded slightly and said, "Please elaborate."

Wang Jing nodded and answered: "This matter needs to be divided into three steps. The first step is that one of my confidants needs to secretly go home to pass on the news so that my brother can announce that their father has passed away; the second step is that my brother will start to take care of the "afterlife" and send servants to "notify" me and Yu'er as soon as possible; the third step is for me to take my wife and daughter home to "attend the funeral."

"Very good. Since Prince Consort Wang has thought so carefully, let's do it as soon as possible." Si Yuan had a slight smile on his face, as if he was sure that Wang Jing's plan was the best one.

Wang Jing was about to leave when he heard Madam Han ask, "The princess is after all the daughter-in-law of Wang Situ, so she must be involved in the funeral arrangements. If she accidentally discovers that Wang Situ's body is not there, won't she be suspicious?"

Wang Jing replied, "Madam, you are worrying too much. The princess has never seen the real face of my father. My brother can find a male corpse of the same age to replace him. As for the mourners who recognized my father, there is no reason for them to open the coffin and see the body."

"Having said that, to be on the safe side, it would be better to ask your father to live in our palace first, and tell him not to show up in public for the time being, so that everyone in the world will think that Wang Situ has passed away. Besides, when Prince Consort Wang takes his wife and daughter away from Yongchang, it will not be safe for Wang Situ to live alone outside. If he lives in the palace, Your Majesty can send more people to protect him." Madam Han smiled gently, as if she had ulterior motives.

Wang Jing understood instantly that Si Yuan and Madam Han were afraid that once the Wang family left Yongchang, they would simply "break off the engagement" between Yu'er and Si Yuan's son, and then no longer care about the matter of Prince Yongchang's entry into Beijing. That was why they wanted to take Wang Yi as a hostage!

He had no choice but to ask, "How long does Madam want my father to stay in Yongchang Palace?"

Mrs. Han smiled and replied, "One day in the future, when the Meng family loses power, who will hold Wang Situ accountable for his "secret departure from the capital"? Wang Situ will naturally be free."

Wang Jing's heart couldn't help but skip a beat. It turned out that he not only had to assist Si Yuan in entering the capital, but he also had to wait until the Meng family fell and Si Yuan took the throne!

After returning home, Wang Jing had to discuss with his father whether to send Chongqiu or Qiongju to his hometown in Jiankang to deliver the message.

Tao Ye was listening outside the window, and heard Wang Jing's worries: "There are only two of them as guards. If father goes to the palace, he must have someone to accompany him. But Yu'er lives here, and when she returns to the capital in the future, how can she be without someone to protect her on the way?"

Tao Ye pushed the door open and walked in: "I will go back to the capital to pass on the message, asking Qiongju and Chongqiu to stay with you."

Wang Yi and Wang Jing both looked up at Tao Ye.

"To Prince Yongchang, I am no different from a servant. I think they will agree to send me to deliver the message. Anyway... Yu'er doesn't want to see me. If she rides in the same carriage with me when returning to the capital, wouldn't it make her uncomfortable? It would be better if I go first on this first trip, so that she can have a few days of peace and quiet." Tao Ye smiled at the father and son. She felt that her idea was logical.

Wang Jing felt that this smile was full of bitterness.

However, Wang Yi readily agreed and said to Wang Jing: "Tao Ye has learned magic, so it should not be difficult for her to make this trip. Qiong Ju and Chong Qiu have never been to Wang's house in Jiankang, so Tao Ye is more familiar with the place."

"Then this matter is settled. Father and husband don't have to worry." Tao Ye curled her lips and smiled again. She thought she had solved a problem for Wang Jing, so she was complacent.

Tao Ye seemed to feel uncomfortable standing opposite Wang Jing and laughing like this, so she ran out in a hurry.

Wang Jing looked at Tao Ye's back, his face becoming even more worried: "Father, have you ever thought that if Tao Ye returns alone and meets the princess, won't she be in a difficult situation?"

"If she appears in front of the princess with you, her situation will only be more difficult." Wang Yi smiled and shook his head, then patted Wang Jing on the shoulder: "Don't worry, if you are not at home, will the princess stay there? She will definitely live in the palace to accompany the Empress Dowager!"

Wang Jing didn't say anything, just looked out the window.

Wang Yi followed Wang Jing's gaze and saw Tao Ye squatting not far away peeling edamame with Xiu Ping.

Wang Yi couldn't help but sigh: "If you really feel that you owe her, then don't live alone anymore! Even if you stay single forever, Yu'er won't be happy, and she may not understand you. You should think about who is the most important person in your life? Tonight...you should sleep in Taoye's room!"

Wang Jing remained silent.