Golden Branch

Two days later, Madam Li came to the Duke of Qi's mansion again.

Looking at the magnificent gate, she sighed in her heart again: She is indeed a princess! She is indeed a top-notch noble in Dayu!

My sister-in-law has "eloped" for half a month. My father-in-law and husband have reported to the police and asked for help from others. They have thought of many ways and spent a lot of time and effort, but they have not found anyone, let alone any clues.

But she begged the princess, and within three days her sister-in-law was found.

It was so fast that even the wealthy slaves of the noble families could not help but marvel at it.

The parents-in-law were delighted and kept saying things that implied pride and expectation:

"She is a princess after all. She is just extraordinary."

"This move can easily solve the problem!"

"Ah Li, you are an old friend of the princess, a former top-ranking maid. You must hold on to this relationship and never let it fade!"

With the princess's protection, their family will naturally be rich and peaceful.

Lady Li was filled with bitterness: "It's too late! I've already offended the princess and completely destroyed our past friendship!"

In fact, she didn't commit any major taboos.

That day, on the way home from the Duke's Mansion, Madam Li was seriously reflecting on herself.

She carefully recalled everything she had said and done since she met the princess, and pondered it over and over again.

She finally realized how she had offended the princess.

As an old servant, it is not beyond the pale to run to the princess for help when encountering difficulties.

What she really shouldn't have said was "Save him at least".

Why did you “save” him?

The princess is the master and is inherently more noble than her.

She had never risked her life to save her master, and the princess didn't owe her anything. How could she have the nerve to ask the princess to do anything?

What?

If the princess refuses to help, she is evil?

Madam Li knew that she was just too anxious and spoke without thinking, so she said something she shouldn't have said.

Through this incident, Madam Li realized even more deeply that the princess was no longer the helpless Ninth Lady of the Wang family, but a noble royal princess and the wife of a founding duke!

The princess can be sentimental, but the servants cannot force the princess to be sentimental.

Just one sentence ruined several years of friendship.

It seemed a little unfair, but Madam Li was deeply aware that she was not wronged at all.

She was still eating the princess's food, but because her life was going smoothly, she forgot her duty as a slave.

She really lacks some respect for her master.

After fully awakening, Madam Li felt ashamed, angry and terrified.

After two days of thinking, after her sister-in-law was successfully found, Madam Li finally figured out what to do next.

Now that we have used up all our past affections, I will do my best to share my master's worries.

The princess is a person who is clear about rewards and punishments and fair and just. As long as the servants abide by their duties and work hard, the princess will see it and make appropriate arrangements.

She had one more advantage than the other slaves: she had shared hardships with the princess.

The affection is gone, but the experience remains.

As long as she behaves well, there will always be a chance to redeem herself.

As luck would have it, the sister-in-law was found, and as the person who asked for help, she should come to the princess's mansion to express her gratitude.

I'm not afraid of having no affection, I'm just afraid of having no contact.

As long as the princess is willing to let her visit, she can renew their "master-servant relationship".

"My sister-in-law has been found. Princess, my whole family is so grateful!"

"I've come specially to express my gratitude to the princess, and I'd like to trouble you all to help pass on the message!"

Madam Li puts herself in a very low position.

She no longer had the attitude of a "senior" as before. She was very polite to both the doorman and the third-class maid who was responsible for delivering messages.

Even with a bit of flattery.

"...Madam Li, please wait a moment. I'll go inside and ask Bai Zhi and the other sisters."

The little maid who was in charge of the messenger service looked about thirteen or fourteen years old.

Faced with the sudden humility of Madam Li, he was a little stunned.

Hey, why did this person suddenly change his personality?

He came to pay his respects to the princess two days ago, acting like the master's confidant.

Although she is not arrogant, she exudes confidence and arrogance from the bottom of her heart.

Although they were both slaves, she seemed to be superior to others.

It's only been two days since we last met, but Madam Li's sense of superiority has disappeared, and she now looks like an ordinary farm manager.

"Thank you! Thank you very much!"

Madam Li seemed not to notice the astonishment in the little maid's eyes. She had already figured it out completely and could remain calm in the face of honor or disgrace.

What's a little sidelong glance?

As long as she can restore her relationship with the princess, she is willing to do anything.

Madam Li maintained a humble attitude and repeatedly expressed her gratitude.

Little maid: ...Okay!

It was originally her job, and the princess was very strict in managing the household.

The slaves all have their own duties and are not allowed to slack off for personal reasons.

Before, the little maid had not had a very deep feeling about "strict rules". At this moment, seeing that Li Niangzi, her former personal maid, had to be respectful, she understood more and more -

The master is the master!

Even a loyal servant who has shared hardships with you will be despised if he is not respectful enough.

After all, the princess has thousands of slaves under her name, and who is not loyal and dedicated? Who doesn't do their job conscientiously?

As a slave, if I cling to a little kindness and offend the princess, there will be no good consequences!

The little maidservant was only a third-class servant, but she remembered today's events clearly and repeatedly reminded herself: No matter what the circumstances, you must not forget your duties!

The little maidservant secretly warned herself while running to the inner courtyard to pass on the message.

Madam Li stood aside politely, waiting to be called.

A quarter of an hour later, the little maid came back panting.

"Madam Li, the princess has summoned you, please come in!"

Seeing that the person running back was the little maid who delivered the message, Madam Li's eyes flickered.

The princess was indeed annoyed, and even Bai Zhi and the other four first-class maids understood what the princess meant.

When she came two days ago, it was Bai Zhi who came to greet her.

Today, not to mention the four white maids, even the second-class maids in the princess's courtyard did not show up.

A hint of bitterness flashed through Madam Li's heart, but she quickly suppressed it.

I had already guessed it, and now it has been confirmed - the princess really no longer cares about so-called feelings!

Taking a deep breath, Madam Li quickly composed herself.

"Thank you!"

After thanking her again, Madam Li followed the maid politely, along the winding corridor, and through the courtyards.

"Greetings to the Princess!"

Under the corridor, before entering the door, Madam Li knelt down to pay her respects.

Wang Heng was sitting in the main room. When she looked up, she saw a figure kneeling respectfully in the light and shadow at the door.

"Well! Come in!"

Wang Heng was indifferent, not too close, but not cold either.

"Thank you princess!"

Madam Li never violated her rules.

She thanked him respectfully, stood up, and walked slowly into the main room.

When she reached the front of the hall, she knelt down again and said, "My aunt has been found. She is now in Jingzhao Prefecture."

"My husband has already made inquiries, and he said that once the case is completely resolved, we can bring the person home!"

These victimized women are all considered witnesses.

After the case is over, they will be picked up by their families or leave on their own, depending on their specific circumstances.

The government is only responsible for judging cases, but is not responsible for the rest of these people's lives.

"Yeah! That's good that we found the person!"

Last night, Wang Heng learned from Lou Yu that the case had been solved.

Zhou Jiming was indeed decisive and efficient.

He led the officers from the Dali Temple and launched a thundering attack. They broke into the villa in a few moves and arrested several daring playboys.

Nearly a hundred female victims were also brought back to the capital and handed over to Jingzhao Prefecture for resettlement.

The prefect of Jingzhao secretly complained, but did not dare to offend Zhou Jiming.

He gritted his teeth and built a few courtyards near the government office to temporarily settle these women.

They are victims, not criminals. If they don't rent a house, do they have to be thrown into jail?

Even if the criminals can be put in the prison, there are limited cells in Jingzhao Prefecture!

Alas, renting a house, and being responsible for two meals a day, as well as the corresponding security... The prefect of Jingzhao feels miserable, but he can't say it!

In addition to being responsible for resettlement, the prefect of Jingzhao also had to confirm the identities and origins of all victims.

If you have family, please help contact them.

Those who have no family should also find relatives and friends.

Encountering a person whose relatives have all been killed, well, let's talk about it later. The case is from the Dali Temple, and the person was brought back by Zhou Jiming. He can't be the one to deal with all the messes.

The prefect of Jingzhao could not complain and could only secretly criticize.

Madam Li's sister-in-law still has a family.

The officials from Jingzhao Prefecture registered the information and ran to the village outside the capital to notify them.

Not to mention how Li Niangzi's parents-in-law and husband discussed matters such as picking up and settling people, Li Niang herself just wanted to repair her relationship with Wang Heng as soon as possible.

"Princess, I and my whole family are deeply grateful for your kindness!"

"I made some snacks, they are just some coarse country food, not worth much, please don't despise it, Princess!"

As Madam Li spoke, she pushed the food box she was carrying in front of her and opened the lid.

The lid opened, revealing plates of snacks:

Pink lotus cakes, green mung bean cakes, and a plate of bright red hawthorn cakes.

Wang Heng glanced casually and her eyes fell on the hawthorn cake.

That year, my mother was sent away.

The young girl was frightened, and in order to protect herself, she came up with a way to eat herself into a ball.

Eating is originally a happy thing.

However, forcing yourself to eat, eat, and eat in order to achieve a certain goal is painful.

Wang Heng didn't have a big appetite to begin with, so if she ate too much suddenly, she would easily overeat and develop indigestion.

At night, my stomach was bloated, and I couldn't vomit or digest the food. That feeling was really uncomfortable.

But she was driven to the farm, where she had no relatives or elders, so no one felt sorry for her when she cried.

There are only Fu's mother and Baizhi.

Especially Bai Zhi, in order to make her digestion easier, she went outside the farm to pick hawthorns, boiled hawthorn water, and made hawthorn cakes...

More than ten years have passed, and the painful memories have long been forgotten.

At this moment, seeing the hawthorn cake again, Wang Heng realized that those memories had not disappeared.

And the old friends——

Of course Wang Heng knew what Li Niang was thinking. She just wanted to play the emotional card.

Wang Heng was used to being a high and mighty master, so she would not be bullied by her servants.

but--

Alas, he is indeed a loyal servant who has shared hardships with me.

It's not that she really betrayed her master, she just said something inappropriate. A warning is enough to make her and all the servants understand the rules!

With a silent sigh in her heart, Wang Heng finally softened her heart.

"It's so hard for you to be so thoughtful!"

Wang Heng looked at Bai Wei who was standing beside her.

Bai Wei understood and quickly handed the food box to Wang Heng.

Wang Heng wiped her hands and used the bamboo sticks placed separately in the food box to pick up a piece of hawthorn cake.

I took a sip, sour and sweet!

It still tastes like it did back then.

Seeing Wang Heng eating the snacks she brought, Madam Li finally felt relieved.

The verbal offense is over!

Jiu Niang, after all, still remembers the old feelings!

However, Madam Li understood that this was the last time.

If she still can't figure it out and loses her responsibilities, she will never have a chance to make amends!

"The person has been found. Do your parents-in-law have any plans?"

Wang Heng took a bite and put the bamboo stick down.

She raised her head, looked at Madam Li, and asked softly.

Madam Li quickly sat up straight and replied respectfully, "Princess, they want to bring my sister back first, either by sending her back to her hometown or marrying her off far away!"

A girl has been missing for half a month. No matter what the truth is, others will believe that she has lost her innocence.

The people of Dayu are quite open-minded. They can live without losing their virginity, but they cannot live well.

Or find a place to hide temporarily and make arrangements after the storm is over.

Or, just find a family in another place, give more dowry, and marry the person off directly!

Although Lady Li's husband's family were slaves, they had been servants for several generations.

There was also Madam Li and her husband who managed the business for the master and accumulated some wealth.

Furthermore, he is a seventh-rank official in front of the prime minister.

Although the steward of the princess's household has no rank, he is more noble than the ordinary stewards of small families.

As long as Madam Li's in-laws are willing to lower their standards, they can still marry her off.

"What about your aunt? What does she think?"

Wang Heng was an ancient native, but she was also a willful and capricious lady from a noble family.

Chastity and the like are not that important to her.

If you rush into marriage just for the sake of getting married, your life may be ruined.

Li Niangzi's younger sister was rescued by Wang Heng.

If you want to save someone, you must save them to the end.

Wang Heng hoped that the woman would have a good outcome.

"..."

Madam Li was stunned for a moment. Is her aunt willing?

No one really asks this!

Perhaps, in the eyes of Madam Li and her entire husband's family, it is very rare that in a situation like her younger sister's, the family is willing to take care of her and find ways to marry her off.

My sister-in-law did something shameful and was treated like this. She should be grateful. Why should she be willing or not?

However, since the princess has said so, Madam Li must take it seriously.

She quickly said, "Princess, you're right. We should ask my aunt what she thinks!"

When Wang Heng saw Madam Li like this, she knew that she understood what she meant.

She continued, "I'm not meddling in other people's business, but I was the one who saved your aunt. If you save someone, you have to save them to the end."

"Actually, I'm willing to help not only your aunt, but also those women who were rescued."

"It just so happens that Prince Wang's cotton textile workshop needs a large number of female workers. If these women are willing, they can go..."

Wang Heng said this for a reason. Wang Mian had already found her in advance and was willing to take the initiative to accommodate these poor women.

In recent years, Wang Mian has been focusing on promoting cotton and cotton cloth, and Wang Heng is happy to help.

The "Cotton Lady" who went down in history began to write her legend...