The wives of the concubines are empresses

Looking at the poor and backward place, the four of them frowned.

"This place is so poor. Why are the fields so bare? Is there no food growing there?"

Guard Li had an indifferent expression. He listened to his brother's complaints without responding. He waited until he had looked around before opening his mouth.

"Okay, let's get down to business."

The four of them deliberately disguised themselves as ordinary people, wearing coarse clothes, and divided into four groups to walk around the village, asking for information about the Zhongyong Marquis family along the way.

Looking at the white-haired old woman in front of him, Guard Li strode over.

"Grandma, I'd like to ask, is there anyone here with the surname Zhang?"

The old woman's wise and weathered eyes were stunned. "Zhang family?"

There are several families with the surname Zhang here, including her children and grandchildren.

"Correct."

"Excuse me, young man, who are you?" Faced with the old woman's silent scrutiny, Guard Li did not lose his composure. After all, he was a legitimate secret guard.

He smiled in his heart: The old woman is so cautious, could she be from the Zhongyong Marquis family? But looking at her age, she couldn't be the wife of the Zhongyong Marquis.

Thinking of his master's instructions, he decided to find a reliable excuse.

"My wife has a relative here and asked me to bring some things to help her visit."

The old woman frowned. "Relatives? Could they be here to see them?" No, that couldn't be possible. They'd been here for twenty years, and no one had ever come, nor had anyone ever brought them anything. It couldn't be them. Perhaps she was just being too cautious.

"There are many Zhang families here. I don't know the specific names of your master's relatives. If you can tell me a few, please."

Listening to her calm and composed conversation, Guard Li was almost certain.

"There is a lady named Zhu, her maiden name is Zhu Xinyuan."

The old woman's pupils dilated, but it was fleeting. However, Guard Li still caught it in time. At this moment, he was 90% sure.

"Could it be you?"

The old woman was shocked: "Young man, why are you asking me this?"

Guard Li looked around and decided to get straight to the point and state his intention.

"My master's maiden name is Wanjun." He could only mention it here, but he didn't know whether the old woman could remember it.

The old woman murmured to herself: "Wanjun?"

Are there any relatives in their family named Wanjun?

This young man said that this was his master's maiden name, so his master must be a woman. But why did he claim to be her relative and also mentioned her maiden name when she was young? Could this be another secret code?

She quickly recalled her friends in the capital, her children's maternal grandparents, and her own relatives from her mother's side, but in the end she couldn't remember.

Why did this young man only mention his master's maiden name? A girl's maiden name should not be easily revealed to others. Moreover, why did he only mention her maiden name? Is there any connection between them?

Or maybe that surname can't be said alone?

"May I ask how old your master is this year?"

Thinking of his master's words, Guard Li finally spoke out.

"Twenty-one years old."

The old woman was stunned again. Twenty-one? Wouldn't that mean he was born the year his family was exiled? Who else was born twenty-one years ago? She had to think about it.

Suddenly she remembered something. When a little princess was born in the royal family, the emperor seemed particularly happy. After all, it was his first child. Although she was just a princess, he chose a very nice title for her not long after the child was born.

Let her think carefully, what was the title back then?

Seeing her expression changing slightly, Guard Li was not in a hurry. She must have remembered something.

"May I ask Zhao Lan?"

Guard Li curled his lips and smiled: "Madam, you finally remembered."

The old woman was now even more certain that Wanjun was the Princess Zhaolan, but she remembered another thing. The one in power now was the empress, and she wondered if it was the noble Princess Zhaolan.

"You are wondering who is that person up there now."

When the old woman heard him ask this, she became more certain and nodded slightly.

"Please take me to your house. I want to meet other people."

Zhu Xinyuan looked up in shock: "What?"

Seeing that he was still looking at her, she realized that he had to go, and she sighed slightly.

"I don't know but that's what she meant?"

"Correct."

The Zhang family owns a few mud houses, and they originally wanted to live in a better place, but now they are the descendants of criminals, and they don’t have the power, nor can they be too ostentatious.

Zhu Xinyuan brought Guard Li to her home. Looking at the small earthen house, there was a hint of emotion in his eyes.

Seeing her mother-in-law coming back, Zhu Xinyuan's eldest daughter-in-law hurriedly greeted her.

"Mom, you're back. Where have you been?" Her mother-in-law is getting older and her health is getting worse. She is afraid that she will die one day.

"I am fine."

Seeing the unfamiliar face, a strong man at that, her eldest daughter-in-law looked at him with a wary and puzzled look.

"Mom, who is he?"

Zhu Xinyuan glanced at Guard Li and said softly, "My relatives from my mother's family."

The eldest daughter-in-law was stunned: "Huh?"

In this situation, are there still relatives from their mother's side coming to visit?

In the main hall, Zhu Xinyuan invited Guard Li to sit down.

"Sit down for a moment. The eldest daughter-in-law is going to inform everyone."

Guard Li briefly talked to Zhu Xinyuan about some things in the capital. Zhu Xinyuan listened quietly and asked questions from time to time. Guard Li answered her one by one.

Faced with the current situation, she already understood that the other party would not do anything to her.

The descendants of the Zhang family came back one after another, and more than a dozen people stood together in the main hall. Guard Li raised his eyes and glanced at everyone, then spoke lightly.

"All sit down."

Everyone looked at their ancestor Zhu Xinyuan, saw her nod slightly, and finally sat down one by one.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Guard Li sat up straight and looked at everyone. Everyone looked confused and nervous.

"Old lady, please tell me."

"it is good."

Zhu Xinyuan looked at her descendants and said, "This is the current empress's secret guard."

Everyone was shocked: Empress? Is Grandmother/Mother-in-law kidding?

"I'm not kidding, he is indeed the current empress's secret guard." Then she looked at Guard Li.

"Guard Li, please explain your purpose."

Guard Li said solemnly, "My master went to the Dali Temple one day and came across a file that happened to be the case of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. After investigation, it was found to be a false case."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this: So they are going to get their grievances redressed?

"The purpose of my visit this time is to redress the injustice done to the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery. You must all return to the capital with us."

Zhu Xinyuan's rough, wrinkled hands clutched the hem of her clothes tightly. She had been waiting for this moment for twenty years, a full twenty years.

"When do you plan to leave?"

Guard Li said, "The sooner the better. The master is waiting."

Zhu Xinyuan immediately told her children and grandchildren to start packing their clothes. Looking at the house where she had lived for almost twenty years, she felt a little reluctant to leave. This house had sheltered their family from wind and rain for so many years.