Before confiscating their property, they emptied the imperial city and exiled them!

Yu Tan's face grew even more gloomy after hearing Miao Rong'er's words.

But deep down he felt something was amiss. Lin Xiaoxiao had always been devoted to Youzhou, so why would she deliberately harm him?

Lin Xiaoxiao also knew that the people's grievances were all due to policy changes.

She immediately sent people to appease the people while preparing to go to the palace to explain the situation to Yu Tan.

Lin Xiaoxiao went to the palace to request an audience. Yu Tan was initially unwilling to see her, but Miao Rong'er changed her usual practice of constantly pleading for her, and Yu Tan finally agreed.

After they met again, Lin Xiaoxiao disregarded past grievances and explained the pros and cons in detail.

This indicates that the initial high prices were for two reasons: to make a profit and to balance resources. Now, while lowering prices has gained reputation, it has disrupted the original balance.

After hearing this, Miao Rong'er suddenly realized that she had been too rash.

Standing beside Yu Tan, he no longer dared to be as presumptuous as before.

They fell silent, as if they had realized how serious their mistake was.

Fortunately, Yu Tan did not blame her.

He merely issued an edict to restore some of the special policies of Youzhou, while also commending Lin Xiaoxiao for prioritizing the overall situation.

Lin Xiaoxiao didn't seem particularly happy about this; she just gave Yu Tan a deep look and left.

Youzhou slowly recovered its vitality, and Lin Xiaoxiao continued to manage her business diligently, while being even more cautious about changes in the imperial court's policies.

Song Yetong looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, whose face was haggard and weary, with pity in her eyes, and a feeling of tenderness welled up in her heart.

She said softly, "Sister-in-law, you've really had a hard time these past few days! I really don't know what Yu Tan was thinking, treating you like this!"

When I run into him next time, I'm going to give him a good dressing down and make him give me an explanation!

Lin Xiaoxiao, however, seemed unconcerned and waved her hand slightly.

He responded casually, "Never mind, it was actually my own carelessness that made me forget his current esteemed status."

Now that he is the ruler of a country, and I am his aunt who controls the finances of Youzhou, it is only natural that he would be somewhat wary of me.

If he acts without restraint, it would only demonstrate that he is not a competent monarch.

Hearing this, Song Yetong stomped her feet in anger and shouted indignantly, "That's true, but if it weren't for your full support and help back then, sister-in-law..."

How could he so easily ascend to the supreme throne of the emperor?

Lin Xiaoxiao looked helpless as she gazed tenderly at Song Yetong, who was still angry.

He smiled and comforted her, "Alright, alright, don't get angry about this anymore. Look, he didn't do anything to me."

Song Yetong still pouted and muttered, "Hmph, I just can't stand seeing you suffer like this, sister-in-law. I just can't swallow this!"

"Mother... Mother! Something terrible has happened!"

Accompanied by a series of hurried shouts, Song Yinu rushed in from outside the door like a startled little rabbit.

She was panting heavily from running, her little face flushed with a faint blush from the intense exercise, making her look as cute and tempting as a ripe apple.

Her rapid breathing caused her chest to rise and fall slightly, as if her heart was about to leap out of her throat.

Looking at her lively and energetic daughter who could never sit still for a moment, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but show a helpless expression on her face.

However, despite a slight hint of reproach in her heart, her eyes were filled with love for her daughter.

So she gently reached out and tenderly took out a snow-white handkerchief from her bosom, carefully wiping the fine beads of sweat from her daughter's forehead.

While wiping, Lin Xiaoxiao kept muttering, "Hey, you're all grown up now, why are you still so clumsy and flustered?"

What happened that made you so anxious?

Song Yinu was already used to her mother's nagging.

At that moment, she didn't care to respond to her mother's words at all, but instead eagerly grabbed Lin Xiaoxiao's arm.

She said with unusually high emotions, "Mother, do you remember? She's the young lady I met when my brother and I went to find a master!"

She successfully became a disciple of Master Taixu, and her name was Meng Qianqian.

Upon hearing her daughter mention this, Lin Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment, and the image of that girl immediately came to mind.

In my memory, Meng Qianqian had a pair of clear, watery eyes that also revealed a touch of naivety, seemingly filled with stubbornness and a never-give-up spirit.

That still-childish face made her appear innocent and naive, instantly evoking feelings of affection in anyone who saw her.

At the time, she was filled with doubt and couldn't understand how the girl's parents could be so heartless as to send such a lovely little girl alone to that quiet and secluded Taoist temple.

Lin Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "I do have a vague impression of that little girl you mentioned. I remember her family is the Meng family, which we often visit. But I don't know why you suddenly brought her up?"

Song Yinuan, standing to the side, was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan, her face flushed red.

Her words became urgent: "Oh dear, Mother, you don't know! This Senior Sister Qianqian is an extremely rare person in our sect who possesses spiritual roots!"

But who could have foreseen that she would now face the tragic prospect of having all her cultivation abolished and her precious spiritual root destroyed?

Although the two of them did not study under the same master, they were still from the same sect, which is why Song Yinuan respectfully addressed Meng Qianqian as her senior sister.

Hearing her daughter say that the matter was so serious, Lin Xiaoxiao couldn't help but feel a ripple in her heart, even though it had nothing to do with her.

Unable to contain his curiosity any longer, he finally asked, "What exactly happened that you would treat her with such cruel and heartless methods?"

When this matter was mentioned, Song Yinu's beautiful face was instantly filled with regret, and she sighed softly.

He slowly began to speak, "Actually, that Senior Sister Meng is not a biological child of the Meng family."

Just a few days ago, after completing the important task assigned to her by her sect, she happily went down the mountain to go home and visit her family.

However, who could have predicted that this trip would lead her to make such a grave mistake!

It's unclear what she was thinking at the time, that she would harbor such malicious intent and cruelly harm her younger sister, Meng Jiaojiao.

It is said that she did not hesitate to cruelly push Meng Jiaojiao into the icy lake water.

If it weren't for a passing servant who discovered and rescued her in time, poor Miss Meng would probably be a lonely, wandering ghost by now.