CHAPTER 328: CHAPTER 328: XU SHUHUI GETS SCOLDED

Zhou Huanyan lay on the Arhat Bed, crying for quite a while.

After gradually stopping her sobs, her eyes were already swollen.

An Changle walked out of the side hall, and after a while, personally returned with warm water and ice cubes.

She dampened a cloth, wiped Zhou Huanyan’s face clean, and applied ice cubes around her eyes.

"Tonight we’ll eat pot, and let the small kitchen prepare an extra spicy dipping sauce for you," An Changle said slowly. "Let’s just eat some vegetables today, shall we? Lady An will accompany you."

Logically speaking, the Concubine is a sinner, and now that she’s gone, there’s no impact on the palace’s daily life.

But Zhou Huanyan is her daughter, so eating vegetarian for a few days is appropriate.

Zhou Huanyan looked at An Changle gratefully, her expression heavy, "Lady An, your kindness to Huanyan, Huanyan will remember for a lifetime."

There are concubines in the palace who are close with her mother, but after her mother got into trouble, they all shut their palace doors, pretending not to know her mother.

When Father wanted to find her a foster mother, they all came to her, hoping she’d follow them.

Some of them knew she likes meat, and even brought some for her.

No one considered that without her mother, she ought to mourn as a daughter should. Even if not outwardly, at least she should pay attention to certain things. For instance, not wearing festive-colored clothes, not eating meat.

Perhaps no one would have thought that the only one considering these things was Lady An, whom her mother had always viewed as an enemy.

It’s so ironic.

Zhou Huanyan thought silently.

While eating pot, Zhou Huanyan truly got a bowl of bright red spicy oil dipping sauce.

Extremely spicy.

In the steaming heat, Zhou Huanyan’s eyes turned red again.

She didn’t purposely cry.

She was brought to tears by the spice.

An Changle also followed along with the spicy oil dipping sauce, Zhou Huanyan saw, and she cried as well.

After eating, Zhou Huanyan proactively brought An Changle warm water, insisting on serving An Changle to wash her hands.

"Huanyan, you don’t need to do this," An Changle said with some helplessness.

"Lady An, the pot was delicious, the best pot I’ve ever had. But it was too spicy, I won’t eat it again," Zhou Huanyan said earnestly.

An Changle understood Zhou Huanyan’s implication—she wouldn’t cry anymore in the future.

"Then from now on, we’ll have sesame paste dipping sauce—it’s fragrant and delicious," An Changle replied.

Because Zhou Huanyan didn’t have anyone serving her, An Changle had her chief palace maid accompany Zhou Huanyan.

Assigning others, An Changle feared they’d feign compliance.

Unnecessarily causing a little girl to suffer.

The next day, after the morning court, Emperor Jing came to An Changle’s palace, where An Changle and Zhou Huanyan were having breakfast.

"Your Majesty, why didn’t you have Shuangxi send word? Have you eaten?" An Changle spoke smoothly.

Seeing Emperor Jing, Zhou Huanyan was somewhat nervous.

After calling him Father, she tightly pressed her lips together, not speaking, not even eating breakfast.

Emperor Jing hadn’t eaten when he arrived, and An Changle arranged for the small kitchen to prepare his favorites.

"No need for the trouble, I’ll just have what you two are having."

"Then shall I tell them not to bother?"

"Mm."

Emperor Jing picked up a crystal vegetarian steamed dumpling, dipped it in ginger vinegar.

"Nicely made," Emperor Jing praised. "Quite mild."

"It’s been quite hot these days, so I wanted something refreshing," An Changle said.

"Indeed, having a light breakfast is good. Huanyan, are you getting used to it?" Emperor Jing asked Zhou Huanyan.

Zhou Huanyan stood up very quickly, "In reply to Father, your child is quite accustomed to it."

"Your Majesty! Please come after you’ve had breakfast in the future!" An Changle glared at Emperor Jing, the young girl is quite afraid of him.

Emperor Jing touched his nose, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Huanyan, come here," An Changle called Zhou Huanyan. "Lady An’s dumplings weren’t finished, Huanyan, could you do me a favor and finish them?"

Under Emperor Jing’s surprised gaze, Zhou Huanyan walked to An Changle, ate all the dumplings in the small dish An Changle pushed before her.

After she finished eating, An Changle naturally summoned palace maids over to rinse her mouth and wash her hands.

One acted naturally, the other, though still a bit tense, was not resisting.

So, in just one night, Ale managed to calm Huanyan?

"Go walk in the garden first, ease your digestion, then Lady An will take you to the Internal Affairs Bureau to select some attendants," An Changle said.

"Mm," Zhou Huanyan responded, bowed to Emperor Jing, said "Your child takes her leave," and then followed the palace maids to the garden.

"It seems quite harmonious?"

"Huanyan is an understanding young girl."

"It is you, Ale, who is kind," Emperor Jing said gladly.

This way, he wouldn’t have to worry about Huanyan living poorly.

Ale is the Noble Consort, the highest of the concubines, no one with any sense would dare to offend her.

Emperor Jing also had personal motives, hearing that having a child around, albeit fostered, soon brings good news.

——

In recent days, the Xu Family has been exceedingly anxious.

No other reason than the Imperial Army taking the men of the Xu Family for questioning. Although they were released eventually, the Xu patriarch couldn’t withstand the Ministry of Justice’s interrogation, exposing the family’s involvement in usury.

As outlined clearly in Zhou Country’s laws, lending money at exorbitant interest is illegal.

Later, Mrs. Xu realized the men were questioned not because the Government had discovered the family’s usury, but due to Zhou Kangping’s offense. Thus, the inquiry to the Xu Family was routine.

Originally, thanks to Xu Shuhui’s efforts, Mrs. Xu’s attitude towards her had improved somewhat, and Xu Shuhui hoped to make the most of it, eventually persuading Mrs. Xu to take her out.

But the efforts went to waste.

At this moment, Xu Shuhui was still unaware that her mother had been sentenced to death.

She merely blamed her mother for being restless and was thankful that she had returned to the Xu Family, avoiding being implicated.

Initially, Mrs. Xu voiced pointed criticisms, but later, she outright accused Xu Shuhui of being the family’s curse, claiming if she had not stubbornly lingered, the Xu Family wouldn’t have been implicated.

Once the usury became public, not only were the loans irrecoverable, but they also had to pay a hefty fine to the Government.

If unpaid, the Xu patriarch and Xu Zeqing would end up in jail.

Losing such a significant amount, Mrs. Xu grieved deeply.

Naturally, Xu Shuhui became the primary target of verbal abuse.

Xu Zeqing tried to intercede, only to be scolded by Mrs. Xu as well, so he decided to stay quiet, letting her vent until exhausted.

However, Xu Shuhui did not share the same view as Xu Zeqing.

She felt wronged, extremely wronged, "Why am I being scolded when I haven’t done anything?"

Therefore, Xu Shuhui argued back fiercely, the more she defended herself, the more aggressively Mrs. Xu abused her, resorting to worse insults, causing Xu Shuhui to cry even more.

Xu Zeqing was powerless to either calm his mother’s anger or pacify his daughter’s crying.

With his head buzzing, he decided to leave.

Let them scold and cry as they wish.

Eventually, they’ll tire out!

Mrs. Xu scolded with even greater zeal.

Xu Shuhui was left dumbfounded.

With no one to intervene, whom should she cry to?

After leaving, Xu Zeqing visited his drinking companions; one whose father works at the Ministry of Justice informed him that Zhou Kangping was to be executed soon.

Although all the court officials were aware, Emperor Jing hadn’t announced this publicly. Thus, it was only mentioned privately within families.

The Xu patriarch retired long ago, and Xu Zeqing, a Lord without actual duties, lacked the authority to attend court. Therefore, the Xu Family was ignorant of Zhou Kangping’s situation.