The wicked mother-in-law doesn't try to whitewash herself; she only abuses her awful children.

Chapter 315 Disguise

Zhao said, "Yes, we don't understand the affairs of the royal family either. If it weren't for some remnants of the royal family escaping here, we would have no connection with the royal family at all."

Gu Guangkui lowered his voice and replied, "What remnants? They're just taking the opportunity to eliminate dissidents. A few days ago, I went to work in another county and heard some grain merchants from Shengjing say that the Crown Prince didn't rebel at all; he was framed by treacherous officials and the Empress. Our Emperor already had doubts about the Crown Prince, and after being instigated by treacherous officials and the Empress, he decided to kill him."

Upon hearing the news of the new empress, Zhao was afraid of upsetting Tong Huaqiong's stepmother.

Gu Dahan is still standing here. What is he thinking?

She felt a little resentful that Gu Guangkui had publicly exposed her mother-in-law's shortcomings.

Zhao retorted, "I think it's just that the father is afraid his son will seize power. He wants to kill the crown prince but is afraid of leaving a bad reputation for being a tiger that eats its own cub, so he shifts the blame to the treacherous minister and the empress. He has so much power in his hands, who can he kill or not kill, and who can he care about? It's just like some fathers in our folk society who remarry. They clearly don't care about the children born to their first wife, but in the end, they blame it on their second wife."

After saying that, he pointed at Tong Huaqiong and said, "Isn't that right, mother-in-law?"

Tong Huaqiong: "."

How could she, as her stepmother, possibly respond to such a remark?

She then realized that Zhao Shi had connected the words "Empress Dowager" with her stepmother's words of defense.

No need!

However, Zhao's reasoning revealed the essence of the problem.

What treacherous officials and the Empress Dowager were trying to sow discord? If the Emperor hadn't harbored the intention to kill the Crown Prince, would he have been able to be so easily manipulated?

To put it bluntly, the emperor wanted to get rid of the crown prince but didn't want to bear the reputation of killing his son, which is why he amplified the role of the treacherous ministers and the empress.

The village chief's wife, hands clasped in her pockets, said, "So, our Emperor is definitely one to shirk responsibility? What Da Shu's mother said earlier was right. When he kills them, they're just remnants, but when he regrets it, he'll probably think, 'We're all family, why fight and kill each other?' And then the remnants will become imperial grandsons again. Given his tendency to shirk responsibility, he'll definitely punish those who came looking for the remnants. I think this group of soldiers who came to search for us is in for a rough time."

The village chief rebuked, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you think the emperor is someone we common folk can talk about? How many heads have you had chopped off?"

The village chief's wife was so frightened that she shut up.

The village chief addressed the crowd blocking Tong Huaqiong's door, saying, "Disperse, disperse! Everyone's busy with the autumn harvest, drying corn. Don't let strangers into the village, but don't report them to the authorities either. It won't get you anywhere, and if you get dragged into it, no one can save you. We ordinary folks should just live our lives peacefully. Those things at the higher-ups have nothing to do with us. Don't gossip or get involved. Do you understand?"

Following the village chief's advice, even if they encountered any remaining members of the rebels, they should pretend not to see them.

The emperor's family's fighting and killings have nothing to do with the people of Qinghewan, as long as they don't harm the common people.

Seeing that the village chief was angry, everyone agreed.

No pointless discussions, no pointless interference.

The village chief waved his hand, urging everyone to go about their business.

As the crowd dispersed, the Gu family got busy.

Originally, Gu Taohua didn't care that she had just returned from the prefectural city and was about to go to Yanguan Town to take charge of Taohua Dessert Shop.

However, the village chief specifically instructed Tong Huaqiong that the higher authorities stipulated that people from each village who left Yanguan Town in the next two days could not freely enter or leave the village entrance before the search ended, for fear that they might collude with the remaining rebels on the road.

They also said that later in the day, soldiers would guard each village and prevent people from entering or leaving.

Of course, when the village chief told Tong Huaqiong the news, he couldn't help but criticize the absurdity of the regulation.

Therefore, Gu Taohua and the others were kept at Tong Huaqiong's home.

Anyway, with Liu Qiaoyun, Gu Xiaocao, Ma Huateng, and other staff at the peach blossom dessert shop in Yanguan Town, nothing should go wrong.
What worries Tong Huaqiong is that if the soldiers come to the village to search for people, they will definitely need to have a sketch.

She knew that Su Chengmin and Xiaolong's faces were original because she wiped their faces yesterday.

Wouldn't that expose Su Chengmin and Xiaolong?
How can this be done?

Hiding people?
Su Chengmin still has a high fever, where could he possibly hide?

Besides, they can't just leave the village and throw people away now.

"Sister Tong, you're back?" Madam Hong swaggered into Tong Huaqiong's house.

Tong Huaqiong saw a look of surprise on Hong's face.

Otherwise, why would fate be on her side?

During her childhood escape, Hong honed her skills in disguise, which she used to successfully escape.

"I was terrified! I ran into a lot of soldiers on the road just now. They said they were searching for remnants of some rebellion, and they even checked my carriage. If it weren't for Chunni's mother, who was out gathering pig feed this morning, confirming that I was a villager from Qinghewan, they would have made me turn back," Hong said, patting her chest.

Without saying a word, Tong Huaqiong pulled Hong Shi into Gu Jingzhe's house.

The two remaining creatures, one large and one small, are still asleep.

Hong was startled when she saw the two people, one big and one small, sleeping soundly on the bed, one of whom had their head wrapped up like a rice dumpling.

Xiaolong was very alert and immediately opened his eyes when he sensed a stranger approaching the bedside.

Seeing Tong Huaqiong standing in front of him, Xiaolong rubbed his eyes, sat up, stretched out his arms, and called out, "Grandma Tong."

Then he looked at Mrs. Hong with a wary expression.

Tong Huaqiong patted Xiaolong on the back to comfort him, saying, "Don't be afraid."

Tong Huaqiong asked Gu Taohua to bring her rouge and face powder.

"Sister Tong, what is this?" Madam Hong asked, puzzled.

Tong Huaqiong said, "Draw a face on them, a face that looks different from how they look now."

As expected of someone who had experienced the Shengjing Rebellion in her childhood, Hong Shi immediately understood Tong Huaqiong's meaning and guessed the identities of the two.

Without asking why, she opened the makeup box and picked through the rouge and powder that Lu Zhaozhao had given her.

Xiao Long kept dodging Hong's outstretched hand.

Man'er said from the side, "Xiaolong, you have to be good. If you put these on, you won't be discovered."

Xiao Long quieted down.

Hong successfully applied makeup to his face, then loosened his hair and tied it into two small buns. Man'er then gathered her own velvet flowers onto the buns.

Under Hong's skillful hands, Xiaolong was instantly transformed into a pretty young girl.

Tong Huaqiong had a sudden inspiration and asked Chen Sufen to bring Man'er's dress for Xiaolong to change into.

Of course, Xiaolong didn't want to wear it, but Gu Taohua held his arm down, and Tong Huaqiong and Chen Sufeng worked together to put it on him.

He was born with rosy lips and white teeth, and when he wore Man'er's clothes and sat next to her, they looked like two delicate twin flowers.

"Wow, so handsome."

"She's even prettier than a girl."

Chen Su-fen and Mrs. Hong laughed and praised.

Xiao Long realized what was happening, his eyes widened in anger, and he grabbed his clothes and yanked hard.

When Yaozu came in and saw Xiaolong, his eyes widened. He clapped his hands and shouted, "Xiaolong has turned into a little girl!"

Xiao Long clenched her fists tightly, gave Yao Zu a fierce yet adorable look, and protested, "You're the little girl."

Yaozu didn't argue. He ran out, grabbed a mirror, and came back. He then placed the mirror in front of Xiaolong.

"Look, isn't she a little girl?"

Xiao Long looked in the mirror and his face turned red with anger.