The system asked me to chase his wife

When the sky was just getting light, Xia Mang felt an itch on the top of her head while she was sleeping. She thought it was a bug crawling, so she slapped it in the face faster than she thought.

Xia Mang was startled by a cry of "Ouch!" and all the sleepiness he had felt disappeared completely.

"What, what's wrong?" Xia Mang looked up and saw Qiao Yuandong sitting on the bed, covering the back of his hand with one hand, and looking at him with pursed lips.

Seeing the accusatory look in Qiao Yuandong's eyes, Xia Mang realized belatedly that he had hit someone's hand.

She quickly straightened up and looked at Qiao Yuandong's hand, and said with an apologetic smile: "I didn't mean it, ma'am, are you okay?"

Qiao Yuandong let Xia Mang pull his hand over to look at it, and at the end he saw her blowing on the red back of her hand.

This girl is really strong. If the blow hadn't hit her hand, she would have been beaten stupid.
Qiao Yuandong glanced at Xia Mang unhappily, and then said, "Why are you sleeping here? It's so cold at night, what if you get sick?"

Qiao Yuandong, who was ill at the time, naturally knew how uncomfortable this felt, so she was a little angry when she said this.

Xia Mang patted the quilt wrapped around her body without any concern, "Don't worry, ma'am, I'm not cold at all."

Qiao Yuandong touched her hand and found it was warm, so he didn't say much.

Seeing that she looked much more energetic, Xia Mang reached out to feel the temperature of Qiao Yuandong's forehead and found that it was no longer hot!

"Madam, you don't have a fever anymore! Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere? Do you want some water? Are you hungry?"

Qiao Yuandong did feel much better, and he didn't feel so bad anymore, so he said, "I do feel much better. Go get me some water."

Xia Mang agreed and ran to the tea room to get some water. The water in the kettle in the room had already gone cold, so she directly brought in a kettle of freshly boiled water.

Qiao Yuandong watched Xia Mang busying around, and fearing that she couldn't drink plain water, he scooped half a spoonful of nectar into it.

After the water reached the desired temperature, Xia Mang handed it to her.

Qiao Yuandong took the cup and sipped the honey water bit by bit. The light sweetness melted the bitterness in her mouth and flowed into her stomach warmly, making her feel relaxed all over.

After drinking the water in the glass, Qiao Yuandong realized that Xia Mang had been staring at her, and she couldn't help feeling embarrassed.

Having been sick for the past two days, she must be extremely haggard. I wonder what she looks like now?
When Xia Mang saw that Qiao Yuandong's face turned red after drinking the water, she thought she had a fever again. She was startled and quickly reached out to touch her forehead.

"Madam's face is so red, are you feeling unwell again?"

Qiao Yuandong naturally knew that his blushing was not due to a fever, and he felt even more embarrassed that Xia Mang made such a fuss about it.

She stammered and changed the subject: "No, no, you're tired after a night, go back and rest, just ask Helan and the others to come over."

Xia Mang was driven out of the bedroom by the blushing Qiao Yuandong, and Rong Zhu came over at that moment.

"How is the madam?" Rongzhu asked when he saw her.

Xia Mang said frankly: "Madam is in much better spirits, but I just saw her face was red, it seems she is still having a fever."

Rongzhu was a little worried when she heard this: "I know. I sent a letter to the palace yesterday. I think the imperial physician will come to see me today."

After handing over the work, Xia Mang went back to sleep yawning, as he really didn't sleep well last night.

Near noon, the imperial physician came as expected, and the servants respectfully invited him in.

The imperial physician who came this time was not Doctor Zhang who treated the lady last time, but another imperial physician Fang who specialized in treating colds.

After some diagnosis and treatment, Doctor Fang said cheerfully, "Madam, there is nothing serious going on. The fever has subsided. I will prescribe a prescription for you. You just need to rest more."

This attitude was completely different from that of Doctor Wang yesterday. Rongzhu simply thought that Doctor Wang's prescription was effective, so the lady's symptoms were greatly alleviated.

She also prepared a thick red envelope for Doctor Fang and asked someone to send the doctor out of the house.

Xia Mang slept until mid-afternoon. It wasn't because she couldn't sleep, but because she hadn't eaten for most of the day and was so hungry that she couldn't stand it.

She touched her rumbling stomach and planned to go to the kitchen to find food. As soon as she went out, she ran into He Lan who was coming in.

When He Lan saw that she had woken up, she immediately said, "I was just about to call you. The food is warming up on the stove in the tea room. Go and eat it."

Xia Mang looked at He Lan with shining eyes: "He Lan, you are really my good He Lan!"

He Lan smiled and dodged her courteous claws: "This is what Madam told me to do. If you want to thank someone, go thank Madam."

Oh! my dear lady!

Xia Mang rushed to the tea room.

After offering sacrifices to her internal organs, Xia Mang ran to check on Qiao Yuandong and saw that she was indeed in much better spirits. It seemed that she had even gotten up to wash up.

It looks like I don't have to secretly feed her medicine tonight.

At that time, Qiao Yuandong had just taken the medicine. When he saw Xia Mang coming, he asked her, "Did you just wake up? Have you eaten anything?"

Look, even when he is sick, he is still concerned about whether his subordinates have eaten. Where can you find such a good boss?

"I've eaten, ma'am." Xia Mang came over and expressed her concern at the right time: "Is ma'am feeling better?"

Qiao Yuandong nodded: "Much better. I heard that the medicine he took yesterday was from Doctor Wang of Baoshan Hall. I didn't expect his medical skills to be so great."

Xia Mang: No! The smart one is not Dr. Wang, but the ibuprofen in the mall!

Rongzhu said, "Madam, please don't drink so much in the future. You scared us to death yesterday."

Xia Mang followed up and agreed: "That's right, standing in the wind is the easiest way to get sick."

Qiao Yuandong looked at the two maids helplessly and said, "I understand. I won't do it again."

Qiao Yuandong has been bedridden for the past two days, so Rongzhu has been helping to take care of the affairs of the mansion, so she didn't stay for long before leaving again, leaving Xia Mang to stay in the house.

Seeing that Qiao Yuandong didn't have any instructions at the moment, she thought that she wanted to be alone for a while again, so she thought about saying goodbye and leaving.

Finally, Qiao Yuandong called her over and said, "Come here, I have something to ask you."

Xia Mang leaned over honestly: "Madam, do you have anything to ask me?"

Qiao Yuandong pointed to the embroidered cushion beside the bed and asked her to sit down. Then he asked her, "Do you know what day it is today?"

Xia Mang was startled. What day was it? Did she forget something important?
After thinking it over again and again, Xia Mang shook his head in confusion: "I don't know."

Qiao Yuandong looked at her helplessly, his eyes revealing a bit of tenderness: "You didn't even know that today is your birthday?"

Xia Mang scratched her head. That wasn’t right. Her birthday was clearly on April 29th, the Grain in Ear Day, so her mother named her Xia Mang.

But she soon realized that the birthday Qiao Yuandong was talking about should be the birthday of her original body.

After figuring it out, Xia Mang smiled awkwardly and asked, "Madam, how did you know that?"

I have no idea.

Seeing Xia Mang's silly look, Qiao Yuandong couldn't help laughing: "I've seen your indenture, it's written on it."

As she spoke, she waved at Xia Mang: "Come here."

Xia Mang moved closer without knowing what was going on. Qiao Yuandong pulled her to sit on the edge of the bed, then took out a folded silk handkerchief from under the pillow.

"This is for you." Qiao Yuandong handed the handkerchief to Xia Mang.

Xia Mang reached out to take it, and immediately took out a small object wrapped in the handkerchief.

She curiously unfolded the silk handkerchief and found a gold and jade bracelet with extremely exquisite workmanship inside.

The jade on the bracelet has excellent water content and looks extremely clear. The gold inlay workmanship is also very clever, and the twined flower pattern on it is very delicate and beautiful.

It looks very valuable at first glance!

Xia Mang carefully took the bracelet in her hand and looked at it curiously for a few times. Finally, she asked uncertainly: "Madam, is this for me?"

Qiao Yuandong was very satisfied with Xia Mang's reaction. She nodded and said, "Like it?"

"Yes, I like it!" Xia Mang was so happy after getting the confirmation. He looked at Qiao Yuandong with shining eyes and began to compliment him generously.

"Madam! From now on, I am your most loyal servant. If you tell me to go east, I will never go west! If you tell me to climb a mountain of swords, I will never go into a sea of ​​fire! My admiration for you is as endless as the surging river."

She said these words very fluently, not because she liked flattery, but because the boss gave her too much!
With just this bracelet, Xia Mang could sell it and live a life of luxury here for the rest of her life.

If she wasn't still thinking about going back to see her mother, she would have wanted to just stay with Qiao Yuandong!

Where can I find such a good-to-serve and generous boss?
Qiao Yuandong was amused by Xia Mang's flattering look. She took the bracelet and put it on Xia Mang's hand, saying with a smile: "Fortunately you are not a man, otherwise you would have become a sycophantic minister."

Xia Mang shamelessly climbed up the pole: "Madam, you are too kind."

Qiao Yuandong held her hand and looked up at the bracelet.

Xia Mang has been raised for half a year, and her whole body is fair and tender. The bracelet on her lotus-like forearm really complements her perfectly.

"Well, it looks good." After looking at it for a while, Qiao Yuandong gave a fair evaluation.

Xia Mang also thought it was very beautiful, and finally thanked Qiao Yuandong very sincerely: "Thank you, ma'am."

Qiao Yuandong smiled at her with an inexplicable smile, "You and I don't need to thank each other."

After recovering from her illness, Qiao Yuandong regained her senses and said something like this, which was considered bold for her. A woman would only give a bracelet to the one she loved, so Mangxia should understand, right?

But she didn't know that to Xia Mang, these words were automatically translated into meaning that the lady regarded her as a good friend.

When best friends give each other birthday gifts, there is naturally no need to thank them.

Xia Mang admired the bracelet happily, and suddenly asked uncertainly: "Madam, did you also give bracelets to Rongzhu and the others on their birthdays?"

After hearing this, Qiao Yuandong automatically translated it into: Do ​​they all have it, or am I the only one who has it?

Look, this girl must be jealous.

"Of course it's only given to you."

Madam, could I be such a fickle person?

Qiao Yuandong expected to see shy surprise on Xia Mang's face, but instead he saw that she looked guilty.

"Then I'd better not show off in front of them, for fear of making them unhappy." Xia Mang hid the bracelet in her sleeve.

Qiao Yuandong: “.”

After Qiao Yuandong had been ill for a few days, winter had arrived in the capital.

This year's winter came exceptionally early. Snowflakes began to fall from the sky as soon as the winter month arrived.

Xia Mang ran in wearing her newly-worn quilted jacket and happily told her, "Madam, it's snowing!"

"What a fuss." Qiao Yuandong looked out the window with a smile. Light snowflakes were flying in the air, accompanied by the cold wind, which made people's bones cold.

Xia Mang stuffed a heater into Qiao Yuandong's hand. At this time, Rong Zhu came to report that Mrs. Qiao was at the door.

It's not a festival, why is Mrs. Qiao coming to visit?
Qiao Yuandong invited everyone into the warm room, and she dressed up, changed her clothes and went to meet her mother.

Mrs. Qiao was sitting in the warm room. When she saw Qiao Yuandong, she was already feeling a little uneasy.

When Qiao Yuandong saw his mother's anxious look, his heart skipped a beat.

"Mother, it's a rare visit. You have to have dinner with your daughter before you leave." Qiao Yuandong suppressed the heavy mood in his heart and smiled gently.

Mrs. Qiao forced a smile, and after Qiao Yuandong sat down, she asked all the servants in the warm room to leave.

"Everyone, leave." Qiao Yuandong expressed his opinion, and the servants left one by one.

After everyone had left, Mrs. Qiao told her daughter a shocking news without waiting for her daughter to ask.

"His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was poisoned last night!"

Qiao Yuandong almost couldn't hold the teacup in her hand. She stood there in a daze until the tea in the cup spilled out and burned her fingertips, then she came to her senses.

Obviously, the news brought by Mrs. Qiao made it difficult for her to remain calm.

Qiao Yuandong silently pulled out a piece of silk to wipe his hands, while at the same time digesting the matter in his mind.

After a while, she asked, "What happened?"

Madam Qiao said, "I went to the palace to ask the queen, and she said briefly that someone seemed to have poisoned your highness's food, but fortunately, God bless you, your highness had a poor appetite last night, and gave the food to his personal companion, who was poisoned to death on the spot!"

When Mrs. Qiao said this, she couldn't help feeling scared. Qiao Yuandong tightly grasped the silk in her hand, and a chill ran through her body.

It’s here, it’s here after all!
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince is the heir to the throne chosen by Your Majesty. At such a young age, he has the qualities of a wise ruler. When Your Majesty passes away a hundred years later, he will be the next emperor.

But everything is subject to change. Your Majesty is still a rich and powerful country, but it is not certain whether the prince can survive until that time.

Apart from the Crown Prince, Your Majesty also has outstanding sons. In addition to the Third Prince born to the Queen, there is also the Second Prince born to Concubine De and the Fifth Prince born to Concubine Xian. Who can guarantee that they do not have the intention to compete for the throne?
Not to mention the harem, just talking about the previous dynasty, the Qiao family is now too powerful. In terms of seniority and status in the court, Lord Zhongshu Ling Qiao can be regarded as the number one among the civil officials. It is unknown if someone would take action against the prince in order to undermine the Qiao family's reputation.

In addition, throughout the Great Jin Dynasty, those who covet the throne, as well as the noble families who are dissatisfied with His Majesty's policies and want to interfere in the court, might all be happy to see something happen to the Crown Prince.

In any case, if the prince dies, it will be a major event that will cause a huge uproar.

No matter who it is, he should be killed!
Fortunately, the prince is blessed with a long life.

But, once it happened, there is no guarantee that it won’t happen again. It is not a good idea to guard against thieves for a thousand days. The only way is to find out those behind the scenes one by one!

"Have you found any clues?" Qiao Yuandong thought of many possibilities but was unable to express these groundless speculations. He only hoped that His Majesty would be wise enough and that the Qiao family would act quickly enough.

However, Mrs. Qiao was unable to give her a satisfactory answer.

"Ah, I don't know who did it, but they were too clean. All the eunuchs who had contact with the prince's food that night died. His Majesty was furious, and nearly half of the people in the East Palace died!"

Qiao Yuandong's eyebrows jumped when he heard this. Since His Majesty ascended the throne, he has always been known for his kindness. When has he ever been so cruel?

But it is understandable from his point of view. Sitting in a position like that, all kinds of monsters would covet that high position. That would be fine, but someone actually set their sights on his most beloved son.

Unforgivable!

Qiao Yuandong lowered his eyes for a while, a hint of cruelty in his eyes, "If Your Majesty is more cruel, why not use this as an excuse to eliminate all those disloyal people, so that it will be over once and for all."

It is easy to avoid an open attack but difficult to guard against an arrow from the dark. Who could have imagined what tricks these despicable people would use behind the scenes?
Mrs. Qiao was shocked by the ruthlessness revealed by Qiao Yuandong in an instant, and she clasped her hands together and bowed repeatedly.

"Please don't say such things. I am here to warn you. Everyone in the capital is in danger these past two days. You should be careful and don't get yourself involved in those disasters."

Qiao Yuandong naturally appreciated her mother's kindness. After she nodded to show that she understood, the two of them stopped talking about the matter.

The mother and daughter sat and chatted for a while. After Mrs. Qiao had dinner with her daughter at the Duke's Mansion, she went back.

After lunch, Qiao Yuandong took a nap as usual, but she felt a little uneasy because of what Mrs. Qiao said.

When Xia Mang came in, he saw her leaning on the couch and reading a book, so he asked, "Madam, aren't you going to take a nap today?"

Qiao Yuandong shook his head: "I can't sleep, so I read a book to calm my mind."

Xia Mangna was surprised: "But is there anything that bothers Madam?"

Qiao Yuandong naturally had no way of telling her about this. He just looked up at the snowflakes still fluttering outside the window, and after a long sigh, he said, "It's going to rain. Please accompany me to the ancestral hall to burn some incense."

At that time, Wu Hongyi, who was hiding in the mountains of Jiaodong County, was also expressing the same sentiment.

Three months have passed since he went to Jiaodong County to secretly investigate Prince Qi under the secret order of His Majesty.

Wu Hongyi's troops were stationed in the mountains of Jiaodong County. In order not to attract too much attention, he did not bring many people with him.

Prince Qi is cunning and suspicious, so he can only act carefully. He must complete His Majesty's mission!

Your Majesty has been suspicious of Prince Qi for a long time, but without solid evidence, all your doubts are nothing but groundless guesses.

Fortunately, we have finally made considerable progress!
Wu Hongyi was sitting in the tent. On the table were two secret letters, one of which was sent to him by His Majesty.

Yesterday, we received an urgent report from the capital that the Crown Prince was poisoned. Your Majesty suspected that it was Prince Qi who did it and asked Wu Hongyi to investigate the matter.

The other letter was from Jiang Hanxue, the prefect of Songxiang County, which was adjacent to Jiaodong, saying that the private army base of Prince Qi had been discovered.

Songxiang County was not a fiefdom of a vassal state, and the county magistrate was loyal to the royal family. The first thing Wu Hongyi did when he came to Jiaodong was to communicate with Jiang Hanxue and let him know the emperor's intention so that he could take action.

Unexpectedly, Wu Hongyi's investigations for several months yielded no results, but Songxiang County actually found a clue.

Coincidentally, Songxiang County caught a group of rioting bandits. The bandit leader was a heinous man who committed murder and arson. After being put in death row, he brazenly boasted to his cellmates about the crimes he had committed.

The speaker may not have intended it, but the listener may have taken it to heart. The prisoner on death row happened to hear that something was wrong with his words.

It turned out that the bandit leader had once fled to Jiaodong to commit crimes. One time, he accidentally broke into a farmhouse. The farmhouse was grand and spacious, and it was obvious at a glance that the owner was a wealthy country squire.

The bandit leader therefore decided to visit this house at night, but when it was late at night, the house was still brightly lit and some strong men could be seen coming in and out.

Although those people were wearing farmers' clothes, the bandit leader had been on the edge of a knife for years and could still tell the iron-blooded aura in those people. He knew that there was something strange about this place, so he retreated cautiously.

When talking about this in prison, the bandit leader just thought it was a joke, but his cellmates were knowledgeable and knew immediately that there was something wrong here.

And because the prisoner committed a capital crime, they wanted to reduce his sentence by taking advantage of the report.

So he asked the bandit leader about the details of the farm indirectly, and then reported it to the jailer, who reported it to the chief of justice, and finally to the county magistrate.

The county magistrate understood the importance of the matter, so he sent his confidant to deliver the secret letter to Wu Hongyi overnight.

Wu Hongyi immediately sent secret agents to investigate according to the information in the secret letter and found the remote farm. As expected, they discovered that there were a large number of private soldiers on the farm.

According to the information reported by the spies, the number of that private army was at least 30,000, and all of them were elite soldiers. Those who came in and out looked alert, and it was obvious that they were planning something.

There is no doubt that Prince Qi has rebellious intentions, but such an army is not enough for rebellion.

In other words, Prince Qi had private soldiers in more than one place!
It seems that we need to send a message to His Majesty as soon as possible to let him make preparations early!
However, things happen unexpectedly. This year's winter came exceptionally early, with heavy snow for several days in a row. The roads were already covered with snow, making them impassable, and the secret letter could not be delivered.

"It's like a storm is brewing!" The pressure in Wu Hongyi's heart did not ease at all.

Rather than the fact that Prince Qi really wanted to rebel, he hoped that this was just His Majesty's personal suspicion.

However, now that Prince Qi's rebellious intentions have been confirmed, it means that there will be a war soon, and who knows how many people will die by then!

(End of this chapter)