Chapter 508: Oriole (4)
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling held Little Bear in her hands and weighed him. Smiling, she said, “Good kid, you’ve gained weight again, right?”
Little Bear blew a bubble at his mother and reached out to grab her hair. In response, Mu Yangling tilted her head slightly and teased him with a smile. “You can’t catch me huh.”
Little Treasure stood on the ground as he watched his aunt and younger brother chatting and laughing. He hugged Mu Yangling’s leg and climbed up with all his might, wanting to see his brother.
Mu Yangling sat on the couch and lifted Little Treasure up for him to see. Seeing his fair and fragrant younger brother, the satisfied Little Treasure grabbed his small hand and spoke to him.
At first, he could still say the words “little brother” or “bear”. Later on, he started playing with the toy in his hand. Little Treasure couldn’t speak clearly anymore and began to talk to Little Bear in the kids’ language. As he spoke, he swung the toy in his hand to tease him.
Little Bear clearly liked this brother very much, too. He stared at him with his eyes wide open, reaching out to grab the thing in his hand from time to time.
Mu Yangling sat at the side and watched them with a smile. Just as she was about to get someone to surround the two children and let them play by themselves, she suddenly heard some sounds. Mu Yangling raised her head and looked outside.
Spring looked out and saw the servant girl sitting under the corridor doing needlework. She asked curiously, “What’s wrong, Fourth Madam?”
As soon as she finished speaking, Spring’s expression changed slightly. She had already heard the commotion and it was getting louder and louder. It was obvious that it was targeting them.
Spring was bewildered. Who would dare to make such a loud noise in the backyard?
Mu Yangling waved her hand and said, “Go out and take a look.” She turned around and called the two children’s nannies and waiting maids over. “Keep an eye on the young masters and don’t leave them.”
After also asking the maidservants and servant girls who were in charge of protecting the two children to come over and guard the children, Mu Yangling stood up and went to the door. Soon, the commotion reached the entrance of the courtyard.
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The entire Zhaohua Courtyard was alarmed. The servant girls and maidservants ran out to block Mu Yangling with timid expressions. Since they were bound together with the Zhaohua Courtyard, no matter who barged in this time, they had no choice but to try their best to protect their master.
Mu Yangling did not stop the servants from blocking her way. She simply looked outside curiously, wanting to know who had come to her.
The commander of the guards, who had pushed open the courtyard door, looked up and met Mu Yangling’s gaze.
The guard commander looked at Mu Yangling with a dark expression for a while before lowering his eyes and going forward despite the servants’ obstruction. Mu Yangling raised her eyebrows. Was this someone from the palace?
The guard commander clenched his fists and bowed. “Greetings, Reverent Lady Qi. I’m the Guard Commander of the Left from the palace. I’m here on orders.”
“Sir, I wonder what order you are under that makes you come here?”
The guard commander pretended not to detect Mu Yangling’s sarcasm and said, “I was ordered to invite Mrs. Qi and Reverent Lady Qi into the palace to accompany the Empress. The Empress hasn’t been feeling well recently and really wishes to talk to the madams. However, thinking that the madam and the reverent lady need to take care of their two young sons, she specially allowed you to bring the two young masters into the palace and specially ordered me to escort the four of you.”
Spring, who was behind Mu Yangling, gasped. Were they going to be escorted into the palace to be held as hostages?
Mu Yangling’s heart tightened, but her expression did not change as she said, “Since you’re here on orders, we’ll naturally do as you say. However, my sister-in-law went out this morning. Please allow me to arrange for someone to bring her back. Moreover, there are many things to pack since the children are entering the palace too. Sir, you don’t mind waiting a little longer, right?”
The guard commander looked at the guard holding the hilt of his sword and staring at him covetously. He really wanted to bring them back to the palace as soon as possible so that he could complete the mission, but he knew that he could not be too forceful. Moreover, Madam Qi-Li was indeed not in the residence. He nodded slightly and cupped his fists. “I can be lenient, but the palace is pressing us. Reverent Lady Qi, please act quickly.”
Mu Yangling nodded with a smile. She turned around and casually summoned a young lass. “Go find a coachman and quickly call Eldest Madam back. Tell her that there’s an urgent matter at home.”
Then, she waved her hand and called Mama Wang over. She instructed, “Quickly get someone to pack up the two young masters’ things. Don’t leave behind the things they usually use. I’m afraid Mama Wang will have to stay in the palace for a while.”
Mama Wang agreed.
Only then did Mu Yangling turn around and instruct the guards at home, “Please bring the sirs to take a seat in the front yard. We’ll send someone to inform you after we’re done packing up.”
However, the guard commander smiled and said, “We wouldn’t dare to trouble Reverent Lady Qi. We’ll just sit in the gatehouse in the courtyard. If you need any help, feel free to order us around.”
He did not dare to let Mu Yangling and the others leave his sight. Although he knew that the possibility of them escaping was very small, he had to be careful.
Mu Yangling did not force him. She asked the guards to bring the palace guards to sit in the gatehouse and drink tea. She then turned around and entered the house to make arrangements. “Go and inform Wen Si to pack Eldest Madam’s clothes and some necessities immediately. Rain, I’ll leave it to you to pack my things.”
Mu Yangling paused for a moment and said, “Go and ask the guard commander. Eldest Madam and I are bringing two servant girls along, but we also need nannies and servants to attend to the two young masters. Ask them how many people can we bring along with us at the most.”
Spring hurriedly went out and came in later. “Fourth Madam, I’ve asked. You and Eldest Madam can only bring one each, but the two young masters can bring more people. It’s fine as long as each of you bring no more than six.”
Mu Yangling immediately said, “Then bring along six each.” She arranged for the two maidservants and two servant girls who knew martial arts to go with them. The remaining two spots were for the nanny and a servant girl. This way, the children’s comfort and safety could be guaranteed.
Mu Yangling left Mama Wang and Rain behind and said, “I’ll leave the residence to you. After Eldest Madam and I leave, close the door tightly and don’t go out easily. Don’t get into a conflict with Madam Wu and the others either. Try your best to endure it. If you can’t, find an opportunity to make an example out of them and intimidate them. In short, our residence must not be in chaos while we’re not around.”
Mama Wang and Rain agreed. Mama Wang lowered her voice and asked, “Fourth Madam, should we think of a way to inform the farmstead?”
“There’s no need. I’ll make arrangements over there.” The young lass who had gone to inform Li Jinghua just now didn’t just go out to inform Li Jinghua. Such a situation was considered an emergency situation. Once it happened, the young lass chosen by her would find a special coachman to send her to places.
The coachman was the one who spread the news. Now, Zhu Liang’s men had probably already received the news from the coachman. She only hoped that he could stabilize the situation and not panic. As long as the farmstead was safe, she and Li Jinghua would have the capital to escape with the children.
“Get someone to pack two sets of lighter clothes and bring them along,” he said to Spring in a low voice. “Pack these for Eldest Madam, too. Hurry up and go.”
Spring agreed with a slightly pale face.
After Mu Yangling and the others left, she took out her most commonly used dagger and tied it to her leg. Then, she lowered her skirt and made sure it was well-hidden before getting up to leave.
