In the following days, the authorities launched a strict search for Song Lianxin and those who had escaped from the Zhao Family.
That day, the authorities found Song Lianxin's hiding place.
Hearing the commotion, Song Lianxin immediately hid in the cellar.
The soldiers searched the house, and after failing to find her, they quickly left.
Once the soldiers left, the blind old woman fumbled her way to the cellar entrance and gently knocked on the cellar lid.
"Girl, come out!"
The blind old woman crouched at the cellar entrance and said with a chuckle, "This old woman just found out that these soldiers aren't here to catch you; they're looking for a wanted criminal on the imperial court's list."
Song Lianxin quietly opened a crack in the lid, and after confirming there was no one else, she cautiously crawled out of the cellar.
Song Lianxin, while supporting the blind old woman, asked, "Who is the imperial court looking for now?"
She had been hiding and recuperating for the past few days, not daring to even step outside, so she had no idea what was happening in the outside world.
"I heard someone tried to rebel. As for the specifics, this old woman didn't ask."
The blind old woman said with a chuckle, "This is good for you! The soldiers are all looking for the rebellious criminal, so they definitely won't have time for you! Now you don't have to worry..."
Listening to the blind old woman's words, Song Lianxin's heart suddenly jolted.
A rebellious criminal?
The imperial court found out about the Zhao Family's collusion with Prince Ji to plot rebellion?
Good!
Too good!
Retribution, this is retribution!
However, very quickly, Song Lianxin had another jolt.
The imperial court found out about the Zhao Family's rebellion, so someone from the Zhao Family must have been caught!
The Zhao Family would definitely expose her too!
It's possible she was also on the wanted list!
No!
She couldn't stay in Luochuan Prefecture!
Once her injuries healed, she must find an opportunity to leave Luochuan Prefecture!
She absolutely could not be caught by the imperial court!
She still had to seek revenge on Shen Jing!
...
The matter of the rebellion case was handled by the imperial court, and Shen Jing was no longer concerned about it.
These past few days, he had been discussing with Su Yourong about transferring the zither shop.
The zither shop didn't make much money and also distracted them.
However, Su Yourong was a bit reluctant to part with the zither shop.
That day, as they were strolling through the zither shop, Chi Chi rushed in.
"Young Master, Young Mistress, an imperial edict has arrived! Madam told this servant to tell you to hurry back to hear the edict!"
Chi Chi, with a joyful expression, delivered the good news to them.
An imperial edict?
Shen Jing was slightly surprised, "An imperial edict arrived so quickly?"
It wasn't surprising for an imperial edict to arrive.
But this edict came a bit too fast, didn't it?
Feng Min only reported this matter a few days ago, and an imperial edict arrived today?
Did the imperial court not wait for Feng Min to thoroughly investigate everything?
Just clearing out Prince Ji's accomplices within the imperial court should take several days, right?
For some reason, Shen Jing felt that the arrival of this imperial edict was a bit unusual.
However, now was not the time to discuss this.
Let's go back and hear the edict first!
Thinking this, Shen Jing immediately led Chi Chi and Su Yourong back.
When they rushed back to Su Manor, Madam Su was chatting with the imperial eunuch Yu Rang, who was there to deliver the edict.
"They're back."
Seeing Shen Jing and Su Yourong return, Madam Su slowly stood up.
Yu Rang sized up Shen Jing, then stood up, holding the imperial edict with both hands, and announced loudly, "Madam Su and the couple Shen Jing, hear the edict!"
Shen Jing obediently knelt with the Su Family mother and daughter to hear the edict.
Yu Rang unrolled the imperial edict and declared loudly, "The Emperor has decreed: Su's son-in-law, Shen Jing, exposed the Zhao and Song families' collusion with Prince Ji in rebellion, rendering great service to the imperial court! Therefore, Su Zengshi is ordered to return to the capital within fifteen days with her daughter and son-in-law to receive imperial awards..."
Listening to Yu Rang read the imperial edict, Madam Su was somewhat surprised but also secretly pleased.
See, didn't her son-in-law render service to the imperial court?
However, couldn't the Emperor just bestow awards directly?
Why did they have to return to the capital to receive them?
Could it be that the Emperor also wanted to help the Su Family regain their prestige?
"This concubine (Shen Jing) accepts the edict and gives thanks!"
After Yu Rang finished reading the imperial edict, the few of them collectively accepted the edict and gave thanks.
Madam Su took the imperial edict and handed it to Shen Jing, then said with a smile, "Eunuch Yu has traveled a long way; please rest for a while. This concubine will have a banquet prepared to welcome Eunuch Yu."
"Madam's kindness is appreciated by this old servant."
Yu Rang said with a chuckle, "But this old servant still needs to go and deliver an edict to the Prefect of Huaizhou, Feng Min, and dare not delay too long! I also ask Madam to prepare for the return to the capital as soon as possible, and not to delay too long."
"Alright, alright!"
Madam Su repeatedly agreed.
After a few simple pleasantries, Yu Rang left Su Manor with his people.
After seeing Yu Rang off, Shen Jing immediately looked at Madam Su with suspicion, "Mother-in-law, something seems off about this!"
"What's off?"
Madam Su said with a smiling face, "You're going back to the capital to receive awards, and that's still 'off'? What are you thinking!"
"No..."
Shen Jing frowned, "It shouldn't be time for bestowing awards yet, should it?"
If it was truly time to bestow awards, it should wait until the rebellion was quelled!
For them to return to the capital to receive awards at this time, and within twenty days no less, he always felt it was a bit abnormal!
"What kind of talk is that?"
Madam Su pursed her lips and smiled, "The imperial edict states it clearly; are you worried someone is falsely transmitting an imperial edict?"
"I'm guessing he doesn't want to go to the capital."
Su Yourong smiled charmingly, "He's probably afraid Princess Qinghe will settle scores with him!"
Listening to Su Yourong's words, Jin'er and Chi Chi nodded with smiles on their faces.
"Don't say it, I really don't want to go to the capital."
Shen Jing looked at them with a wry smile, "Once we're in the capital, it won't be as comfortable as in Luochuan Prefecture."
"That's true."
Su Yourong nodded in deep agreement, "Actually, I don't want to go back to the capital either."
She knew best how many cold shoulders she had received in the capital.
Even with Shen Jing as her husband now, returning to the capital would still inevitably lead to cold shoulders.
Moreover, with Shen Jing's personality, he really wasn't suited for the capital.
He could even offend Princess Qinghe in Luochuan Prefecture; who knows what important figures he might offend in the capital!
Her mother's status as a first-rank noble lady was useful in Luochuan Prefecture, but in the capital, if Shen Jing caused a major incident, the status of a first-rank noble lady might not even be useful!
That was the capital, where princes and nobles were everywhere!
"Alright! Don't think about these things anymore."
Madam Su stopped the two, "This is a matter of an imperial edict; whether we like it or not, we have to go back to the capital! Do you really want to defy the imperial edict?"
At Madam Su's words, Shen Jing and Su Yourong immediately smiled helplessly.
That's right!
The imperial edict had already arrived!
Whether to go to the capital or not, was no longer up to them.
"Hurry up and deal with things here!"
Madam Su instructed, "It'll take four or five days for us to travel from Luochuan Prefecture to the capital, and we still need to set aside some time for the journey. So, we only have about seven days to deal with things here in Luochuan Prefecture."
"Mm."
The two nodded helplessly...