sh and chuckled teasingly."Madame and Miss are truly blessed. They just pick a few people off the dock, and they find treasures! From now on, Madame and Miss will never have to worry about meals again...Winter Plum stepped forward and said, "Butler, Madam Li traveled a long way. It's best to let her in and speak."

"Oh, yes, yes, please come in, Madam." The head steward came to his senses and quickly greeted the guests.

Everyone followed the steward into the house. Along the way, many servants looked curiously at them, although they didn't point fingers or whisper, their expressions weren't particularly respectful.

After all, this is the Hou Mansion. Those who come and go are all from noble and influential families. The Li family's attire was clearly that of ordinary people, it was simply too out of place.

Old Mrs. Li straightened her back and chatted casually with the chief steward, walking inside step by step. There was no fear or envy in her expression, just as if she were visiting a neighbor's house on an ordinary day.

While the people following Li behind, including Jia Yi and Liu Yang, two young boys, were well-behaved. Although their faces were full of curiosity, they didn't look around wildly.

Of course, there's an exception: Jia Yin.

She hugged Dongmei's neck, looking left and right from time to time, her big eyes sparkling with laughter.

But a two-year-old child, not crying or making a fuss is already well-behaved. Who could ask her to be like an adult

It has to be said, the Hou Mansion was truly grand and luxurious. With its layers of eaves and intricately carved beams and pillars, it took a full cup of tea's time just to walk down the various gates to the main courtyard.

Since the Marquis was away and there was no mistress in the manor, the head steward led everyone to the small flower hall for tea.

The maids served tea and various snacks like flowing water. The Li family members picked up their teacups, took a sip, but did not touch the snacks, nor did they show any signs of craving them.

This surprised the two maidservants guarding the door. They exchanged glances and looked up, only to be met with a cold stare from the steward. Startled, they immediately retreated.

The head steward personally stepped forward, pushing the plate of snacks towards Jia Yin's side, and greeted her.

"With all this traveling, Miss, you must be famished. Have some snacks to tide you over. These snacks, the Marquis also brought for Miss before, saying that she likes them."

Jia Yin looked at the old woman and saw her smiling and nodding. Only then did she take a piece, smiling and saying thanks, "Thank you, Butler."

"Oh, Miss, you're too kind." The housekeeper was even more pleased to be called "uncle".

Li Lao Er, remembering the gossip, opened his mouth and started asking.

The steward quickly replied, “I just received the news too. It said those women were taken away by the Emperor's men, but as to what exactly happened, someone has been sent to investigate. We should hear back soon.”

Did the emperor intervene

Everyone was happy. Although the Marquis was not in Xin Du, someone still protected him.

The steward was also eloquent and understood that the Marquis treated the Li family differently. Therefore, he started a conversation with the Li family members about mountain valley business and harvest yields.

Jiayin came to the city with a small goal in mind. Seeing that she had nothing to do for the time being, she tugged on Dongmei's sleeve.

Winter Plum understood. Taking advantage of the break in conversation, she said, "I'll take the young miss for a walk in the garden."

The steward quickly said, "It was my oversight. I forgot about this. The young miss is still young and probably can't sit still for long."

Mrs. Li laughed, "Children are naughty. They're used to running wild at home and now they're causing trouble for the head housekeeper."

After a few polite exchanges, Dongmei took Jiayin out of the main courtyard and headed straight to the back of the Hou Mansion.

She walked all the way to a small courtyard near Hou Mansion's back gate, then stopped. She took a key out of her bosom and unlocked the copper lock on the courtyard door.

"Miss, this is the courtyard where I and Mount Ye usually live. Because we've always been at the manor, it's locked here, no one comes over. It's also closer to the back gate..."

Dong Mei lowered her voice and explained a few things briefly.

Jia Yin jumped down and carefully pushed open the door. Dong Mei instinctively turned to look around, worried that someone might be nearby.

But before she could take it all in, Jia Yin tugged at her sleeve, "Let's go back!"

Winter Plum was surprised, she bent down and hugged Jia Yin, then looked at the closed courtyard gate, her face full of struggle.

Jia Yin whispered a few words in her ear, Dong Mei nodded and quickly went forward to lock the door, then took Jia Yin to the garden.

The garden has hills, flowers and trees of all colors, a small lake and pavilions. It is very delicately and elegantly constructed.

But Jiayin missed her family, so she walked around and then returned to the main courtyard.

Just then, the person sent by the Hou Mansion to gather information also returned.

As it turned out, the rumor mill in Xin Du was churning. Someone, thinking they had found an opportunity, secretly denounced another to the emperor.

The Emperor was furious, but not because the Marquis was a debauched philanderer who shirked his duties. Instead, he was enraged by the unfounded slander against the Marquis. He immediately ordered someone to bring Hua Ruyue and the others to the city square for questioning.

People like Huaruyue would not dare to deceive the Emperor, even if they had the heart of a bear and the gall of a leopard. All their petty tricks and greed would vanish before absolute authority, just like spring snow melting away quickly.

Thus, the truth was revealed. All those tales of heroes and beauties, love and hatred, were nothing but fabrications.

They are nothing but a group of greedy and foolish dancers, clinging to the Marquis for support.

Even though Hua Ru Yue isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, she's not completely stupid. She's been calling Jun Hou admirable and thanking him for fighting for the country. It's just that she was blinded by emotion for a moment.

As a result, she was once again outwitted by her own cleverness.

They were directly sent to the southwestern border as "comfort troops," singing and dancing for the soldiers who had been stationed there year-round, to alleviate their loneliness and homesickness.

But everyone knows that's just polite talk. They're destined to continue in the flesh trade, and the kind that doesn't even pay…

The Li family was speechless upon hearing this.

It's a pity for Hua Ru Yue and the others, but they brought this upon themselves.

But a group of women, this ending, indeed also makes one unable to feel happy.

The steward, a shrewd man, immediately hurried to make arrangements for food and drink.

Li Laotai insisted on leaving, "Butler, no need to bother. We were just worried about the Marquis and came to see if we could help. Now that things are settled, we should head back early."

The Steward still wanted to keep them, and Li Er also said, “We met Mr. Wen on the road when we came here. He was also waiting for news. We should at least meet him and say a few words. Now that we know which way the Hou Mansion's gate opens, there will be opportunities to come and go in the future, so it doesn't matter if we meet once today.”

The steward no longer persisted, and the crowd soon exited the mansion.

At this time, Dongmei mentioned that there were still some matters in the mansion, and she wanted to stay with Yéshan for two more days before returning to the mountain villa.

Of course, the old woman agreed and took the good news. She instructed Dongmei a few words before getting on the mule cart.

The mule cart hadn't gone far when it met Mr. Wen. Liu Ziheng was well-informed, and as soon as Mr. Wen arrived at Liu's house, Liu Ziheng already had the full story.

Mr. Wen no longer worried about the Marquis, simply instructing the Li family a few words, and putting some snacks and food on the carriage, he hurriedly bid farewell and went to work.

The Li family rode in a donkey cart, swaying slowly out of the city, heading home toward the setting sun.

Jia Yin sat in her grandmother's arms, nibbling on a snack. Thinking about how she had accomplished something big, she felt incredibly happy.

Her chubby little hands held treats, offering them to grandma one moment, then feeding her father and second uncle the next.

The old woman was coaxed into happiness by her granddaughter quickly, she tapped on her little nose and said, “You always want to go out with me, aren’t you just running after these foods You are such a little glutton!” mother's arms and whispered, "Mother, tomorrow I will go into the city with my stepfather."Tao Hongying's eyes widened. Before she could say anything, her daughter’s chubby hand covered her mouth. Sh...