When Xiao Chunyu returned to the General Mansion with Panpan, she clearly felt someone protecting her from the shadows.
Ye Lin also informed Ye Feng about this matter.
"They’re people from the palace, no need to mind them."
How transparent Ye Feng was. The Third Prince actually used Mrs. Xia and Miss Panpan as pawns in a scheme to sow discord, but he missed one critical point: the masters in the palace deeply believed Panpan’s words because children do not lie.
The General had already set up a plan to close the net on the Third Prince’s people.
The Capital was about to experience another storm of blood and chaos.
"Increase security within the mansion, politely decline any invitations sent to the front gate under the pretense that the old lady is unwell."
Xia Guangcheng was well aware of the saying that a cornered dog will leap over a wall; this time he was the one in charge, and the people of the General Mansion would surely be the targets of the Third Prince’s retaliation.
Additionally, the old lady’s health was indeed declining.
"For years, I accompanied the General at the border, unafraid to even step onto the battlefield. Who would have thought that on my own estate, I’d be drugged?"
Mrs. Xia felt this was a blemish on her life, one that stained her reputation in her old age. It was embarrassing. How could she ever boast among the circle of noble ladies again?
"Mother, don’t worry too much. No one knows what you experienced, only that you fell ill on the estate and were brought back by us to recuperate."
Of course, they had to complete the charade. The Xia family grandly brought the old lady back to the Capital from the estate, even specially summoning Doctor Huang for a consultation.
Doctor Huang diagnosed it as a chill that required rest.
Thus, politely declining invitations at the front gate was quite normal under these circumstances.
"General, Ye Lin reported that there are several experts outside, not sure if they are friend or foe?"
"Experts?" Xia Guangcheng was taken aback: "When did you discover them?"
"Just yesterday when Miss Panpan returned to the mansion, Madam instructed Ye Lin to keep an eye out and he noticed something unusual."
"Understood, no need to bother with them."
Xia Guangcheng clearly understood that this was the protective umbrella his daughter had earned for him.
In the inner courtyard, Panpan was looking after the old lady.
"Grandmother, be good and take your medicine. Once you take it, you’ll be able to play with Panpan again."
"Sweet granddaughter, Grandma is getting old," said the old lady with a look of fear at her granddaughter: "From now on, Grandma won’t dare to take you out to play alone. If anything were to happen, my old life wouldn’t be enough to account for it."
"It’s okay, Grandmother. If you don’t take Panpan to play, Panpan will take you to play."
Her sweet and lively voice was so endearing that people couldn’t help but smile.
The servants attending nearby also started laughing along: "Miss really is a source of joy. How could anyone not love such a lovely young lady?"
The laughter from the inner courtyard made Xia Guangcheng, who was walking towards the old lady’s door, pause, then his mouth curled into a slight smile: This was the happy life he desired, a family where everyone, young and old, was joyous and harmonious.
And it was all because he married a good wife.
Xiao Chunyu looked up and saw Xia Guangcheng.
"The General is back."
"I’m back." Xia Guangcheng greeted his mother, who was on the bed: "Mother, are you feeling better today?"
"Much better. Sigh, I never thought I’d cause you so much trouble in my old age, it was my carelessness."
Who would have thought there would be such a big oversight on her own dowry estate?
The old servants who had followed her for decades would betray her.
"Was that family dealt with?"
"Yes."
Xia Guangcheng didn’t even want to tell her: The estate had already turned into a sieve.
According to his thorough investigation, more than half the people were paid by the Xia family but betrayed them for personal gains.
Because of this, Xia Guangcheng had Ye Feng go over the General Mansion once more, and fortunately, the situation was much better than on the estate, with only three spy inserts.
After identifying these three individuals, Ye Feng suggested leaving them in place.
Since the enemy didn’t know they had been discovered, they could even be used if necessary.
Removing these three plants would only lead to new ones being inserted, making it unclear whose spies they might be next time.
Xia Guangcheng spent a while with his mother, naturally talking about the Third Prince.
"This person is insidious; caution is the best approach." The old lady said: "You were astute to recognize him. When I woke up, I knew I had fallen into a trap, but they entertained us with good food and drink, inviting me and Panpan to eat. I didn’t know what tricks they were playing, and observed coldly but didn’t recognize him."
The old lady was once a privileged lady, familiar with the princes, yet couldn’t recognize the Third Prince, showing how much he had changed in appearance.
"He disguised himself." Xia Guangcheng said: "This person is deeply calculating, perhaps never even leaving the Capital’s walls."
According to intelligence, the Third Prince’s influence spanned both inside and outside the court, with dozens of officials already bought over by him.
Moreover, there were spies planted in the homes of both civil and military officials.
"That’s his nature." The old lady said: "He was this cunning even as a prince. The current emperor’s victory indeed demonstrates extraordinary capabilities; otherwise, he really couldn’t have bested him."
Listening to the conversation between them, Xiao Chunyu felt secretly alarmed: this was what it was like to belong to a powerful family; the conversations were very different from what she was used to.
After Xia Guangcheng left, the old lady quickly advised Xiao Chunyu.
"Yu’er, you must be more cautious in the future. Never be soft-hearted on those servants who betray their masters." The old lady was quite alarmed; showing kindness to others could be cruelty to oneself, leading to demise without a grave for the careless.
"Yes, Mother, Yu’er will remember."
Xiao Chunyu also felt quite scared, and she couldn’t help but think back to the past of the Xiao family, how when her grandfather had an accident, the servants were released with their contracts. A few older servants even wanted to stay and take care of them without pay.
But since the future was uncertain and those older servants were getting on in years, her grandmother had persuaded them to leave.
So, a big family comes with its own benefits, but a small family also has its own safety.
"Grandmother, let Panpan give you a back rub." Little Panpan climbed onto the bed: "Grandmother, take the medicine, you’ll get better."
"Panpan, Grandmother can’t take your medicine," Xiao Chunyu became anxious. This child thought one pill solved everything, telling everyone to take medicine, did she think hawthorn pills were a cure-all?
"It will work, it will work, the pills made by Second Aunt, the ones in the ceramic bottle."
Chunyu remembered, Chun Nuan indeed sent a ceramic bottle with pills, and the note had mentioned they could be taken when feeling low in spirits.
"Alright, if our Panpan says it’s okay, then it’s okay." The old lady said: "Go get it for me then; it’d be good to feel a bit better physically."
Following orders, Xiao Chunyu went and got the pills, which the old lady took.
"Grandmother, just sleep for a while, and you’ll be fine when you wake up."
"Alright, I’ll listen to our Panpan and sleep for a bit."
The old lady soon fell asleep after lying down for a little while.
Xiao Chunyu took Panpan out of the courtyard, while Panpan continued clamoring about giving the medicine to Father as well.
"Panpan, not everyone can take the pills."