The Prince Nan’an Mansion was on par with the Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion back in the day, but after many years, it has recently been oppressed everywhere, all because the eldest daughter of the mansion married into the Zheng Family.
Everyone presumed the Emperor resented the Prince Nan’an Mansion because he felt the Princess Xueyu was wronged.
Little did they know, having power and wealth is permissible, but the Emperor would never tolerate his courtiers becoming so powerful and affluent as to threaten his sovereignty.
Everyone said the Emperor cherished him better than his own kin, yet the Emperor’s methods wouldn’t be blind to Mrs. Zhao’s continuous suppression and even attempts to kill him multiple times over the years.
He’s merely hoping to see internal chaos in the mansion so he can secure his stature and strengthen his imperial power.
Is not the Prince Zhenbei’s Mansion in the same situation today?
As for the Emperor’s affection, it indeed exists but is merely because guilt outweighs kinship!
After Zheng Shaochen left, Nan Jin Yu sat alone for a long time.
Meanwhile at the Zheng Family, Zheng Shaochen was truthfully reporting the matter to Mr. Zheng.
After listening to Zheng Shaochen, Mr. Zheng sighed helplessly, saying, "Since the Princely Heir said so, just do as he instructed."
He could sense that over the years, the Prince’s treatment towards their Zheng Family was no longer as close as before; otherwise, he wouldn’t be so eager to pledge allegiance to Nan Jin Yu.
Although there’s currently another son in the mansion, Nan Jin Yu is nevertheless the Emperor’s nephew and assumes the identity of the Princely Heir, which Mr. Zheng indeed values highly.
"So, Father means I could venture out independently?" Zheng Shaochen was quite looking forward to this.
Anyhow, as the sole heir of the Zheng Family, even if things don’t go well outside, he can return to inherit the family estate, thus he’s unafraid.
"By the way, about your second sister..." Mr. Zheng hesitated before considering and saying, "Forget it, I’ll go talk on my own."
Zheng Shaochen watched Mr. Zheng’s hurriedly departing silhouette with confusion. His second sister? What was the matter now?
Gu Nian was unaware of these happenings; after a rain, heavy snow began to fall again.
Mrs. Wang hurriedly ran inside, calling out, "Is his Third Uncle here? Is his Third Uncle here? Something bad has happened at home, come help quickly..."
Mrs. Jiang quickly set aside her handicraft and came out from the house, Lin Sanshui also hurriedly, "Sister-in-law, what is it?"
"It’s Mu, Mu’s mother secretly came back and took Mu away; I’ve been searching for a long time but couldn’t find him. Luckily, Old Li, who was herding sheep in the village, said he saw Mu’s mother return. Your elder brother and Daniu went to town and haven’t come back yet; I’m really helpless..." As Mrs. Wang spoke, she began to cry, collapsing on the ground; fortunately, the thick snow hadn’t been cleared yet, preventing her from getting hurt.
"What?" Mu is the first grandson in the Lin Family’s three generations, and temporarily the only one; Lin Sanshui was terrified, grabbing his coat and rushing outside, "Wife, watch over Sister-in-law, I’m going to find the village head and demand Mu back from the Wang Family!"
When Gu Nian came out from the house, Mrs. Jiang was comforting Mrs. Wang.
It wasn’t until midnight that Lin Sanshui returned with Mu.
The little person had a face full of tears, and several scratches on his body, having cried himself to sleep.
According to Lin Sanshui, the Wang Family sold Mrs. Wang, marrying her off to an old widower as his wife, enduring frequent beatings that she couldn’t bear, secretly coming back to find Lin Dashan several times, but Lin Dashan was busy with the family’s meatball business and didn’t have time for her.
This time she was unwilling to leave, so she stole Mu, intending to hide the child to force the Lin Family to accept her again, unexpectedly spotted just in time by Old Mr. Li, who found her and Mu.