Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family-Chapter 1048 - 1047: Only to Make Wedding Clothes for Someone Else
Chapter 1048: Chapter 1047: Only to Make Wedding Clothes for Someone Else
The maids beside her all lowered their heads in a display of respect, but to Liu Sisi, it was nothing but an eyesore.
She walked slowly toward the outside as if she were riding in a leisurely carriage.
Despite everyone’s attempts to stop her, she meandered through the winding pavilion and around the rockery in the heart of the lake, walking far and far, until all she could see was hills, as if, aside from her and the little maid behind her, there were no other people around.
Liu Sisi whipped around suddenly, "What does Old Madam intend by this? Does she wish to keep me here forever?"
The little maid retreated two steps in trepidation, "Princess, this order came from His Majesty himself, the slave does not know."
"What a convenient ignorance."
Liu Sisi knew she was directing her anger at the wrong person but could not suppress the fury in her heart, "Go and report back to Old Madam this instant, I want to leave!"
There were so many matters waiting for her at home, yet here she was, idling away. Truly vexing.
"Princess, please wait a moment, I will send a message to His Majesty right away. I believe there will be a reply soon."
The little maid hurried off, and once they had left, Liu Sisi felt much more relaxed. Yesterday, she had traveled underground for a full hour and a half, and although it was unclear how far she had moved above ground, it likely wasn’t a short distance.
The majority of the plants here were pine and cypress, indirectly confirming her thoughts.
She wondered what Di Yelei was doing at the moment and if he had noticed her absence.
Liu Sisi’s thoughts were consumed by Di Yelei, while Di Yelei at this moment was also following the trail, searching for Liu Sisi’s whereabouts. Yet at that moment, someone came to report that an elder woman was requesting an audience with him outside.
At the sight, Di Yelei’s eyes narrowed abruptly, "So it’s you!"
He easily recognized her; she was none other than the old woman who had fought with him for a person on the freighter.
"Marquis Yongping, we meet again. What fate we share," said Lady Lin Xiner with a chuckle, her view of Di Yelei vastly different from that of Zhao Yuanlang, "Marquis Yongping truly has ability, not only leading your trusted soldiers to slaughter in all directions but also compelling those barbaric ethnic groups to retreat voluntarily. Remarkable, truly remarkable!"
"You flatter me, Old Madam!"
Di Yelei’s expression did not relax in the slightest as he fixed her with a critical gaze, "You are... you are...?"
"Indeed, you’ve guessed who I am, so why bother asking again?"
A gleam flashed in the old woman’s eyes as she casually sat down opposite Di Yelei and, with a flick of the wrist, removed her veil hat to reveal a face strikingly similar to Liu Sisi’s.
Di Yelei narrowed his eyes slightly but said not another word.
Old Madam seemed to be waiting for him to ask questions, and seeing his look, she smiled faintly, "Marquis, I the Empress have come today to discuss a matter with you."
"And if I refuse?"
Di Yelei’s face was stern.
"If you refuse... Well, it’s simple really. Marquis, you should understand what I mean," she said.
"I do not know, but there is something that I, Di Yelei, do know for certain: if anyone dares to harm a single hair on Sisi’s head, I will make sure they regret it!"
"My Lady Mother-in-law, you misunderstand the meaning of the Empress. As the biological mother of Si Er, how could the Empress harm her? My Lady Mother-in-law, you think too lowly of the Empress."
Lin Xin’er let out a long, audible sigh, "Old Master Marquis, you should know that at present, the Tartars are coveting us fiercely. Our Great Xia is not strong, yet time and again we are forced to give ground to the Tartars, to endure again and again until there is no more endurance left. Hence, the purpose of my visit today is to seek military aid from you to reach an agreement. There is absolutely no other implication."
Military aid, joint forces to deal with the Tartar troops, their only chance for survival.
"Really!"
Di Yelei slightly narrowed his eyes, a flicker of light swiftly passing through them before he smiled, "Since you are Sisi’s birth mother, in principle, I as the junior should address you as my Lady Mother-in-law, and it would be proper. However, Sisi’s whereabouts are currently unknown, and my heart is in great anxiety. I have no knowledge of her current situation, and so I hope my Lady Mother-in-law could reveal the truth frankly."
Di Yelei had long ago handed over the military tokens, and now he had no command over troops, with only a mere smattering of over 2,000 trusted soldiers that were his lifeline; normally, he would not lend them lightly.
"You need not worry about Si Er’s whereabouts. The Empress has just temporarily kept her close by. After two days, she will surely return Sisi to you, safe and sound."
"Lady Mother-in-law, is there no room for accommodation in this matter?"
The expression on Di Yelei’s face changed suddenly, losing all the respect of just a moment prior, "If I cannot see Sisi, you can forget about any demands you might have from me."
"Since Old Master Marquis is not interested in talking, let us put an end to today’s discussion. I shall visit again tomorrow, hoping to hear some good news regarding your agreement."
Lin Xin’er also was not the least bit anxious, leisurely wiping her hands clean, and then slowly rose, taking a deep look at Di Yelei before she turned and left.
Di Yelei’s hands clenched into fists, "To actually threaten me... Hmph! Someone, continue to send more people to assist! Even if we have to dig three feet into the ground, we must find Sisi back!"
It was mildly reassuring that they would not harm Sisi.
"Old Master Marquis, actually, what the elder woman... the Old Madam just said, does have some merit. It’s entirely feasible to ally with the Great Xia to resist the external enemy."
Old Tang had also thought it through; after all, it’s all about resisting a foreign enemy. Old Master Marquis could very well report the matter to the court, which would serve as a perfect explanation to the Old Madam.
"Do you think it’s that simple? Extra troops and generals are dispatched from the border, and I’m afraid the activity won’t go unnoticed.
"The Tartars, as well as the Great Xia, neither of them see our vast Great Zhao Country as anything but a cash cow, always commanding and never seeking sincere cooperation. I fear that when the time comes, they will simply make excuses and ultimately leave us to dress up someone else."
Despite his words, Di Yelei’s curiosity was piqued. If Great Xia truly wants to discuss cooperation, why send a woman instead of a capable minister? What was the issue here?
"Could it be due to the Old Madam’s special identity?" Old Tang seemed to have considered more deeply.
"If they affirm her identity, acknowledging the person before them as Lin Xin’er, given her connections with the Great Zhao, her presence here likely has underlying intentions.
And another thing... does Zhao Yuanlang know about this?"
Did Zhao Yuanlang know that Lin Xin’er was still alive? Or was it that...
Di Yelei suddenly thought of another possibility!
Could it be that their so-called return home to visit relatives was a bait thrown out early on by Zhao Yuanlang, naturally for the sake of Lin Xin’er? After all, initially, he was in such great turmoil; for His Majesty to have agreed so easily was beyond his expectations.
The more he thought about it, the tighter his brows knitted; the more he pondered, the more he felt this possibility was likely the case.
If this were truly so, what role would he and Sisi be playing in this affair?
He had no answer.
