Chapter 142: A Single Oversight Could Spell Ruin for Nine Generations

Chapter 142: A Single Oversight Could Spell Ruin for Nine Generations

The next day, not long after Tang Shuyi and her family had finished their lunch, the Lady Tang arrived. Once seated, she immediately examined the bruising on Xiao Yuzhu's neck. The discoloration had worsened overnight, and while Lady Tang looked pained, she reassured, "Such wounds may look frightful, but they won't scar. Our Yuzhu will still be a beauty once healed."

Xiao Yuzhu grinned and said, "My mother said the same."

Holding her hand, Lady Tang spoke to Tang Shuyi, "This child has grown quite a bit, with a remarkably resilient spirit."

"A girl of fainter heart might have been so frightened by such an ordeal that she'd take to her bed, but this young lady can still laugh."

Tang Shuyi was always generous with praise for her children and lauded Xiao Yuzhu with a smile. Seeing that mother and daughter remained unaffected by yesterday's events and were their usual selves, Lady Tang felt relieved.

Aware that Tang Shuyi didn't keep secrets from Xiao Yuzhu, she didn't send the girl away and directly shared that the emperor had summoned Qi Liangsheng for a talk and the letter Qi Liangsheng sent to the Duke of Tang afterward, adding, "Your father suggests not to be too strict with Yuming for a while, let him have some freedom."

Tang Shuyi hadn't expected Qi Liangsheng to cover for Xiao Yuming in front of the emperor. She appreciated the support from the venerable Qi and decided to nurture Qi Er with even more care.

"I've thought of that as well," she said. "Just yesterday, I told him to go out and make his presence felt."

Lady Tang chuckled upon hearing this, "Yuming has become quite sensible. Your best days are yet to come."

"I can honestly say that my current days are not bad," Tang Shuyi spoke with sincerity, truly feeling that her life at the moment was not at all difficult.

Many believed that after Xiao Huai's death, her life as a single mother to three children, assuming the role of both father and mother, was arduous. But to her, these days were quite delightful.

While each of her children had their faults, none were beyond redemption. With the family's substantial wealth, she wasn't burdened by financial strains, and she had the final say in the entire household.

Besides, she wasn't the original soul of this body and didn't harbor deep-seated love for Xiao Huai. It would actually be disastrous if he were to somehow come back to life. How could she accept a man deeply in love with her predecessor? Yet, rejecting him would mean she'd be usurping this identity.

But these were mere musings, the likelihood of such an event was minuscule. Besides, in the book, Xiao Huai was indeed dead.

Engrossed in her thoughts, she continued to converse with Lady Tang. The topic shifted to the seventh prince, and Tang Shuyi expressed her understanding. The conversation then veered towards the marriage alliance between the Tang and Li families...

The sisters-in-law chatted the entire morning, and Lady Tang stayed for lunch before departing.

In the afternoon, Tang Shuyi summoned Niu Hongliang to discuss the selection of guards to accompany Xiao Yuzhen on his travels.

"I think we should choose a couple of them who are agile and skilled," Tang Shuyi suggested.

Niu Hongliang pondered for a moment. "Most of our guards were handpicked by the Marquis from the northwestern army, all battle-hardened. They should have no issues ensuring the young master's safety outside."

After giving it some thought, Tang Shuyi replied, "Then select the two best in skill. Once chosen, send them to Yuzhen's courtyard to get acquainted."

"Understood."

Having received his orders, Niu Hongliang departed. Tang Shuyi wondered whether to arrange for a physician to accompany them. However, considering Chang Feng and Chang Ming were already going, along with two guards, Guan Yinnian, and his entourage, the group would number seven or eight in total. Any more, and they'd attract too much attention.

She eventually decided against it. This journey was meant for experience; if everything was prepared in advance, what experience would they gain?

During the family's evening conversation, Tang Shuyi brought up the matter. Xiao Yuzhen, looking somewhat helpless, said, "Mother, I was planning to just take Chang Feng and one guard with me. Too many people would actually be inconvenient."

After some consideration, Tang Shuyi agreed. "You needn't take too many clothes. You can buy whatever you need along the way."

Despite her words, worry lingered in her heart. Even with the safety and convenience of modern travel, parents would still be concerned about a seventeen-year-old venturing out, let alone in the less secure and developed ancient times.

But no matter the worry, the child still needed to venture out.

"This journey is not to impose hardship on you," Tang Shuyi added. "We have deposited a substantial amount of silver at the Tongda bank. Should you need money, you can withdraw from there."

Xiao Yuzhen nodded, "I understand, Mother. You needn't worry."

Just then, Cuicloud parted the curtain and entered from outside, mentioning that Steward Zhao was outside with a report. Tang Shuyi thought it might be the results of the investigation into Su Bingcang and promptly summoned Steward Zhao. Indeed, it was as she had guessed.

Steward Zhao reported, "Su Bingcang has an elder sister named Su Yuqin, who, years ago, married a candidate named Ye Chengji from Jiangnan who came for the imperial examinations. Ye Chengji failed the examinations and intended to return home to continue his studies when he met a fellow townsman who served as an aide in the Second Prince's residence.

Ye Chengji, possessing some talent, was recommended by this townsman to the Second Prince. Through intermediaries, he married Su Bingcang's sister, Su Yuqin. According to my investigation, Su Bingcang and Ye Chengji share a close relationship."

"I knew there was a connection between Su Bingcang and the Second Prince," Xiao Yuming commented after hearing Steward Zhao's report, his teeth gritted with anger. Xiao Yuxen and Xiao Yuzhu's faces were also filled with indignation, suspecting that their father's death might have been orchestrated by the Second Prince.

And Tang Shuyi felt, once more, that the Second Prince must die. With such an enemy, one could never predict when he might employ his sinister tactics. But the time was not yet ripe, and this matter required careful planning.

No matter how foolish or incompetent the Second Prince was, he remained the Emperor's son. The Emperor might disdain him, but would never tolerate his assassination by others.

"Continue investigating Su Bingcang, see if there's anything we've missed," Tang Shuyi instructed Steward Zhao.

Steward Zhao acknowledged and left. Tang Shuyi, turning to her three siblings, said earnestly, "We must not act rashly. The Second Prince must die, but we need to plan this thoroughly."

To kill an Emperor's son, even the slightest slip could lead to the extermination of our entire clan.

Although filled with hatred, the siblings nodded seriously.

Seeing this, Tang Shuyi felt reassured and added, "Carry on as usual, and let none of this be revealed outside."

The siblings nodded seriously again, and Tang Shuyi steered the conversation away from this matter, discussing Xiao Yuxen's upcoming travels instead. It wasn't until late into the night that the family's discussion came to an end. After the siblings departed, Tang Shuyi went to the bathroom for a bath.

Leaning back in the bathtub, she sifted through all the information she had on the Second Prince and Consort Liang, but no matter how she thought about it, she didn't believe that these two would collude with the enemy.