Joyful Motherhood in a Rural Family

Chapter 829: Chapter 829: Delivered to the Door

“`

No wonder Taoist Master Zhu wanted to take Xiaoxiao as his disciple, no wonder he had always seemed so calm!

Could it be that he had foreseen this disaster long ago?

In the morning I refused him with words, but by afternoon I was slapping my own face, personally delivering Xiaoxiao to his doorstep. I wonder what Taoist Master Zhu is thinking in his heart?

“Mom! I won’t go!”

Xiaoxiao earnestly tugged at Liu Sisi’s clothing, saying, “Mom, I want to stay by your side, to share in honor or disgrace with you! To live and die together!”

...

Looking into those eyes shining brightly like stars and moon in front of her, Liu Sisi shook all over!

Some details she had deliberately overlooked before came tumbling back to her.

She suddenly grabbed Xiaoxiao tightly, “No! No, you must go. Do you want your mom to die with her eyes not closed in peace?”

“Mom!”

Xiaoxiao called out unreconciled, his eyes brimming with determination.

“Xiaoxiao, listen to what your mom has to say.”

Liu Sisi explained in detail, “You must have heard of Taoist Master Zhu’s abilities. If you become his disciple, let’s not talk about learning a fraction of his true skills, at the very least it will prevent your mom from feeling guilty towards your dad, and it will leave a bloodline for the Di Family. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

If it were a normal child of under five years old, it would be normal not to understand Liu Sisi’s words, but Xiaoxiao was definitely not included in this.

Xiaoxiao hesitated briefly, then grasped Liu Sisi’s hand, “Mom, I’ll go! Will you let me speak with the Immortal Chief and see what happens?”

His eyes held an inexplicable persistence.

Liu Sisi’s heart trembled, perhaps moved by his gaze, and in the end, she did not insist and nodded.

Until Xiaoxiao entered the room where Taoist Master Zhu was staying, Liu Sisi’s regret still churned in her heart. No matter how clever Xiaoxiao was, after all, he was a child of less than five years old!

Seeing that Xiaoxiao had been inside for so long and the door was still firmly closed, she gritted her teeth and strode forward, ready to push open the two doors.

“Princess! Someone outside has brought a letter for you,” said the housekeeper of the Di Residence as he hurried into the courtyard doorway.

At such a moment, who would send a letter to me?

Unable to contain her curiosity, Liu Sisi quickly walked forward and reached for the letter, “Who sent the letter? Let me see.”

The housekeeper hastily handed the letter to Liu Sisi, “It was delivered by a person dressed as a pageboy, who briefly said a few words, handed over this envelope, and then left. He seemed to be in a hurry, and he didn’t even accept the reward money I offered.”

Not even interested in reward money…

Liu Sisi frowned instinctively, took out the letter paper, and slowly unfolded it. She had only read the beginning when her complexion changed! Then, quickly finishing the letter, she began to sneer repeatedly.

“Well, it’s easy to add flowers to the brocade but hard to send charcoal in the snow! Who would have thought a prince would stoop to such duplicity, such a despicable act of kicking one down the well… Enough! Time changes from East River to West River over thirty years. If I, Liu Sisi, survive this ordeal, I will certainly avenge today’s humiliation!”

Liu Sisi said viciously, crumpling up the letter in her hand and then forcefully throwing it to the ground!

“Give the order, if anyone from Prince Luo’s Mansion comes again, have them beaten and thrown out with sticks!”

The housekeeper bowed his head very low, not daring to breathe too hard, without a single word of retort, “Yes! I will give the order immediately.”

“`

Liu Sisi glanced at the envelope in her hand, then eyed the letter paper she had discarded, forcefully suppressing the rage welling up inside her as she picked the letter paper back up, smoothed it out, and stuffed it back into the envelope before turning around to return to the small courtyard.

The letter had been sent by someone from Prince Luo, beginning with drawing a clear boundary between their two families and specifically mentioning that Thirteenth Luo was already engaged. The end of the letter even insultingly implied that certain people were delusional enough to desire what they cannot have…

This had infuriated Liu Sisi immensely. Yet, once she calmed down, she felt that she might have overreacted!

In the current situation, anyone with a bit of insight could see that the Di Family was about to face misfortune, so not wanting to marry their daughter into her family was understandable. Moreover, the initial arrangement between Di Xuan and Thirteenth Luo had been nothing more than a casual mention, without even having solicited a matchmaker or exchanged birthdate information, among other formalities, so there was naturally no talk of reneging on a promise.

Still, the indignation festered uncomfortably in Liu Sisi’s heart!

Carelessly putting away the letter, Liu Sisi was about to say something more when a pageboy outside hurriedly ran inside.

“Your Highness, a large number of Imperial Guards have arrived and encircled the Di Residence completely!”

Have they actually come so quickly?

Liu Sisi felt her heart sink to the abyss, had the Empress been so eager to arrest someone?

Before she had time to react, the main entrance of the Di Residence was suddenly broken open, and immediately, a large number of Imperial Guards appeared, surrounding everyone.

“By the Empress’ Edict, Princess Ruyu is summoned to enter the palace immediately.”

Who could believe that this summons was without underlying purpose at this time? Yet Liu Sisi had no right to refuse.

“Your Honors, please allow me a moment to freshen up and change my clothing, and then I will accompany you to the palace,” she said, her face filled with sorrow as she signaled to the housekeeper beside her.

The housekeeper, being quick-witted, immediately smiled and rewarded the officers.

They looked at one another, their eyes full of wariness, “Your Highness must hurry, for we have come bearing the Empress’ Edict and dare not violate it.”

The Imperial Guards were well aware of how many horsemen they had lost dealing with Princess Ruyu, who did not have the strength to truss up a chicken, not once but twice before. Seeing Liu Sisi requesting to wait, everyone became as guarded as if facing a great enemy, almost ready to draw their knives.

“Please wait just a moment, Your Honors.”

Liu Sisi feigned ignorance of the changing expressions on their faces, slowly turned, and walked back to the small courtyard, changing into a plain outfit.

Her exterior was serene as a drifting cloud and a gentle breeze, yet inside she was extremely anxious.

Why hadn’t the conversation between Xiao Xiao and Taoist Master Zhu concluded by now? But the present circumstance left no room for her to linger, and after less than half a cup of tea’s time, the Imperial Guards urged her once again.

“Princess Ruyu, it is time. Please do not make this difficult for us!”

Seeing that she could delay no longer, Liu Sisi took a deep look at the housekeeper, “Housekeeper, once I’ve gone to the palace, you must take good care of the house. Do not act contrary to what is expected, understand?”

“You can rest assured, Your Highness, I fully understand,” the housekeeper hastily replied.

With no other choice, Liu Sisi boarded the carriage sent from the palace to take her there. Just as she sat down, the carriage sped off towards the direction of the Palace.

The avenue was enveloped in plainness at this moment, with white gauze and lanterns hanging everywhere. The street was already under martial law, with shops on both sides of Imperial Street closing down, a scene of desolation everywhere.

Liu Sisi quietly lifted the curtain, observing the Imperial Guards flanking the carriage, vigilant as if anticipating a great threat, and sighed inwardly. How would these Imperial Guards react if they knew that those who had protected her before had already left?

Soon, the carriage halted outside the Palace gate.