Chapter 107: What is it that troubles you?
"Good, very good. I want you to hold a small meeting immediately with all the supervisors as well. Let them know that they must keep a firm hold of all the young women that seem to have that kind of ambition. As of now, all jewelry and makeup must be put away until I say otherwise." Liu Ti醤 Q� informed the butler and housekeeper.
"If any female servants are caught trying to seduce any of the men. I want you to follow the strict rules of the palace in this matter. I will have order in my residence. I will not have it said there is no order in Liu Residence, and servants are allowed to run rampant." Liu Ti醤 Qu said in a firm voice.
In the Imperial Palace of the Tolling Land, servants caught seducing or trying to seduce their masters were beaten to death. Those accused without evidence but proven suspicious were driven from the Imperial Palace.
"Yes, Young master," Butler Zhou bowed.
"I want the returning Families to feel protected and welcomed in our home." Liu Ti醤 Q� said.
Very briefly, Liu Ti醤 Q� told Zhou Yu, the Housekeeper, Butler Zhou, and the Head Chef of the situation regarding Commander Jiang`s twin son. Everyone was completely shocked.
"Poor Commander Jiang, and his poor wife. They just don`t seem to have it easy at all." Housekeeper Gao said with a sad look in her eyes.
Butler Zhou shook his head sadly and said, "While the poor Commander was fighting hard to keep his wife alive. Someone stole one of his babies. He and his wife must be devastated."
"Housekeeper Gao do we have any more maids among the servants who know a lot about babies?" Liu Ti醤 Q� asked.
"Yes, Young Master," Housekeeper Gao said. "We have a few."
"Good, pick out an older maid and assign them to the Jiang`s. With the arrival of the new baby. The Jiang Family will need more help. But first, give that person some gold. Have them go to and buy some things for the newly arriving baby. As far as I know, there is only one baby bed in the Commanders courtyard. With a second baby arriving, they will need another bed and a ton of other things for the newly arriving baby. Have that person quickly go buy everything that the Jiang`s could possibly need for the newly arriving baby."
"Yes, Young Master," Housekeeper Gao bowed.
"The second thing is, I want you to use this time to train Zhou Yu well. This is a perfect training opportunity for her." Liu Ti醤 Q� knew that the arrival of the returning families would draw the vultures to her Residence. Liu Ti醤 Q� wanted to make sure that the young girl who she secretly adopted as a sister in her heart would be well trained during this period of time.
"Lastly, inform all of the servants I will be holding a meeting when I return. Everyone is to attend. There are no exceptions. Those that are in class will have to excuse themselves for ten or twenty minutes. I won`t hold everyone to long, twenty minutes should be enough. I wish to inform everyone of the arrival of our guest, set a few rules, and inform everyone of my expectations." Liu Ti醤 Qu said.
"No problem, Young Master Liu. We will see to it the everyone gathers in the meeting hall upon your return." Butler Zhou said.
"Our sign language class is canceled in respect of the memorial to be held. Also, if anyone wishes to attend the memorial. I will allow it. However, all servants must be back in the Residence before the return of our guest." Liu Ti醤 Qu informed everyone.
"Good, I was going to ask. Many of the servants have been asking if they were allowed to attend." Butler Zhou said.
"I will also make sure to announce it in the meeting I will hold with everyone when I return from Wang Royal Manor." Liu Ti醤 Qu to the butler.
"Finally, I must say that it is imperative that I hold a meeting with Butler Zhou, Houskeeper Gao, and Zhou Yu later on as well. Make sure to make room for it." Liu Ti醤 Qu informed the butler, housekeeper, and Zhou Yu.
"We will make sure to do so. Young Master Liu," the butler said with a bow.
"Good," Liu Ti醤 Qu said. Looking at everyone seated at the table. Liu Ti醤 Qu said. "I want to thank each of you for a job well done. I am very pleased with everyone`s performance thus far. I want to return before our guest arrives to hold that brief meeting with everyone. So that will be all for now," Liu Ti醤 Qu said, dismissing everyone. A short while later, Liu Ti醤 Qu left her courtyard and began to make her way to Wang Royal Manor.
Imperial City; Wang Royal Manor
For the second time that day, Liu Ti醤 Qu found herself at the front gate of Wang Royal Manor. This time Liu Ti醤 Qu was there to see Wang F鑞 Yong.
Liu Ti醤 Qu was granted entrance immediately upon arrival and escorted to a front receiving room in the manor by a manor guard. Butler Huang himself greeted Liu Ti醤 Qu. He served her tea and sent someone to fetch Wang F鑞 Yong upon Liu Ti醤 Q�`s request. After a moment of hesitation, Liu Ti醤 Qu asked Butler Huang if he could inquire about whether or not the Lord and Lady of the Manor were available to grant her an audience as well.
Liu Ti醤 Qu`s fickleness was beginning to act up. Although she opened her home to the returning four martial families. In essence, she knew nothing of the people she was inviting into her home. Liu Ti醤 Qu invited them because of the Legacy the Four Martial Families left behind and because of her Commander. Of course, she also had ulterior motives for inviting them, as well.
However, on her walk to the Wang Royal Manor. Liu Ti醤 Qu began having second thoughts. The return of the four martial families was going to impact the Tolling Lands significantly. It will also cause great political change. Since Liu Ti醤 Qu was hosting all of the returning four martial families that were going to put her in the eye of the storm.
Liu Ti醤 Qu felt she better find a way to quickly step off the landmine she was standing on before it exploded and killed her. Liu Ti醤 Qu felt uncomfortable with the whole situation. She didn`t think things through before she extended her invitation.
First of all, Liu Ti醤 Qu was quite sure that no one was able to verify what family she was from. She showed up out of the blue and managed to weasel permission from the Emperor to secure her Residence and form her own army.
The Emperor was already uncomfortable with granting her permission to have an army, and that was understandable. After all, she was only thirteen years old, and before even verifying her identity, the Emperor still granted her that privilege. Now four martial families who were still criminals just days ago will be sheltered in her residence. Liu Ti醤 Qu just prayed that the Emperor wasn`t overly paranoid or a person that was overly suspicious of everything.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
As Liu Ti醤 Qu sat there waiting, her mind began to flashback to every drama and movie she`d seen of overly paranoid and overly suspicious emperors. Liu Ti醤 Qu felt a chill go down her spine. She began praying to all her ancestors. Liu Ti醤 Qu even started praying to her predecessors` ancestors. Then Liu Ti醤 Qu started praying to all the deities she knew. Liu Ti醤 Qu was sincerely hoping that she was overthinking the whole matter.
The only thing she could do was make sure the Emperor was informed immediately of the fact that she was hosting the four families. And try to get the families out of her residence as soon as possible. Liu Ti醤 Q� felt gloom descend on her. She also felt the beginning of a headache.
She was quite sure that the Emperor was going to summoned her over this matter. Liu Ti醤 Q� was really having mixed feelings over the issue. She honestly felt that the four martial families were deserving and worthy of her help. However, she didn`t want to deal with the drama that came with it.
Liu Ti醤 Q� was lost deep in thought, trying to think of a way to wiggle out of a summons if the Emperor really did summon her.
However little did Liu Ti醤 Qu know the Emperor, the Grand Prince and Lady W� Gng Hu were very close friends with three out of the four Martial Families. W-i Y襫g Mng, Jkn ZhMng X+n and Mng Tin C醝 were once the most promising youths of their families. They were all around the same age. By the age of sixteen, W-i Y襫g Mng had become a General. Wasting no time, he had married at the age of sixteen and quickly became an expectant father. Jkn ZhMng X+n became a General at the age of seventeen and at the age of eighteen Mng Tin C醝 became a General.
Before the Emperor took the throne, his Imperial father allowed him to join the military. He had to promise to disguise himself and stay in an Imperial Army under the command of his older brother, the Grand Prince. The Grand prince was also a general at the time.
It was during a conflict and opened hostilities with Josper that W-i Y襫g Mng, Jkn ZhMng X+n, Mng Tin C醝, and the Emperor all met and quickly became close friends. During that time, the Emperor, who was ten years younger than his older brother, was the Crown Prince.
After W-i Y襫g Mng, Jkn ZhMng X+n, and Mng Tin C醝 all became Generals. They were called the Three Young Generals. They were extremely brilliant generals knowledgeable beyond their years.
It was through this younger brother, the Grand Prince, and his wife got to know the Three Young Generals. Although the Three Young Generals were capable young men. The Grand Prince and his wife Lady W� Gng Hu still watched over them and began to treat them as younger siblings. And because W-i Y襫g Mng, Jkn ZhMng X+n, and Mng Tin C醝 became so close with the Emperor who was the Crown Prince then. The Crown Prince didn`t hide his identity from the Three Young Generals.
Although W-i Y襫g Mng, Jkn ZhMng X+n, and Mng Tin C醝 was very close to Jiang T鄆 P韓g. The Crown Prince, Wang D� Zh� and his wife Lady W� Gng Hu never met Jiang T鄆 P韓g. During that time, instead of sending Jiang T鄆 P韓g to the border. Elder Jiang sent Jiang T鄆 P韓g out into the Martial World to gain experience and to meet the allies of the Jiang family as the Heir of the Jiang family.
By the time Jiang T鄆 P韓g returned from the martial world, the conflict and open hostilities were over. Everyone had already returned from the border.
Not long after, the rebellion started, and the Four Martial Families were framed for the rebellion. After exhausting every option unsuccessfully in the attempt to prove the innocence of his friends and their families and catch the real criminals while heavily grieving. The Crown Prince knelt in front of the Queen`s courtyard for two days and two nights before collapsing.
The Grand Prince knelt in front of the Imperial Meeting Hall, where Elder Wang temporarily took command of the Imperial court. The Grand Prince refused to move. When the Crown Prince woking up from collapsing. The Crown Prince crawled out of bed to kneel once again in front of the Queen`s courtyard. That was when the Queen and Elder Wang compromised and agreed to at least turn a blind eye and allow the children and promising youths of the four martial families to escape.
It was the Crown Prince, Grand Prince, and Lady W� Gng Hu who had held a secret meeting with the Four Martial Families. They agreed to help all the children and promising youths escape. They diligently carried out their promising as they grieved the loss of their Imperial father. They helped over three hundred youths and children to escape. Elder Jiang sent Jiang T鄆 P韓g with an old friend from the Martial World who was an assassin.
Unbeknownst to the Imperial family. Thousands of allies of the Jiang family had secretly flooded the Imperial City. They were ready to help the Jiang family if the Jiang Family choose to rebel. However, Elder Jiang sent them all away with one final toast. Elder Jiang`s old assassin friend refused to leave and threatened to go kill the entire Imperial family of which he was very capable of doing. To pacify his old friend Elder Jiang asked his old friend to watch over Jiang T鄆 P韓g. Elder Jiang then sent Jiang T鄆 P韓g away with the assassin.
The Lord, Lady, and Heir of Wang Royal Manor was in the Grand Prince`s library discussing the events of Elden Chen`s execution when Butler Huang arrived with Liu Ti醤 Q�`s request for an audience. Lady W� Gng Hu frowned at Butler Huang and asked, "Didn`t you report that Young Master Liu already left. Why is he back so soon requesting an audience?"
"Yes, he did leave earlier, Your Highness. However, he returned a moment ago and requested to speak to the Heir. A moment later, he also requested an audience with both the lord and lady of the Manor as well. He didn`t say why," The Butler responded.
The grand prince looked at Wang F鑞 Y襫g and his wife and asked, "Could it be that there is a developing situation with his Commander?"
Lady W� Gng Hu shook her head and said, "If it was just that he would have only requested to speak to only Wang F鑞 Y襫g. It must be something more." Looking over to the Butler Lady, W� Gng Hu asked, "How did he look?"
Butler Huang to a moment to reflect and then said, "He looked as though he was worried about something."
"Mhm," the Grand Prince nodded, "Let`s go have a look."
Leaving the library Lady W� Gng Hu, the Grand Prince and Wang F鑞 Y襫g made their way to the library where Liu Ti醤 Q� awaited them. Liu Ti醤 Q� was so lost in thought she never noticed their arrival.
Lady W� Gng Hu paused in the doorway of the front receiving room in surprise. A frowning gloomy Liu Ti醤 Q� sat at a high table in the receiving room lost deep in thought. Liu Ti醤 Q� appeared so gloomy it looked as though she was sitting under a dark cloud.
There was a ripple across Wang F鑞 Y襫g face when he laid eyes on Liu Ti醤 Q�. Several emotions flickered through his eyes before they once more became ice cold.
The Grand Prince cleared his throat twice upon entering the room before he could get Liu Ti醤 Q�`s attention. Lady W� Gng Hu entered behind her husband leaving Wang F鑞 Y襫g standing in the doorway. Before entering, Wang F鑞 Y襫g turned and said something to the servant standing in attendance next to the doorway. He then entered and closed the doors of the front receiving room behind him.
Hearing a throat-clearing sound Liu Ti醤 Q� head snapped up to see the Grand Prince, Lady W� Gng Hu and Wang F鑞 Y襫g walking towards the table where she was seated. As Liu Ti醤 Q� quickly rose to her feet to greet them, she wiped all emotion from her face.
As they joined her at the table, Liu Ti醤 Q� bowed deeply and said, "Please accept my apologies for disturbing the Grand Prince, Heir, and Lady of the Manor, and thank you for granting me an audience."
The Grand Prince waved away her apology, and thanks before say, "Be seated." The Grand Prince waited until Liu Ti醤 Q� down at the table once again before saying. "You appear to be deeply troubled about something. Tell me what is this all about? Why did you request an audience?"
Liu Ti醤 Q� paused to gather her thought before saying, "Something happened. It`s a good thing. I really am happy about it. However, I can`t help but also feel deeply troubled."
"What is it that troubles you?" Wang F鑞 Y襫g asked.
"It is serval things," Liu Ti醤 Q� answered. Liu Ti醤 Q� slowly released a deep breath. A slight frown had reformed on her face as she said, "My new Commander name is Jiang T鄆 P韓g. As it turns out, he is of the Jiang family. However, that is not the issue." While the Grand Prince begin to pour tea, Liu Ti醤 Q� began to explain the situation with W-i W� Y鄋.