RPAGF Chapter 290 It's really time to leave.
Chapter 290 It's really time to leave.
She seemed to have realized long ago that the Emperor wouldn't let her leave the capital so easily, so she had to distribute the wages to these people as quickly as possible.
The servants seemed to know they couldn't stay in the Crown Prince's residence any longer, so they lined up to collect their wages from the Tang army.
happy Bao hugged Zhuang Zhuang tightly and said reluctantly:
"Your Highness, you are leaving the capital. I have children at home and cannot go with you. I'm so sorry!"
Lan Zhi gestured for A Qi to take the child from her, then shook her head with a light laugh.
"It's not your fault. Go collect your wages for two months."
happy Bao hurriedly waved her hand.
"That won't do. I've only been here a few days. I don't want the wages. Although I haven't spent much time with Zhuangzhuang, I like him. Consider it helping out."
“If Zhuangzhuang were sensible, he would be reluctant to leave you, but there’s nothing I can do. You’re leaving your own child behind to be my son’s wet nurse. It’s not easy for you. Go collect your wages and go back to take care of your own child!”
After hesitating for a moment, happy Bao nodded.
"Thank you very much."
She glanced at Zhuangzhuang with reluctance, then bowed repeatedly to her with deep gratitude before going to line up to collect her wages.
Lan Zhi looked at A Qi, but before she could speak, A Qi said directly:
“Master, you don’t need to ask me. I’m sticking with you for life. Wherever you go, I’ll go.”
"What about your family? They're all here."
“It’s alright. My parents are in good health, and my brother takes care of them. I don’t need to worry about them. If I go home, my mother will make me work for someone else or marry someone else. I might as well stay with you. Even if I don’t get paid, it doesn’t matter. Anyway, I’ve brought back a lot of money to my mother over the years, enough for them to spend.”
Lan Zhi thought for a moment and then nodded.
"Then you can come with us! Your wages will be 30% less than before."
"I don't want wages, I just want to be able to follow you and have food and lodging provided."
Aqi wanted to travel with them, not only because she couldn't bear to leave Lanzhi, but mainly because she was certain that Yuan Tianxiong would follow them. She couldn't bear to leave him, so she went with them without hesitation.
"The imperial edict has arrived!"
As the eunuch's voice came, Wei Jianning strode in.
He was followed by Yuan Tianxiong and Nie Yuan, his expression solemn and his face grim.
Seeing this, Lan Zhi hurried over to greet her.
"My lord, how is it?"
"I'll be leaving first thing tomorrow morning."
"Should I have someone pack my things?"
"No need. His Majesty forbids us from taking anything with us. Let's travel light!"
Hearing this, Lan Zhi was stunned. It seemed that she had guessed correctly; the Emperor was much more ruthless than she had imagined.
She nodded. "Okay, I'll go tell everyone to pack their belongings. By the way, what about Wei Ming, Mao Mao, and Nana?"
When the topic of his three children came up, Wei Jianning was a little embarrassed.
Nana is fine; she's an orphan and can live with them. But Wei Ming is different; he's a member of the royal family, and the Emperor won't let him leave. And Mao Mao is a hostage from the Tianwu Kingdom; the Emperor is even less likely to let him leave the capital.
Thinking of this, Wei Jianning sighed helplessly.
"Go and receive the imperial decree first!"
He only knew that the Emperor forbade him from taking away a single blade of grass or tree from the Crown Prince's residence, but he didn't know what else the Emperor's edict might contain.
When he led Lan Zhi into the courtyard, all the servants in the mansion had already left. Zhu Fangfei stood in the courtyard with her maid, staring blankly at them.
When Wei Jianning saw her, he said apologetically:
"Ms. Zhu, before you leave, I will give you a letter of divorce to clear your name. I can only apologize for the damage to your reputation."
Ever since Wei Jianxun's rebellion, Zhu Fangfei had been staying at the Grand Commandant's residence. Today, upon hearing that something had happened at the Crown Prince's residence, she rushed over, only to find herself witnessing this scene.
Zhu Fangfei ignored him and went straight to Lan Zhi.
"Sister Lan, what's going on? Why are you leaving?"
Lan Zhi smiled rather helplessly.
"Some things are beyond our control, Fei'er. I'm sorry you've had to go through this. Take the divorce papers and marry someone you like!"
At this point, she thought of Sun Wei, but he wasn't present today, so she didn't feel comfortable asking any further questions.
Zhu Fangfei wanted to say a few more words to her, but the eunuch who came to deliver the imperial decree was already getting impatient.
"This old servant has been holding the imperial decree for so long, my masters must wish they could keep me standing here forever. Now, please accept the decree!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Jianning then called everyone to receive the imperial decree. Zhu Fangfei, as a member of the Crown Prince's residence, also knelt down to receive the decree.
The eunuch unfolded the imperial edict in his hand, glanced at the crowd, and then read aloud:
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Wei Jianning has voluntarily relinquished his position as Crown Prince, wishing to return to his hometown to raise chickens, farm, and live as a commoner. I, considering his sincerity, grant his request. However, everything in the Crown Prince's residence was bestowed upon him by me, and Wei Jianning and the others are not permitted to take it with them. Furthermore, the Imperial Grandson Wei Ming and the Imperial Grandson of the Tianwu Kingdom, Mao Mao, should remain in the Crown Prince's residence, and I will personally send people to take care of them. So be it."
The contents of the imperial edict were not much different from what Wei Jianning had expected, but Wei Ming and Mao Mao were not happy to hear it.
They looked at Wei Jianning and Lan Zhi with pleading eyes, saying:
"We also want to go with you."
Seeing this, Lan Zhi gently stroked their faces and comforted them:
"The imperial edict just said that you cannot leave, but don't worry, someone will come to take good care of you."
"But we can't bear to part with you all. Are we leaving even Nana?"
Nana stood there, fidgeting with her fingers, unsure of what to do.
Lan Zhi nodded and said:
“She is different from you. When you live here, there are people to take care of you. But when she lives here, there will be many inconveniences.”
"But we can't bear to part with her, and we can't bear to part with you and the Crown Prince."
Mao Mao began to wipe away her tears, but Wei Ming's eyes held an indescribable look.
Lan Zhi had originally wanted to find time to talk to him, but things happened so suddenly that she didn't have the chance. She could only gently pat Wei Ming's shoulder.
"Ming'er, from now on you and Mao Mao have to take care of each other, okay?"
After hesitating for a moment, Wei Ming nodded.
"I understand, I will take good care of Mao Mao."
At this moment, he seemed to have grown up a lot compared to before.
It was getting dark.
The imperial messenger left, and Zhu Fangfei, after bidding them a reluctant farewell, also left with the divorce papers. The servants in the mansion also left, and the usually bustling Crown Prince's mansion suddenly became deserted.
Unlike before, many palace guards were stationed outside the Crown Prince's residence. These guards were sent by the Emperor to watch over them, fearing that the Crown Prince's belongings would be moved away the next day.
Aqi, Xiangxiu, Yuan Tianxiong, and Nie Yuan were cooking in the kitchen, while Tang Jun was sorting through the account books that had become meaningless. Madam Lin took on the responsibility of taking care of Zhuangzhuang. After all, she was older and more experienced, so she was quite adept at coaxing the child. The three children lay in the house, reluctantly saying goodbye.
Wei Jianning and Lan Zhi sat on the edge of the bed, leaning against each other. Although they both had a lot to say, neither of them spoke.
They sat there quietly, feeling each other's breath, as if saying goodbye to the past.
After a long while, Wei Jianning finally couldn't help but speak.
"My wife, will you blame me?"