The notice of the great defeat of the Wei army was issued to the entire Capital City in the evening of that day.
From the imperial clans of the Capital City to the common people, the atmosphere finally began to return to normal.
It is important to know that when the news of the defeat came to the Capital City before, the king was furious, and no one dared to touch His Majesty's moldy head at this moment.
So every family dare not make a big deal about any activities they have.
On the second day after the notice came out, Third Madam Qin received an invitation from the Grand Elder Princess to have a banquet.
The Grand Elder Princess is the elder sister of His Majesty's birth mother, married to Zhen Guo Duke, and is the true rich and powerful person in Ye Country.
The banquet time was scheduled for early next month, and it was specially emphasized that Palace Xiaohua must participate at that time. The messenger said that the princess wanted to see the style of the first female general of Ye Dynasty.
"Huh, I don't know what they are thinking." After the princess's people left, Qin San Niang said to her eldest daughter-in-law Zhao Rou next to her.
"Mom doesn't have to worry. I will be by Xiaohua's side at that time."
"Well, it will be hard for you at that time."
"Mom, this is what I should do, why mention hard work."
"Alas, I wonder if the Zhou family has also received the princess's invitation. I'm afraid they have received it. The old lady will not let Qin participate."
"Speaking of Qin, I don't know what's going on recently. I sent someone to the Zhou family to invite her out, and it happened several times that she said she was out. How coincidental every time."
The more I thought about it, the more wrong it felt, so I said to Zhao Rou: "Rou'er, this is how it is going to work out. You go to the Zhou family in person tomorrow and say that you have important matters to discuss with her. You must see her in person."
"Yes, mother."
"Well, if the Zhou family tells you that Qin is out again, just say that you will wait for her to come back. I always feel uneasy about this."
"Don't worry, mother. I will act according to the situation at that time."
The next day, Zhao Rou took a carriage to the Zhou family.
At the front door of the Zhou family.
The maid went up to one of the Zhou family's gatekeepers and said, "Please help to notify the young lady of your house that the Qin family is here to visit."
The gatekeeper looked at the woman from the Qin family standing beside the carriage behind the maid. She was the eldest sister-in-law of the young lady of their house.
He hurriedly ran over, bowed to Zhao Rou, and said, "Madam Qin, the young lady has gone out to offer incense. I will definitely let her know after the young lady comes back and invite you to get together another day."
"It doesn't matter. I have important matters today that I need to personally discuss with your young lady. Since she is not here, I can wait in her yard first. Please help to tell your house."
"This...this..." The gatekeeper said evasively.
"What's wrong? Can't I?" Zhao Rou asked sternly.
Seeing that she was in a bad mood, the gatekeeper immediately said, "Madam Qin, this slave will go and report to the lady immediately. Please wait a moment."
After speaking, he ran to the gate, whispered in the ear of another gatekeeper, "Don't let them go straight in."
Then he hurriedly ran into the backyard to find the housekeeper.
Zhao Rou saw the behavior of the gatekeeper and had a bad feeling that something might have happened to Qin.
In the backyard of the Zhou family.
"Granny, the eldest sister-in-law from the young lady's maternal family is here. She said she has important matters to discuss with the young lady. She is waiting outside now. What should we do if she doesn't leave?"
"Didn't you say the young lady is already out?"
"I did, but she said she could wait in the young lady's yard."
The granny thought for a while. She had to let the lady make this decision, "You wait outside first. I'll go ask the lady."
"Yes."
The granny came to the main hall in the inner courtyard.
At this moment, there were many women of the Zhou family gathered inside, and the hall was full of laughter and noise.
The granny went to Madam Zhou's side and whispered a few words in her ear.
No one knew what she said, but saw Madam Zhou's face suddenly turned ugly.
"You all go down."
Everyone stood up, bowed, and left one by one.
After everyone left, Madam Zhou turned to her granny and asked, "What happened?"
"Madam, they must be suspicious because we refused them many times with the excuse that the young lady is out. So they insist on seeing the young lady in person today."
Hearing this, Madam Zhou's old face wrinkled very deeply. The two deep nasolabial folds at the corners of her mouth made people feel chill.
"What is her situation now?"
"Madam, I heard she seems to be sick."
"Sick? Have they called a doctor?"
"No. The young master ordered that except for three meals a day, no one is allowed to contact her without his permission."
"What should we do about this situation now?"
"Of course we can't let them meet. So please invite her eldest sister-in-law to me and I will send her away. Also, go there tomorrow to see what the situation is. Don't let anyone die in our Zhou family."
"Yes, Madam."
Unbeknownst to them, their entire conversation was overheard by Zhou Yao, who was hiding sneakily in the corner outside the room.
After much psychological struggle, she finally decided to tell Zhao Rou about Qin Chuqin's situation when she left, since Qin Chuqin had kindly helped her before by curing her face. She would repay her kindness this time, and they would be even after this.
After Zhao Rou returned from the Zhou family, she went to her mother-in-law's yard with a heavy heart.
"How did it go? Did you get to see Qin?"
"No, I was invited to Madam Zhou’s place. I sat there for nearly half an hour. She just beat around the bush and didn’t mention anything about Qin at all. Daughter-in-law guessed it would be impossible to see Qin today, so she decided to come back and tell mother first."
“As I was leaving, the second young lady of the Zhou family secretly found me and told me that Qin had an argument with her elder brother and was imprisoned. She hasn't been out since then and seems to be sick too, but no doctor has been called.”
Hearing this, Madam Qin was furious.
"The Zhou family is too bullying. Come, let the housekeeper come over."
"Yes."
The housekeeper hurried over and said to Madam Qin San, "Madam, why have you summoned this slave? What is this about?"
"Arrange thirty capable guards for me. I'm going to the Zhou family."
"What? Madam, why do you need guards to go to the Zhou family?"
"What? Do I need to report to you when I do things?"
"The lady is joking. Of course you don't need to. But when the Prime Minister asks later, this slave will not know how to explain?!"
"I will explain it myself. You just arrange it."
"Yes, this slave will arrange it now."
After instructing the housekeeper, she said to her personal granny, "Su Xin, send someone to the Supreme Protectorate and ask the young master to go to the Zhou family."
"Yes."
When everything was ready, Madam Qin San took more than thirty guards and went to the Zhou family mightily.
When they arrived at the Zhou family, whoever tried to stop them, the guards attacked without saying a word. The Zhou family was caught off guard and the Qin family fought all the way to the small yard where Qin Chuqin lived.
