Chapter 365 - Chapter 365: Doing a Good Deed
Chapter 365: Doing a Good Deed
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“That’s right. Those who don’t know better would think that the world belongs to the Songs.”
Hearing the denouncement, the girls were a little afraid. They looked at each other and wanted to run away.
Shopkeeper Niu waved his hand at the shop assistants behind him. “Throw them out of this street. You’re not allowed to come here again. I’ll beat you up every time you come.”
Without needing the waiter to do anything, the people in the queue acted. They couldn’t stand those women. They were unmarried but was like a shrew, going to shops to beg for food. How shameless! They had to be thrown out. Within a day, news of the Song family’s young girls being thrown out of Huangdao Street had spread to the palace.
The emperor was so angry that he smashed everything on the table onto the ground. The Crown Prince lowered his head and pursed his lips without saying a word.
“Since they refuse to change their ways, I will teach your maternal family a lesson on your behalf. Yubao!”
“Your servant is here.”
“Bring a group of royal guards and a few nannies from the palace to the Song family. Pull the few women today to the Song family’s door. Don’t they want to eat for free? Slap their mouths ruthlessly for me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
Yubao stole a glance at the Crown Prince and quietly left.
The emperor glared at the Crown Prince. “Look at what kind of people your maternal family is. They just came to the capital and wanted to take advantage of others. I feel like executing all of them.”
“Father, I didn’t know they were like this. If I had known, why would I have brought them here?”
“We can’t let them stay here any longer. Otherwise, the capital will become the Song family’s. We can’t let them return either. Otherwise, who knows how the people there will be bullied by them?”
“There are still a few months before my wedding. Why don’t we wait until the wedding is over? I will buy some property for them in the suburbs and let them farm.
“By decree, send them all to the borderlands. Let them experience hardship and suffering. If they don’t change, so be it.”
“It’s their innate disposition.”
“Fortunately, your mother does not have the bad roots in them. I did not touch them all these years because of your mother.”
“Your son will not let them make a fool of themselves again.”
The Song family’s young ladies were slapped at the entrance that afternoon. The commoners watched while venting their anger.
The head of the Song family wanted to argue with them, but after hearing that the girls were thick-skinned and wanted to eat for free, they all shrank back into the house.
The faces of the six girls were swollen like pig heads. After beating them up, Yubao returned to the palace with the guards.
They had embarrassed themselves in the capital. Not only that, the Song residence was surrounded by the royal guards, and they were not allowed to leave the house.
Qiao Mai snorted coldly when she heard that. Was there no one capable in the Song family?
There was also the emperor and the Crown Prince. What was the point of letting them stay in the capital? Wasn’t it disgusting to let a family like that attend the wedding?
The royal family was ruthless, but they were terrible in this aspect.
At this moment, she was a little unhappy in her heart. She was worried about marrying Ling’er off to the Crown Prince like this.
After this incident, the Song family became much more obedient.
Although the Crown Prince had them under house arrest, he did not reduce their food and drink expenses.
He warned them again that if they caused any more trouble, they would all be sent to the borders for labor work.
Seeing that the Crown Prince was serious, they were also afraid.
The ones who made the most noise were often the ones who died the most miserably.
Time flew by, and it was winter. Jiamei’s belly had gotten bigger. She was already five months pregnant.
Besides checking out the housework, she would lie on the heated brick bed in her room or walk back and forth on the floor.
Thinking of their annual return to Tianshui Town, she sighed. It seemed that she couldn’t go with them this time.
However, Qiao Mai intended to train Ling’er, so she was sent to collect the debt this year. She was accompanied by Nanny Jin, Yue Hong, and Yue Xia. Flame was too big and would scare people wherever it went. It could not follow.
Qiao Mai sent a sheep and a squirrel with them. Of course, Blackie was free, so she sent him as well.
The Crown Prince did not follow. He had many things to deal with now and was busy.
He felt a little regretful that he could not go with his fiancée. However, he woke early to send Ling’er out of the city.
After watching the carriage travel a long distance, he turned back and entered the city.
At this time, the Song family had been imprisoned for three months. Seeing they had become more obedient, the Crown Prince withdrew the royal guards and returned their freedom.
From then on, they no longer showed off and didn’t fight with others when they went out. They kept a low profile but didn’t dare to go to Huangdao Street anymore. If they wanted to eat anything, they would send servants to queue up.
Since Qiao Mai came out of seclusion, she hadn’t cultivated for a year.
She changed her appearance and walked on the street with her hands behind her back. When the weather was cold, the lives of the commoners were tough, especially the poor.
Every year, Yuan Jiaqi would take hundreds of thousands of taels of silver from her to help the people. It was so cold outside that many would probably freeze to death again.
In the capital, it was said that the people lived and worked in peace and contentment, but there were still many beggars.
Ling’er is going to get married soon. She should do a good deed before the new
year.
When she got home, Qiao Mai had someone set up a porridge stall at the crossroad not far away. The fragrant rice porridge instantly attracted many beggars.
They took broken bowls and rushed forward to ask for food. The steward and his men maintained order.
“Line up. From today onwards, our mistress will be giving out porridge until February. There will be no shortage of rice. Don’t fight for it. Whoever ruins the discipline won’t get a share.”
“Really? That’s great. Then we won’t be hungry.”
Qiao Mai looked at these beggars. There were old and young, injured and disabled, but not many were intact.
In this day and age, beggars were beggars. No one would give up a good life and beg on the streets.
The fragrant porridge was steaming. The beggars lined up in an orderly manner to get rice. The servants of Lucky Garden served them rice and even gave them a small piece of salted vegetables to drink.
Qiao Mai asked as she watched these people squat on the roadside after getting the porridge.
“I’m afraid a bowl of porridge isn’t enough.’
“Hehe, I’m content with the porridge.”
Qiao Mai smiled. “It’s such a cold day. Where are you staying?”
“Any leeward place is fine. Many kind-hearted people will give us their unused blankets.”
“If you have difficulties, you can come to Lucky Garden to find me.”
The beggar stopped and wiped his tears. “Yes, Royal Consort.”
From the end of November, Lucky Garden began to provide porridge. From morning until night, it was all thick porridge with small pickles.
The smell of the porridge made even the rich drool.
When they saw that none of the servants in Lucky Garden had left for lunch, instead drinking the same porridge, they knew that the porridge was genuine.
Many people came over to ask for a bowl. “Well, I think your porridge is delicious. Can I try a bowl?”
“This porridge is for the poor.”
“We know, but it is too fragrant, so we wanted to try it. Don’t worry. A bowl of porridge costs ten coins. We will donate to the people. Is that okay?”
Steward Zhang nodded. The servants scooped porridge for them and placed the money into the basket.
Those people took the porridge and tasted it. They immediately blew on it and drank it while mumbling.
“It’s a waste for you to give such good rice to the people. This porridge is delicious. What kind of rice do you use? Can we buy some?”
“No, I don’t sell rice.”
Of course, this wasn’t ordinary rice. The rice in the porridge was produced in Qiao Mai’s space. One crop after another had long become spiritual rice. A bowl of this porridge could satiate one’s hunger, cure illness, and prolong life..