The Lucky Farmgirl

County Magistrate Tang sent some people out to stroll around, but they couldn’t pry out any news. He thought for a while, then went to the back courtyard and had two loyal servants go out to gather some intelligence from the Prince of Yizhou’s mansion.

The maids bowed and accepted the order, went out to gather news for County Magistrate Tang, and that evening, they were secretly called into Madam Tang’s room for a discussion.

Maid A said, "He asked us to find out about today’s flower viewing event, to understand the whole story from beginning to end."

Maid B said, "He also wanted us to find out what the Prince of Yizhou and his consort had eaten these past few days, when they had left the house, and what the young princes were playing with in the mansion."

Madam Tang slightly furrowed her brow, "He had you find out about all this?"

The two maids bowed and replied in unison, "Yes."

Madam Tang pursed her lips slightly, then asked, "So did you find out anything?"

"Some things were difficult to inquire about, but we managed to learn a few details," replied Maid A after a pause. "After the consort returned to the mansion, she flew into a great rage. Not only was Manager Chen beaten with twenty planks, but I also heard he’s been demoted to working in the villa. For the next year or two, the consort probably doesn’t want to see him again."

Madam Tang let out a snort of mockery, "She fails to govern her own household servants strictly, and now she throws a temper tantrum. Anything else?"

"It’s impossible to know the exact routines of the Prince and Princess, but these past few days, the Prince has been leaving the house every day at the time of Si and not returning until the time of Xu. The young princes have been keen on archery these days, looking forward to hunting in the spring when the festival comes around."

"What was the lord’s reaction after hearing this?"