[Host, do you know why she just invited you on a picnic?]

Ji Yingying's eyes widened instantly!

[Ugh, I'm not stupid. This bastard actually took a liking to me. Is she planning to take me to the wilderness, fry me, and then kill me? But I don't smell bad. I shower every day. Yes, she must like pretty women. She's definitely a pervert.]

[Host, she's after the necklace on your chest.]

Ji Yingying immediately looked down. It was a gift from the Empress, and she thought it was pretty, so she put it on.

Unexpectedly, not long after leaving the palace, he was targeted.

[Oh dear, I have to remind Lord Tang, that scoundrel is no good.]

[Host, you'd better bring her down, otherwise, with just one word from you, she'll become like a venomous snake, relentlessly pursuing you, and even more viciously.]

If Lord Tang's daughter isn't found soon, she'll probably be turned into a human pig, suffering terribly.

What... I can't afford to mess with them.

[Let Lord Rong provoke her. If he finds out what heinous things this woman has done, she'll probably be executed.]

"Then tell me your evidence."

It all depends on the maidservants beside her.

Ji Yingying glanced at the maid who had just thrown a tantrum. Like master, like dog. This woman didn't seem like a good person.

She did everything for Miss Tang, and she even cleaned up the mess.

[No, how old is she? Shouldn't a teenage girl be playing in the mud? She's already done something so heinous; I can't imagine what kind of place this is, where people are devoured without a trace.]

Before Ji Yingying could speak, Lord Tang shouted, "Take her down!"

Then the guards took control of Miss Tang and her maid. As for his own daughter, he would definitely bring her back.

[This... I haven't even betrayed them yet, how did they manage to control me? No, why is that old man looking at me like he's going to kill me?]

Tang Xinrou's gaze was terrifying; she seemed to be frightened.

"I don't know either." Xiangxiang was also completely bewildered.

"Ji San, do you know where my biological daughter is?"

Ji Yingying's eyes widened again. She didn't understand why Lord Tang was asking her this question.

She was just his subordinate. Shouldn't Tang Xinrou be questioned or Rong Yi be asked to investigate this matter?

He...he...he asked me? Should I tell him that his biological daughter lives in a village ten miles outside the city?

The next second, Ji Yingying heard Lord Tang cup his hands and say, "Thank you, Miss Ji. I will repay you handsomely once I take my daughter back."

"This...is this insane?"

How did he know all this before I even said anything?

[Host, he's amazing!]

I think so too.

Miss Tang was gagged and taken away, leaving the driveway empty.

And then it just fell apart like that, which was really unexpected.

Upon arriving home, Apple delivered an invitation from Prince Qi, inviting Ji Yingying to dinner at Prince Qi's residence the next day.

Besides her, there were many other people. It was said that two tables of people were invited, but there was no definite news.

Has King Qi's impotence been cured?

Not yet, it won't happen that quickly. He brought it on himself.

Ji Yingying nodded, agreeing with Xiangxiang's words, and sighed, "Tomorrow is finally my day off, and I'm going to a banquet and also want to go shopping."

【You could go tonight; the streets in Beijing are quite lively in the days leading up to the Mid-Autumn Festival.】

Okay, let's go shopping in the city center tonight.

After making up her mind, Ji Yingying lay down on the bed, slept for a while, and then got up and went out in the evening.

The night markets in Beijing usually close at a certain time, but for a few days around the Mid-Autumn Festival, they are lit up all night, which is really beautiful.

Ji Yingying only brought Apple and Granny Xia with her. As soon as they came out, they ran wild like a horse that had been released from its reins!

I bought a lot of food, and even tried the mini wontons. I must say, the mini wontons sold outside were quite delicious.

"Today, due to the Empress Dowager's presence, the number of people leaving has been significantly reduced compared to previous years."

"You mean it was more lively in previous years?" Ji Yingying asked back. Granny Xia immediately replied, "Yes, in previous years there were lantern dances, dragon dances, riddle guessing, releasing sky lanterns, and so on. There are far fewer of those this year."

The streets are bustling, but they're all filled with vendors selling goods; the lively lantern festivals are gone.

"Will it be released in a few days? There are still four or five days until the Mid-Autumn Festival, so there's still plenty of time."

"No, it would have been released much earlier in the past, so this year it's destined to be less grand."

The Empress Dowager is gone; how could we dare to hold a grand ceremony?

"Originally, the emperor would select candidates for the imperial concubines after the Mid-Autumn Festival, but now that selection is no longer mentioned. Instead, the autumn imperial examinations are being held."

Too many people have died in the court. I heard that there are far fewer people standing in the court. Even the six ministers and vice ministers have died, not to mention the Grand Tutor and the Prime Minister.

Although he had many disciples, some had already been exiled or beheaded for various reasons.

It seems the autumn imperial examinations will have to be held earlier than planned.

"Ah... I did hear the Emperor say that preparations are being made for the autumn imperial examinations."

"My lady, why don't you wander around a bit more and not go any further?" Granny Xia suddenly stopped Ji Yingying. The next stop was Liuxiang Residence, and she dared not let Ji Yingying go there, in case she went inside and wandered around.

How am I going to explain this to the master and mistress when I get back?

Last time, we almost had to send the madam to the palace to invite a nanny back to teach Ji Yingying. What will she do then?

"Why not move forward? Look ahead."

It's unstoppable, absolutely unstoppable.

When she reached the entrance of Liuxiang Residence, Ji Yingying realized why Granny Xia and Apple had been blocking her way and preventing her from going any further.

"Liuxiangju?"

[Host, do you still dare to come in?]

"Go ahead, why wouldn't you dare? Men love bad girls, and I'm the kind of woman who needs to be loved."

"Miss, let's not go in. There's a river ahead, shall we go and take a look?" Granny Xia immediately stopped her, determined not to let anyone go in.

"Miss, I've heard there are many people having secret rendezvous over there," Apple suddenly said, leaning closer. Ji Yingying immediately stopped going in and made an excuse for herself: "I'd better not go in, lest my mother get angry again. I'll go check ahead."

There is indeed a... stream, not very big, with many pebbles on its surface. You can walk across it, but the other side is outside the city.

The layout here is so strange; a stream is inside the city, I thought it would be outside.

[Water used to be scarce here, but it was later artificially extracted and brought into the city. Many people used to frequent this area, especially for secret rendezvous. And because it was within the city, more people were caught here.]

[Goodness.] Ji Yingying looked at a restaurant next door and went straight in to ask for a private room on the second floor.

The spot the waiter gave us had a perfect view of the stream.

This is a great location; no wonder they opened a teahouse here.

The scenery outside is nice. A young couple is about to walk across from the other side. Although the stones on the water are stepped on every day, they are still very slippery.