Just as Changlin was about to leave, he saw his master turn around and head towards Qinfang Garden.

Seeing this, he no longer cared.

...

Rong Qingqing was half asleep when she vaguely felt someone watching her. She tried to open her eyes, but found no one in the room. However, she heard a soft sound coming from the window.

When she looked over, she only saw a section of black robe hem slipping out.

She paused for a moment. Was it Xie Jingrun?

Only that guy would like to climb through her window.

But what is he here for?

She was somewhat confused.

Meanwhile, at the Prime Minister's residence.

Shangguan Boyan had just returned from the palace and entered the mansion with a heavy heart.

Just as he was about to go to the study, a figure suddenly rushed over and almost bumped into him.

Upon seeing who it was, he deliberately put on a stern face, "How old are you? Why are you still walking so recklessly?"

Shangguan Yanran chuckled and stepped forward to take his arm. "I want to give Dad a surprise."

"I think it's more like fright." Shangguan Boyan reached out and gently pinched his daughter's nose, his eyes unconsciously searching around as he spoke.

Shangguan Yanran smiled knowingly, "No need to look, Mother is resting in the courtyard."

Shangguan Boyan felt a little embarrassed that his daughter had seen through his thoughts, but he still asked, "Did you and your mother encounter anything on your trip to Jiulong Mountain?"

"No, what could have happened to us?" Shangguan Yanran shook her head, took his arm, and walked inside. "However, something big has indeed happened, and I'm sure Father already knows."

"Hmm." Shangguan Boyan nodded.

Shangguan Yanran glanced at his face and saw how calm he was. She thought to herself, "What an old fox."

"Dad doesn't seem very surprised."

Shangguan Boyan glanced at her. "Why do you say that?"

"That's the impression I get of my father," Shangguan Yanran shrugged.

Shangguan Boyan said with a smile, "Your father is not all-powerful. How could I, living in the capital, predict what would happen at Jiulong Mountain? But I knew that this day would come sooner or later, so it's not too surprising."

Shangguan Yanran immediately seized on the key point in his words, "So, Father had already foreseen that he would be crippled?"

Looking at his beautiful daughter, Shangguan Boyan suddenly remembered the secret conversation he had with the Emperor in the palace earlier.

A thought struck him, and he asked with a smile, "What does Yanran think of Xie Jingrun?"

Shangguan Yanran was somewhat surprised, not expecting her father to suddenly bring up Xie Jingrun.

After thinking for a moment, I used Rong Qingqing's words: "Ferocious, tyrannical, inhuman, a cold-blooded monster."

Shangguan Boyan paused, "Nonsense, Xie Jingrun isn't as bad as you say."

Shangguan Yanran glanced at him and asked in surprise, "Father doesn't seem to have much interaction with Xie Jingrun, so why is he suddenly speaking up for him?"

"I'm just telling the truth, I'm not speaking up for him." Shangguan Boyan rubbed her head helplessly.

Shangguan Yanran nodded. "Okay, I don't really care what kind of person he is, but he's Qingqing's stepson, so I still hope he's doing well." She said with a hint of slyness.

Shangguan Boyan naturally knew about her recent close relationship with Rong Qingqing. "It's ridiculous. How old is Rong Qingqing? You just blurted out that Xie Jingrun is her stepson. Be careful that Xie Jingrun hears you and causes you trouble."

"No way, with Qingqing protecting me, he won't touch me," Shangguan Yanran said confidently.

Shangguan Boyan paused, then said in surprise, "What, does Xie Jingrun listen to his stepmother so much?"