Shen Zhiyi took a deep breath and gestured for the maid to stand guard outside. Hongrui and Lühe then went out and closed the door.

It was late at night, and Chen Zhiyi asked in a low voice, "Why are you here?"

"Send a ransom note."

The person who arrived was none other than Xiao Zhongxuan.

"It's not time yet."

“I thought Madam must be in a hurry, so she came over as soon as she recovered.” Xiao Zhongxuan stroked his teacup.

No wonder Lin Yaoyao screamed just now.

"Madam, the letter has been delivered. What should we do next? It's impossible for Prince Song to raise so much money in three days."

Shen Zhiyi smiled and said, "Just arrange to meet him in three days. I have my own plans."

Xiao Zhongxuan nodded, picked up the candied fruit on the table and ate it. Madam Chen would send her tonics, which were bitter, so she always kept candied fruit in her room.

One after another.

Perhaps noticing Shen Zhiyi's scrutinizing gaze, he said, "Too sweet, not tasty."

Chen Zhiyi raised an eyebrow. Too sweet?

Then you ate half a plate of candied fruit?

This is the first time I've ever seen a man with such a sweet tooth.

But he remained stubborn and refused to tell the truth.

"How did you manage to sneak into the Marquis's mansion without anyone noticing?" Shen Zhiyi looked him up and down. He was too handsome and had a good voice, but his body always seemed weak and sickly.

"I've said before that I have some skills."

"It's late, you should go back quickly, and make sure no one sees you," Shen Zhiyi instructed.

Xiao Zhongxuan nodded.

After he left, Hongrui and Lühe went inside and breathed a sigh of relief. If someone had seen their young lady meeting with another man in secret, it would have been hard to explain.

"Miss, this man looks so frail, but he's incredibly brave. He scared me to death." Hongrui breathed a sigh of relief.

Shen Zhiyi just smiled.

Extorting the heir of a marquis's mansion is something most people wouldn't do.

"By the way, I asked you to have someone keep an eye on him. Has he been behaving strangely lately?"

Shen Zhiyi took a bite of the candied fruit; it was indeed extremely sweet.

“There’s nothing unusual. His clothes and food were all prepared by us. He spends most of his time reading in his study. He only left the estate once to see a doctor. That doctor has been practicing medicine for over thirty years, so he couldn’t possibly be in cahoots with him,” Green Lotus said.

Shen Zhi nodded.

He also bought jujube paste pastry and osmanthus cake.

Another dessert?

She has already written to her elder brother, asking him to help investigate whether such a person exists in western Sichuan.

However, after the earthquake, houses were destroyed, countless people were killed or injured, and many people were displaced. But he said his family was well-off, and it shouldn't be difficult to find out more if you wanted to.

However, now that the ransom note has been sent, this person is essentially tied to her.

"Miss, will the young master really take out fifty thousand taels?" Hongrui asked curiously.

Shen Zhiyi just smiled and instructed, "Go find someone with good legs."

"good."

"By the way, has there been any news from the palace lately?"

Hongrui was stunned. "The palace? Nothing's been happening lately."

Besides, they wouldn't dare to pry into the affairs of important people.

According to the timeline of his previous life, the regent should have passed away by now. How come there's been no news of him at all?

If this person hadn't died, the situation in the capital would probably be very different.

It's hard to say whether this is good or bad for the Shen family.

**

Shen Zhiyi slept well that night, but Song Yuxiu and Lin Yaoyao did not sleep at all.

The next morning, Song Yuxiu knocked on the door and entered, carrying a food box in his hand. "Zhiyi, I got up early on special occasion to buy your favorite breakfast."

Shen Zhiyi was doing her hair and didn't say anything.

Song Yuxiu walked up behind her, placed his hands on her shoulders, and said gently, "Madam, are you still angry about what happened yesterday?"

"No." Shen Zhiyi replied coldly.

“That Miss Lin is my savior. Even if you don’t like her, you have to put on a good face. Because of your inability to have children, I already have some resentment towards you. Just bear with it and don’t make her angry.”

"I know what I said yesterday was a bit harsh, but it was just for show in front of my mother."

“If I defend you, it will only make your mother angrier and strain your relationship.”

Shen Zhiyi sneered inwardly:

In my past life, I was fooled by him in the same way.

“I’m not angry. I understand that my mother wants to repay our benefactor, but we really don’t have that much money in the house. My mother thinks I can’t manage the household well, so I’ll just leave it to her.”

“You…” Song Yuxiu massaged her shoulders. “Why are you arguing with your mother? The power to manage the household should still be handed over to you.”

“I haven’t been feeling well lately and just want to rest, so I’ll let my mother take care of me.”

What's wrong with your health?

"I don't know, my hands and feet are always cold, the doctor said I need to take good care of myself."

"Why didn't you tell me?" Song Yuxiu held her hand, his face full of worry, and then had breakfast with her.

In the following days, Madam Chen kept trying to find excuses to slip the account books and storeroom keys to Shen Zhiyi, but Shen Zhiyi only claimed to be sick and didn't come out. This left Madam Chen with no choice but to take some money from her private treasury to make ends meet in order to maintain appearances.

Song Yuxiu was not idle either, because he received a letter three days later.

He arranged to meet him in the woods west of the city to hand over the silver notes.

He had sent men to lie in ambush nearby, ready to ensure the man's death should he dare to show his face.

——

West Suburbs Woods

"Madam, why did you come here in person?" Xiao Zhongxuan did not expect that Shen Zhi would understand and even change her clothes, tie her hair up, and dress as a man, like a handsome young man.

"I have my own plans."

“Prince Song brought a lot of people. Judging from this, he probably wants to kill me.” Xiao Zhongxuan raised an eyebrow.

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