Chapter 52 Fortunately, she has the ability to protect herself

As voices gradually became more audible, Mingzhao released her hand and asked, "Do you want to go back home now? If so, I'll wait for you in the carriage outside. If you go back with Second Aunt and the others, I'll tell you what I've found when I get back."

It was on the way here that Tianyu told him the news he had just found out.

"I'll go tell Sister Lin and the others and then I'll leave." Shi Jianli looked at him.

Mingzhao nodded and turned to the outer courtyard. "Okay, I'll wait for you outside."

Shi Jianli rolled up her sleeves, glanced at the other person's wrist which seemed to still retain the other person's warmth, suppressed the unnecessary emotions on her face, lowered her eyes and walked towards the female guest.

When the little palace maid called her, her eyes flickered a little, and when she was taking her away, she looked back frequently. She felt something was wrong at once.

Furthermore, even if Mingyuelin had something happen, the first person to be notified would be the Duke's wife, but the palace maid did not even mention Yuan Yuhe.

She was confident she could knock the maid unconscious before following her, and she also wanted to know who was plotting against her. Knocking her unconscious wouldn't matter; once she woke up, she would know she was in the wrong and wouldn't say anything.

I returned to the place where I had talked with Zheng Lejun before. Zheng Lejun was still waiting there, as were Mingyuelin and Mingyuesi. At this moment, the three of them looked anxious.

"Sister Lin." Shi Jianli grabbed Mingyuelin who wanted to go out.

When Mingyuelin heard her voice, he turned around to look at her and breathed a sigh of relief.

She glanced around and asked nervously in a low voice, "I don't have any abdominal pain. I don't know who would use this excuse to lure you away. Sister Li, are you okay?"

Mingyue Si and Zheng Leyun also gathered around and looked at her worriedly.

Shi Jianli shook her head and said, "I'm not the one who's in trouble. I want to go back home first."

Xie Xuezhi probably hadn't changed her clothes yet, so she could naturally send someone to expose Xie Xuezhi and Xie Weisong's "good deed" and plot a counter-attack. But if she did that, how would she be any different from someone like Xie Xuezhi?

Moreover, today was the Fifth Princess's coming-of-age banquet. If she ruined her mood, she would definitely bear a grudge against her. Xie Xuezhi didn't dare to make a big fuss and only summoned Liang Jingming, probably out of consideration for the Fifth Princess.

Seeing that she seemed to be fine, Ming Yuelin breathed a sigh of relief, but still said, "Okay, Fourth Sister, go inform my mother and Second Aunt, I will take Sister Li back first."

Mingyue Si agreed: "Okay."

Shi Jianli looked at Zheng Leyun and said, "Thank you for your concern, Sister Zheng. I'm fine. I'll go back first."

"Okay." Seeing that she really didn't look like anything was wrong, Zheng Lejun also nodded.

Mingyuelin pulled Shi Jianli out of the Fifth Princess's Mansion.

When they arrived outside the mansion, Tian Yu came forward and said, "Two girls, the master is waiting. Please come in."

Ming Yuelin was puzzled: "Brother?"

Shi Jianli pulled Ming Yuelin into the carriage with the footrest already in place. When they got in, they saw Ming Zhao already sitting there.

Mingzhao glanced at Mingyuelin, then looked back at Shijianli and said softly, "Sit down."

Shi Jianli pulled Mingyuelin to sit down, with her hands on her knees, sitting upright and looking at Mingzhaohuan.

Mingzhao also directed Tianyu outside: "Return home."

"Yes, go!" Tianyu flicked the whip.

The carriage started to move slowly.

Mingzhao finally explained, "On the way to the banquet, Tianyu told me the news he had just found out, and I didn't have time to look for you."

Mingyuelin was full of doubts, but seeing their expressions, he wisely didn't ask at this time.

"Xie Weisong and Xie Xuezhi are indeed in the relationship you saw. Xie Weisong has been forcing Xie Xuezhi to have sex for a long time. This kind of relationship is against human ethics, so Xie Xuezhi is afraid of being discovered and dares not tell others."

"But Xie Weisong is not actually Xie Lingdong's biological son. He is the son of his biological mother, Aunt Mo, and the Xie family's housekeeper."

Ming Yuelin widened his eyes in surprise.

"This was discovered by the spy who secretly followed Xie Weisong in the Xie Mansion every day and overheard the conversation between Xie Weisong and the housekeeper. Xie Xuezhi and other members of the Xie family should not know about it."

"I had been keeping an eye on Xie Weisong during the banquet. When I saw someone pass him a note, I quietly followed him."

"Soon, I heard the footsteps of you and that palace maid, so I hid. I just saw you knock the palace maid unconscious." Mingzhao was relieved when he saw her knock the palace maid unconscious so neatly.

Fortunately, she was smart and had the ability to protect herself. Otherwise, if he didn't follow her, if she really followed him, Xie Xuezhi and the others would have succeeded in their plan.

Mingzhao also admired her intelligence.

Shi Jianli gently stroked the folds of her skirt, connecting the whole thing together, her eyes cold.

Seeing that she looked unhappy, Mingzhao continued, "But don't worry, the Xie family will soon be overthrown, and they won't have the chance to plot against you again."

Shi Jianli looked up in confusion, "Why?"

Mingzhao even curled his lips, his smile tinged with sarcasm, "Xie Weisong's talent is dull, he would never have been able to pass the imperial examination."

"During last year's autumn exam, Xie Lingdong bribed the chief examiner and asked for a copy of the exam questions, which allowed Xie Weisong to pass the exam and become a Juren."

"I asked Yu Zixian to help me keep an eye on Xie Weisong. Xie Weisong's academic performance in the Imperial College is indeed very poor."

"Ji Youqian has recently been investigating the cheating case in last year's Autumn Examination in Beijing, and now he has evidence that can bring down Xie Lingdong."

"Heh." Shi Jianli scoffed at the words, "You bought exam questions for your son, but it turns out the son isn't your biological son."

How ironic.

Why would anyone want to support such a rotten person? Snakes and rats all belong together.

Mingzhao nodded, "Also, Xie Lingdong was suspected of cheating in the last Spring Examination. The imperial examination concerns the country, so how can we tolerate such a frivolous cheating?"

If the case is settled, all nine members of the Xie family will be guilty.

"Are you done talking?" Ming Yuelin spoke after seeing the silence in the carriage for a moment.

Shi Jianli looked towards Ming Zhaohuan.

Mingzhao responded: "Yeah."

"Can you tell me the whole story? Why did Xie Xuezhi plot against Sister Li? Sister Li and her have no grudges against each other. And brother, when did you help Sister Li investigate the Xie family? I'm confused now."

Shi Jianli simply told her what happened.

Ming Yuelin was furious. "How vicious! If Xie Xuezhi hadn't plotted against you, I would have felt sorry for her, but she actually wanted to drag you into this!"

Shi Jianli blinked and said nothing.

Xie Xuezhi plotted against her, so she naturally didn't deserve her pity or sympathy.

Liang Jingming felt sorry for Xie Xuezhi and helped her plot against her. To her, he was also her enemy.

Once the Xie family is convicted, will Liang Jingming be spared because he is the fifth princess's study companion? Shi Jianli is unsure.

Coming back to her senses, Shi Jianli looked at Ming Zhaohuan with a sincere look in her eyes and said, "Thank you, cousin."

"You're welcome." Mingzhao curled his lips.

The carriage arrived at the Duke's Mansion, and Mingzhao was still following behind Shi Jianli.

When they reached a fork in the road, seeing that he was still following, Shi Jianli turned around and looked at him in confusion.

Mingzhao also explained: "I am afraid that you will be frightened, so I will send you back to the yard."

"Do you think I'm scared?" Tokimeri thought about her own condition and asked.