Chapter 92 A tall horse, handsome and refined, Qing Ling looked at him as if he were looking at a painting.

Lin Shiyuan paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "It's not far, and a few more steps won't make a difference."

He continued walking forward.

She thought to herself, "He doesn't even want to put her down."

Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, Lin Qiao heard the sound, jumped off the carriage, and ran over.

She only saw two people, one in front and one behind, and froze: "Brother, where's Miss? She was arrested? You didn't rescue her?"

Yao Qingling: "..."

Lin Qiao's eyesight seemed to be off.

Even if her brother has broad shoulders and blocks her view, he can still see her hands and feet, right?

"Lin Qiao, I'm here." She gently patted Lin Shiyuan's shoulder; Lin Shiyuan put her down.

Qingling stepped out from behind him: "I'm fine."

Lin Qiao stared blankly at the two of them, then suddenly fell silent.

Then they walked back, got into the carriage, and put down the horse stool.

Qingling and Taoye were both exhausted, especially Taoye, who leaned to one side and rubbed her legs as soon as she entered the carriage.

That thing down the mountain almost killed her.

As the carriage began to move, the mountain road was difficult to navigate, and the two of them swayed from side to side inside.

Tao Ye clasped her hands together and whispered to the moon, "Please, Miss, your important matter will be accomplished soon. I don't want to come to Que'er Mountain again."

Qingling was amused by her. When she turned around, the curtains were blown open by the wind, and a pair of deep and quiet eyes were looking inside.

Qingling pursed her lips, looked away, and suddenly felt her heart beating a little faster again.

She whispered, "Yes, let's get it done quickly."

Before long, Taoye fell asleep, her body tilted to one side.

Qingling glanced at her and couldn't help but laugh at her for being heartless.

Under the bright moonlight, Tao Ye's soft snores mingled with the sound of wheels rolling on the road, a snoring sound and a creaking sound.

Qingling lifted the curtain and glanced at Lin Shiyuan, who was riding on horseback.

No wonder the sentry didn't react when he saw him; he was wearing a guard uniform similar to Lin Qiao's.

The sentry mistook him for a guard she had brought with her; even though he followed behind them at a distance, the sentry would only assume he was her secret bodyguard, and that she hadn't taken him with her when she went up the mountain.

The man, riding a tall horse, was handsome and refined; Qingling looked at him as if he were a painting.

Lin Shiyuan glanced at her, then tugged at the horse's head, drawing it closer to the carriage.

He asked, "Does Madam Yao have something to say?"

Qing Ling snapped out of her reverie, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and casually said, "I was wondering when Zhou Zhining would come out of the villa."

Ever since someone wrote something on the gate of Hengwu Villa, Zhou Zhining has been restless. Lian Chengtian originally wanted to buy a house to hide her, but he was so frightened by Qingling that he stopped making any moves.

Zhou Zhining must be very panicked and can't sleep; Shen Gongguo's family must also be having trouble sleeping, being watched all the time, and they can't just throw him out.

It's just a matter of what method Lian Chengtai can come up with and when he can move Zhou Zhining out.

Yao Qingling didn't care how Lian Chengtian hid Zhou Zhining; what she wanted was for the government officials to catch her red-handed during the transfer.

At that time, Prince Xin, Lian Chengtai, and the Shenguogong Mansion will all be implicated.

Even if they have powerful backers and can't be touched, the Censorate will still scold them for a while and tell them to keep a low profile.

Qingling hopes to get rid of Zhou Zhining before she can do anything big.

Lin Shiyuan said, "Was it because your letter of denunciation failed to convince the Grand Princess Deyang?"

At the entrance of Hengwu Villa, only the people arranged by Yao Qingling are keeping watch now; if the government really wanted to arrest someone, they should have arranged for sentries to keep watch there.

The government made no arrangements because it was wary of Duke Shen and did not want to offend him.

Qingling said, "No. The Zhan State Duke's Mansion and the Shen State Duke's Mansion only have a superficial marriage relationship; they are fiercely fighting behind the scenes."

After she married into the Duke's mansion, Princess Deyang had two nannies, Rong and Jia, take care of her for a while, teaching her about social etiquette and how to navigate the relationships within the various powerful families.

Granny Rong said that the Grand Princess of Deyang liked her and told her to study hard and not disappoint the princess.

Qingling studied very hard back then, never expecting that she would be able to use it later.

"...The second daughter of the Duke of Shen is the late Emperor's Consort Shu. Consort Shu gave birth to the eldest son of the Emperor, who was very much loved by the late Emperor. The Duke of Shen naturally wanted to support him. The youngest daughter of the Grand Princess of Deyang is to marry the heir of the Marquis of Xincheng. The eldest daughter of the Marquis of Xincheng is the Empress."

"Therefore, whether it's for Zhan Xingzhuo or for the Duke's Mansion, the Grand Princess of Deyang doesn't want to let this opportunity slip by."

Lin Shiyuan thought for a moment: "Then... was your forged letter exposed?"

If the Grand Princess of Deyang were cautious and had someone investigate first, and if the kitchen servant had not been found, then the matter would not have been resolved.

Qingling bit her lip and pondered for a while.

She shook her head: "When I first married into the Duke's mansion, I was actually very scared..."

Every married woman inevitably feels nervous and afraid when she goes to her new home; and her mother-in-law is none other than the Grand Princess of Deyang.

Granny Rong comforted her, saying that the Grand Princess was kind and benevolent, and gave several examples of her kindness, including the story of that kitchen servant.

Therefore, although she forged the letter, the person in the letter is real.

Moreover, that kitchen servant is no longer in the Duke of Shen's residence.

Qingling heard about it from the wife of the Imperial Censor.

When she was writing the forged letter, she was unsure whose name to use to make the accusation, so she discussed it with the wife of the censor.

The Censor's wife said that she also attended that birthday banquet. At that time, Censor Cao had just joined the Censorate, and Madam Tao had a grand affair, inviting many people to her birthday banquet.

The Grand Princess of Deyang offended Madam Tao with a single sentence. Madam Tao smiled and gave the Grand Princess face, but then killed the woman and threw her body into a mass grave.

The servant's family came to plead their case, and the Tao family resolved the matter effortlessly.

Not many people know about this.

To them, a human life is nothing more than a speck of dust being swept away from their mansion, causing not even the slightest ripple.

When the censor's wife spoke of this matter, she was both angry and helpless.

What others consider precious is nothing in the eyes of the powerful and wealthy.

As time went by, no one remembered anymore.

"...Since it's a true story, the Grand Princess of Deyang won't go looking for this person. It's common for powerful people to send spies into each other's residences, but to use spies for such a small matter would be making a mountain out of a molehill and would only expose the risks. Besides, with so many servants in the Duke of Shen's mansion, it's not that easy to find someone who worked in the kitchen eight years ago."

Qingling said a lot, but it seemed more like she was comforting herself and calming her mind.

This was her first time doing something like this, and she wasn't entirely confident.

If the Grand Princess of Deyang really investigated, if she found that the accusation letter was fake... what if she didn't arrest Zhou Zhining, but instead investigated the source of the letter?

Lin Shiyuan didn't say anything more.

Yao Qingling felt as if his gaze could see right through her.

Qingling swallowed and coughed lightly: "Even if she wants to investigate, she won't find anything. At most, she'll know she was used as a pawn to deal with Zhou Zhining. If she doesn't do it, I'll think of another way."

Lin Shiyuan found it quite amusing how she tried to maintain her composure and persuade others; she also found it interesting how she always gave herself an out.

In the past, she was known for her heroic spirit, righteous words, and forbearance, as well as her meticulous planning.

In his memory, she was a young, intelligent, and resilient woman.

This makes her seem too tough and gives off a strong sense of aloofness.

But at this moment, she also has an adorable side.

It's not the way she eats that's cute, it's the cuteness in her personality.

Lin Shiyuan spoke up: "Is there another possibility that your people are watching too closely, making Zhou feel uneasy and even more afraid to step out of that villa?"

"The people of the Grand Princess of Deyang aren't targeting the people in the villa, but rather the people you sent there?"