She paused, her gaze falling on Xin Jiuwei with undisguised admiration. "Jiuwei, this child, has inherited her mother's will; she is chaste, quiet, and well-mannered, knowledgeable and reasonable. If she weren't of upright character and resilient spirit, how could she have protected the Sixth Prince in such a perilous situation in Yingzhou? This kindness and courage are beyond the reach of ordinary young ladies."

She looked around at everyone, her tone carrying the authority and heartache of an elder: "Those vile words outside are nothing but the jealousy and hatred of petty people who can't stand seeing others do well. They deliberately smear others and corrupt people's hearts! We, who have lived most of our lives, surely can't see through this? Are we still going to follow those ignorant juniors and humiliate a child who has lost his mother's protection and is struggling alone in the capital? Wouldn't that chill the hearts of old friends and also lose our own dignity and integrity!"

The old lady's words were both reasonable and touching, encompassing both remembrance and vindication of her deceased friend, affirmation of the Xin family's innocence, and elevation of Xin Jiuwei's "merits" to the level of "kindness" and "courage," directly pointing to jealousy and hatred as the root of the rumors. Among the assembled elders, some looked thoughtful, some nodded slightly as they recalled Liu Ruoheng's past, and some showed a hint of shame at the old lady's words.

“Sister Lin is right.” An elderly lady who was on good terms with the old lady spoke up, her gaze towards Xin Jiuwei softening considerably. “This child seems quite composed. Those rumors are truly unbearable to hear. The innocent will remain innocent, child, do not pay attention to those petty people.”

“Yes, if you’re upright, you have nothing to fear,” another chimed in.

While it's impossible to completely change everyone's opinion, the old lady, through her status and the weight of her words, successfully opened a channel for Xin Jiuwei within the most core and influential circle of older generation noblewomen in Beijing, winning some sympathy and relatively objective evaluation. More importantly, her public affirmation of Xin Jiuwei's mother's character and the Xin family's reputation was invaluable spiritual support for Xin Jiuwei.

As Xin Jiuwei listened to the old lady's words of defending her mother, the Xin family, and herself, and felt the warmth from her palm, the tears she had been holding back for so long finally burst forth uncontrollably. She buried her face in the old lady's lap, her shoulders trembling violently, her suppressed sobs like the whimpers of a wounded animal, releasing all the grievances, anger, helplessness, and pain she had felt during this time.

The old lady gently patted her back, tears welling up in her eyes, and whispered, "Cry, child, it'll be alright if you cry it out. Your aunt is here, don't be afraid."

At this moment, outside the cold and desolate Jingyuan, Xin Jiuwei finally found a long-lost warm haven, carrying the scent of her mother. This warmth gave her heart, which was on the verge of collapse, the strength to keep going. She knew that the road ahead was still full of thorns, but at least, she was no longer alone.

Returning from the Marquis of Zhongyong's residence, Xin Jiuwei's state of mind was like the sky after a rain; though gloomy, it held a clarity and strength. The old lady's protection was like a solid shield, temporarily protecting her from the most vicious open and hidden attacks, allowing her to catch her breath and regain her composure.

Under Lin Wanyi's skillful hands and Xin Jiuwei's meticulous care, Xin Kui's injuries healed extremely quickly. Although the wound on her arm left a hideous scar, her bones and muscles were unimpeded, and she could move normally again. This woman, who had once roamed the streets and endured countless hardships, had a flame burning in her eyes that was more intense than ever before—the rage of avenging her master.

“Miss, my injuries have healed.” Xin Kui stood in front of Xin Jiuwei, her voice low and firm, her eyes sharp as knives. “It’s time for those rats hiding in the shadows to pay the price.”

Looking into Xin Kui's eyes, which held that familiar ruthlessness and loyalty, Xin Jiuwei felt a mixture of warmth and pain in her heart. She knew what Xin Kui was planning. "Have you found out? Who is it?"

“Although there’s no conclusive evidence, it’s pretty close to the truth.” Xin Kui’s eyes flashed coldly. “The people who ambushed us that day were ruthless and skilled, like specially trained assassins, not ordinary thugs. Afterwards, I secretly investigated, and their whereabouts all vaguely pointed to a villa in the south of the city belonging to the Marquis of Pingyang. And Liu Yiyi is the most loyal lackey of Princess Yongjia. That villa belongs to her brother and is often used to house some…shady people and things.”

Liu Yiyi, of the Pingyang Marquis's residence! A henchman of the Yongjia Princess!

A fierce glint flashed in Xin Jiuwei's eyes. It really was her! Or perhaps, it was Yongjia behind her, or even… Xiao Zhuo, who had used someone else to do his dirty work!

"That alone is not enough to bring them down," Xin Jiuwei said calmly. The source of the rumors was hard to find, and the ambush left no evidence. Making rash accusations would only alert them and get them bitten in return.

“Miss, they won’t stop.” Xin Kui lowered her voice, her tone sharpened by the ways of the common people. “I’ve heard that since Princess Yongjia was confined, Liu Yiyi has been going to that villa even more often. Moreover, there are rumors circulating in the palace that the Empress Dowager’s illness… may be critical in the next few days. Once there is a national mourning, there will definitely be a grand palace banquet, and then there will be many people and distractions…”

Xin Jiuwei's heart skipped a beat! The palace banquet! That was the most likely occasion for "trouble" to happen! Especially for her, a future princess consort with a "notorious" reputation and shallow foundation! Yongjia and Liu Yiyi, and their masters behind them, would never let go of this perfect opportunity to kill her!

"We must find out exactly what they're trying to do!" Xin Jiuwei decided decisively. Being passively attacked meant certain death. She had to turn the tables and take the initiative!

“I’ll go.” Xin Kui said without hesitation, her eyes gleaming with a sense of adventure. “I have a way to sneak in. Don’t worry, Miss, my life is yours. I will be careful and get the evidence!”

Looking at Xin Kui's resolute face, Xin Jiuwei was torn between two conflicting emotions. Sending Xin Kui back to risk her life was unbearable. But right now, they truly had no other choice. Jingyuan was under the watchful eyes of countless people; while Xiao Xun's men were present, they were mostly there to monitor them and might not necessarily risk their lives for them.

"Fine." Xin Jiuwei finally gritted her teeth, gripping Xin Kui's hand tightly, her voice heavy as iron, "But remember, I want you to come back alive! Evidence is optional, but your life must be saved! If things become unbearable, retreat immediately!"

"Yes!" Xin Kui nodded emphatically, her eyes filled with a resolute determination to die for her cause.

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was strong, with a chilling autumn breeze.

In the south of the city, at the Pingyang Marquis's villa. High walls and deep courtyards, the guards seemed loose, but in reality, there were quite a few hidden sentries.

A shadow, darker than the night itself, moved silently along the base of the wall, like a raccoon dog. Xin Kui had changed into a tight-fitting night outfit, her face covered with a black cloth, revealing only a pair of sharp, hawk-like eyes. Using her familiarity with the streets and alleys of the capital and the stealth skills she had learned from her time mingling with all sorts of people, she avoided several sentries, slithered up the high wall like a gecko, and lay prone on the top, observing with bated breath.