Before they could react, Song Yiming ordered a search of the Yong'an Marquis's residence.

Xiao Qingyin thought Emperor Chengtai was utterly absurd.

If Yi Shuihan truly harbored rebellious intentions, he would have shot him dead long ago and seized the throne directly. Why would he secretly hide a dragon robe in his mansion?

Anyone with a brain wouldn't believe such a thing.

Moreover, it was at his behest that Yi Shuihan set up the private prison in the Yong'an Marquis's mansion.

Emperor Chengtai's actions can only mean one thing: he felt that Yi Shuihan's knife was a threat to him and wanted to find an excuse to get rid of him.

What Xiao Qingyin could understand, the Yong'an Marquis and his family of three could naturally understand as well.

Princess Zhaoyang gave Yi Shuihan a wink, signaling him to take Xiao Qingyin and fight his way out.

Yi Shuihan shook his head.

The army had surrounded the area like an iron barrel, and they had both bows and arrows as well as firearms. He could barely manage to escape unscathed on his own.

Bringing people would definitely not be enough to handle it.

He couldn't possibly leave them here and escape alone.

The search team immediately returned and reported to Song Yiming: "General, we found a dragon robe in the private prison under the artificial hill."

Song Yiming took the bright yellow robe handed to him by his subordinate and sneered, "I didn't expect you to be so treacherous. Men, take them back to the prison."

As soon as the words were spoken, more than a dozen people stepped forward, raised their spears, and pointed them at the four of them.

Yi Shuihan sneered, "I never imagined that the long spears made by our firearms battalion and the musketeers trained by the Fifth Southern Battalion would be used against me and my family."

Song Yiming showed no shame whatsoever, and said calmly, "If you don't want things to get too ugly, you'd better come with us obediently."

Marquis Yong'an grasped Princess Zhaoyang's hand and smiled, "Qingqing, let's go. This is such an obvious frame-up. I believe His Majesty will give us justice."

Princess Zhaoyang nodded gently.

Yi Shuihan pointed at Xiao Qingyin and said to Song Yiming, "She is not a member of our Yong'an Marquis's Mansion. Can we let her leave?"

Song Yiming said with a forced smile, "She is your fiancée, so naturally she belongs to your Marquis's mansion."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Qingyin knew that she was also the other party's target.

Maybe they took advantage of her being here to wipe them all out.

"I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."

Yi Shuihan said with shame.

Xiao Qingyin glared at him.

"It's still uncertain who will implicate whom."

She had a feeling that this whole thing was most likely orchestrated by Situ Rui.

At the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Emperor Chengtai and Consort Gui left after only fifteen minutes.

Both of them were so thin they were skin and bones, looking neither human nor ghost; it was clear at a glance that they were on the verge of being destroyed by opium.

During the interrogation that day, Xiao Qingrong revealed that the item was provided by Situ Rui, and the source of the goods was entirely in Situ Rui's hands.

Emperor Chengtai is already addicted to it and can't extricate himself. He has probably long since become a dog in Situ Rui's hands.

In terms of ruthlessness, Situ Rui is not much different from Emperor Chengtai.

To rise in rank, he even sacrificed his own mother.

Xiao Qingrong's assassination attempt must have provoked him to launch a frantic counterattack.

The four of them were thus taken to the imperial prison.

The prison cells in the Heavenly Prison were even dirtier and more chaotic than the Jingzhao Prefecture prison where Xiao Qingyin had spent a night.

And this time, no one brought her bedding scented with incense.

When Marquis Yong'an saw that his beloved wife was going to spend the night in such a place, he was heartbroken.

"No, I'll appeal right now. You're the eldest princess. Even if we've committed a heinous crime that led to the confiscation of our property and the extermination of our clan, you're exempt. You should be released immediately."

Princess Zhaoyang stopped him: "If he really cared about being a member of the royal family, he wouldn't have thrown us into the imperial prison. Don't waste your energy."

Marquis Yong'an looked around, his face full of worry, and said, "But there isn't even a chair here, how are we supposed to sit?"

Princess Zhaoyang took off her outer robe, spread it on the ground, and sat down cross-legged: "Now I can sit down, can't I?"

Marquis Yong'an: "..."

I almost forgot that his beloved was not a delicate flower raised in the palace, but a female knight-errant raised on the grasslands.

How could a mere prison possibly stump her?

He's being too dramatic.

Marquis Yong'an smiled and sat down next to her.

Yi Shuihan followed suit, took off his outer garment, spread it on the ground, and invited Xiao Qingyin to sit down together.

Xiao Qingyin chuckled and said, "You had a very memorable birthday."

Yi Shuihan: "..."

"Yes, it's unforgettable."

One second I was happy to receive a birthday gift, the next I was thrown into jail.

Do you think we can still get out?

Xiao Qingyin asked.

Yi Shuihan nodded without hesitation.

"Definitely."

"You have so much faith in your imperial uncle?"

"I have confidence in the rifles and cannons of the artillery battalion."

Yi Shuihan whispered in her ear, "Yi Wu and the others went to get reinforcements."

Xiao Qingyin suddenly realized.

"I was wondering why I hadn't seen them. I thought they weren't at the Marquis's residence."

Yi Shuihan smiled slightly.

They were his bodyguards; how could they not be in the mansion?

They just didn't let them show up.

Xiao Qingyin suddenly hugged his arm and buried her head in her mouth, taking a deep breath.

Yi Shuihan: "???"

He poked her forehead in an annoyed tone.

"Are you mistaking me for a cat again?"

Xiao Qingyin said listlessly, "It stinks so bad here, I'm about to faint from the stench."

Yi Shuihan chuckled: "Who told you to have a dog's nose?"

Xiao Qingyin reached out and pinched his nose.

"You're the one with a dog's nose."

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