She could do nothing but watch herself suffer.

Hongyan hated her, hated her for giving birth to her in the first place. If she hadn't given birth to her, she wouldn't be suffering so much today. It was all her fault!

If the Prime Minister's wife knew what she was thinking, she would probably faint from heartache.

Hongyan said nothing, knelt there and did nothing, nor could she.

She felt that perhaps this so-called mother would still be of some use in the end, and no matter what, she had to save her life.

After the Prefect of the Capital arrived, he first listened to Hongyan's confession.

Then I met Huang Ningmeng.

Huang Ningmeng glanced at Hongyan and said to the Prefect of the Capital, "Sir, if you wish to investigate the case, please come here. As for Hongyan, I suggest that you detain her for now."

"As you say." The Prefect of the Capital waved his hand, and several officials took Hongyan away.

"What are you doing?" The Prime Minister's wife tried to snatch back the red cigarette.

Huang Ningmeng crossed her arms and said coolly, "Madam, sometimes it's best not to go too far, otherwise you'll expose more and more."

The Prime Minister's wife paused in her tracks.

Hearing the implication in his daughter's words, Prime Minister Huang knew something was amiss. He waved his hand and ordered his men to take his wife to the east wing and imprison her.

The Prefect of the Capital did not say anything when he saw them acting like this, and pretended not to see it.

The group arrived at the back gate of the temple in a grand procession.

This place has long been under Du Chenyan's control, and he hasn't touched it.

Huang Ningmeng went in first, followed by the Prefect of the Capital, while Prime Minister Huang and Du Chenyan followed a little behind.

Huang Ningmeng circled the important parts with white lime.

The Prefect of the Capital was familiar with the white and gray circles as he dealt with cases year-round, and consciously avoided these places.

Huang Ningmeng said, "Yesterday I received a note from Jiang Sheng, telling me to come here to meet him at midnight tonight."

When Prime Minister Huang heard what she said, his brow twitched. His daughter was bolder than he had imagined.

Huang Ningmeng continued, "I came here hoping to hear what he had to say to me, but he started by insulting me. I was so angry that I slapped him."

Huang Ningmeng pointed to a spot where there were marks of someone lying on the ground.

Fortunately, the soil around the pond was relatively soft; otherwise, these marks would have been difficult to leave.

The Prefect of the Capital nodded, seeing that this was indeed the case.

Huang Ningmeng continued, "Jiang Sheng is also an idiot. He's studied for so long, but he only knows a few swear words. I taught him a few, and gradually forced him back to the edge of the pond."

The Prefect of the Capital became agitated, "Miss Huang, did you really kill him?"

Huang Ningmeng rolled her eyes at him. "Can't you let me finish what I have to say?"

"Please speak, please speak." The Prefect of the Capital couldn't afford to offend Huang Ningmeng, especially when he saw the Prime Minister's face darken, he felt something was wrong.

Huang Ningmeng continued, "Jiang Sheng kept backing away, completely unaware that he was getting closer and closer to the edge of the pond, and he didn't seem to care much about his life. Until I forced him back the last step, he stepped on the edge of the pond and almost slipped in."

The group walked to the edge of the pond and found traces there.

Huang Ningmeng said, "I grabbed his collar and pulled him back. But since men and women are different, I didn't catch him and let him fall to the ground. It was a hard fall. If the adults examine the body, they should still be able to see a bruise on the right back of his body."

"Wait a minute." The Prefect of the Capital noticed something was amiss. "Miss Huang is a delicate and frail young lady from a prominent family. This manor has never heard of Miss Huang having any strength. How could she possibly pull a man?"

Huang Ningmeng laughed and said, "How could an adult possibly know something that even my father doesn't know?"

Everyone looked at Prime Minister Huang, who was also completely bewildered. His daughter knew martial arts?

Du Chenyan originally wanted to help Huang Ningmeng keep the matter a secret, but seeing that she had gotten involved and had to expose her martial arts skills, he could no longer help her keep it a secret.

“My lord, I once had the pleasure of exchanging blows with Miss Huang by chance. Miss Huang’s martial arts skills are superb, and I admire them.”

The Prefect of the Capital looked at him and shook his head. "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would hardly believe that Miss Huang knows martial arts."

Huang Ningmeng walked up to the Prefect of the Capital and spread out her hand, which still had scars on it. "My hands have always been delicate. These are from when I saved someone last night. I hope the Prefect of the Capital will take a good look at them first."

Upon hearing that she was injured, both Prime Minister Huang and Du Chenyan felt a pang of anxiety.

When the Prefect of the Capital saw such a shocking scar on such a fair and delicate hand, he couldn't help but feel a little sorry for her and nodded.

Huang Ningmeng walked to the edge of the scene and said to the Prefect of the Capital, "My lord, what's so difficult about seeing it with your own eyes? Just find a few people to test me."

“This…” The Prefect of the Capital looked at Prime Minister Huang, who nodded.

The Prefect of the Capital then summoned his personal bodyguard. His bodyguard was highly skilled in martial arts, and he trusted that he would know his limits and not harm Huang Ningmeng.

The two confronted each other outside the circle. Huang Ningmeng looked at Du Chenyan and said, "Du Chenyan, I trust you with some things."

When Du Chenyan saw her gaze sweep over the evidence on the ground without leaving a trace, he understood and nodded.

Huang Ningmeng smiled, turned to the guard, and extended her hand, "Please."

"No, Miss, please go first," the guard said.

"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony." As soon as Huang Ningmeng finished speaking, she moved swiftly and arrived in front of the guard. She jumped up, twisted her body, and swept her leg like a whip towards his temple.

Seeing her aggressive approach, the guards dared not underestimate her and dealt with her with caution.

Huang Ningmeng first tested his upper body, then his physical strength, and finally attacked his lower body, only to find that his lower body was very weak.

The fight between the two was intense, and the onlookers watched with bated breath; they showed almost no mercy in their attack.

Almost every move grazed the opponent's body or the hem of their clothing, which was frightening to watch.

Du Chenyan had already sparred with Huang Ningmeng before. Although he was worried that she might get hurt and not be able to handle it, he was always on guard against her words and paid attention to the actions of the people around him.

After a short while, the two parted ways.

Huang Ningmeng hid her hands behind her back. The guard took more than ten steps back before stopping, clasped his hands and said, "Miss's martial arts are superb, and I am ashamed to say that I am not as good as her."

“Your martial arts skills are also quite good, there’s no need to be modest,” Huang Ningmeng said.

The guards walked toward the Prefect of the Capital and stood behind him.

Huang Ningmeng also walked back to the original place, but she regretted it a little. She had underestimated how delicate her hands were.

In her opinion, this body's skin was probably even more delicate than that of an ordinary person; this was a disease.

The Prefect of the Capital, Chao Huang Ningmeng, cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Miss Huang is truly a heroine among women. I was deeply impressed when I saw her just now."

Huang Ningmeng looked at Prime Minister Huang.

Prime Minister Huang shook his head slightly, his expression showing strong disapproval.

Huang Ningmeng sighed; she knew it would turn out this way. But things had already escalated to such a point that she couldn't simply do whatever she wanted.