After returning to the capital, Zhao Shu stayed indoors for several days. Many young ladies in the capital sent her invitations to go on outings together, but she declined them all.

He locked himself in his room, spread out a sheet of white paper, dipped his brush in ink, and slowly began to write.

Xiao Zhu and Xiao Guo stood there, one grinding ink and the other holding a whisk, watching her write down one name after another, starting with Jiang Yue.

Jiang Yue is still alive, living in the Guanzhou government office. Even a hundred Linlang tokens cannot save her, as she is an irreconcilable enemy.

The reason I kept her alive for so many years was that I didn't want her to die so soon. The way to torment someone is to make them lose everything and then be unable to live or die.

Naturally, Jiang Yue is no longer a threat to her, but she made a careful calculation in choosing this time to end her life.

She's declaring war!

Jiang Yue was just a nobody, but she enjoyed watching her opponents get rid of her one by one, and then the opponents couldn't do anything to her.

After writing Jiang Yue's name, she put down the jade brush and said to Xiao Zhuzi, "Go and invite Liu Ren'an to see me."

"Princess, Chief Secretary Liu is already waiting outside," said Xiao Zhuzi, beckoning to Liu Ren'an, who was waiting outside the door, with his hand behind his back.

"Princess," Liu Ren'an greeted as he entered.

Zhao Shu's gaze remained fixed on the names on the paper; she didn't look up. "Hmm, has the case been clarified?"

Upon hearing this, Liu Ren'an immediately took out a memorial from his pocket and handed it over. Xiao Zhuzi took it and passed it to Zhao Shu, who told her to put it on the table before looking up at Liu Ren'an and asking, "Have both cases been investigated and clarified?"

Liu Ren'an nodded, "Yes, everything has been investigated." After all, he had studied for a few years and served as an official in the capital. It was unacceptable that no one had paid attention to him and couldn't even find out about two minor matters.

After hearing this, Zhao Shu opened the memorial and slowly read it. After finishing, a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She wrote the three characters "Jiang Jingzhan" on the paper, and then said to Liu Ren'an, "Liu Changshi, it's been five years. How come you're still just a Changshi?"

Liu Ren'an blushed, lowered his head, and didn't know how to answer. He also wanted to be promoted and have a smooth career, but fate was beyond his control, and he had no way to do anything about it. He finally managed to get in touch with the Prince Yong's mansion, but it was still a weak and powerless place. He was away from the capital for five years.

"Doesn't Chief Secretary Liu want to move over a bit?" Zhao Shu gestured to Xiao Zhu to bring him a chair.

Upon hearing Zhao Shu's words, Liu Ren'an knelt down with a thud, "Princess, your humble servant is willing to give his life for you!"

“Get up. You have neither political achievements nor qualifications. You’ve always done odd jobs and never made any decisions. How can that be acceptable? I’ll have someone find a way to get you out of the capital. Where do you think would be the best place for you at this time?” The factional struggles in the capital are too severe. Those with foresight who don’t get involved in factional strife are all looking for a way out and leaving the capital.

Liu Ren'an's heart was pounding. Good heavens, he could actually go out of the capital to gain experience! Fortunately, he hadn't given up and had finally waited for this day. Although he was a government official in the capital, his position as chief secretary was just doing odd jobs and he never had any say in anything. If he could go to a local area, even becoming a seventh-rank county magistrate would be good. He thought about it and wondered where to go.

The princess was testing his strategic thinking. If it was Jiangnan, that wouldn't be good, since Jiangnan had already been taken back. If it was the Northeast, that wouldn't be good either, since it wasn't the toughest nut to crack. In a flash, a map of the distribution of various forces in Dayong appeared in his mind. Finally, he gritted his teeth and chose the toughest one, "Princess, this humble subject wishes to go to Xiliang."

Zhao Shu raised a bright smile and personally helped Liu Ren'an up. "Alright, Lord Liu, this princess would like to congratulate you on your promotion. Little Zhu, bring me some wine, I'd like to toast you."

Xiao Zhuzi brought out a jade cup and filled it with clear wine. Zhao Shu smiled and clinked glasses with Liu Ren'an, saying, "Lord Liu, on the day of your demotion and return to the capital, I toast you."

Liu Ren'an was charmed by the address "Lord Liu," as if he had already received an imperial decree to travel to Xiliang.

After finishing his drink, Liu Ren'an bowed deeply and said, "Your humble servant thanks Your Highness for your guidance. If Your Highness has any instructions, please speak freely. Your humble servant will do everything in my power, even unto death."

Zhao Shu smiled and shook her head, "No, Lord Liu, I don't need you to go through fire and water. I only need you to be honest, upright, and incorruptible! Make friends with upright officials and maintain the integrity that court officials should have, that's enough."

Liu Ren'an blushed, but he felt relieved and his conscience was at peace. If he hadn't been desperate, he wouldn't have thought of getting on the Yongwang Mansion's boat.

Zhao Shu didn't care about his previous purpose in coming to her. As long as he could become an honest and upright official in Xiliang, that would be the greatest help she could give. Besides, she had other plans.

"Yes, Your Highness, I will remember your words." Since entering officialdom, Liu Ren'an had only thought about how to get promoted and how to win more benefits for his family. But at this moment, for the first time, he thought about how to be a good official.

"I trust you, sir. You should return to your residence first and make good preparations. News will come in three to five days. At that time, you don't need to come to the Prince's residence to say goodbye. Just go and take up your post. I will have someone inform you if I need anything. I will also take care of your family."

Liu Ren'an bowed gratefully again, and Zhao Shu waved him away. After he left, she looked at the name on the paper and said to Xiao Zhuzi, "Go and call Xin Wei over."

"Yes." Xiao Zhu went downstairs.

Before long, Xinwei followed Xiao Zhuzi to her. She had always been by Bi Qiao's side and rarely showed herself. Therefore, many people no longer remembered that she was originally a second-class maidservant by Zhao Shu's side.

"This servant greets the princess. May the princess be well." She knelt down, her voice soft but not timid. Perhaps having been by Bi Qiao's side for so long, she had learned a bit of her imposing manner.

"Get up, I wish to avenge you, but that man is your son's father. Are you willing? Is your son willing?"

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