A daughter from a prominent family is desired by many, yet the daughter of the Yong family is sought by none. Noble families consider her nouveau riche and vulgar, while scholarly houses pride them...
Xie Jinhuan didn't answer, but instead handed the tea to Zhao Shu. "This marigold tea is fragrant, mellow, and refreshing. It's perfect for drinking in the hot summer. It can help cool you down. Why don't you have a cup first, Princess?"
She no longer affectionately called Zhao Shu "A-Jun," but instead addressed her as "Princess."
Zhao Shu snorted coldly, "This tea is more like a death warrant. I have no grudge against Miss Xie recently or in the past. I wonder what Miss Xie means by this?"
After saying that, she walked to Sun Yun's side and put her hand on her shoulder. Before Xie Jinhuan could reply, a girl of about twelve or thirteen years old suddenly came out of the flower garden, walked to Zhao Shu's side, and stared at Xie Jinhuan with eyes like a wolf.
Upon seeing the little girl, Xie Jinhuan smiled, a very bright smile. "I knew the princess was no ordinary person. She was able to bring people into the Sun family's territory without anyone noticing."
"If Miss Xie has nothing else to say, I'll be leaving now." Zhao Shu didn't want to waste any more time here; she had other things to do.
"Please wait, Princess. Do you know how many traps are here?" She pointed to the surroundings, where a dense sea of flowers bloomed, with colorful butterflies fluttering among them, like a fairyland. "I just said that such a beautiful place is going to be ruined, and I wasn't joking."
"Ah Yun, let's go." Seeing that she was changing the subject, Zhao Shu lost patience and told Sun Yun to leave.
Sun Yun stood up and glanced at the girl next to Zhao Shu. She was Zhi Hai's disciple, whom he hadn't seen earlier, but was surprised to find her always by his side.
"Princess, you should cool down and have a cup of tea. I mean no harm, I just want to form an alliance with you, what do you say?" She smiled and sat there looking up at Zhao Shu.
Zhao Shu raised her eyebrows. "Miss Xie is being far too insincere. If it's an alliance, why are you being so secretive about it?"
“If we don’t keep things under wraps, how will we know that the princess is qualified to be my ally? Now it seems that the princess is qualified.” She glanced at Su Xiu, the female disciple of Zhihai.
“But I can’t see what bargaining chips Miss Xie has. What makes you think you can form an alliance with me?” Her gaze fell on Xie Jinhuan’s head. “Miss, I’m afraid you’re no longer a Miss. You should be called Madam.”
Xie Jinhuan finally showed anger on her face, slammed her hand on the table and stood up, her eyes looking as if she wanted to devour Zhao Shusheng. However, she quickly suppressed her anger and said, "His Highness the Crown Prince has been back in the capital for several years now, and he is still studying in the Eastern Palace. He neither participates in court politics nor has any allies. If you help me, I will find a way to get my grandfather to help the Crown Prince ascend the throne. What do you say?"
"Hahaha." Zhao Shu laughed, as if she had heard the funniest joke in the world. After a few laughs, her smile vanished, and she said coldly, "Ayun, let's go."
This time, Zhao Shu left without hesitation, taking a shortcut with Sun Yun and quickly disappearing from Xie Jinhuan's sight. Before leaving, Su Xiu turned back and gave Xie Jinhuan a warning look.
Xie Jinhuan wasn't angry. Instead, she smiled and watched Zhao Shu leave, muttering to herself, "You'll come back begging me."
After she finished speaking, a gray-white figure emerged from the flower bushes, knelt down on one knee in front of her, and said, "Miss, this servant is no match for that person. Please forgive me."
The person kneeling on one knee was a woman. Her face clearly showed that she was no longer young, but her height was like that of a seven or eight-year-old child. Her right shoulder was injured, as if she had been injured by a hidden weapon.
"It's alright, there will be plenty of opportunities." Xie Jinhuan closed her eyes after hearing this.
Zhao Shu and Sun Yun walked quite a distance. Sun Yun said, "She's gone mad. She hasn't been quite right since her cousin broke off the engagement."
"Have you heard anything?" Back then, when she learned that Xie Jinhuan had been rejected by the Sun family, she secretly felt sorry for her. Xie Jinhuan was actually a smart person, and she still thought so just now.
Sun Yun shook his head slightly, "I don't know, but Ah Jun, have you noticed that her eyes seem to look like those of a madman, very crazy?"
Zhao Shu shook her head. She had thought Xie Jinhuan was an intelligent person and hadn't noticed the madness in her eyes. Perhaps she had disguised her gaze when she looked at her. If she had deliberately dug a pit for herself here, it would have been hard to detect for a while. After all, she had no grudge against Xie Jinhuan, neither in her past life nor in this one.
No, she suddenly frowned. If Xie Jinhuan was determined to take her anger out on her, then she wouldn't hold back. She hoped that wouldn't happen.
“Just now, the maid from the Sun family called her ‘Miss,’ but she had her hair styled like a married woman. Don’t you find that strange?” Sun Yun said, and then felt a chill run down her spine.
“The Xie family wouldn’t let a lunatic out,” Sun Yun said, feeling a chill run down her spine.
Since there was no one else around, Zhao Shu asked Su Xiu, "Have you found anything?"
"Your Highness, Yang Guang and You Ma were discovered by the Sun family and have already left the garden. They are just waiting for an opportunity to come back in. Chen Ran and Liang Xi are with the Prince and have not been discovered."
Zhao Shu nodded after hearing this. "That's very good. Remember to ensure Father's safety. If there are any problems, come and inform me. Do you understand?"
After saying that, she asked again, "Has Jiang Jingzhan arrived?"
"They've arrived, even earlier than the Prince. Princess, Jiang Jingming has also arrived. Liang Xi just came to deliver a message saying that Jiang Jingming has been keeping an eye on the Prince and might have some ideas."
Zhao Shu sneered, "He's still thinking about revenge. Go, let Liang Xi find out who's behind this. How dare the Marquis of Ningguo's mansion fight against the Prince's mansion now? There must be someone instigating and supporting them behind the scenes."
Actually, she knew without even investigating, but then she changed her tune, saying, "Investigate Jiang Jingzhan, investigate the person behind Jiang Jingzhan."
Su Xiu didn't quite understand what Zhao Shu meant, but she didn't ask. Obedience and loyalty were her life's principles, more important than life itself.
"Yes." She stood up and replied. Zhao Shu nodded, and she then leaped away.
After Su Xiu left, Sun Yun asked worriedly, "How can we find out?"
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