“Your Highness, the newly appointed second-ranked scholar has only been at the General’s residence for a short time, and the Prince Xian has followed him there as well.”

Upon hearing this, Yuwen Yao didn't even lift his eyelids, completely unconcerned. "If Yuwen Xian doesn't go, it wouldn't be like him."

"But I overheard something when I went there," Tingfeng said with some worry.

Yuwen Yao paused, then looked up from his book at Tingfeng, "Does this affect me?"

"This..." He hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, "No."

"Then let it go."

“But it will affect Miss Lingqin.” Tingfeng’s tone quickened.

Yuwen Yao frowned slightly but remained silent, continuing to read his book.

Listening to the wind...

What exactly does the Crown Prince mean?

"What does this have to do with me? As long as she's not dead, that's all that matters," Yuwen Yao said after a long pause.

Tingfeng hesitated for a moment, his eyes flickering, but, Your Highness, you haven't touched your book in a long time.

"Your Highness, didn't you promise Miss Lingqin yesterday that you would help her?" Tingfeng pondered for a moment, as if reminding him.

"I only agreed to help the Seventh Princess leave the palace, to save face for her, and to prevent her from marrying the Minister of Works' son. I didn't agree to anything else."

"However, this matter is related to the eldest son of the Minister of Works."

Hearing the wind, he immediately said.

The crown prince stared at him, his eyes dark and unfathomable.

Hearing the wind make his heart tremble.

“You seem to really want me to help her,” the Crown Prince said.

Tingfeng immediately lowered his head, "Tingfeng is trying to share the Crown Prince's burdens."

"Is that so?" A smile flickered across the prince's lips. He finally showed mercy. "Speak."

He sighed with relief and then recounted everything he had heard.

Finally, Tingfeng saw the Crown Prince slowly close the book, then beckon to him, "Come here."

...

General's Mansion.

Amidst the blooming flowers and lush trees, Xie Lingqin walked a few steps behind Wang Renyi and Huo Yanru, feeling like a third wheel.

The scene between Wang Renyi and Huo Yanru, one shy and the other shy, was quite frustrating to watch.

Xie Lingyu glared at her angrily, his gaze sharp as a blade.

"Why are you looking at me like that? If you want to marry your cousin, you can just go for it." Xie Lingqin fell a few steps behind, her voice softly reaching Xie Lingyu's ears.

"you……"

Xie Lingyu glanced ahead and subtly signaled to Wang Renyi, who was turning around, before stepping back a few paces and looking at Xie Lingqin. "Xie Lingqin, what good is being good with words? If I were you, I would keep a low profile and be more careful. That way, things will be easier for me."

"My sister is so worried. Look..." Xie Lingqin looked ahead and said, "Young Master Wang and Miss Huo have already gone far away. My feet hurt and I don't want to walk anymore."

"Fine, if they won't leave, I'm going to chase after them." Xie Lingyu said, flicked her sleeve, and walked forward.

But as he turned around, a calculating glint shone in his eyes in the sunlight.

Xie Lingqin didn't see it this time. Only after Xie Lingyu had walked far away did she wave to Zihe and say, "Let's go back."

"Miss, what about Miaoqiao...?"

Xie Lingqin looked ahead again and gestured for Zihe to come closer, "Like this..."

"Snap."

Just as he opened his mouth, a strange sound suddenly came from the hidden flower bushes.

Xie Lingqin's eyes narrowed, but Zihe had already rushed towards the source of the sound.

She walked over after a short while and said, "Miss, there's nothing unusual."

Xie Lingqin nodded, looked around, listened carefully for a while, and then relaxed before whispering instructions to Zihe.

Zihe understood, turned around and left, quickly disappearing down the path.

Instead of going to the garden, Xie Lingqin secretly went to General Xie's study.

There were only a few guards outside the study. Xie Lingqin climbed in through the back window. The room was quiet and just as she had seen before.

Previously, when General Xie called her to his study to talk, she inadvertently noticed a protrusion near the lamp on the bookshelf.

That protrusion looks like a lamp holder, but just because it looks like one doesn't mean it is.

She thought it was just a switch for a hidden room; it wasn't surprising that such grand mansions had hidden rooms.

However, she overheard a servant talking about something: General Xie would sleep in his study whenever he had something to do. She suddenly remembered that it was true. Before, she disliked her second concubine and had a rift with her, so she would stay in the study.

However, the study only has a small soft couch by the window, which is not suitable for long-term use.

Xie Lingqin did not believe that General Xie was the kind of person who would wrong himself like that.

So, this dark room...

Today is a good opportunity, and General Xie's personal guards are also in the garden and haven't come over.

Xie Lingqin raised her hand and gently moved the protrusion.

The bookshelf, which had been standing upright and flat, suddenly split in the middle. In a short while, a doorway appeared, and a set of stairs that seemed to have no end appeared in front of us. The light was dim, and there was an unknown dampness about it.

Xie Lingqin glanced at the tightly closed study door before cautiously entering the dark room and walking up the steps.

The further you go in, the dimmer the light becomes, the more damp the air becomes, and there's even a rotten smell.

Xie Lingqin frowned and was about to take out a tinderbox from her sleeve to light it when she suddenly heard a low shout from ahead.

"Do not ignite."

The voice was hoarse and deep, clearly controlled by internal force.

Xie Lingqin froze.

There were people ahead of her, but she didn't sense it at all.

"Don't light the fire, I won't hurt you," the voice said again.

Xie Lingqin's breath hitched. "Who are you?"

"Like you, I came in to investigate, but you won't find what you're looking for here. Get out."

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