Dean Bai's sudden outburst left Master Liu stunned for a long while. It wasn't until Dean Bai threw the painting into Master Liu's hands that he reacted: "This, how is this possible? Dean, is there some misunderstanding? How could Princess Changning plagiarize?"
"Dean, could it be that someone else has painted the same picture?"
Master Liu's words startled Dean Bai, who frowned and asked, "You're saying this painting was painted by the Princess of Changning County?"
Master Liu nodded: "Yes, it was painted on Mount Putuo today, it's impossible to fake it!"
Upon hearing this, Dean Bai quickly took the painting back and looked at it again, saying, "Xiao Ruyan's admission review is underway, and the painting is exactly the same."
"This... Dean, may I take a look at that painting?"
Even without Mr. Liu asking, Dean Bai would bring out the painting.
After carefully examining the items, both of them wore solemn expressions.
Meanwhile, in Zheng Yinrong's room, Xiao Ruyan pleaded desperately, "Cousin, please, don't tell Uncle and Aunt, okay? I really know I was wrong... Cousin..."
"Cousin, if you tell Uncle and Aunt, they'll kick me out... Cousin, please..."
Looking at Xiao Ruyan's tear-streaked face, and remembering that she had fainted earlier and the doctor had said that she was not in good health, Zheng Yinrong frowned and said after a long while, "Fine, I will forgive you this time, but you must go and apologize to Bai Tuantuan!"
Xiao Ruyan breathed a slight sigh of relief, wiped away her tears, and nodded: "What my cousin says is true. I will definitely apologize to my sister!"
Zheng Yinrong gave her a disgruntled look: "Alright, get up."
"Miss, what's wrong with Miss Biao?" Yumi, Zheng Yinrong's maid, asked in confusion.
Zheng Yinrong shook her head: "It's nothing, I need to go see my mother."
As she spoke, Zheng Yinrong went to Madam Zheng's courtyard and recounted what had happened that day, only saying that the perpetrators were villains, without revealing that Xiao Ruyan was the mastermind.
Madam Zheng came from a humble family and was not very bright. Therefore, when she heard Zheng Yinrong's words, she assumed that Bai Tuantuan had saved her daughter. She immediately asked her maid to pack some things and go to the Bai family to express her gratitude.
Not only the Zheng family, but also the Qiu and Su families sent gifts of gratitude.
While eating dinner, Bai Tuantuan recounted the events of the day.
Chen Xingfeng frowned deeply: "She's only five years old, how can she be so vicious?"
Chen Lingfeng immediately nodded in agreement, saying, "That's right, how do you know so much!"
Yuan Chenchen said with a dark face, "Just like her father, she doesn't learn good things."
Chen Luo was somewhat annoyed: "What is Lord Zheng busy with all day long? Why doesn't he teach his granddaughter properly? And what about Zheng Rucai? Doesn't he care about his niece either?"
"They're in a hurry now!" Bai Han said calmly. "Now that the Crown Prince's whereabouts are unknown, the Second Prince's faction and the Third Prince's faction are fighting fiercely. As the first official of the Second Prince's faction, Lord Zheng naturally has to pave the way for the Second Prince. It's just a pity that Lord Zheng has developed a grudge with the Tong family and Consort Tong because of Zheng Fangyu's matter. Now he is trying his best to mend things."
Upon hearing this, Chen Luo hurriedly asked, "Is there anything we need to do?"
Bai Han waved his hand: "We don't need to worry about these things, just be loyal to the emperor."
Chen Luo breathed a sigh of relief: "That's good. We don't understand the affairs of the court, but we can kill people if it's necessary. So, Brother Bai, if there's anyone you don't like, just tell me and I'll kill them for you."
“Grandfather…” Bai Tuantuan was speechless. “If he could be killed, he would have had someone kill him long ago. It’s just a pity that he can’t be killed.”
Chen Luo was stunned: "Why is that?"
"Because a single move can have far-reaching consequences. For example, if Lord Zheng dies, someone needs to fill his position, and someone else needs to fill that position as well. This will take a lot of time to work out the relationship between superiors and subordinates, which will delay things. If a new person is directly promoted to fill Lord Zheng's position, it will cause dissatisfaction among people in the court. So, Lord Zheng cannot be moved unless there is a foolproof plan."
"Throughout history, countless corrupt officials have been unable to act because of the greater good," Bai Han sighed and said slowly. "Therefore, the emperor will turn a blind eye to things that are not very important."
“The reason Xiao Guangyuan was able to move was because he was promoted,” Bai Han smiled. “This was a scheme devised by Ze Yi. Xiao Guangyuan thought he had been promoted to vice academician of the Hanlin Academy, but he didn’t realize that anyone could become vice academician. After all, there are academicians above and scholars below, and he was just playing the role of messenger, without any important tasks. If he were still a member of the Hanlin Academy, managing his own affairs, he couldn’t be moved, since it would be difficult to find someone to replace him in a short time.”
Bai Han's words made everyone realize something.
After the meal, Chen Yijun brought news of Rong Manli.
"Ah Li has arrived in Feng Hua Town, but has not found Nan Xiao and the Crown Prince."
Upon hearing this, Bai Han fell silent.
Chen Yijun looked at Bai Tuantuan with a solemn expression and asked, "Tuantuan, can it still be counted?"
"I can't figure it out." Bai Tuantuan put down the pastry in her hand and said softly, "But there's no danger to her life..."
Chen Yijun nodded and looked at Bai Han: "Godfather, the Crown Prince's faction is being suppressed everywhere in the court. Although you, Lord Su, and Lord Qiu are helping, they still can't cover everything. If we help too much, it might implicate you."
Bai Han looked at Chen Yijun with satisfaction: "**He is indeed smart, and he knows quite a bit about the affairs of the court."
Chen Yijun smiled: "It's all thanks to the good teaching of my godfather and elder brother."
"You're right. Unless the Crown Prince returns, the court is likely to descend into chaos."
Bai Han sighed.
“I have to go to Fenghua Town,” Bai Tuantuan said, frowning. “I might be able to figure it out in Fenghua Town.”
Everyone fell silent.
"I'll definitely be fine," Bai Tuantuan said quickly, knowing they were worried about her. "Don't worry, I'll run back if there's any danger!"
Nan Nian chuckled: "How can you run? With your skinny arms and legs..."
"That's all we can do." Bai Han looked at Bai Tuantuan. "Placing all our hopes on you is unfair to you. Tuantuan, just do your best."
"Don't worry, Grandfather, I know what to do."
Bai Tuantuan smiled broadly: "I'm leaving tonight. I'll leave the Capital Academy in your care, Grandfather!"
"So urgent? I'll go pack my things."
Yuan Chenchen quickly stood up, and Feng Yue also said, "I'll go prepare some food for Tuantuan."
"I'll take Tuantuan over." Nan Nian stood up and went to prepare the carriage.
Inside the small tree hole in Fenghua Town.
Yang Wei looked at Ning Nanxiao in his arms, his worry growing stronger. If no one found them soon, Nanxiao might not make it...
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