Pei Jinxiao looked at Sheng Yunrong, a hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, and said: "Mrs. Qin, you are really a smart person. So, how about we cooperate?"

Sheng Yunrong smiled softly and said, "Your Highness Prince Jing, I am just a weak woman, how dare I cooperate with you?"

Pei Jinxiao's eyes flashed with a smile, and he said, "Madam Qin, you misunderstood. I am not asking you to fight against the emperor with me, but I hope you will promise me one thing."

Sheng Yunrong frowned slightly and said, "Please speak."

Pei Jinxiao said in a deep voice: "If you can promise me, I will let you and Xiang Zhu leave the capital safely and stay away from the emperor's persecution."

Sheng Yunrong's heart moved, but she still looked at Pei Jinxiao vigilantly: "Your Highness Prince Jing, what is your purpose?"

Pei Jinxiao's eyes flashed with a trace of guilt, and he said apologetically: "I was indeed negligent in what happened yesterday. I have implicated Madam Qin, and I am really uneasy in my heart."

Sheng Yunrong raised her head slightly, her eyes like water, looking at Pei Jinxiao calmly, and said calmly: "Your Highness Prince Jing, I cannot accept your apology. The grudge between Concubine Liu and I has nothing to do with you. You don't need to blame yourself."

Pei Jinxiao's expression became heavier after hearing this. He took a deep breath and tried to explain, "Madam Qin, you misunderstood. I am not apologizing to you for the matter of Concubine Liu, but because of my rude behavior yesterday, which implicated you. I have always felt guilty towards you."

Sheng Yunrong smiled gently, with a bit of sadness in her smile: "Your Highness Prince Jing, I can't bear your guilt. I just want to live my life quietly and don't want to be involved in any disputes. Please, don't affect my life anymore in the future."

Pei Jinxiao frowned and looked at Sheng Yunrong in confusion: "Madam Qin, what do you mean? Do you really think I will hurt you?"

Sheng Yunrong did not answer, but just looked at him quietly, with a determination in her eyes.

Pei Jinxiao's heart tightened, Sheng Yunrong had already misunderstood him.

He took a deep breath and tried to explain: "Madam Qin, I don't want you to misunderstand. There were indeed some conflicts between Concubine Liu and me, but that is all in the past."

Sheng Yunrong shook her head gently, with a trace of sadness in her eyes: "Your Highness Prince Jing, I appreciate your kindness. But our worlds are different after all. You are the prince, and I am the lady of the Qin Mansion. The distance between us means that we are destined to be unable to be together."

Pei Jinxiao said eagerly: "Madam Qin, I can give up my status as a prince just to spend the rest of my life with you. As long as you are willing, I can express my feelings to you immediately."

Sheng Yunrong looked at him, with a complex emotion flashing in her eyes. She said slowly: "Your Highness Prince Jing, I appreciate your kindness. But please respect your status and don't give up for me again. I am not worthy of you doing this."

Pei Jinxiao was anxious. He held Sheng Yunrong's hand tightly with a firm look in his eyes: "Madam Qin, I, Pei Jinxiao, have made up my mind. No matter how you refuse, I will wait until you are willing to accept me."

Sheng Yunrong gently pulled her hand back, her eyes revealing a firmness: "Your Highness Prince Jing, please be more conscious. This is the Qin Mansion, not your palace. Please respect yourself."

Pei Jinxiao looked a little embarrassed. He knew he had lost his composure, but he was still unwilling to give up: "Mrs. Qin, I will wait for the day when you change your mind."

Sheng Yunrong sighed. She couldn't change Pei Jinxiao's stubbornness. She could only choose to escape, for herself and for him.

She stood up and said to Pei Jinxiao: "Your Highness Prince Jing, please go back. I am tired and need to rest."

Pei Jinxiao looked at Sheng Yunrong's back, feeling helpless.

…

Sheng Yunrong thought about it, looked at Xiang Zhu beside her, and decided: "Xiang Zhu, get ready, I want to go to Deng's house."

Xiang Zhu was stunned for a moment, then responded, but she saw a resolute look in Sheng Yunrong's eyes, which made her unable to help but ask: "Madam, what are you doing... The Deng family has recently spread rumors and cut off ties with our Qin family. Is it wise for you to go to the Deng family at this time?"

Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly, with a sharp look in her eyes: "The Deng family spread rumors just to draw a line between themselves and the Qin family, but it does not mean that they are willing to be our enemy. I went to the Deng family to see what their intentions are."

Xiang Zhu frowned slightly, a little worried: "Then, should we inform Madam Deng?"

Sheng Yunrong shook her head, her eyes firm: "No need. The Deng family spread rumors with the purpose of embarrassing the Qin family. If we inform Madam Deng, wouldn't it be playing into their hands?"

Xiang Zhu understood what Sheng Yunrong meant, but she was still a little worried: "Madam, how do you plan to enter the Deng family?"

Sheng Yunrong's eyes flashed with cunning: "Through the back door."

Xiang Zhu was stunned for a moment, then he laughed: "Madam, your idea is novel. Then how can we use the back door?"

Sheng Yunrong stood up, straightened her clothes, and said with a smile: "I have some friendship with Deng Wan, the eldest daughter of the Deng family. She once told me that there is a secret passage at the back door of the Deng family, which leads directly to her boudoir. We can enter the Deng family from there."

Xiang Zhu's eyes flashed with surprise, and then he smiled and said, "So Madam and Miss Deng have such a relationship, then our trip will definitely be successful."

Sheng Yunrong smiled slightly, but there was a hint of determination in her eyes: "Xiang Zhu, you have been with me for many years, you should know the purpose of my trip. I want to let the Deng family know that the Qin family is not so easy to deal with."

Xiang Zhu nodded seriously, with a hint of determination in his eyes: "Madam, I will do my best to protect you."

…

At the back door of Deng's house, Sheng Yunrong and Xiang Zhu tiptoed along the wall, looking around vigilantly. Just as they were about to find an opportunity to enter, Sheng Yunrong suddenly stopped and signaled Xiang Zhu to pay attention to the front.

Sheng Yunrong whispered, "Look over there, Deng Wan seems to be in trouble."

They saw from afar that Deng Wan was carrying a swill bucket and was treated coldly by the gatekeepers. Sheng Yunrong frowned slightly, and couldn't help but feel worried about Deng Wan's situation.

Deng Wan was carrying the swill bucket with difficulty, and her expression looked a little awkward. She was startled when she saw Sheng Yunrong, but then she pretended to be calm and slowly walked towards the tree where Sheng Yunrong was hiding.

Deng Wan walked under the tree and looked at Sheng Yunrong and Xiang Zhu, with a hint of surprise in her eyes. She coughed deliberately and said, "Oh, isn't this Madam Sheng Yunrong and Miss Xiang Zhu from the Sheng Mansion? Why are they here?"

Sheng Yunrong smiled and said, "Miss Deng, what a coincidence. We just happened to pass by here and saw you carrying the swill bucket alone, so we wanted to come over to help."

Deng Wan's eyes flashed with gratitude, but she soon regained her composure. She shook her head gently and said, "No need, Madam Qin. This is my job, how can I trouble you?"

Sheng Yunrong said sternly, "Miss Deng, since we have encountered you, we can't just stand by and watch you die. We will help you together, so that those servants won't look down on you anymore."

Xiang Zhu couldn't help but interrupt, "Yes, Miss Deng, things will be much easier if the three of us are together."

Deng Wan looked at them, feeling warm in his heart. He smiled and said, "Well, since you insist on helping me, I will not refuse."