Upon hearing the news, the Prime Minister was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan and immediately entered the palace to see the emperor. Inside the Qianqing Palace, he knelt on the ground and burst into tears, tears streaming down his face: "Your Majesty, please be wise! My daughter has always been a recluse, how could she do such a thing? The Seventh Prince is deliberately targeting this old minister! Please, Your Majesty, help the Su family!"
The emperor was so annoyed by the noise that he summoned Xiao Yu to the palace for questioning. In the court, the prime minister pointed at Xiao Yu, his beard trembling with anger: "Seventh Prince, why are you framing my daughter? She has always been a womanizer, so how could she be involved in the snake incident? You are seeking revenge for your own personal gain!"
Xiao Yu knelt calmly and said in a clear voice, "Father, I am not making any false accusations. I have recently heard that the snake plague in Lingnan is severe, and the people are suffering terribly. Since Miss Su is so knowledgeable about snakes, I dare to suggest that we send Miss Su to Lingnan to assist local officials in combating the snake plague. This way, we can both prove Miss Su's innocence and benefit the people. Isn't that the best of both worlds?"
Upon hearing this, all the civil and military officials in the court were trying to stifle laughter. The Prime Minister's face turned from pale to blue, then from blue to red, and finally he spat out a mouthful of blood and almost fainted.
The emperor watched this farce with a mixture of anger and amusement. Finally, he waved his hand and said, "Since the Seventh Prince recommends it, then I will do as you say. Lord Su, go back and make preparations. Let your daughter set off as soon as possible. The people of Lingnan are still waiting for her."
Thus, Su Yingxue was forced to leave the capital and travel to remote Lingnan. On the day of her departure, a drizzle fell, wetting the long streets. Shen Weiwan went to the city gate to "see her off," holding an oil-paper umbrella and smiling sweetly: "Miss Su, have a safe trip! I heard that there are many and venomous snakes in Lingnan. Miss Su, you must put your skills to good use. You might even be able to tame a few and keep them as pets."
Su Yingxue glared at Shen Weiwan fiercely, the rain slid down her cheeks, and she couldn't tell whether it was rain or tears: "Shen Weiwan, don't be complacent! One day..."
"What about one day?" Xiao Yu appeared beside Shen Weiwan without her noticing, his dark clothes making him look even more stern in the rain. "Miss Su, you'd better take care of yourself. If anything happens in Lingnan, I won't save you. The snakes there aren't as easy to talk to as the nobles in the capital."
Su Yingxue shuddered, not daring to speak again. She turned and got into the carriage. The wheels rolled over the puddles, sending up a splash of water, and carried her away from the capital in disgrace.
Watching the carriage go away, Shen Weiwan breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look at Xiao Yu: "This time, thanks to His Highness, otherwise it would be difficult to clean up this mess. I almost got labeled a 'snake demon'."
Xiao Yu reached out and rubbed Shen Weiwan's hair, and said with a smile: "Why are you being polite to me? If something like this happens again in the future, just tell me. If anyone dares to bully you, I will turn his trouble into a 'big trouble'. In this capital, no one can touch my people under my nose."
Shen Weiwan looked at Xiao Yu's serious eyes, and her heart was warm. She knew that with Xiao Yu's help, no matter what difficulties she encountered in the future, she would no longer be afraid.
Meanwhile, in the capital, the rumor about Shen Weiwan's snake-controlling ability had long since been dispelled. The common people's after-dinner conversations turned to the anecdote of how the Seventh Prince outsmarted the Prime Minister and helped the future Princess resolve her problems. The storytellers in the teahouses even turned this into a fascinating story, telling it with vivid detail.
Sitting in the garden of the General's Mansion, Chen Weiwan couldn't help but laugh as Chuntao recounted these rumors. The koi carp swam in the pond, creating ripples that reflected the birds soaring in the sky. She gazed up at the sky and vowed to herself: In this life, she would not only protect herself and the General's Mansion, but also, together with Xiao Yu, bring down those who sought to harm her.
Xiao Yu, standing in the corridor and looking at Shen Weiwan's happy smile, decided silently in his heart: no matter what, he must protect her for the rest of her life, so that she can always smile so brightly. Even if it means making an enemy of the entire capital, he will not hesitate.
The storm had subsided, but Shen Weiwan knew it was only the beginning. Her story with Xiao Yu had only just begun. In the future, more challenges and surprises awaited them. But it didn't matter. She was ready. With her "sand sculpture wisdom," she and Xiao Yu would write their own legend in this capital.
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