Chapter 48 There is a traitor in the mansion
Even after returning home, Cui Ying was still sweating profusely.
Whose idea was to balance the power of the powerful families?
Could it be the person she's thinking of?
The chill in her heart did not come from discovering Qin Jinzhi's secret.
Instead, she seemed to have guessed who was manipulating everything!
Was all the affection shown to Qin Jinzhi fake?
Will her family be suppressed?
What exactly does it mean that the father was grounded?
Should she go and tell her father?
But will Father listen?
Huan'er brought over a bowl of bird's nest stew from the small kitchen and said with a gossipy look, "Miss, have you heard? The grandson of the Duke of Shen has been arrested by the Dali Temple!"
Cui Ying was taken aback. "You mean Shen Huan? He was taken away by the Dali Temple?"
Huan'er nodded quickly. "I heard that he abducted that girl and escaped. He beat the Dengwen Drum and made a scene before His Majesty. His Majesty was furious and handed the matter over to the Dali Temple."
She lowered her voice and said, "It is said that Young Master Shen resisted arrest, and Lord Zhao went on a killing spree in the Duke of Shen's household. In the end, he only said that he was acting on imperial orders and took the man away. I heard that the Duke of Shen was so scared that he wet his pants."
The Duke of Shen had also experienced many ups and downs, but the death of a few servants was enough to scare him so much that he wet his pants.
Cui Ying didn't believe it.
However, it is likely true that Shen Huan was taken away.
"I'm here on orders to arrest people," that's what that person meant.
Cui Ying's mind was a complete mess, but she had a vague feeling about it.
The calm surface of the lake in the capital city will suddenly become turbulent.
Evening, the Prince of Zhenbei's Mansion.
Qin Jinzhi was assassinated.
Eighteen assassins stormed into Qin Jinzhi's courtyard as if it were empty.
However, they were no match for the combined efforts of Hibari and his three companions.
After stabbing thirteen people, the assassin fled the palace.
Yun Jin frowned as she looked at her torn clothes and said, "This is my favorite outfit!"
Yun Ge said, "The assassins who came this time were well-trained and left no trace. Their martial arts skills were also very high. Princess, I'm afraid these people will not let this go and will definitely come back again."
Qin Jinzhi asked in confusion, "How did so many of them manage to find my yard without being discovered?"
Yun Jin said angrily, "Fine! The guards in the manor are neglecting their duties! I'm going to find the Prince right now."
With that, he stormed out of the courtyard.
Qin Jinzhi remained calm, saying, "We should strengthen the defenses."
But the assassination went far too smoothly.
Back in the bedroom, Yunshan immediately closed the door.
The lark gestured with a look of confusion.
Yunshan stepped forward. "Princess, something is amiss with today's assassination attempt. I suspect there's a traitor within the household."
Qin Jinzhi gestured for her to continue.
“The guards of the Prince of Zhenbei’s mansion were all personally selected by the old prince, and each of them is quite capable. The fact that eighteen assassins entered the mansion without anyone noticing them must mean that someone in the mansion was there to help them.”
Qin Jinzhi tapped her finger lightly on the table without saying a word.
Just then, Yun Jin's angry voice could be heard from outside the door, "Your Highness, the guards in the manor have gone too far! Eighteen assassins broke into the manor, and not a single one of them noticed! They are simply treating the princess's life like a game!"
Qin Jinzhi opened the door and saw Yun Jin angrily complaining to Qin Ye.
Yun Jin intended to go to Qin Ye to complain, but as soon as she stepped out, she encountered Qin Ye, who was about to enter the courtyard.
Qin Ye's face darkened, and he said to the attendant beside him, "Summon Xue Huaiyi to see me."
He looked up and saw Qin Jinzhi standing at the gatehouse door.
He stepped forward with a worried expression and asked, "Are you injured?"
Qin Jinzhi spread her hands and spun around.
Qin Ye breathed a sigh of relief, then said with an angry expression, "How outrageous! How dare they break into my Zhenbei Prince's Mansion to assassinate me!"
Qin Jinzhi didn't seem to care. "Grandfather, how come you still haven't gotten used to it after all these years?"
Qin Ye looked at his only granddaughter with some heartache, and after a moment of silence, said, "Give me a bowl of lotus seed soup."
Qin Jinzhi chuckled softly, and Yun Ge turned and went into the small kitchen.
Qin Ye snorted heavily, "I've been in a lot of temper these past two days!"
The grandfather and grandson sat down at the table in the courtyard.
"What, do you want me to hand over military power again?"
Qin Ye said with a disdainful look, "Those old bastards in the Censorate are saying that the world should be unified and the court should no longer fight wars. They say military power should be returned to the royal family. I would like to give it to them, but your imperial grandfather is the one who's willing to accept it."
Qin Jinzhi laughed and said, "The national treasury is empty, and I emptied the private treasury last time. He doesn't want to spend money to support the army."
Qin Ye was even angrier when he heard this. "I paid for the million-strong Zhenbei Army and he earned a good reputation for being of one mind with his subjects. But these old bastards impeached me. I really want to overturn the Censorate."
Qin Jinzhi said with a grin, "What are you impeaching? Saying that your achievements overshadow His Majesty, that you are disrespectful to the Emperor, that you refuse to relinquish power, and that you must have ulterior motives?"
Qin Ye snorted coldly, "They keep repeating the same few sentences. They haven't said enough, but I've heard enough of them."
He then looked at Qin Jinzhi and asked, "Are you really going to marry that Pei family boy?"
Qin Jinzhi raised an eyebrow. "The imperial decree for the marriage has already been issued. How could I possibly go back on my word? Wouldn't that be a slap in the face to my grandfather?"
Qin Ye looked displeased. "I don't care, I don't agree. I don't know what you and that old man are plotting again, but that kid can forget about entering my Zhenbei Prince's Mansion."
Qin Jinzhi smiled happily. At that moment, a middle-aged man in a dark red robe jogged to the gate of her courtyard.
"Xue Huaiyi came to apologize."
The man was slightly overweight, but it was clear that he came from a martial arts background; he was skilled in footwork and had a robust physique.
Qin Jinzhi looked at Xue Huaiyi, who was standing ramrod straight at the door, and smiled, "Commander Xue, how can you apologize standing up?"
Xue Huaiyi was stunned for a moment, then immediately knelt down at the door.
"Xue Huaiyi has come to plead guilty and begs the Princess to punish him!"
When the guards on duty arrived at Qin Jinzhi's courtyard, they saw Xue Huaiyi kneeling at the door and immediately knelt down behind him as well.
Qin Jinzhi propped one arm on the table and leaned against the edge of the table. "Shouting is a bit tiring. Commander Xue, come closer."
Xue Huaiyi crawled in from the doorway, kneeling on his knees.
They stopped when they reached Qin Jinzhi.
Qin Jinzhi extended a hand to Yun Que, who immediately offered her a whip.
She stood up and walked behind Xue Huaiyi, casually asking, "Commander Xue, how much should the fine be?"
“The subordinates failed to manage their subordinates properly and provided ineffective instruction, which led to the assassination attempt on the princess. They should be severely punished with one hundred lashes.”
Upon hearing this, the guards at the gate immediately said, "It was our dereliction of duty, and it has nothing to do with Commander Xue. Please punish us, Princess, and spare Commander Xue."
Qin Jinzhi ignored her, "Commander Xue, what are you waiting for? Are you waiting for me to help you up?"
Xue Huaiyi's gaze darkened. He thought that Qin Jinzhi wouldn't really punish him, considering the prince and the guards' pleas.
However, he remained expressionless and quickly took off his shirt and lay prostrate on the ground.
"Please, Your Highness, carry out the execution!"
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