If one substitute is gone, another can be found, but the immediate benefits are real and tangible. Even a fool would know which to choose, let alone the profit-driven Prince Li.
He might feel sorry for Su Ying's face, but that's about it.
What Song Zhiyu had to do was to temporarily conceal Su Ying's existence during the period when Shen Jinshu was confined, so as not to give Shen Jinshu a chance to take action.
"Don't contact Su Ying for now, and bring back all the people you sent out."
"But in that case, we won't be able to receive news from Su Ying immediately."
Lu Bai was puzzled. Miss had arranged for Su Ying to enter the Prince Li's mansion so that she could pass on messages to the outside world. Why was she now cutting off contact with Su Ying?
Song Zhiyu stroked the letter in her hand, which had been burned to ashes, and patiently explained, "Prince Li is suspicious by nature and extremely cunning. Although he likes Su Ying's face, he is not entirely brainless. He will definitely send someone to keep an eye on her. If we continue to contact Su Ying, she will be in danger in Prince Li's residence."
If something happens to Su Ying, it will be even more difficult for her to plant spies in the Prince's mansion.
There was also the grain embezzlement case from three years ago. As the only survivor of the Su family, Su Ying had a lot of clues in her possession.
Once his identity is exposed, Li Wang will not hesitate to eliminate Su Ying and Zhou Xingzhi, who is far away in Liangcheng, in order to protect himself.
Thinking of Zhou Xingzhi, Song Zhiyu suddenly felt a sense of disorientation, looked up at the moon outside the window, and let out a long sigh of relief.
He has been away from the capital for some time now; I wonder if his trip went smoothly.
*
On the same night, at the Liangcheng Prefectural Governor's Mansion.
In the quiet courtyard, the bright moonlight shone on a man dressed in a long, moon-white brocade robe, exuding elegance.
All around was quiet. He slightly raised his long, well-defined fingers and gently stroked the strings, producing a series of clear, melodious notes.
The melodious sound of the zither, carrying deep longing and boundless tenderness, contrasted sharply with Zhou Xingzhi's aloof expression, yet it inexplicably bewitched the girl who was secretly watching from the shadows.
"Come out." Zhou Xingzhi stopped what he was doing, without even raising his head, but he could clearly discern the direction from which the person was hiding.
The cold, clear voice pulled the woman back to reality. She wasn't embarrassed at being discovered; she just smiled gently, picked up the food box, and walked out.
"It is an honor for me to hear His Highness the Crown Prince's music today. It is truly unforgettable after just one listen." Her eyes were smiling, and when she met Zhou Xingzhi's deep eyes, her heart warmed, and she quickened her pace.
But before she could get close to Zhou Xingzhi, Jiang Huai blocked her with his longsword, and a cold, harsh voice came from above her, "Miss Jiang, His Highness does not like others to be too close to him."
Jiang Yue was forced to stop, shook the food box in her hand, and smiled gently, "I heard from my father that Your Highness didn't eat much for dinner, so I specially made some cloud cakes for Your Highness to try."
“No need.” Zhou Xingzhi gently stroked the embroidery on the sachet with his fingertips. The image of Song Zhiyu’s smiling face flashed through his mind, and a trace of tenderness unconsciously appeared in his eyes, softening even the sharp features of his face.
It's late at night, what is Yu'er doing now?
She loved to light a few candlesticks at night and make medicine by the flickering candlelight. She always had many strange and wonderful ideas, and the poisons she made were also very bizarre.
He would become so engrossed in making medicine that he wouldn't even notice him walking right next to him.
During these few days apart, did she miss him even a little bit?
Noticing Zhou Xingzhi's slightly upturned lips, Jiang Yue's eyes lit up. "The embroidery on this sachet in Your Highness's hand is truly exquisite. I wonder who made it?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Xingzhi's smile deepened, and he finally gave Jiang Yue a proper look. His cool voice carried a hint of smugness, "How did you know that this sachet was a gift from my fiancée?"
Jiang Huai slightly turned his eyes away, his lips twitching almost imperceptibly, his usually cold and aloof face showing signs of strain.
Ever since Miss Song gave this sachet to His Highness, His Highness has worn it around his waist every day, playing with it from time to time, his eyes filled with tenderness.
Even more outrageous is that during his stay in Liangcheng, whenever he had a conversation with someone, his dignified and reserved Crown Prince would inadvertently mention the sachet given to him by Miss Song.
Now all the officials in Liangcheng know that His Highness the Crown Prince has a fiancée whom he loves dearly, and that fiancée has even given His Highness a sachet that she made herself.
His Highness cherished this sachet and never took it off for a moment.
Jiang Yue's expression froze, and she said dryly, "So it was a gift from His Highness's fiancée. No wonder it looks different from ordinary sachets."
She only asked who embroidered the sachet, but didn't ask who gave it to him.
Why did she sense a hint of arrogance in the Crown Prince's words?
Is it just my imagination?
"What she gave me is naturally of the highest quality." Zhou Xingzhi accepted Jiang Yue's praise without hesitation, feeling honored.
As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Yue's face stiffened even more.
It seems that His Highness the Crown Prince is extremely fond of his fiancée.
"Miss Jiang should go back now. Don't come again." Zhou Xingzhi carefully put away the sachet. When he looked at Jiang Yue, his eyes were dark, no longer showing the gentleness and warmth he had just shown.
After leaving those words, Zhou Xingzhi stood up, didn't give Jiang Yue another glance, and strode away.
Jiang Huai sheathed his sword, gave Jiang Yue, whose face was deathly pale, a deep look in his eyes, but his expression remained completely calm.
After the two left, Jiang Yue took two steps back as if all her strength had been drained, still feeling lingering fear.
His Highness the Crown Prince's gaze just now was quite frightening, as if he could see right through her little scheme.
No, she had to find out who the woman was that His Highness the Crown Prince was so attached to, otherwise she wouldn't give up.
As long as His Highness the Crown Prince is in Liangcheng, she still has a chance.
*
Song Zhiyu was unaware that someone else had designs on her; she was currently on her way to Lishan.
Having obtained the Lishan land deed from Shen Feng for so long, she finally had time to come and take a look.
The scenery here is exactly the same as in my previous life, unchanged in the slightest.
"Miss, what is it about Mount Li that interests you so much and has been on your mind for so long?" Lu Bai stared wide-eyed at the barren Mount Li before her, completely bewildered.
"You'll find out soon enough." Song Zhiyu continued to play coy, but no matter how eloquently she spoke, it couldn't compare to the shock Lu Bai felt upon witnessing it firsthand.
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