Ye Qingxue did not answer immediately, but listened attentively. There was no sound. Dong Bai was keeping a close watch, and no one approached the study.
She then said, "I grew up in a country village. His Highness Prince Ding looks down on me and is afraid that if I marry him, I will embarrass him, make him a laughing stock in the capital, and cause him to miss out on the position of Crown Prince. So he wants to get rid of me as soon as possible."
“When he was twelve years old, my father died from his injuries while saving him. Yet he was so ungrateful and vicious. I was determined to make him suffer.”
"Oh, right, Wei Jingtong is Prince Ding's man. He has been embezzling for so many years without being discovered, mainly because Prince Ding is covering for him."
Pan Yuanzhou was in a state of great shock. If what Ye Qingxue said was true, then Wei Jingtong's embezzlement would indeed be very difficult to detect.
This is terrifying, utterly terrifying. His Highness Prince Ding had planned this all along. What's even more terrifying is that he always believed his eldest son and the third daughter of the Wei family were a perfect match.
"Jing'er, go and call your eldest brother," Pan Yuanzhou said. "I need to discuss this with my eldest son." He was referring to Ye Qingxue for the last part.
Ye Qingxue said, "Okay, while you discuss, I'll draw a map next to you. Time is tight, so we can't delay."
Pan Jing went to invite her elder brother Pan Heng, while Pan Yuanzhou personally laid out paper and prepared ink for Ye Qingxue. As if he had thought of something, he asked, "Since you grew up in the countryside, do you know how to write or paint?"
"I just grew up in the countryside and haven't completely severed ties with the Ye family. My father hired a tutor for me," Ye Qingxue said.
Pan Yuanzhou glanced at her and felt that the girl was overly aloof and calm. Her words were like hammers, each word like a hammer blow, leaving people with no choice but to listen. They had no urge to joke with her, nor would they treat her as a junior, but rather as an equal.
Would it be shameful for a girl like this to marry Prince Ding?
No, it will only allow Prince Ding to become the crown prince sooner.
It's truly a pity that Prince Ding, who had such a fiancée, personally pushed her away.
Pan Heng arrived, and Pan Yuanzhou went outside the screen to discuss matters with him, while Ye Qingxue stood in front of the desk, drawing a map.
She was a little distracted, thinking about her father hiring a tutor for her. Given the attitude of the Ye family towards her, it was unlikely that anyone would want to give her a proper education.
Madam Min, in particular, wished she were illiterate.
Perhaps the father invited them behind the backs of the Ye family; perhaps Madam Zhou, Madam Min, and even the grandmother and elder brother were completely unaware of this.
Her father once said that if he had been at home instead of on the battlefield when she was sent to the estate, he would never have allowed such a thing to happen.
But her father was too busy. He stayed with her at the estate for two days, and then said that he was away fighting all year round and could not protect her all the time. Letting her stay at the estate would actually reduce a lot of trouble.
Her father loved her, loved her so deeply.
Yet there are still people who want to take away the marriage contract that her father risked his life for, and the person her father saved showed no gratitude whatsoever!
Hatred roared in her heart again, and Ye Qingxue's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. She looked up, took a deep breath, and quickly lowered her head to pick up her brush and put it on the rice paper, trying not to let her emotions run wild.
After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Ye Qingxue finished drawing the map.
Two main mountain ranges, several main peaks, and the main roads and trails, as well as the names of various places, were marked. It wasn't difficult to draw them.
It's just a very simple map.
Pan Yuanzhou brought Pan Heng in, and after they introduced themselves, Pan Yuanzhou said, "Miss Ye, we have decided to try the method you mentioned. If it works, you will be a great benefactor to my Pan family."
The main problem is... there are no other roads to take.
The eldest son told him that it was better to try anything, even if it seemed hopeless.
Young people are more decisive, and Pan Yuanzhou, who always valued his eldest son, decided to listen to him.
Compared to the lives of the whole family, a marriage is insignificant, and if Wei Jingtong really did embezzle, he certainly deserves to die.
Ye Qingxue glanced at Pan Heng, who was in his early twenties, tall and slender, with handsome features and the air of a young master from a prominent family.
Pan Heng is also a necessary link for her.
Ye Qingxue said, "Since we have already reached an agreement, let's immediately gather our forces and go to Jingzhou to investigate the stolen goods. Once you have found them, arrange for some people to keep watch in place and immediately send someone back to the capital. Lord Pan, please inform the Emperor immediately so that he can personally send people to investigate the stolen goods, leaving Wei Jingtong no chance to resist."
Pan Yuanzhou and Pan Heng exchanged a glance; Miss Ye had even thought of the details of the operation for them.
This is the best approach. If it's too slow, it might cause unforeseen complications. If we're going to do this, we should do it all in one go and do it well!
Pan Heng said, "Father, I will be careful in everything I do. You just wait for my news at home. Before I return, no matter what happens, Father, please do not act rashly."
"Enough with the nonsense!" Pan Yuanzhou said, "Quickly gather the men and head to Jingzhou. It'll be easier to get things done after dark!"
Pan Heng smiled, then told Pan Jing to take good care of her parents before turning and striding out.
Too many people would make them easy to be discovered, so Pan Heng only selected four guards from his residence. They put on night clothes and also prepared a set for Ye Qingxue and Dong Bai. They rode off into the dark night.
The distance from the capital to the Jingzhou estate is about 150 li. Previously, Ye Qingxue took two days to travel to the capital by carriage.
However, carriages are slow and require good road conditions, while tonight they ride horses, which are faster than carriages and can take shortcuts. Moreover, they don't need to go to the manor. Therefore, two hours later, they entered Jingzhou territory.
End of the hour of Chou (1-3 AM).
Feeling the night breeze blowing from Jingzhou, Ye Qingxue reined in her horse and stopped with a "whoosh".
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