After becoming pregnant, the cold-hearted nobles all went mad.

Although Jiang didn't understand why, she subconsciously chose to listen to her daughter. Shen Lingyi ordered the doors to be closed to guests, which wasn't too abrupt in this time when everyone was on edge.

After exchanging a few pleasantries with her maternal grandfather, Shen Lingyi handed over the letter.

"His Majesty is still outside the city. He only sent me and one guard in. I sent that guard to keep an eye on the government office. Grandfather, the situation is critical. Could you please tell me about the situation in the city over the past few months?"

"His Majesty should have already dispatched troops to besiege Liangzhou City by now."

Jiang Wenhai sighed heavily, leaning on his cane as he sat in a chair, his shadow stretching long. He said, "You guessed right, the prefect has rebelled."

The entire courtyard was extremely desolate. Shen Lingyi, wrapped in a thick fox fur coat, stood in the hall. A gust of wind blew by, and she still shivered. Her whole body was stunned into blankness by her maternal grandfather's words.

No wonder things have been so strange all along, with troops being deployed and cities being sealed off, and even her father, who hasn't been on the battlefield in a long time, being mobilized.

Pei Heng's decision to transfer troops to Liangzhou and leave Shen Su in the capital may have been because he had anticipated this situation and orchestrated it in advance.

Not only did he use the crown prince as a decoy, but he also personally stepped in as bait.

Jiang Wenhai said to the terrified Jiang Shi, "I sent that letter because I didn't want you to come, but I didn't expect you to come with Yi'er and the others anyway. Fine, our family will just lend a hand, and the rest is up to His Majesty."

Before Jiang could figure out the situation, Shen Lingyi quickly realized what was going on.

"Is my maternal grandfather colluding with His Majesty from within and without, preparing to open the city gates?"

Jiang gasped sharply, her vision blurring. Looking at her father and daughter standing before her, she felt she was just a hair's breadth away from fainting.

"Father..." Madam Jiang was on the verge of collapse, "You're just a businessman, why do you have to risk your life against His Majesty!"

Shen Lingyi lowered her long eyelashes and suddenly remembered that not long ago someone had asked her with great interest if she had really decided to tie her life to his.

It turns out it had already started back then.

Her face turned bright red to the tips of her ears. Good heavens, what a foolish thing she had done! Not only had she been tricked without realizing it, but she had also stupidly sworn an oath in blood. No wonder Pei Heng had that expression back then; he was clearly watching her make a fool of herself.

As Shen Lingyi pondered this, she began to contemplate digging herself up and burying herself.

Shen Tingjiao, who had overheard everything outside the door, covered her mouth tightly, her wide eyes filled with terror, and large tears streamed down her face in fear.

"Young Miss!" Linlang gripped her arm tightly.

She was trembling with fear too; that was treason.

Although it's not that they're leading a rebellion, they're now on someone else's territory, opening the city gates—what a joke! If they're discovered, they're dead!

She had no idea why the second young lady could accept it so easily.

Shen Tingjiao forcibly dragged her away. Linlang didn't want to die, and neither did she, especially not to go looking for death with Shen Lingyi.

Once they reached a secluded spot, she warned her maid, Linlang, "Listen carefully, we haven't been here, we didn't hear anything, so answer the same way no matter who asks!"

Linlang rubbed her hand, which had been pinched so hard. Perhaps because it was too dark around her, she actually shivered when she looked at Shen Tingjiao's expressionless face.

"Yes, Miss."

After she finished speaking, she asked cautiously, "So what should we do now?"

Shen Tingjiao wanted to laugh when she thought of what she had just peeked at. She had only been to the Jiang residence a few times and had no feelings for Jiang Wenhai whatsoever.

Jiang Wenhai also preferred Shen Lingyi, who was more compatible with his temperament, to her. The bond between the two grandmothers even surpassed that between the grandmother and the old lady.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is also in Liangzhou City. Let's sneak out of the mansion to find him." Shen Tingjiao didn't even need to think for long, since they were the ones who abandoned her first anyway.

She was diligent and studious from a young age, and was proficient in all kinds of arts, including music, chess, calligraphy and painting, leaving Shen Lingyi far behind.

If the Jiang family is so desperate they want to die, why should she have to go with them? She hasn't become the Crown Princess yet, she hasn't become the Empress, how can she die in a place like this?

They should just die.

Shen Tingjiao pretended to be sick and hid in her room, but actually found an opportunity to slip out of the mansion. No one noticed, because who could pay attention to such things in a critical moment?

The moon rose high in the sky, and the courtyard was so quiet in the winter night that not even the chirping of insects could be heard. Shen Lingyi waited anxiously.

Finally, she met the person she wanted to see.

"My maternal grandfather is already prepared to open the city gates. He previously provided Prefect Zhao with a considerable amount of money and provisions, so Prefect Zhao is not wary of him. Now it depends on when your army arrives. Could you contact His Majesty and ask him..."

"There are no carrier pigeons here, and even if there were, they would be shot down by archers."

Xiao Sha squatted on the wall in silence for a while, then slid down speechlessly.

"If you don't have any means of communication, how will he know that we are ready?"

The girl tilted her small, delicate face up, speaking earnestly and seriously.

"Guard Xiao, you can't just sit around doing nothing! Our whole family's lives are tied to your belts."

Xiao Sha, feeling dizzy from being pestered, said, "I wasn't doing nothing..."

Shen Lingyi's face tightened in displeasure.

Okay, she admitted she was being a bit unreasonable. Their family had gone all out, so Pei Heng couldn't just stay out of it, or she would be at a huge loss.

Seeing Shen Lingyi pacing back and forth in frustration, Xiao Sha dared not utter a sound.

She even wondered if she was like this when she was with His Majesty.

Shen Lingyi had clearly come up with a good idea. She didn't want her maternal grandfather to take such a big risk, but she really couldn't find Pei Heng right now. To work together from the inside out, they needed a means of communication.

Otherwise, they'd be practically courting death.

"Second Miss, I have a way to sneak out of the city and deliver the message."

Feng Ren knelt on one knee, his face completely buried, making his expression unreadable.

Shen Lingyi had no idea when he had run away. Since the day she fell into the water, the master and servant had never seen each other again. Knowing his personality, he would probably feel guilty.

In fact, Shen Lingyi was right. Feng Ren did indeed blame himself. If he had found her earlier that day, she wouldn't have been missing for so long. It was the guard's dereliction of duty.

Shen Lingyi hesitated for a moment before asking him.

"What's your plan?"

"The prefect intends to throw people infected with the plague out of the city."

Feng Ren's solution was simple: "I can sneak out of the city."

"No way!" Shen Lingyi said without hesitation. "How can I let you take such a big risk? You are my guard, not a pawn. If it's like this, I'd rather not deliver the message at all."

Feng Ren paused slightly. This man, who was usually unyielding to wind and waves, actually started to sway after squatting for a while.

Shen Lingyi realized something, touched his hand, and felt the heat make her fingertips curl up instinctively.

Her face was icy cold; she was almost laughing in anger.

"Feng Ren, you've really got some nerve, daring to play the game of acting first and asking questions later with me."