On our wedding night, my wife acted strangely.

Zhao Shuyu's lips twitched.

She likes people who have a purpose.

Only people like this are easier to control.

"Hehehe, good." Zhao Shuyu took out a letter from the dressing case next to the phoenix bed.

The envelope was made of bamboo paper, not very big, and was sealed with sealing wax, with a peony mark pressed on it.

She handed him the letter: "Deliver this letter for me."

Liu Jing took it.

"Where to send it?"

"At the intersection of Zhuque Street and Tongluo Lane in the south of the city, there's a shop called 'Moxiangzhai,' which sells writing brushes and ink. Just give the letter to the old shopkeeper behind the counter."

"Yes, but how do I leave the palace?"

Zhao Shuyu then pulled out a waist token from under her dressing case. It was small, even smaller than the palm of her hand.

The front is engraved with the three characters "Kunning Palace", and the back has a mark drawn in vermilion lacquer.

Liu Jing turned it over to take a look, and her brows furrowed slightly.

This is not the standard waist tag used in the palace.

The waist tags in the palace were all made of iron, with a number and the name of the department they belonged to, and were issued uniformly by the Imperial Household Department.

This piece is made of bronze, and the characters are engraved rather than cast; the vermilion lacquer markings also don't resemble the regulations used in the palace.

Liu Jing didn't say anything, but she already knew what was going on.

This was something the Zhao family made privately.

Zhao Shuyu's act of hiding Zhao family's private belongings in the palace was itself a violation of regulations.

But at a time like this, all rules are meaningless; all that matters is saving my family.

"Take this when you leave Xuanwu Gate, and the guards won't give you any trouble."

Liu Jing tucked the waist token into her sleeve, next to the letter.

"Does Your Majesty have anything else to instruct us on?"

Zhao Shuyu waved her hand: "Go, come find me again when you return."

Liu Jing turned and walked out.

As they reached the palace entrance, Zhao Shuyu called out from behind, "Liu Jing."

"I never mistreat those I employ. If you handle this matter well, I'll take care of your brother's situation."

Liu Jing nodded, pushed open the palace door, and went out.

Thinking about it, this writing brush and ink shop is probably a secret agent of the Zhao family in the capital.

Liu Jing was educated; she wasn't the kind of noblewoman who only knew how to embroider and play the piano.

Having served as prime minister for twenty years, Liu Wentao had become somewhat familiar with the intricacies of court politics through her daily life.

It's not surprising that the Zhao family, being the head of the four major families in Jiangnan, has businesses and undercover agents in the capital.

Given that Zhao Shuyu was the empress and came from the Zhao family, it's not surprising that she held several secret connections.

The question is, what exactly was written in this letter?

Zhao Shuyu wouldn't let her see it, and she didn't dare to look.

If the sealing wax breaks, it will expose the truth; we can't take that risk.

But she still felt uneasy.

What if this letter contains something detrimental to Lin Yi? What if it gets discovered?

By delivering the message for Zhao Shuyu, she essentially tied herself to Zhao Shuyu's cause.

If Zhao Shuyu gets into trouble later, she won't be able to escape either.

But what could she do? Her younger brother was only sixteen.

Are we just going to wait to die in the palace for the rest of our lives?

She bit her lip and continued walking forward until she arrived at Xuanwu Gate.

A squad of Shenji Battalion soldiers stood at the entrance, having changed shifts.

The centurion on duty today was a middle-aged man, around thirty years old, with a dark complexion, holding a roster in his hand.

Liu Jing took out the waist token that Zhao Shuyu had given her.

Baihu took it and looked at it, then looked at her.

"Who are you?"

"Liu Jing, my father is Liu Wentao."

The centurion nodded, flipped through the roster, and said, "Oh~ this is Liu Wentao's family. You went out last time too, to see the Prince, right?"

"Um."

The centurion returned the waist token to her: "Going to see the prince again this time?"

Liu Jing nodded again.

The centurion didn't say much, let her leave, and beckoned someone over.

"Big brother? What's wrong?"

"Report this to the Prince immediately." The centurion told the soldier about the waist tag incident.

After understanding, the latter quickly ran towards the Prince's Mansion.

As soon as I stepped out of Xuanwu Gate, a cold wind rushed towards me.

Liu Jing wrapped her coat tighter around herself and walked along the official road outside Xuanwu Gate for a while before turning onto Zhuque Street.

In winter, there are few pedestrians on Zhuque Street, and half of the shops are open and half are closed.

She walked slowly, searching as she went.

The intersection of Tongluo Lane is located on the south side of Zhuque Street. It takes about 15 minutes to walk from north to south.

After walking for a while, we finally saw the intersection.

Moxiangzhai.

It was a very small shop, sandwiched between a fabric store and a noodle shop.

The storefront is narrow, and the lettering on the signboard has faded, making it look like an old shop that has been open for many years.

A small stall is set up at the entrance, displaying a few inkstones and calligraphy brushes, but no one is watching over it.

Liu Jing pushed open the door and went in.

The shop was dark, and various writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones were displayed on the shelves against the wall, all covered in dust.

Behind the counter sat an old man, about sixty years old, with gray hair, wearing a gray cotton robe, who was bending over and using a knife to whittle a pen barrel.

Hearing the door open, the old man looked up.

"Hey, little girl, what would you like to buy?"

Liu Jing walked to the counter, took out the letter, and placed it on the counter.

The old man glanced at the sealing wax and peony pattern on the envelope, and his eyes widened immediately. Then he picked up the letter, turned it over, and looked at both sides.

He only said that one sentence from beginning to end. Then he turned and went into the inner room, leaving Liu Jing alone standing in front of the counter.

Liu Jing's heart beat a little faster.

She didn't know who the old man was, nor what he would do after reading the letter.

Zhao Shuyu said, "Once the letter is delivered, someone will naturally know what to do."

Do you know what it means to do it?

What are you doing?

After a while, the old man came out of the inner room empty-handed.

"Girl, I've received the letter. You can go now."

Liu Jing asked, "Don't we need to send any messages back with us?"

"Need not."

The old man sat back down behind the counter, picked up his knife and continued sharpening the penholder, never looking at her again.

Liu Jing turned and left the shop.

Standing outside the door, she took a deep breath. The winter air was dry and cold, stinging her throat as she inhaled it.

The letter has been delivered. The task assigned by Zhao Shuyu has been completed.

Next, we'll go to the Prince's Mansion.

She walked north along Suzaku Avenue.

The Regent's Palace is located on the northern section of Zhuque Avenue, not too far from her.

Last time she came, she was turned away at the door. Lin An said that the prince was not there and told her to come back another day.

What about this time?

She was unsure of herself, but whatever she did, she was already there.

Just like last time, there were two lanterns and several guards at the entrance of the Prince's Mansion.

Upon seeing her approach, a retainer blocked her way.

Who are you looking for?

"My name is Liu Jing, and I have come to see the Regent."

"Is there a post?"

"No, Butler Lin told me to come another day."

"Alright, then wait a moment." The retainer glanced at her, then turned and went inside to report.

Liu Jing stood at the door waiting.

A cold wind blew in from the direction of Chang'an Avenue, seeping into her collar and making her shiver.

Without realizing it, he put his hand into his sleeve and touched the bronze waist tag.

After a while, Lin An came out, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "Miss Liu."

"Steward Lin, is His Highness in today?"

Lin An sighed for some reason and nodded: "Yes, I'm here. Come with me."

Liu Jing's heart skipped a beat.

in.

And he was willing to see me.

Great.

"Thank you, butler!"

"fine."

The two went inside, and she followed behind Lin An.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but it felt much warmer as soon as I entered the door.

Along the corridors of the Prince's Mansion, there was a lantern every few steps, and the corridors were swept clean, without even a fallen leaf.

This is a wonderful place.

There was a time when my family was like that too.

Lin An led the way, and after walking for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, they passed through a hanging flower gate. Inside was a small courtyard with two wintersweet trees that were in bloom.

The fragrance of the flowers was faint, and it dissipated as soon as the cold wind blew it away.

In the very center is a flower hall, with orange lights shining from inside.

Lin An took a few more steps and stopped at the entrance of the flower hall, stepping aside to let Liu Jing in.

"Miss Liu, please."