With a wave of his hand, the Prince's Mansion's fortune exploded throughout the entire cap

"Good! Good idea!" Lin Song nodded and said, "Prince Jing is calm and resourceful, and you have just brought back crucial evidence from Jiangnan. In addition, with the forces I have secretly connected with within the Crown Prince's faction, the three of us working together will surely be able to wipe them out in one fell swoop and eliminate future troubles. I have been by the Crown Prince's side for many years and have gotten to know many ministers who are loyal to the Crown Prince and despise treacherous officials. In the future, I will secretly cooperate with you in contacting ministers, and I will send someone to inform you and Prince Jing immediately of any news."

"Thank you, Uncle Lin!" Xiao Shulang thanked him again. "With your assistance, Uncle Lin, we will be able to punish the wicked more quickly, protect the land and society of Daqi, and live up to the expectations of the people, as well as the sacrifices of my father and the soldiers of the Xiao family army."

Lin Song nodded, his expression grave, and said, "Shulang, you flatter me. This is what I should do. It's late now, and I can't stay any longer, lest I be noticed by Liu Ruyan and Marquis Yongyi's men and cause unnecessary trouble. I'm entrusting these pieces of evidence to you for safekeeping. Be sure to be careful and cautious, and absolutely do not give Liu Ruyan and Marquis Yongyi any opportunity to take advantage of the situation."

"Uncle Lin, rest assured, I will keep this evidence safe and secure, locked away in a secret compartment, and I will never let a word of it slip by," Xiao Shulang said solemnly. "In the future, when contacting ministers, I will trouble you to take care of things. If there is anything I can do to assist you, please feel free to ask."

"Don't worry, I will," Lin Song said, bowing. "Without further ado, I shall take my leave. Shulang, you must be very careful. Liu Ruyan and Marquis Yongyi are extremely suspicious. They will definitely notice your return from Jiangnan and will secretly send people to monitor your movements. You must be cautious in your daily actions and not be careless. Also, please tell Prince Jing that my friendship with the Xiao family has never changed. If Prince Jing's mansion needs anything in the future, please don't hesitate to ask, and I will do my best to help."

"Thank you for your reminder, Uncle Lin. I will keep it in mind," Xiao Shulang said. "I will definitely pass on your words to my elder brother. Uncle Lin, please be careful on your journey and pay attention to your own safety. You are in the Crown Prince's faction, which makes you feared by Liu Ruyan and others. This time you risked your life to deliver evidence. If they find out, they will definitely take action against you. You must be extra vigilant."

Lin Song nodded, a relieved smile on his face: "Good boy, you're thoughtful. I know what I'm doing, you don't need to worry." After saying that, he put the black cloth back on, and with a flash, like a ghost, he quickly walked towards the courtyard wall. With a light leap, he flipped over the wall and disappeared into the night without leaving a trace.

Xiao Shulang stood by the window, gazing in the direction Lin Song had disappeared. His expression remained solemn, yet his heart was filled with warmth and determination. Lin Song's arrival was undoubtedly a timely help, bringing not only crucial evidence but also the support of the Crown Prince's faction. This strengthened their resolve to punish Liu Ruyan and the Marquis of Yongyi. He thought of his father, Xiao Qi, and the image of his father and Lin Song practicing martial arts and fighting side by side in their youth. He secretly vowed to punish the treacherous officials as soon as possible, avenge his father, and live up to Lin Song's help and expectations.

He carefully placed the oil paper package into the brocade box, along with the account books and letters he had brought from Jiangnan, and locked it in a hidden compartment of his desk. He checked it carefully again to make sure there were no omissions before he could finally relax a little.

At this moment, the cold wind outside the window was still howling, and the night was still deep. The courtyard of Prince Jing's mansion was silent, except for the lights in the sparse courtyard, which were still lit, like a star in the darkness, illuminating the path to punish the wicked and protect the country.

Xiao Shulang walked to his desk, sat down, and picked up a book, but he had no interest in reading. His mind was filled with images of Liu Ruyan and the Marquis of Yongyi's crimes, the image of his father Xiao Qi dying in battle, and the suffering of the people of the Northern Border. A mixture of anger and responsibility ignited within him, strengthening his resolve to punish the wicked, clear his father's and the Xiao family army's name, and protect the Great Qi dynasty.

"Brother, Mother, Sister-in-law, Jingjing, and Uncle Lin, rest assured, I will study hard, improve myself, and work together with you to bring Liu Ruyan, Marquis Yongyi, and their cronies to justice as soon as possible, avenge Father and the soldiers of the Xiao family army, bring peace to the world, and let the people live and work in peace." Xiao Shulang secretly vowed in his heart, a firm light flashing in his eyes.

Meanwhile, little Jingjing was lying in bed, clutching the sparkly little stone Xiao Shulang had given her, a sweet smile on her face, as she drifted off to sleep. In her dream, she saw Xiao Shulang and Xiao Chengyan capture Liu Ruyan and Yongyi Hou, avenging the soldiers of the Xiao family army; she saw the Pingxi Marquis's army return in triumph, and the people of the northern border living in peace and prosperity; she saw herself and her second uncle go to Jiangnan, see the small bridges and flowing water, eat lotus flower pastries, and have a wonderful time.

[What a wonderful dream! My second uncle and father caught the bad guys, and the people of the North are living a good life now. Jingjing even went to Jiangnan with my second uncle. I'm so happy! I hope everything becomes real when I wake up. I hope my second uncle becomes even more powerful soon, I hope the bad guys are caught quickly, and I hope everyone can be safe and happy~]

As night deepened, the lights of Prince Jing's mansion gradually went out, except for the lights in Xiao Shulang's courtyard, which remained lit for a long time until the sky began to lighten. Xiao Shulang hadn't slept all night. While organizing the evidence in his hands, he pondered his future plans, and a clear direction had formed in his mind—he needed to go to Qingyang Academy as soon as possible to improve his knowledge and abilities. At the same time, he would secretly cooperate with Xiao Chengyan and Lin Song to contact ministers loyal to the court and the Crown Prince, accumulate strength, and wait for the right opportunity to wipe out Liu Ruyan, Marquis Yongyi, and their cronies in one fell swoop, ushering in a peaceful and prosperous era and bringing justice to his father and the soldiers of the Xiao family army.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the Prince Jing's residence was already bustling with activity. Xiao Shulang rose early, tidied his clothes and books, carefully put away the brocade box and entrusted it to Xiao Chengyan for safekeeping. Then, he went to the front hall to bid farewell to his family. He specifically told Xiao Chengyan and Fang Yuhua about Lin Song's visit the previous night to deliver evidence, Lin Song's intentions, and the stance of the Crown Prince's faction.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengyan's eyes flashed with emotion, and he said in a deep voice, "Uncle Lin is very kind. It's admirable that he still remembers his friendship with my father and takes such a great risk to come and help. With his covert cooperation within the Crown Prince's faction, our chances of punishing the treacherous officials have increased even more." Fang Yuhua's eyes also reddened as she said, "Yes, Lin Song and Qi'er grew up together. This assistance is a testament to their brotherly bond from back then."

Fang Yuhua looked at Xiao Shulang with reluctance in her eyes and repeatedly instructed him, "Shulang, once you get to Qingyang Academy, you must take good care of yourself. Eat on time, rest on time, and don't overwork yourself. If you encounter any difficulties at the academy, be sure to write back to us immediately, and we will all help you. Also, remember to send a message to Uncle Lin often to let him know that everything is alright at home, and also to tell him to take good care of himself."

"Mother, don't worry, I will." Xiao Shulang bowed and replied, his eyes full of warmth. "Mother, please take good care of yourself and don't overwork yourself. I will keep in touch with Uncle Lin and remember his advice to be cautious in my actions."

Lu Wenshu smiled and said, "Shulang, the food at the academy might not suit your taste as well as at home. I've prepared some of your favorite osmanthus cakes and osmanthus sugar for you and put them in your bag. You can eat some when you're hungry. When you get to the academy, you must respect your teachers, get along well with your classmates, study hard, and not let down the expectations of the Prince, your mother, and Uncle Lin."

"Thank you, sister-in-law, I'll remember that." Xiao Shulang nodded, his heart filled with gratitude.

Xiao Chengyan patted Xiao Shulang's shoulder and said gently, "Shulang, once you arrive at Qingyang Academy, focus on your studies and improve yourself. Your mother, sister-in-law, and I will take care of things at the manor; you don't need to worry about them. Regarding Liu Ruyan and the Marquis of Yongyi, I will secretly contact the ministers with Uncle Lin to build up our strength. We will write to you promptly if there is any news..."

Before he could finish speaking, Qingzheng disregarded the rules and flew over using his light-footed skills, speaking urgently: "Your Highness..."