Even the crown prince is getting a marriage of convenience? Why are you in such a hurry to stop bein

"If Father has come here to say these things, then please leave."

Lin Yue stared at her suspiciously, unable to understand how his daughter, who used to be so devoted to Prince Kang, had changed her mind so quickly.

He hesitated before speaking, "Could it be... that you've fallen for Xiao Lie?"

Lin Wan'er's face flushed red, as if she had been deeply humiliated. "Father! What nonsense are you talking about? How could I possibly be interested in a playboy like Xiao Lie?"

Although she and Xiao Lie had managed to coexist peacefully for some time, she had come to realize some of Xiao Lie's good qualities.

But to ask her to turn around and tell everything was like slapping her in the face. Everyone knew that before she married into the Duke's mansion, Xiao Lie was a lapdog who chased after her.

How could she possibly like a dog?

She hurriedly defended herself, "Father, if you keep talking nonsense, I'm leaving right now."

Could it be that he was just overthinking things? Lin Yue was half-convinced, but could only go along with her and admit his mistake.

"Alright, alright, Father was wrong. I won't say it again."

"But Wan'er, this is not something you can refuse just because you want to. Thunder and rain are both imperial favors. If you do well, you will be rewarded. If you do not do well, who knows what awaits you."

"Besides, your parents are getting old. If you really don't want to, what's wrong with your parents going to risk it with you? Anyway, we're both halfway to the grave, we've lived long enough, and we won't miss any of the time we have left."

Lin Wan'er's face turned pale with fright. She hadn't expected things to be so serious, and she immediately panicked.

"Father, don't be afraid, your daughter... I'll do it. Even if I'm unfilial, I can't just stand by and watch you get implicated by His Majesty."

A hint of satisfaction flashed in Lin Yue's eyes, but his face showed even more guilt. "Isn't this too much of a burden on you? Tell me the truth, there's no need to force yourself. If you really don't want to, then your father will go to the palace..."

Lin Wan'er was afraid that her biological father would do something foolish, so she quickly interrupted him and said repeatedly.

"I'm willing, I won't force you. As long as it's for the Lin family, I'm willing to risk everything."

Lin Yue's smile deepened, and he patted her with satisfaction, sighing.

"It was worth it for us, father and daughter, to have met in this life."

"Father, what exactly does His Majesty want me to do?"

Lin Yue bent down and whispered a few words. Lin Wan'er's face turned pale and bloodless. She was about to open her mouth when she met Lin Yue's abyss-like eyes, which were filled with vigilance.

He said quietly, "This is His Majesty's will."

"If you are unwilling, your father will risk his life to go to the palace and report to His Majesty."

Lin Wan'er immediately cried out in fright, "No, Father, let me think about it some more."

"Hmm, you... think about it carefully."

Lin Wan'er straightened her maid's dress and walked away dejectedly, completely unaware that as the two of them struggled, a figure lightly landed on the eaves of a house not far away.

Xiao Lie frowned deeply after hearing the report from his family.

"What is that old scoundrel Lin Yue up to now?"

After spending time with the Lin family, Xiao Lie felt that he had come to know them quite well.

If Lin Wan'er is both stupid and wicked, then Lin Yue is both clever and wicked.

Don't be fooled by his ever-present gentle and smiling face; among all these people, he is actually the most cunning.

"They could have used carrier pigeons to send the message, but they insisted on having Lin Yue go in person. It seems this matter is no small thing."

"Didn't you hear what they were saying?"

Sixteen shook his head, lowering his head in shame. "The distance was too far, and my hearing is limited; I couldn't hear their whispers."

"It's alright, just keep a close eye on her. Since Lin Wan'er is going to make a move, she will naturally give herself away."

Xiao Lie then summoned the two bodyguards who were always by Lin Wan'er's side and told them to report any suspicious activity immediately.

The two men clasped their hands in unison and agreed.

Xiao Lie was still not at ease, so he instructed the steward to arrange for some loyal maids to be stationed along the road near the West Garden in the coming days. Xiao Lie's words were vague, but the steward immediately understood his meaning and quickly and respectfully assured him.

"Your Highness, rest assured, I will keep a close eye on things."

Xiao Lie nodded in satisfaction. "Okay, go ahead."

Three days had passed, and after much deliberation, Lin Wan'er finally made up her mind.

She wrote a letter and asked Chunxue to arrange for someone to take it out and deliver it to the Lin residence. She then quietly dressed up, changed into inconspicuous clothes, and headed towards Xiao Lie's study.

After the last incident, Xiao Lie arranged for more people to keep a close watch on the room, but in order to catch Lin Wan'er, the guards in the study have become much lax in the past few days.

It was noon, the previous shift of guards had left, and the next shift had not yet arrived. At this time, the area around the study was quiet.

Feeling guilty, Lin Wan'er glanced around, then, clutching what she was carrying, quietly pushed open the door and went inside.

She moved very lightly and cautiously, carefully stuffing several letters and a wolf-tooth amulet, a common talisman used by the Northern Barbarian royal family, into a corner, trying not to leave a trace.

She thought she had covered her tracks perfectly, but Xiao Lie and the others behind the screen could see everything clearly.

Just as Lin Wan'er was about to leave, a cold hand grabbed her neck, lifting her like a chick, rendering her unable to move. Instantly, Lin Wan'er felt her hair stand on end, as if she had fallen into an ice cave.

"My Crown Princess, where would you like to go?"

Oh no, it's Xiao Lie!

She could still offer some explanation to others, but if she encountered Xiao Lie, it would be tantamount to a death sentence.

Lin Wan'er's face was pale, and she was trembling all over. She didn't reply for a long time. Xiao Lie impatiently grabbed her chin and forcibly lifted her face, only to find that her eyes were slightly red and her pretty face was already covered with tears.

The beauty's tears were like the dew on a delicate orchid; she was an extremely beautiful person, pitiful to behold, but Xiao Lie had no interest in appreciating her whatsoever.

He coldly ordered, "You guys, find everything."

"yes!"

Several guards responded in unison, and soon the letters and wolf fangs were placed in front of Xiao Lie.

Xiao Lie picked up the wolf fang, rubbed it for a while, and couldn't help but chuckle.

"Last time you framed my Xiao family for treason, what are you trying to frame this time?"

This time, Lin Wan'er even released the wolf fang token of the Northern Barbarian royal family. Judging from the person behind this, she won't rest until she kills him.

Xiao Lie had several people watch over her while he opened each letter, glanced at them quickly, and was somewhat disappointed.

These letters were none other than correspondence between the Xiao family and the Northern Barbarians, detailing their clandestine trade. The Xiao family was secretly transporting supplies to the border and reselling them to the Northern Barbarians. Such trade would be considered normal business activity in peacetime, but in wartime when diplomatic relations between the two countries were severed, it was blatant aiding the enemy and a serious crime of treason.

Xiao Lie chuckled, "Hmm, this time the charge is lighter than last time. Last time it was direct treason, this time it's indirect treason."

Of course, this was not because the emperor was kind-hearted, but because the charges were more plausible and the fabricated evidence was more sophisticated.