After my father was sent to marry into the princess's household, I became the darling of the en

"Whoa! You little crow, you scared me!"

In the backyard of the Cangcheng County Government Office, a crow landed unexpectedly on the railing of the corridor, its flapping sound particularly abrupt in the night.

Shen Jingque patted her chest and took half a step back.

She and Xu Wanying had just drunk quite a bit of fruit wine by the campfire. After finally carrying the girl, who was staggering from drinking, back to the guest room, she was walking back in a daze when she was startled awake by this bird.

"Puffing away, don't be scared..."

Shen Jingque patted her chest, muttered to herself, and was about to reach out to push open the door.

With a loud bang behind me, the courtyard gate was pushed open forcefully from the outside.

Xiao Mingyue, dressed in a chilling black outfit, strode into the courtyard, her brows and eyes shrouded in a heavy gloom.

Shen Jingque was startled again, and the effects of the alcohol completely wore off.

She took two steps forward and cautiously called out, "Mother? What happened?"

Xiao Mingyue did not answer immediately, but frowned slightly and looked at her with a deep gaze.

"Sparrow, go and wake your second brother up. Come to the main hall. I have something important to tell you."

A moment later, the main hall in the backyard of the county government office was brightly lit.

Xiao Mingyue sat upright in the main seat, her face ashen.

Sitting at the lower end were Shen Yan and his daughter Shen Jingque.

Taking advantage of the moment while serving tea, Shen Yan frantically winked at her.

Shen Yan raised an eyebrow: What's going on? It's the middle of the night.

Shen Jingque blinked rapidly: How would I know? Her mother's face looked like she was about to chop someone up.

Shen Yan's eyes widened: Did you provoke that Yan Kingdom hostage again and cause some trouble?

Shen Jingque pouted, feeling wronged: I'm innocent, Father!

After this silent exchange between father and daughter, Shen Jingque felt her eyelids were about to cramp.

Fortunately, Xiao Changqi finally arrived in a hurry, breaking the suffocating silence.

He stepped across the threshold, panting, without even fastening the belt of his outer robe.

"Godmother, what happened? Has Cheng Rui made a move?"

"I will be setting off back to Beijing early tomorrow morning."

Xiao Mingyue didn't waste any words and directly stated her decision.

"The disaster relief efforts in Cangcheng, as well as the investigation into who is behind Cheng Rui, are entirely in your hands. Before noon tomorrow, a file detailing Cheng Rui's background will be delivered to you. You must follow the clues and find out who is behind him."

Xiao Changqi abandoned his lazy demeanor, realizing that something big must have happened, and it was no ordinary matter.

He strode to the chair and sat down: "Why did my godmother leave in such a hurry? Has something happened in the capital?"

Xiao Mingyue raised her hand and pressed her temples, her voice filled with chilling coldness.

"Someone has sounded the petition drum, accusing Marquis Weiyuan Qin Feng of secretly colluding with the Northern Di. It seems that your third brother's true identity can no longer be hidden."

Upon hearing this, the main hall became so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Shen Jingque felt a layer of fine goosebumps rise up on her back.

The fact that Qin Lie has Northern Di blood is a major turning point in the later part of the original book.

But where is the plot at now? How could it be revealed ahead of schedule?

Moreover, the Earl of Weiyuan kept this matter a closely guarded secret, so how could it possibly have been leaked?

Her mind raced, and her first thought was that Xiao Jingchen was up to no good in the dark.

In the original book, it was Xiao Jingchen who used Qin Lie's background to gradually dismantle the military power of the Princess's mansion.

"Mother," Shen Jingque tentatively asked, "could the person be someone arranged by the Third Prince to be playing the drum?"

Xiao Mingyue paused slightly in her tea-serving hand, raised an eyebrow in surprise, and swept her sharp gaze over: "Oh? Why would you think that?"

Shen Jingque pursed her lips.

Actually, she's changed the plot so much that even her own mother wouldn't recognize it, so it's not necessarily Xiao Jingchen who leaked this information.

Having only dealt with this person, I know how despicable he is; he is absolutely capable of doing such a thing.

So Shen Jingque, looking indignant, analyzed, "That man appears gentle on the surface, but he is actually narrow-minded and vindictive. He has suffered so many setbacks at our hands, and I think he must want to take revenge on us, which is why he is using Third Brother's background as a pretext. I just instinctively suspect him."

Xiao Mingyue put down her teacup, remaining noncommittal.

"It is still unknown who is behind this, but I must get back to the capital as soon as possible to deal with it."

"As the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Chang Geng cannot openly show favoritism in that position, and Lie'er is prone to impulsiveness."

"If we are not careful, someone will seize on our weakness and convict us of treason."

Xiao Changqi immediately stood up.

"Godmother, please return to the capital without worry. Leave the matters in the southwest to me."

Seeing this, Shen Jingque quickly stood up as well: "Mother, then I will go back with you."

Her trip out of the capital was specifically to find Shen Yan and Xiao Mingyue.

Now that everyone has been found, there's no point in her staying in this disaster area. She might as well go back to the capital and keep an eye on that venomous snake, Xiao Jingchen.

Xiao Mingyue looked at her and nodded: "Alright, you and that girl from the Xu family will come back with me. I'm worried about leaving you in Cangcheng."

Shen Jingque had just breathed a sigh of relief when she suddenly slapped her forehead: "Oh no! What about Qingqing? We agreed in Lancheng that we would pick him up."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Changqi comforted him, "Don't worry, you've been busy saving people in the epidemic area these past few days, I haven't even had a chance to tell you yet."

"News came from Qian Mo's side that the new county magistrate appointed by the imperial court has arrived in Zhaocheng to take over the duties. That kid Helan Qing has already set off for the capital ahead of schedule with Minister Xu and Qian Mo from the Ministry of Personnel."

He calculated the days: "Based on the pace, they left a few days earlier than us. You set off tomorrow and will return to the capital around the same time. You should be able to meet in the capital very soon."

Shen Jingque was finally completely relieved.

She walked up to Xiao Changqi, solemnly grasped his hand, and shook it up and down.

"Second brother, you must find out the truth about Cheng Rui. We're counting on you to avenge Granny Wang's son."

Xiao Changqi was also inexplicably infected by her emotions and nodded enthusiastically.

"Okay! Leave it to Second Brother!"

The next morning, the sky over Cangcheng was still showing signs of dawn.

Three horse-drawn carriages were already parked in front of the county government office.

Shen Jingque pulled the sleepy-eyed Xu Wanying towards the convoy.

As she approached the second carriage, thinking it looked more spacious, she casually lifted the curtain.

Upon seeing the scene inside the car, Shen Jingque gasped, freezing in place.

Inside the carriage, Rong Jing, dressed in plain clothes, leaned against the soft cushions.

Qingjue's face was completely bloodless, which was bad enough.

However, his wrists were bound by a steel chain, the other end of which was firmly fastened to the crossbeam of the carriage.

Why is this fox dressed like a prisoner?

Didn't they say he formed an alliance with his mother? What's going on here?

Rong Jing heard the noise and slowly raised his eyes.

Upon seeing her, a faint hint of grievance surfaced in her usually unfathomable peach blossom eyes.

"Sparrow...I..."

Unexpectedly, Shen Jingque didn't give Rong Jing a chance to speak at all.

She exclaimed excitedly, "Wow, that's awesome! What kind of alphabet game are you playing?"