With legs weak, the sickly stable boy became a mad regent.

Ah Chao stood up, reached out to support her waist, and helped her down from the roof, placing her steadily on the ground.

Under the moonlight, two people stood in the alley, their shadows overlapping.

Shen Nannan looked up at him and suddenly smiled.

"Ah Chao".

"Um."

"Tell me, who does Lin Wan'er hate the most right now?"

"It's Miss..."

"Ha, you certainly understand women's hearts. So, how do you think she'll retaliate?"

Ah Chao looked down at her.

"She dares! This servant will ensure she can never lay a hand on a weapon again in her lifetime."

Shen Nannan looked at him, then suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the chin.

"I don't need you to do anything." She stepped back a little, her eyes shining. "I'll take my own revenge."

Ah Chao reached out and touched the spot where she had kissed him, a slight smile curving his lips.

"Then this servant will hand the knife to the young lady."

"No rush." ​​Shen Nannan smiled and said, "Let her jump around for a few more days. The higher she jumps, the harder she'll fall."

Ah Chao looked at her curved eyebrows and eyes, and the corners of his mouth also curved slightly.

"Miss is becoming more and more like a servant."

"Like you in what way?"

"Heartless."

Shen Nannan slapped his arm: "You're the one who's heartless! Your whole family is heartless!"

Ah Chao took her hand that was patting him and kissed it.

"I'm the only one left in my entire family," he said in a low voice. "If Miss doesn't want me, I'll truly have no one left."

Shen Nannan's hand stiffened for a moment, and she suddenly felt a pang of sadness.

"Who said I don't want you anymore?" She pulled her hand away, turned her face away, and said in a muffled voice, "Hurry up, I'm sleepy."

Ah Chao looked down at the hand she had pulled back, a slight smile playing on his lips, and followed her.

"Did you have any nightmares tonight, Miss?"

"have no idea."

"That servant is on night watch."

"Need not."

"What if?"

Shen Nannan didn't say anything, but just tightened her grip on his hand a little more.

At this moment, a small, thin figure emerged from the shadows and bowed deeply to Shen Nannan.

Shen Nannan nodded slightly, and the little maid turned and disappeared into the night.

Ah Chao's gaze followed the figure, and he narrowed his eyes.

"Miss," he said softly, "when did this happen?"

Shen Nannan smiled slightly and continued downstairs: "When did this happen?"

"That maid."

"Miss, when did you plant someone next to Madam Qian?"

Shen Nannan smiled and said, "One should always be wary of others."

"Even though I told her the truth, there's no guarantee that Qian Mingyuan won't coax her and she'll soften again." She paused.

"Last time on the street, I saved her and asked Qiuyu to check. Her father worked as a gardener in the Qian family mansion. Qian Mingyuan broke his leg and threw him out of the mansion. He had no money for treatment and was paralyzed in bed waiting to die."

Shen Nannan's voice was very calm.

"She was bullied by Qian Mingyuan, and I also helped her heal her father's leg. She owes me a life. She hates Qian Mingyuan, so naturally she can be used by me."

Ah Chao looked at her without saying a word.

"Besides," Shen Nannan poked his chest, "don't you want that idiot to become useless so soon?"

Ah Chao paused for a moment, then smiled. It wasn't the usual fleeting smile with a slight curve at the corners of his mouth; it was a genuine smile that spread from the depths of his eyes.

Ah Chao's lips curved slightly: "Miss has thought of everything."

"I learned it from you." Shen Nannan withdrew her hand, turned around, and continued walking forward. "Aren't you the most calculating?"

Ah Chao followed, walking beside her at a leisurely pace.

"You swindler plots against others," he said, "but not against the young lady."

"That's not necessarily true," Shen Nannan snorted. "You were poking me last night."

Ah Chao paused for a moment.

"...That wasn't scheming."

"What is that?"

"Yes..." he paused, "it was this servant who couldn't help himself."

Shen Nannan pulled her hand back and glared at him: "You smooth talker."

"Has the young lady tried it?"

"you--!"

Shen Nannan's face turned red again, and she quickened her pace to walk forward.

She walked a few steps, then slowed down, waiting for him to catch up, and reached out to grab his sleeve.

"Hurry up, I'm sleepy."

------

Just as the two were about to turn into the street leading back to the Shen residence, a blue-curtained carriage stopped by the roadside.

A servant dressed in gray stood in the middle of the road, bowing respectfully: "Miss Shen, my master requests that you come to our side. He has a few words to say to you."

Shen Nannan frowned: "Who are your parents?"

The servant looked up and pointed to the side.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, revealing a handsome face.

He Jinzhi.

Shen Nannan was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously let go of A Chao's hand.

Ah Chao clenched his empty palms, watching her retreating figure, then looked at He Jinzhi alighting from the carriage, his face clearly showing displeasure.

"Lord He?" Shen walked over, curtsied, and asked, "What brings you here so late, sir?"

"Just passing by while on a case." He Jin returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his gaze lingering briefly on her night clothes before shifting away as if he hadn't noticed her.

Shen Nannan glanced at the carriage behind him—the curtains were tightly closed, and the horses were quiet, clearly not just passing by.

"If you say you're just passing by, then you're just passing by." She smiled. "Does Your Excellency have something to discuss with me?"

He Jinzhi didn't beat around the bush and got straight to the point:

"Miss Shen, I have a question to ask you."

"Please speak, sir."

"Where was Miss Shen that night in Peach Blossom Valley, before the Crown Prince's camp caught fire?"

Shen Nannan's heart skipped a beat. She remained outwardly calm: "At that time... I was in the peach grove."

"Who are you with?"

"The guards of the commoner woman."

He Jinzhi's gaze passed over her shoulder and landed on A Chao.

Ah Chao stood there, his face hidden behind a mask, so his expression was unreadable.

But He Jinzhi always felt that the gaze falling on him was cold.

He looked away and asked again:

"Just the two of you?"

"Just the two of us."

He Jinzhi was silent for a moment, then asked, "Miss Shen, have you seen anyone suspicious?"

Shen Nannan thought for a moment, then shook her head: "No."

He Jinzhi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly said, "Miss Shen looks quite neat in this outfit."

Shen Nannan looked down at herself—a black night outfit, tight-fitting, with the collar fastened tightly. She smiled: "It's convenient to go for a walk."

"Taking a walk." He Jinzhi repeated the two words, his lips twitching slightly, it was hard to tell whether it was a smile or something else. "Miss Shen, you seem to be in a good mood."

"And adults too. Taking a walk here in the middle of the night."

The two looked at each other, and neither of them spoke.

A-Chao stood behind Shen Nannan, his hand already withdrawn from her waist, but his fingertips were still inside her sleeve, gently hooking her fingers.

Shen Nannan felt his fingers tightening, as if he was enduring something.

"Lord He," she began, "how's the case going?"

He Jinzhi glanced at her, his voice calm: "I will investigate thoroughly, regardless of who is involved."

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Ah Chao again. Ah Chao's eyes were lowered, his face expressionless, but his fingers gently squeezed Shen Nannan's palm.

Shen Nannan gripped his hand back, preventing him from moving.

"Then I won't disturb you any longer while you're investigating the case." She smiled. "It's late, you should go back and rest early."

He Jinzhi nodded, turned to leave, but suddenly stopped.

"Miss Shen."

"Um?"

"There's something I'd like to remind you of."

"Please speak, Lord He."

He Jin stepped forward, his voice extremely low, so that only the two of them could hear him.

"If you're going to the palace recently, try to postpone it if possible."

Shen Nannan's pupils contracted slightly.

"What?"

He Jinzhi didn't answer, only glanced at her, then turned and got into the carriage. The curtain was lowered, and the carriage drove away.

Shen Nannan stood there, watching the blue-curtained carriage disappear into the night.

For such a loyal and upright official to suddenly utter such a remark about the palace...

What exactly is going to happen?