Exile? A mad, wicked woman empties the national treasury to escape famine.

He handed the bundle to Xie Moyao, winked at him, and whispered in his ear,

"These are some snacks I took out from my space. I won't be gone for long. If you're hungry, have some of these to tide you over. I'll bring you something nice to eat when I get back."

"Okay, I understand. Be careful."

Although Xie Moyao knew that Ji Yunshu was just going back to her space, he still couldn't help but remind her.

Ji Yunshu nodded, waved casually, took a few quick steps, and disappeared into the jungle under everyone's watchful eyes.

At the very back of the line, Xiao Wu kept his men watching the movements ahead.

Seeing Ji Yunshu enter the woods, a guard hurriedly returned to Xiao Wu and the First Prince's side and went to report.

"Your Highness, I just saw the Princess Consort go into the woods. I guess she's going to the bottom of the cliff to find Xie Lin and Xiao Lan."

Xiao Wu didn't speak, but turned his gaze to the First Prince.

The eldest prince instructed him to keep an eye on Ji Yunshu's movements, knowing that Ji Yunshu would go to the bottom of the cliff to find Xie Lin and Xiao Lan.

After all, besides Xie Lin and Xiao Lan, the thousand taels of gold also fell off the cliff with them.

Normally, the First Prince would not have even glanced at a thousand taels of gold, but given their current situation, it was an absolute fortune for them.

He didn't know what to do next, so he remained silent and stood quietly to the side, waiting for the Crown Prince's instructions.

The eldest prince sat in the carriage, tapping the table absently with his hand.

Ji Yunyao was kneeling in front of him, her body trembling violently. She would occasionally look up and gaze at Chu Jinsheng with a pitiful expression.

Chu Jinsheng ignored her and turned to look out of the carriage. He had noticed Ji Yunshu just as she left.

His expression was indifferent, and his thin lips parted slightly. "Send a few people down the cliff. Make sure they find Xie Lin and Xiao Lan before Ji Yunshu does. Kill them without mercy, whether they are alive or dead."

Furthermore, and most importantly, bring back that thousand taels of gold to me quietly.

That's a whole thousand taels of gold! Under normal circumstances, he would have thrown it away without batting an eye. But the situation is different now, and this thousand taels of gold is very important to him.

The guard responded with a "Yes," then turned and led the other guards into the woods where Ji Yunshu had just disappeared.

Inside the carriage, Chu Jinsheng coldly stared at Ji Yunyao.

"What did Ji Yunshu mean by what she said to you on the cliff edge just now?"

Ji Yunyao was slightly startled, but she didn't show it on her face. She still looked pitiful, tears streaming down her face, as she crawled on her knees to Chu Jinsheng's feet.

"Brother Jinsheng, it didn't mean anything. It's just that my older sister misunderstood me. We've already explained it to her."

"Brother Jinsheng, don't worry, I won't be angry with Big Sister. I'm just worried that because Big Sister resents me, she might also dislike you, Brother Jinsheng."

Chu Jinsheng had told her before that he intended to recruit Ji Yunshu. If he knew that he and A Cai wanted to kill Ji Yunshu, Chu Jinsheng would definitely be angry, and she absolutely could not admit it.

"Oh, is that really so? From what she said, it sounds like you were the one who caused all those things that just happened?"

Tell me, did you and Ah Cai team up to do all that just now?

He reached out a hand and suddenly grabbed Ji Yunyao by the neck, his eyes filled with anger.

"Ji Yunyao, did I not tell you that Ji Yunshu is useful to me, and that I told you not to touch her? Did you take my words as a joke?"

"No, no, Brother Jinsheng, I didn't, it wasn't me, it really wasn't me."

Ji Yunyao spoke haltingly, the air in her throat growing thinner and thinner, as if she were about to suffocate.

"No? Do you think I'm blind? You brought Ah Cai before me and said you could entrust things to him with confidence."

I wanted to bring Ji Yunshu to my side to do things for me, not to kill her! But what you just did was clearly an attempt to put her to death!

She would have died if she had fallen from such a high cliff! What use would this prince have for a dead person? Tell me, what use would this prince have for a dead person!

Despite his anger, seeing that Ji Yunyao was already struggling to breathe, Chu Jinsheng angrily shoved her away.

His Yao'er used to be such a wonderful woman in the capital. How could she have turned into such a vicious person in just a few months?

Was it that he hadn't recognized her before, or was it that she was just too good at disguising herself?

Ji Yunyao fell to the ground, her hair falling down and obscuring her expression.

The wide sleeves of her robe concealed her hands, beneath which her fists were clenched so tightly that her nails seemed to pierce the carriage floor, her eyes filled with hatred.

On what grounds?

Why is Chu Jinsheng so concerned about Ji Yunshu now?

Ji Yunshu is nothing but a despicable person!

He was the one who didn't want it; he discarded it like trash in the capital. Now he's desperately trying to get it back!

Moreover, Chu Jinsheng actually treated her like this because of Ji Yunshu! She was clearly the one useful to the Crown Prince, so why is it that the current Crown Prince's heart and eyes are only for that bitch Ji Yunshu?!

Why?!

She wanted Ji Yunshu dead, she was determined to kill Ji Yunshu, no one could replace her in the Crown Prince's heart!

The overwhelming hatred in her eyes was almost overflowing, but when she looked up, she put on that pitiful look.

"Brother Jinsheng, you've wronged me! You've really wronged me. I said I would help you persuade Big Sister to come back to your side, and I meant it from the bottom of my heart."

As for what just happened, it really has nothing to do with me. It was all Ah Cai who made the decision on his own! Brother Jinsheng, you have to believe me. If I really had instructed this, why would I have only let Xie Lin and Xiao Lan fall down?

My target is definitely the older sister, Brother Jinsheng. You have to believe me. I really didn't do this. More than anyone else, I hope you have more support around you, Brother Jinsheng. That way, your position will become more and more secure, and you'll be able to reach that position in no time!

I have no reason to hold you back, Brother Jinsheng. Don't you know how much I care about you?

Not only do you not trust me, but you've treated me like this for the sake of an outsider. Without your trust, Brother Jinsheng, Yao'er truly has no will to live.

As she spoke, she cried, tears streaming down her face, her eyes fixed on Chu Jinsheng, filled with pitiful vulnerability.

Chu Jinsheng was initially furious, but after hearing her words, he hesitated.

Could it be that what just happened wasn't Ji Yunyao's intention?

Ji Yunyao's words made sense. If she had Ji Yunshu's help, she would be one step closer to reaching that position, which would be a good thing for Ji Yunyao.

She shouldn't be so stupid as to harm Ji Yunshu.

But Ah Cai was brought to her by Ji Yunyao after all, so she bears some responsibility for what happened today.