The legitimate daughter returns to the capital and embarks on a splendid life, tearing apart the fak

Xiao Jingyan raised his chin: "Go investigate."

Jin Hu accepted the order and left, returning in less than half an hour.

"Your Highness, we've found out," Jin Hu said, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Xiao Jingyan leaned back in his chair, his fingers lightly tapping the table: "Speak."

"That man surnamed Zhou is called Zhou Demao. He runs a silk business in the south of the city. His family isn't particularly wealthy, but the relatives he's associated with are quite influential." Jin Hu lowered his voice. "He's a distant cousin of Consort Zheng in the First Prince's residence."

Xiao Jingyan's finger paused for a moment: "The First Prince?"

"Yes," Jin Hu continued, "This week, Zhou Demao has been trying to curry favor with the First Prince, but he has no way to do so. Consort Zheng sent word to him, so he rushed to do her a favor."

Xiao Jingyan narrowed his eyes slightly: "Is targeting Yun Jin the Crown Prince's doing?"

Jin Hu shook his head: "This must be a coincidence, and it should be related to what happened at the morning court session today."

It turns out that during the morning court session this morning, when His Majesty asked where the disaster relief funds would come from, the Third Prince proposed that all officials donate money, and he took the lead by donating 100,000 taels of silver.

Not to be outdone, the fifth prince also donated 100,000 taels of silver, and the other princes and ministers had no choice but to follow suit, all donating different amounts of silver.

The eldest prince, though not particularly keen on the position, did not want to be looked down upon by the emperor. He felt that as the eldest son, he could not be outdone by his younger brothers, so he reluctantly submitted a reward of 100,000.

However, the Crown Prince's residence was not well-off, and 100,000 taels was no small sum.

His concubine, Zheng, wanted to share his burdens, so she approached Zhou Demao. Zhou Demao, who was looking for an opportunity to curry favor, immediately agreed, but he himself didn't have that much cash. The courtyard that Yun Jin bought originally belonged to his wife's younger brother. He thought Yun Jin was just a young lady from a humble family, so he came up with this idea to take the courtyard back and resell it.

Xiao Jingyan sneered, "You've got a good plan. How much did you pay for Yun Jin's courtyard?"

Jin Hu said, "Miss Yun spent three thousand three hundred taels when she bought it."

Xiao Jingyan picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and snorted coldly: "Dream on. If the First Prince knew that this money was raised in this way, he would probably be furious."

Indeed, he wanted to win the emperor's favor, so he naturally couldn't afford to have a bad reputation.

Jin Hu tentatively asked, "Your Highness, should we lend Miss Yun a hand?"

Xiao Jingyan put down his teacup, a slight smile playing on his lips: "No rush."

Jin Hu was taken aback: "Your Highness?"

"Let her hit a wall first." Xiao Jingyan leaned back in his chair, his gaze deep and unfathomable. "I want to see who she thinks of first when she's desperate."

Jin Hu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but when he met Prince Yu's seemingly smiling eyes, he swallowed his words back.

"Keep an eye on her." Xiao Jingyan waved his hand. "If she comes begging, report back immediately."

Jin Hu acknowledged and withdrew.

……

The next morning, Shi Yong rushed to the corner gate of the Yun Mansion and asked Chunxi to deliver a message.

When Yun Jin met Shi Yong at Jinshu Pavilion, his expression was even more unpleasant than yesterday.

"Miss, we've found out." Shi Yong lowered his voice. "The man surnamed Zhou is named Zhou Demao. He's a distant cousin of the First Prince's concubine, Consort Zheng."

Yun Jin's heart sank: "The First Prince?"

"Yes," Shi Yong said through gritted teeth. "Miss, this matter seems to involve the prince. We..."

Yun Jin waved her hand, signaling him to stop talking.

She stood up and paced back and forth in the room, her mind racing. The First Prince, Consort Zheng—she had no connection with either of them.

How did she, a mere young lady from a humble family, get into this trouble?

"Any other news?" she asked.

Shi Yong shook his head: "That's all we found out. Zhou Demao has the First Prince's Mansion backing him up, so the Left Police Patrol Office probably won't dare to interfere."

Yun Jin nodded, told Shi Yong to go and rest first, changed her clothes, and hurriedly went to the General's Mansion.

When Lan Ying saw Yun Jin arrive, she smiled and waved, "Jin'er, you're here? Come and sit down, is your noodles cold?"

Yun Jin stepped forward, bowed, and without beating around the bush, told him everything that had happened in the courtyard.

Upon hearing this, Lan Ying's face darkened: "The First Prince?"

"Yes," Yun Jin said. "Grandmother, what do you think we should do about this?"

Lan Ying was silent for a moment, then sighed: "Although the eldest prince is not as powerful as the third or fifth prince, he is still the emperor's eldest son. Although Consort Zheng is only a consort, she has given birth to his only son and is quite favored. If this matter is just Zhou Demao's own idea, then so be it, but if it is Consort Zheng's idea..." She shook her head, "It will be difficult to handle."

Yun Jin's heart sank.

Lan Ying patted her hand: "Don't worry. Grandmother will have someone inquire and see what the First Prince's residence really means. If it's Consort Zheng's idea, we'll think of something else."

Yun Jin agreed, sat for a while longer, and then took her leave to go to the Grand Tutor's residence.

Zheng Guodong had not yet returned from court, so Wang welcomed her inside.

Yun Jin recounted the events, and Madam Wang frowned: "The Crown Prince? Jin'er, how did you get involved with him?"

Yun Jin smiled bitterly: "Godmother, I don't even know what the eldest prince looks like, how could I have offended him? I don't know what's going on either."

Lady Wang sighed, pondered for a long time, and then said, "This matter is difficult. Although the First Prince is not favored by the Emperor, he is still of noble birth. If it is only Consort Zheng's wish, there is still room for maneuver; but if it is the First Prince's own wish..."

She paused for a moment and then said, "I'll talk to your godfather when he gets back and ask him to help you think of a solution."

Yun Jin stood up and bowed to Madam Wang: "Godmother, Jin'er understands. I'll try to think of a solution myself first, and if I can't, I'll trouble Godfather and Godmother again."

Wang pulled her aside, saying with heartache, "What do you mean by 'it's troublesome'? You're our adopted daughter, how can we just stand by and watch you be bullied? When your godfather comes back, let him see if he can mediate."

Yun Jin ultimately refused, and seeing her insistence, Madam Wang didn't press the matter further.

She thanked Lady Wang and left the Grand Tutor's residence. The carriage moved slowly down the street. She leaned against the carriage wall, closed her eyes, and felt an indescribable bitterness in her heart.

She thought that with the General's Mansion and the Grand Tutor's Mansion as her backers, she would be able to gain a foothold in the capital.

But now she realizes that all her backers are utterly insignificant compared to the prince. For the eldest prince to harm her is as simple as snapping his fingers.

Is it really the only option to turn to Prince Yu?

Yun Jin opened her eyes, lifted the carriage curtain, and said to the coachman outside, "To Prince Yu's residence."

The Prince Yu's Mansion is located in the east of the city, covering a vast area, with two majestic stone lions standing in front of the gate.

Yun Jin got out of the carriage, stood at the door, took a deep breath, and went up to the gatekeeper and said, "Please inform him that Yun Jin of the Yun family requests an audience with Guard Jin Hu."

The gatekeeper glanced at her and went inside to report.

A short while later, Jin Hu strode out, a smile on his face: "Miss Yun? What brings you here?"

Yun Jin said, "I wish to see His Highness Prince Yu."

Jin Hu's eyes lit up, and he quickly stepped aside to lead the way: "Miss Yun, please. The Prince is currently in the manor."

He led Yun Jin through the front yard, around the screen wall, and all the way to the study.

Upon reaching the study door, Jin Hu stopped and said to those inside, "Your Highness, Miss Yun has arrived."