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

Tingzhu said in a trembling voice, "This servant accompanied Miss to the washroom. Not long after, Miss told me through the door that her clothes had been accidentally soiled and asked me to fetch her a spare set."

I didn't want to leave you alone, but you said that this is the palace, and there are guards everywhere, so nothing will happen.

The maid thought that what Miss said made sense, so she ran off. It really only took the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to go back and forth. But when she returned, the washroom was empty, and Miss was nowhere to be seen.

"I thought Miss couldn't wait and had returned to the main hall first, so I ran back to look for her, but..."

Yun Jin's heart sank, and she quickly asked, "Which washroom did you go to?"

Tingzhu pointed in a direction, exactly opposite to the road Yun Jin had taken. It wasn't surprising that there were many clean rooms in the palace.

Yun Jin nodded and didn't ask any further questions.

Zheng Guodong frowned and asked in a deep voice, "Think carefully, when Miss Chen asked you to fetch the clothes, was there anything unusual around you? Did you hear any strange noises or see any suspicious people?"

After recalling for a moment, Tingzhu shook her head: "No. Miss's tone was the same as usual, and there were no strange noises around. It's all my fault, I shouldn't have left Miss..."

Zheng Guodong interrupted her self-blame and asked, "Did you run into any acquaintances on the way to the washroom? Did anyone strike up a conversation with you?"

Tingzhu thought for a moment, then shook her head again: "No. I didn't encounter anyone along the way, except for the palace servants coming and going, I didn't meet anyone else."

Xiao Jingyan frowned and suddenly asked, "Think again. After entering the palace today, have you and your servant encountered any special people or places? It doesn't have to be near the washroom. From the moment you got off the carriage until now, tell me anything that seems unusual to you."

Tingzhu bit her lip and recalled for a while before suddenly saying, "Yes! When we entered the palace today, we ran into Madam Ding at the palace gate. She is Master's second wife. Miss glanced at her and her expression didn't look good. Later, she told me that the maidservant next to Madam Ding looked a bit strange."

Zheng Guodong's gaze sharpened, and he pressed, "How is it strange? Tell me in detail."

As Zhu recalled, she said, "She was quite tall, a head taller than the average maid. Her gait was also a bit off; she took large strides, unlike a woman's usual walk. The young lady took a second look and said that the maid seemed very awkward and didn't seem to know any manners."

Yun Jin's heart sank suddenly.

She was tall and walked with an unusual gait. The trope of men dressing as women from the movies and TV shows she had watched in her previous life flashed through her mind.

Just then, Dongxue returned and stood silently behind her. Yun Jin lowered her voice and instructed, "Go to the palace and see if Ding Shi's maid is there. If she's not, find an excuse to call Ding Shi out. Don't disturb anyone else."

Dongxue nodded, turned around and entered the main hall.

She moved extremely quickly, and in no time, she walked out of the side door, supporting Ding Zisu's arm.

When Dongxue half-pushed and half-pulled her over, she still had a hint of impatience on her face.

She was about to ask what was wrong when she looked up and saw Prince Yu. She quickly stepped forward, curtsied to Xiao Jingyan, and said, "This humble woman greets Your Highness Prince Yu."

Upon seeing her, Zheng Guodong was filled with rage and was about to confront her.

Yun Jin reached out to stop him, shook her head slightly, and gestured for him to calm down.

She stepped forward, took Ding Zisu's arm, and said affectionately, "Madam Chen, I have a few questions for you. Let's talk in private."

She gave Xiao Jingyan a look.

Xiao Jingyan understood and gestured for the people behind him to open a side room where the palace servants were resting.

Yun Jin took Ding Zisu's arm and half-pushed, half-dragged her into the side room.

As soon as the door closed behind her, Yun Jin suddenly threw Ding Zisu to the ground, causing her to sit down.

Ding Zisu was both shocked and furious. Rubbing her sore wrist, she glared at Yun Jin and asked, "What is the county princess doing?"

The one who answered her was Xiao Jingyan. He stepped forward and asked coldly, "I'm asking you, where did your maid go?"

Faced with the oppressive aura emanating from Prince Yu, Ding Zisu's previous arrogance vanished instantly. She stammered, "He...he needed to use the restroom, he went...he went to the washroom, he'll be back soon. Your Highness...what do you want with him?"

Yun Jin suddenly squatted down and said, word by word, "Your maidservant is a man in disguise, isn't she? Who is he? What do you intend to do with him by bringing him into the palace?"

Ding Zisu suddenly raised her head, her expression flustered but still defiant: "You're talking nonsense! That's clearly my maid, not some man! I don't know what you're talking about! My husband is also an official of the imperial court; you can't slander me like this!"

"Slander?" Xiao Jingyan spoke coldly, his voice not loud, but carrying an undeniable air of authority. "Bringing a man to impersonate a woman and infiltrate the palace is, according to the law, a crime of deceiving the emperor, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family. If you don't speak, I will bring you before the emperor now and let His Majesty decide your fate. Do you think you can still keep your head?"

Zheng Guodong, suppressing his anger, reminded him, "At that time, not only will Chen Qinghe be unable to protect you, but he will also be implicated. Do you know what it means to exterminate nine generations of your family? Your entire Ding family, and the entire Chen family, will not escape!"

Ding Zisu bit her lip, still struggling not to speak.

Yun Jin had lost patience; every minute that passed increased the danger to Chen Mengyao.

She suddenly pulled a dagger from her sleeve and pressed it against Ding Zisu's throat, coldly saying, "This county princess has no time to waste words with you. Sister Mengyao is missing, and this must be related to you. Tell me quickly, who is the man you brought? Where is he? If you don't tell me, this county princess doesn't mind drawing your blood!"

Ding Zisu felt a chill on her neck; the sensation of the blade against her skin made her blood run cold.

She finally broke down, collapsing to the ground, and cried out urgently, "I'll talk! I'll talk! That's my nephew, Ding Hui! He wanted to go to the palace to broaden his horizons, so I had him disguise himself as my maid and take him with me. But I really don't know where he went! He just said he needed to use the restroom, so I let him go!"

Xiao Jingyan then summoned several palace servants who were on duty at the gate and questioned them one by one.

A young eunuch frowned and thought for a while, then suddenly slapped his forehead and said, "I remember now! A maid asked me for directions to the Imperial Garden, saying she wanted to go for a stroll. I was puzzled at the time, thinking that this maid was really tall and spoke in a rough voice, and I wondered whose maid she was."

Xiao Jingyan interrupted him, grabbed a handful of gold leaves, and told him not to say anything more. After he left, he turned to Jin Hu and instructed him: "Go towards the Imperial Garden. Ding Hui is not familiar with the palace layout. You take your men and search the area behind the rockery, the greenhouse, and the unused side halls. Be quick and make sure Miss Chen is safe."