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

Jin Hu responded and left. Xiao Jingyan turned to Yun Jin, his tone resolute: "Don't worry, I will definitely bring your sister Mengyao back safely."

Zheng Guodong also wanted to go look for her, but Xiao Jingyan stopped him: "Lord Zheng, you must stay here and keep an eye on this poisonous woman!"

Yun Jin then asked Dong Xue to stay behind and keep watch over Ding Zisu with Zheng Guodong in the side room, while she followed Xiao Jingyan and walked quickly towards the Imperial Garden.

She was filled with regret at that moment. If she had wandered around the Imperial Garden more, she might have spotted Chen Mengyao.

The two hadn't run far when they encountered Jin Hu. Upon seeing them, he hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, we've found them. There's a hut behind the flower shop where the flower farmers rest; they're inside. Ding Hui has been apprehended, and Miss Chen is also inside."

Yun Jin's heart tightened, and she quickly asked, "How is Sister Mengyao? Has she been bullied?"

Jin Hu shook his head and lowered his voice, saying, "That beast didn't have time... Fortunately, we arrived in time. Miss Chen was just a little frightened; she has injuries on her face from being beaten."

He paused, then added, "When I arrived, he had knocked Miss Chen unconscious and was taking off her outer robe. If I had been even a moment later..."

"Take me there!" Yun Jin said through gritted teeth.

The two then followed Jin Hu at a brisk pace and arrived at the small house behind the flower room.

The two guards at the door stepped aside to let Xiao Jingyan and Yun Jin into the house.

When Yun Jin entered the room, Chen Mengyao was huddled in the corner, sitting on the floor with her knees drawn up to her chest.

Her hair was disheveled, her hairpins were askew, there was a purplish-blue mark on her face, and a trace of dried blood at the corner of her mouth. Her pale yellow palace dress was covered with dust and grass clippings.

Hearing footsteps, she abruptly looked up. Seeing that it was Yun Jin, her lips trembled as she called out, "Sister Jin..."

Yun Jin rushed over, squatted down, and pulled her into her arms.

Chen Mengyao leaned on her shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably, "Jin-meimei, I thought... I thought I..."

Yun Jin gently patted her back, comforting her, "Sister, it's alright. I'm here, no one can hurt you."

Chen Mengyao cried for a long time before slowly lifting her head from Yun Jin's embrace. Then she stood up and walked step by step to Ding Hui, who was being held down by the guards. With all her might, she slapped him across the face, gritting her teeth and cursing, "Beast!"

Jin Hu stepped forward and pulled the rag out of Ding Hui's mouth.

Panting heavily, Ding Hui pleaded desperately, his voice trembling with tears, "Mengyao, I was wrong, I was really wrong! Please don't let them kill me. I truly love you, I just love you so much that I was confused for a moment..."

"Please tell them I didn't do anything to you, really nothing. Please let me go, I beg you, for my aunt's sake, for our kinship..."

Chen Mengyao gritted her teeth and said, word by word, "You want to destroy me, and you want me to spare you? You're dreaming! Right now, I just want you dead!"

Ding Hui was terrified, tears streaming down his face, repeatedly begging for mercy, "I was wrong, I'll never do it again."

Chen Mengyao stopped looking at him and turned to Yun Jin, saying, "Jin-meimei, I want him dead."

Yun Jin nodded and said only one word: "Okay."

She took a porcelain bottle from her bosom, turned around and handed it to Xiao Jingyan: "Ayan, feed him this. One pill is enough."

Upon witnessing this scene, Ding Hui was terrified and nearly collapsed: "No! Don't kill me! I'll never do it again! Aunt... Aunt, save me..."

Xiao Jingyan took the porcelain bottle and gestured with his chin toward Jin Hu.

Jin Hu stepped forward, grabbed Ding Hui's chin with one hand, pried open his mouth, and Xiao Jingyan opened the porcelain bottle, poured out a pill, and threw it into his mouth.

Ding Hui tried to vomit, but the pill melted instantly in his mouth. Within a few breaths, he stopped breathing and collapsed to the ground.

Jin Hu bent down to check his breath, then straightened up and nodded to Xiao Jingyan.

Chen Mengyao watched this scene for a long while before speaking, her eyes filled with hatred: "And Ding Shi. She's an accomplice; I will never let her off!"

Yun Jin stepped forward, took her hand, and said softly, "Sister, Ding brought men disguised as women into the palace, which is a crime of deceiving the emperor. If it is really investigated, it may implicate you. After all, you are not yet married and are still a member of the Chen family. It would be better to deal with her after you get married and have no more connection with your father."

Chen Mengyao bit her lip and remained silent for a long while before saying with resentment, "So I'm just going to put up with this? She's hurt me time and time again. If I just swallow this insult, I'll never get over this in my life."

Yun Jin gripped her hand tightly, her eyes resolute: "Sister, doesn't Ding want to live a life of luxury? Once you're married, we'll ruin Chen Qinghe's future, make her lose all her support, and let everything she's schemed for her whole life slip through her fingers."

This kind of pain is more satisfying than killing her. Letting her live, yet depriving her of what Heaven values, that is the true punishment.

Chen Mengyao remained silent for a while, then finally took a deep breath and nodded, saying, "Okay. I'll listen to you."

Yun Jin then turned to Xiao Jingyan: "Ayan, Ding Hui's body cannot remain here. I'll need to trouble you to find a way to transport it out of the palace. Also, Ding is missing someone by her side, which will be difficult to explain when she leaves the palace. Could you arrange for someone to fill in?"

Xiao Jingyan nodded slightly: "I'll arrange this."

At this moment, Tingzhu arrived with Chen Mengyao's clothes.

As soon as she entered, she saw Chen Mengyao's face covered in bruises and her clothes disheveled. She rushed over and hugged Chen Mengyao, crying, "Miss, I'm so late! I deserve to die! Miss, are you in pain? It's all my fault. I shouldn't have left you..."

Chen Mengyao gently patted her back and comforted her, "It's okay, it's okay, don't cry. I'm fine, really fine."

Yun Jin pulled Tingzhu up and whispered, "Tingzhu, now is not the time to cry. Quickly help your young lady change her clothes. Re-comb her hair, and try to cover the injuries on her face with powder. Don't mention a word about today to anyone. If anyone asks, just say that your young lady got lost while admiring the plum blossoms in the Imperial Garden, wandered too far, and was late. That's all you know. Do you understand?"

Tingzhu nodded frantically, wiped away her tears, and sobbed as she opened the bundle.

Xiao Jingyan had already left the house at some point, and when Jin Hu went out, he took Ding Hui's corpse with him.

After Yun Jin and Ting Zhu helped Chen Mengyao change her clothes and fix her makeup, they pushed open the door and came out. A woman of similar height to Ding Hui walked over.

She bowed to Yun Jin and Chen Mengyao respectively: "Greetings, County Princess, and Miss Chen."

Yun Jin nodded and said to Xiao Jingyan, "Let's go."