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

Xiao Jingyan gestured to Yuanyuan, signaling her to continue.

Yuanyuan took half a step forward and began to recount the conversation she had overheard on Zhou Qing's rooftop.

When she mentioned that Hei Feng had harbored murderous intentions towards Yun Jin, Xiao Jingyan's face darkened, and he slammed his hand on the table: "How dare you! You dare to touch my people?"

Yin Hu and Yuan Yuan felt as if the temperature in the room had dropped several degrees, and they shivered, not daring to speak.

After a long while, Xiao Jingyan finally said, "Continue."

After Yuanyuan finished recounting what happened next, he asked in a deep voice, "Have you seen that man?"

Yuanyuan respectfully replied, "Your Highness, this servant has met him. He is the flower farmer of the manor, named Li San'er, and is Li Laowai's nephew. He said he came from outside the Great Wall to escape famine. Li Laowai begged Guan Bo for help, and Guan Bo, out of respect for Li Laowai, kept him in the flower room to work. He is usually quiet and seems honest, but I didn't expect him to be so capable."

Yin Hu suddenly interjected, "Your Highness, that old Li Wai died of charcoal poisoning two winters ago when he lit a charcoal fire in his house. Now that I think about it, I'm afraid this matter is not so simple."

Xiao Jingyan was silent for a moment, then suddenly sneered: "I never expected that my palace would be full of hidden talents. I was negligent in the past."

Seeing this, Yin Hu tentatively asked, "Sir, should we arrest him and interrogate him? I have plenty of ways to make him talk."

Xiao Jingyan leaned back in his chair, pondered for a moment, and finally shook his head: "No. If we arrest them now and they deny everything, it will only alert the enemy. Besides, there are two of them. If something happens to both of them at the same time, we might never know who their master is."

He paused, then continued, "Silver Tiger, send more men to keep an eye on him. I want to see who his master really is."

Yin Hu's expression hardened, and he quickly replied, "Understood, subordinate."

Xiao Jingyan then turned to Yuanyuan and instructed, "Keep an eye on Zhou Qing. Observe what she does every day, who she meets, and what she says. Write down everything in detail. If she dares to do anything to harm Jin'er, arrest her immediately without having to come back to ask for instructions."

Suddenly remembering something, Yin Hu cautiously asked, "Your Highness, Zhou Qing isn't actually Deputy General Zhou's daughter, is she?"

Xiao Jingyan paused, then waved his hand: "You don't need to worry about this. I'll have Ling Feng investigate."

After the two left, Xiao Jingyan stroked the purse at his waist and muttered to himself, "Girl, you saved my life back then, and now I will protect you for the rest of my life."

A moment later, he called out towards the door, "Jin Hu."

Jin Hu pushed open the door and entered, bowing his head to receive orders.

Xiao Jingyan instructed, "Have Ling Feng investigate Zhou Qing's whereabouts before coming to the capital, the more detailed the better."

Jin Hu responded with a "yes" and was about to leave when Xiao Jingyan called him back and asked, "How is Yun Dahai's family now?"

Jin Hu suppressed a laugh and said, "His son is a coward; he'll tell you anything if you scare him. Unfortunately, he doesn't know much. Sir, do you want to interrogate him?"

Xiao Jingyan thought for a moment and said, "I'll ask Jin'er later."

Jin Hu thought to himself that the prince had really fallen, but he still answered "Yes" and left.

The next morning, Xiao Jingyan took Yun Lang's admission notice to the Imperial Academy to the Yun residence.

After court, Yun Heting was in his study pondering his transfer to the Ministry of Revenue. He had seen the Fifth Prince in court earlier that day and wanted to greet him, but the Fifth Prince ignored him. He then went to visit him, but was refused entry.

Yun Heting felt a little annoyed. He was already the Fifth Prince's prospective father-in-law, so how could he not give him face? Would he be able to transfer to the Ministry of Revenue?

Upon hearing that Prince Yu had personally come to visit, he was both surprised and delighted, feeling that his opportunity had arrived. He hurriedly went out to greet him with utmost respect: "Your Highness, it is an honor to have you grace us with your presence. I have failed to greet you properly."

Xiao Jingyan smiled faintly: "Lord Yun, there's no need for such formalities. I've come today to deliver Young Master Yun's admission letter to the Imperial Academy."

Yun Heting was taken aback. He knew that Chu Wanqing had sent Yun Lang to study at the Imperial Academy at the beginning of the year, but he did not expect that the invitation was sent by Prince Yu.

He had been feeling very frustrated these past few days because Chu Wanqing had never discussed Yun Jin's marriage with him from beginning to end.

When he asked, Chu Wanqing said, "You and I are just her godparents. Her father entrusted her marriage to my mother on his deathbed, and my mother then entrusted it to me. I have handled everything according to her father's last wishes. Even her dowry has been prepared by her mother. You don't need to worry about it."

Yun Heting knew that Chu Wanqing was deliberately trying to disgust him. Her words were implying that Yun Jin's biological father was dead, which was a curse on him.

Seeing his discomfiture, Chu Wanqing felt extremely pleased. If you won't say anything, I'll pretend to be confused. Every word I say is sarcastic, but you can't do anything about it.

Yun Heting was unwilling to give up and tentatively said, "We should at least prepare some dowry for her, after all, she has been included in my Yun family genealogy."

Chu Wanqing pouted and said, "What valuable things do we have left in our household? My dowry was stolen by that traitor Zijuan. How much is your monthly allowance? We're really strapped for cash now. To tell you the truth, Xiu'er's dowry is still nowhere to be found. We need you, sir, to find a solution."

Yun Heting naturally didn't believe it. Yun Xiu was going to marry the Fifth Prince, who was the future Empress. He couldn't bear to lose face if the dowry was too small.

Chu Wanqing slammed several account books down in front of him: "Look for yourself, see how much silver is left in the accounts? If you don't mind, those things that Zijuan replaced are still in the storeroom. You can use them as Xiu'er's dowry to make a good impression."

The ledger was newly made by Chu Wanqing herself. She had carefully calculated every income and expense, and the account was watertight, with basically no surplus.

Yun Heting sensed something was wrong, but had no evidence, and was extremely frustrated.

He had originally hoped that the Fifth Prince could help him transfer to the Ministry of Revenue as soon as possible. As long as he got the lucrative position of Minister of Revenue, not only would Yunxiu's dowry be secured, but his lifelong wealth and honor would also be guaranteed.

But now the Fifth Prince won't even see him, and he doesn't know why. He's so anxious that he doesn't know what to do.

Now that Prince Yu has taken the initiative to come to his door, he must seize this opportunity no matter what.

Upon hearing that Xiao Jingyan was delivering the Imperial Academy admission notice to Yun Lang, she hurriedly sent someone to invite Chu Wanqing and Yun Lang while leading Xiao Jingyan into the front hall.

After the two were seated, he thanked him repeatedly and exchanged a few pleasantries with Xiao Jingyan before cautiously probing, "Your Highness, I have a matter I would like to trouble you with..."