The Crazy Emperor's Pampered Cousin

Never mind, how could his Yuan Yuan be wrong?

The ones who are always wrong are those who don't know their place and try to get involved with her.

Those stray dogs always like to covet other men's wives.

...Just get rid of all those people.

Xie Yanzhao sighed silently, lowered his head and gently kissed her lips, then turned her body around so that she could lean against his chest, and handed the letter in his hand to her.

"We'll arrive in Lingzhou tomorrow. Shen Chengbo will be there too."

Shen Tinghe's eyes lit up: "Really? That's great! I can finally see my brother."

She took the letter and quickly scanned its contents. Her gaze suddenly stopped when it landed on the name "Lin Yao".

She remembered this person.

He was not from a family that had passed the imperial examinations, but he was personally promoted by Xie Yanzhao.

Back then, corruption was rampant in Lingzhou's officialdom, and no one was willing to get involved in the mess. Only Lin Yao volunteered to go.

At that time, she was taking a nap behind the screen in the study when she overheard his conversation with Xie Yanzhao.

The man spoke calmly and logically, and his analysis of the long-standing problems in Lingzhou was thorough.

After Lin Yao left, Xie Yanzhao hugged her to express his appreciation for Lin Yao.

"This person is courageous and resourceful."

It is no easy feat to earn a single word of praise from Xie Yanzhao.

Now, such a person has disappeared at a crucial moment...

Holding the letter, Shen Tinghe suddenly asked softly, "Lin Yao...could he have already met with some misfortune?"

Xie Yanzhao stroked her long hair, his eyes deep and calm.

"We need to see him alive or dead. Someone has to settle this score in Lingzhou."

The carriage continued forward, steadily making its way towards Lingzhou.

As dusk approached outside the curtain, the distant outline of the city walls was already faintly visible, like a giant beast lying in the twilight, waiting for them to enter.

At the beginning of the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), before dawn, the carriage traveled through the dense forest, less than twenty li from Lingzhou City.

The forest was shrouded in mist, with only the rhythmic sounds of cart tracks and horse hooves.

Suddenly, the sound of clashing weapons came from ahead, rapid and chaotic, breaking the silence.

Xie Yanzhao suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze clear and sharp, showing no trace of drowsiness.

He instinctively pulled the person in his arms closer. Shen Tinghe shifted uneasily on his shoulder, her delicate brows furrowed, disturbed from her peaceful sleep by the sounds of fighting outside.

"Your Highness," Jing Cang's low voice came from outside the carriage.

"There's a group of men in black chasing a man ahead. There are about seven or eight of them, and their martial arts styles are all over the place, like a private army of assassins."

Xie Yanzhao remained expressionless, only raising his hand to gently cover Shen Tinghe's ears, leaning down to whisper in her ear, his breath warm: "It's okay, Yuan Yuan, go back to sleep."

Seeing her eyelashes flutter before she drifted back to sleep, he spoke softly, "Clean it up."

"Yes."

Jing Cang and Yuan Chi obeyed the order and moved out like ghosts.

The forest was dimly lit, and only the cold glint of sword blades could be seen flashing. Muffled groans and the sound of falling to the ground rang out one after another, swift and decisive. In just a few breaths, the fighting completely ceased.

Qi Zaiqing leaned against an old tree, a deep wound on his shoulder revealing the bone, his clothes stained with blood.

He was already exhausted and closed his eyes to await death, but unexpectedly, he was saved from his desperate situation.

He struggled to his feet and bowed deeply to the carriage that had never stopped and was now slowly approaching. His voice was hoarse from blood loss: "Thank you... all you heroes for saving my life."

The carriage did not stop, nor did it slow down. Only as it passed by him did a morning breeze happen to lift the corner of the carriage curtain.

In a fleeting glance, Qi Zaiqing saw a peaceful, sleeping profile, with skin as smooth as jade and eyelashes like butterflies, nestled in a man's broad embrace.

The man's posture was possessive and protective, but his face was obscured by shadows and angles, making it difficult to see clearly.

The carriage rumbled away and disappeared into the depths of the forest mist.

Qi Zaiqing covered his wound and memorized the simple yet exquisite patterns on the carriage.

Dusk was falling over Lingzhou City.

The carriage drove into a quiet, rented mansion in the west of the city.

The mansion was quite deep, with white walls and black tiles, seemingly an ordinary wealthy family's home, but inside and out there were several hidden presences guarding it.

As night fell, an inconspicuous blue-canopied carriage stopped at the side gate of the mansion.

Shen Chengbo, wearing a dark cloak, knocked on the door.

Yuan Chi opened the door, his eyes flashing with surprise: "Young Master Shen..."

He quickly fell silent, then noticed a woman in black carrying a sword following behind Shen Chengbai, and changed his words, saying, "Young master, you've arrived. My master and mistress are already waiting in the study."

Shen Chengbo nodded and quickly walked across the courtyard.

As soon as he reached the study door, the door opened from the inside, and a pale yellow figure flew into his arms like a bird.

"Big brother!"

Shen Tinghe hugged him tightly, her voice filled with undisguised joy and longing.

Shen Chengbo's cold and stern expression softened instantly, and he patted her back.

He could have stayed in the capital in a prestigious position based on his family background and talent, but he requested to be transferred to other prefectures and counties, willing to do practical things for the people.

Over the past year, the family has spent little time together. He was also unable to stay long at his sister's wedding due to urgent business.

"Alright, you're so old, yet you still act like a child."

Shen Chengbo released her and looked her over carefully: "We met in a hurry last time, so I didn't get a good look at you. Let your older brother see... Hmm, our Yuan Yuan is getting more and more beautiful."

Shen Tinghe then noticed the woman standing quietly half a step behind her elder brother.

Dressed in a sleek black outfit, tall and upright, with cold, aloof eyes like frost and snow, and a straight back like a sword, he almost blended into the shadows when silent.

At that moment, the woman's calm gaze was also fixed on him.

"Brother, who is this...?"

"Ye Xin," Shen Chengbai introduced, turning slightly to the side, his words carefully chosen, "is... my bodyguard."

Shen Tinghe keenly sensed a slight oddness in her elder brother's tone, but now was not the time to press him for an answer.

She nodded slightly in a friendly manner.

Ye Xin clasped her hands in a fist salute, bowed, and greeted him with clean, crisp movements, her voice clear and crisp: "Miss."

"Is he inside?" Shen Chengbo looked towards the inner door of the study.

Out of consideration for Ye Xin's presence, honorifics were not used.

"Yes, brother, please come in quickly." Shen Tinghe let go of their hands and pushed open the door to the inner room for them.

Shen Chengbo stepped in, and Ye Xin, as usual, stood guard in the shadows of the corridor outside the door, her figure upright and silent.

The door closed gently.

Shen Tinghe knew they were going to talk about the important matters of the chaos in Lingzhou, the whereabouts of the relief funds, and Lin Yao's disappearance, and she had no intention of getting involved.

More importantly, she had pestered Xie Yanzhao for a long time before he reluctantly agreed to let her go for a stroll in the streets.

She had long heard of the bustling Lingzhou Night Market.

Thinking of this, her eyes curved into a smile. She took Qingdai, Qinglan, and two plainclothes guards with her, and walked briskly out of the mansion.

The study was brightly lit by candlelight.

Xie Yanzhao was standing behind the desk, gazing at the map of Lingzhou hanging on the wall. Hearing the sound, he turned around.

"Your subject, Shen Chengbo, pays his respects to Your Highness."

"No need for formalities." Xie Yanzhao's gaze remained sharp as ever.

"What is the current situation in Lingzhou? Does Lin Yao have any leads?"

Shen Chengbo: "Lord Lin has not yet been found, but in accordance with His Highness's orders, the disaster relief funds have been located and are hidden underground at the Lingshen Temple."

He sincerely admired the Crown Prince's judgment.

Even from far away in Lingzhou, they were able to accurately deduce the location where the stolen silver was hidden.