He remarried after his mother's death, seized power over the world, and slept on the emperor�

Jiang Bingning's voice wasn't loud, but everyone present heard it clearly.

Especially Consort Lin.

Her face drained of color in an instant. She never expected that this damned Zhou woman would refuse to suffer even the slightest loss!

The Dowager Empress snorted coldly, glanced at Consort Lin, and stood up, pulling Jiang Bingning's hand.

"Come on, Jiang girl, come back to the courtyard with me."

"Let Chengyun handle this."

Ji Chengyun bowed deeply to his grandmother's retreating figure.

"Your grandson obeys."

When he raised his head again, his gaze toward Consort Lin was now icy cold.

-----------------

Three days later, they went to the capital.

The carriages and horses of the Great Zhou delegation, "escorted" by dozens of black-armored wolf guards, finally arrived at the post station in the capital.

In front of the post station, Jiang Chengxuan was helped down from the carriage.

In just over ten days, this once spirited general of the Great Zhou Dynasty had become emaciated.

Behind him, the Jiang brothers, Siyuan and Luwei, also looked ashen-faced and numb.

The humiliation and fright they endured along the way had long since worn down their edges as scions of noble families.

At the back of the group, Jiang Yuerong wrapped herself up completely from head to toe in a heavy cloak.

Only a fleeting glimpse peeking through the shadow of the hood reveals a deep gloom hidden in those once lively eyes.

Officials from the Northern Di Ministry of Rites were already waiting at the entrance of the post station.

The leader was a middle-aged man with a goatee. He glanced at the miserable-looking crowd, his eyes showing no emotion whatsoever.

"The envoy from the Great Zhou Dynasty, Jiang Chengxuan?"

His tone was flat, as if he were simply confirming the name of a shipment.

Jiang Chengxuan's lips moved, and he responded in a hoarse voice.

"That is me."

The goatee-bearded official nodded and took out a document from his sleeve: "By order of His Majesty, the Great Zhou delegation will temporarily reside at the Shangjing Post Station, awaiting His Majesty's summons. During this period, to ensure your safety, the post station will be guarded by Wolf Guards, and you are not allowed to enter or leave at will."

"Handover documents, please sign them."

Entry and exit are restricted.

These four words are tantamount to announcing their predicament.

House arrest.

With trembling hands, Jiang Chengxuan signed his name on the document that resembled a prison order.

At that moment, he seemed to have aged ten years.

into the night.

The rooms in the inn were cold and damp.

Jiang Yuerong sat alone by the window, listening to the footsteps of the patrolling wolf guards outside, her fingernails leaving several marks on the window frame.

Just then, two couriers could be heard talking in hushed tones outside the door.

"Hey, have you heard? There was a fire at Prince Xin's residence last night!"

"Really? Which courtyard?"

"Who else could it be? It's the courtyard where that woman from Zhou Kingdom lives!"

Another voice suddenly became excited.

"Hey! How is she? Did she burn to death?"

"No, but it was still pretty bad. I was terrified. The yard was almost completely burned down."

"Serves them right! None of those from Zhou are any good!"

The footsteps and chatter gradually faded into the distance.

Inside the room, Jiang Yuerong's body first froze, then began to tremble uncontrollably.

It was a twisted kind of excitement!

The courtyard where Jiang Bingning lived was burned down?

She almost got burned to death?!

Jiang Yuerong covered her mouth, her eyes flashing with an almost manic pleasure.

He had only suffered some humiliation and been teased by those vulgar officials.

But what about Jiang Bingning? She almost lost her life!

Although I was in a terrible state, at least I made it to the capital!

In comparison, I still won!

In her previous life, Jiang Bingning was a fool who was arrogant and aloof, rejecting countless offers of opportunities from powerful and influential people in the capital.

I'm not that stupid!

Now that she's come to the capital, Jiang Yuerong is determined to seize every opportunity and climb to the top step by step!

She wants to make everyone who looks down on her kneel at her feet!

Especially Jiang Bingning!

-----------------

Inside the warm pavilion of the Prince Xin's residence, in the old Dowager Consort's residence.

Jiang Bingning was sitting upright, carefully wiping the book "The Book of Songs".

Across from her, Ji Chengyun picked up his teacup and took a small sip.

"I've caught him."

Jiang Bingning paused in her wiping motion and looked up at him.

"They were two servants responsible for cleaning at night."

"According to the testimonies of other servants, only the two of them lingered outside Jinse Courtyard before and after the fire."

"The timing matches up; he must be the one who locked the door and sealed the windows with wooden strips."

A hint of surprise flashed in Jiang Bingning's eyes.

"However," Ji Chengyun changed the subject, his brows furrowing slightly, "when we caught them, they were both out of their minds, saying they didn't know anything about what we asked, as if they had gone mad."

"I had the royal physician examine me. He said I was drugged and my mind was impaired, which is why I have amnesia."

"It seems the person behind this has a backup plan."

"The reason they weren't killed to silence them was probably because they were worried that a death in the Prince's residence would alert the Prefect of the Capital and lead to unnecessary investigations."

He looked at Jiang Bingning and added, "I have already sent someone to invite the imperial physicians from the palace, and we are trying to find a way to wake them up."

Jiang Bingning lowered her eyes, and the image of Consort Lin's tear-streaked face from last night involuntarily surfaced in her mind.

He pleaded guilty, cried and begged, and even offered to hand over the power to manage the household to the Dowager Empress.

This woman is cunning and ruthless; since she dared to do it, why would she easily leave any evidence against her?

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

Jiang Bingning said softly.

"Consort Lin is not a fool. The fact that she didn't kill them to silence them means that she is absolutely confident that she can keep these two people from ever speaking."

Looking at her expression, Ji Chengyun assumed she was dissatisfied with his work.

He paused for a moment, then his tone became unusually serious.

"Don't worry."

"Now that we've joined forces, your safety is my top priority."

He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice even further.

"I have already arranged for the Azure Wolf Guard to protect you in secret."

Jiang Bingning felt a warmth in her heart and nodded slightly.

"Thank you, Your Highness."

"On my side, it's not like I've made no progress either."

She closed the Book of Songs in her hand and then pulled out a few sheets of paper from another stack of books.

That was a list sent by Ji Chengyun, containing the names and whereabouts of all the maids who served his mother back then.

"I found some clues in the messages from these old acquaintances you sent me."

"Oh?"

Just as he was about to ask further questions, the curtain of the warm chamber was suddenly lifted from the outside.

Chuntao rushed in, looking flustered.

"Young lady! Young master!"

"His Highness the King of Yue has arrived! He wishes to see you!"

Before Chun Tao could finish speaking, a flamboyant and unrestrained figure strode in.

Ji Ling was dressed in a black royal robe, his handsome face bearing a somewhat cynical smile.

"My captive was nearly burned to death in Prince Xin's residence. I've come to check on him; is there anything amiss?"

He walked towards Jiang Bingning as he spoke, about to say a few more sarcastic remarks.

But when she saw Ji Chengyun opposite Jiang Bingning, she suddenly stopped in her tracks.

The smile on his face vanished instantly, replaced by a gloomy expression.

He twitched the corners of his mouth, forming a cold, stern smile.

"Oh."

"I underestimated you."

"Now, she's even hooked up with the Crown Prince of Xin?"