Princess, she is the one who facilitated the extradition.

"Grandmother, now that Auntie is dead, does that mean we'll stay in the capital from now on?"

Upon hearing Cheng Le's words, Gu Xiang hurriedly asked this question.

She's already twenty this year and still unmarried. Children her age are all running around everywhere. She should stay in the capital and find a husband.

Chengle knew what her granddaughter was thinking, glanced at her, and said, "Princess Baozhu isn't married yet, what's the rush?"

She would naturally choose the best man in the world for her only granddaughter.

Gu Xiang didn't know why Cheng Le was comparing her to Bao Zhu, so she said coquettishly, "I'm just afraid of being gossiped about."

"You are my granddaughter, who dares to speak ill of you?"

Cheng Le was happy that he was finally going to settle things with his eldest daughter-in-law, so he chatted with Gu Xiang for a while.

"Just stay calm, I will take care of everything for you. However, you need to learn more from Bei Sheng in the future, and be more composed and quick-witted."

The ghost child was Qi Yun, whom she had Gu Xiang contact, because Qi Yun's birth chart matched hers and could extend her life.

Gu Xiang is still unaware of this. If she were to use her brain, she should think about why her grandmother wanted her to guide Qi Yun to contact the Luo family.

This carefree girl never thought deeply about this, which is why she hit Gu Xiang in a fit of anger when her lifespan was taken away that day.

Although he was angry with her, he also resented her for being useless.

If it were Bei Sheng, she would definitely have guessed the purpose of her actions and would have kept a close eye on things to prevent anyone from causing trouble.

Just as she thought of her grandson, Gu Beisheng's voice rang in her ears, "Grandmother, something seems wrong."

Gu Beisheng was traveling on horseback, which made it easier for him to see the expressions of the people and hear their words.

He vaguely heard words like "the Jingzhao Prefecture dug up bones" and "Cheng Le has ill intentions, wanting to provoke war."

He sensed something was wrong and told Princess Chengle what he had overheard.

"Isn't this a denunciation of the Feng family?"

Cheng Le frowned.

Although Madam Feng was despicable and shameless, it was still a scandal within the household, and with the second son's wife watching over things, it was unlikely to escalate to the authorities.

But just in case, she said, "Have someone go and inquire about it."

"Yes."

Gu Beisheng responded, but before he could give any orders, a group of officers came quickly over.

The leader asked, "Is Princess Chengle in the carriage?"

This rudeness intensified Gu Beisheng's unease. Instead of replying, he asked, "Who are you?"

The leading officer ignored him when he didn't reply.

Having neither official rank nor official position, he dared to look down on those who were just doing their jobs, relying solely on his status as the princess's grandson.

The leader bowed to the carriage and said, "This humble official is the Judicial Officer of the Jingzhao Prefecture. I have come here on the orders of the Prefect, carrying official documents, to request Your Highness to come to the Jingzhao Prefecture to inquire about the discovery of more than a dozen skeletons at the Gu residence."

Gu Beisheng's heart skipped a beat.

What I just heard was actually true.

How was this discovered? What is Mother's current situation? How did she get involved with Nan Yao? What exactly happened...?

Gu Beisheng had a lot of thoughts running through his mind, but he didn't ask any questions and remained sitting proudly on his horse.

Grandmother will deal with these people.

Inside the carriage, Cheng Le gently lifted a crack in the door and said in a deep voice, "I have been away from the capital for several years, and all matters in the household have been handled by my daughter-in-law. If the Jingzhao Prefecture wants to inquire, just summon them."

As the late Emperor's younger sister and a senior member of the imperial family, it would be disgraceful for the royal family to be arbitrarily taken in for questioning by the authorities.

I didn't expect the Jingzhao Prefecture to get involved. Does His Majesty also know about this?

She needs to go back to the mansion first to find out what's going on.

If necessary, promptly go to the palace to plead with the emperor. As long as the emperor does not pursue the matter, things will be much easier to handle.

However, before the carriage could even start, the Prefect of Jingzhao Prefecture, Zang Lan, arrived in person.

"Your Highness, I am acting on His Majesty's orders to accompany you to the government office for questioning."

He knew he couldn't take Chengle away with just official documents.

He never expected that even the emperor's decree was useless. Cheng Le suddenly rebuked him, "How dare you! You dare to falsely convey the emperor's will!"

His Majesty is most reasonable and filial; there is absolutely no way he would allow my elderly aunt, who has just returned from her arduous journey to the capital, to receive training. I must personally meet with His Majesty.”

She was the highest-ranking princess in the royal family, and she didn't believe these people would dare to take her in the street.

If she were truly controlled by a mere Jingzhao Prefecture, how would she ever establish herself in the capital again? Moreover, if she were truly imprisoned, how would she ever regain her lifespan?

"Walk."

The coachman, pretending not to recognize Zang Lan who was blocking the carriage, gritted his teeth and cracked his whip, "Giddy up!"

Cheng Le rode in a four-horse carriage with a double-eaved roof and brocade decorations. With a flick of the whip, all four horses exerted their strength and charged towards Cang Lan.

No one expected her to be so arrogant, including Zang Lan.

Realizing the danger, he hurriedly dodged to the side, but his speed was no match for the swift horse. The officials were all shocked, exclaiming, "Sir!"

But they were too far away to rescue them in time, and they were filled with sorrow and anger that their adults might be seriously injured under the horses' hooves.

The next instant, a slender figure appeared in front of Cang Lan. She struck the two leading horses with a palm, and the sound of bones cracking came from their heads.

She immediately swung two small knives with her backhand, precisely severing the carotid arteries of the two horses on the outside.

In an instant, the four horses crashed to the ground, the carriage, now without its tether, suddenly lost its balance and overturned, throwing the princess out violently.

Everyone was shocked!

Someone shouted, "Impressive skill!"

Then came a burst of applause.

Princess Chengle, her head spinning from the fall, was furious. "How dare you! You dare to plot against the royal family..."

"Ah, helping others is indeed a joyful thing."

Gui Yao patted non-existent dust off her hands and smiled, "Saving an official of the imperial court, I've done the princess a huge favor."

Suddenly, her smile faded, and she changed the subject, "However, the princess disregarded His Majesty's decree and attempted to run over an official in the street, which was quite arrogant."

Previously, I didn't understand how the Gu family dared to harm so many women; it turns out it was the princess who gave them the confidence.

"Who are you? How dare you spout such nonsense?"

Cheng Le couldn't admit it. She hadn't intended to kill Zang Lan, but whether or not he was injured was not her concern.

Gui Yao looked down at her and said, "I am one of the people you almost killed. The Gu family dug up fifteen skeletons, and both of the Gu family's wives have admitted that those women were all sent to Gu Nansheng at your behest to be tortured to death."

"How dare you! I, Sun Nansheng, have the mental capacity of a five-year-old and a gentle nature. How could I possibly abuse a woman?"

Cheng Le sized up Gui Yao. She was not a noble lady from the capital, and she was skilled in martial arts. How could someone like her end up in Jishengtang?

Just then, Gu Beisheng came to her side and helped her up, quickly writing something on her arm with his finger.

Recalling what the people had just said about Nan Yao, Cheng Le's mind cleared instantly, and he guessed the other party's identity.

Vanished!

"You woman, you slandered me in the street, spreading rumors and misleading the public. Could it be that you are acting under someone's orders to sow discord in my Great Sheng?"

puff!

Gui Yao laughed out loud, "Princess, you don't have a mirror at home? You can't represent the Great Sheng."

What a humiliating remark! Cheng Le felt a pang of anger in her chest. "Guards, seize her for me!"

Gui Yao turned to Cang Lan and said, "My lord, the princess refuses to go to the yamen. As the victim, may I ask you to conduct a public interrogation?"

She spoke each word slowly and deliberately, "Right here, let all the people bear witness, let the government make a fair judgment, and let justice be served for the victims!"

As soon as he finished speaking, four hooded women knelt hand in hand before Zang Lan, pleading, "We, the victims, beg the government to make a fair judgment and give us justice!"

Cang Lan noticed a gaze from the opposite side, looked up and saw Li Deshun nodding at him.

"Guards, set up a courtroom and bring the suspect in!"