She accidentally flirted with the villain and was fiercely criticized as the regent for forcibly mar

Xiao Che turned his face, revealing a bright and beautiful face, and stopped turning the cup.

A breeze carrying the sweet scent of gardenias rushed in through the window, making the stray hairs at her temples stick up a little, adding a touch of playfulness. The way she swaggered across the threshold made her look like a sparrow that had run out of the house to play and finally knew to return home.

They are both simple-minded and happy.

The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.

A tension deep inside that I hadn't noticed before miraculously eased the moment I saw her.

The way he looked at her was just like how he looked at everyone else—direct, unreserved, and without any concept of gender segregation.

Jiang Ruining felt inexplicably embarrassed by his gaze.

As if to conceal a hint of unease, she walked over casually and sat down opposite him: "I thought you had some urgent business to attend to in the capital. What brings you here?"

"Just passing by after finishing my business." Xiao Che wouldn't tell her that he had deliberately followed her to see what she was up to: "What are you doing here?"

Jiang Ruining didn't believe his mouth that couldn't tell the truth!

However, she didn't hide her purpose from him.

Now she is all alone and needs help to do everything. The only one who can help her is Eleven Crane, whom he arranged to monitor her. So it is obvious that he knows everything she does. With his intelligence, he can immediately guess the reason behind every action she takes.

There's nothing left to hide!

"The benefits of finding a bargain!"

Finding a bargain?

This was a word Xiao Che had never heard before, but after thinking about it for a while, he understood.

She used her strengths to seize the benefits that others had missed, whether by choice or by chance.

"What are the benefits?"

Just then, a young man dressed in coarse linen clothes came out of the clinic across the street.

Jiang Ruining smiled, "You've come to the right place!"

Pointing his finger, he exclaimed, "Him!"

Xiao Che looked in the direction she pointed, his gaze hardening: "Gongsun Changming! What's he doing here!"

Gongsun Changming.

Ministry of Works official.

The eldest son of the Minister of Revenue.

He was also the husband of Princess Xinyang, who was raised by Xiao Che's birth mother for a period of time.

He left Beijing on business three months ago and has not been heard from since.

His attendant returned to the capital severely wounded, saying that he had been knocked off the boat by assassins and fallen into the turbulent Yangtze River. Everyone thought he had perished in the Yangtze and that his body could not be recovered.

Princess Xinyang and her husband were deeply in love. Upon learning of her husband's death, she wept day and night. If she hadn't been pregnant, she would have followed him in death.

No one expected that he would be rescued and taken to a clinic in this small county town to recuperate!

And in the book.

This young couple, who have endured many hardships, are rescued by the male protagonist and the female protagonist, respectively.

In the end, they all switched sides and supported the young emperor, who was favored by the male protagonist.

She couldn't seize the opportunity from Princess Xinyang, but she could easily pick up this one along the way!

Who would have thought that this heartless bastard would suddenly appear at this moment.

The debt of gratitude for saving lives is most likely unrewarding.

But then she thought, she could use Xiao Che's favor to get it back!

If it weren't for her, would he have been able to gain the gratitude of the Ministry of Revenue, which was originally about to defect to another side?

Thinking about it this way, Jiang Ruining felt much better.

"He has amnesia."

Xiao Che figured it out.

Otherwise, they wouldn't be staying in this small place instead of going home.

He raised his hand, his slender fingers gently gesturing for Shi'an to bring the person over.

"Wait a minute," Jiang Ruining pressed him down, "It's not time yet."

Xiao Che waved.

Shi An stopped walking away.

"Does the young lady have any plans?"

Jiang Ruining rested her chin on her hand, looking outside.

He reached for a cup and took a sip: "There's a local businesswoman who took a liking to his handsome face and wanted to have a child with him, but she was rejected three times."

Shi An understood immediately and blurted out, "If they come looking for us again the fourth time, it definitely won't be to negotiate; they'll just forcibly take it back!"

Xiao Che glanced at the cup she had just sipped from, his Adam's apple bobbing slowly a few times.

That's what he drank!

His voice was a little hoarse when he spoke: "You want to show up only when the other party makes a move."

Shi'an understood her intention.

Everyone else understood as well.

The youngest, Eleventh Crane, wasn't quite attuned to these schemes. After holding back for a moment, she couldn't help but ask, "What is the purpose of what you're doing, young lady?"

Out of consideration for his protection over the past few days, Jiang Ruining explained carefully, "If you want the Minister of Revenue to stand firmly behind your master, you must make the most of the 'life-saving grace'!"

"The person who was rescued must always remember that your master descended like a god to save him from dire straits! Only then will his loyalty to your master be stronger than that of anyone else!"

A look of understanding flashed in Eleven Crane's eyes: "Your subordinate understands."

Xiao Che gave him a cold, indifferent look.

Eleven Crane lowered his head in fear and dared not speak.

He glanced at Shi'an again.

The implication was clear: he'd talked too much, and he couldn't just glare at me alone.

Shi An: "..." This mutual harm is really going to get out of hand.

Xiao Che gave Shi An a chilling glare and sneered, "You're quite good at reading people's hearts."

Shi An was flustered and silently turned his face away.

Jiang Ruining chuckled: "You talk as if you actually used your hard power to make those officials laugh themselves to death, and you don't understand human nature at all! My ability to understand human nature is less than one-tenth of what the Prince has!"

Xiao Che: "..."

A moment of silence.

"So you're just going to let me take the credit for saving lives?"

Jiang Ruining pouted, her displeasure written all over her face.

Anyway, after the last time she revealed her secrets and this time she clearly took advantage of the situation, she must be very valuable in his eyes. If this guy wants to dig out the secrets in her belly, he won't kill her easily!

Then why is she being cowardly?

"I don't want to! But with you here, it's obvious I can't compete! Of course, if you're willing to let me snag a bargain, I'd be very grateful."

Xiao Che neither said he would steal nor that he wouldn't; he simply asked her, "If you're not involved in political struggles, why are you picking up so many scraps?"

Jiang Ruining wanted to roll her eyes at him: "Did I pick up a bargain? I picked up a powerful backer!"

Shi An's eyes darted around, and he said with a grin, "My backer is more than enough to offset all the bargains you've picked up."

Jiang Ruining gave him a look that said, "Are you stupid?": "That's ridiculous! Who would complain about having too many powerful backers?"

Shi An: "..."

Jiang Ruining continued to criticize Xiao Linu: "Whether your master is even willing to let me lean on him is another matter entirely. Even if he is, who can guarantee he'll do it every time? Your master is so temperamental; he speaks and acts entirely based on his mood. What am I supposed to do if he refuses to help me when I need something? Just wait to die?"

Seeing that the "unique guy" didn't look too good.

She changed the subject.