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

Xie Lanheng's younger sister, Xie Qinghe, sobbed, "Just now, after seeing that the matter of Prince Zheng accidentally killing Xiangrui was resolved smoothly, I was about to go to play with my friends when a clueless little eunuch splashed tea all over me, so I went back to change my clothes."

"I happened to run into Xiao Zheng. There was no conflict or clash. Out of courtesy, I bowed to him and was about to leave when, for some reason, he seemed to have gone mad and rushed up to strangle me."

She slightly pulled open the small stand-up collar.

A clear ring of pinch marks was visible on his fair neck, indicating that Xiao Zheng had indeed used lethal force.

"My brother discovered his violent act and came to stop him. The two started fighting. Xiao Zheng had hidden chess pieces in his folding fan, so my brother took out his longsword to defend himself. Xiao Zheng, who was clearly like a mad beast, suddenly stopped. My brother lost control of his strength and stabbed him!"

Jiang Ruining inquired further: "Are you two, or even your two families, absolutely certain that there is no conflict between you?"

Madam Xie clenched her handkerchief: "Both families serve in the same court, so there are bound to be some frictions, but nothing serious enough to warrant murder! Besides, Qinghe and him are not even acquainted!"

Oh!

That means there's a personal grudge involved!

Jiang Ruining knew this, otherwise she wouldn't have immediately decided to have Xiao Zheng pave the way for Xie Lanheng's imprisonment!

Turning to Xie Lanheng in the prison cart, whose face was ashen but who remained relatively calm, he said, "You've always been sensible. Even though Xiao Zheng hurt your sister, you know his skills are far inferior to yours. Why did you go so far as to kill him?"

Xie Lanheng wiped his face: "I was overwhelmed with emotion at the time, and I...lost control."

Jiang Ruining frowned and asked, "Are you sure you weren't drugged?"

Xie Lanheng was taken aback!

Before encountering Xiao Zheng, they were suppressing their anger because Jiang Ruining had ruined their plans, but they couldn't show it. However, when they encountered Xiao Zheng's violent actions, their anger was released all at once.

So he had no doubt that he had been tricked by someone!

just in case!

What if it's true?

"Mother! Quickly send someone to fetch the imperial physician!"

Madam Xie hurriedly sent her trusted confidante to invite him.

The imperial physician arrived quickly.

After carefully taking Xie Lanheng's pulse, he shook his head and affirmed, "Young Master Xie's pulse is perfectly normal."

The last glimmer of hope has been destroyed!

Xie Lanheng leaned weakly against the prison cart, too exhausted to speak.

Jiang Ruining looked regretful.

Actually, I was overjoyed!

Aunt Wan is truly a miracle doctor!

The medicine we develop can be used without anyone noticing!

Yes!

Xie Lanheng was indeed given Chinese medicine. She had it administered, and it would quickly arouse his violent temper, making him impulsive and ruthless!

The effects of the medicine lasted only for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, just enough for him to kill Xiao Zheng.

She gave him a glimmer of hope to escape his guilt, then made him shatter it with his own hands, and watched him utterly devastated. It was truly fascinating!

Xiao Zheng was the same; he was under the influence of hallucinogenic drugs and mistook Xie Qinghe for her.

He killed and maimed his family, caused a major case to be buried in the archives of unsolved cases, and allowed the murderer on the Cui side to go unpunished. He... deserves to die!

Even if you kill him with one sword, it's too good for him!

Tsk~

The officials escorting Xie Lanheng back to the capital said, "Princess, it's time for us to set off."

Jiang Ruining nodded.

Zheng Lingyi is going to leave with Xie Lanheng.

Xie Lanheng shook his head and wiped away her tears: "There are only men on the road. It's inconvenient for a young lady like you. Just stay with your family and don't worry me, okay?"

Zheng Lingyi sobbed, watching helplessly as the prison cart left the camp and drove further and further away.

"Ningning..."

Jiang Ruining put his arm around her and patted her shoulder gently: "I'll figure something out. Trust me, don't worry, okay? I'll take you home first."

Watching Jiang Ruining and the others leave.

Xie Qinghe: "Will Jiang Ruining really help us?"

Madam Xie affirmed, "Yes! During those years when she was looked down upon, only Lingyi treated her sincerely. She knew how much Lingyi loved Heng'er, and even for Lingyi's sake, she would plead with the Regent!"

Then he frowned and sighed.

"But having offended the Prince of Qin's mansion and the Empress Dowager, your brother's future career prospects are likely to be..."

Xie Qinghe was puzzled, but then she understood the deeper meaning behind her mother's words.

The reason Xie was able to marry into the Zheng family was because her mother and Madam Zheng were very close friends. However, the Xie family did not have a deep foundation in the capital, so they have been able to remain neutral all these years.

But now that my father has risen to a high-ranking official position, my sisters have married well, and my brothers have also made outstanding contributions in the government, it will be difficult for them to remain neutral!

……

Jiang Ruining accompanied Zheng Lingyi back to the tent.

Lord Zheng and his wife, along with Zheng Ling'an, rushed over upon hearing the news.

Madam Zheng held her daughter, looking worried.

She had just gotten engaged to Xie Jialang when Xie Jialang got into trouble. It was questionable whether he could even get out of prison alive. Even if he did get out, he probably wouldn't be able to enter officialdom again. The Zheng family might not mind, but they were afraid that the Xie couple would complain and blame everything on Lingyi, thinking that getting engaged to Lingyi was the only way they had brought bad luck!

This kind of thing happens all the time!

What should we do?

Jiang Ruining glanced at Chu Jin.

Chu Jin understood and left first with Wan Yi and the other girls.

Once only Jiang Ruining and the Zheng family remained in the tent, she spoke directly: "It was Xie Lanheng who harmed Brother Ling'an. There's no need to be sad for such a two-faced person."

Madam Zheng's heart skipped a beat, utterly shocked: "Ning'er, what...what do you mean by that?"

Tears streamed down Zheng Lingyi's pale face as she trembled, asking, "Why did he want to harm my brother?"

Jiang Ruining looked at Zheng Ling'an: "Brother Ling'an has been in contact with the Cui family, but after waiting for a while, they haven't heard that the Zheng family intends to side with them. Recently, they have been repeatedly suppressed and dealt with by the Regent, and they urgently need to replenish their strength."

"So they set up this scheme, making Brother Ling'an accidentally kill Xiangrui and bear the death penalty. When your Zheng family is powerless and can only watch Brother Ling'an die, they will then come out and tell you about Xiangrui's extinction, helping Brother Ling'an get away with it, in exchange for your gratitude and allegiance."

Zheng Ling'an had been very careful in secretly approaching the Cui family, and hadn't told anyone: "You...you noticed?"

Jiang Ruining nodded.

"You!" Lord Zheng was furious. He had repeatedly ordered his son not to take sides, yet his eldest son had led the way in disobeying! But now was not the time to talk about that. "I'll deal with you later!"

Having survived the ordeal, Zheng Ling'an now viewed everything else as insignificant: "But what does this have to do with Xie Lanheng? Could it be that he has secretly sided with the Cui family, and that the idea came from him?"

Jiang Ruining shook his head: "The idea came from him, but he is not loyal to the Cui family."

Zheng Ling'an frowned, puzzled: "If it was a scheme orchestrated by the Regent, you wouldn't have said anything, so..." His mind raced, and a sudden inspiration struck him. He seized upon it, his eyes filled with disbelief, "It was His Majesty!"

"Xie Lanheng has pledged allegiance to the Prince of Yan! No! Not the Prince of Yan. The Prince of Yan's abilities are far inferior to the Regent! Your Majesty! It is Your Majesty who is plotting against me and the Zheng family!"

"I was tricked. Even if I join the Cui family, there will still be an unbridgeable rift. If anyone adds to that rift, we will break apart sooner or later! Then Xie Lanheng will use the excuse of 'accidentally discovering' to tell me that the Regent is behind the scheme, and make me and the Zheng family hate the Regent!"

"Then tell us we can defect to His Majesty! After all, no family more powerful than the Zheng family has pledged allegiance to His Majesty. Offering them a reward for their service in supporting the new emperor isn't out of the question!"

"Either we stay with the Cui family, or we defect to the Regent and become his inside men, stabbing him in the back when it matters most..."

The more he talked, the more airtight his logical loop became.

Zheng Ling'an felt increasingly chilled!

He laughed, a self-deprecating laugh tinged with sadness: "That's right. Back then, Lingyi said her eyelid was twitching and told me not to participate. Xie Lanheng said he would be fine with me because he knew there was a trap waiting for me!"

"I treated him like a brother, like family, but he used our Zheng family as a pawn to curry favor with His Majesty, and as a stepping stone for the Xie family's rise! He's truly... ruthless!"

Jiang Ruining looked at his annoyed expression and nodded lightly: "You're quite smart."

Zheng Ling'an felt ashamed.

Even though the girl was several years younger than him, he felt as if he were being guided by an elder.

But more than anything, he felt anger at being betrayed and schemed against by his future brother-in-law!

"Xie Lanheng's heart is too cold. After more than ten years of friendship, all I got was his scheming and manipulation!"