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

The excitement soon drew near.

Jiang Ruining looked outside.

The criminal family looked like a string of rice dumplings, their hands and feet shackled, being driven by officials with whips, clattering as they walked towards the city outskirts.

Jiang Ruining paused for a moment when she saw the sinner walking at the front.

The patrol officer who had led the charge into her room that night had lost his arrogance and domineering nature. He frantically searched for his backer, but found nothing. His face was filled with disbelief, and he muttered to himself with a dazed look in his eyes.

"How could this be... I've served them for so many years... They promised to protect my family... How could they do this!"

A person staggered past the carriage. Jiang Ruining vaguely heard it, feeling a mixture of satisfaction and amusement: "How could someone in a position of power possibly care about a pawn that has lost its value?"

And one can't help but wonder, what crime did this guy commit that led to his entire family being exiled?

"Miss! I've found out!"

Yun Mi got off the carriage at some point and then scurried back inside.

With excited eyes and gestures, he said, "Recently, there have been many burglaries in the capital. The perpetrators are said to be江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world). The patrol battalion and the Jingzhao Prefecture have joined forces to arrest them several times, but they haven't been able to catch them."

"Last night, the people from the Jingzhao Prefecture accidentally discovered the thief's trail. Without even notifying the patrol battalion, they went to investigate on their own and found that the thief had gone near that scoundrel's house outside and immediately jumped over the wall and slipped inside!"

Chu Jin suddenly realized: "No wonder we couldn't catch them; there was an inside man!"

Yun Mi, disgusted and angry, stomped her foot heavily: "That's right! Who would have thought that the patrol officers were in cahoots with the thieves? That bastard let the thieves hide in his house to evade capture, and afterwards they split the stolen goods and money fifty-fifty!"

"There are several other people doing the same thing!"

The conversation turned.

"Guess where the thief found it?"

The more Jiang Ruining listened, the more familiar this "case" sounded: "Where?"

Yun Mi shouted, "Under his wife's bed!"

Jiang Ruining: "..."

Chu Jin covered her nose and coughed lightly.

I'm speechless.

Yun Mi's expression was full of disdain: "When the officials barged in, his wife pretended to scream and cry, saying that the officials were deliberately trying to ruin her reputation and that she was going to hang herself at the gate of the Jingzhao Prefecture!"

"As a result, the search uncovered the thief and all the filth!"

Jiang Ruining was so shocked that her mind went blank for a few seconds.

It took her a while to fully understand that this was the method she had told Xiao Che a few days ago to get revenge on the patrol battalion.

She hasn't implemented it yet.

Has someone already done it?

Who did it?

Do we still need to check?

Even with the original owner's intelligence, she could figure out who did it!

Although the Jiang family had been officials for generations and had some influence in the court, they were not military officers or members of the royal family. Jiang's father was not even in the capital. How could a few women possibly have the ability to force their way into the Jiang residence in front of the patrolmen and then have a notorious bandit catch the intruders red-handed?

You're saying this isn't revenge?

Is it possible that there's no powerful figure backing them up?

Who would believe that!

They noticed an undeniable gaze passing through the carriage curtain and falling inside.

Jiang Ruining suddenly lifted the car curtain and looked straight ahead.

On the second floor diagonally opposite, a window was slightly ajar.

Those eyes, even if they turned to ashes, she would never mistake them!

It's Xiao Che!

Why did he come out?

Given his current state, what if he were discovered by spies watching the Jiang family?

wrong!

What is there to worry about?

She should be the one worried, not the entire Jiang family!

"That bastard..."

She gritted her teeth.

Although they were separated by a wide street, she could clearly see the wicked smile in his eyes.

He wanted to let the people behind the patrol battalion know that he was taking revenge for her, or rather, for the Jiang family, and also to let the entire court know that the Jiang family was on his side!

Who is behind the patrol battalion?

It's the Empress Dowager!

It's Grand Tutor Cui!

They are all suspicious and ruthless people. Over the years, they have been trying to win over their father, who holds real power. Their father has always remained neutral. Once they are deemed to have sided with Xiao Che, they will do everything they can to scheme against and frame them!

Father never thought highly of the Empress Dowager and the Cui family, believing their methods were too ruthless and domineering, and their governance too cruel. He would never side with them. Right now, the young emperor and the male lead are still in a period of dormancy. Even if they were to express their loyalty now, they would not be able to offer the Jiang family any help.

Because once the young emperor's desire to seize power is exposed, not only Xiao Che, but even the Empress Dowager will take action, leaving him confined to his sickbed and a complete puppet!

The Jiang family did not want to end up with the entire family wiped out, so they had no choice but to stand on Xiao Che's side and rely on his power for support.

Good guy!

This fiend is trying to drag the entire Jiang family down with him to commit suicide in the Taiji Palace!

What should I do?

Those who originally wanted to test her today probably won't try to test her anymore, right?

Jiang Ruining was a little confused and annoyed.

Given the ruthless methods employed by the Jiang family, it is virtually impossible for them to change the fact that "the Jiang family and he are not on the same side."

So if she wanted to live, to live and fulfill the original owner's wish, she couldn't let Xiao Che lose.

Only by helping him, helping him win over various forces, helping him guard against the Empress Dowager and the male lead joining forces against him, and helping him successfully ascend to a high position, can she and the Jiang family be safe.

However, the male and female protagonists are the core of the novel, and the people they support will ultimately win.

She supports Xiao Che, but no matter how hard she tries, it will probably all be in vain in the end.

My mind is a complete mess.

Unable to contain her disappointment, she muttered to herself, "Good heavens! What on earth is going on?!"

Chu Jin watched her face change repeatedly and assumed she was still shaken by what happened that night: "Ningning, it's all in the past, don't be afraid."

Jiang Ruining took a deep breath and forced a smile: "I'm fine, it's just that seeing this face makes me feel disgusted!"

Chu Jin looked at her intently, then nodded in agreement: "Lacking manners and being arrogant is truly disgusting."

Jiang Ruining decided to put aside the issues that couldn't be resolved immediately.

Let's talk about it after the poetry gathering!

He took a deep breath and exhaled forcefully.

"The pastries at the Princess's residence must be delicious! Let's go eat some pastries!"

Chu Jin was stunned.

Is your mood switching like that?

We arrived at the Princess's residence.

The well-mannered head maid, with her quick wit and charm, led the person into the mansion with a smile.

Jiang Ruining slowly stepped down from the carriage.

A gentle breeze caressed her clothes, causing her skirt to flutter. The subtle patterns embroidered with silver thread shimmered with light, and her colorful shawl and matching hair ribbon swayed lightly. Combined with her bright and exquisite appearance, she seemed like a goddess descending to earth.

All eyes were drawn to her, some with amazement, others with envy, and many young ladies gathered around her with smiles.

"Ningning, you've finally arrived! We've been waiting for you for ages!"

Although the original owner of this body was a good-for-nothing, she was beautiful!

Moreover, her scheming is only directed at the female lead, and her meanness is only directed at the female lead's friends. She is quite polite and courteous to others, so she is not short of friends.

"An'an, why did you go out alone with this annoying good-for-nothing?"

An'an is Chu Jin's childhood name.

The one who called her was Ruan Zhenzhen, the daughter of the Duke of Lu.

The two have been best friends since they were eight years old, and naturally share the same hatred for each other.

He affectionately linked arms with Chu Jin and pulled her inside, saying, "Let's go, ignore her!"

Chu Jin sighed, about to speak.

With a crisp sound, it was already thrown over first.

"To publicly ridicule and belittle others without cause—the Duke of Lu's family has excellent manners!"