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

Beneath Xiao Che's scalding palm lay her cool, delicate skin—soft and comfortable. A strange sense of calm washed over him, soothing the anger within him. "Okay."

Jiang Ruining pouted: "What do you mean, 'can't' take my pain or what?!"

Xiao Che glanced at her and began to play with her hand.

Her fingers were soft and flexible, just like her body, and could be posed in various ways.

His gaze swept lightly over her slender waist, tightly bound by a belt, and her full, rounded curves... His hand naturally grasped her waist, kneading it with a slight force.

Sure enough, I have a very good impression of her.

Jiang Ruining trembled.

She nervously looked up at him, but couldn't detect a trace of desire on his devilishly handsome face, as if she were a perfectly tender dough.

The warmth of his palm flowed continuously into her body, and she couldn't push him away. It was very itchy, as if the itch was going to seep into her heart. Jiang Ruining curled her fingertips and subconsciously scratched her chest.

In the space separated by the screen, there were two ice jars, each about half a person's height. They should have been cool and comfortable, but they made her feel hot, and her heart was beating erratically.

She couldn't quite put her finger on whether it was shyness or something else, but her voice unconsciously took on a slightly coquettish tone: "Don't pinch me, it tickles."

Xiao Che recalled that day of pleasure; whenever he touched her waist, she would smile.

He grunted in agreement, but didn't let go.

"That's all."

Jiang Ruining was ticklish and couldn't help squirming: "You don't know how much of what I'm saying is true or false right now. It's not too late to ask after we've investigated the connection between the man surnamed Qian and the steward of the Cui family."

Xiao Che pressed down hard on her wriggling waist: "Whether it's true or false, or half true or half false, I'll only believe it after I've investigated."

Jiang Ruining was pushed down and fell forward, half of her body resting on his chest.

Seeing his relentless pursuit of an answer, I knew there were some secrets I had to reveal.

In a short while, his mind had already raced through his thoughts several times, trying to guess how much he had seen through the male lead's side.

Xiao Che didn't give her any more time to think and pinched her waist hard.

Jiang Ruining winced in pain, her thoughts interrupted. She frowned and complained, "It hurts!"

Xiao Che gently took her hand and placed it to his lips, a kiss that was almost too close: "You are my woman. I can tolerate your insolence, but I will never tolerate betrayal. Remember that, okay?"

Being held in the arms of an exceptionally handsome man, who was so intimately kneading her waist, Jiang Ruining couldn't help but feel a tremor in her heart, even though she was somewhat afraid of him.

But his words crushed her last bit of hesitation and hope.

They are his people.

It's still a dead person.

In this insecure and unequal relationship, it was never something she could decide.

The feeling of being powerless made her very unhappy, but in the face of absolute power, she could only obediently submit.

"Starting three years ago, I noticed that many of the younger generation in noble families acted mysteriously. Although their fathers were enemies, the younger generation had secret contact with each other in private."

"That纨绔四郎君 (playboy fourth son) of the second branch of the Cui family is the emperor's man; the eldest nephew of Princess Anyang's husband's family who is pretending to have amnesia is your man; the fact that you know about the Minister of Rites' illegitimate son was deliberately arranged by the young emperor; and the Assistant Prefect Zhao Cheng'an in the Governor's Office is a spy you arranged for Grand Tutor Cui..."

"Most of the attendants and companions you placed by His Majesty's side to monitor him have already been turned against him, and Prince Zheng is one of them. It was he who helped the patrol battalion this time, using the order to test me."

Among the people she listed were spies on Xiao Che's side, traitors who secretly opposed the Cui family's stance, and pawns planted by all three parties.

Each of the three sides should contribute a small amount.

It should still be able to maintain a balance, right?

Jiang Ruining wasn't entirely sure, but could only do her best to be "fair."

"Shao Yunting... based on my observation, should also be one of the emperor's men."

Xiao Che knew that she stood on the sidelines and observed coldly, and could discover many details and secrets that others did not know, but he did not know that she knew so much!

"How did you learn about what's happening in the palace?"

Jiang Ruining's explanation was perfect: "I have never been to the palace, but people from the palace can come out. I once smelled the scent of ambergris on a young boy. The boy's clothes and appearance were extremely ordinary, but his temperament could not be hidden."

"I secretly followed them twice, both times they went to an orphanage in the east of the city. Officials and their children would go there too, and they were most likely on the same route."

Xiao Che looked down at her fingers, which were braided into a large twist, and a glint of light flashed in the depths of his abyss-like phoenix eyes.

I smiled.

I don't know whether I'm satisfied with my own work or with the secret I've obtained.

Have you ever smelled ambergris?

Jiang Ruining nodded: "I've smelled it! Father was a close confidant of the late Emperor and often went in and out of the Imperial Study, so he might have been contaminated."

Xiao Che agreed with this statement: "What else?"

Jiang Ruining has already said a lot, including some of his schemes concerning the young emperor, which is enough to show his loyalty.

I dare not say anything more.

Once my father and brothers return, we'll see what they decide before making any further decisions.

It's also about leaving yourself a way out.

I don't want to be an empty, worthless pawn by the side of the evil god, someone who can be discarded at any time.

She shook her head: "These are all I can think of right now, and these are just my own deductions. Whether there was some kind of scheme within a scheme after the rescue is up to Your Highness to investigate and make your own judgment."

Xiao Che didn't press him further.

"Since you know that Shao Yunting and you are not on the same side, you should be aware of keeping your distance from him."

Jiang Ruining frowned, feeling annoyed that "I was clearly going to do it this way, but someone beat me to it and accused me of not doing it this way."

"I never intended to have anything to do with him again!"

She got up angrily.

We went to the Mingtang.

Chu Jin glanced behind her.

All that could be seen was a screen, blocking the view and obscuring what was inside.

But she could sense that there were people inside.

Is he the regent?

Or... Shao Yunting?

She seems unhappy. Did she have an argument with the people inside?

Jiang Ruining did not try to cover it up or explain.

The book repeatedly emphasizes the heroine's intelligence; she can clearly and completely deduce the whole event from the slightest clue, making a huge contribution to both the stability of the mansion and the struggles in the court.

The Jiang family is her biggest backer and her greatest source of confidence in her future husband's prestigious family. Therefore, Jiang Ruining is certain that she will not do anything to harm the interests of the Jiang family.

"Why did you get here?"

Chu Jin said, "My aunt isn't feeling well; she says she has a sharp pain in her bones."

Jiang Ruining understood.

She was afraid that Madam Jiang would deliberately conceal her illness and then speak ill of her to outsiders, saying she was unfilial.

This has happened before.

He asked in a routine tone, "Has a doctor examined you?"