The male supporting character was actually myself.

A white homing pigeon took flight from the green bricks and red tiles, leaving behind one or two white feathers that flew further and further into the air...

On this day, Jiang Chen finally had some free time to rest.

Xiao Wu came to report early in the morning. He held the rolled-up note and looked at it for a long time before putting it down. Then he rested his chin on his left hand and stared intently at Xiao Wu.

"Does Your Highness have any further instructions?" Xiao Wu stood there, a little bewildered. The Regent had been running around like crazy lately, and Xiao Wu had followed him everywhere. Now that he had finally had a break and received the secret report, the Regent didn't give any instructions. He just stared at Xiao Wu with a smile, which made Xiao Wu feel a little uneasy.

Jiang Chen leaned back in his chair, slowly turning two jade balls in his right hand, and asked, "What do you think of Miss Honglian?"

“She, she’s quite nice!” Xiao Wu’s face flushed slightly as he scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. “Your Highness, this is the second time you’ve asked. Hehehe… I actually quite like her temperament and personality. She’s straightforward and decisive, unlike other little maids who whimper and can’t explain a sentence clearly for a long time.”

"On the occasion of Qingluan's wedding, she, her personal maid, should have been part of the dowry. However, I kept Honglian in the manor and replaced her with another maid. Do you know why?"

Xiao Wu's face flushed even more, and he lowered his head, unable to hide the smile on his face. "Your Highness! You know perfectly well what's going on, so don't tease me!"

"Now that I have a better understanding, go and invite Honglian and the princess over. I need to discuss this with them first."

"Yes!" Xiao Wu beamed and ran out.

Upon hearing that her brother was going to arrange a marriage for Honglian, Shen Qingluan was overjoyed and quickly brought her husband from the Princess's residence. Once everyone had arrived, Jiang Chen spoke first: "Honglian is a maid I personally inspected and bought from a slave trader. She was only five or six years old when she came, a very childish girl, but in the blink of an eye, she has grown into a young lady."

Over the years, I have been busy with government affairs and have inevitably had no time to take care of Qingluan's daily life. Thanks to Honglian's thoughtful care and companionship, I have had far fewer worries.

Qingluan asked me to arrange a marriage for Honglian, whom she considered a sister.

However, since the young lady is not yet married, there is no reason for a maid to marry first. That's why it's been delayed until today that I have time to arrange this matter. Honglian, are you willing to marry Xiaowu?

Don't look at him, just speak according to your own heart. If you're unwilling, I will arrange for you to find a suitable husband who is compatible with you.

Honglian blushed deeply and quickly knelt down to reply, "I have no parents since I was a child. As far back as I can remember, I was beaten and scolded by slave traders every day until I was sold into the manor and met the prince and young lady, which gave me a peaceful life."

The fact that Your Highness and Miss have considered my marriage is like that of my second parents. Xiao Wu has treated me so well; I am willing to spend my whole life with him!

Chapter Thirty-One: Exposure

"Your Highness, I am also willing to stay with Honglian until we grow old together!" Xiao Wu, who was originally a little uneasy, was so excited when he heard his beloved say this that he immediately clasped his hands in a salute and hurriedly answered.

Seeing this, Shen Qingluan couldn't help but cover her mouth with a handkerchief and chuckle.

Shangguan Xuanyu was deeply moved by this scene. His mother, who was always very considerate of her servants, had never acted in this way before. The regent, who seemed cruel and ruthless, was actually able to find time in his busy schedule to manage the marriages of his servants, which was quite a departure from the usual public opinion about him.

At the same time, Shangguan Xuanyu was even more grateful for his choice. Since the Regent was so loyal and righteous in private, even if the truth came out, he might still have a chance to be lenient for his sister's sake...

“Xiao Wu is my personal guard deputy general, and he is also a third-rank soldier in the army.” Jiang Chen looked at Hong Lian kneeling on the ground, then glanced at his younger sister and said slowly, “Hong Lian has no other relatives, and she and Qing Luan are like sisters. The Regent’s Palace will be your maternal home. I will ask for an imperial decree to take Hong Lian as my sworn sister and arrange your marriage. At that time, the dowry and wedding will be prepared according to the standards of the palace.”

This marriage is a perfect match; if Xiao Wu treats you badly in the future, go to the princess for justice!

"Thank you so much, Your Highness!"

"Thank you, Your Highness!"

Honglian and Xiaowu were so grateful that tears welled up in their eyes, and they hurriedly bowed in thanks.

The fluffy ball lazily licked its paws. Seeing Xiao Wu's mouth almost reaching his ears with joy, it couldn't help but shake its head and sigh, "You're still too young and happy too soon! You silly kid, you'll soon become a henpecked husband."

It suddenly remembered something, perked up its ears, and asked, "Host, you've already helped two couples get together in this mission world. Shouldn't you start thinking about your own marriage next?"

You're almost thirty!

In this day and age, I'm considered an extremely old unmarried youth, let me tell you...

Jiang Chen secretly flicked it on the head, then discussed the specific arrangements for Xiao Wu and Hong Lian's wedding, and finally let them all leave, leaving only Shangguan Xuanyu in the study.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

The sweet life after marriage has made Shangguan Xuanyu even more gentle and refined. Seeing that he was silent, he stood up, bowed, and asked respectfully.

“Logically, you should call me brother.” Jiang Chen stood up and slowly walked to his side, looking into the other’s starry eyes and said in a deep voice, “After Qingluan fell in love with you and you got married, we became family.”

Shangguan Xuanyu instinctively felt a sense of crisis.

Especially the way the other person scrutinizes you, it seems they can see right through your disguise and look straight into your heart!

"Brother." Cold sweat broke out on his back, but his expression remained unchanged. He lowered his gaze and bowed again, changing his form of address.

Jiang Chen put a hand on his shoulder and said to himself, "Since I founded the trading company, I have amassed wealth from all over the world. Now I have expanded my business to other capitals. I have opened branches in Yong'an, Lingjiang, Dayu, and even the remote Japanese islands, and goods are flowing out to exchange for real money."

"Brother, you are truly talented! Your vision and strategic thinking are truly admirable."

Do you know how coveted the business of this trading company is?

"They must be plotting to seize the throne and are eyeing it covetously."

The fluffy little dumpling curiously wagged its big, fluffy tail and peeked out to watch the two chatting back and forth, wondering what its host was trying to achieve by saying all this.

"However, the trading company is established in the name of the royal family of my Southern Qi Kingdom. Those people dare not act rashly to seek money, for fear of causing conflict and war between the countries. Moreover, the goods sold by the trading company are practical, of good quality and inexpensive, and other countries simply do not have the technical means to imitate them."

If trade issues between the two parties prevent the flow of goods, it will inevitably cause public discontent.

Jiang Chen gripped his shoulder and walked up behind Shangguan Xuanyu, leaning close to his ear and asking in a deep voice, "Do you know how crazy those people can be to get a share of the pie?"

Shangguan Xuanyu felt like prey being targeted by an eagle. His eyes twitched slightly, but he remained calm and composed, replying without changing his expression: "People die for wealth, birds die for food. Merchants can amass wealth from all over the world. If someone has no bottom line, they will do anything to seek profit."

"That's right, so I threw out a bait. Do you know what amazing reward I got?"

"My brother-in-law dares not make any wild guesses."

Jiang Chen chuckled softly and patted his shoulder, "Is it that you dare not, or that you can't guess, Young Master Shangguan?"

Shangguan Xuanyu's body stiffened slightly for a second, then he turned to the other party with a gentle smile and asked with utmost sincerity, "Forgive my brother-in-law for being so dull, I didn't understand what you were saying, brother."

"Shangguan Xuanyu is the only son of Shangguan Yuntao, the deputy director of the Imperial City Division of Yong'an Kingdom. In October of Yong'an 175, he was protected by a team of secret agents from the Imperial City Division and infiltrated into Southern Qi, where he traveled to the capital under the alias Young Master Yu."

Jiang Chen stared into the other's unchanging eyes and said, word by word, "Emperor An of Yong'an was killed during the spring sacrifice, and Yong'an was thrown into chaos. Shangguan Yuntao led the elite troops of the Imperial City Guard to stop the conflict, but was framed by someone with ulterior motives and killed by a hail of arrows."

Huang Xiuqi, the head of the department, openly sided with the Crown Prince. The Shangguan Mansion was left without a leader, with only a Lady of Imperial Decree caught in the undercurrents. All 125 people in the mansion were strangled to death, and soon after, the mansion was burned to the ground.

"Shangguan Xuanyu, don't you want to know where your father's body is? Who strangled your mother to death? Don't you want to know who betrayed you and handed you detailed information?"

The barrage of questions had clearly made him realize that he had been betrayed, and that there was no turning back now!

"With everyone else dismissed and no guards by my side, isn't the Regent worried that I might resort to violence when I'm cornered?"

"(ˉ▽￣～) Tch~~" The little white cat hugged its paws and sneered, "You? You think you can mess with my host? Who gave you the courage?"

Jiang Chen couldn't help but laugh, "Do you really think that I, the Regent who has led troops and fought in battles, am just an empty shell? Or do you think that all the guards in the Regent's Palace are dead?"

"I didn't sense the slightest killing intent." Shangguan Xuanyu remained standing upright and calm, his voice still gentle as he spoke: "Does the Regent intend to spare me, the head of the enemy nation's secret agents?"

At this point, he chuckled self-deprecatingly and shook his head, saying, "Oh no, I should say I'm a discarded pawn. I'm no longer the head of the secret agents; those people are now the Imperial City Guard's spies, specifically here to keep an eye on me. So, the Regent has lost out on this deal."

Even so, he was still not very confident.

If the opponent were to unleash their full martial arts skills, they might be able to fight to a draw. However, Xiao Wu and the guards in the courtyard are not to be underestimated. As soon as there is any movement or fighting in the study, they will immediately break down the door and capture him alive!

The thought of his parents' tragic deaths, the lack of revenge, and the absence of even a proper burial and memorial service, coupled with his betrayal and the possibility of being arrested, tortured, and subjected to endless humiliation, filled Shangguan Xuanyu with a deep sense of sorrow.

In this moment and in this situation, how ridiculous it is to have once been so devoted to serving the country!

"If I had been captured due to my own incompetence, I would have had nothing to say. But now I have been betrayed, and I am truly unwilling to accept it!"

Shangguan Xuanyu was filled with anger and sorrow, his voice tinged with resentment, "Now that things have come to this, I beg the Regent, for the sake of my marriage to Qingluan, to tell me the truth so that I can die with some dignity."

Chapter Thirty-Two: An Unexpected Emotional Drama

Burdened with a blood feud and abandoned by the country, and even more ridiculously, he betrayed his secrets to the regent, who might only be after a little money. Shangguan Xuanyu was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.

Jiang Chen was trying to build up the atmosphere before throwing out his suggestion. However, before he could speak again, the study door was suddenly kicked open!

A loud crash made them both turn around to look, and there was Shen Qingluan rushing in!

The little white cat was startled, its fur standing on end as it jumped onto the other shoulder and meowed, "Host, did you arrange this in advance? I was so scared! Meow~"

"Brother!" Shen Qingluan rushed in, threw herself at his feet, hugged Jiang Chen's leg, and pleaded with tears streaming down her face, "I heard everything outside! Brother, please don't arrest A-Yu! No matter what, he is my husband!"

Brother, I beg you, please let him go!

Ah Yu, run! Run!

Shangguan Xuanyu was deeply moved by the scene before him. Even though he had approached her with ulterior motives and had deceived her, his wife stood by his side as always after learning her true identity. She never wavered and even tried to find him a chance to escape.

"Qingluan, what are you doing?" Jiang Chen was also startled. He just wanted to trick Shangguan Xuanyu into not discussing it with her beforehand. Fearing that Shen Qingluan might accidentally reveal the truth due to her feelings, he hurriedly scolded, "This is a matter of national importance, it has nothing to do with you, get out!"

Shen Qingluan, tears streaming down her face, stumbled to her feet and stood between the two, gripping Jiang Chen's arm tightly with one hand while pushing Shangguan Xuanyu away with the other. "I'm stopping my brother, Ayu, go! Go! What are you still standing here for?"

"Qingluan..." Shangguan Xuanyu's eyes were slightly red and his voice trembled as he gently stroked her hair and said with a bitter smile, "Where else can I go? Since my family was destroyed and I was betrayed, there is no place for me in this world. You don't need to do this for me, Qingluan, you are a good girl, it's my fault..."

Shen Qingluan punched and kicked Jiang Chen, forcing him to take two steps back. She turned around and sobbed, "I don't care who you were before, you are my husband now, and always will be!"

For the sake of the child, you should leave now!

Don't let him lose his father before he's even born, Ayu, I beg you, go far away and live a good life!

child?!

Upon hearing this, Shangguan Xuanyu was stunned.

Jiang Chen: (⊙_⊙)?

What's going on? This wasn't my arrangement, so why is there this sudden emotional drama?

Little white cat: (￣□￣；)

Meow meow meow? Judging from the host's expression, it shouldn't be his director. Sure enough, even though the script team is slacking off, the world's will is still proceeding according to the melodramatic plot. Whenever the male lead has a major event, the female lead is either pregnant or about to give birth. Anyway, they definitely have to add some drama!

"What child? Qingluan, what nonsense are you spouting?" Jiang Chen frowned, worried that Shen Qingluan was adding her own drama. If she messed up her performance, all his plans would be ruined. So he stepped forward, grabbed her, and scolded, "Get out!"

Shen Qingluan, however, cried miserably, grabbed his arms, knelt down, and begged, "Brother, I am two months pregnant! Please, for the sake of the child, spare A-Yu!"

Just pretend you know nothing and let him go far away so he never interferes in the disputes between the two countries again.

I can raise the child on my own, I just beg my brother not to lose his father before he's even born!

Jiang Chen: ...

You've only been married for a few months, that's incredibly fast!

"I..." Shangguan Xuanyu looked at the Regent staring at him with an incredulous expression. His lips trembled, he sighed, lifted his robe, knelt down and pleaded, "I am a caged beast with no way out. I thought that even if I die, I would still maintain my last bit of dignity."

did not expect……

Since I married Qingluan, I have been tormented day and night, unable to eat or sleep properly.

She's a good girl, I lied to her and hurt her! But now she's carrying my child. The Shangguan family has been wiped out, and this little bloodline is all that's left. I don't expect you to protect enemy spies, I only wish you would treat this child well and let him grow up happily.