As Ren Yingying walked out, she said, "I've remembered all the suspicious points you mentioned. This is a matter for the Prince of Min's Residence's residence, so you don't need to worry about it. Just mention this to the Emperor, and I'll investigate the rest!"
She wasn't afraid of anyone, only of not being able to protect the people around her.
Now that Yuanyang's escape route was arranged, she could go all out to investigate who was plotting against them.
Tang Zhuyun brought up this matter with Emperor Wen.
Emperor Wen thought for a moment and cursed Qu Nian in his heart.
With so many women involved, Ren Yingying used to travel with a large group of people. He could only vaguely recognize some of their faces, but he couldn't really match them up.
So, which one is the mandarin Yuanyang?
"It's the one with the oval face and a beauty mark at the corner of her eye," Tang Zhuyun reminded her.
Emperor Wen thought about it again and had a vague impression.
"If you think it's safe, then it's safe," Emperor Wen said.
"Yuanyang are definitely a good thing."
The fact that Ren Yingying went along made people a little worried.
However, nothing was decided yet, so Tang Zhuyun didn't mention it.
Emperor Wen then said, "There's no time to wait to find out the truth behind this. Let them close the case as soon as possible and send her to Liaodong first."
The case is very simple: murder and exile, that's all.
Tang Zhuyun: "... Alright then."
Emperor Wen resolved this matter so swiftly and decisively.
Yuanyang only stayed in the prison for three days before returning to the palace.
She tried to kneel down, but Ren Yingying stopped her.
She was about to kneel again when Ren Yingying stared at her with wide eyes. "If you kneel to me again, believe me, I'll kneel to you too!"
Jinse also helped support Yuanyang, and whispered, "Be good, or Her Majesty will cry."
As soon as she finished speaking, Ren Yingying burst into tears.
Holy crap, Jinse really understands her.
She'd been holding it in for a long time.
Qu Nian was about to leave—he knew he wasn't welcome at the moment—but upon hearing Ren Yingying's crying, he found himself unable to move.
He pulled her close and wiped her tears with a handkerchief. "Didn't I already promise you? If you cry again, I'll go back on my word."
Ren Yingying wiped away her tears and started hiccuping again. Her red nose and big, watery eyes made her look both pitiful and funny.
"Alright, speak properly. I'll go queue up and buy you crab roe buns."
Leaving the capital and going to a godforsaken place like Liaodong, it would be difficult to find good food there.
Ren Yingying nodded repeatedly.
She dared not provoke Qu Nian; he might really go back on his word.
Last night he kept muttering to himself, "I don't even have a son yet, why do I always have to be his son's pawn?"
Linlin is going to Liaodong to make a name for himself, and he's going Liaodong too. Will he just stand by and watch someone die?
Cannot!
I'm just doing all the work for someone else's benefit again.
Qu Nian bitter inside, Qu Nian kept muttering to himself.
While the two were talking, Jinse was also wiping away Yuanyang's tears.
"Don't cry. You'll have to leave sooner or later... You wouldn't have stayed in the Prince's mansion for long anyway, but now you've found a good place. You know Prince Ming, he's not a stranger. As long as you serve him well, you can hope for a comfortable life."
They all understood that this "lifelong hope" meant that as long as they became Linlin's head maid, they wouldn't have to worry about being destitute in their old age, whether they married or not.
However, Yuanyang did not understand what he was saying.
What do you mean by "she'll leave sooner or later"?
She had originally planned to spend her whole life with the Crown Prince's wife.
She had selectively forgotten her previous home, not even wanting to mention the hatred associated with it, simply because she was afraid of changing this happy situation.
But unexpectedly, everything was still destroyed by the devil.
Jinse said softly, "The young master will not tolerate you."
The Yuanyang were greatly startled.
How did she offend the Crown Prince?
Does the Crown Prince feel that her presence is affecting his relationship with his Crown Princess?
In all honesty, she had absolutely no improper thoughts towards the Crown Prince's wife; she was only grateful, only...
Jinse seemed to see through her thoughts and said calmly, "No, it's because you are young and beautiful. To avoid suspicion, the young master doesn't want to keep you here."
The Crown Prince and his wife were deeply in love.
Their existence, while not causing any real harm, at least grants them a title.
If misunderstandings or disturbances arise in the future, they could easily affect the relationship between the Crown Prince and Crown Princess.
Yuanyang understood and asked, "Then what will you do if I leave?"
Wasn't Jinse young and beautiful?
Jinse said, "I'm fine. I've already told the Prince that I will remain single and not marry, in order to protect the Prince's consort."
She was useful; Qu Nian couldn't find a more suitable maidservant.
The Yuanyang were saddened.
She's useless.
"The Crown Princess wants to go to Liaodong with you." Jinse said quickly, seeing that the two had finished speaking, "Don't let her go. Don't make the Crown Prince feel troubled. You'll have a chance to come back in the future."
The Yuanyang ducks nodded.
After Qu Nian left, she told Ren Yingying that she didn't need Ren Yingying to accompany her.
Ren Yingying said, "It's alright, I've got nothing else to do anyway, I might as well go and take a look around Liaodong."
"You have something to say," Yuanyang said with a smile, feigning ease, "You need to hurry up and give birth to a little master. I know you're worried I might do something rash..."
"No, not at all." Ren Yingying was a little embarrassed after being exposed.
"It's really nothing," Yuanyang said. "I'm so glad to have this opportunity to be with Prince Ming. In a year or two, I'll be able to truly start over. Besides, this matter hasn't been fully investigated yet, so you'll have to keep an eye on it!"
"No, I don't trust you to go by yourself."
"I'm not going alone," Yuanyang smiled. "I'm going on a mission. Although the fourth branch of the Lang Family is also going to Liaodong, they are being exiled. Can they go with Prince Ming? My status is more suitable, so I can go with Ninth Miss Lang."
She was very clever; without Ren Yingying saying anything more, she figured out what would happen next.
She had to seize this opportunity to become an irreplaceable figure by Linlin's side.
She will always return to the capital and reunite with the Crown Princess.
Qu Nian bought a crab roe bun and learned that he didn't need to go to Liaodong anymore.
Okay.
As long as Ren Yingying is happy.
A few days later, the fourth branch of the Lang Family was officially escorted north.
The situation seems better than expected; we are no longer in chains.
You should know that a few days ago, when the rest of the Lang Family were exiled, Lang Xuan secretly went to see them. She saw that they were not only wearing shackles, but also being pelted with rotten vegetable leaves along the way. They looked so pitiful.
Their family is much better off.
However, when they arrived outside the city and saw that there were even carriages, they couldn't believe that those carriages were for them to ride in.
No, there is one person who believes it.
Concubine Yun.
The escorting guards shouted, "What are you looking at! That's the Heir to the Prince of Min's concubine! She has connections, that's why she's riding in a carriage. You're getting a huge advantage by following her! I've never escorted such a comfortable prisoner before!"
There really was a horse-drawn carriage.
Lang Xuan wanted to kowtow to God.
Forgive her for her great disrespect a few days ago, for even doubting God; God has not abandoned her.