Qiann Yan continued to respond indifferently, not minding them at all.

Before entering the palace, she had already arranged everything.

Wu Liang and his siblings, along with Ashui, quickly packed up and left the Prince Mansion as soon as Qiann Yan had left. They were all bought by her and were not considered members of the Prince Ling Mansion. Even if someone counted heads, they wouldn’t include these three.

Judging by the emperor’s appearance, he wanted to resolve this matter secretly.

It’s quite normal, as the Lin Family’s wrongful case implicates too many things and would directly affect the emperor’s reputation.

Jing Lingyu, being a prince who colluded with the enemy and committed treason, still had Chen Country blood in him, which would lead people to question the emperor’s competence. The fact that spies at one’s side went unnoticed is undoubtedly a severe embarrassment.

However, Ashui’s aim was to clear the Lin Family’s name, so how could she accept such a result? Even if the emperor secretly compensates the Lin Family, all its main members except Ashui are dead, so what use would compensation be?

As soon as Jing Lingyu was caught, the next day, the matter would be known throughout the world.

For someone like General Lin who has contributed significantly to Great Zhou, Qiann Yan believed he should be exonerated. If she were the emperor, having made such a mistake, she would definitely write an apology letter to declare it to the world.

Admitting a mistake is not an embarrassing matter.

The emperor avoiding this issue and refusing to admit fault, what about Chen Country then? They might seize the chance to stir something up, and more dignity would be lost at that time. It’d be better to openly admit it.

If the admission is sincere, even if the Great Zhou populace is initially angry, they will gradually understand.

Of course, Qiann Yan never planned to say these things to the emperor. Ashui will expose everything, and the emperor will have to take this step. It’s just that the effect won’t be as good as she suggested.

Qiann Yan was arranged to live in a palace, Jing Yunzhou went to attend to his tasks and wouldn’t come to see her even if he was angry.

At this moment, she could still practice her skills.

But Qiann Yan didn’t end up practicing, just as she sat down, there was a knock on the door outside, accompanied by Jing Xiyu’s clear and bright tone: "Third Sister-in-law, are you in?"

Qiann Yan opened the door, Jing Xiyu was standing at the entrance with a food box: "I heard you’re staying in the palace today?"

"Third Sister-in-law, why are you standing there? Let me come in, I brought food for you."

Qiann Yan stepped aside, Jing Xiyu walked in unreservedly: "I heard something happened."

"Don’t you have many spies? You should know some things."

Jing Xiyu smiled mischievously at Qiann Yan, taking out food from the container one by one: "Nothing can be hidden from Third Sister-in-law, you’re the smartest. I know something happened, but I don’t know what exactly."

"Being kept in the palace today was likely father’s decision, he doesn’t want Third Sister-in-law to leave, perhaps afraid of rumors spreading."

Qiann Yan sat by the table, unceremoniously grabbed a piece of pastry, sniffed it, and then put it in her mouth to taste: "Hmm."

She still hadn’t figured out Jing Xiyu’s intentions. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

What exactly did Jing Xiyu want by approaching her?

To say Jing Xiyu lacked ambition was impossible.

With ambition, he could compete with his brothers, but what could he gain from coming to her?

"Third Sister-in-law, can you tell me what happened?" Jing Xiyu leaned closer to Qiann Yan, "Second Brother won’t bother with me."

Qiann Yan continued eating pastries and drinking water: "I can’t."

"Doesn’t Third Sister-in-law feel obliged after eating what I brought?"

Qiann Yan: "You brought it, I didn’t ask you for it."

Jing Xiyu felt a bit helpless: "Alright, I won’t ask then. Third Sister-in-law must be bored alone here, let me chat with you, okay?"

"Not okay, it would disturb me."