Chapter 422: Chapter 422: So, She Understood Everything

Yan Huan sighed in resignation but followed them at once.

He was under the Holy Emperor’s orders to keep an eye on Cao Jin. If something were to happen to Cao Jin, the position of Commander of the imperial guard would undoubtedly be his.

Cao Jin took the tray from Xuan Mei’s hands, paused, and looked at its contents. "The Princess Consort is very thoughtful."

"The Princess Consort appreciates your hard work guarding the Prince Mansion."

"My thanks to the Princess Consort."

Yan Huan immediately stepped forward. "What a coincidence. I was in such a hurry when I came that I haven’t eaten yet. You don’t mind, do you, Commander Cao?"

Cao Jin merely glanced at him and said nothing.

After taking the tray, Yan Huan inspected it meticulously. He only relaxed after confirming there was nothing suspicious.

The pastries on the plate were exquisitely made and looked very tempting. His traitorous stomach actually started to rumble.

He rubbed his stomach, thinking, ’Surely Princess Qing wouldn’t dare pull a trick in public? Besides, this was a gift for Cao Jin.’ So, he boldly began to eat while keeping Cao Jin and Xuan Mei in the corner of his eye.

The two of them didn’t seem very familiar with each other.

Cao Jin: "Did you add something?"

Xuan Mei: "It will take effect in an hour."

Cao Jin: "He’s the Holy Emperor’s man."

Xuan Mei: "It won’t kill him."

Cao Jin: "Mm."

After that brief exchange, Xuan Mei turned and left.

"Is it handled?"

"Mm."

Song Lianhe turned around and went straight to Zhou Cangyan’s study.

"You drugged him?"

Zhou Cangyan looked up at her, amused. "Do you have any idea who this Yan Huan is?"

Song Lianhe said languidly, "I don’t care what kind of cannon fodder he is! If he gets in the way of me leaving the mansion, I’ll make sure he can’t even pull up his pants!"

"Cannon fodder?" He chuckled. "Is that another saying from your world?"

"I guess so." She walked over and said seriously, "I need to make a trip back to the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion. I want to see my grandfather and grandmother."

Zhou Cangyan said, "If you want to see them, I can have them brought over anytime. Why go through so much trouble?"

He’d never given a few mere imperial guards a second thought.

But Song Lianhe shook her head. "If Emperor Cheng Xiao wants to keep us trapped, he definitely has other tricks up his sleeve! So, this is something only I can do. If something goes wrong, it’ll be because I missed my family. It will have nothing to do with you!"

Seeing how she always thought of him and put him first in everything, a warmth spread through Zhou Cangyan’s heart. He pulled her over to sit on his lap.

The Shadow Guard was tactful and immediately turned to leave the study.

Inside the study, Zhou Cangyan rested his chin on her shoulder and said suddenly, "It seems I must possess supreme power to prevent you from being wronged."

Song Lianhe froze for a moment, then cupped his face and stared at him earnestly. "But power can be a double-edged sword, bringing with it desire and responsibility. I don’t want you to compromise for my sake. For me, living freely is something I achieve myself, not something granted by another. Even if I’m trapped in a small corner of the world, I can still thrive! Because I am who I am, and I don’t depend on anyone."

’Of course, if there’s a powerful backer to latch onto, you have to latch on.’

’Who wouldn’t take a shortcut if they had one? You’d have to be an idiot!’

’To maintain my magnificent and virtuous image right now, I’ll let him figure out that last part on his own.’

After hearing her words, Zhou Cangyan looked up, his gaze fixing on her with deep seriousness.

"What if... you were to be trapped by others indefinitely?"

"Let him trap all he wants!"

Song Lianhe laughed. "This brings us back to the issue we just mentioned—desire. If you and I are without wants or desires, what leverage does he have to threaten us? But then again, if that person is determined to see us suffer, then we shouldn’t be polite with him either! Compared to overthrowing a country, getting rid of one person is a piece of cake."

Zhou Cangyan stared at her, then suddenly smiled.

’So, she understands everything.’

「An hour later.」

Yan Huan felt his stomach churning violently. He clutched it and said, "Commander Cao, I... I need to go..."

Cao Jin glanced at him. "Deputy Commander Yan, what were the Holy Emperor’s orders? Abandoning your post is a capital offense!"

"No, I just..."

"No."

Cao Jin’s tone was stern and righteous.

Cold sweat beaded on Yan Huan’s forehead. "Commander Cao, I just need to use the latrine. I’ll be right back."

Seeing Cao Jin frown, Yan Huan’s face contorted in pain. "I’ll be right back!"

Unable to hold it in any longer, he asked a gatekeeper for the latrine’s location and rushed inside in a panic.

At the same time, the person who had timed it perfectly and was already waiting at the gate swaggered out.

"Commander Cao, thank you for your hard work."

Cao Jin simply said, "Princess Qing," his gaze naturally falling on Xuan Mei behind her.

Xuan Mei continued to stare straight ahead, not sparing him a glance.

Song Lianhe gestured with her chin toward the imperial guards beside him. "Will they..."

Cao Jin lowered his gaze. "They saw nothing."

As he finished speaking, the squad of men immediately chanted in unison, "Your subordinates saw nothing!"

"Good, good, good." Song Lianhe smiled and waved at the men. "I’ll treat you all to a feast tonight."

Xuan Mei urged, "We should hurry."

Just then, a carriage stopped in front of the Prince Qing Mansion.

"Young Miss! We have come under the Lord’s orders to escort you back to the mansion."

"Grandfather?"

Song Lianhe smiled. ’Grandfather is truly a master strategist!’

Without another word, she boarded the carriage with Xuan Mei.

The carriage had just departed when a weakened Yan Huan emerged.

Cao Jin said with great dissatisfaction, "What took you so long?"

Yan Huan couldn’t voice his suffering. "I don’t know what’s wrong either... my stomach..."

Before he could finish, he doubled over, clutching his stomach again, and waved his hand. "I need to go to the latrine again..."

Cao Jin’s lips curled into a smirk as he deliberately blocked him. "Deputy Commander Yan, this guard duty is certainly not as comfortable as being in the Imperial City. This Commander understands that. But you still can’t defy the Holy Emperor’s orders!"

"Commander Cao, I really..."

Yan Huan’s expression changed again. He had no time for nonsense. At this point, not even the Jade Emperor himself could stop him from going to the latrine!

Just as Yan Huan’s figure disappeared, Zhou Cangyan emerged unhurriedly from inside. "She’s gone."

"Mm."

Commander Cao didn’t even ask. As for his subordinates, they all stood ramrod straight, eyes fixed forward, seeing nothing.

***

The carriage entered through the rear gate of the Xuan Chang Marquis Mansion and drove straight in.

"My dear granddaughter!"

"Wenxin! Is that you, Wenxin, come back to us?"

The Marquis Xuan Chang and the Marchioness, supported by servants, came out and were overcome with emotion upon seeing Song Lianhe.

"Grandfather! Grandmother!"

Song Lianhe had truly missed them so much!

The last time she returned, everyone had forgotten her, so she couldn’t acknowledge the two elders. It was different this time. She was Song Lianhe again, and she could once more be the doting granddaughter at their side.

Nanny Diao smiled. "Lord, Marchioness, we should go inside to talk."

"Right, right, right!" Marquis Xuan Chang boomed. "Prepare a meal! Quickly, prepare a meal!"

The two of them took Song Lianhe’s hands and led her inside. Remembering something, Song Lianhe quickly asked, "Grandfather, the Prince Qing Mansion is under house arrest by the imperial guard. What about the Marquis Mansion?"

"Ah, we were surrounded by those bastards long ago!"

Song Lianhe grew anxious. "Then you..."

The Marchioness Xuan Chang just kept smiling gently.

Marquis Xuan Chang curled his lip in disdain and said gruffly, "Let him surround it. What’s that got to do with me? If I want to leave the mansion, I’ll leave! No one can stop me!"