Chapter 410: Testing the Waters

Chapter 410: Testing the Waters

"How do we climb out?"

"I'll lend you my shoulder to step on. You go first, and then you can pull me up afterward."

"We have no other choice."

Just as they reached the window and were about to climb, they heard unfamiliar footsteps.

The two of them quickly stopped.

"Shh, someone's coming. Go back and sit down; I'll see who it is."

Zheng Jinyu peeked through the door crack and saw a group of people approaching. She recognized one of them—a deputy general named Wang Yu, who had escorted her back to the Zheng family when she first returned.

She hurriedly turned to Cui Yongnian and said, "Cousin, it seems they've come to rescue us."

At that moment, someone broke open the iron lock.

Wang Yu rushed in and said to Zheng Jinyu, "Your Highness, I apologize for the delay. I've caused you distress."

Zheng Jinyu left with them without saying much, still confused by the unresolved mysteries.

On the way back, she asked Wang Yu how those people had died.

Wang Yu replied that they were killed by the secret guards.

But why didn't the secret guards rescue them that night?

Wang Yu explained that they had other tasks and that it was too late, so everyone was asleep, making it inconvenient to take them away at that time.

Good grief, were they afraid of disturbing her sleep?

That aside, they left one person alive—the old woman who fed them.

Wang Yu said, "The old woman is elderly and has poor eyesight. More importantly, unlike the other villagers, she is an ordinary villager and a lonely widow."

"She's an ordinary person?"

"Yes, her husband and son both died, leaving her alone. She usually feeds chickens, ducks, and geese and cooks for those people."

"What about the others?"

"The village is no longer an ordinary one. It's a group of bandits using the identities of ordinary villagers as cover. They carry out missions when needed and work like ordinary people otherwise, growing crops and living normally."

Something felt off to her, but she couldn't pinpoint what exactly.

However, their explanations were seamless, leaving her no room for doubt.

Upon returning to the Princess's residence, the Princess immediately greeted her.

"Jinyu, my poor child, did you suffer?"

Her face was still dirty, and the Princess took out a handkerchief to wipe it for her.

Zheng Jinyu shook her head and said, "Mother, I'm fine."

"You say you're fine, yet you look so disheveled. Why is there still grass in your hair?"

"The bandits threw me into a woodshed, and I slept on a pile of straw all night."

"Ah? How could you sleep on a pile of straw? That's not suffering?"

Zheng Jinyu smiled faintly, "Mother, it's nothing. Didn't I grow up sleeping on straw?"

The Princess felt a pang of sadness and hurriedly instructed someone to heat water for her to bathe and prepare some delicious food for her.

Zheng Jinyu told her, "They took the jade pendant from around my neck. I don't know what they plan to do with it."

"Jade pendant? The one Yuchilde gave you?"

Zheng Jinyu nodded.

The Princess's expression darkened, and she sighed, "Alright, I understand. Go rest now; I'll handle the rest."

Zheng Jinyu trusted her and left after agreeing.

A short while later, the Princess called the County Princess over. There were things she needed to know.

"Jingrou, since I killed your husband and brought you back, I've been intentionally training you to be brave and decisive. From that moment on, you ceased being a weak woman needing protection. No one can protect you forever; only you can protect yourself."

The County Princess nodded, "Mother, I understand."

"Good. How is your martial arts practice going?"

The County Princess looked somewhat ashamed, "It's... alright."

That meant it wasn't going well.

Of course, the Princess didn't blame her.

After all, it was a childhood skill, and she had started too late.

The Princess's expectations weren't high—she just wanted her to be able to defend herself against ordinary men.

"Yuchilde and I are walking a path with no return. We originally intended to keep this from you and protect you, but given the current situation, we can't anymore. I need you to do something for me."

The County Princess was startled, "Mother, tell me."

Jinyu lost a jade pendant, and the person who took it probably went north. You should take people to chase after them and bring it back.

That night, the princess regent told the county princess many things, including that the several accidents involving Xie Peiyu were all caused by someone, and that person was the current Emperor.

The county princess could hardly believe it.

Although the Emperor wasn't her uncle, because her mother had adopted her as a goddaughter, the Emperor had always been very kind to her.

From childhood, whenever he sent gifts to Yu'er, she would also receive a share.

During festivals, the red envelopes he gave her were no less than those given to the princes and princesses.

He respected her mother so much, so why did he want to kill Yu'er?

"Mother, why? Doesn't he know that Yu'er is Mother's only son? Could his respect for Mother be fake, just for show?"

Thinking of Gao Zhi's disgusting intentions, the princess regent felt as if she had swallowed a fly.

Last time, when he deliberately got drunk, it was a test, but she didn't expect such a disgusting result.

"He isn't from the imperial family; he isn't the biological son of the old prince of Prince Zhong's Mansion. He never treated me as his sister."

"What? Then he..."

A glance from the princess regent stopped the county princess from asking more questions.

She silently nodded and said, "Mother, I understand. I will do as you instructed."

"Yes, go prepare. We'll leave the city early tomorrow morning."

"Yes."

The next morning, while preparing to leave, they ran into Cui Yongnian at the gate.

The county princess looked at him in surprise, "Mr. Qinghe, so early?"

Cui Yongnian smiled and said, "I came to give my cousin something. It's a bother, Your Highness."

The county princess was puzzled but still had someone inform Zheng Jinyu before leaving with her entourage.

Zheng Jinyu had just woken up and couldn't help but marvel at how early they were.

Didn't Cui Yongnian also get kidnapped and scared like her? Why didn't he sleep in a bit longer and come so early?

In the reception area of the front hall, Cui Yongnian took out Zheng Jinyu's missing jade pendant, "Cousin, this is the jade pendant that was taken from you."

Zheng Jinyu was shocked, "How did it end up with you?"

Cui Yongnian smiled and said, "Do you remember the survivor they left behind? The old lady who fed us wild vegetables gave it to me."

Zheng Jinyu looked at him suspiciously.

But she didn't say more, thanked him after taking the jade pendant.

"Oh, is Chunmei alright?"

"She's fine. She was rescued shortly after we left, but she needs a few days to rest."

Cui Yongnian nodded and bid her farewell, "I need to go back. The Chancellor heard about my kidnapping by beggars and is worried. I must report to the Imperial Academy soon."

Zheng Jinyu said, "Alright, let me see you out."

As they walked out of the reception hall, Zheng Jinyu, taking advantage of him not noticing, intentionally tripped him.

Cui Yongnian fell straight down, groaning in pain.

Zheng Jinyu was alarmed and hurried to help him up, "Cousin, are you alright?"