Dad, open the door. I'll bring your mistress back for you.

As the Queen Mother's birthday was approaching, the Sixth Princess wanted to copy a Buddhist scripture with gold powder and present it to the Queen Mother as a gift.

However, she was worried that the gold powder provided by the Ministry of Internal Affairs was not pure enough, so she asked Shen Jingwan to grind the gold powder by hand every day.

After many days of hard work, Shen Jingwan's wrist had swollen up into a big lump. She could only wrap ice cubes in a handkerchief and apply them to her wrist every day to relieve the pain.

Finally, the day of rest arrived, and Shen Jingwan dragged her exhausted body out of the palace.

As she stepped out of the archway, she saw Fuzi standing anxiously at the palace gate waiting for her.

"Miss, you are finally out. Our farm in the suburbs of Beijing was sealed off three days ago." Fuzi was so anxious that she almost cried.

Shen Jingwan stared at Fuzi with wide eyes and angrily scolded him, "It was sealed off three days ago, why are you reporting it now?"

Fuzi explained aggrievedly, "This servant is truly wronged. I have come to the palace every day for the past three days to deliver this news. The gatekeepers also said that the news had been delivered to the Sixth Princess's palace, but this servant has waited here day after day, but has not received any instructions from you, young lady."

Shen Jingwan cursed "Xiao Jinhuan" inwardly. She knew in her heart that it must be Xiao Jinhuan who was behind this, otherwise which palace maid would dare to do this.

"Why was it suddenly closed down? Where is He Er? What is he doing?" Shen Jingwan asked sternly.

"My uncle was also taken away. I bribed the arresting officer and told him that they had discovered that gunpowder was being produced on our farm." Fuzi said cautiously, her voice trembling slightly.

When Shen Jingwan heard the news, her body shook violently and her face turned pale as paper in an instant. If Fuzi had not been quick to support her, she would probably have fainted on the ground.

Making gunpowder privately is a capital crime!

Thinking of this, Shen Jingwan felt a surge of fear in her heart.

She knew He Er very well. He seemed reliable at ordinary times, but once he encountered danger, he would definitely give herself up without hesitation in order to protect himself.

Shen Jingwan tightly grasped Fuzi's arm, her nails digging deep into her flesh. She gritted her teeth and asked, "Which government office investigated? Did they find any gunpowder directly in the manor?"

Fuzi endured the severe pain in her arm and stammered, "It was... Eunuch Wu, the Third Prince's attendant, who led the Dali Temple. As for whether gunpowder was directly found, I really can't find out. However, the charge against my uncle is indeed the illegal manufacture of gunpowder. Miss, why don't we go home and beg the old man? After all, he is the Prime Minister. As long as he asks, the Dali Temple will definitely release him."

Upon hearing this, Shen Jingwan was immediately furious. She raised her hand and slapped Fuzi hard, roaring, "Do you want to kill me? How can I let my grandfather know about this!"

All Shen Jingwan relies on now is her identity as the daughter of the Shen family.

But based on her observations when she just came here, the relationship between Aunt Xue and He Er was not simple.

If she really had no one available under her command, she would not have asked He Er for help.

Regardless of whether He Er is the uncle or biological father of this body, this matter must never be known to the Shen family.

Once the Shen family discovers He Er's existence and begins to doubt her identity, she will lose more than she gains.

So, Shen Jingwan and Fuzi waited in front of the third prince's mansion until curfew was almost approaching, and then Xiao Yuanlang returned to the mansion.

As soon as Xiao Yuanlang appeared, Shen Jingwan quickly flew forward, knelt in front of him, and said anxiously: "Third Prince, Wan'er has something important to ask of you."

Xiao Yuanlang frowned and pulled the hem of his robe from Shen Jingwan's hand. Then he raised his hand to signal the guards who were about to step forward to step back. He looked at Shen Jingwan with disgust and said impatiently, "What's the matter? Tell me."

Shen Jingwan knelt on the ground and looked around. Seeing a circle of guards surrounding her, she asked with some embarrassment: "Third Prince, can I have a word with you for a moment?"

After all, Shen Jingwan is a girl from the prime minister's mansion and also his sister's study partner. It is not appropriate to let her kneel at the door of the mansion.

"Come in." Xiao Yuanlang said and walked into the mansion without looking back.

Shen Jingwan took a deep breath, slowly stood up from the ground, and followed Xiao Yuanlang to the study with heavy steps.

As soon as he entered the study, Xiao Yuanlang casually leaned back in the armchair behind the desk, then raised his feet and placed them on the desk, looking down at Shen Jingwan who was kneeling on the ground with a condescending attitude.

"What's going on? Tell me!" Xiao Yuanlang's voice was filled with a hint of impatience.

Shen Jingwan tried to keep her voice calm: "Your Highness, I heard that Eunuch Wu, who is beside you, brought people to seal off a manor in the suburbs of Beijing three days ago..."

Xiao Yuanlang turned and looked at Wu Desheng who was standing beside him.

"Sir, it's the Zhuangzi who made gunpowder." Wu Desheng bent slightly and answered respectfully.

Xiao Yuanlang nodded, indicating that he understood the situation. He then turned to look at Shen Jingwan, who was kneeling on the ground, and sneered, "My master had it sealed off. So, is that your manor? Or did Prime Minister Shen instruct you to manufacture gunpowder privately?"

Shen Jingwan shook her head in horror to deny it.

"How...how is it possible...that farm belonged to Wan'er's former neighbor."

"They learned that Wan'er was studying with the Sixth Princess, and that you and the Sixth Princess are siblings, so they came to Wan'er for help."

"Wan'er just wanted to ask if there's any misunderstanding here."

"As far as Wan'er knows, that village is only using saltpeter to make ice, and they haven't prepared the materials needed to make gunpowder..."

Shen Jingwan told Xiao Yuanlang the whole story in detail.

After hearing what Shen Jingwan said, Xiao Yuanlang narrowed his eyes slightly, raised one eyebrow, and a meaningful smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. He said softly: "Oh? You actually know what materials are needed to make gunpowder?"