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

"I'm going to attend the wedding banquet of the navy commander's family, and I should be able to find a chance to find out the truth. If Fourth Uncle is really related to Lingshan, we must know whether he was forced to do it or was willing to do it, as well as his current attitude towards the Shen family, so that we can make plans in advance." Shen Chuning said with a firm gaze and a serious tone.

"I don't agree!" Shen Qinghe stood up suddenly and retorted excitedly.

"You are just going to attend the wedding banquet. You can't ask your bride to accompany you to the sea, right? Besides, it's too dangerous for a girl like you to go to the sea, and to go to Lingshan at that." He paced back and forth anxiously, his face full of worry.

Zhou Lin frowned and agreed, "I don't agree either. We can think of other ways to deal with this matter. It's too dangerous for you to go alone like this."

He clenched his fists tightly, as if trying to stop her decision.

Shen Chuning said dissatisfiedly: "How can you go alone? My mother and I both received the invitation, I'm not the only one."

"That won't work either!" Shen Qinghe said firmly, looking at his daughter without any doubt.

Shen Chuning picked up the teapot and filled the cup in front of Shen Qinghe with tea, then said softly, "Dad, this is what I think. We're still unsure whether Lingshan is on an island overseas, or which island it is on. But if there really is an organization on those islands that can infiltrate the homes of officials in the capital, the navy will definitely know about it. After all, there are ships passing by constantly, and the navy will always be able to detect something. And Fuping, as one of the coastal cities, is also the headquarters of the navy. If I go to Fuping, maybe I can find out something."

Shen Qinghe took a sip from his teacup. "If anyone in the Shandong Navy is colluding with Lingshan, you must not go. When the time comes, just deliver the gift and no one can find fault with you."

Shen Chuning took Shen Qinghe's arm and said coquettishly, "Dad, please let me go. Since I came to Shandong, I have been staying in the governor's office all day and haven't gone out to play."

"We also went to Daming Lake to eat fish." Zhou Lin whispered on the side.

After hearing this, Shen Chuning glared at him and he immediately fell silent.

Shen Chuning then said to Shen Qinghe, "Now that I finally have an opportunity, I want to go out for a walk and see if I can get some information about Lingshan. And don't worry, I promise I will never do anything dangerous."

Shen Chuning looked at Shen Qinghe expectantly and said coquettishly.

Shen Qinghe stared at her for a while, as if thinking about something, and then asked, "Are you sure you won't do anything dangerous?"

When Shen Chuning heard that there was a chance, she quickly raised three fingers and said with a solemn oath, "Dad, I swear, I will never do anything dangerous!"

Seeing her determination, Shen Qinghe finally nodded and agreed to her request, "Let Shen Qi go with you and your mother."

Shen Chuning's originally cheerful face immediately fell. "Dad, Mom wants to take Pearl and Jade with her, and I want to take Cuiwei and Qixia with me, as well as the servants and the people from the Yunyuan Escort Agency. We're going to a wedding banquet, not to a war. Why bring so many people? Besides, if Butler Shen goes with us, what will you do?"

Shen Qinghe's face also darkened. "There are some things you can't handle. Take Shen Qi with you, or don't go at all."

Shen Chuning curled her lips and said, "I'll take it with me, isn't it okay?"

After Zhou Lin left, Shen Qinghe told Shen Chuning about some household matters and repeatedly reminded her not to do anything dangerous.

Only after Shen Chuning agreed repeatedly did he let her go.

As soon as Shen Chuning left Shen Qinghe's yard, she saw Zhou Lin standing under a tree outside the yard waiting for her. Shen Chuning was startled and patted her chest and complained, "Brother Zhou Er, why didn't you make a sound? You scared me to death."

Zhou Lin covered his mouth with his hands and chuckled softly, a sly look flashing in his eyes. "Okay, then next time I'll hold the gong in one hand and wave the red silk in the other. I'll be beating the gong while waving the red silk. That way, you'll definitely be able to see me from far away!"

After hearing this, Shen Chuning couldn't help but roll her eyes at him. She said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Just now, in front of my father, you dared to sabotage me. I haven't even settled that score with you yet! Now you're teasing me again."

Zhou Lin smiled slightly, his eyes fell on her furry head, and he felt an urge to reach out and touch it, but he finally held back.

He whispered, "I'm sorry, I know I was wrong."

Shen Chuning stared at him suspiciously, secretly surprised. Then she asked curiously, "Huh? Could it be that the sun is rising from the west today? You're so eager to admit your mistake. I'm afraid you have something to ask of me. Tell me, what is it?"

Zhou Lin looked at her firmly, his tone sincere and resolute, "I want to go to Fuping with you."

Hearing this, Shen Chuning's steps suddenly stopped. She frowned and looked troubled. "Don't follow me, please. I've already arranged a lot of people around me. Now even Butler Shen has to accompany me. If you come with me, others will think I'm too arrogant. After all, my father has always been committed to creating an image of being close to the people and loving the people. If I go out with a large group of people, wouldn't it be a disgrace to him?"

"Can't I be the only one?" Zhou Lin frowned and looked at Shen Chuning with confusion.

Shen Chuning looked embarrassed, and said with a hint of helplessness in her tone: "How can it be that I, an unmarried girl, am going out with a grown man like you by my side?"

She looked Zhou Lin up and down. "Look at your handsome figure and handsome face, you don't look like a servant of our Shen family. It doesn't fit."

As she spoke, Shen Chuning shook her head repeatedly, seeming to be very dissatisfied with this idea.

However, Zhou Lin seemed not to hear what she said next, and only the words "handsome figure and beautiful face" echoed in his mind.

His face showed surprise, and he couldn't wait to ask, "Do you think I'm handsome and beautiful?"

Shen Chuning looked at him in confusion, wondering why this person was focusing on such a strange thing, but she still answered truthfully: "Yes, isn't this something you can see with your eyes?"

After Zhou Lin received a positive answer, he was in a good mood and the corners of his mouth rose unconsciously.

But he soon realized that this was not the main point he should be concerned about, so he tried to suppress his smile and pretend to be serious.

Seeing that Zhou Lin was unmoved, Shen Chuning sighed inwardly.

She continued patiently, "As for my safety, you don't have to worry. The escort leaders and escorts at Yunyuan Escort Agency are veterans with years of experience and exceptional skills. If I were ever in danger, they would be fully capable of protecting me. Besides, aren't there the two secret guards you assigned to me? Since you assigned them to me, you naturally trust their abilities. Don't you even trust your own people?"

Seeing Shen Chuning had given all the reasons for her refusal, Zhou Lin could only say, "I'm not doing this for your safety. I want to go myself."