You're the one who wants to marry a mistress, and I'm marrying someone else, yet you still

“Our Shen family is indeed short of money, but a gentleman loves money but acquires it in a proper way. We don’t need to use money to exploit the people. However, if Your Highness thinks highly of me, please help me find a position in the court, no matter how small. I am willing to do my part for the Great Zhou Dynasty.”

As if she had suddenly gained her brain, Shen Nian'an actually refused to accept the silver notes.

The man in white didn't hesitate and put the silver note away.

Bribing Shen Nian'an was not part of the plan. He only wanted to bring him into the game to make the plan go more smoothly. After only a short contact, he already felt that Shen Nian'an was stupid and unaware of his own stupidity.

Did he think everyone would believe his last few words, so cryptic and hypocritical? How laughable.

As Shen Nian'an was leaving, she glanced at Xiao Zhuang through the window. What would she do with a useless hostage?

He didn't ask.

He's currently in dire straits, barely able to save himself, so how could he possibly care about the fate of others? He can still distinguish between a one-off transaction and long-term benefits.

Therefore, he would rather have an official position than have a mere silver note misappropriated. He could find a way to prevent Shen Cong'an from intervening in the Simons' affairs, but his name, Shen Nian'an, must not be among those who directly preyed on the people.

That's why he didn't want money; he preferred an official position.

At the Princess's residence, Dongzhu told Xie Wanru about this matter when she woke up in the morning.

Xiao Zhuang was bought from a human trafficker. After he was bought, he followed Shen Mo and didn't have many opportunities to appear in front of her, so much so that Xie Wanru couldn't remember Xiao Zhuang's appearance clearly.

"They probably want to win over Shen Cong'an to oppose the Crown Prince. The letter from my third senior brother mentions a man in white, who is very likely the one who did it. Tell Shen Cong'an to be careful; I have a feeling this person is not simple."

Xie Wanru frowned slightly, her heart filled with ripples.

She naturally knew that being in the center of the court's vortex required caution in every move, but she truly did not expect that Xiao Yan would go to such lengths to win over Shen Cong'an.

Kidnapping a child is truly despicable and shameless.

"Dongzhu, go quietly to Shen Cong'an and tell him about the man in white. Third Senior Brother hasn't found out the man's identity yet, so we're in a very passive position. We need to save him, but we can't be reckless. Also, be sure to remind him to be careful of the people around him, in case there are spies infiltrating. The Simons will arrive in Xuancheng tomorrow, and if someone tries to sabotage us, it will be very troublesome."

Xie Wanru gave the instructions to Dongzhu, her tone firm.

"Yes, county lord."

Dongzhu accepted the order and left in haste, clearly aware of the urgency of the situation.

It's indeed tricky when an unfamiliar person suddenly appears in the opposing camp.

After Dongzhu left, Xie Wanru stood by the window, gazing at the swaying bamboo leaves outside, and assessing the current situation.

Xiao Yan is brave but reckless. Sometimes, she doesn't even need to cause him trouble; he can create a whole host of problems for himself.

However, getting rid of him completely is not an easy task.

Historically, princes were almost never sentenced to death unless they committed a serious crime.

Even if he competed with the crown prince for the throne and used some dirty tricks, it was a family matter behind closed doors, and at most he would be given a fiefdom.

That's not what Xie Wanru wants. What she wants is blood for blood. In her previous life, Xiao Yan accused the Xie family of treason. In this life, she will find a way to make Xiao Yan confirm that crime.

Only if Xiao Yan is found guilty of treason and collusion with the enemy, will the law sentence him to death, and only then can the injustice suffered by the Xie family in their past lives be redressed.

After Shen Nian'an left, the man in white originally wanted to have Xiao Zhuang killed, but when he thought that Shen Cong'an had already sensed their intentions, he was reluctant to let go of this opportunity to contact Shen Cong'an.

“Send a letter to Shen Cong’an, asking him if he would be willing to pay a price for a mere pageboy…”

After saying that, he reached out and took off the mask from the man kneeling on the ground. "From now on, you should wear a black one. A white mask doesn't suit you."

For some reason, he didn't like to reveal his face, so all his men wore masks. However, he himself preferred white and black, so he made his men wear them as well.

However, there aren't many people who can wear white like him.

"Yes."

The kneeling man kept his head down. He knew that he had failed to bring back Shen Cong'an's real son this time, and that bringing back a page was a huge oversight. His master had already shown mercy by not taking his life.

It was his honor to wear the white robe alongside his master, and he would continue to work hard to earn the robe back.

Thus, the letter he sent was like a carefully placed chess piece, quietly falling onto Shen Cong'an's chessboard.

When Shen Cong'an received the letter, he was alone in his study researching the history of the Simons, trying to use official business to cover up his inner turmoil.

He was indeed prescient, anticipating the other party's actions and saving Shen Mo from danger. However, Xiao Zhuang was taken hostage because of his plan, and his fate is unknown.

The letter was brief and direct, using Xiao Zhuang's life as leverage to demand that Shen Cong'an actively cooperate with the Simons after the Simon delegation arrived the next day.

The letter stated that there was no need for him to betray the Crown Prince, and that what Xiao Yan had done this time would not involve the Crown Prince and was unrelated to him.

Shen Cong'an knew that this matter was not so simple. If he did not know the Simons' plan, he would naturally think that he was just not stopping the Simons, which would not seem to violate his principles.

But he already knew Simon's intentions, so how could he let Simon take over?

"Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan! In order to frame His Highness the Crown Prince, you didn't hesitate to tamper with disaster relief supplies, showing no regard for the people of Great Zhou. To cooperate with the Simons for profit, don't you know that the Simons only care about their own interests and have no regard for the people of Great Zhou? They are just using you."

Shen Cong'an held the letter and muttered to himself.

Dongzhu arrived shortly afterward and relayed Xie Wanru's words, which made him understand.

"Xiao Yan and the Simons shouldn't have had direct contact yet, but this man in white has. So, this man in white used this as a condition to get Xiao Yan to accept him as his strategist. Who is he?"

Shen Cong'an paced back and forth in the room.

"This person is very likely a spy sent by the Simons. No, if he were a Simon, he couldn't possibly know so much about my situation and be able to hijack the carriage to the academy in such a short time. I'm pretty sure he's the one who kidnapped Xiaozhuang, but whose side is he on..."

Shen Cong'an couldn't understand it. Xiao Yan couldn't possibly control this kind of person. This person was definitely not subservient to Xiao Yan.

Dongzhu was also a little dizzy from being spun around.

She felt she could understand the princess's analysis, but she needed to rack her brains to think about Lord Shen's.