The legitimate daughter returns, and everyone in the Marquis's mansion regrets and begs for for

As Zhou watched Su Muyang leave, she secretly wondered whether he could withstand the changes to come.

The following morning, a commotion arose within the magistrate's residence, with servants bustling about. Inside the main hall, the imposing Magistrate Yang and his worried wife sat in high seats. They were discussing countermeasures; the political landscape had been turbulent recently, and they needed to proceed with caution to protect their family's interests.

Lord Yang said with a stern face, "Recently, the court has been in a tense atmosphere, with various forces vying for power. A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin."

The lady nodded in agreement, "Yes, at this time we have to be careful and plan every step carefully."

Just then, a servant rushed in to report: "Master, there is an urgent letter from the border!"

Lord Yang frowned, quickly took the letter, and opened it. His eyes scanned the words, and his expression grew increasingly grim. "Oh no! The situation at the front is critical! The General has been poisoned, and now all fingers are pointing at the second male lead, Gu Changbai!"

Upon hearing this news, the lady's expression changed drastically. "Then wouldn't we be..." Before she could finish speaking, she felt a deep sense of unease.

Lord Yang clenched his fist and pondered for a moment before saying, "Although Gu Changbai is ambitious, this is a critical moment. We cannot rashly take sides, or we may be dragged into a quagmire." He said firmly, "Let's stabilize our position first, and then observe how the situation changes."

Meanwhile, at the Zhenbei Prince's residence, Su Muya walked out of her room with a solemn expression. She knew that Madam Tian would definitely have other tricks up her sleeve. Unwilling to be manipulated, she decided to take the initiative to negotiate with the Zhenbei Prince.

In the afternoon, Su Muya walked through the courtyard of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion, sunlight filtering through the lush foliage and casting dappled shadows. She had deliberately chosen a simple yet elegant outfit, hoping to gain some advantage in the negotiations.

The maid Liu'er followed closely behind and asked cautiously, "Miss, are we really going to see the Prince of Zhenbei? I heard he's been in a bad mood lately."

"Mm." Su Muya responded softly, unwilling to say more. She knew this trip was dangerous, but there was no turning back.

Upon arriving at the main hall, she was stopped by the guards. Su Muya remained calm, simply taking out a letter from her sleeve and handing it over, saying, "Please inform the Prince that Miss Su requests an audience to discuss important matters."

The guard took the letter, glanced at it, and went inside. Soon after, the door opened, and an elderly man who looked like a steward came out and bowed slightly to Su Muya, saying, "Miss Su, please come with me. The Prince is waiting in the study."

Led by the butler, Su Muya stepped into the deep, quiet corridor, the tall pillars on either side appearing exceptionally imposing. Her heart raced, yet she maintained a calm expression. Finally, they reached the study door; the heavy wooden door slowly opened, revealing a cold, stern face.

The Prince of Zhenbei sat in a large chair, his gaze fixed intently on Su Muya. He was a burly man, and even though he couldn't move his legs, he exuded an undeniable aura of power.

The Prince of Zhenbei said in a deep voice, "Miss Su, what brings you here?"

Su Muya bowed gracefully, "I am honored to visit you today because I have an important matter to discuss with Your Highness."

The Prince of Zhenbei frowned slightly. "Oh?"

Then, the Prince of Zhenbei's eyes flickered slightly, and he calmly said, "Since this is a major matter, please sit down and speak slowly."

Su Muya nodded gently, sat down gracefully on a chair nearby, her expression calm but her tone firm, "As the head of a region, you certainly wouldn't want to see your family implicated."

The Prince of Zhenbei, with sharp eyes, asked with interest, "You are quite a clever girl. Continue, if you speak well, I might consider your advice."

Su Muya lowered her eyes and pondered for a moment before looking directly at the Prince of Zhenbei. "Your Highness, I came here hoping to use your power to protect my father and ensure my safety. In return, I can provide you with some confidential information about Gu Changbai, which may be of some help to Your Highness."

The Prince of Zhenbei's lips curled slightly, revealing a faint smile. "Oh? How can you guarantee the authenticity of this information?"

Without hesitation, Su Muya took out a secret letter from her sleeve and handed it to the Prince of Zhenbei. “This letter is an example. This is evidence of Gu Changbai’s recent collusion with a certain high-ranking official. They planned to join forces to deal with the General and other loyal ministers. Now that the General is dead, the next one may be your subordinate or family member.”

The Prince of Zhenbei took the secret letter, examined it carefully, and his face darkened. "Hmph, it's just as I thought."

At that moment, he was silently weighing the pros and cons in his mind.

The study was silent except for the rustling of leaves outside, as if nature was whispering about its unknown destiny.

The Prince of Zhenbei slowly raised his head and stared at Su Mu. "You do have some courage. This kind of intelligence is indeed useful to me."

He paused, his tone turning stern, "But how can you convince me you won't betray me?"

Su Muya smiled slightly, her eyes filled with determination. "Your Highness, this letter is just the beginning. Our relationship cannot be based solely on trust; it requires mutual reliance. My father is in dire straits, and I have no way out. If we cannot cooperate with you, my family will face certain death."

The Prince of Zhenbei snorted coldly and said slowly, "Very well, let's start with this intelligence. However, I must remind you, if you try any tricks in front of me, your fate will not be much better than Gu Changbai's."

Su Muya bowed respectfully, "This humble woman understands, thank you for your magnanimity, Your Highness."

Meanwhile, in the Tian family's courtyard, Madam Tian leaned leisurely against the doorway, watching the carriage speeding towards them in the distance, a sinister smile appearing on her face.

Tian muttered to herself, "Su Muya, Su Muya, I asked you to use me to achieve your goal, but don't forget your promise."

As the carriage drew closer, there was a knock on the Tian family's gate, and the steward hurriedly came to report.

Butler: "Madam, we have a guest."

Madam Tian waved her hand, "Quickly, invite them in."

Soon, a young man walked steadily into the hall, his face solemn, as if he had brought important news.

Madam Tian frowned, stood up, and said, "So you are Young Master Li's confidant. May I ask what brings you here today?" Young Master Li's confidant bowed respectfully and said solemnly, "Madam Tian, ​​our young master has learned some important news and needs to discuss it with you immediately. We hope you will come in for a talk."

A hint of doubt flashed in Madam Tian's eyes, but she quickly dismissed it. "In that case, please follow me."

Then, she turned and walked into the inner room.

The two walked through the small courtyard and soon entered a simply furnished study. Tian closed the door, gestured for the other person to sit down, and then sat down at the table, calmly observing him.