After her mind was read, the spoiled brat became the darling of the whole group.

Xie Tongchen, bewildered, had his hands held by soldiers, his eyes fixed on Wen Yan: "Treason?"

He couldn't believe his ears.

How could the Xie family possibly plot a rebellion?

However, Wen Yan had no intention of giving Xie Tongchen a chance to explain, and he ordered his men to take Xie Tongchen away.

Everyone in the military camp stared in shock at Xie Tongchen being led away.

what?

Is the General Who Protects the Nation plotting a rebellion?

Xie Tongchen himself was unaware of it.

the other side.

General's House.

Jun Lanjin, Luo Chengan, and Luo Hanfeng stood outside Xie Mingzhu's courtyard.

The Imperial Guards found the dragon robe in Xie Mingzhu's boudoir, and the robe was hidden in a very secret place.

Next to Xie Mingzhu's bed was a private room, which contained not only the dragon robe but also a token.

"Your Highness, Crown Prince, Seventh Prince, we've found it!"

The Imperial Guards brought the dragon cannon and the token to Jun Lanjin.

Xie Yuze's eyes widened, and he immediately shouted, "This is definitely not something prepared by our General's Mansion!"

Luo Cheng'an never expected that the Xie family would actually dare to keep the dragon robe!

He glanced at Xie Yuze, then at the dragon robe in the hands of the Imperial Guard.

Luo Hanfeng picked up the dragon robe, examined it carefully, and then said, "This is the craftsmanship of your pavilion. In the entire Shengjing, apart from your Xie family, no one else can make this kind of fabrication, right?"

Xie Yuze glared at Luo Hanfeng.

hateful!

If I had known this would happen, I should have just killed him back then.

An unimportant prince, his death is no big deal.

Jun Lanjin lowered his eyes to look at the dragon robe. He sighed and rubbed his forehead, then said calmly, "Keep an eye on the Xie family. No one is allowed to enter or leave."

"I will go and report to His Majesty immediately."

With that, Jun Lanjin turned and left.

Hua An, who was behind him, put away the token and the dragon robe, turned around and glanced at the Xie family women and children and Jun Lanjin, and then immediately jogged after Jun Lanjin.

Only Luo Cheng'an and Luo Hanfeng remained in the same spot.

Having achieved his goal, Luo Hanfeng naturally wouldn't stay here.

He bowed to Luo Cheng'an and said, "Your Highness, I shall take my leave now."

With that, Luo Hanfeng left.

After everyone left, Luo Cheng'an asked, "What exactly happened?"

"You're plotting a rebellion out of the blue?"

Xie Yuze was completely wronged.

He cried out, "Your Highness, I'm innocent!"

"This is absolutely a conspiracy; it was the Seventh Prince who framed us!"

At this moment, Xie Yuze didn't care about what he could or couldn't say.

He wanted to draw the Crown Prince's attention to Luo Hanfeng, so that he would at least know that Luo Hanfeng was the prince he should be most wary of.

What exactly is the purpose of this treacherous villain?

Why target the Xie family?!

Luo Cheng'an clearly didn't believe it: "Are you saying that Mingzhu wanted to frame you and send herself to her death as well?"

Xie Mingzhu is a member of the Xie family no matter what.

What benefit would she gain from reporting the Xie family?

If the emperor were more enlightened, he might spare her life, but from then on, she would be a commoner and would have to live the life of an ordinary person for the rest of her life.

How can a pampered young lady, raised with a silver spoon in her mouth and never having touched a grain of rice, adapt to the life of a commoner?

If the Chu emperor hadn't been enlightened, Xie Mingzhu would have been beheaded too.

What is the point of risking one's life to commit such a suicidal act that would harm eight hundred enemies out of a thousand?

"The Seventh Prince is just a prince in the cold palace, powerless and without influence. How could he possibly wrong your General's Mansion?"

Xie Yuze opened his mouth, wanting to explain something, but found that he had no idea where to begin.

“Your Highness…” Xie Jiaojiao walked up to Luo Cheng’an and lowered her eyelashes: “The situation is urgent now. I know that if Your Highness gets involved with the General’s Mansion now, His Majesty will also suspect you.”

"But why doesn't Your Highness consider another approach?"

Xie Jiaojiao raised her head: "If the Zhenguo General's Mansion falls from power, who will benefit?"

"Your Majesty is in your prime, and both you and the Sixth Prince have your own power bases. So, who will have the remaining Tiger Tally of the General's Mansion?"

Will His Majesty give it to you?

Luo Cheng'an's gaze fell on Xie Jiaojiao.

The Xie family was surrounded, and all the women in the Xie family were in a state of panic. However, Xie Jiaojiao was able to quickly calm down and talk to Luo Cheng'an about these things.

"The General's Mansion has already arranged a marriage between the Crown Prince and the State Protectorate. This marriage was personally requested by the Crown Prince and the Empress. Does His Majesty suspect that His Highness the Crown Prince also harbors ill intentions?"

"presumptuous!"

Luo Cheng'an was furious.

Xie Jiaojiao immediately lowered her head, bowed to Luo Cheng'an, and said, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was only thinking of His Majesty's best interests."

Luo Cheng'an narrowed his eyes and looked at Xie Jiaojiao.

"what do you want to say?"

Xie Jiaojiao glanced at Xie Yuze.

"Please rest assured, Your Highness, the Xie family has no intention of rebelling whatsoever."

“A few nights ago, the Seventh Prince led his men into the General’s Mansion. Afterwards, he hid in Xie Mingzhu’s room. It was at that time that he placed the dragon robe and token in Xie Mingzhu’s room, waiting for this opportunity to frame us.”

"How can you guarantee that?" Luo Cheng'an clearly didn't believe him.

Xie Jiaojiao said softly, "As someone who is about to marry Your Highness as a concubine, I naturally stand on Your Highness's side."

"If Your Highness does not believe me, you may think carefully about the special relationship between Xie Mingzhu and the Seventh Prince."

Upon hearing this, Luo Cheng'an frowned.

Upon reflection, he realized that Xie Mingzhu always stood up for Luo Hanfeng at the first opportunity.

He had initially thought Mingzhu was simply kind-hearted, but now it seemed...

"Your Highness, it's better to believe it exists than to believe it doesn't."

Xie Jiaojiao's voice rang in Luo Cheng'an's ears: "Your Highness, why don't you think about it? If all of this was orchestrated by the Seventh Prince, Xie Mingzhu would have already figured out a way to escape."

"Once the Seventh Prince's conspiracy succeeds, how could someone who would betray even the parents who raised her not betray His Highness?"

Luo Cheng'an's eyes widened in shock.

His gaze fell on Xie Jiaojiao.

Xie Jiaojiao clasped her hands in front of her, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at Luo Cheng'an.

"With His Highness's abilities, if he could investigate, he would gain the favor of the General's Mansion."

"Of course, the Crown Prince can also stand by and watch. Whether things will turn out as I say in the future remains to be seen."

Luo Cheng'an pursed his lips.

"I know."

He didn't say anything, turned around, flicked his sleeve, and left.

The smile on Xie Jiaojiao's face faded after he left.

The two turned around and glanced at Xie Mingzhu's courtyard.

Xie Yuze said with a sour face, "If I had known this would happen, I should have listened to Father and killed her!"

What kind of ingrate is this?!

Xie Jiaojiao looked melancholy: "Now is not the time to talk about these things."

"Judging from the current trend, the Seventh Prince is definitely planning to make his move ahead of schedule."

"He can hear Xing'er's inner thoughts; if he intends to directly confront her..."

"I wonder what will happen to Xing'er in the palace."

Xie Jiaojiao looked in the direction of the palace.

……

royal palace.

Xie Xing sat in his cell, pulling up straw with both hands.

A moment later, footsteps could be heard in the corridor.

Xie Xing looked up and saw Jun Lanjin, dressed in a cloak, walking towards him with his hands tucked into his sleeves and a cold expression.

Xie Xing's eyes lit up. She immediately stood up, ran to the door, grabbed it with both hands, and called out to Jun Lanjin, "Your Highness!"

"Are you here to see me?"

Jun Lanjin stared at her silently for a few seconds, and looking at Xie Xing's bright eyes, he became even more furious.

He turned his head and said in a slow and deliberate voice, "I've come to see how the Fifth Miss is doing in this prison cell."

"Oh no! Your Highness!" Xie Xing replied almost without thinking.

Jun Lanjin's lips twitched.

He glanced at Xie Xing expressionlessly, then walked towards Xie Xing with a helpless expression.

"Xie Xing, this concerns the life and death of your Xie family. I ask you, and I hope you can tell me without reservation."

"Only in this way can I rescue you."

Xie Xing listened and asked, "What does Your Highness wish to ask?"

"What do you know?" Jun Lanjin leaned down, his peach blossom eyes fixed on Xie Xing through the cell door: "I want you to tell me everything you know."

Xie Xing said, "Your Highness, regarding the matter of whether the Xie family plotted treason, this is an absolute injustice!"

"I cannot guarantee my parents' character, but when it comes to loyalty, heaven and earth can bear witness."

"If you find anything you shouldn't see in the Xie family, then you've definitely been framed!"

Jun Lanjin raised an eyebrow: "By whom?"

[Luo Hanfeng!]

Xie Xing opened his mouth, about to say Luo Hanfeng's name, when he suddenly fell silent.

[You must not reveal Luo Hanfeng's name.]

[If I say it now, the whole plot will fall apart.]

The system warned Xie Xing in her mind.

Xie Xing immediately fell silent.

"Hmm?" Jun Lanjin's face darkened. "Do you know what I found in your general's mansion?"

“If you do not confess everything you know, the General’s Mansion will face the execution of your entire family.”

“Naturally, as a member of the General’s Mansion, you will also be beheaded.”

Xie Xing bit her lip.

She asked, "Why does Your Highness think I know something?"

Jun Lanjin glanced at the attendant beside him.

The servant opened the cell door.

Jun Lanjin entered the prison cell.

He was dressed in a dignified and luxurious manner, and his thick clothes made him seem out of place in the dimly lit prison cell.

He came up to Xie Xing.

"What you said to me last time, and the painting you sent me, I'm not stupid, how could I not see through anything?"

"What are you trying to tell me?"

Jun Lanjin walked up to Xie Xing and stood down slightly. The two were so close that the tip of his high nose could meet Xie Xing's.

Those beautiful peach blossom eyes seemed to gaze at Xie Xing with deep affection, and her voice lingered softly in Xie Xing's ear, "Tell me, okay?"

"thump!"

Xie Xing's heart skipped a beat.

A blush instantly spread across her fair cheeks. She hurriedly looked away from Jun Lanjin, leaned back, and stammered, "Your Highness... even if you used your beauty, I have told you everything I needed to tell you."

"Is that so?" Jun Lanjin lowered his long eyelashes and gently pursed his pale pink lips.

"But I always feel that you are hiding something from me."

Seeing him like this, Xie Xing's beating heart gradually calmed down.

She cleared her throat and said, "My heart for the Prince is as clear as heaven and earth."

"What heart?" Jun Lanjin raised his eyes.

Xie Xing declared firmly, "My loyalty to Your Highness is absolutely unwavering!"

Jun Lanjin looked at her with a half-smile, "Loyal and devoted?"

"You mean, even if your lips touched mine, we are still innocent?"

Xie Xing's brain went blank for a moment.

"Your Majesty?"

Xie Xing stared blankly at Jun Lanjin.

Jun Lanjin took a step back, creating some distance between himself and Xie Xing. He put his hands in his sleeves, a slight smile playing on his lips, and looked at her.

"You mean, the things you send me every day aren't because you have even the slightest ulterior motive towards me?"

"Your unwavering loyalty has truly impressed me."

Xie Xing was sweating profusely from Jun Lanjin's questioning.

Her eyes darted around, and her voice was somewhat weak as she asked, "What does Your Highness mean by saying this now?"

Jun Lanjin sighed softly and said, "What I mean is..."

He pulled his long, slender hand out of his sleeve, and took Xie Xing's hand in his. The moment his cold skin touched Xie Xing's fingertips, Xie Xing felt a chill run down his spine.

Jun Lanjin pulled out his other hand.

He placed Xie Xing's hand in his palm.

Xie Xing's delicate hands looked so small in Jun Lanjin's hands.

Xie Xing lowered her eyes, her gaze falling on the two people's hands, and then she watched as Jun Lanjin's hand squeezed between her fingers one by one, until their hands... were intertwined!

Xie Xing's eyes widened.

She suddenly looked up at Jun Lanjin.

Jun Lanjin also raised his eyes at this moment, staring at Xie Xing with his dark and deep eyes. After a long while, he said, "You can trust me, Xie Xing."

"I can be your support."

Is the favorability rating even less than 50% of the reliance rating?

Despite his heart pounding at the sight, Xie Xing couldn't help but mutter a complaint.

It's not her fault, it's just that Jun Lanjin's feelings for her fluctuate wildly.

They haven't even passed the passing grade yet.

Jun Lan paused.

Even so, Xie Xing still grasped Jun Lanjin's hand in return.

She took the initiative to approach Jun Lanjin.

The height difference between the two was obvious. Xie Xing looked up and met Jun Lanjin's eyes.

She said, "Perhaps some of my actions have caused Your Highness some doubt, but please believe me."

"I am the only person in this world who would never harm the prince."

"This is not a lie to deceive Your Highness."

Jun Lanjin looked at her silently.

Xie Xing's eyes gleamed with seriousness. "Whether it's the prince in my painting or the prince standing before me now, he is the person I love the most in this world."

"Your Highness can rest assured, I have told you everything I told you."

Jun Lanjin: "..."

The two clasped hands, Xie Xing holding on tightly, unwilling to let go.

Jun Lanjin's hands were like ice jade; although they were cold, they were smooth and soft to the touch.

If it weren't for the system's positive feedback, Xie Xing would have really thought that what Jun Lanjin said just now was a confession to her.

She sighed: "Did the prince come to the prison just to ask me these questions?"

The Xie family is facing the crisis of being wiped out and executed; all forces are watching.

They were just waiting to wipe out all the branches of the Xie family.