Report to the Empress and the Eldest Princess: They're using the system to poach your men.

Should she nod or shake her head?

Her back and arms, which had been forced to stand upright and raised, were now showing signs of soreness, and the hard chair back was also causing her some pain.

"Why don't you let go first, and we can talk this out?"

"Your Highness, do you have a fondness for women?"

Looking directly at Wen Yuening, who was staring straight at him, Zheng Mudu knew that her gaze was anything but innocent.

"Ahem, I am... naturally delighted. I have a whole host of beauties in my household."

Upon hearing this, Wen Yuening was momentarily speechless, but quickly revealed a hint of joy and released her grip on the other person's hands.

"Yue Ning has asked all three questions. If there is anything inappropriate, please do not take it to heart, Your Highness."

"Huh? That's a quick change of expression! One second he was practically kissing me, the next he's all serious. It's a waste of his talent not to study traditional Chinese arts."

Shen Sangwan stood up, supporting herself on the handrail, and vigorously shook her arms to loosen her muscles and bones.

"Hey, shouldn't I do something, or I'll just keep getting bullied like this?"

Just as he was about to speak, the other person picked up a pen and paper.

"Your Highness previously said that you wanted to draft an agreement, so why don't you suggest that Yue Ning write it on your behalf?"

Shen Sangwan felt as if she had a mouthful of blood stuck in her throat, unable to spit it out or swallow it down.

That damned Empress! I can't beat her, and I can't win an argument with her. She's infuriating!

[Go back and ask Shuyun how she tied up the Empress. One day I'll tie her up myself too, to vent my anger.]

"We two must exchange information and not hide anything from each other. Of course, there are some things that don't need to be shared."

"The Wen family will definitely be targeted, but we can ensure that the women and children are not implicated."

"I need to use your network of connections to find capable people for the court."

"It was I who dragged you into this mess back then. Once His Majesty has secured his position in the court, if you do not wish to remain in the palace, I can help you leave."

"The court is a complex web of power struggles. I only hope to have an ally to lend me a hand. If you have any requests, please write them down. As long as I can fulfill them, I will definitely do so."

The hall was silent, except for Wen Yuening, who was engrossed in writing at her desk.

After about an incense stick's time, "Your Highness will fulfill what Yue Ning requested in the future. There is no rush now. This is a proposal added based on the current situation. Your Highness may take a look and make revisions if there are any issues."

He picked up the paper on the desk, gently blew away the ink stains, and walked around the desk to Shen Sangwan's side.

She took it and glanced at it briefly. There were no unreasonable demands, except for one thing she didn't understand.

"Could Your Majesty explain why this is?"

Wen Yuening glanced in the direction Shen Sangwan was pointing and said, "Your Highness is known for being forgetful, so this was added."

You're clearly being sarcastic or mocking me.

What a petty person.

"Does Your Highness wish to add anything else?"

"No...that's all."

The more Shen Sangwan looked at the other person's eyes, the more she felt something was wrong. Just as she was wondering whether she should take another look at the agreement, the other person took it and copied it out.

"Your Highness may place your handprint here, and we will each keep one copy."

It's like signing a contract of servitude.

After muttering a few words to herself, Shen Sangwan pressed her handprint onto the inkpad next to her.

"It's getting late, Your Highness, why don't you head back soon?"

Still a little dazed, Shen Sangwan nodded subconsciously.

As they approached the hidden door, they said, "Wait a moment, I need to borrow an oil lamp. I accidentally broke the previous one when I came here."

Wen Yuening chuckled softly and then had Qingque prepare a gauze lantern for Shen Sangwan.

This thing is still the best.

Carrying a gauze lantern, Shen Sangwan was led into the secret passage in a daze. She only came to her senses when the secret door was closed.

Wait a minute, why am I being led by the nose by the Queen?

Nemesis, a natural nemesis.

[Hey Xiaotong, you've crashed again?]

[Ahem, Master, I've gotten a bit confused watching the show.]

"Your master is being harassed, and you don't even try to help. What use are you to me?!"

[Master, this is your own fault for not getting the A spot, why are you blaming me? That's not fair.]

Xiao Tong pouted, feeling very resentful.

I didn't perform well just now; I need to go back and work on it.

When Shen Sangwan was halfway there, she felt something was wrong. She was being completely outmatched by the other person!

[Master, Master, think it over, you must think it over.]

Xiao Tong didn't want to lose the bet to the main system, so she quickly tried to dissuade them.

"My lord, it's too late today. We'll find another opportunity to make up for it next time. It wouldn't look good if someone saw you in the palace in the middle of the night."

Shen Sangwan, who had already stopped, continued walking forward.

With the gauze lanterns, the journey back was faster than the journey there.

This secret passage needs to be repaired immediately; the smell inside is awful. The entrance also needs to be changed; we can't keep going in and out from the bed every time.

"Huh? Xiaotong, since the entrance is on the bed, why didn't Xiaoyan Yan discover the assassin before?"

[The assassin may have activated the mechanism to escape while Shuyan was out of the room, then restored the bedding and other items to their original state before hiding again.]

I hope I don't find out who it is, or I'll skin him alive.

Shuyan was curled up on the soft couch, fast asleep. After Shen Sangwan blew out the oil lamp, she quietly left the inner room.

The way he tiptoed to open the door and then carefully closed it again made him look like a thief who had done something wrong.

Ruoying and Shuyi, who had been waiting outside, stared at her with strange and puzzled looks from beginning to end.

She hadn't seen the two of them when she came out, but after closing the door and turning around, she saw two pairs of eyes staring at her.

"Cough cough!"

"Shuyi, arrange for someone else to come and take care of Ayan tomorrow. Ruoying will follow her as her personal bodyguard from now on."

"Subordinates take orders."

"Yes."

Shen Sangwan was also a little sleepy, so she quickened her pace back to her own courtyard.

The courtyard was bathed in moonlight, as white as silver. Everyone in the mansion had fallen asleep, leaving only silence.

As Shen Sangwan slept, she felt as if she had drowned at the bottom of the sea. In an instant, the light froze, and a golden shard of light shattered the silence.

"It's you again? Didn't anyone notice you?"

The little girl was lying on the wooden bed, pretending to sleep. Hearing a noise from the back window, she quietly got out of bed and walked towards the back window.

Seeing that it was the girl who had come a while ago, the wooden stick in her hand loosened its grip a bit.

“I often climb walls and crawl through holes, so they can’t find me.”

The girl's lips curled up slightly, seemingly quite pleased with her skill.

Are you and Miss Wen sisters, born of the same mother?

The little girl nodded and placed the wooden stick she was holding against the window.

"To be precise, I am the young lady Wen, and the one outside is my sister."

"Why did the Prime Minister imprison you here? In such a dilapidated place, without a servant by your side, what kind of father in the world would do this?"

The girl puffed up her cheeks angrily. "Don't be afraid. When we get back, I'll report to my father and ask him to punish the prime minister properly and then have him release you."

The little girl waved her hand to stop her, "Don't go, that will only make my father kill me faster."