After the interstellar female general died in battle, she transmigrated into the body of a dashing p

Ever since Consort Zhan's incident, she had been extremely cautious and had finally managed to leave the palace. However, she never expected that after so long, someone would still come looking for her.

Even more unexpectedly, Danqin would bring Princess Le'an in person.

The butterfly cowered and looked at her, knowing that there was no way to escape now, and whispered, "It's me."

"Shadow One, take her back." Having gotten the answer he wanted, Zheng Zhian then let Kong Mufeng take him away.

Kong Mufeng took her directly back to the Duke's mansion; they knew how to handle the rest.

When Steward Xu saw that the two went straight to the study as soon as they returned, he hurriedly stepped forward to explain, "The master has not yet returned from the palace."

Neither of them spoke. Once inside, Kong Mufeng put her down, found a seat, and the little one climbed onto the chair opposite him with a scramble. The two remained locked in this stalemate.

He didn't know why, and he didn't know where to begin to offer advice.

Zheng Zhian looked at the old man Feng beside her; this was the first time she had ever seen him like this.

"I'll tell you when Grandpa comes back?" It was indeed something she hadn't considered carefully.

Hearing her soften her tone, Kong Mufeng relaxed and leaned back in his chair, looking at the little guy and scoffing, "You'd better think about how to explain this to him!"

Zheng Zhian lowered his eyes and frowned. How else could this be explained?

In the guest hall where the palace guards were entertained.

“This Duke’s mansion is really something else!” one of the guards remarked, looking at the honest-looking man.

The man next to him picked up a glistening piece of meat, put it in his mouth, and chimed in, "Who says otherwise? We've been to many high-ranking officials' mansions, and none of them treat their brothers like this."

"That's right. In other residences, you'd be lucky to even get a cup of tea, let alone meat."

"This is all thanks to the princess." The tall, thin guard winked at his companion, signaling him to look at Chi Yang, who was sitting to the side with his eyes closed, before tearing off a chicken leg from the roast chicken.

With a hint of flattery, he said, "Lord Chi, the roast chicken at the Duke's mansion is truly excellent. Would you like to try some?"

Chi Yang opened his eyes, glanced at him coldly, frowned, and refused, "No need."

Seeing his disdain, the guard listlessly withdrew his hand, turned around, pouted, returned to the table, took a bite of the chicken leg, and silently imitated his manner of speaking.

The others burst into laughter instantly.

If it weren't for the fact that Chi Yang has a father in the Ministry of Personnel... ha, who does he think he is!

Who here doesn't have someone in an official position?

Hearing the laughter, Chi Yang's eyes darkened, and he got up and walked out of the room.

What's the point of talking to a bunch of good-for-nothing playboys?

He originally intended to find a servant in the manor to ask where the princess was and when she wanted to return to the palace, but sensing the intermittent movements not far away, he immediately gripped the sword at his waist and cautiously stepped forward.

An assassin has broken into the manor? He quickly dismissed the idea; this was the Duke's manor, after all, they wouldn't let an assassin in so easily.

Before he could climb over the wall to look, a questioning voice sounded behind him.

"What is Lord Chi looking at?"

Chi Yang quickly suppressed his surprise, turned around with a normal expression, and gestured towards the courtyard wall, "I heard some noise." When did this Steward Xu get behind him?

Following his gaze, Butler Xu understood immediately and smiled calmly, "Oh, that's probably some petty thief who got caught trying to steal something."

Chi Yang's lips twitched involuntarily; it was obvious from the sound of that statement that it was utter nonsense.

"Lord Chi, please don't worry. There's some food prepared in the manor. Please come in and have some," Steward Xu reminded him with a smile.

"Thank you, but I'm not hungry right now." Chi Yang gave him a junior's bow.

Seeing that he was about to leave, he asked seriously, "Steward Xu, has the princess said when she will return to the palace?"

"The princess should have dinner with the Duke before returning."

"Thank you."

Watching Butler Xu wave goodbye and leave, a glint flashed in Chi Yang's eyes.

Even Steward Xu's abilities are so impressive; it seems the Duke's mansion's strength is not as simple as it appears on the surface...

Butler Xu found Danqin's old room in the mansion, and sure enough, she was inside, with the mansion doctor stitching up her wounds.

Seeing him enter the room, Danqin immediately took the cloth out of her mouth and tried to get up worriedly, "Old Master Xu, is something wrong with the princess?"

"It's alright, Princess, it's alright." Butler Xu quickly stepped forward and pressed her down, sighing softly, "Do you still want your arm?!"

This girl is still the same. She was like this when she was with the young lady, never caring about her own safety. Now that she is guarding the princess, she is still the same.

Indeed, it was no wonder that the young lady treated her like a sister.

Hearing that the princess was alright, she finally felt relieved and realized the excruciating pain in her wound.

Ouch! She quickly stuffed the cloth back into her mouth.

Seeing her like this, Butler Xu released her and teased, "Now you know what pain is? I thought you were made of iron!"

Danqin roughly wiped the fine sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, glared at him, and said some sarcastic things.

"The princess was afraid you'd disregard your health and interrogate those assassins, so she sent me to check on you. What's all the fuss about?" He'd watched this girl grow up, and he thought she'd become much more composed, but he never expected her to be like this when something happened.

"I'm excited? Ouch~" Danqin took off the cloth, wanting to refute, but the person who was stitching her up seemed to deliberately tighten the thread, making her almost bite her tongue in pain.

She stuffed the cloth back into her hands and glared fiercely at Xu Shi.

Her fierce, wolf-like appearance amused Butler Yun, who said to the doctor stitching her up, "Old Sun, be ruthless, make this girl remember this for the rest of her life."

Old Sun nodded with a smile, but his movements became much gentler.

Before leaving, Butler Xu couldn't help but remind her, "Qin'er, once you're done, you can rest. There are people watching over the princess, understand?"

It's obvious that her injury is quite serious; if she doesn't take good care of it, it might leave her with chronic health problems!

Danqin nodded reluctantly.

Even as the sun set, Duke Yun still hadn't returned to his residence.

Zheng Zhian and the other woman spent the afternoon in the study. She was reading a notebook when Steward Xu came in from outside and asked, "Lord Chi said that curfew is in half an hour. He asked when you plan to return to the palace, Princess?"

“Tell him I’m not going back today. I’ll rest at the Duke’s mansion. Tell them to go back and report first, and also tell my father that my maternal grandfather will send me back tomorrow.” After saying that, Zheng Zhian lowered his head and continued reading the book in his hands.

"Yes." Steward Xu went down and instructed someone to inform Chi Yang.

Upon receiving the news, Chi Yang pondered for a moment before leading his men back to the palace and then going to the Imperial Study to report back.

Inside the Imperial Study, Chief Steward Liu learned of the news and, seeing that the Emperor was discussing the details of the upcoming autumn imperial examination with Duke Yun and others, did not go forward to disturb them.

Only after all the details were finalized did Zheng Hongyuan rub his temples, take the teacup handed to him by Steward Liu, and say, "It's getting late. Send the notice out tomorrow and have all the prefectures strictly implement it. You may all return now."

Apart from the Duke of Yun, the others exchanged glances. Chi Chengwen, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, knelt on the ground, his tone filled with worry and sincerity.

"Your Majesty, the imperial examination will be held next month. Although there are private schools for ordinary people, most of them are limited to basic literacy and reasoning."

If we want to select officials who can govern the country well, I'm afraid...