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

The others knelt down and echoed his sentiments.

"How do you know there aren't any if you haven't tried them yet? I've heard that there are quite a few great scholars in places like Dongyuan and Jiangling." Zheng Hongyuan placed the teacup on the table with a light thud.

Upon hearing the sound, the kneeling men couldn't help but shrink back. They were merely vice ministers from various departments, and dared not confront the emperor like their department heads.

The group hurriedly replied "Yes," bowed, and left.

Zheng Hongyuan already knew what they meant, and snorted.

Looking at the person standing calmly to the side, he softened his tone and asked, "What does the Duke think?"

The Duke of Yun, dressed in a deep purple court robe, cupped his hands and said in a deep voice, "As His Majesty said, we can only know by trying. If we don't try, there will never be any virtuous and capable people among the common people."

Those people were testing the emperor's limits. The imperial examinations were open to members of the aristocratic class; if the emperor didn't have any hope for commoners either, then...

Seeing that the Emperor's expression had softened considerably after hearing the Duke's words, Steward Liu stepped forward and told him about the little princess.

He looked at Duke Yun and smiled, "The princess is still waiting for you to return for your meal, Duke."

Zheng Hongyuan's face was displeased, but then he laughed and said, "That little ingrate."

"Your Majesty, An'an is still my granddaughter!" Duke Yun stroked his beard, looking at him with a mocking expression.

"Yes, yes, then I am also your son-in-law. Or shall I accompany you back for a meal?" Zheng Hongyuan glanced at him sideways.

Duke Yun could not possibly comply with his wishes. He gestured towards the pile of memorials on the table not far away, saying, "Your Majesty should prioritize state affairs." Before the emperor could speak, he bowed and said, "This old minister takes his leave."

As he retreated to the doorway, he didn't forget to call out, "Going home to be with my granddaughter."

These words caused Zheng Hongyuan's expression to change repeatedly, and Steward Liu lowered his head and quietly retreated behind a pillar in the corner...

When Duke Yun returned to his residence, Xu Shi took his official hat and followed behind him. "The little princess and Elder Feng are waiting for you in the study. It seems they have something to tell you."

"An'an pulled the old man's beard again?" Duke Yun turned around and looked at him in surprise.

Those two, one disrespectful to their elders and the other disrespectful to their elders, I don't know how they ended up hanging out together.

His question surprised Xu Shi. Was the princess really that mischievous? After a long pause, he finally said, "I don't think so."

Upon entering the study, he saw the two men engrossed in their own books, standing quite a distance apart, and a sense of foreboding crept into his heart. The Duke of Yun casually found a seat and asked suspiciously, "What do you want with me?"

Seeing that the little one wasn't going to talk, Kong Mufeng was just about to expose her secret when Zheng Zhian quickly put down her book and called out in a soft voice, "Grandfather, I'm hungry."

Kongmu Feng looked at her: You dare to do it but not admit it?

Zheng Zhian tilted her head, pretending not to see it. It wasn't that she was afraid to admit it; she was afraid that if she spoke up, everyone would go hungry later.

The subtle actions between the two naturally did not escape the notice of Duke Yun. It was indeed too late now. "Old Xu, serve the meal."

"Yes."

After the group finished their meal in the front hall, they returned to the study. Duke Yun sat in the main seat, deliberately putting on a stern face and saying in a deep voice, "Speak, what is it?"

They were both acting strangely during the meal, which piqued his curiosity.

Seeing that the old man ignored his gaze and sat leisurely to the side, Zheng Zhian had no choice but to go and close the door himself, then stand back in the middle and brace himself to finish recounting what had happened that afternoon.

No sooner had he finished speaking than Kong Mufeng said with a smile, "Little An'an, did you accidentally let something slip?"

Zheng Zhian looked at her maternal grandfather, whose face was as black as the bottom of a pot, and couldn't help but stir her hands.

The word "fear" has never been in her beliefs, but for some reason, she feels a little intimidated when facing people who are genuinely kind to her.

Let her die; dragging it out isn't in her nature.

“I’m investigating my mother’s affairs. Someone said that Cai Die knows some things, so I left the palace today for her sake.”

Duke Yun looked at her with deep eyes and asked, "Who is Cai Die?"

"Zhan Ruyun's maid," Zheng Zhian replied, bowing his head.

Duke Yun, his face dark, rose from the main seat, walked to the door, opened it, and roared, "Xu Shi!"

Knowing they had something important to say, Xu Shi walked a little further away. Hearing the sound, he hurriedly ran over. The old man hadn't lost his temper in a long time. The last time he lost his temper was when Miss returned from giving birth, when he went on a rampage and killed a lot of the people he had captured.

"Master of the house."

"Go and call Danqin over."

"Yes." Xu Shi didn't dare to delay and turned around to use his lightness skill.

Duke Yun went to the purple bamboo outside his study, picked out a few slender bamboo strips, and used his internal strength to cut them.

As he walked back, he said in a deep voice, "You come in too."

In the corridor, Yingyi, who was on the eaves beam, consciously slipped down and followed him into the house.

Zheng Zhian looked at the bamboo strip in his hand, his eyebrows twitching uncontrollably. Should he talk about cause and effect and reincarnation?

Soon Xu Shi brought Danqin in as well. Seeing the tense atmosphere in the room, she frowned and bowed her head, saying, "Master."

"Xu Shi, go outside and keep watch. Don't let anyone approach the study," Duke Yun ordered coldly.

Xu Shi turned and left, making sure to close the door behind him.

What did the princesses do to make the old man so angry?

"Do you know about her investigation into the Empress?" Duke Yun asked sharply, looking at the two people behind Zheng Zhian.

The two of them bowed their heads and knelt on the ground at the same time.

No wonder the Duke was furious; it turns out this matter has been discovered. But with such a commotion this afternoon, it would have been difficult to keep it a secret.

"She doesn't understand, but don't you two understand the dangers involved?" Duke Yun looked at the two men, one with a white bandage wrapped around his hand, the bandage stained with obvious blood, and the other a member of the Royal Shadow Guard.

He wants to punish someone now, but he doesn't know how!

"Danqin, after you recover from your injuries, go to the Yun family's disciplinary hall to receive your punishment. Don't follow her anymore; I will speak to the Emperor myself."

He then looked at Shadow One beside him, "Go and explain to the Emperor yourself." He hadn't expected the Emperor to assign the Shadow Leader to this girl, and she was actually so obedient to him. He was afraid that even the Emperor didn't know about this yet.

She learned the emperor's art of governing his subordinates very well.

Upon hearing his arrangement, Zheng Zhian knelt on the ground without hesitation. "It was all my idea. Please don't punish them, Grandfather. You know my temperament. They followed my orders and did nothing wrong."

If the two of them really leave as their grandfather arranged, Danqin will still be alive, but Yingyi will probably... She has to bear the consequences of her own actions.

"I haven't even said anything to you yet, and you're already rushing to accept the punishment?" Duke Yun was so angry with her that he wanted to hit her with a stick. "Where did you get the guts to investigate on your own?" She was truly a newborn calf that was not afraid of tigers.

"If it weren't for those six secret guards in the manor today, and if your Grandpa Feng hadn't arrived in time, you would all be lying there right now."

"You probably won't even have a complete corpse, yet you dare to act so presumptuously at such a young age." He grew angrier as he spoke, took two steps forward, and lashed her with a bamboo stick.

This was something no one expected, and even Kong Mufeng hurriedly got up to stop him from waving his hand.

This slap really hurt Zheng Zhian, but she gritted her teeth and didn't utter a sound.

Seeing her stubborn and clueless appearance, the Duke of Yun looked down at her with a dark expression and asked, "Do you know you're wrong?"