My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Time passed gradually as the Prefect of the Capital repeatedly offered sophistry and favoritism towards the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion.

With a snap, the gavel struck again, and the Prefect of the Capital announced a temporary recess.

The video ends here, and the surrounding scene returns to the tables and chairs of Yingxue Tower, with the lifelike phantoms disappearing.

Most of the guests attending today's snow-viewing banquet are from wealthy and powerful families, so they find this perfectly normal. The government should protect their interests; should it favor the common people?

"Ha, if filing a complaint with the authorities were useful..." Chu Lengyu only said half of her sentence, but her sarcasm was already evident in her words.

Jiang Zhilan remained silent for a while, but finally couldn't help arguing, "If you are truly wronged, the truth will surely come out. Besides, aren't you perfectly fine and haven't suffered any losses? What else do you want to pursue?"

These words finally made Chu Lengyu turn her head towards her, her eyes as cold as frost.

Seeing this, Jiang Zhibai knew he couldn't let his sister continue. He stood in front of her and apologized gently, "Miss Chu is very forgiving. My sister is young and ignorant. Please don't take offense."

After speaking, he bowed deeply, displaying an elegant demeanor.

"That's great, another little sister who has someone to protect her. She's young and naive," Chu Lengyu said jokingly, word by word.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhilan's anger intensified. How dare she compare herself to Chu Wen'er? The declining Zhenguo Duke's Mansion was not worthy of being ranked alongside the Qin Prince's Mansion.

She raised her voice: "If you think I'm wrong, you can argue with me. Why resort to sarcasm?"

"You like theories, but I don't want to hear them. As for mockery? I was just repeating what your brother said. So you thought your brother was mocking you? Poor little girl."

When Chu Lengyu said this, her eyes were full of pity, as if she were looking at a stupid and unaware wretch.

"You...!" Jiang Zhilan was filled with shame and indignation.

She always judged and gave to others from a superior position, and she couldn't accept being judged or pitied by others.

With each glance she gave Chu Lengyu, her disgust grew, and she came to see her as arrogant and disdainful of everyone.

Rong Chun found Chu Lengyu more and more pleasing to the eye; she liked this kind of rose with thorns.

As for Jiang Zhilan, she cares about her image, and her own brother always indulges her. So, these outsiders can't say anything, and they just play along, calling her "Sister Lan." Ah, she's pretty much had enough of this childish game.

Princess Jin'an wanted to smooth things over and let the matter drop, since the Qin Prince's Mansion was related to her by marriage.

To be honest, she didn't understand why these two suddenly started arguing. They had no past grudges or recent conflicts, and Jiang Zhilan was usually a very calm person.

But seeing Chu Lengyu's icy gaze, she couldn't help but back down, offering no opinion and obediently staying by her side.

"Make way, don't worry, I won't hurt her," Chu Lengyu said calmly, pulling Jiang Zhibai, who was blocking the way, aside and walking straight to Jiang Zhilan.

"What are you going to do?" Jiang Zhilan pretended to be calm, still standing in a very dignified posture, maintaining the dignity of a noble lady. "I'm not afraid of you."

"I also want you to experience it for yourself, that's all."

"What do you mean?"

"Let me let you have a dream."

Jiang Zhilan's consciousness gradually blurred, and her eyelids slowly closed, as if she had fallen into a deep sleep while standing.

The maidservant beside her rushed forward to help her up. After gently touching her nose to confirm that she was alright, she breathed a sigh of relief. If anything had happened to her mistress, the maidservant might not have been able to save her own life.

The maid was extremely worried. She was angry at Chu Lengyu's actions but dared not speak out. However, her eyes seemed to ask, "Is this how the princess treats her guests?"

Seeing this, Princess Jin'an awkwardly forced a smile, trying to ease the delicate atmosphere.

Jiang Zhibai looked at his sister with deep concern, but he knew that Chu Lengyu, whom he couldn't see through, was not someone he could manipulate based on his status.

He bowed again, his voice filled with barely concealed anxiety: "Miss Chu, could you please tell me what kind of dream you wish my sister to experience?"

Chu Lengyu curled her lips slightly: "I originally wanted to give the young lady some privacy, but you all seem to be in a hurry, so let's release it for everyone to see."

As soon as he finished speaking, a dark curtain suddenly appeared in the void.

After the curtain twisted for a moment, the image slowly appeared.

The scene in the video is Pine Forest Cottage, and Jiang Zhilan is in one of the rooms.

She got up from a bed, looked around in confusion, wondering how she had ended up there in the blink of an eye.

Suddenly, lines of golden text appeared on the screen and in front of Jiang Zhilan.

[The following is the task description:]

[Having suffered long-term persecution from her second uncle's family, Chu Lengyu could no longer endure it and left the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, moving to the Pine Forest Cottage outside the city.]

[Unexpectedly, the Chu family still wouldn't let her go, hiring thieves to kidnap her in the middle of the night and force her to reveal the whereabouts of the "inheritance."]

[You are now Chu Lengyu, and will be here with one maid and four servants, facing off against more than a dozen bandits.]

"Where...where is this?!" Jiang Zhilan could no longer hide her fear. Her usual composure and dignity completely collapsed at this moment. She screamed, her voice filled with panic and confusion.

The door creaked open, and the maid, Lüyun, rushed in, her face full of concern: "Miss, what's wrong? Are you having nightmares and feeling uneasy?"

Jiang Zhilan shoved Lü Yun aside, lifted her skirt without a second thought, and ran hastily out of the unfamiliar room.

The night was as dark as ink, and the surroundings were pitch black. Only a few lanterns swayed in the wind, their light flickering, adding to the eeriness and strangeness.

She caught sight of the courtyard gate, and a glimmer of hope welled up in her heart. Without hesitation, she rushed forward, forcefully removed the latch, and escaped.

"It must be Chu Lengyu's doing!" Jiang Zhilan was filled with resentment. As she walked quickly forward, she secretly vowed, "When I return to the Qin Prince's Mansion, I will definitely tell my father about this and make her pay the price!"

However, at that moment, a cold, large hand suddenly reached out from behind, firmly covered her mouth, and dragged her into the wild forest.

All that remained were her terrified eyes, flickering helplessly in the darkness.

A moment later, Flying Tiger pulled Jiang Zhilan over and tied her up before asking, "Is she Chu Lengyu?"

Yun Lishou moved closer and looked at her more carefully, then replied, "That's right, that person told me what she looked like, and she is indeed very beautiful."

"As long as we didn't arrest the wrong person." The Winged Tiger whispered into the forest, "Bronze Rat?"

"Hey, here they come." A short man with a braid emerged from the shadows. "You two are really fast, I'm impressed."

"Sigh, who knows what this woman is up to in the middle of the night, running out on her own."