She remarried a cold-faced, powerful man, and the scumbag regretted it and cried his heart out.

Xie Wanqing was overjoyed, believing that she had made a great contribution this time, and felt that everything was going smoothly.

She had just returned from Shaoguang Academy, and the sight of Shen Jingshu's near-death state, as well as the worried and anxious expressions on Shen Zizhong and Song Wan's faces, made her feel extremely happy.

Thinking of this, Xie Wanqing couldn't help but hum a soft hum, her voice carrying a hint of joy.

After calculating the timeline, it was indeed time to tell that person this "good news".

She summoned Biyi and asked her to fetch the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Biyi responded and went to fetch them. She returned shortly with the four treasures of the study and placed them in front of Xie Wanqing.

Xie Wanqing calmed her excited emotions, spread out the letter paper, picked up her pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote a letter herself.

She carefully considered every word in the letter. The handwriting on the letter was delicate yet arrogant. She meticulously described Shen Jingshu's miserable state after being poisoned, and her words were filled with undisguised pride, implying that this was the result of her careful planning.

At the end, she also subtly expressed her admiration for Wen Huaiqing, hoping for further instructions from him. Her words were earnest and carried a hint of expectation.

She wrote that everything she did was for him, for his great cause. She was willing to be a sharp blade in his hand, clearing away all obstacles for him.

After writing it, Xie Wanqing read it several times to make sure it was correct before carefully folding the letter and putting it into a specially made bamboo tube.

This bamboo tube was a unique token used by her and Wen Huaiqing to exchange messages. It was made of special materials and the craftsmanship was extremely complex and exquisite. Once sealed, it was very difficult for others to open if they did not understand the special intricacies of it.

She handed the bamboo tube to Biyi and repeatedly instructed her, "Go and take this to the teahouse on Xiushui Street. Give it to the manager and tell him that I asked him to keep it. This is a very important matter, so you must not let it go wrong."

Biyi took the bamboo tube and felt its weight, as if it weighed a thousand pounds.

Although Xie Wanqing often schemed against the young lady, she had never been as crazy as she was now.

She originally thought that her life was destined to be a lowly life of serving others, living a quiet and obedient life. Her biggest wish was to marry a manager, and that's how she would live her life in a daze.

But to everyone's surprise, Xie Wanqing would do so many heinous things.

She was afraid, but dared not resist, and could only let Xie Wanqing do as she pleased. "Don't worry, Miss, I will take care of it right away."

After Bi Yi left, Xie Wanqing summoned Fei Yun and instructed her, "Prepare some wine and dishes and bring them to my room. I want to celebrate properly today."

Upon hearing this, Fei Yun's eyes lit up with joy, and she quickly replied, "Alright, Miss, I'll go right away."

She secretly figured that Xie Wanqing's happiness must mean something good had happened. Although she didn't know exactly what it was, she was happy to see Xie Wanqing so pleased.

After all, if Xie Wanqing becomes incredibly successful, they, as servants, can also benefit from her success and live a better life.

Xie Wanqing sat alone in the room, her face full of smug satisfaction.

Before long, she will be able to completely get rid of her current predicament and become a person of high status. At that time, she will make everyone respect her and bow down to her.

Including Fu Zijin!

……

Inside the teahouse on Xiushui Street, the air was filled with the lively sounds and the aroma of tea.

Biyi avoided the crowd and went straight to the counter, handing the bamboo tube in her hand to the shopkeeper.

“This is what my daughter asked me to give to you. She said you’ll know how to handle it once you see it.”

The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man in his forties. He was slightly overweight and had a kind face, looking like a Maitreya Buddha.

He was always cheerful and very warm and considerate to others, which is why the teahouse business had always been quite good.

The shopkeeper took the bamboo tube, looked it over, and then quietly put it away. The whole action was as smooth as flowing water, done in one go, without attracting anyone's attention.

Seeing this, Bi Yi didn't say anything more, turned around and left, passing through the bustling crowd, and soon disappeared outside the teahouse.

After the shopkeeper put the bamboo tube away, he went to the private room in the backyard of the teahouse. This private room was not open to the public on ordinary days, and no one ever came here.

He closed the door, walked to the table and sat down. He took out a bamboo tube from his pocket and, using some ingenious method, took out a neatly folded letter.

He unfolded the letter and read it carefully.

The contents of the letter made him frown. Xie Wanqing was so audacious as to dare to harm the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Pingyang.

He folded the letter again, put it into the bamboo tube, then got up and walked to the window, placing the bamboo tube on the windowsill.

This was the secret code he and Wen Huaiqing had agreed upon. As long as he placed the bamboo tube on the windowsill, Wen Huaiqing's men would naturally come to retrieve it.

After doing all this, he turned and left the private room, still wearing a kind smile on his face, and went to the front hall to greet the guests.

Prince Jing's Mansion.

Wen Huaiqing sat at his desk, holding in his hand the letter Xie Wanqing had written to him.

He had read it many times, but the more he read it, the more gloomy and oppressive the aura emanating from him became.

That stupid woman is utterly foolish!

He had initially thought Xie Wanqing possessed some intelligence, but now it seemed she was nothing more than a self-righteous fool.

Shen Jingshu cannot die now, at least not before he plans her off.

Xie Wanqing's move undoubtedly disrupted his plans and put him in a passive position.

He originally intended to use Shen Jingshu to deal with Jiang Jin'an.

Jiang Jin'an was the emperor's trusted minister, a close friend of Wen Huaizhang, and the biggest obstacle on his path to the throne.

He had originally planned that if the operation in Yangzhou failed, he would control Shen Jingshu to blackmail Jiang Jin'an and make him work for him.

But now, Xie Wanqing has made the first move, which has ruined all his plans.

That "Drunken Flower Shade"—it wasn't meant for her to poison Shen Jingshu!

These two are both so troublesome! Fu Zijin is like that, and so is Xie Wanqing!

Wen Huaiqing slammed the letter on the table, rubbed his temples, and felt a headache coming on.

...No, the problem lies with him.

He originally thought everything was under his control, but now it seems he overestimated his abilities. Indeed, nothing in this world can be absolutely controlled.

Thinking of this, he picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip of tea, and found that the tea had gone cold and had a slightly bitter and unpalatable taste.

He closed his eyes, forcing himself to calm down.

Now is not the time to get angry. He must come up with a way to minimize the losses as soon as possible, otherwise, what will happen if Jiang Jin'an goes crazy?

He must protect Shen Jingshu.