I was sold when I opened my eyes! My sick and disabled husband comforts me every night after he wake

Lan Zhi hesitated. The Emperor had told her that this matter should not be mentioned to others. If she told Mo Ning, it would be considered disobeying the imperial decree.

But she couldn't find anyone to talk to about this, and she would suffocate if she didn't talk to Mo Ning about it.

Thinking of this, she closed the door and looked at Mo Ning with a serious expression.

"I'm telling you, but you're not allowed to tell anyone else."

Seeing her expression turn serious, Mo Ning nodded heavily.

"I know what's important, I won't say anything reckless."

Lan Zhi then told Mo Ning the whole story of how the Emperor had been poisoned and how she had been asked to investigate the matter.

Mo Ning sat across from her, listening quietly without interrupting.

He didn't speak until she finished speaking:

"This could not have been done by the Empress; it must have been done by someone else."

"Why?"

"Because the Empress's son is still young and not old enough to inherit the throne, the Empress must hope that the Emperor will live a long and healthy life so that her position will be secure. Why would she be so foolish as to harm the Emperor?"

"Yes, you're right. So who exactly wants to harm the Emperor?"

Mo Ning's lips curled into a disdainful smile, followed by a soft snort.

“The Crown Prince, the Second Prince, the Third Prince, or spies from enemy countries all harbor the intention to harm the Emperor.”

After he said that, Lan Zhiruo nodded in understanding.

"You're right, so what should I do next?"

“Ling’er is definitely not the one who has direct contact with the mastermind. A young girl like her usually takes benefits from the other party or has a weakness that the other party has in their hands. As long as you follow the clues, it will be easy to break through her psychological defenses. As long as you find the person who made her do this, you can find out the real mastermind by investigating step by step.”

Lan Zhi wholeheartedly agreed with Mo Ning's words.

“You’re right. I’ll investigate along these lines after I return to the palace tomorrow.”

Before she could finish speaking, the sound of Yu Jie and Ma Mao arguing came from outside.

"Lan Zhi, Lan Zhi... come out quickly."

"Sister Lan just got back and has something to talk to Brother Mo about. What are you yelling about?"

"She promised to stay with me, so why can't I call her? Lan Zhi... Lan Zhi, I'm going to call her anyway, what can you do about it?"

"If you shout again, I'll get rough."

"So what if you're impolite? Do you dare hit me?"

Mao Mao rolled her eyes at her and snorted dismissively.

"I won't stoop to the level of a woman like you."

"I won't stoop to your level, you little brat. Get out of the way."

"No."

Mao Mao spread her arms to block the doorway, her face flushed with anger.

Yu Jie stood with her hands on her hips, looking as if she wouldn't give up until she got through the door.

Lan Zhi, inside the room, looked at Mo Ning apologetically.

“This Princess Yujie is too willful. I’ll go out for a walk with her.”

Mo Ning wasn't annoyed. "Go ahead. It's only right that we accompany her around since she rarely gets to leave the palace."

Lan Zhi was gratified by his understanding, but she still looked at him with surprise.

"Now that your leg is healed, why pretend to be lame? How about we go out for a walk together?"

Without a second thought, Mo Ning shook his head.

"Now is not the time for me to stand up."

Although she didn't understand why he would say that, Lan Zhi nodded.

"Alright then, the Empress Dowager said that she will let me leave the palace after her birthday. Then we can leave the capital and go back to Kangzhuang Village or somewhere else. In short, we won't have to live such a life under the walls of the capital where we have to be careful even when we fart anymore."

Her words made Mo Ning laugh.

"You're a grown woman, why are you using such vulgar language?"

Lan Zhi wiped her mouth sheepishly.

"The words may be rough, but the principle is sound. Alright, I have to go out now, or Mao Mao and Yu Jie will start fighting."

As she spoke, she turned and left. Watching her retreating figure, a dark glint flashed in Mo Ning's eyes.

He longed to live the peaceful, carefree days they used to have, but everything was about to change drastically in just a few days, which filled him with both anticipation and fear.

When Lan Zhi arrived in the courtyard, Mao Mao was confronting Yu Jie, while Xiang Xiu and A Qi stood aside watching the commotion with great interest.

Seeing their blushing faces, Lan Zhi stepped forward and tugged at Maomao.

"Mao Mao, Yu Jie is a guest, you must not be rude to her."

Mao Mao looked at her with eyes full of grievance.

"Sister, this guest is too familiar with us. If I hadn't stopped her, she would have barged into your and Brother Mo's room. She's so rude."

Yu Jie glared at him defiantly, hands on her hips.

"You're the one who's being rude and you're turning around and accusing me! How do you know I don't know how to knock? You're just yelling at me like that, you have no manners at all..."

"Who are you calling ill-mannered? You're the ill-mannered one! You're a shrew, a shrew who'll never get married!"

"you……"

"All right."

Seeing that the two were getting increasingly out of line, Lan Zhi immediately interrupted them, somewhat displeased.

"You two are giving me a headache from all that arguing. I'm going to take Yujie out for a walk now. Who wants to come with me?"

Upon hearing this, Xiangxiu and Aqi were the first to raise their hands.

"I'll go, I'll go."

Lan Zhi then looked at Mao Mao.

"Aren't you going?"

Mao Mao glared at Yu Jie resentfully, crossed her arms, and turned her face away.

"I don't want to travel with her."

Yu Jie, unconvinced, raised her chin.

"I don't want to travel with this little brat either."

Seeing this, Lan Zhi couldn't help but laugh.

"I'm planning to eat out at a restaurant for lunch. If anyone doesn't want to go, they can just stay home and eat leftovers!"

Upon hearing this, Mao Mao's eyes darted around, and she eagerly changed her tune.

"You don't want to come with me? I'll make sure you don't get your way, sis, let's go!"

Yu Jie pouted, glared at him resentfully, and then looked at Lan Zhi.

"Lan Zhi, let's go!"

Lan Zhi gave a wry smile, nodded, and walked towards the door.

Yu Jie and Mao Mao snorted at each other and then quickly followed.

After they walked around the streets for a while, Lan Zhi led them to a secluded alley.

Momo, puzzled, stepped forward to ask.

"Sis, where are we going? This place feels really remote."

After glancing around, Yu Jie timidly tugged at Lan Zhi's sleeve.

"Didn't you say you'd take me somewhere fun? Where are we going?"

Lan Zhi did not answer them, but continued forward with heavy steps, her pace quickening.

When they turned the corner of this alley and came to another alley, the scene before them left them all speechless.

This is a slum; the houses here are dilapidated, and the people walking around are dressed in tattered clothes.

Just then, two children were playing a game not far away. Lan Zhi led the group over, and upon seeing the two scantily clad children, Yu Jie covered her eyes in astonishment.

"Their clothes are torn, why don't they just change them?"

Hearing her voice, the two children turned to look at them. One of the boys quickly tugged at his clothes, pulling the other child along, and turned to leave, but Lan Zhi called him back.

"Young man, could you take us to your home?"

The little boy looked at her, puzzled.

"Who are you? Why are you coming to my house?"

"We are just passing by and would like to ask for a drink of water."

The little boy then grinned and nodded.

"Okay, my house is just ahead, let's go!"