The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Zheng Xun stepped aside, lifted the carriage curtain higher, and said loudly, "You've got the wrong person. Aunt Jianyang isn't in the carriage."

Tao Heng suddenly looked up and saw a little girl of about ten years old sitting in the carriage. She was rather thin, and her dark eyes had an unusual maturity. She peeked over, and although her movements were quite carefree, they only made her look cute against her childish face.

Tao Heng finished bowing with disappointment: "I'm disturbing you, sir."

He lowered his hand and prepared to leave.

Zheng Xun called out to him, "You want to see Aunt Jianyang? Get in the car, let's talk."

The coachman was horrified: "Princess! You don't know, the people outside are very wicked. My master often encounters such people. They will do anything to recommend themselves, but few of them have any real skills."

Zheng Xun touched his nose: "So it was self-recommendation..."

It turned out that she had misunderstood.

The coachman truthfully replied, "Some of us have also considered volunteering to become the master's male concubine, but the master is an extremely noble person, and not just anyone can catch his eye."

Zheng Xun: ...

Her perception of Jianyang: A pitiful little thing betrayed and used by his lover.

In reality, Jianyang is a queen with countless options, surrounded by beauties on both sides.

No wonder Chang Xiu managed to deceive Jianyang for so many years without finding out any truly important information.

Zheng Xun clicked his tongue in admiration: "Thanks for the reminder, but it's alright, let him come up."

The coachman meant well; as a servant, he felt he had no right to interfere with his master's decision, so he could only look at Tao Heng with annoyance: "Young master, please."

Tao Heng hesitated for a moment before stepping onto the carriage.

Once inside the carriage and the curtain was lowered, Tao Heng realized something was amiss.

Zheng Xun glanced at him and smoothed the pages of the book on her lap: "This princess can introduce you to Aunt Jianyang, but you should also show this princess what you're capable of."

Tao Heng hesitated.

The person in front of her is still a child. What can she understand? What decisions can she make?

Most importantly, can he trust her?

At this moment, Zheng Xun put away the book he had finished reading on his lap and picked up another one to read. Tao Heng was shocked when he saw the title.

Zheng Xun's heart skipped a beat: "What? You know?"

Tao Heng's lips trembled, but he remained silent.

Zheng Xun tentatively asked, "It seems you don't like these books."

She paused for a moment, then continued, "That's perfect, this princess doesn't like it either."

Tao Heng suddenly looked up, as if to investigate whether she was lying.

Zheng Xun looked directly at him, earnest and serious.

“Princess, those books are filthy and not suitable for you to read.”

“I now think I shouldn’t have introduced you to Aunt Jianyang. What you’re asking for, perhaps I can help you with,” Zheng Xun said quietly, seeing through his thoughts. “You’ve already reached a dead end, haven’t you? Now, I’m presenting an opportunity to you. It’s up to you whether you’re willing to seize it.”

She had a good first impression of him, which is why she was willing to help him, but she couldn't force him to make a decision.

However, she had a hunch that he must know something about the books.

Tao Heng remained silent for a long time before finally giving a self-deprecating laugh.

He rose and knelt respectfully before Zheng Xun: "Please, Princess, help me!"

Yes, he had no choice.

He's a decisive person; if that's the case, then let's take a gamble!

He lowered his head and briefly explained his situation.

“I was a junior scholar who passed the imperial examination last year, but due to my family’s poverty and my mother’s poor health, I had to find work to do on my own.”

"At this time, the students discovered that a bookstore in our county town was hiring a shop assistant, and the students went there full of confidence."

“However, the person in charge of hiring only asked one question before rejecting the student,” Tao Heng said, finding it laughable and speaking with a hint of self-mockery. “He asked the student if he could read, and the student answered that he could. That was their reason for rejecting him.”

Hearing this, Zheng Xun sat up straight: "Didn't you have any doubts?"

Tao Heng's appearance was too coincidental. She hadn't planned to use today's opportunity to check the melons on him, but now she had no choice.

Looking at the information that popped up from the system, she pondered for a long time before turning to Tao Heng and saying, "Go on."

"Yes! I was suspicious at the time, so after I found out that bookstores in various places were hiring, I went to the neighboring county. This time, I pretended to be illiterate and successfully got in."

"Then... I discovered that some of the books in the bookstore were suspicious. Being a lowly student, I went to great lengths to find an opportunity to speak with Magistrate Jiangzhou. However, after I explained the situation, Magistrate Jiangzhou outwardly agreed, but secretly sent someone to assassinate me!"

His eyes were red-rimmed, and he gritted his teeth in hatred: "The student's mother was already terminally ill. They told her about the student's situation, and she was so angry that she died in bed!"

At first, he was full of ambition to achieve great things, but his mother died because of him.

He didn't regret investigating the bookstore; he only regretted that he hadn't acted carefully enough, allowing the enemy to take advantage of the situation!

Zheng Xun looked at the white headband he was wearing and at the large tears that fell onto the blanket, and sighed softly, "My condolences."

Tao Heng exclaimed excitedly, "Only when our enemy is dead can we, the students, find some solace!"

His eyes were bloodshot, his expression calm, yet it seemed as if he was brewing madness.

Zheng Xun patted him on the shoulder: "Jiangzhou is so far from the capital, you've managed to survive until now, you're quite capable."

"The student's mother was a hairdresser and was skilled in fine brushwork. The student used these two abilities to constantly change his identity so that he could not be found by the enemy."

Tao Heng was tense all over, living in fear and tension for a long time, which made him like a frightened bird.

No wonder he didn't dare to reveal his purpose directly, but instead pretended to offer himself as a concubine, because he had no idea whether Jianyang would be the next Jiangzhou Tongzhi.

Think about it. He was just an ordinary scholar, a stranger in the capital. Those powerful and influential people were high above him, untouchable. Most importantly, he didn't know their true colors. He dared not act rashly because he knew that if he made a mistake, he would be doomed.

Zheng Xun turned his head to look at the swaying carriage curtain: "Such bookstores exist even in the capital, right under the emperor's nose, openly and brazenly. Tao Heng, do you know what this means?"

She stood up and helped Tao Heng up: "Don't worry, this princess will avenge you. Those rats in the shadows will only end up in hell."

She looked earnestly into his eyes and extended her hand: "Tao Heng, are you willing to believe in this princess? Are you willing to come with this princess?"

Logically speaking, it's not easy to convince people of her age, given how young she is.

However, Tao Heng was at his wit's end.

Thinking of how she had managed to get to the heart of the matter with just a few words from him, and remembering her promise, Tao Heng took a deep breath and placed his hand lightly on Zheng Xun's: "If the princess grants my wish, I will do anything, even die for her!"

"Good!" The carriage stopped at the right time, and Zheng Xun lifted the curtain. "Today, let's see how many wicked tricks are still hidden in this capital city."