Who understands? He traveled through time with a high-spec spatial ability.

Qiao Jingjing gently traced the rim of the teacup with her fingertips, a half-smile playing on her lips: "Lord Jiang, though I am a royal wife, I am not a lamb to the slaughter."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuming's expression froze for a moment, then he smiled wryly and said, "Your Highness has misunderstood. The imperial court does not intend to take advantage of you, but rather hopes to achieve a mutually beneficial cooperation with you."

"Oh?" Qiao Jingjing raised an eyebrow. "Then, Lord Jiang, why don't you tell me what the imperial court can offer me?"

Jiang Yuming took out a secret edict stamped with the imperial seal from his robes and said in a low voice, "His Majesty promises that if the county princess can help the court implement the new policies, she will be granted special permission to form a merchant caravan to trade with the Western Regions."

Qiao Jingjing's eyes flickered slightly. The trade routes to the Western Regions had always been strictly controlled by the imperial court; if a special permit could be obtained, the profits would be immeasurable.

“Furthermore,” Jiang Yuming continued, “His Majesty also promised that the county magistrate would have priority in obtaining mining rights for newly discovered mineral veins.”

Qiao Jingjing was secretly delighted, but showed no sign of it on her face: "That sounds good. However..." She changed the subject, "Lord Jiang should know that I am about to marry Prince Chen. Are these privileges for me personally, or for Prince Chen's residence?"

Jiang Yuming's expression turned serious: "The county princess is indeed astute. His Majesty specifically instructed that these privileges belong solely to the county princess and have nothing to do with the Prince Chen's residence."

Qiao Jingjing nodded in satisfaction. The emperor was implying that even if she married into the royal family, she could still maintain her independent business status.

"Princess,"

Jiang Yuming took a sip of tea and continued, "His Majesty understands your noble cause. However, the court has been engaged in continuous wars, and the disaster relief and reconstruction efforts have consumed enormous resources. The business you offer is indeed good, but it may not be profitable for the foreseeable future or even the next few months. The court is facing a difficult situation."

“Since that’s the case…” She put down her teacup and took out a prepared plan from her sleeve. “These are some of my ideas on new commercial policies. Lord Jiang might want to take a look.”

Jiang Yuming eagerly unfurled the scroll, his eyes lighting up with each page: "Brilliant! Establishing a commercial tax system, creating self-governing chambers of commerce, opening up private banks, allowing pre-sales of real estate, limited-edition health-preserving elixirs... these proposals from the county magistrate are practically tailor-made for my Great Liang!"

Qiao Jingjing smiled slightly: "This is just a preliminary idea. Specific implementation still needs to be discussed in detail with the Ministry of Revenue."

“Of course.” Jiang Yuming carefully put away the plan as if it were a priceless treasure, then suddenly lowered his voice, “Princess, there’s one more thing…”

Qiao Jingjing understood and waved for the maid to leave: "Lord Jiang, please speak freely."

"The Yan Kingdom delegation has been very active recently, seemingly trying to win over court officials," Jiang Yuming said gravely. "His Majesty is worried that they might use the marriage between the county princess and Prince Chen as leverage."

A cold glint flashed in Qiao Jingjing's eyes: "Thank you for the reminder, Lord Jiang. However..." She gently stroked the jade bracelet on her wrist, "My marriage is none of the business of outsiders."

Seeing her confidence, Jiang Yuming said no more, rose to take his leave, and said, "Princess, if you need anything, please feel free to come to me."

After seeing Jiang Yuming off, Qiao Jingjing stood by the window, lost in thought. Fa Cai flew down from the beam and landed on her shoulder: "Master, should we inform the male master?"

Qiao Jingjing shook her head: "No rush. Let 'Dark Fragrance' investigate the movements of the Yan Kingdom's delegation first." She turned and walked towards her desk. "Also, inform Lu Yuan to expedite the investigation into the Western Regions trade routes."

Fa Cai tilted his head: "Master, are you really going to cooperate with the imperial court?"

Qiao Jingjing picked up her pen and sketched a business map on the paper, a slight smile playing on her lips: "Cooperation? No, this is a transaction. The court wants new policies, I want trade routes, it's just a matter of each getting what they need. Besides, I've been here for so long and haven't even been to the seaside yet."

Perhaps we could organize a fleet of ships to go to sea?

She put down her pen, her gaze becoming profound: "But before that, we must first resolve the troublesome situation with the Yan Kingdom."

……

The night was as dark as ink. Qiao Jingjing changed into a set of night clothes and quietly appeared in an inconspicuous house in the west of Pengcheng.

Lu Yuan was already waiting, with an ordinary-looking man in gray standing beside him.

“Young Miss, this is ‘Dark Fragrance’s’ mole in the Yan Palace, codenamed ‘Grey Sparrow’,” Lu Yuan explained. “He risked leaving the palace to deliver an important message.”

Gray Sparrow knelt and kowtowed: "Miss, the Empress Dowager secretly received an envoy from Daliang three days ago. I overheard...they mentioned 'Operation Wing Removal'."

Qiao Jingjing's heart skipped a beat: "What is Operation De-winging?"

"The specifics are unclear, but it seems to be aimed at both you and His Highness Prince Chen, just before your wedding," Gray Sparrow lowered his voice. "What's even more terrifying is that I personally overheard the envoy say... 'The informant has been arranged.'"

Qiao Jingjing and Lu Yuan exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock in each other's eyes. Someone was actually colluding with the Yan Kingdom!

“There is one more thing,” Gray Sparrow continued. “The Empress Dowager has sent her most capable female official, Qingying, to search for Tuoba Zheng. It is said that she has already found some clues.”

"Grey Sparrow, return to the Yan Palace immediately and continue monitoring Qingying's every move." She made a swift decision. "Lu Yuan, send more men to investigate Tuoba Zheng's whereabouts. He must have accomplices to have been able to hide for so long. Investigate who is pulling the strings behind the scenes."

After the two left, Qiao Jingjing stood alone in the courtyard.

Just then, a strange noise came from outside the window. Qiao Jingjing's eyes sharpened, and she quickly put the blueprints into her spatial storage.

Almost at the same time,

"Owner!"

Suddenly, Fa Cai darted out from the shadows, shouting, "The master of the house has been attacked!"

Qiao Jingjing was shocked: "Where?"

"On the official road north of the city, on the way back to the mansion! The assassin used a specially made armor-piercing crossbow from the Yan Kingdom!"

"Prepare the horses! No..." A resolute glint flashed in Qiao Jingjing's eyes, "We'll go straight there."

She closed her eyes and focused her mind on sensing the spatial imprint that had been left on Tantai Zhou.

This is a new ability she recently developed, allowing her to teleport to the side of someone who has left a mark in a short period of time.

After the dizzying sensation of spatial distortion subsided, Qiao Jingjing found herself on a bloody battlefield.

Tantai Zhou leaned against an ancient tree, a crossbow bolt stuck in his left shoulder, and seven or eight corpses of men in black lay around him.

Five more assassins were closing in, their blades gleaming with a ghostly blue light.