She was inherently beautiful, but in the past, she always liked to maintain a stern demeanor, which always gave people a sense of aloofness and coldness. Now, with this aggrieved and delicate appearance, it softened people's hearts at first glance, and they were even unwilling to have any more doubts.

Xie Jin Yan was most susceptible to this kind of thing, and his tone immediately softened a lot. He hurriedly explained, "I didn't mean that. I just feel that Shijie (senior martial sister) was never so kind to me before. Why are you now pitying a mere maid?"

She wasn't so kind to him before?

How sarcastic!

In the end, wasn't he saying that she was acting strangely today?

Yu Qingwu was even more displeased by Xie Jin Yan's explanation. She glared at him and said angrily, "Wasn't I unkind to you in the past because you bullied me first, Your Highness?"

"If someone bullied you like that, would you be kind to them?"

She pouted, with a hint of resentment in her expression.

Hearing this, Xie Jin Yan's eyes couldn't help but pause. He gave a bitter smile and said softly, "Is Shijie still resentful of me?"

"That's right, I wasn't very likable back then, and not as likable as Xiao Fengyun. Besides, since I did such a thing, it's normal for Shijie to have resentment."

After a pause, he took off the jade pendant from his waist and handed it to Yu Qingwu, saying gently.

"Forget it, do whatever you want. This is my waist tag, take it, and the guards in the mansion are at your disposal."

After saying that, he turned his head and refocused his attention on the mountain of memorials in front of him, continuing to work with a serious expression.

Yu Qingwu tightly gripped the jade pendant representing power in her hand, her gaze slowly sweeping over Xie Jin Yan.

After a long while, she called him softly again, her tone explanatory, "Your Highness, I only thought of myself when I saw Chun Tao. When I was young, I watched my parents, elder brothers, and clansmen being harmed by the Rongguo Duke's Mansion because my family had no power. I barely escaped with my life. Isn't Chun Tao now what I was back then?"

"Perhaps in Your Highness's eyes, I am not a good person, but I can't bear to see my tragedy repeated."

"And I emphasize again, now that I have followed you, I have no second thoughts, and I have never thought of rekindling my old relationship with Senior Brother Xiao. Please don't doubt me because of a few words of nonsense from that Qin woman."

"You are making me feel very disheartened, and the barrier between us will never be broken."

After speaking, Qingwu turned and left.

As she walked to the door, she vaguely heard the sound of a writing brush falling to the ground.

Her footsteps paused slightly, but Qingwu did not look back.

The foreplay was almost done, waiting for that raging fire.

However, to start a fire, one naturally needs to add firewood, and give the cook a chance.

Taking a deep breath, Qingwu quickly returned to Qingning Courtyard.

As soon as she entered the door, she beckoned to the two martial maids sent by the Empress, saying, "Come here, I need you to do something for me."

Hearing this, the two martial maids were first stunned, then walked up and asked, "Tai zi fei (Crown Princess), what do you need us to do?"

"It's nothing really, just saving a few people."

"The two of you are highly skilled in martial arts, so I think it will be easy for you." Yu Qingwu said with a smile, while handing the waist tag to Aunt Xun beside her, saying softly, "Aunt Xun, this is His Highness the Crown Prince's waist tag, please go with them."

"What? This old servant is also going?" Hearing this, Aunt Xun was first stunned, then showed a worried expression, reminding her, "Tai zi fei, you will be going to the Jingzhao Prefecture later. If this old servant, Ruizhu, and Ruiyun are not by your side, what will happen if you encounter danger?"

Encounter danger?

That was exactly what she wanted.

If not, how could she achieve her goal, how could she make Xie Jin Yan completely believe that she loved him wholeheartedly, and was willing to sacrifice everything for him.

A sharp glint flashed in her eyes, and Qingwu quickly returned to her gentle expression, smiling back at Aunt Xun, "Aunt Xun, don't worry too much, I'll be riding in the carriage bestowed by the Empress, and I'll also bring a few guards. When others see that carriage, and see that it's someone from the Crown Prince's Palace, who would dare to act rashly?"

"Even if there are really bandits, the guards of the Crown Prince's Palace are not to be trifled with, so don't worry."

"Speaking of which, this matter could have been handled by the guards, but after thinking about it, I felt it wasn't appropriate. It's better for you, Aunt Xun, and the two of you to go. You are all female members of the Crown Prince's Palace and rarely show your faces, so others won't recognize you and won't suspect the Crown Prince's Palace."

"After all... it's not something worth publicizing that the Crown Prince's Palace imprisoned the family of a servant, and... and even caused a death. It's not good to make a big show of it. Aunt Xun, you look kind and you are of this age, so you naturally have many identities to disguise."

As Yu Qingwu spoke, her voice became lower and lower, as if intentionally trying to hide something.

Aunt Xun had been somewhat suspicious and worried, but after hearing Yu Qingwu's words, she put down her doubts and felt that what she said was reasonable. She nodded slightly and replied, "What Tai zi fei said is true. Although that Gao woman has no formal status, she is still considered someone from the Crown Prince's Palace. If people know that she abused her servants and even caused an innocent life to be lost, it would indeed be bad for the reputation of the Crown Prince's Palace."

"This old servant was not thoughtful enough."

"Alright, Aunt Xun, there's no need to say more about these things. Let's go save people first. If we're late, who knows how many more lives will be lost."

Yu Qingwu was not exaggerating. She and Gao Minyue were, after all, Shijie, and although they didn't get along well in the past, she still knew her more or less. Gao Minyue came from a commoner background, but because of her relationship with Xie Jin Yan, she always considered herself superior, especially when facing those without power or influence. She never regarded their lives as important.

It was precisely because of this that she didn't give Chun Tao's brother a doctor after he fell ill, which led to Chun Tao's brother dying of illness and incurring Chun Tao's resentment.

Since she could treat Chun Tao's brother like this, the days when Chun Tao's family was imprisoned must not have been easy either.

Aunt Xun listened to Chun Tao's cries, and after being reminded by Yu Qingwu like this, she naturally thought of that as well.