The Reborn Princess Has Turned Evil

Chapter 185 Lure the snake out of its hole

She instructed everyone to keep Jing Anle's fainting spell a secret from the palace. Firstly, she was afraid that Emperor Jing would worry and implicate the General's Mansion. Secondly, she could use this incident as an excuse to stay overnight at the General's Mansion.

Evening, in the general's mansion kitchen.

"Oh, Aunt Afang has come here in person. If there's anything you need, just let me know." The head of the kitchen greeted Afang with a beaming smile.

“The princess is of noble birth; she would faint if she ate fish. I must personally instruct her before I can be at ease,” Afang said.

The steward knew that Afang was the princess's person, so he couldn't be negligent and quickly said loudly, "I will definitely remember this and make the arrangements well."

Little did they know, these words had already been overheard by someone with ulterior motives.

In the dead of night, Jing Anle's room was completely silent. The person on the bed was motionless, seemingly in a deep sleep.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flashed across the window paper, followed by a woman in black gently pushing open the door and rushing towards the person on the bed with a short sword in her hand.

At the critical moment, the woman on the bed woke up instantly. It was Mu Ping. "I've been waiting for you for a long time."

The man in black was stunned, realizing he had fallen into a trap. He tried to run but was captured by Mu Ping. The man in black was ruthless, clearly having come prepared. Mu Ping was exceptionally skilled, and for a time, she and the man in black were evenly matched.

However, just as the two were locked in a stalemate, the man in black suddenly flicked his sleeve, scattering a cloud of powder. Mu Ping couldn't dodge in time and inhaled some of the powder, immediately feeling dizzy.

The man in black seized the opportunity and ran towards the door, only to find Qin Xu standing there with a wary look in his eyes.

"Oh no!" the man in black thought, but he had no choice but to fight back. The two started fighting instantly. Although Qin Xu was middle-aged, his martial arts skills had not declined.

After several rounds of fighting, Qin Xu finally gained the upper hand. Qin Xu grabbed the black-clad man's arm. At this moment, Jing Anle walked out from the shadows. The two looked at each other, and the black-clad man's eyes were clearly filled with astonishment.

"It really is you!" Jing Anle stepped forward and ripped off the mask of the man in black, revealing a beautiful face, like a flower blooming in the darkness.

Qin Xu grabbed Cao Wantang's face, his face showing little surprise, but his eyes were full of danger.

This matter was carried out in secret, so only Jing Anle, Mu Ping, and Qin Xu knew about it, and they secretly locked the person up.

Lanfang Courtyard.

Aunt Cao was locked inside the room, guarded by skilled men at the door, while Jing Anle and Mu Ping stood outside.

"Princess, why don't we go in?" Mu Ping asked, puzzled. Now that they had caught them red-handed, they should question them properly.

Jing Anle shook his head. "Cao Wantang is unyielding, and she might still have some things to say to my uncle. If I go in, I'm afraid I won't get anything out of her."

The master and servant were talking, completely unaware that a figure was lying on the roof.

inside the house.

"Speak, who sent you?" Qin Xu's face was ashen, and his gaze toward Cao Wantang was full of pressure.

Cao Wantang smiled calmly, showing no fear, and even poured herself a cup of tea.

"When did the general discover it?" Cao Wantang put down her cup and asked instead.

When she revealed her true colors just now, Qin Xu was not surprised at all. Only then did she realize that she was the one who had been tricked.

"I knew it was you from the very beginning," Qin Xu said coldly.

Cao Wantang was startled, but quickly regained her composure. "Since the general already knew, why did you only expose me now?"

A complex emotion flashed in Qin Xu's eyes. "I gave you a chance, hoping you could turn back from the wrong path. But you showed no remorse and even dared to attempt to harm the princess!"

Cao Wantang remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "I have nothing to say. Just kill me."

“Fine, since you won’t tell me, then I will.” Qin Xu’s eyes were firm.

“Since I rescued you from the border between Jing and Dayun, I suppose you are inextricably linked to Dayun.”

Cao Wantang's face stiffened; Qin Xu knew he was right.

"As for you, having infiltrated the General's Mansion for the past few years, I wonder if you've gotten what you wanted?"

Qin Xu stared intently at Cao Wantang, trying to find a flaw in her expression.

During her years at the General's Mansion, apart from the time she secretly saw Prince Qing's ambition to annex Dayun Kingdom in Qin Xu's study, Cao Wantang had not discovered any other plans by Jing Kingdom for Dayun.

Under the cover of night, the two looked at each other, as if trying to glimpse the secrets hidden deep within each other's eyes.

Qin Xu simply sat down and said, "A spy naturally fights for the country, whether on the battlefield or in the shadows."

"But don't worry, although I no longer have the military seal, I can assure you that my Jing Kingdom has absolutely no intention of attacking Dayun." Qin Xu said, looking at Cao Wantang and sighing, "War between two countries will only result in bloodshed and suffering, and it is always the innocent people who suffer."

Cao Wantang's expression seemed to soften, and he said, "If you have no intention of starting a war, then what is the meaning behind the Jing Kingdom's army repeatedly causing trouble on the border in recent years?"

“This April, your Jing Kingdom’s border guards actually used the excuse of the disrespectful attitude of the people of my Dayun border to cruelly kill a family of five! What crime did those innocent people commit? Isn’t this a blatant provocation?” Cao Wantang became more and more agitated as she spoke, her voice unconsciously rising eight octaves.

Qin Xu's eyes darkened as he spoke, "I have also heard of this matter. I have already resigned, and the military tally is in Prince Qing's hands." He then looked at Cao Wantang and asked, "Do you understand what I mean?"

That's true. I've known a bit about it in the General's Mansion over the past few years. Qin Xu is nominally retired, but in reality, he's been stripped of his power.

"General, are you saying that the real wicked one is Prince Qing?" Cao Wantang asked.

"You are indeed smart."

Cao Wantang scoffed and said coldly, "But he is, after all, surnamed Jing."

"You have been in Jing for many years. Have you ever heard of any improper actions by His Majesty? His Majesty is diligent in governing and loves his people. He has promulgated countless laws that benefit the people. Our Jing advocates peace above all else. Unless absolutely necessary, we will never cause trouble." Qin Xu said to Cao Wantang.

Cao Wantang remained unmoved.

Qin Xu continued, "As for what you saw, it was something someone deliberately wanted you to see."

"You mean, this was done intentionally by Prince Qing?"

Qin Xu nodded in agreement, "As the saying goes, two tigers cannot share one mountain. Prince Qing himself harbored rebellious intentions. He is only stirring up trouble to provoke conflict between the two countries and reap the benefits."

What's there to be confused about? When two countries are at war, military power is in the hands of Prince Qing. When the time comes, it will be easy for Prince Qing to annex the Dayun Kingdom. In this way, his power will be even greater.

"Why should I believe you?" Cao Wantang asked.

Qin Xu's eyes were firm. "Now that you're in my hands, why should I deceive you? Besides, what difference does it make whether you believe me or not?"

Cao Wantang felt her heart sink. Before she could recover, she heard Qin Xu ask, "I've said so much, now it's my turn to ask you."