She looked at Zhou Chengyu's expression and continued, "Let's be practical. What do you want in exchange for this letter?" Zhou Chengyu looked at Shen Mingzhu's coldness and counter - questioned, "Then what is Your Highness willing to give me?"
It was hard for Zhou Chengyu not to resent. He and Shen Mingzhu were just one step away. If they had waited a bit longer, he might have been able to marry her.
But he never expected that after the Crown Prince's death, everything went wrong. Since the day of the imperial marriage grant, Zhou Chengyu even felt that there was like a mountain between him and Shen Mingzhu.
Shen Mingzhu even began to guard against him.
Zhou Chengyu looked at Shen Mingzhu and continued, "If Your Highness asks, I naturally won't ask for anything."
Hearing this, Shen Mingzhu raised her eyebrows and said to Zhou Chengyu, "No need. If I give you nothing, I'll feel uneasy. You can just pick what you want. In a few days, I'll send someone to deliver the things to your mansion."
After saying that, Shen Mingzhu reached out to take the letter, then turned to Zhou Chengyu and asked, "Is there anything else you want to do, Lord Zhou?"
Zhou Chengyu pursed his lips. "I came to the temple to pray for a safety talisman for my father."
"Your Highness, take care." Zhou Chengyu took a deep look at Shen Mingzhu again before turning around and leaving.
Shen Mingzhu watched his back. Her hand, clenched until the knuckles turned white, gradually relaxed, showing a somewhat indescribable expression. Her face was gloomy and unclear.
She couldn't quite figure out Zhou Chengyu. Why did he tell her a piece of news before leaving? And how did he know that she needed this letter?
Shen Mingzhu was silent for a moment, then still opened the letter. After reading it, her face changed greatly.
"Your Highness!"
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's ugly face, Chun Tao, who was beside her, immediately stepped forward, looking at her with a worried face.
"I'm fine."
Shen Mingzhu suddenly came back to her senses. Her eyes were full of solemnity. She said to Chun Tao, "I wasn't wrong. Sure enough, someone is watching me."
No wonder, no wonder as soon as she started investigating in Jiangzhou, someone on Zhou Chengyu's side couldn't hold back.
Moreover, Zhou Chengyu was wrong. These people didn't start watching her just because she was investigating in Jiangzhou.
Thinking of that possibility, Shen Mingzhu felt a chill creeping over her body. She unconsciously pursed her lips and reached out to rub her tightly wrinkled eyebrows.
Perhaps, from the moment the Crown Prince died, someone had been watching her, and she had been completely unaware. However, no matter how defenseless Shen Mingzhu was, she was still a princess. There were many guards and secret guards around her. In the imperial city, almost no one could lay a hand on her.
Who was behind all this?
Shen Mingzhu frowned and began to think about her next move. She must do what was planned for tomorrow. But now, with both Xie Lang and Zhou Chengyu around her, she felt restricted in everything she did.
But the good thing was Zhou Chengyu's tip - off just now. Now Prime Minister Zhou was ill. It didn't matter what the illness was, but what Zhou Chengyu meant was that the Zhou family wouldn't take action against her for the time being.
Really...
Seeing Shen Mingzhu's expression, Chun Tao stepped forward and said, "Let this servant massage your head, Your Highness."
Saying so, Chun Tao skillfully massaged Shen Mingzhu's head. While massaging, she said, "Your Highness, your safety is of the utmost importance."
Shen Mingzhu frowned and said, "But this matter is really too important."
Chun Tao couldn't say anything more. Thinking of the time when the Crown Prince was still alive and the Empress Dowager was still conscious, she felt like crying. So tears gradually welled up in her eyes.
...
When Xie Lang returned, he still held the bamboo stick in his hand, with a faint smile on his face.
Seeing his subordinate waiting for him at the door, Xie Lang's smile gradually faded. He asked, "What happened?"
The subordinate said respectfully, "My lord, all the things you instructed a few days ago have been completed. But..."
"Your Highness seems to have discovered our whereabouts, so we couldn't continue. Fearing further exposure, we had to retreat in a hurry."
Xie Lang hesitated for a moment and then pushed open the courtyard door.
The subordinate followed. Seeing that there was no change in his expression, he continued, "Shall we continue the investigation or avoid Your Highness's people for now?"
Xie Lang hesitated slightly and said to him, "It's okay. Avoid them for now. Wait until I talk to Your Highness and then continue."
Shen Mingzhu didn't trust others very much now. If he continued the investigation without saying a word, he might be pointed at with a knife by Shen Mingzhu again.
It's better to talk to her first. He would find her to talk later.
"My lord," Xie Lang's subordinate continued to add, "We also noticed another group of people this time, but we don't know their intentions."
"At first, we thought they were Your Highness's people, but we didn't expect them to just hide in the dark and clean up the mess for Your Highness's people from time to time."
Xie Lang had already started to frown. The subordinate's heart trembled, but he still continued.
"However... they are well - hidden." The subordinate said, showing a look of fear on his face. "It's all this subordinate's incompetence. They didn't take action until we were almost exposed. They chased and attacked us after Your Highness's people."
Hearing this, Xie Lang frowned even deeper. "Does Your Highness's people know about the existence of those people?"
"Reply to my lord." The subordinate knelt on the ground, his eyes fixed on the ground. His body was a bit stiff. "They should not know. Those people have unknown origins and act very cautiously. We only noticed that there were others behind after we were targeted by them after the first exposure."
Xie Lang was silent and continued to think. He said to his subordinate, "Okay, you should split a group of people to see if you can find out the origin of those people. Don't stir up trouble for now."
"Yes."
After saying that, Xie Lang went back to the room and started writing a letter.
Shen Mingzhu returned very late. When she pushed open the door, she saw Xie Lang sitting at the small table, supporting his chin with one hand. Hearing the sound of the door opening, he suddenly turned to look at her.
"Why aren't you sleeping yet?"
Seeing the tiredness on Shen Mingzhu's face, Xie Lang gave up the idea of talking to her about things.
Forget it. It's the same if he talks to her tomorrow. There's no need to be in a hurry. Otherwise, Shen Mingzhu might not be able to sleep after he tells her.
"It's okay. I'm waiting for you."
Xie Lang said and yawned. He asked Shen Mingzhu, "Why did Your Highness come back so late?"
Shen Mingzhu's movement of closing the door paused slightly. "I had something to deal with."
"By the way," seeing Xie Lang yawning, a strange look flashed in Shen Mingzhu's eyes. Finally, she said, "I have something to do tomorrow and need to leave for a while, so I'm telling you."
Xie Lang subconsciously looked up at her and asked, "Can't I go with you?"
The light in the room was dim, with only a few candles lit.
Shen Mingzhu's expression was hidden in the darkness, so Xie Lang couldn't see clearly. He only felt that she seemed to sigh before continuing, "But didn't you tell me on the road today that Sister Xi Yu was looking for you?"