Deep in the back garden, there are dense flowers and trees, with cascading crabapple trees, their pink and white petals blown off by the evening breeze, covering the winding bluestone paths.As we walked towards the waterside pavilion, the sounds of people around us became sparse. The chatter and laughter of silk and bamboo in the front yard were blocked by the trees, leaving only the rustling of the branches and leaves in the wind.

Shen Qingyuan walked slowly, seemingly casually admiring the flowers and trees along the way, but he was always looking behind him from the corner of his eye.Four men disguised as servants in the Hou Mansion followed her closer and closer. They secretly signaled to each other with their eyes, quietly quickened their pace, and slowly circled her towards the octagonal pavilion by the water.

The pavilion was built by the water and surrounded by thick flowers and branches. Very few guests would wander here on weekdays. It was the place carefully chosen by Xiao Jingyu to commit the crime.The leading man took out a small packet of gray-white medicinal powder from his sleeve, hid it in the palm of his hand, and pretended to lead the way: "Girl, tea is ready in the pavilion. You might as well sit down and have a rest."

The moment the man stretched out his hand to add medicine to the tea cup, several black-clothed guards suddenly jumped out of the dense forest, and the crisp sound of their scabbards colliding broke the silence in the garden.The four men were frightened, and hurriedly tried to hide the powder and flee, but the secret guards had already blocked the surrounding routes. Within a moment, all four men were pushed to the ground, and the drugs in their palms and the Dong Palace's exclusive secret badges were all searched out.

Shen Qingyuan stood in the corridor, looking coldly at the four people who were tied up, with an unperturbed look on his face.From the moment she stepped into the Hou Mansion, she was sure that Xiao Jingyu would definitely take action here. Now that both people and stolen goods were obtained, this was the most solid evidence to overthrow the opponent.

In the front hall, Xiao Jingyu was chatting with a group of princes and dignitaries, chatting and laughing on the surface, but secretly waiting for news of success from the back garden.Suddenly, a steward of the Marquis Mansion quickly walked in with a panicked look and whispered a few words in Marquis Pingning's ear.Marquis Pingning's expression changed suddenly, and he immediately stood up and rushed towards the water pavilion. The guests at the table noticed something strange and followed him out of curiosity.

The group of people rushed to the waterside pavilion in the back garden and happened to encounter four assassins tied up with ropes. There were also tea and poison on the table that they had not had time to take action on.Xiao Jingyu's face instantly turned pale, he pretended to be calm and stepped forward to scold: "How dare you, these unscrupulous slaves, commit murder in the Marquis' Mansion!"

"Your Highness, you don't have to worry about acting." Xiao Yuci walked out of the flowers slowly, his black robe stained with scattered petals, and said in a cold tone, "The prisoner is wearing the East Palace waistband, and the powder and evidence are all there. In front of everyone, do you still want to quibble?"

The young ladies from aristocratic families, princes and ministers all around were talking about it, and all their probing and disdainful glances fell on Xiao Jingyu.Everyone could see clearly that the target of all the efforts to ambush people and drugged the flower viewing banquet was Shen Qingyuan, who was standing safely beside him.

Xiao Jingyu was speechless and clenched his fingertips tightly. He never expected that his perfect plan would be completely intercepted by the secret guards deployed by the regent in advance.

The news was sent back to the Ningxiang Courtyard of the Prime Minister's Mansion in less than half an hour.Mrs. Liu, who had been waiting for the good news, heard the maid coming to report, and she slumped down on the chair, with all the color on her face gone.Shen Qingrou was trembling with fear at the side. The overall situation that the mother and daughter had worked so hard to set up came to naught in an instant, leaving only a handle to bring them down.

Shen Qingyuan looked at the flustered and embarrassed Xiao Jingyu, with a faint coldness in his eyes.In her previous life, she was ruined here and her whole life was wasted. In this life, the situation is changing, and those who do evil should swallow the evil consequences they have sown.