Chapter 486 The Mastermind

Chapter 486: The Person Behind the Scenes

Zhong Xinyu was even more surprised upon hearing this. "You... married His Highness Prince Ye and you're still alive?"

"Could it be that His Highness Prince Ye has already..."

Seeing that Ji Yuntang was stunningly beautiful and perfectly fine, her first thought was that Prince Ye must have met with some misfortune.

After all, of the previous princesses he had married, some had died, some had committed suicide, and even she herself had been insane for a year.

Everyone who married into Prince Ye's residence was destined for a tragic end.

Now seeing a perfectly normal princess, Zhong Xinyu couldn't deny her shock.

Ji Yuntang could tell exactly what she was thinking. She smiled and said, "Don't worry, Prince Ye is fine, and so am I. We're both alive and kicking."

Zhong Xinyu's lips curled into a relieved smile, and she wished them well from the bottom of her heart.

"That's good. Prince Ye is heaven-blessed. Marrying a princess like Miss Ji is his good fortune."

Ming Xia filled Zhong Xinyu in on everything Xu and Magistrate Zhong had done over the past year.

When she got to the part about being forced to take her place in the marriage, tears streamed down her cheeks.

"Miss, the master and madam knew you were deathly ill and couldn't even get out of bed, yet they still forced me to marry in your place. They didn't give a damn about your life—they were pushing you straight to your grave."

"If it weren't for Princess Ye's help this time, we'd both be dead at Madam Xu's hands."

Zhong Xinyu's eyes instantly welled up. She never imagined so much had happened during the year she was out of her mind.

And in the end, it was the current Princess Ye who saved her.

Zhong Xinyu immediately got off the bed and knelt before Ji Yuntang. "Thank you, Princess Ye, for saving my life today. If I ever get the chance, I'll repay you even if I have to work like a mule for you."

Ji Yuntang helped her up and said gently, "You don't need to thank me. If you want to thank anyone, thank your maid. She's the one who told me what's going on in the Zhong residence. Otherwise, I wouldn't have known about your situation."

"You were poisoned, and I've already neutralized the toxin. Earlier, I promised Ming Xia I could get you out of here and reunite you with your sweetheart. Would you be willing to trust me?"

Zhong Xinyu was deeply moved and agreed without hesitation.

"I'm willing. As long as Princess Ye can get me out of here, I'll do whatever it takes."

Thinking of Young Master He, a warm feeling washed over her. She wondered how he was doing these days.

But as long as he was still alive, she believed everything would work out.

Ji Yuntang pulled out a black pill and handed it to Zhong Xinyu.

"This is a fake-death pill. Within five hours of taking it, you'll be indistinguishable from a corpse—no heartbeat, no breathing. After five hours, you'll wake up automatically."

"Take it after noon tomorrow. When Xu thinks you're really dead, she'll definitely have you buried quietly so it won't mess up Ming Xia's wedding in your place the day after. Then I'll have someone get you out. However..."

Zhong Xinyu's heart clenched, and she immediately pressed, "However what?"

Ji Yuntang pursed her lips slightly and said, "However, once you're rescued, you can never be an official's daughter again. You'll have to change your name and live like an ordinary person. You probably won't be able to come back to the capital ever again."

Zhong Xinyu's eyes got red at the corners, and she immediately said, "I'm willing. As long as I can live, even if I'm no longer the legitimate daughter of the Zhong family, I have no complaints."

"Wealth and status don't matter to me. Just being alive is already a blessing!"

Ji Yuntang let out a soft sigh. "Alright, keep this fake-death pill. Remember what I just told you."

Zhong Xinyu took the pill and said, "Thank you, Princess Ye."

Then Ji Yuntang looked at Ming Xia and asked, "Ming Xia, when you got back today, did Xu suspect anything? Did you manage to dig up any info?"

Ming Xia smiled softly. "Princess, I was just about to get to that."

"When I got back today, I did what you said and told them I got robbed by bandits. Madam Xu and the eldest young master were pissed, but they didn't suspect a thing."

"Oh, and I also overheard the madam and the eldest young master chatting. They said that if they pulled this off, they could suck up to some big shot, and that this big shot might even hook the two young masters up with official posts."

"But Madam Xu didn't say who this big shot actually is, so I've got no idea."

Ji Yuntang's lips curled into a cold smirk. "Just as I suspected. Magistrate Zhong has someone behind him."

Pei Zhiyi asked curiously, "Tangtang, someone who can just hand out official posts to Magistrate Zhong's two sons like that—this big shot must be pretty high up in court, right?"

"Do you think he could be one of the royals?"

Ji Yuntang narrowed her eyes but didn't elaborate. "Maybe."

This was almost certainly tied to the Dog Crown Prince, but she didn't want to drag Pei Zhiyi into it.

Pei Zhiyi had already helped her out once during the assassination last time.

If she interfered again this time, the Dog Crown Prince might seek revenge against her.

Not to mention, Pei Zhiyi's brother, Deputy General Pei, was a subordinate of the Dog Crown Prince. It would be all too easy for the Dog Crown Prince to go after him.

She couldn't keep putting the Dingyuan General's residence at risk for her sake.

Ji Yuntang pondered to herself. She couldn't kill the Dog Crown Prince right now, but she could topple the people of the Zhong residence.

Weren't they currying favor with the Dog Crown Prince to target the Prince Ye's residence?

Then she would make them pay the price!

With this thought, Ji Yuntang looked at Ming Xia and asked, "Ming Xia, if I gave you the opportunity to topple the entire Zhong residence and avenge both yourself and your young lady, would you be willing?"

Ming Xia was momentarily stunned, a trace of disbelief crossing her face.

She pointed at her own nose and asked, "Topple the Zhong residence? Me?"

Ji Yuntang nodded. "That's right, you. And this is something only you can do."

Ming Xia was even more shocked!

She was just a maidservant who served others. She never imagined that one day someone would tell her she could topple the entire Zhong residence and avenge herself and her young lady. How could she remain calm?

She first turned to look at Zhong Xinyu, and upon seeing no objection on her young lady's face, Ming Xia steeled her resolve and clenched her fists.

"I'm willing. Xu killed our madam, stole the dowry the madam left for the young lady, and tormented the young lady to this state. I've long wanted to kill them."

"But I know that if I killed them, I wouldn't survive either. It doesn't matter if I die, but I was afraid no one would take care of the young lady afterward. Now that I know Princess Ye can rescue my young lady, I can die without regrets."

She said these words with a resolute tone, carrying an air of facing death.

Ji Yuntang chuckled lightly. "Who said anything about you dying?"

------------