The princess was ordained by Heaven.

Chapter 209 Doubts

However, her actions seemed to bring them only fleeting joy, and more so, a sense of unease.

Zheng Shi, not knowing where the impulse and courage came from, stepped forward and carefully tugged at Zheng Xun's sleeve: "Princess. People like us, even if we step into the public eye, will face a lot of malice. Some people are born to like and are more suited to staying in the dark. We have found our own value, and that is enough."

Their lives were practically a gift.

The princess felt sorry for them, but they didn't feel that way.

Zheng Xun tilted his head and looked at them.

"Okay, you guys go back."

"Princess, I will strive to become the most skilled bodyguard, and I will protect you well."

Zheng Jiu glanced at her sideways, completely baffled as to why she was speaking so eloquently today.

Not to be outdone, he chimed in, "Princess! Me too!"

The two men spoke in different tones, but when they said these words, it was as if they were entrusting their lives to each other.

"it is good."

……

After washing up, Tao Heng came looking for her.

"How about going boating on the lake?"

Zheng Xun gave him a strange look: "A boat trip on the lake?"

"The princess has come all this way to Dingzhou. If I don't make sure she eats and has a good time, wouldn't that be my fault?"

"Should I call my second sister?"

"Then there's no need. The Second Princess has just arrived. She's not like a princess; she probably hasn't recovered yet."

If Zheng Xun hadn't known his personality well, she probably would have really thought he was very considerate.

Where should we go boating on the lake?

“Xianzhou”.

Zheng Xun: ...

Although their place is not far from Xianzhou, it does indeed belong to the sphere of influence of Dingzhou.

Is it really necessary to travel that far just to visit a lake?

"What trouble have you encountered? You are an imperial envoy appointed by the emperor, and you have jurisdiction even over the territory of Xianzhou."

Tao Heng, who was exposed, was not embarrassed at all: "I can manage it, but I was afraid the princess would be bored, so I brought her along to take a look."

"and then?"

"And give me some backing, that man's powerful backer is the Marquis of Chang Le..."

Marquis Chang Le was not only a marquis, but also the empress's biological father.

He wasn't afraid of offending the powerful, but it would be foolish not to lend his power; he should let the princess see his abilities.

If he were to be promoted in the future, the princess would naturally think of him first.

"Tell me."

"In Fengliang County, which is located in Xianzhou, there is a Magistrate Zhang who is incredibly skilled at solving cases. It is said that not a single case that has passed through his hands has gone unsolved. I am quite curious about how he manages to do it."

Is something fishy going on here?

"There are many suspicious points."

"Okay, let's go. Do you want to bring anyone else?"

"Let's not bring it."

Qi Wuyu, who had also come to see Zheng Xun, had just approached and hadn't even had a chance to greet Zheng Xun when he heard these words.

He glanced at Tao Heng warily: "Where is Lord Tao taking the princess?"

"Let's go boating on the lake," Tao Heng said with a smile.

Qi Wuyu strongly suspected that he was creating opportunities to be alone with the princess.

Such is the nature of power struggles among confidants.

He cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Zheng Xun: "Princess, would you like to bring a few more people?"

"Your presence is too striking..."

"The princess's safety is of utmost importance."

"Two people are enough..."

"The princess's safety is of utmost importance."

After a brief stalemate, Tao Heng finally gave in.

Hmph, what's wrong with letting him have his way this once?

Even if he catches up, he still can't compete with him!

So, the team of two became a team of three.

Tao Heng rented an ordinary horse-drawn carriage.

The carriage was just the right size to accommodate the three of them.

On the way, Tao Heng introduced them to Sanshan Lake, which is quite famous in Fengliang County.

The gentle lakes nestled among the rugged mountains resemble a place where immortals cultivate themselves.

However, in the entire Fengliang County, only Sanshanhu can be considered a commendable place.

There are no vast fertile fields here, only rolling hills.

To feed more children, they had to seek a living in the mountains, where trees fell and plots of land of various shapes took shape.

Gradually, only the area around Sanshan Lake still retains its ancient appearance.

Winter is not the best season for sightseeing in Japan, but due to its unique topography, Lake Sanzan is relatively warmer.

Some greenery still remains by the lake, like preserving the last embers of spring in the bleak winter.

The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain, and next, they needed to climb the steep slope.

Tao Heng took out a basket filled to the brim from a hidden compartment under the carriage and led them up the mountain.

However, Sanshan Lake is not as lively as it used to be today. At the foot of the mountain, a group of yamen runners are patrolling with knives.

As they approached, the constables stopped them, saying, "You are not allowed to go up the mountain today. Go back."

"Oh? Why can't we go up the mountain?"

"This is not something you should be asking about. Hurry up and leave, otherwise, if the magistrate blames us, we will all be in trouble."

The constable's attitude was not bad; although he spoke threateningly, his tone was one of earnest advice.

Zheng Xun asked curiously, "What happened on the mountain?"

"This is not something you young girls should concern yourselves with. Alright, go back now. If you really like Sanxian Lake, you can come back another day."

Tao Heng smiled and didn't make things difficult for them. He took out a token and waved it in front of them: "Go and tell Magistrate Zhang that Imperial Envoy Tao has come to visit."

It was nothing new for an imperial envoy to arrive in Dingzhou.

This imperial envoy was given the title of supervising all officials and inspecting all directions, but what he actually did is unknown. However, it is certain that this official was of higher rank than a county magistrate.

Therefore, they dared not delay and immediately sent someone in to report.

Not long after, a middle-aged man in a green robe slowly approached.

"I have long admired the name of Imperial Envoy Tao. I hope you will forgive my negligence!"

Lord Zhang's demeanor was rather humble and polite.

However, Zheng Xun keenly sensed the arrogance and disdain beneath his polite demeanor.

Disdain?

To whom?

Tao Heng?

Does he really think that having some minor connection with the Marquis of Chang Le will make him invincible?

Unfortunately, Lord Zhang was unaware that his true character had been seen through at a glance, and he continued to wear his respectable mask while exchanging pleasantries with Tao Heng.

To be fair, his disguise was actually quite good. If Zheng Xun hadn't been a psychic with superhuman abilities, he probably wouldn't have been able to see through it so easily.

Tao Heng is a shrewd man and a better actor than him.

Both sides were eager to get closer, and after exchanging only a few pleasantries, they became like brothers from different fathers and mothers who felt they had known each other for a long time.

One called out "Brother Zhang," and the other called out "Brother Tao," as if they had known each other for many years.

Not long after, Lord Zhang personally led them into the Three Immortals Lake, which was already under martial law.

It turns out that a murder occurred here yesterday, and today, Lord Zhang has brought people here specifically to investigate the case.

Upon hearing this, Zheng Xun couldn't help but look at Tao Heng.

Alright, alright. The case only happened yesterday, and Tao Heng, who was still in Dingzhou, already received the news, right?

Not long after Zhang Da arrived at Sanxian Lake, they caught up with him.

No wonder Lord Zhang never suspected that they had come specifically for him.