Chapter 22 The Scheme within a Scheme

The palace gate slowly closed, and the carriage drove towards the Marquis Dingguo's Mansion in the night. Su Mingli sat quietly inside the carriage, her fingertips gently tapping on the tea lid resting on her knees, her brows slightly furrowed.

"What? Did a single word from the Crown Prince actually make you waver?" Xiao Jingxuan sat opposite her, his eyes filled with a hint of inquiry.

Su Mingli raised her eyes, her gaze profound. "I'm thinking about why he would give me such a 'kind reminder'."

Xiao Jingxuan smiled faintly and casually leaned against the soft cushion, his voice low. "His Highness, the Crown Prince, has never been a soft-hearted person. If you didn't have something beneficial to him in your hands, why would he bother to remind you?"

"But the question is, what exactly do I have in my possession?" Su Mingli's eyes slightly narrowed, and her mind was filled with a whirl of thoughts.

This frame-up against her seemed to be about the medicine on the surface, but in fact, there was a deeper conspiracy hidden beneath. The Crown Prince's words were by no means aimless.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck her mind, and her eyes instantly became sharp.

"The Gilded Bronze Statue," she murmured softly, uttering these four words.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Jingxuan's eyes flickered slightly, and then the corners of his lips curled up into a meaningful smile. "It seems that you've finally figured it out."

Su Mingli clenched the tea lid in her hand slightly. The Gilded Bronze Statue was no ordinary antique. It was a remarkable mechanical device that held medical secrets. It was rumored to be related to a certain renowned doctor in ancient times and even contained long-lost methods of treating illnesses. If her speculation was correct, this object was likely to be involved in the royal family's secrets.

No wonder the Crown Prince was apprehensive.

The carriage gradually drove into the Marquis Dingguo's Mansion. Su Mingli collected her thoughts and was just about to get out of the carriage when she suddenly heard Xiao Jingxuan say in a low voice, "In this game of chess, how much chance of winning do you have?"

Su Mingli curled the corners of her lips into a smile. Her tone was calm but exuded extreme confidence. "The outcome is still uncertain, but I will definitely not lose."

Xiao Jingxuan looked at her, and a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

This legitimate daughter of the Su family was far more interesting than he had imagined...——

The next day, the atmosphere in the Marquis Dingguo's Mansion was solemn. In the study, a confidential letter was placed on the desk.

"Miss, something has changed," Xiaotao said in a low voice.

Su Mingli unfolded the letter and quickly scanned its contents. Her eyes sank slightly.

She had originally thought that the other side would make a move before she could prove her innocence. Unexpectedly, they had taken action ahead of time.

"Very well," she closed the letter, a hint of coldness in her eyes.

Since someone was impatient to make her disappear, then she would play this game with them properly.

At the same time, in the imperial palace, inside the Imperial Study.

"Are you sure?" Crown Prince Xiao Chengyu looked at the hidden guard in front of him, his brows slightly furrowed.

"I saw it with my own eyes. People from the Prince of War's Mansion went to the Marquis Dingguo's Mansion last night," the hidden guard reported in a low voice.

Xiao Chengyu's fingers tapping on the table paused slightly, and his eyes grew colder.

It seemed that he had underestimated Su Mingli's abilities...

This game of chess was becoming more and more interesting.