The Emperor Yongxing was conflicted at the moment.
He wished to capture Prince Zhou quickly.
He wanted to ask him directly, in his father's name, if he truly intended to rebel.
Through Shen Yun's intelligence, Ji Chenggang quickly located Prince Zhou, who had been missing.
He swiftly brought men to apprehend him. The accompanying eunuch read Emperor Yongxing's decree.
Prince Zhou was stunned into silence.
He still couldn't understand how he had been discovered hiding in such a secret courtyard.
He looked at Zhao Xiaohua.
She was the one who had brought him here.
She had said the courtyard was secluded and that no one would know.
He could hide here for a while.
Little did he know, they were captured almost immediately after he arrived.
He couldn't help but blame Zhao Xiaohua.
At this moment, he had no choice but to suspect this woman.
Zhao Xiaohua was also bewildered.
She looked at Mei Niang.
This was one of the bases of the "Net" organization.
It was supposed to be very secret.
Furthermore, people from their organization were guarding all the entrances.
If they had seen the Embroidered Uniform Guard arriving, they would surely have reported it.
Yet, they had entered so unimpeded.
There must be a traitor.
It wasn't her, nor could it have been Prince Zhou himself, so it must have been Mei Niang.
"It's you..." Zhao Xiaohua stared at her hatefully, her face filled with ferocity.
She, who had hunted geese all her life, had finally been pecked by one.
Did she hate it?
Mei Niang, subjected to Zhao Xiaohua's almost tangible gaze, furrowed her brows, let out a clear reprimand, and glared at her, saying:
"What do you mean, you suspect me?"
"If not you, then who else?" Zhao Xiaohua was about to press further.
Ji Chenggang waved his hand, and dozens of Embroidered Uniform Guards surged in, filling the small courtyard.
With the three of them captured, Zi Yu finally slipped out of the room.
Mei Niang looked at her with disbelief.
"You, it's you..."
Zi Yu lowered her head, biting her lip, afraid to speak.
That's right, it was her, she was the one who had betrayed them.
But what of it? The path she wanted to take was different from theirs.
Her thoughts were not as numerous as theirs.
She just wanted to marry the man she loved and live a prosperous life.
When Mei Xin had first contacted her, she thought that by following them, she could achieve such a life.
Unfortunately, the longer she stayed with them, the less she agreed with their ideals.
Coincidentally, her former master, Shen Yun, had sent someone to find her.
In the end, she hadn't really betrayed them.
Because she hadn't leaked anything.
They already knew everything and didn't need her to say much.
"You overestimate me. I didn't say anything; I just didn't tell you that this place had long been exposed."
They thought their actions were so secretive.
But in reality, everything was under someone else's control.
Not only here, but other bases of the "Net" organization would also be raided at the same time.
"Net" was no longer their net, but their own net.
They had trapped themselves within it.
"Zi Yu... Zi Yu, you, you are ruthless. Have you forgotten how I treated you?" Mei Niang's face turned pale with anger, gritting her teeth.
"How you treated me..." Zi Yu snorted coldly and leaned closer to her, "You like me, but I like men, not you!"
Mei Niang's face turned even paler, instantly losing all color.
She hadn't expected that after years of never trusting anyone, the one time she chose to trust Zi Yu, she would be dealt such a blow.
"Hahaha, haha... Without my confession, none of you will be able to destroy my 'Net'."
Mei Niang said this, bit down hard, and crushed the poison in her mouth.
Instantly, black blood flowed from her mouth.
Zhao Xiaohua watched in shock.
She was dead, just like that?
"Take them away!" Ji Chenggang was accustomed to life and death.
He had seen too many people who would rather commit suicide than let information fall into the wrong hands.
He hadn't even batted an eye from beginning to end.
Prince Zhou was terrified.
His legs stiff, he was pushed along as they left.
After they left, Su Xiaoqi arrived with Shen Yun.
The area was already surrounded by the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Several tunnels leading to various locations were discovered.
If it hadn't been for Zi Yu, an insider, their operation would not have been so smooth.
"Your servant pays her respects to Madam." Zi Yu stepped forward, keeping her head down the entire time, not looking at Shen Yun.
It wasn't that she didn't want to look.
She didn't dare to look.
Because she feared that once she looked, she wouldn't be able to look away.
But this was absolutely not something Shen Yun would allow.
Her master was perfect in every way.
Except for one thing: he was too concerned about his wife beside him.
Anyone who posed a threat to his wife would be the first he wouldn't let off.
If his wife hadn't pleaded for her back then, she would have been dealt with by him long ago for intentionally getting close to him and trying to climb into his bed.
But later, after being taken by his wife for a secret discussion, she found her direction.
Master also temporarily let her go because of this.
After leaving the Shen residence, she realized that the world she had been in was too small.
Her eyes were only on the male master in front of her.
After coming out, she saw many people.
But she tragically discovered that Master was still the most outstanding person she had ever seen.
She lowered her head, bit her lip, and gave a wry smile.
Perhaps she would never find anyone more outstanding than him in her lifetime.
Even if they were slightly more outstanding, they certainly wouldn't notice her!
It was better to follow Madam's wishes, live her own life, and find someone suitable for herself...
In fact, when she met Mei Niang, who treated her very well, she had considered betraying her.
However, shortly thereafter, she discovered the problem.
Mei Niang's kindness to her was not the sisterly kind.
She was, damn it, a lesbian.
But she was a bona fide straight woman.
She liked men; how could she be willing to continue down that path with her?
After being guided through an experience once, she became agitated and unhappy.
But to stay there and gather more information, she had to endure it.
But she truly had no interest in that aspect.
So the longer she stayed, the more frustrated she became.
Looking at Mei Niang made her feel disgusted.
This made her firmly stand on Shen Yun's side.
Every time she went out to buy things for Mei Niang, she would secretly pass on information...
What she thought about most every day was when she could escape her current life.
As she was thinking this, Su Xiaoqi smiled at her and said:
"Zi Yu has made a great contribution this time. You can choose whatever you want."
Zi Yu was somewhat shocked. She hadn't expected a reward.
She had indeed heard Madam mention it before, but at the time, she hadn't taken it to heart.
She just thought it was something Madam said casually to reassure her, to deceive her.
"Tell me, what do you want?" Su Xiaoqi saw her incredulity and patiently guided her.
"I... I want money," Zi Yu said, as if afraid Su Xiaoqi would misunderstand.
"I don't want to serve people anymore; I want to live like Madam."
"Alright, I'll give you ten thousand taels. That's enough for you to live comfortably without working for the rest of your life.
I'll also buy you a shop. You can rent it out or do some business yourself, bearing the profits and losses."
"Ten, ten thousand taels..." Zi Yu fidgeted with her sleeve. She had no concept of ten thousand taels, as she had never seen such a large banknote in her life.
"Yes, take it. I hope you can truly live the good life you desire from now on."
Su Xiaoqi said this and left with Shen Yun.
Shen Yun disagreed with her actions.
In his opinion, Zi Yu had once harbored intentions to harm them.
That was enough reason for him to deal with her.