As they spoke, Tabby Cat walked to the cell door, its pointed ears twitching slightly, and said:
“There are guards patrolling outside. Based on my observations today, the guards at the prince’s residence change shifts approximately every two hours. I assume the prison guards follow the same schedule. There’s a brief gap between shift changes. We can take advantage of this time to escape.”
Lin Qingyue nodded: “Your observation is correct, they do change shifts every two hours.”
Tabby Cat continued: “With your skills, although it’s not advisable to confront them head-on, escaping tonight shouldn’t be a problem. However, these guards are well-trained and will likely discover your escape soon. They’ll definitely conduct a city-wide search.”
“After careful consideration, the most suitable path for you is to join the Xuanjing Office!”
“Me? Join the Xuanjing Office?” Lin Qingyue was amused by this suggestion.
Tabby Cat nodded seriously and rationally analyzed for her: “Although you hold the title of Princess Jin, Dongfang Yan hasn’t granted you any of the authority that should come with being a princess. Meanwhile, the Changning Marquis Manor treats you as a marriage tool – even if you return, they’ll just send you back. Therefore, you must find an alternative path.”
“Although the noble elites look down on the Xuanjing Office, considering it a rabble, this ‘rabble’ precisely represents their unconventional approach to talent selection. Women cannot serve in the imperial court, but in the Xuanjing Office, as long as one has ability, women can be employed without discrimination…”
This was a policy he had personally established back when he was still the Crown Prince, aiming to rapidly expand the Xuanjing Office’s scale by embracing talent from all backgrounds.
“Xiao Hui… Xie Shouzheng, despite his many flaws, is an upright person who values talent. Once you join the Xuanjing Office, you can obtain an official position. At that point, if Dongfang Yan wants to cause trouble for you again, it will no longer be considered a family matter.”
His analysis was thorough and logical – indeed, this was currently the most suitable path for Lin Qingyue.
As he reached this point, the tips of Tabby Cat’s ears twitched: “The timing is perfect, let’s get out first!”
With that, it quickly approached the cell door and chanted: “Open sesame, sesame open!”
As the words fell, the mysterious iron lock clicked open.
Lin Qingyue was astonished: “Your secret phrase is rather simplistic.”
Tabby Cat said: “That’s exactly what makes it unexpected. Let’s hurry!”
Thus, one human and one cat effortlessly escaped the dungeon.
With Tabby Cat’s exceptional hearing that could detect distant footsteps early, they easily avoided the patrolling guards outside and smoothly left the Prince Jin’s residence.
Along the way, Tabby Cat instructed Lin Qingyue: “Don’t tell anyone about my identity. Including Xie Shouzheng.”
Lin Qingyue asked: “You don’t trust the Xuanjing Office?”
Tabby Cat replied: “When I went on patrol that day, I brought several Xuanjing Office experts as a precaution. But later, when I encountered trouble, they disappeared without a trace. So I suspect there might be a mole in the Xuanjing Office. If you can successfully join, I can blend in and investigate the situation.”
“Why go through all this trouble?” Lin Qingyue said. “When your identity is restored, you can simply issue an order to execute all suspicious individuals. Wouldn’t that be simpler?”
After hearing this, Tabby Cat’s pupils trembled momentarily, clearly shocked by Lin Qingyue’s words: “That would be the act of a tyrant, absolutely unacceptable!”
Lin Qingyue narrowed her eyes: “Are you insulting me?”
“What?” The tabby cat didn’t understand her meaning.
Lin Qingyue snorted disdainfully, “Compassion and mercy are major taboos for an emperor! Young Crown Prince, you still need much tempering.”
The tabby cat retorted, “If being an emperor means disregarding right and wrong and killing indiscriminately, then I’d rather not be one!”
“How interesting. You’re far more amusing than that Dongfang Yan.”
Though Lin Qingyue had been teasing him with her earlier words, she had truly been a tyrant in her past life—wiping out five major immortal sects in a single moment.
Perhaps it was due to her overwhelming sins that she ended up transmigrating into this weakling. Alas!
Just then, hurried footsteps approached from ahead. Xie Shouzheng, clad in official robes, was being supported by his subordinates as he limped out of the dark street corner.
His official gown was stained with grime, and he bore wounds on his arm, looking utterly disheveled. Yet his boastful voice carried from afar:
“Did you youngsters witness your lord’s prowess today? Hmph! A mere remnant soul of a Snake Demon dares cause trouble in my territory?”
“Your Lordship is formidable! With one strike of the Blood Thorns Whip, you sent that Snake Demon writhing on the ground!”
“Indeed! No wonder you’re the head of our Xuanjing Office!”
“Your Lordship’s ferocity is truly an example for us all! But next time, watch your step—tripping over your own whip after battle is somewhat embarrassing!”
“Damn you, Da Mi! Don’t think I can’t tell you’re mocking me! Believe me, I’ll bring a cat to keep in the Xuanjing Office tomorrow!”
“Ah, no, please! I’m terrified of cats! The Xuanjing Office must never have a cat!”
At that moment, Xie Shouzheng spotted Lin Qingyue. “Oh? Your Highness, why have you come out? There’s no need for your assistance—I’ve personally dispersed that Snake Demon’s remnant soul!”
Lin Qingyue got straight to the point: “Lord Xie, I wish to join the Xuanjing Office.”
Xie Shouzheng was overjoyed. “Truly?”
The Xuanjing Office was already short-handed, let alone having someone as profound and unfathomable as Lin Qingyue. With her assistance, future missions would be like adding wings to a tiger.
“But wait—you’re the Princess Consort. Would your prince agree to you mingling with the likes of us?”
Lin Qingyue smiled faintly. “I escaped… So, Lord Xie, do you dare take me in?”
A quarter of an hour later, inside the Xuanjing Office headquarters.
The sound of a gavel slamming echoed as Xie Shouzheng indignantly exclaimed, “Prince Jin has gone too far! How could he imprison his lawfully wedded princess consort over some fake heiress?”
Lin Qingyue immediately seized the key point in his words. “You actually know about Lin Ruzhen’s origins?”
The Lin family had gone to great lengths to keep that secret!
“Uh, well…” Xie Shouzheng scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
“Since you’ll be one of us now, I won’t hide it from you. Although our office isn’t valued by those noble elites, we have no shortage of talent here. Da Mi—”
He called out, then grew puzzled. “He was just here. Da Mi, Da Mi—”
“Are you looking for him?” Lin Qingyue lifted the tablecloth to reveal a small, sharp-featured man crouching beneath. “This rat demon is called Da Mi? Why not Xiao Mi?”
“Because he likes eating rice,” Xie Shouzheng said, pulling the rat demon out from under the table. He scolded, “You’re not a dog—what are you doing hiding under there?”
The mouse demon named Da Mi trembled as he pointed at the tabby cat beside Lin Qingyue, stammering: “A cat… there’s a cat! My lord, you promised this humble subordinate you wouldn’t keep cats… You can’t deceive me, my lord!”
“What an embarrassment to our Xuanjing Office!”
Xie Shouzheng awkwardly kicked him, then explained to Lin Qingyue:
“Princess, though this fellow appears cowardly, he’s actually a core member of our Xuanjing Office, specializing in intelligence gathering. His brethren are spread throughout every household, from vermilion gates of nobility to the darkest sewers. They’re everywhere, knowing everything!”
As he spoke, several mice came scurrying along the wall corner, chirping a few squeaks near Da Mi’s ear.
Da Mi nodded, pulling a handful of rice from his pocket to scatter for the mice. After eating the rice, the mice chirped and scurried away along the wall.
Da Mi then looked up and reported to Xie Shouzheng: “My lord, Prince Jin’s residence has discovered the Princess’s escape and is searching everywhere for her.”