After I transmigrated, the cold king clung to me every day.

Chapter 24 Lin Xiaoqiao is eloquent

Murong Yi and Lin Xiaoqian walked steadily into the study, their gazes firm and composed. Upon entering the hall, they knelt in unison, performing a solemn salute—

Murong Yi: "Your subject greets Your Majesty!"

Lin Xiaoqian: "This humble woman greets Your Majesty, long live the Emperor!"

Murong Xuan sat on the dragon throne, bowing slightly, his gaze sweeping anxiously over the two men, as if to confirm their safety. After a moment, his voice trembled slightly, and he said, "Rise. I have been worried day and night. It is a great relief to see you return safely. Tell me quickly, what troubles have you encountered these past few days?" His gaze was concerned, his eyes filled with worry and anxiety.

At this moment, Lin Xiaoqian took a deep breath and said calmly, "Your Majesty, the prince and I were unfortunately kidnapped by bandits. The bandits' lair was hidden and difficult to find, and was heavily guarded. At first, I was also full of fear, but in such a dangerous situation, I could only deal with it calmly."

Before she could continue, Murong Xuan was already filled with indignation. He slammed his fist on the table and stood up, angrily shouting, "Those bandits are truly audacious! They dared to kidnap the Prince and the Prime Minister's daughter. I must immediately send troops to surround and wipe them out!"

Seeing this, Lin Xiaoqian quickly continued to explain: "Your Majesty, please do not be angry. I spent many days in the bandit's den with the mountain bandits and found that although they behaved unruly, they were not entirely evil. In fact, they were the greatest contributors to the flood in Jiangnan."

Upon hearing this, Murong Xuan's eyes widened in disbelief, yet his curiosity was piqued by the astonishing statement. He pressed on, "What do you mean? How could bandits be heroes of the flood relief? Wait—you said heroes of the flood relief? Huh??" He suddenly realized, "The floods in Jiangnan have been resolved—it was them—"

Lin Xiaoqian pursed her lips and nodded slightly. Her gaze was frank as she explained in detail, “Your Majesty, the bandits live in the mountains year-round and are extremely familiar with the local terrain. I explained to them the severity of the floods in Jiangnan and the suffering of the people. The bandits took pity on us and led us to the key to the flood, which was a river channel blocked by rocks and silt. Then, they worked together with the local people and soldiers to move huge rocks and dredge the river channel, fighting day and night, which allowed the floodwaters to be released smoothly and the flood was relieved.” Her words were earnest and fearless, her posture upright, without a trace of timidity.

Murong Yi listened from the side, his admiration for Lin Xiaoqian growing even stronger. He couldn't help but cast an appreciative glance at her and continued, "Your Majesty, everything Miss Lin said is true. I also witnessed it with my own eyes. Although the bandits are of humble origins, they have done something of great righteousness. If they can be recruited, they will surely serve the court in the future and protect the peace of the region."

After listening, Murong Xuan pondered deeply. The anger on his face gradually faded, replaced by solemnity and contemplation. He tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest, and after a moment, he spoke: "I never imagined that there were such hidden secrets among these bandits. If it is truly as you say, that they have made great contributions to solving the floods in Jiangnan, then they cannot be regarded as villains in all aspects."

He paused, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Murong Yi and Lin Xiaoqian. "However, the matter of surrendering to the emperor is of great importance and requires careful consideration. I must consider whether the bandits are truly repentant, and I must also take into account the dignity of the court and the impact on all parties. Miss Lin, could you tell me in detail about those bandits? Do they have a leader? What is his character and ability like?"

At this moment, he secretly admired Lin Xiaoqian's composure and wisdom. For a woman to navigate the bandit's lair safely, to understand the situation, to plead for the bandits and explain the pros and cons—such courage and strategy were truly rare. As for Murong Yi, he was also satisfied with her performance in this incident. Her ability to cooperate with Lin Xiaoqian and overcome difficulties together demonstrated her growth and sense of responsibility.