The carriage moved slowly along the stone pavement in the back alley of the Xingyuan Marquis Mansion. The friction sound of the wheels against the stone pavement echoed in the quiet air.

Yan Boxi, who was in the car, lifted a corner of the curtain with his fingers. His eyes, as deep as a pool, looked through the small gap at the towering gate of the marquis' mansion.

A subtle and deep smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, as if he was recalling a dusty past.

During the spring examination, he lived in the marquis's mansion. As a student from a poor family, Xue Ji Yan treated him as a close friend, and the servants in the mansion also treated him with courtesy, which still makes him grateful to this day.

He fantasized that if it weren't for fate's trick, he might have already passed the imperial examination and served as an official in the same court as Xue Jiyan.

Thinking of this, Yan Boxi clenched his fists and a fierce look flashed in his eyes.

Nurha of the Western Rong's ambition is understandable, but the actions of King Linjiang made him wary.

How could he not know the real intention behind Li Longjing's coveting of Xue Shanqiu?

During these days, the secret letters secretly sent from the Linjiang Palace were like a huge net, quietly spreading to the border military camps.

Those generals who were once promoted by Xingyuan Hou have now become the targets of Li Longjing's seduction.

Thinking of this, a hint of gloom flashed in Yan Boxi's eyes. This power struggle has just begun.

At the same time, Mother Han, holding the mysterious bundle, trotted through the corner gate and numerous courtyards of the Marquis' Mansion and headed straight for the old lady's Prajna Hall.

She couldn't calm down, she was sure that her eyes were not blurry and she was not confused. The man in the carriage was clearly Master Yan who lived in the Marquis' Mansion during the Spring Examination.

Mother Han later heard about the cheating in the Spring Examination. At the time, she harbored a grudge against Master Yan, as Yan Boxi had harbored infatuation with her fifth daughter and harbored illicit intentions. However, upon hearing that he was subsequently sentenced to death, she could not help but sigh.

The person in the carriage just now was clearly Young Master Yan, there is no way I can be wrong about that!

Could it be that I really saw a ghost in broad daylight?

Mother Han had an indescribable expression on her face, a mixture of fear and curiosity, as if there was some shocking secret hidden in the bag in her hand, and this secret seemed to be inextricably linked to the appearance of Master Yan.

"Madam, Madam!" Mother Han rushed into the Prajna Hall, panting, and carefully placed the bundle on the table. "Someone...someone sent you something, saying it's related to the Third Young Master!"

Old Madam Hong Yingrong was leisurely sipping tea. Upon hearing this, she put down her teacup and looked at the bundle on the table in confusion. "What is this? Who sent it?"

"The man didn't introduce himself," Mother Han said anxiously. "He said he was here for the Third Young Master's errand and asked me to hand it over to you. Looking at him and the man in the car, they looked like..."

"Like what?" Madam Zhao frowned, and seeing Madam Han rushing into the room rashly, her tone revealed displeasure, "Why don't you be more clear and stop hesitating?"

Mother Han gritted her teeth before expressing her guess, "It looks like that Master Yan who stayed at our house before!"

"Master Yan?" Hong Yingrong's expression changed slightly. "Are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"

"Even though I only caught a glimpse, I'm sure I won't mistake that face," Mother Han said confidently. "When he first came to stay here, I was busy in and out of Yasongzhai. I don't know how many times I've seen him. I'd recognize him even if he turned to dust."

Of course, there was one more thing Mother Han didn't say, which was that Yan Boxi no longer had the high spirits he had before, and looked like a living dead. He gave people an invisible cold feeling, which made her feel like she had seen a ghost for a moment.

Hong Yingrong fell into a brief silence, her gaze falling deep and complicatedly on the bundle on the table.

"Is this matter related to Ji Yan's job at the Ministry of Revenue?"

"Indeed," Mother Han nodded seriously. "That's what Master Yan told me... He also specifically told me not to delay the Third Master's affairs."

Madam Zhao stepped forward and carefully unwrapped the bundle. As layers of fine cloth peeled back, she revealed dried lotus flowers. These lotus flowers were slightly different from those you'd normally see, their petals gleaming with a faint golden sheen. Inside the bundle was a slip of paper, with the words "Here's the Antidote" written in bold.

Nanny Zhao's expression suddenly grew serious. "What does this note mean? Could it be that someone has poisoned the Third Young Master?"

Mother Han's face also turned pale. "This...what should we do? Should we send someone to notify the Third Young Master to come back immediately?"

"Be patient," Hong Yingrong said in a low, powerful voice. "Put this away. Mother Han, go get the carriage ready. I'll be heading south right away."

Mother Han hurried to the gatehouse to prepare the carriage, while Hong Yingrong quickly put on her cloak for going out.

When she boarded the carriage, Mother Han took the bundle containing the mystery from Aunt Zhao and said, "Aunt Zhao, I will accompany the old lady."

After saying that, Mother Han got into the car and sat next to Hong Yingrong, holding the bag tightly, with a hint of nervousness in her eyes.

"Madam, how come Mr. Yan is still alive? Isn't he imprisoned in the imperial prison? Could he have escaped from prison?" Mother Han asked with a puzzled look on her face.

Hong Yingrong pondered for a moment and spoke slowly, "Once you're in the Imperial Prison, you can't escape even if you have wings. As for how he was rescued, there's no way to know."

When she thought about Yan Boxi being able to survive a dangerous situation, she couldn't help but feel that this might be a blessing in disguise.

Mother Han clasped her hands together and chanted, "Amitabha, speaking of this Young Master Yan, it's truly a pity. If it hadn't been for that incident, and he had passed the imperial examination, Old Madam, please forgive my boldness in speaking frankly, he might have truly been worthy of our Fifth Young Lady. His situation would have been better than her current one in the palace."

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