Hearing this, he just nodded.

"Even though that's what she said, we still have to be on guard," the Queen Mother lowered her eyes. "Send a few more people who understand incense to keep an eye on her these few days to see if she'll do anything."

Qiu Yi responded with a yes.

"Oh, I almost forgot to ask, who told you that the emperor was going to Song Shiwei's coming-of-age ceremony?"

Upon hearing this, Qiu Yi's heart skipped a beat. He kowtowed and said, "It's another eunuch beside the emperor. It seems to be called... Chao En. Yes, it's Chao En."

"The emperor had earlier punished a eunuch who had revealed his whereabouts. Now everyone in the imperial study is in danger. Seeing that he was new and had nothing to fear, I listened to him."

"It's my fault. I shouldn't have just listened to him. I should have asked a few more people... Your Majesty, please forgive me. I know I was wrong."

Qiu Yi kept begging for mercy, and the Queen Mother became annoyed and said impatiently, "Alright, you've been by my side for so long, and you can still make such a mistake. It's because I've climbed high. If I were still a lowly person, I'd probably be killed by you long ago!"

Qiu Yi broke out in a cold sweat when he heard this.

After a long while, the Queen Mother finally said, "...never mind. After all, you have been with me for so many years. Go down and receive ten lashes to teach me a lesson."

Ten lashes, I'm afraid he won't be able to get out of bed for half a month.

Qiu Yi's heart sank, and he said, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your grace."

After the Queen Mother waved her hand, she stood up and left.

After leaving the hall, Qiu Yi shivered in the breeze and realized that his clothes were soaked with sweat.

As she walked forward, a familiar figure came into her sight.

That is...

…

In front of the general's mansion, Xiao Chuji was stopped outside by the gatekeeper.

The driver scolded, "You are such a bold servant! How dare you stop the Second Prince?"

The gatekeeper remained unmoved: "Please forgive me, Second Prince. My young master is not here. Before he left, he specifically instructed that no one, no matter who it is, can enter the palace today."

The driver clicked his tongue and was about to continue when he saw Xiao Chuji chuckle.

"Alright, why bother them? Since Yan Ting is not here, I will come back another day."

He got into the carriage, which moved slowly forward.

He Yanting was playing chess with Du Chi in the study. When he heard his subordinate's report, he nodded lightly.

"Why don't you let him in? It won't do you any good to offend the prince like this."

"If you let him in, you'll be dead." He Yanting put down Heizi and said without raising his head.

Du Chi frowned.

He Yanting continued, "Xiao Chuji is an expert in poison. If you meet him and you refuse his request, everyone in Shengjing will hear about your sudden death within three days."

Du Chi took a deep breath.

He suddenly thought of something and said, "Then what about your gatekeepers..."

"Don't worry about them, they are immune to all poisons." He Yanting chuckled and said, "Compared to them, you should worry more about yourself. Once Xiao Chuji has his sights on you, it's not easy to get rid of it."

"Who am I doing this for?" Du Chisi looked at him with dead eyes: "If you hadn't begged me to come out of seclusion, I wouldn't have come to Shengjing."

He complained, "There isn't a single normal person in Shengjing."

He Yanting didn't respond, and Du Chi continued, "Come to think of it, who was that girl yesterday? We've known each other for so many years, and even you yourself have never asked me to paint your portrait, so why did you ask me to paint that little girl's portrait? Could it be..."

The look in his eyes when he looked at He Yanting suddenly became meaningful.

"Wow, no way, I'm so young, you're a beast..."

He Yanting raised his eyes, and Du Chi fell silent immediately.

"I will wait until she reaches the age of marriage."

They all clicked their tongues in confusion and wanted to continue gossiping, but when they thought of the look in his eyes just now, they rolled their eyes and changed the subject: "By the way, have those people been caught?"

He Yanting nodded.

"As expected of you, you're so efficient."

"It wasn't me, she told me."

He Yanting's tone was full of smiles, and everyone knew who she was referring to even with a little guessing.

He was about to speak when he heard hurried footsteps.

"Master, Jiang Kangan requests an audience."

Jiang Kangan?

He Yanting's eyelashes trembled slightly: "See you."

The men withdrew, and Du Chi also stood up: "Then I will go back first. Remember to prepare a car for me. I will return to the mountain as soon as possible."

Seeing He Yanting nodded, Du Chi walked out while humming a little tune.

After a while, Jiang Kangan came over.

"Minister He."

He didn't salute, but just nodded slightly. He Yanting also nodded slightly: "Mr. Jiang."

"Mr. Jiang, why are you here today?"

"Minister He is extremely talented and knowledgeable, so I'll be frank with you. May I ask, Master He, are you attracted to Zhiyu?"

…

Outside the general's mansion, at the corner of the street, there was a carriage parked.

Xiao Chuji sat in the carriage with his eyes closed and rested.

The driver whispered, "Master, the eldest son of the Jiang family has gone in."

Xiao Chuji opened his eyes.

Jiang Kangan?

Him again?

What is he trying to snatch from me?

Xiao Chuji's eyes flushed red, and he suddenly said, "He, seems to have never met Xiurong..."

He spoke in a low voice, so that the carriage could not hear him, and asked, "Master, what did you say?"

"Nothing," Xiao Chuji said calmly, "Let's go back home."

…

Inside the palace, Qiu Yi followed someone and walked. When they reached a deserted place, Qiu Yi said, "Eunuch Chao En, where are you going in such a hurry?"

There was a hint of cruelty in her words, as if she was gritting her teeth.

Chaoen paused and turned around.

"Of course I'm going back to the Imperial Study to serve His Majesty. What's up, Aunt Qiuyi?"

Qiu Yi was so angry that she almost laughed: "What's going on? Didn't you tell me that day that the emperor was going to Song Shiwei's coming-of-age ceremony? How did it become Jiang Zhiyu's birthday party?"

Chao En thought for a moment and said, "So that's the matter. Aunt Qiu Yi must have misunderstood. What I said that day should have been that His Majesty was leaving the palace to attend the banquet."

Qiu Yi was stunned.

She didn't know when Jiang Zhiyu's birthday party was, but she knew about Song Shiwei's coming-of-age ceremony. When she heard Chaoen say that he was going to a party, she preconceived that he was going to attend Song Shiwei's coming-of-age ceremony.

Seeing her stunned, Chao En continued, "Aunt Qiuyi, is there anything else?"

Qiu Yi frowned and looked at him, then suddenly raised her foot and walked towards him step by step.

Chaoen stood there and watched her walk over.

"I was anxious about this, not you." She placed her rough hands on Chao En's shoulders. Feeling the tense body under her hands, Qiu Yi chuckled softly, "With Fu Ping by His Majesty's side, it will be difficult for His Majesty to use you. As servants, we must plan for our future. Following a good master is the most important thing."

Chaoen looked at her without saying a word.

He was young after all, and his fair face was tense.

Qiu Yi's fingers stroked his smooth skin: "That's all I have to say. Eunuch Chao En, please think about it. I'll be waiting for you anytime."