"Your Majesty, do you require additional personnel for your safety?" Wu Fang suggested, frowning. Hearing this, Ji Xingzhi waved his hand, "No need." Wu Fang didn't say anything more. With the emperor's current strength, he would have no problem protecting himself even if he encountered those legendary martial arts masters. "Yes, I'll take my leave." Wu Fang bowed and withdrew. A few days later. Ji Xingzhi had sprained her ankle and hadn't attended court or left the palace since then. The injury was severe, and Ji Xingzhi suspected it wouldn't heal by the time the troops from the four kingdoms arrived. Fortunately, the country was at peace now, the battles in Lizhou and Shuizhou were over, and there were no important matters at court. If anything did arise, Xiao Moyan was there, so Ji Xingzhi could rest assured and recuperate. Then, Wu Fang brought news that finally made Ji Xingzhi smile after such a long period of boredom. "Your Majesty, Zhou Zheng has sent a message saying that they have successfully helped General Ling pass through Misty Cloud Valley and are now on their way back to the imperial capital." Wu Fang said with a smile. Ji Xingzhi nodded with satisfaction upon hearing this, with a faint smile on her face: "Well. How is the investigation going on for you?" After hearing this, Wu Fang reached out and took out a piece of paper from his sleeve. While handing it to Ji Xingzhi, he said: "I have already found out. Sister Wang heard from a eunuch that the emperor likes heroic women and suggested that she rush into the stables on horseback, which might make the emperor fall in love with her at first sight. The eunuch in charge of feeding the horses had been away for a while while he was guarding the horses. Imperial Physician Yang also found out that the horse had eaten the earth's heart grass. The earth's heart grass looks the same as ordinary grass, but the smell is very different. Eating it will drive you mad. Furthermore, I secretly investigated at the Beigong Palace, and the eunuch who went out to purchase it confessed to me that the Earth Heart Grass was secretly brought by Eunuch Xie, who had been recommended by the Emperor earlier. "I took the initiative to investigate Eunuch Xie, and following his lead, I discovered something strange. I have written down the details here." Ji Xingzhi took the paper and opened it. As he read, he frowned and muttered to himself, "Sixteen years ago, that scoundrel father executed hundreds of people in a single day for unknown reasons? Hundreds of people, what does that even mean?" "Why didn't they find out?" Ji Xingzhi asked, placing the paper on the table. While that scoundrel father might be unreliable, he didn't seem like a tyrant. He couldn't have executed so many people for no reason. Some of them had even served under the Empress Dowager. Wu Fang shook his head and said, "I'm incompetent. The family of the palace maid who was sentenced to death received compensation from the palace, and fearing offending the palace, they didn't dare to ask further questions. There were people who caused trouble because of this, but it was eventually dropped. This eunuch Xie is the son of the midwife who delivered the empress dowager. He must have entered the palace to investigate the cause of his mother's death." After a pause, Wu Fang continued, "I just don't know why he wanted to harm you." Ji Xingzhi listened, reached out and touched his chin. After a moment's silence, he said thoughtfully, "He must have wanted to gain my trust. At the horse ranch, he might have wanted to come out and save me himself, but he didn't expect the emperor's uncle to show up halfway. If I'm not mistaken, he should be near the horse ranch."