Ye Ling sensed the change in the talisman in his arms; it was given to him by Ye Jintang.

Could she be giving me some kind of instruction?

The deeper you go into the woods, the stronger the smell of blood becomes.

Leng Yi went from initial confusion to a look of vigilance, as if a fierce battle had just taken place nearby.

"Who's there? Who's there?!"

The Imperial Guards, who were coming to reinforce, rushed toward the sound, and Leng Yi and the guards around him blocked the carriage.

"How dare you! His Highness the Regent is here!"

"Your Highness... the Regent?"

The Imperial Guard leader strode forward, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Ye Ling frowned slightly as she looked at the surrounding scene. "What happened here?"

"Your Highness, the Empress Dowager was attacked by bandits on her way back to the city after praying at the temple, and she has gone missing."

"Robbers?" Ye Ling's eyes showed a hint of contemplation. The Empress Dowager was surrounded by royal guards; how could some robbers possibly launch a surprise attack?

He got off the carriage and looked at the corpses on the ground. Their deaths were extremely bizarre, some even resulting in a fatal sword wound to the throat.

This matter is not that simple. What about Ye Jintang?

The talisman she gave me led me here; could it be that Ye Jintang is also in danger?

"Besides these people, there were others who were killed."

"There is another woman."

Ye Ling's heart sank. "Take me there!"

inside the house.

Ye Jintang expended a great deal of spiritual power to expel the evil energy from the Empress Dowager's body.

Without the influence of the evil energy, only superficial injuries remain.

She leaned back in her chair; it had to be said that her body was still too weak, especially in terms of handling spiritual energy.

Physical constitution is something that cannot be changed suddenly.

Fortunately, Ye Jintang discovered that the fruits on the trees in the space were all full of spiritual power, and that those who consumed them could quickly restore their strength and their fatigue would disappear in an instant.

Otherwise, she really wouldn't be able to withstand using so much spiritual power all at once.

After eating a few fruits, Ye Jintang felt that his strength had almost recovered, and began to treat the Empress Dowager's external injuries.

After receiving this treatment, Ye Jintang was able to leave the house.

When Green Lotus saw Ye Jintang come out from inside, she quickly went to greet her, her face full of worry.

"Miss, how is the old lady?"

Green Lotus thought about what happened in the woods. At the time, she was only shocked, but now, thinking back on it, she couldn't help but feel scared.

Fortunately, their young lady is very capable, otherwise they might have been in trouble too...

"His life is already in danger, and it will take some time for him to regain consciousness."

Ye Jintang replied.

Green Lotus nodded, then looked at Ye Jintang, "Miss, what about you?"

"I?"

"What I mean is, Miss, are you injured?"

Green Lotus asked nervously, her gaze falling on the bloodstains on Ye Jintang's clothes.

Ye Jintang instantly understood and smiled at Lühe, "It's not my blood."

"But things are probably not going well in the capital these next few days. Tell Zhou Zheng to be careful and pay attention to his surroundings."

"yes."

Green Lotus nodded and stopped asking questions.

The Marquis's Residence.

"My lord, after some searching, I found a guard who was at Zuixianju at the time. According to this guard, he escaped during the chaos. Perhaps he knows what happened at Zuixianju back then."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Mubai urged, "Then what are we waiting for? Bring him here quickly."

He also wondered why the once-prosperous Zuixianju restaurant had been shut down, and why Wang Bao was involved in the abduction of a woman.

Soon the guard was brought before Jiang Mubai.

"My lord...this humble servant..."

Seeing the guard stammering, Jiang Mubai said impatiently, "Quickly tell me what you know, or don't blame me for torturing you severely!"

Upon hearing that torture was to be used, the guards dared not conceal anything further.

After hearing the guard's account, Jiang Mubai felt even more puzzled, as something seemed amiss.

"You mean to say that a woman was responsible for all of this?"

"Yes! My lord, that woman is too formidable; none of us are a match for her."

Jiang Mubai pondered for a moment, then ordered the guard standing beside him, "Go and bring the portrait over."

The guard quickly brought the portrait, and Jiang Mubai asked again, "Take a close look and see if it is the woman in the painting."

Yes! It's her!

Upon seeing the portrait, the guards nodded hastily, even showing expressions of fear.

"Take the person away first!"

Jiang Mubai clenched his fists, his anger rising. He knew that Ye Jintang's interference was definitely a factor in this.

This wicked woman must have been resentful because she knew that Zuixianju was being controlled by her mother's side, which is why she led people to cause trouble.

But Wang Bao is on his mother's side, and if something happens to him, it will damage the reputation of his manor. This vicious woman really doesn't care about the big picture at all.

"My lord, since the commotion at Zuixianju was orchestrated by the madam, then we..."

The guard looked at Jiang Mubai, awaiting his next command.

"I remember that Ye Jintang owns three shops. Take some people to check out the other two in the next couple of days."

He refused to believe that such an intensive search would fail to find Ye Jintang's whereabouts.

Just as the guard was about to agree, he heard Su Xuerou's panicked voice.

"Brother Mu Bai, help me!"

Jiang Mubai gave the guard a wink, signaling him to leave. When he looked again, he saw Su Xuerou had already thrown herself into his arms.

"What happened to Rou'er? And how did you end up like this?"

Jiang Mubai then noticed that Su Xuerou was covered in dust and dirt, clearly having just gone through something.

"Brother Mu Bai, I encountered a monster on my way back to the city. I ran as fast as I could and then I met a merchant's cart on the road. I used the silver I had on me to get back here safely."

Su Xuerou's body trembled as she spoke.

Jiang Mubai found Su Xuerou's experience strange.

"Monster? How could there be a monster out of nowhere?"

"Where are your guards?"

"They were all killed by those monsters, Brother Mu Bai. I'm not lying, I really saw those monsters."

Seeing the doubt in Jiang Mubai's eyes, and that he clearly didn't believe what she said, Su Xuerou emphasized again.

"Alright, it's good that you're back."

While comforting Su Xuerou, Jiang Mubai didn't pay too much attention to her.

His biggest concern right now is how to find that poisonous woman, Ye Jintang.

How dare they make such a commotion! Once we find this wicked woman, I'll definitely lock her up!

Don't even think about escaping the Marquis's mansion from now on!

The Regent's Palace.

"Master, are you worried about Miss Ye's safety?"

Seeing that Ye Ling had been silent since returning, Leng Yi asked cautiously.

"Any news from the post station?"

Ye Ling was somewhat uneasy, but her only consolation was that the woman in the woods was not Ye Jintang.

otherwise……

"Master, the people from the post station have reported that Miss Ye and Miss Lühe left this morning and have not returned."

"What?"