The atmosphere in the room was always so harmonious and peaceful. Xu Yuehuai would pour a cup of hot tea for the Ghost Doctor, then sit quietly beside him, listening to every word he said, her eyes filled with trust.

With Xu Yuehuai's support, the Ghost Doctor gradually regained his confidence. He began to participate more actively in case discussions and offer his own insights.

Their conversations became increasingly in-depth and insightful. Together, they explored every detail of the case, searching for overlooked clues.

During this period, the whereabouts of Tie Xiong and his companions gradually came to light. They discovered some suspicious traces, suggesting that Tie Xiong and his group were hiding in some remote location. Although their exact location was still uncertain, this was already a crucial clue in their search for Tie Xiong and his team.

Xu Yuehuai and the Ghost Doctor exchanged a smile, their eyes gleaming with excitement. They knew that as long as they continued their efforts and search, they would one day find Tie Xiong and the others.

During this time, Xu Yuehuai's life seemed to be studded with countless stars; though busy, each one shone with its own unique light. Besides discussing investigations with the Ghost Doctor, she didn't forget her other duty—caring for the Empress Dowager.

Every morning, Xu Yuehuai would get up early to prepare breakfast for the Empress Dowager. She would personally select fresh ingredients and carefully cook a variety of delicious dishes. Each dish contained her heart and care.

Whenever the Empress Dowager tasted the dishes she had personally prepared, the satisfaction and praise in her eyes filled Xu Yuehuai with immense pleasure.

In addition to taking care of the Empress Dowager's diet, Xu Yuehuai also paid close attention to her health. She would regularly check on the Empress Dowager to ensure that she was in good health.

Whenever the Empress Dowager was unwell, Xu Yuehuai would personally prepare her medicine and care for her until she recovered. Her meticulousness and thoughtfulness deeply pleased the Empress Dowager and earned her her deep trust.

However, Xu Yuehuai's rise to power was not smooth sailing. The jealousy and suspicion of the palace maids were like an undercurrent, ready to break through the surface calm at any moment.

They gossiped among themselves, speculating about Xu Yuehuai's background and origins.

"What is Xiaoyue's background? Why haven't we heard of her before?" a senior palace maid asked in confusion.

"Perhaps she's been hiding her true abilities all along?" Xiao Cui guessed.

“Impossible. If she really had some kind of background, why would she be sent to a place like this?” another palace maid retorted.

Their jealousy and suspicion were like an invisible sword, constantly hanging over Xu Yuehuai's head.

However, Xu Yuehuai was never affected by these negative emotions. She remained calm and composed, facing everyone with a smile every day.

She understood that the palace maids' jealousy and suspicion stemmed from their lack of understanding of her. She didn't bother to explain, believing that time would tell.

So she continued to give silently, proving her worth through her actions.

That night, the moonlight was silvery, and a gentle breeze carried a hint of coolness. In Xu Yuehuai's room, the light was dim, and she was intently changing the bandages and bandaging the wounds of the Ghost Doctor.

The Ghost Doctor lay on the bed, his face pale, but his eyes shone with an unusual light, as if he were pondering something important.

Xu Yuehuai's technique was skillful and gentle. She carefully unwrapped the gauze, revealing the gruesome wound on the Ghost Doctor's shoulder. She couldn't help but frown; the wound was far too deep, and changing the gauze was torture every time.

However, the Ghost Doctor seemed to have grown accustomed to this pain and remained silent throughout.

Just then, Xu Yuehuai suddenly sensed someone passing by outside. Her heart tightened, and she quickly put down the gauze in her hand and looked at the Ghost Doctor.

The Ghost Doctor also sensed something was wrong. A hint of wariness flashed in his eyes, and he asked in a low voice, "Could it be that someone has discovered me here?"

Xu Yuehuai quickly considered a solution. Her room was in a secluded location, and few people usually passed by.

Moreover, she had also placed some devices in the vicinity to alert anyone approaching. However, this time there was no sound at all.

This made her wonder if someone had really discovered the existence of the Ghost Doctor.

She quickly looked at the Ghost Doctor, her eyes filled with worry.

The Ghost Doctor, however, remained calm and composed, as if everything was under his control.

Xu Yuehuai said softly, "Let's hide first and see how things go later."

The Ghost Doctor nodded and quickly hid in the shadows of the room.

"Swish, swish, swish..."

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came, and the head palace maid led a group of palace maids into the room.

"What are you doing?" Xu Yuehuai asked loudly, trying to hide the panic in her heart.

"Search thoroughly! Every corner must be searched carefully!"

The head palace maid did not answer, but directly ordered the maids to begin searching the room.

Xu Yuehuai's heart sank; she knew this matter was probably not simple.

The palace maids began searching the room thoroughly, turning it upside down, and Xu Yuehuai's heart pounded faster and faster.

She bit her lip tightly, trying hard not to make a sound. Just then, she suddenly heard a soft sound outside the window. She knew it was the signal that the Ghost Doctor had escaped through the window.

Xu Yuehuai breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that the Ghost Doctor was safe.

However, she knew that this matter would likely not end so easily. She had to find a way to deal with the situation ahead and protect herself and the Ghost Doctor.

Inside the room, candlelight flickered, and Xu Yuehuai stood in the center, his gaze firm and profound.

The head maid led a group of maids to search the room thoroughly, checking every drawer and every corner.

However, no matter how carefully they looked, there seemed to be nothing suspicious in the room.

The head palace maid frowned, her face filled with resentment and disappointment. She turned to look at Xu Yuehuai, her eyes flashing with a sharp light, as if trying to see through her heart.

"Xiaoyue, do you think you can escape my eyes like this?" the head palace maid said coldly.

Xu Yuehuai remained unmoved, her gaze calm and steady, as if she had already seen through the other party's tricks. She said indifferently, "Aunt, there is nothing suspicious about me. If you continue to make trouble, I will report to the Empress Dowager tomorrow and let her judge the matter."

Upon hearing this, the head palace maid's expression changed. She glared fiercely at Xu Yuehuai, then turned and left with the other maids. Before leaving, she turned back and said, "Hmph! One day, I'll catch you red-handed!"

Xu Yuehuai smiled slightly but did not speak. She closed the door, walked to the window, and watched the departing figures of the head palace maid and the others, a deep meaning flashing in her eyes.

Just then, a slight noise was heard...