"Master, I followed Yunmo all the way to a dungeon on the outskirts of the capital."

The trusted confidant sent by the Qin family patriarch did not return until sunset, and when he came back, he looked deathly pale.

"Dungeon?"

The Qin family patriarch's eyes narrowed. "Continue."

"That place...it's extremely terrifying." The confidant's voice trembled slightly. "From the outside it looks like a plum garden, but inside there are bears and leopards..."

"It must be because it's too dangerous, so apart from the guards outside the plum garden, there were no guards inside." The confidant tried hard to recall, "Yunmo stayed inside for a good long time."

"So, you didn't even see if Yun Zhi was locked up inside?"

The Qin family patriarch kicked his trusted aide in the chest, and the aide fell to the ground like a rag doll.

"Your subordinate... Your subordinate is incompetent and simply cannot enter the plum garden."

With his trusted confidant taken away, the atmosphere in the room became somewhat tense for a moment.

“Brother Qin, I think the person imprisoned in the plum garden is most likely Yun Zhi,” the Sun family patriarch said. “If not, why set up so many checkpoints? Most importantly, why would Yun Mo go there?”

The Qin family patriarch lowered his head and pondered for a moment before speaking softly, "Send some more people to take a look."

If that doesn't work... they'll have to take matters into their own hands.

The head of the Qin family, a family renowned for its military prowess, is certainly no ordinary martial artist. And then there's the head of the Gong family...

On the other hand, Jiang Yu was clearly in complete control of everything.

Zhaoning Palace.

"Mother, will they really go to visit the plum garden in person?"

After finishing his meal, Gu Qingyan wiped his mouth. "Those people should value their lives highly. How could they possibly risk their lives for Yun Zhi?"

"That depends on just how important what Yun Zhi knows is."

Jiang Yu spoke slowly, she had a premonition that these things were not all about Fushan Cliff back then, there might be some other... fatal secrets.

"Is it possible that even if it's not Yun Zhi, but another family head who falls into our hands, we must kill the remaining family heads?"

Jiang Yu's words silenced Gu Lin and Gu Qingyan for a moment.

"It looks beautiful and vibrant, but it's actually rotten inside."

A hint of mockery appeared between Gu Lin's brows. The aristocratic families prided themselves on being superior and looked down on them, these "common people," which was extremely hypocritical.

“Although the Yun family has been dealt with, the other families are not to be trifled with.” A dark look appeared in Jiang Yu’s eyes. “We can only take a long-term approach.”

A thousand-mile dike can be destroyed by an ant hole, gradually hollowing them out.

......

On the other side.

"Dr. Mei, something's happened!"

Late at night, a maidservant rushed to the outside of Mei Chu's private residence. Although Mei Chu had been appointed as the head of the Imperial Medical Academy, he still did not stay in the palace. Gu Qingyan had given Mei Chu a courtyard house near the Marquis of Dingyuan's residence.

"Jiaohong?" Mei Chu opened the courtyard gate, his expression surprised. "What's wrong?"

"My young lady has suddenly been suffering from severe abdominal pain. Moreover, more than half of the students in Lingyun Garden have the same symptoms. Doctor Mei, please come with me to take a look."

Upon hearing this, Mei Chu immediately became serious, picked up his medicine box, and followed Jiao Hong.

Lingyun Garden is now inhabited by women who travel from all over the country to the capital for scientific expeditions.

This autumn imperial examination is the first one since the establishment of the girls' school that women can participate in it.

Because it was the first time, the examination venue for women was set up only in the capital. Gu Qingyan personally sent people to bring the qualified women to the capital and house them in Lingyun Garden, with all travel and accommodation expenses covered.

Thinking of all this, Mei Chu's forehead began to bead with sweat. Just a few days ago, the Empress Dowager had said she would find time to personally visit Lingyun Garden, and immediately, trouble began to break out there...

"Jiaohong, let's walk faster."

The next morning, Jiang Yu's sedan chair left the palace and headed straight for Lingyun Garden.

"You must be Jiaohong? How is your young lady?"

Jiang Yu's face was extremely grim. She first went to see Xie Zhiqing, who was lying on the bed with her eyes closed and her lips completely bloodless.

"Your Majesty, this servant is Jiaohong."

When Jiao Hong first met Jiang Yu, her palms were sweaty. Everyone in Lingyun Garden revered the Empress Dowager.

"Doctor Mei said that Miss is out of danger, but the poison has not been completely eliminated, so she is still unconscious. He told me to give Miss some medicine every hour."

"Poisoning?"

Jiang Yu's eyelids twitched. "Take good care of your young lady."

Then Jiang Yu quickly headed towards the place where the women who were taking the exam were staying.

"Your subject pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress Dowager."

"No need for formalities. How is it over here?" Jiang Yu wasn't dressed up today, only wearing a casual ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), so she went directly to the women to check on them. "What kind of poison have they been poisoned with?"

"I am incompetent and cannot discern the truth."

Mei Chu also felt extremely aggrieved. "This poison is extremely strange. I have never seen this poison before. I can only do my best to cure it."

"That's strange?"

Jiang Yu couldn't help but frown. "Are any of the men taking the exam showing signs of poisoning?"

"No."

“These women are the first batch of women from our Great Yu to participate in the imperial examinations. The best among them will enter officialdom. If they are carrying the nameless poison, the consequences will be unimaginable.” Jiang Yu’s face was so gloomy that it could drip water. “So we must find out what kind of poison it is.”

"Your subject will certainly do his utmost."

"I will stay here tonight."

“Your Majesty, please reconsider. It’s not safe here.” Ling Mama, who had been silent until now, immediately changed her expression upon hearing this. “If Your Majesty is truly worried, this servant will stay here and guard you.”

But Jiang Yu shook her head, "I will stay here."

These women carry too many burdens on their shoulders. She will stay here and watch to see which demons and monsters dare to make another move!

......

"The Empress Dowager of Dayu went to Lingyun Garden?"

Upon hearing this news, the Qin family patriarch turned the jade ring on his finger. "That's good. I heard that she attaches great importance to Lingyun Garden. With Lingyun Garden in trouble, she has no time to take care of Yunzhi."

"Brother Qin means..."

"The person behind this actually helped us out."

The Qin family patriarch sneered, "Brother Sun, I know the Sun family is unparalleled in the world when it comes to spices. They must have spices that can put wild beasts into a deep sleep."

The Qin family head looked at the Sun family head and said, "As long as Brother Sun can deal with those wild beasts, Brother Gong and I will have a way to go inside and find out what's going on."

Upon hearing this, the head of the Sun family smiled and nodded, "I will do whatever Brother Qin says."

The Sun family has all kinds of spices.

"Alright! We'll act tomorrow. While their attention is focused on Lingyun Garden, we'll take Yun Zhi's life!"

The head of the Gong family and the head of the Qin family exchanged a glance, and the corners of the Gong family's mouth curled up.