Deep within the palace prison, the chilling air was thick with the scent of death.

Xiang Hao huddled in the corner, his heart filled with fear and unease.

He didn't know who wanted him dead, but he knew that if things continued like this, he would surely die soon.

Leaning against the cold wall, shivering for a while, suddenly, a strong will to survive surged into my heart.

Xiang Hao suddenly stood up, ran to the cell door, grabbed the wooden door tightly with both hands, and shouted outside, "Help! Someone is trying to kill me!"

His voice echoed in the empty cell, filled with despair and fear.

Hiding in the shadows, Yan Shiyu heard everything clearly. He immediately stood up, rushed to Xiang Hao's cell door, and whispered, "Xiang Hao, keep your voice down. What happened?"

Xiang Hao's face was pale. He pointed to the dead rats on the ground and explained what had just happened in a trembling voice.

"Captain Yan, look! These rats died after eating my food. It's obvious someone is trying to poison me!"

After hearing Xiang Hao's words, Yan Shiyu frowned, his gaze sweeping over the rat corpses, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Yan Shiyu pursed his lips and said in a low voice, "Don't make a fuss. I'll send people to protect you right away. Don't worry, you'll be fine."

After saying that, Yan Shiyu turned and left. A short while later, two special forces members dressed in black robes rushed over and stood outside the cell door to ensure Xiang Hao's safety.

Their eyes were wary, and the long swords on their backs gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Looking at these special forces soldiers, Xiang Hao felt a surge of security in his heart.

...

In the pavilion of Huaming Palace, Chen Zhennan sat alone, his brows furrowed.

His thoughts were a jumbled mess, entangled in the question of how to get Song Yunyang away safely.

Although Song Yunyang is not yet his empress, she will definitely be targeted by the other party's people. Since there is no way to make them take their eyes off her, the only thing he can do is keep her away from him.

A gentle night breeze brought a touch of coolness. Chen Zhennan's thoughts were interrupted by a series of hurried footsteps. He turned around and saw Yan Shiyu rushing towards him with a solemn expression.

"Your Majesty, something has happened in the prison. Someone has poisoned Xiang Hao's food and drink." Yan Shiyu's voice was low and tinged with tension.

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Zhennan's eyes, and he gestured for Yan Shiyu to continue.

Yan Shiyu then briefly recounted to Chen Zhennan what had just happened in the prison, including Xiang Hao's terror, the dead rat, and the poisoned meal.

After hearing this, Chen Zhennan took a deep breath. Although he had long anticipated that Xiang Hao would be assassinated, he did not expect it to happen so quickly.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes, a clear signal that the mysterious organization had begun its operation. Their target was not just Xiang Hao, but more importantly, the secrets he possessed, which they wanted to keep him from ever speaking out again.

Since the other party wants to kill Xiang Hao, then I must protect Xiang Hao. Regardless of whether the other party only wants to silence him, I cannot let them succeed.

"Investigate the prison guard who delivered the food immediately. Look for clues bit by bit. Don't let anyone who touched the food box get away with it. Investigate them all."

Yan Shiyu nodded first, then asked, "Your Majesty, should we move Xiang Hao to another place? If he stays in the prison, he might suffer another terrible fate."

Without a second thought, Chen Zhennan shook his head and said, "No, let Xiang Hao stay in jail for now. Release him whenever he wants to say more."

Chen Zhennan's voice carried a hint of coldness. What kind of place is a prison? It's a place that can gradually break a person's spirit. If Xiang Hao is released, he doesn't believe that Xiang Hao will reveal more secrets.

Yan Shiyu accepted the order and left, while Chen Zhennan fell into deep thought once again.

...

As night fell and the lights of Yanjing City gradually went out, Yan Shiyu, having just left Huaming Palace, led a team of special forces members to the prison cells next to the main prison.

This is where the shift guards rest; it's simple and dimly lit.

Inside the prison cell, the guards sat together, talking in hushed tones, discussing the various rumors circulating in the prison.

Yan Shiyu's arrival instantly turned the relaxed atmosphere tense.

"Everyone, assemble immediately!" Yan Shiyu's voice was loud and clear, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The jailers all stood up, looking at each other in bewilderment, wondering what had happened.

Yan Shiyu immediately ordered his men to seal off the entire prison cell and then gathered all the prison guards together.

His gaze was sharp as a knife, sweeping over everyone present.

"The jailer who brought Xiang Hao his food, step forward!"

The dozens of jailers looked at each other, but no one stepped forward.

Yan Shiyu frowned slightly and said coldly, "Where's the prison cook? Step forward and let's see who took the lunchbox meant for Xiang Hao?"

The prison cook nodded slightly, looked around for a long time, and finally shook his head at Yan Shiyu.

“My lord, there is no jailer here who delivered food to Minister Xiang. Moreover, that man said he was a newcomer who arrived today, and I have never seen him before.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Shiyu felt a sense of foreboding. After thinking for a moment, he suddenly realized that something terrible had happened.

The prison guard who delivered the food was very likely an assassin sent by the mysterious organization, and he may have already escaped.

"Immediately seal off all the gates leading out of the prison!" Yan Shiyu ordered immediately, his voice tinged with urgency.

The special forces soldiers acted swiftly, sealing off all exits.

Yan Shiyu then summoned Wang Xiao, the commander of the Imperial Guards, and led the guards to begin a widespread search, determined to find the jailer who delivered food to Xiang Hao.

Upon receiving the order, Wang Xiao immediately led the Imperial Guards to conduct a thorough search inside and outside the palace.

This jailer may be carrying important clues; his whereabouts are related to the safety of the entire palace.

Yan Shiyu and his special forces team searched all night, but they couldn't find even the slightest clue about the poisoner.

The guards insisted that the jailer possessed a token that allowed him to enter and exit all the palace gates, but the imperial guards said they had never seen anyone carrying such a token.

The poisoner seemed to have vanished into thin air.

As dawn broke and the sky began to lighten, Yan Shiyu was just about to report the matter to Chen Zhennan when two special forces members responsible for protecting Xiang Hao's safety in the prison suddenly arrived, their faces filled with anxiety.

"Captain, Xiang Hao has been killed!"

Yan Shiyu's eyes widened instantly, and his voice was almost squeezed out of his throat.

"What? Xiang Hao was under your protection, how could he have been killed?"

The two team members looked at each other, their faces filled with fear and confusion.

“We don’t know what happened, or even when Xiang Hao was killed,” one of the team members stammered, his voice trembling slightly.

A surge of anger welled up in Yan Shiyu's heart, and he slammed his fist hard against the stone wall beside him, sending stone chips flying everywhere.

"You bastard! Get him to jail, right now!"