"Emperor Father, this matter carries significant implications. Your son believes that it must be thoroughly investigated. As for Princess Ye, there are already two witnesses who have pointed out her substantial connection with this incident. I think it is best to strip Princess Ye of her title and incarcerate her in the Heavenly Prison. After interrogation, we will decide." Crown Prince Hong stepped forward and reported.

Feng Xun is one of his faction's people, and Ye Lingyue offended Noble Princess Consort Luo. She had already hinted to Crown Prince Hong to find a suitable opportunity to take care of the second miss from Lan Residence directly.

"This subject also agrees that what the Crown Prince said is most sensible," Grand Protector Hong Fang and a group of courtiers also echoed in agreement.

"Emperor Father, the investigation is not yet clear; Princess Ye is only a suspect, not the true culprit. How could she be imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison? I implore Emperor Father for a discerning judgment." The Sixth Prince, seeing that the arrows of accusation pointed at Ye Lingyue—especially since Lan Yingwu, her adoptive father, is pleading on her behalf, while her biological father, Hong Fang, is uniting with others demanding severe punishment, spoke up.

As soon as the Sixth Prince made his stance, the courtiers who supported him also stepped forward one after another, arguing that Ye Lingyue was innocent.

These words, however, sounded extremely ironic to Ye Lingyue.

Emperor Xia, caught between the Crown Prince, the Sixth Prince, Lan Yingwu, Nangong Jian, and others, was in a dilemma and did not know what to do.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Prince Feng is outside the palace seeking an audience," just when Emperor Xia was troubled, he suddenly heard the Imperial Palace guard reporting.

Prince Beiqing? How did he come here?

Emperor Xia, being the younger brother of Emperor Beiqing, gave Prince Beiqing the right to attend court to please his Beloved nephew of his older brother, Emperor Beiqing.

However, Prince Feng had never attended court before; this was his first time at the Daxia Court.

Lan Yingwu, upon hearing the news, felt his anxious heart relax in an instant. Lan Yingwu certainly knew of the relationship between Prince Feng and the girl; with Prince Feng's arrival, the girl was sure to be safe.

"Quickly, invite Prince Feng in."

But see, a young man in a purple official robe casually strolled in.

Though in the Golden Throne Hall of Daxia, the young man remained perfectly composed as if taking a leisurely walk in a courtyard; his looks and demeanor were like the finest jade without a single flaw to speak of, his outstanding Phoenix Eyes gently sweeping over every minister present.

He did not have the blazing brightness of the sun, but the gentle luminescence of the moon, illuminating everyone's eyes instantly.

Even the Sixth Prince and Crown Prince Hong, who were also recognized as Heaven's Chosen Sons, paled in the presence of Prince Feng, like stars dimmed by the moon's light.

"This subject, Feng Xun, pays respect to Emperor Xia," Feng Xun bowed halfway with due respect.

As he lowered his head, the corner of his eyes caught Ye Lingyue kneeling on the ground, bearing the censure of the crowd.

A cold light flickered in Feng Xun's eyes, like a meteor in the dark night.

Yet the moment he raised his head, Feng Xun returned to his warm demeanor.

Seeing Feng Xun, Emperor Xia quickly dispensed with the formalities and ordered that a seat be brought for him.

Emperor Xia marvelled internally as he offered the seat; Prince Feng rarely entered the palace, and it was indeed extraordinary that he would come today regarding the matter of Princess Ye and Lady Nangong.

"I heard that an explosion occurred at the Imperial Hospital. Prince Feng has often benefitted from the care of the Imperial Physicians and the Court Alchemists, so he specially came to check. It seems, Your Majesty, that you've encountered some vexing troubles," Feng Xun expressed his concern.

The explosion at the Imperial Hospital was heard throughout Xia Capital and beyond; it was not only in Feng Residence, but even the ordinary households were discussing what had happened in the Imperial Palace.

So many eyes were fixed on the explosion of the Pill Furnace. If Emperor Xia had not offered a suitable explanation, the common folk would likely have been discontent.

Upon hearing Emperor Xia's clarifying explanation, Feng Xun laughed it off.

"Emperor Xia, this matter is not difficult to address. The Alchemist from the Military Department also said he gave Princess Ye a Black Medicine Stone. A single Black Medicine Stone is enough to level the Imperial Hospital to the ground. Since only a Pill Furnace was destroyed, it proves that the remaining Black Medicine Stone has not been used up. The remnants of the Black Medicine Stone must still be hidden somewhere. Your Majesty can simply have someone search for it." Feng Xun's words caused General Nangong and Chief Chou to have a sharp glint in their eyes.

The two secretly exchanged a look.

As expected, upon learning of his daughter's grave misfortune which caused the explosion of the Pill Furnace, General Nangong was heartbroken, and immediately consulted with Chief Chou on how to manage the aftermath.

With the mistake made, General Nangong and Chief Chou bribed a servant of the Lan Residence to secretly hide the remaining Black Medicine Powder that belonged to Nangong Qinglin in Ye Lingyue's boudoir.

If a search were truly conducted, Ye Lingyue would inevitably be caught red-handed with the evidence.

General Nangong, recalling the mangled corpse of his daughter, felt as though his heart was being sliced with a knife.

He wanted everyone in the Lan Residence to pay with their lives for his daughter.

"Your Majesty, what Prince Feng has said makes perfect sense. Princess Ye must have hidden the Black Medicine Powder in the Lan Residence. Please deploy your men to search the Lan Residence and deliver justice for my daughter," General Nangong said, and then kowtowed several times forcefully.

"This..." Emperor Xia had not anticipated that the issue would involve the Lan Residence as well.

"Father Emperor, this matter is of great importance. In my view, as a pillar of the nation, General Nangong has lost his beloved daughter; searching the Lan Residence is absolutely necessary," Crown Prince Hong stepped forward and pleaded.

As everyone knows, General Nangong was a supporter of the Crown Prince Palace; his military power was an indispensable source of support for Crown Prince Hong.

Had it not been for the unexpected turn of events at the Flower Viewing Ceremony, Nangong Qinglin had the chance to become one of Crown Prince Hong's concubines.

"Father Emperor, if we are to search the Lan Residence, we must also search the Nangong Residence. Currently, both Great Generals' mansions are suspects. The Alchemist from the Military Department only mentioned that the other party claimed to be Princess Ye, but he was unaware of the specific appearance. To avoid unjustly accusing Princess Ye, in my view, the Nangong Residence should also be subjected to a search," Sixth Prince Xiahou Qi, seeing Ye Lingyue and the Lan Residence under suspicion, also stepped forward to request.

"Your Majesty, the Sixth Prince is right. Right now, there is no evidence that definitively points to Ling Yue as the one involved with the Black Medicine Powder. If a search must be conducted, it should include both households. Otherwise, even if Your Majesty assigns blame, I would not accept it," Lan Yingwu snorted coldly, casting a glance at General Nangong.

"Summon the men! Order a search of both the Lan Residence and Nangong Residence. If Black Medicine Powder is located, report back immediately," Emperor Xia, also confused and overwhelmed by this matter, waved his hand.

Two squads of the Imperial Army rushed into the Lan Residence and Nangong Residence, one after the other.

On the Golden Throne Hall, Ye Lingyue remained kneeling.

Sixth Prince Xiahou Qi wore a worried expression.

All the courtiers around were silent, waiting for the results of the Imperial Army's search.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, the Black Medicine Powder has been found."

More than an hour later, the commander of the searching Imperial Army returned to the Imperial Palace.

It's been found?

Lan Yingwu's brows twitched upon hearing the news, and as he glanced at his daughter Ye Lingyue still kneeling on the ground, he could only see her lowered eyes, her long butterfly-like eyelashes obscuring the emotions within, making it impossible for anyone to decipher what she was truly thinking.