CHAPTER 1997: CHAPTER 1999

"Right now, the defense of the Capital City is under State Duke Tong’s control. I need to find Prince Le and root out his influence one by one."

"Start now?" Yang Chuxia was shocked. "These days, the entire Capital City is in chaos, the people’s hearts are wavering. If we start purging officials now, won’t it cause more unrest?"

"Don’t worry, Prince Zhuang will handle it with caution," Ye Zi’an said. "We’ll only target those who have had close ties with Prince Le regularly, and two families with connections to Great Qi. The rest will wait until the internal chaos in the Great Zhou is settled, and external threats have receded, to settle accounts."

"Alright, then be careful. I’ll go prepare some water; you can wash up before eating," Yang Chuxia advised and went out.

When she returned, Ye Zi’an was already asleep on the chair.

Yang Chuxia grabbed a blanket, intending to cover him, but Ye Zi’an woke up.

"Have you received any news about Dongxue?"

"No!" Ye Zi’an shook his head, "When he received word, he probably already sent everyone away."

He feared that if he failed, he would implicate his wife and child. So it’s normal that there is no trace now.

Yang Chuxia originally thought it would be a long time before she saw Yang Dongxue again, but unexpectedly, she saw her the next day.

"Third sister, why are they doing this?"

Yang Dongxue was incredulous. In such a short period, the once high and mighty Prince Le had become a fugitive.

"How are you here?"

Wasn’t Prince Le supposed to have sent her away?

"Don’t ask me how I’m here first," Yang Dongxue wiped her eyes, "I need the seven-leaved flower."

"Are you with Prince Le?"

"No!" Yang Dongxue denied, "I need the seven-leaved flower."

"I don’t have it!"

"Mu’s Clinic does!"

"Dongxue, you know I can’t help you," Yang Chuxia said, "Prince Le harmed so many lives. Prince Zhuang will never let him go. You can either stay, and I’ll have your brother-in-law vouch that all of Prince Le’s affairs have nothing to do with you, or you leave immediately, and I’ll pretend I didn’t see you."

"Third sister!" Yang Dongxue shouted angrily, "I helped you marry Prince Le, but now why can’t you help me?"

"Dongxue, the situation is different!" Yang Chuxia explained, "If I help you today, tomorrow it could harm countless people of the Great Zhou. Prince Le wants to plunge so many people into peril; how can I help him with this? Not just me, no one can save him."

"I’m asking you one last time, will you help me?"

"I won’t help you!"

"Fine, Yang Chuxia, you will regret this!"

Grinding her teeth, Yang Dongxue quickly left.

"Everyone, follow her!"

Dongxue knew about the seven-leaved flower, then she surely knows Prince Le is poisoned, and she’s with him. Her coming to the estate must have been at Prince Le’s behest.

Prince Le cannot be let go; my sister, I must apologize to you.

The group following her hadn’t returned yet, but Ye Zi’an arrived with reinforcements after receiving a message.

"Where is she?"

"You’re here just in time," Yang Chuxia mounted her horse, saying, "I let Dongxue go, someone is following. We’ll search based on the marks."

Following the cross left by the guards, they headed forward, but the more they walked the more uneasy it felt.

"Lord Ye, it seems there’s a cliff ahead."

"How can there be a cliff?"

"Madam Ye, look at that stone monolith up ahead. Beyond it is the cliff. We came here earlier when chasing fugitives."