Ye Chutang nodded. "We’ve waited long enough."

She glanced out the window. Withered yellow leaves spun as they fell silently, and a faint chill already laced the wind.

"It’s getting cold. I’ll have to get you all some new clothes later. The Capital City isn’t like Jiangling. Once autumn passes, the weather will grow much colder, so you must be sure to stay warm."

Ye Jingyan and Ye Yunfeng agreed in unison.

In truth, their sister didn’t need to tell them. They knew better than anyone just how cold the Capital City could get.

A soft rustling sound came from behind the folding screen. Ye Chutang turned to see a small head peeking out.

Xiao Wu rubbed her eyes. The next second, she keenly spotted the gauze on Ye Chutang’s neck. She froze for a moment, then her little legs pattered as she quickly ran over.

’How did Sister get hurt?!’

Ye Chutang’s expression softened. She bent down, pulled the little girl into her arms, and gently pinched her cheek.

"Don’t worry, it’s just a small injury. It’ll be better soon."

Xiao Wu simply stared at her with wide, dark, round eyes, seemingly unconvinced.

Ye Chutang tapped her on the nose, gestured toward the outside, and lowered her voice. "It’s true. When has your sister ever lied to Xiao Wu? This is all for those people outside to see."

Hearing this, Xiao Wu was finally convinced, but her tiny brow remained furrowed as she raised a hand to touch the bandage gently.

Her touch was light, as if she were terrified of hurting Ye Chutang. Her little face was filled with heartache, and the rims of her eyes began to turn red. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Ye Chutang sighed to herself.

’I was so worried this Little Point would see it, and yet she still did—’

She blinked and said with a soft laugh, "For a while, your sister will be able to stay home and be with Xiao Wu. Isn’t that nice?"

Xiao Wu looked at her, then buried her head in the crook of her neck.

’She really wanted to always be with her sister, but she wanted her sister to be okay even more.’

Something in Ye Chutang’s heart softened. She turned her head and said, "By the way, the Imperial Physician the Princely Heir summoned should be here soon."

Ye Jingyan understood immediately and nodded.

"Don’t worry, Sister. I understand."

...

Ye Chutang led Xiao Wu back to the inner room and coaxed her for a long while before the Little Milk Group finally fell asleep.

Exhausted from the long day, she also felt drained. Holding Xiao Wu, she drifted into a deep sleep.

’I woke up too early. I need to catch up on sleep.’

While things were peaceful on her end, the world outside was already in utter chaos.

News that Han Yao had taken Ye Chutang hostage and publicly exposed Ye Heng spread through the Capital City as if it had grown wings.

With so many people having witnessed it in public, a cover-up was impossible.

The incident sent shockwaves through the city.

...

"Master, what are your plans now?"

Lian Zhou asked cautiously.

’Although everything today had gone according to his master’s plan, Second Miss Ye had still been injured.’

’He recalled that even when his master had faced assassins and his life hung in the balance, he had never revealed such intense killing intent.’

’Today, that Han Yao... he had truly provoked the one person he should have never crossed!’

Shen Yanchuan’s eyes were closed, as if he were resting.

At the question, his eyelashes fluttered. A moment later, he opened his eyes.

His deep, inscrutable eyes were like a river frozen over, concealing all turbulence beneath a surface that radiated a bone-deep chill.

"To the palace,"

he said.

Lian Zhou was surprised. "You’re not going to interrogate the Han father and son yourself?"

Recalling his master’s expression when Ye Chutang was injured, Lian Zhou was certain that if it weren’t for the need to thoroughly investigate the truth of the past, Han Yao would have died on the spot, never to see another dawn.

’The situation is urgent, so why would the Master insist on going to the palace first?’

Shen Yanchuan said indifferently, "As long as they’re alive, we can interrogate them sooner or later. Besides, there are others who are more anxious than we are."

Realization dawned on Lian Zhou. He immediately bowed his head. "You are brilliant, Master!"