Madam, please listen to my explanation.

Chapter 71 If you're sick, go see the imperial physician.

late at night.

Inside the residence of an official from the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhuang Yuning frowned as she leaned over her desk, intently studying the case file.

At least that's how it appears.
Heaven have mercy, I've been in this position all night, yet I haven't been able to read a single word.

I looked up and gazed out the window.

Thinking about what she was going to do next, her heart started pounding.

Will he come?
Tick-tock.
The night was still, and the sound of water dripping from the water clock seemed amplified countless times.

Zhuang Yuning glanced at the location marked on the leak.

The hour of Yin has arrived.

Outside the window, dark clouds obscured the moonlight, making it pitch black.

It's a perfect day for a secret rendezvous.
She gave a wry smile, blew out the candle, and walked towards the courtyard.

"Master Cameraman!"

"I can't sleep, I'm going for a walk nearby to clear my head."

As Zhuang Yuning left the house, she felt increasingly uneasy.

As she looked around, she didn't forget to take out the black veil she had prepared beforehand and cover her face.

With a pounding heart, I arrived at the agreed-upon alleyway.

Looking around, the surroundings were empty.

Besides myself, where else could I be?

She let out a sigh of relief, unable to tell whether she was happy or depressed.

As expected, even he, in the face of imperial power, ultimately had to give way.
Thinking about this, I couldn't help but feel a little lost.

Zhuang Yuning lowered her head, intending to leave.

That's good, it puts a weight off my mind.
"Why all the secrecy about meeting up?"

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Zhuang Yuning's face lit up with joy!
She turned around abruptly and saw a figure swaggering in from outside the alley.

"Mr. Xian!"

Xu Jinhuan nodded.

What's with that overjoyed expression on their face?
It's just baffling.

In the dead of night, and in such a secluded place, it looks like they're having an affair.
He wouldn't have bothered coming here if he hadn't wanted to find out about the Qiyun Sect.

"What do you want from me?"

For some reason, the other party actually appeared before her as promised, leaving Zhuang Yuning somewhat at a loss.

It must be admitted that ever since His Majesty personally announced the marriage agreement...
She should have been happy, but her mind was filled with thoughts of another man.

She couldn't explain why; perhaps she just wanted to see him one more time.

"Sir, I am deeply troubled by the matter of the Qiyun Sect, but His Majesty is completely deaf to my concerns."
After much thought, I believe that among all the people in this capital, only you, sir, hold the potential to save the Great Yan!

After delivering the prepared statement, she immediately felt a great sense of relief.

I don't think I gave anything away, right?

Xu Jinhuan's expression softened slightly.

Surprisingly, this woman actually has a conscience.

"Master Zhuang has the wrong person."

The reason I took you to the West City that day was to use the Mingjing Division to restrain the demons and monsters of the Qiyun Sect.

If even you can't help, then I, Xu, am truly powerless to assist you alone."

What were just ordinary words took on a completely different meaning to Zhuang Yuning.
He... he's angry about my relationship with His Majesty!
"gentlemen."

"Your Majesty's words are law, and I have no choice but to comply."

"Sir, you must not disregard the lives of the people for the sake of your personal feelings!"

Xu Jinhuan: “???”

This woman, if she's sick, she should go see the imperial physician!

Just as he was about to speak again, he seemed to faintly hear a series of sobs.
The two exchanged a glance, both their eyes revealing a hint of seriousness.

It's already curfew. Who would risk their life to run out into the street and cry?

Without saying a word, Xu Jinhuan took the lead and walked towards the source of the sound.

As they turned the corner, they saw a thin little girl dragging a pale and emaciated woman along with great difficulty.

The woman's clothes were tattered and barely covered her body; upon closer inspection, white foam was still dripping from her mouth.

As if they had finally reached their destination, the girl stopped crying, released the woman's stiff body, and knelt down to the side.

The girl did not react at all to the two men's approach.

She simply clasped her hands together and mumbled some indistinct words over and over again.

Xu Jinhuan approached the woman but did not touch her. He sensed with his divine sense that she was already dead.

"I'm dead." Xiao Qing said listlessly in her mind.

'Of course I know and can tell the cause of her death.'

'Well, since you've asked so earnestly, I'll take pity on you and take a look.'

The next moment, tiny specks of starlight, barely visible to the naked eye, fell down.

After a moment of silence, Xiaoqing said softly:

"Evil spirits enter the body and plunder life force."

Xu Jinhuan nodded.

In the coming days, countless people will die suddenly like this.

After all, the so-called Qiyun Sect, from the very beginning, aimed to shake the foundations of the Great Yan Dynasty, starting in the capital.
Looking in the direction where the girl was kneeling, there was a small stone statue.

A small piece of bright yellow cloth was draped over the stone statue.

Even though the workmanship is rough, it is still faintly visible that it resembles a kind-faced woman beckoning to you.

"Stop worshipping! Your mother is her."

Zhuang Yuning tried to scold the girl to wake her up, but Xu Jinhuan stopped her.

"Little girl, why is your mother sleeping here?"

The girl's words became fragmented, and finally, unable to control herself, she burst into tears again.
"Mother... Mother is sick. She did not pray to the Great Sage Celestial Master as scheduled today."
And that's how it turned out!
I can pray twice a day. No, even several times a day!
Please, please don't take your mother away—waaaah!

"Okay, as long as you pray sincerely, the Celestial Master will definitely hear you. Good luck!"

Xu Jinhuan patted the other's head and gently comforted him.

"Mr. Xu!"

Zhuang Yuning's face was filled with disbelief.

She couldn't understand it.
Why would the other party do this when they already know the ugly face of the Qiyun Sect?

Xu Jinhuan said expressionlessly, "Give her hope. That way, at least she will still have the motivation to keep living."

"At this moment, even if we tell her that the Qiyun Sect is a bad group, what difference will it make?"
You can't wake someone who's pretending to be asleep.

Zhuang Yuning felt as if her brain had been struck by a heavy object, and she couldn't come to her senses for a long time.

"Sir, even so, are you still going to stand idly by?"

Perhaps she was too excited, so much so that the black veil on her face accidentally slipped down.

She quickly took it back.

If I'm not mistaken, that girl just now seemed to have seen herself.

"Who said I was going to let them go?"

Xu Jinhuan raised an eyebrow and asked.

"You don't need to concern yourself with the affairs of the Qiyun Sect anymore. I will take care of things when the time is right."

However, how many people can actually be saved remains to be seen.

Zhuang Yuning immediately beamed with joy.

As long as you're willing to help, you can definitely do it!
"I'm going back to the Iris Pavilion. You, little one..."

“Yu Ning happens to be handling a case nearby, so she will take care of her. You can rest assured, sir.”

Xu Jinhuan nodded and turned to leave.

Zhuang Yuning stood there watching until the figure disappeared long afterward before she finally moved.

The little girl was still chattering away nearby.

She herself couldn't remember how many times she had recited it.
It must be because I wasn't sincere enough. If I just put in a little more effort, my mother will definitely come back to life!

Zhuang Yuning squatted down beside the other person and gently stroked their face:

"Little girl, do you miss your mother?"

The girl paused for a moment upon hearing this, finally stopping what she was saying and nodding emphatically to the woman in the black veil.

But why cover your face?

I only caught a glimpse of her, but this lady was incredibly beautiful.

Zhuang Yuning smiled and nodded, then her right hand suddenly slashed across the other person's neck.

Hot blood splattered all over her face, but she was oblivious.

The girl's eyes instantly lost their sparkle.

She fell straight to the ground, and as her consciousness faded, she seemed to see her mother waving at her.

"Mother."

A smile involuntarily appeared on the girl's face.

Zhuang Yuning placed the dagger in her hand into the hand of the woman who had already passed away.

After doing all this, she squatted on the ground and buried her head deeply in her knees.

"I'm sorry, little girl, but I can't let people see my face."
Since you miss your mother so much, your sister is just taking you to see her.

(End of this chapter)