Father, who is both a heir and a descendant, is still biased; the bound system has gone berserk.

Ying Yufu clearly felt the guard grind his teeth instantly, obviously also angered by Marquis Wuding.

She looked at Marquis Wuding in silence for a moment, then said, "Marquis Wuding, I suspect he is also a member of the Chrysanthemum Hall. He was the one who just killed Granny Guo."

Marquis Wuding remained silent for a moment, then scrambled to hide behind Marquis Xuanwu.

Marquis Xuanwu: "..."

The guard's brows, which had been furrowed, suddenly relaxed, and he laughed, "Well done, Princess Anguo! You actually have such abilities!"

I'm curious, how did you find me?

The hidden weapon I use is a secret technique passed down in an ancient kingdom; even top experts wouldn't be able to detect it.

Ying Yufu frowned. An ancient kingdom secret?

Once upon a time, there were no four kingdoms on this land, only a unified dynasty—the Great Yu Dynasty.

People today refer to that once powerful dynasty as an ancient kingdom.

Because that's really old.

"How I discovered you is unimportant. However, will you confess now, or will we apprehend you and interrogate you with the Truth-Speaking Pill?"

"No need to trouble yourself, I'll handle it myself."

After saying that, the guard suddenly raised his hand, and a shower of silver needles as fine as cow hair shot out like a silver rain, heading towards Ying Yufu and the Crown Prince.

"Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!"

"Protect His Highness the Crown Prince!"

A sharp shout suddenly came from the crowd.

Ying Yufu and Wushuang moved at the same time, intercepting the silver needles. The guard captain of the Xuanwu Marquis's mansion also made a move and captured the guard of the Wuding Marquis.

As soon as he was captured, black blood flowed from the guard's mouth, a provocative smile appeared on his lips, and when his breath was checked again, he was already dead.

Ying Yufu held several silver needles as thin as cow hair in her hand.

She observed carefully and found that the silver needles were coated with poison, and that the material of the silver needles was very special, being both hard and soft, unbreakable, yet as light as a hair.

"How unique!"

Ying Yufu said.

[Host, your world actually has gilded silver! Armor and weapons made from this material are incredibly powerful—lightweight, impervious to blades and spears, and capable of cutting through iron like butter.]

The prince's eyebrows twitched slightly. Silver gilding—wasn't that a precious material only found in ancient kingdoms?

Unexpectedly, the Chrysanthemum Hall had obtained the secrets of the ancient kingdom.

Although the spy was apprehended, an eerie atmosphere descended upon the entire hall.

Apart from Marquis Wuding, who was trembling and hiding behind Marquis Xuanwu, all the other nobles had solemn expressions.

Even when they looked at the guards and servants they had brought with them, their eyes were filled with suspicion and scrutiny.

Regardless of whether it was true or not, all the servants turned pale and were terrified.

The Crown Prince then spoke up, saying, "After you return, my dear ministers, you should carefully investigate the spies in your respective residences. I will soon send the Thousand Feather Army into your residences to assist in the investigation and ensure your safety."

"Thank you, Your Highness!" the officials bowed.

The banquet ended, but the excitement in each household was just beginning.

Even within the palace, a rigorous investigation was conducted, resulting in the identification and execution of nearly thirty palace servants on the spot.

Meanwhile, in the residences of various powerful figures, one to three people were also found in each household.

Only the Marquis of Wuding's residence was completely undetected.

Even so, nearly a hundred people were disciplined.

"This time, Chrysanthemum Hall suffered heavy losses," Emperor Cangxuan said slowly, sitting behind his desk.

The prince said, "These are all minor characters; the real big fish haven't shown themselves yet."

Emperor Cangxuan's eyes were deep and unfathomable. "It will be soon."

For a brief period, the imperial city was calm and peaceful.

In the central palace, the Empress and Gao Fengyi were both deathly pale.

The Empress looked at Gao Fengyi scrutinizingly: "Eunuch Gao, you're also from the Chrysanthemum Hall, aren't you? You've been loyal to me all these years, are you also a spy?"

Gao Fengyi immediately knelt down and said, "It is true that I am a member of the Chrysanthemum Hall, but Your Majesty, I am not staying by your side as a spy, but to protect you."

Because of your identity... you are of royal blood from the previous dynasty, you are my true master!

The Empress's pupils contracted as she looked at Gao Fengyi in disbelief.

Gao Fengyi slowly raised his head and took out a letter from his pocket.

"Your Highness, this is a letter from your master. It details your background and suggests that your master has already reunited with the Second Prince."

The Empress stared intently at Gao Fengyi before taking the letter.

……

At the end of the second day, the Crown Prince finally set off for Yuzhou.

He brought new grain seeds.

When Ying Yufu and Shangguan Hong arrived at the palace gate, they saw that the Crown Prince's carriage was already there.

The entourage consisted of fifty elite guards from the Eastern Palace, each carrying a curved sword at their waist, a bow and arrows on their back, and riding tall horses, flanked by guards on both sides.

The two guards, who were positioned to the east and west respectively, served on either side of the emperor and were the commanders of the personal guards.

Xu Ningxiang had also arrived with more than ten guards.

Her injuries have fully healed. Now, she sits on her horse, her long hair tied back, dressed in a black riding outfit, looking dashing and heroic.

Upon seeing Ying Yufu, Xu Ningxiang greeted her warmly.

Ying Yufu also smiled and said, "Congratulations, Xu Ningxiang, you're about to achieve great things."

A sharp glint flashed in Xu Ningxiang's eyes: "I will serve His Majesty and be loyal to Bei Xuan!"

"Very well!" The Crown Prince smiled. "I believe Princess Baoyue can do it."

Just then, a line of cavalrymen in gleaming silver-white armor appeared outside the palace gates.

The horses were even dressed in silver armor.

The leader, wearing a silver-white mask and silver armor, rode up on horseback, wielding a snow-white spear with red tassels.

Their arrival instantly made the air around them feel imposing and powerful!

"The Snow Phoenix Army! It's the Snow Phoenix Army!"

The ministers standing not far away exclaimed in surprise.

Emperor Cangxuan gazed at the Snow Phoenix Army's imposing presence and laughed, "My Northern Xuan's Snow Phoenix Army hasn't made a move for many years. This time, we'll certainly show our might!"

Another minister remarked, "The general leading the Snow Phoenix Army seems to be a woman?"

Emperor Cangxuan remained silent, his smile enigmatic.

"Yes, it's unexpected that the current leader of the Snow Phoenix Army is a woman!"

Just as the ministers were sighing, Ying Yufu's eyes widened, her pupils trembled, and her burning gaze was fixed on Xue Feng Army.

"The Snow Phoenix Army! It's the Snow Phoenix Army!"

In particular, her gaze fell on the leading female general.

It was the peerless female general, the peerless female general she saw in her precognitive dream!

In the dream, the Snow Phoenix Army, outnumbered, nearly won a battle.

They were all elites among elites, each capable of taking on a hundred men.

Their tragic story was deeply imprinted in Ying Yufu's mind.

She stared at the woman in the lead with burning, infatuated eyes, her gaze filled with admiration.

When the Crown Prince traveled, the Snow Phoenix Army provided protection.

The ministers exchanged glances, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.

His Majesty's affection for the Crown Prince is unparalleled by that of the Second Prince.

The Crown Prince alighted from the carriage, bowed in the direction of Emperor Cangxuan, and said, "Father, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

"Very well! I will await your triumphant return in the capital!"

"Congratulations on your triumphant return, Your Highness!"

The ministers also echoed this sentiment.

They watched as the crown prince and his entourage left the palace and headed out of the city.

One day later.

Fengyuan County.

A wealthy merchant with a thick beard, accompanied by his beautiful wife and a retinue of followers dressed in the same Hu (non-Han) attire, entered Fengyuan County.

As soon as I entered the city, I saw that there were not many pedestrians on the streets, and everywhere I looked, they were all elderly people.

Most of these elderly people were also in a hurry.

"May I ask, sir, what is the state of Fengyuan County?"

Where have all the people gone? I can't find a single young person, or even a child!

The old man saw that the person asking the question was a non-Han Chinese and immediately showed sympathy: "You, a merchant from out of town, are really bold. Oh dear, you mustn't stay in Fengyuan County for long, in case..."

As the old man spoke, he glanced around before lowering his voice and saying, "You know that our Crown Prince of Beixuan is frail and won't live much longer, right?"

I heard that recently, in order to prolong his life, he has started eating human hearts, specifically the hearts of children and young men and women!

Several young people and children in Fengyuan County have already had their hearts ripped out and eaten!

After saying that, the old man hurriedly ran away.

The bearded man and his group stood still, like statues.

The burly, bearded merchant at the head of the group was utterly shocked: "I...eat human hearts?"

The beautiful young woman of Central Asian descent, Ying Yufu, standing beside him, also looked bewildered and angrily demanded, "Who is spreading rumors?"

[Ding! The Face-Slapping System has been triggered. Host, please help the Crown Prince prove his innocence and slap the face of the rumor-mongers, Jin Zishi and Han Meng!]

Ying Yufu clenched her fists immediately. Oh, so it was a fake imperial tutor!