After the ghost-hunting master descended the mountain, his fame spread throughout the capital.

Abbot Hong'an clasped his hands together and nodded: "Although I am not an expert in medicine, I have practiced for many years and have gained some understanding of the sensation of Qi."

He took a half step forward and looked directly at the invisible aura surrounding Emperor Cangqi. "Just now when I got close, I vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a trace of dark curse power entwined within His Majesty's aura."

"This spell is deeply hidden. If it is combined with certain specific drugs to activate it, it may amplify Your Majesty's emotions and even affect your judgment."

Abbot Hong'an paused, his tone becoming even more somber, "Moreover, the practitioner's methods are highly skilled. Unless one's cultivation has reached a certain level, even ordinary imperial physicians would probably find it difficult to detect and would only attribute it to His Majesty's overwork."

As he spoke, he took out a string of Buddhist prayer beads from his pocket and handed it over: "These are prayer beads that I have worn for many years. They have been blessed by Buddhist teachings and have a slight effect of purifying the mind, clearing away obstacles, and warding off evil spirits."

"Your Majesty may carry this with you at all times. If any evil or malevolent forces attempt to disturb Your Majesty, this bead may generate a slight warm sensation. Your Majesty should be careful."

Emperor Cangqi took the prayer beads, but the icy touch made his heart even colder.

He gripped the prayer beads tightly, his knuckles turning white, and squeezed out a few words through clenched teeth, "I understand."

After Abbot Hong'an disappeared outside the Imperial Study, Emperor Cangqi remained seated stiffly in the large dragon throne, motionless.

The hall was deathly silent, save for his heavy, suppressed breathing.

A curse? Poison? Who is it?! How dare they scheme against him with such insidious methods!

Emperor Cangqi suddenly began to rewind.

Over the past month, he has found it increasingly difficult to control his emotions. He has hardly ever stepped into the inner palace and has rarely summoned ministers for private talks.

Those who can get close to him...

His gaze suddenly fell on Li Dequan, the chief eunuch who stood not far away with his head bowed and eyes downcast.

But in just a moment, Emperor Cangqi slowly shook his head, rejecting the idea.

It couldn't be Li Dequan.

Everything about this old dog depends on him. If he falls, Li Dequan will only suffer an even more terrible death.

Moreover, if Li Dequan had such ability and courage, he would have used it long ago, why wait until today?

So…

Emperor Cangqi's gaze slowly shifted to the direction of a screen in the imperial study.

His eyes suddenly darkened, all the turbulent emotions were forcibly suppressed, leaving only a chilling killing intent.

At this moment, inside the secret room.

The light was dim, and a faint fragrance filled the air.

Zhou Wanning was dressed in a magnificent palace gown, and a guard in the imperial guard uniform stood in front of her.

The guard spoke very quickly and in a very low voice, "Miss Zhou, the Duke has ordered me to bring you out immediately."

"The situation has changed. Abbot Hong'an of Huguo Temple has emerged from seclusion ahead of schedule. The matter of the curse and the drugs may not be able to be concealed for long. Once His Majesty becomes suspicious, he will definitely investigate thoroughly."

He reached into his bundle and pulled out a neatly folded set of ordinary palace maid's clothes, quickly stuffing it into Zhou Wanning's hands:

"The route and backup have been arranged. Please change into your palace maid attire and leave with me!"

Upon hearing this, Zhou Wanning did not hesitate at all, took the palace maid's clothes, and walked behind the screen.

"Okay, please wait a moment."

The guard turned his back to Zhou Wanning and, while she changed her clothes, skillfully used his sword to pry open a floor tile that appeared no different from the others.

Beneath the bricks, a narrow entrance, barely wide enough for one person to pass through, emanated a faint, damp, and chilly aura.

Just as Zhou Wanning changed into her palace maid's clothes and stepped out from behind the screen—

"Click!"

A clear sound came from the mechanism outside the secret room.

Their expressions changed simultaneously.

The guard suddenly looked at Zhou Wanning, a resolute glint in his eyes: "Miss Zhou, you go first. I'll hold them off! Follow the passage out; the exit leads to the Cold Palace, where someone will meet you."

He drew a hidden short blade from his waist with a backhand motion, his body slightly hunched, ready to fight to the death.

Zhou Wanning, however, remained standing still.

A complex light flashed across her eyes, finally settling into a sense of relief.

"You can leave now."

The guard said urgently, even reaching out to pull her back, "But young lady! The Duke ordered that you must..."

"No need for further words." Zhou Wanning interrupted him, her voice suddenly becoming sharper. She even stepped forward and used all her strength to push the guard into the passage.

"If I leave, His Majesty, in his fury and suspicion, will surely turn this secret room, and even the entire palace, upside down."

"At that time, I might not be the only one to die. You, and possibly the people in the palace who were supposed to be there, will all be caught in the crossfire. If I don't leave, you might survive."

The guard wanted to say something more.

Zhou Wanning smiled and said, "There's no need to be sad. This body originally belonged to me, Ke Chunhua. I've already defied the heavens to survive until now."

"The Zhou family is dead, and the secret ointment that Granny Zhou left me to keep my body from decaying and stiffening... is almost gone. My body couldn't hold on much longer anyway."

The sound of the hidden door being pushed open grew clearer and clearer, and one could even hear the suppressed rage of Emperor Cangqi's footsteps outside.

Zhou Wanning glanced at the guard one last time. "And...please thank the Duke for me. Hurry up!"

After saying that, she used all her strength to push the still hesitant guard completely into the passage, and then quickly closed the floor tile.

Just as the floor tiles were put together—

"boom!"

The heavy, hidden door to the secret room was pushed open completely.

Emperor Cangqi, his face ashen and his eyes sinister, entered the secret chamber surrounded by a group of guards.

His gaze lingered for a moment on Zhou Wanning's palace maid attire, then he laughed in fury:

"As expected... it was you."

He took a step forward, his bodyguards following closely behind, blocking the entrance to the secret chamber completely, the air thick with murderous intent.

"I should have thought of this sooner... Besides your face, who else could make me lower my guard?"

Zhou Wanning stood there quietly, her face no longer bearing the cold indifference she usually maintained, nor the obsequious pretense she once had.

She simply stared back at Emperor Cangqi with her icy eyes, without any fear, as if she were looking at a strange, pathetic madman.

Upon hearing Emperor Cangqi's words, she even twitched the corner of her mouth, revealing a mocking smile:

"it's me."

This frank, almost provocative attitude thoroughly enraged Emperor Cangqi.

"You bitch!"

He suddenly took a few steps forward, exuding an aura of suppressed violence, and grabbed Zhou Wanning's chin, forcing her to raise her head.

Emperor Cangqi leaned very close, his breath, carrying the scent of ambergris, brushing against Zhou Wanning's face, but his eyes were so cold they could freeze a person:

"You look...that expression, it's exactly the same as her back then!"

Emperor Cangqi's voice was filled with obsession and pain, as if he wanted to see the true figure who haunted his dreams through this similar face:

"Even the way you look at me... is the same coldness, the same... making me unable to love you, unable to hate you!"

With that, he abruptly released her, roughly grabbed her arm, and dragged her out of the secret room.

Zhou Wanning staggered slightly, but did not struggle, letting him drag her along, while the mocking smile on her face became even clearer.

"Search! Turn this secret room upside down, inch by inch! Dig three feet into the ground! Find her accomplices!"

Emperor Cangqi roared at the guards behind him without turning his head. His voice echoed in the small, secret room, making everyone's eardrums ache.

"Once found, whoever is involved will be executed along with their entire family!"