After the arranged marriage, I pampered the sickly regent.

"After learning that the Princess Consort had been providing medical treatment during this period, Valley Master Lu praised her for her superb medical skills."

"Is that so?"

She had previously found it strange that the Cold Shadow Poison could remain stable in Zhan Sijing's body, even though he was weak, it was still safe and sound. It turned out that there was a master behind him helping him.

So the other party must know something about the Cold Shadow Poison. If she has the chance, she would like to meet the Valley Master of Medicine King Valley.

"Where is the prince?"

Ye Qingwu asked Leng Feng, still feeling worried even after being away for several hours.

"The prince is in his study."

Leng Feng replied, "His Highness also said that if the Princess returns, he would like you to come over as well."

Ye Qingwu nodded and then headed towards Zhan Sijing's study. He must have encountered something to be looking for him.

As soon as I stepped into the study, I found it quiet all around. Only the butler and Zhan Sijing were in the room.

The butler standing to the side looked away when he saw Ye Qingwu.

Ye Qingwu glanced at the steward, then went to Zhan Sijing's side. "Your Highness, you wanted to see me?"

Zhan Sijing stood up, and his expression softened when he saw Ye Qingwu arrive.

"Your Highness, it's time to come to a conclusion regarding the rumors of the past few days."

"Steward, you have been in the Prince's mansion for many years. As long as you do not go too far, there are some things I do not wish to punish you for. However, you should never have set your sights on the Princess."

Unlike his gentle gaze towards Ye Qingwu, Zhan Sijing's eyes were filled with icy coldness, sending chills down one's spine.

He wanted to use the steward's affair to let everyone know the rules of this royal palace.

The steward shuddered; this was the first time in all these years that he had ever seen the prince so angry at anyone.

"Your Highness, I only heard about the rumors from others. During the time you were unconscious, I have been dutiful and have not done anything else."

"Is that so?" Zhan Sijing's gaze grew even colder. "But what I know is clearly not like that."

"Commander Wang has already told me that it was you who delivered the message to him, and mentioned that the Queen Consort is acting strangely."

Do you recognize these?

Seeing that the matter had been exposed, the steward panicked, "Your Highness, the situation was far too chaotic at the time."

"The princess is merely the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion. How could she possibly possess such bizarre Taoist arts? I suspect that the dark aura that has appeared in the mansion these past few days is likely related to her."

"Your Highness, please believe this old servant."

Seeing that the butler was still trying to shift the blame onto Ye Qingwu, Zhan Sijing became even more disappointed.

"Guards, take the steward away..."

The steward panicked upon hearing this and hurriedly begged Zhan Sijing for mercy, "Your Highness, this old servant has always been loyal to you and has never harbored any disloyal thoughts."

"If anything were to happen, it would be for your safety. The princess's behavior is indeed strange."

Leng Feng led his men in, preparing to take the butler out, when Ye Qingwu, who had been silent all along, suddenly spoke up.

"Your Highness, please leave the steward here."

"Why?"

Zhan Sijing hesitated. The steward's behavior was already quite clear. Letting him stay in the palace would not only be useless, but might also leave hidden dangers for the future.

He could disregard everything else, but Ye Qingwu was his Achilles' heel, and he wouldn't allow anyone to touch her.

"Leng Feng, you go out first."

Ye Qingwu spoke calmly to the cold wind.

"Yes."

After the cold wind subsided, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation, leading his men away.

The steward was even more shocked to see this scene, knowing that Leng Feng, as the prince's secret guard, was only under the prince's command in this mansion.

But now, Ye Qingwu can make it obey orders with just a word, which is really unbelievable.

Most importantly, the prince remained in a state of acquiescence throughout this process.

It seems that everything Ye Qingwu does is taken for granted, but things shouldn't be like this.

"Your Highness, may I speak with the steward for a few minutes?"

"of course."

Ye Qingwu stepped forward, her gaze falling on the butler.

"Butler, you accuse me of using sorcery, but what proof do you have?"

"certificate?"

The steward was stunned, clearly not expecting Ye Qingwu to ask such a question. He snorted coldly, "Your Highness, why pretend to be ignorant? Back then, no one could do anything about the black energy in the palace, but you somehow knew the cause and subdued it so quickly."

"What else is this but your tactic of bewitching people!"

"Perhaps the prince was fine from the beginning, and it was all your doing in secret. Your Highness, you are truly cunning."

"Your Highness, you must not believe this witch's words."

In response to the steward's accusation, Ye Qingwu sneered, "Steward, I should be asking you that. Ever since the Empress Dowager sent Granny Chang into the Regent's Palace, you've been in contact with her. You even suggested that witchcraft, didn't you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about, Your Highness? Don't spout nonsense."

The butler was clearly panicked and turned his face away, no longer looking at Ye Qingwu.

"Even if you want to pin the blame on me, you have to provide evidence, otherwise it's just slander."

"What a blatant frame-up!" Ye Qingwu's gaze was icy. "You can say some things with such confidence, but when it comes to me, it becomes a frame-up against you?"

"These are the letters that the two palace maids gave me. The handwriting on them is yours, isn't it?"

"And the rumors of the past few days, the reason why the Empress Dowager summoned me to the palace is also related to you."

"Butler, you wanted evidence, but now that these things are right here, what else do you have to say?"

The butler clenched his fist, a murderous intent gradually appearing in his eyes, and took out a dagger that he had been hiding in his sleeve.

In that instant, the butler's eyes turned bloodshot, and the surrounding black aura surged forth.

"Your Highness, even if you break the curse, what then? The ending is already predetermined and cannot be changed. You should stop struggling!"

"careful!"

The moment the butler pulled out a dagger, Zhan Sijing rushed forward and shielded Ye Qingwu behind him.

The cold wind outside rushed in immediately upon hearing the noise.

But the butler just brandished a dagger in mid-air.

"Ye Qingwu, and your half-sister Ye Qingzhu, you thought you could escape by exchanging marriages? What happened back then is what it is, and no one can escape it!"

"Oh no! Cold Wind, stop him!"

Upon realizing the butler's intentions, Ye Qingwu shouted, but by the time Leng Feng stepped forward, the butler had already fallen to the ground, lifeless, and hadn't even drawn his dagger.

Just as Leng Feng was about to go over to check on the man, Ye Qingwu shouted.

"Don't go there!"

The next second, a large amount of black mist appeared around the butler's body. Those who had experienced this were horrified and took several steps back.