The Emperor's heart is won, she sits on the Phoenix Throne! The Divine Physician's Eldest

The waiter noticed that the people around him looked a little off. He realized that he might have said too much and, fearing that he might be getting into trouble, he quickly changed the subject.

"Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guests. Just pretend you didn't hear what I said earlier, and don't take it to heart."

The waiter left after saying that.

"Princess, someone is spreading rumors about you and deliberately trying to smear you."

Hongshao was furious. "You have the common people in your heart, but in the end you are misunderstood by them and even cursed by them. When I catch these people who spread rumors, I will definitely tear them to pieces!"

Ting Han looked puzzled. "Princess, what does the fact that these people are spreading rumors about you have to do with the shop not having any business?"

"Eat first, and after you finish eating, go to town and ask around."

Song Siyao felt a chill in her heart. She had only been away from Da Zhou for a little over a month, and negative rumors about her were already flying everywhere.

After dinner, Tinghan led his men out to gather information, and they returned late at night.

“Princess, apart from the rumors that smear you, we haven’t found out anything useful,” Ting Han said.

The time was too short, and it was nighttime, making it inconvenient to search.

"Whose jurisdiction is this?" Song Siyao asked.

“This town is called Yushan Town, and it belongs to Pingyang County. The magistrate of Pingyang County is He Zhen, and this place is under his jurisdiction,” Ting Han said.

"Then let's start the investigation with He Zhen," Song Siyao instructed.

"Yes, Princess." Tinghan accepted the order.

"Go and rest, everyone. Tomorrow, Tinghan will lead a group to investigate He Zhen, and the rest of you will come back to the capital with me," Song Siyao said.

"Yes, princess."

Song Siyao's mission to escort Princess Qingyan back to Yan was a task assigned by the imperial court.

She brought the imperial army with her, and Ting Han and the others had been protecting her in secret.

Tinghan and the others only showed up on the way back.

The mission has now been successfully completed. Song Siyao only needs to bring the imperial troops back safely, while Ting Han and the others can go and carry out other missions.

The next day.

Following Song Siyao's orders, everyone performed their duties.

Two days later, late at night.

Song Siyao led her group through a forest, where they were now speeding along a forest path.

She rode her horse at the very front.

Suddenly, the horse she was riding let out a long neigh, fell to the ground, and its two front legs were broken and scattered to the side.

The instant the horse fell, Song Siyao had already taken to the air and flown to the side.

However, those who followed her were not so lucky.

Because Song Siyao was riding too fast, the people behind her fell off her horse before they could react.

Their horses fell down, and the men fell to the ground as well.

The horse was startled and went berserk, trampling on people and injuring several soldiers.

At the same time, a rain of arrows came from all directions, giving Song Siyao and his men no chance to catch their breath.

"Get down quickly!"

Song Siyao shouted, spinning in the air and wielding her sword to cut the incoming arrow.

However, it was nighttime, visibility was poor, and her men were scattered, so all the soldiers were injured in one fell swoop.

Only Hong Shao stood beside her, fighting alongside her.

"Princess, the arrow is poisoned!"

Hong Shao saw a soldier convulsing beside her.

Song Siyao took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom and tossed it to Hongshao, "Make them take the antidote!"

Hongshao took the medicine bottle to feed the soldiers the medicine, while Song Siyao shielded them from the arrows by herself.

After a short while, the rain of arrows stopped.

Countless masked men in black emerged from the woods and surrounded Song Siyao.

They carried gleaming broadswords, each exuding a murderous aura and a chilling presence.

At this moment, a man in black wearing a straw hat and a cloak emerged from behind the masked men.

He was tall and imposing. He walked straight to the opposite side of Song Siyao and began to applaud.

"I've heard that Princess Youfeng is highly skilled in martial arts, and seeing her today, I can confirm that her reputation is well-deserved."

The man in black sounded very weathered, probably in his forties or fifties.

But to Song Siyao, the person had deliberately changed their voice.

The man in black continued, "I deliberately set up an ambush here. I used silkworm silk to cut your horse's leg. It was pitch black, and arrows were coming from all directions, yet you were completely unharmed!"

"Who are you?" Song Siyao asked coldly.

She scrutinized the man closely. Although she couldn't see the man in black's face, she felt a strange sense of familiarity.

"Who I am is not important. What matters is that you will die by my hand." The man in black spoke coldly, his voice filled with intense killing intent.

"Want to kill me? We'll see if you have the ability!" Song Siyao's gaze was as cold as ice as he sneered, "But I bet you don't have the ability either. Hiding under your straw hat like a turtle hiding in the light, are you someone who can't stand the light?"

The last sentence the man in black heard seemed to pierce a sore spot, and he instantly flared up with rage.

He pointed his sword at Song Siyao, "Damn it! Today, I'll show you what it feels like to be arrogant!"

He drew his sword and flew towards Song Siyao, pointing it at her heart, and roared, "Song Siyao, you should have died more than ten years ago. Letting you live this long is already too good for you!"

Upon hearing these words, Song Siyao instantly understood where that sense of familiarity came from.

She drew her sword to block the sword in the black-clad man's hand and questioned him sharply, "Was it you who led the men to kill my entire family back then?"

“That’s right! It was me!” the man in black admitted. He asked, “But I’m curious about something. Back then, you were just an infant in swaddling clothes. How did you recognize me?”

"Even if you turn to ashes, I'll still recognize you!" Song Siyao's voice was filled with anger. "I've been looking for you for so many years, and you've delivered yourself to my doorstep! Tell me, why did you kill my whole family back then?"

"Your father deserves to die! Your whole family deserves to die! I never thought you'd be so lucky to survive!" Every word the man in black uttered was filled with intense hatred.

"It's all that Marquis of Zhenbei's fault! If it weren't for his meddling, your Fu family would have been wiped out long ago!"

"But it doesn't matter. Today, I'll make up for my mistake back then and send you down to reunite with your parents!"

After the man in black finished speaking, he launched another attack, this time even more fierce than before.