After being reborn, I hugged the villainous boss tightly.

After Ye Qizheng's home was searched, he was taken to the Hall of Supreme Harmony, bound hand and foot.

Looking at the emperor glaring at him in the hall, he shrugged dismissively.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean by this?"

The emperor, with a cold look in his eyes, threw the memorial on the table at his feet.

"You colluded with bandits, illegally mined silver, and bought and sold official positions. These crimes alone are enough to warrant your death several times over. How dare you ask me what I mean!"

Ye Qi glanced indifferently at the memorials at his feet, showing no fear on his face, then lifted his foot and walked step by step up the stairs to the hall, his aura emanating a dangerous aura.

"..."

The emperor stared blankly as he walked up to him. For some reason, he felt a little scared, but he tried his best to remain calm for the sake of his reputation.

Ye Qi looked down at him and saw his eyes twitch with fear. He sneered, "Who do you think you are? You are able to sit in this position today because of me. Without me, you would just be a lowly prince whom no one knows!"

The old grievances were brought up again, and the emperor's face stiffened with anger.

"How dare you, Ye Qizheng! You dare to provoke the imperial authority? Aren't you afraid I will punish you?"

"Do you dare to punish me?" Ye Qizheng said indifferently.

The emperor was so enraged by his words that he lost all reason. He had originally thought that he could spare Ye Qizheng's life out of consideration for Ye Qizheng's past help, but he never expected him to be so courting death.

He waved his hand dismissively: "Take Ye Qizheng to the imperial prison and execute him on a chosen day!"

"..."

A look of surprise flashed across Ye Qizheng's eyes. He fiercely raised his hand to grab the emperor, but fortunately, he was chained up, and the guards beside him quickly stepped forward to stop him.

The emperor was initially afraid that he would go mad, but seeing that he had been subdued, he continued to speak triumphantly.

"To tell you the truth, I knew about your affairs a long time ago. I just used Ye Zhuxi to get rid of you!"

……

Fu Jingyuan was blindfolded and led to a dark and damp cave. Only after entering the cave was the blindfold removed.

He looked up at everything that was unfamiliar, frowned, and stopped in his tracks.

"This is where?"

The eunuch behind him chuckled dryly, his face pale: "It's nothing, just go in. Miss Ye is waiting for you inside!"

When Ye Zhuxi was mentioned, Fu Jingyuan's suspicions eased, and he continued walking forward.

The further he went in, the stronger the stench became. It seemed to have lingered there for a long time, and mixed with the damp smell of the cave, it was extremely pungent.

Ye Zhuxi could never be here!

By the time he realized it, it was too late. He turned around and saw that the little eunuch who had been following him was gone. The road behind him was a maze of paths, completely dark...

"Ahhh~"

"Don't eat me!"

Just as he was about to turn back, a heart-wrenching scream suddenly came from below. He looked down.

Below, a large group of disheveled people were seen scrambling for something, all rushing towards one spot.

He looked closely and saw a bloody object being thrown out. Immediately, someone ran over, picked it up, and put it in their mouth...

After seeing clearly what the person was eating, Fu Jingyuan felt his stomach churning and almost vomited.

After finishing his meal, the man licked the blood off his hands. He felt a gaze fixed on him from above and looked up.

Upon seeing that it was a fair-skinned and clean-cut person, he grinned as if he had spotted something delicious...

After that, the people below also noticed his presence and looked up.

……

As soon as the news of Ye Qizheng's punishment came out, the factions in the court immediately changed, from the original three factions to two.

Ye Xiaoran's great contribution this time made the Crown Prince's faction envious.

Some even whispered behind his back that he had a secret affair with Miss Ye from the General's Mansion, and that their relationship was improper.

When these words reached Ye Xiaoran's ears, he was not angry. Instead, he casually waved his hand and said, "Let them talk. There are too many foul-mouthed people, and we can't control them."

Upon hearing this, Mu Zichen was slightly taken aback. He was somewhat shocked. Just now, when Ye Zhuxi was mentioned, the Third Prince actually smiled. This smile was different from the previous one, which was full of scheming. It was a genuine smile from the heart.

Ye Xiaoran thought for a moment, then instructed him, "Have someone inform Ye Zhuxi that my eyesight has improved, so there's no need for her to bring medicine over every day!"

"Yes!"

"Miss Ye, you really can't go in! Without the Emperor's order, no one is allowed to see Fu Jingyuan!"

"The Emperor broke his promise and not only didn't let my elder brother go, but now he won't even allow me to visit him!!"

Ignoring the eunuch who raised his hand to stop her, Ye Zhuxi walked step by step toward the prison.

When she arrived at the cell where Fu Jingyuan was being held, she didn't see him. She gritted her teeth in anger and grabbed the eunuch behind her by the collar.

"Where did you take my elder brother?"

"I...I don't know..." The little eunuch's trembling eyes darted around, and he said in a frightened whisper.

Ye Zhuxi had previously killed the old Marquis's right-hand man with a hairpin at the Marquis's residence. This was a well-known story, and the little eunuch was afraid that if he accidentally angered this young lady, he would be slit in the throat.

"Will you talk or not?" Ye Zhuxi tightened her grip, her fingers turning slightly white.

"I really...don't...don't know. Miss, you can ask Eunuch Li. He...he might know!"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhuxi immediately let go of his hand, lifted her skirt, turned around, and quickly left.

"Eunuch Li!"

Just as Li Si had issued the imperial edict ordering Ye Qizheng's execution and was about to leave, he heard Ye Zhuxi's voice coming from afar.

Knowing why she had come to find him, he immediately turned and tried to run away.

"Li Si, you stop right there!"

How could Ye Zhuxi let him escape? She ran over, grabbed him, and shouted, "Where did you take my older brother?!"

Li Si still tried to fool Ye Zhuxi: "How would I know where Fu Jingyuan went? Hasn't he been in the Heavenly Prison the whole time?"

Don't give me that!

Ye Zhuxi's eyes reddened with anxiety. She gripped Li Si tightly, her face cold: "Will you talk or not!"

Seeing her frantic state, Li Si was somewhat frightened. He swallowed hard and said, "At Qinghu..."

"What?" Ye Zhuxi was a little confused.

Li Si repeated himself: "The Emperor has ordered Fu Jingyuan to be taken to Qinghu!"

"Qinghu..."

Upon hearing the name again, Ye Zhuxi loosened her grip, her hand that had been tightly clutching Li Si's clothes fell to the ground, and she muttered in disbelief.

Seeing her look utterly hopeless, Li Si quietly backed away.

"...Fu Jingyuan, you can't be hurt!"

Li Si felt as if a figure flashed past his eyes, and Ye Zhuxi, who was originally standing to the side, had already run quickly towards Qinghu.

He felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of that terrifying place.

"Miss Ye, it's dangerous there, don't act rashly!"