Your Highness, please stop chasing me.

Chen Li never dreamed that Mu Xue would have such a strong aura, no less than that of the Regent.

Chen Li panicked and hurriedly explained, "Fifth Miss, it's really not that I let the news slip. I only found out it was your courtyard after the fire! Your Highness, you must believe me!"

Ye Shangyuan said calmly, "Whether I believe you or not is not important. If my queen does not forgive me, I cannot control that."

Chen Li was stunned. When did the Regent get a queen? How come he hadn't received any news? He quickly realized what was going on. He looked at Mu Xue, who was scolding Ye Shangyuan with her eyes, and then saw Ye Shangyuan with a fawning look in his eyes. He instantly understood.

Chen Li, who was already kneeling, instantly collapsed to the ground, slumping weakly. Suddenly, he turned to look at Mu Xue, kowtowed heavily to her, and said in a trembling voice, "Fifth Miss, in the Jiang family case, Mo Shijie was determined to frame you. I tried to dissuade him, but I was just a lowly official with little influence."

Mu Xue stared coldly at Chen Li, and Ye Shangyuan didn't tell him to get up.

Finally, Mu Sheng feigned a cough to clear his throat and said, "Lord Chen, this is going to be too much of a burden on my sister. You should kneel before the Prince!"

Chen Li dared not stand up. He quickly waved his hand and said, "No, no, no, it's fine for me to kneel, it's fine to kneel."

At this moment, Ye Shangyuan finally spoke, saying, "Alright, get up and talk to me."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li stood up shakily, stepped aside, and waited for a reply.

Mu Xue saw Chen Li standing still before she spoke, “Lord Chen, the Jiang family case was deliberately framed by Mo Shijie. The young marquis has already investigated this matter, and I also have other evidence to prove that the Jiang family’s affairs have nothing to do with me. What I need to know now is how Mo Shijie found out about my whereabouts.”

Chen Li wiped his forehead before saying, "I once heard Mo Shijie say that you, Fifth Miss, were informed of your whereabouts by the Prince Consort."

"Mo Cheng'an? He hasn't been in Yu Nan City for more than half a year. How did he know my whereabouts?" Mu Xue asked, puzzled.

"This, this..." Chen Li hesitated, looking at Ye Shangyuan, then at Mu Qinghe. He stammered and couldn't answer.

Ye Shangyuan slammed down his teacup and glanced at Chen Li.

The sound startled Chen Li, who immediately realized his predicament. He stopped stammering and quickly replied, "I really don't know! However, I do know that someone recently sent a secret letter to the capital via the official road. Soon after, Mo Shijie approached me to arrange for some people to enter and leave the city. At the time, I didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the Prince Jing's residence, so I didn't inquire about their purpose."

After listening to Chen Li's words, Mu Xue was basically certain that the fire in Shenjing Alley was orchestrated by Mo Shijie.

Her face was icy cold, and she exuded a chilling aura, as if a great hatred was about to overwhelm her.

Ye Shangyuan suddenly called out to Mu Xue, "Mu Mu!" It was this call that gradually brought Mu Xue back to her senses.

She turned to look at Ye Shangyuan in a daze and asked, "What's wrong with me?"

"Perhaps you've been too tired these past few days. Why don't you go back and get some rest? I'll handle the rest," Ye Shangyuan comforted him.

Mu Qinghe and Mu Sheng, who witnessed the entire transformation of Mu Xue, stared at her in disbelief. They were speechless at the same time, feeling their throats tighten and their hearts feel heavy.

Mu Qinghe had never known that Mu Xue's aura was so strong.

Mu Sheng was stunned. His impression of Mu Xue was still that of a weak and delicate little sister who needed protection.

Chen Li was so shocked by Mu Xue's aura that he almost knelt down again.

Ye Shangyuan turned to Chen Li and asked, "Did you bring the evidence of Mo Shijie's crimes that you mentioned?"

Chen Li nodded vigorously, pulling out a ledger as he spoke. He hurriedly said, "I brought it. I've always kept this ledger with me. Please take a look, Your Highness."

Ye Shangyuan took it, carefully opened it, and began to examine it.

The ledger wasn't thick, but it recorded every single evil deed Mo Shijie had committed in Yu Nan City, some of which were truly astonishing.

Ye Shangyuan slammed the ledger shut on the coffee table and let out a cold snort. His voice was icy as he said, "That beast! Chen Li, you're really something! All these years, you've helped Mo Shijie cover up so many cases. Are you trying to become local tyrants in Yu Nan City?"

Chen Li was so frightened that he knelt down with a thud. He cried out, "Your Highness, I was truly coerced by Mo Shijie! I had no choice! Your Highness, spare my life!"

Mu Qinghe had no connection with Chen Li, but he knew his character well. So, Mu Qinghe said, "Your Highness, the most important thing right now is to find out whether what is written in this ledger is true, and whether Mo Shijie and Mo Cheng'an have a bigger conspiracy. As Lord Chen said, he is a low-ranking official with little influence. Why don't you deal with it later, Your Highness?"

Mu Xue suddenly spoke up, "Ye Shangyuan, if the fire in Shenjing Alley was caused by Mo Shijie, could Su Su be in his hands?"

Upon hearing Mu Xue's question, Ye Shangyuan also considered this possibility.

His gaze was fixed on Chen Li, who was kneeling on the ground, and he asked in a cold voice, "Chen Li, after the fire in Shenjing Lane, did Mo Shijie come looking for you?"

Chen Li dared not delay and hurriedly nodded in reply, "Yes, yes, yes. I contacted Mo Shijie that very night, and he asked me to close the case quickly and not cause any more trouble."

"So you also know whether he took anyone with him out of Shenjing Alley?" Mu Xue asked eagerly.

Chen Li hesitated for a moment, thought for a while, and then answered seriously: "Now that Miss Wu has asked, I do recall that when Mo Shijie came, there was indeed another carriage following behind his, which was heavily guarded by guards. However, I cannot be sure whether it was someone brought out of Shenjing Lane."

Mu Xue and Ye Shangyuan exchanged a glance. It seemed that Su Su and perhaps Wang Heping were probably in the other carriage.

Having asked all the necessary questions, Ye Shangyuan waved his hand and said to Chen Li, "You go back first. I will deal with Prince Jing's heir, Mo Shijie, first. As for you, we'll see how you perform later."

Upon hearing this, Chen Li quickly stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I will take my leave now."

Chen Li walked out shakily. As soon as he was out of Ye Shangyuan's sight, his legs went weak. If Mu An hadn't been there to support him, Chen Li would have collapsed to the ground.

Mu An called out, "Lord Chen, be careful!"

Chen Li chuckled and said, "It's alright, it's alright."

However, she did not let go of Mu An's hand, and let him help her out of the Mu residence.