The Black Tiger was pulled to the side to have his hair plucked.
He wailed and begged for mercy.
This man had been entrenched in Black Wind Stronghold for a year, a notorious bandit leader in the surrounding areas. Now, he seemed to be nothing special.
Ying Xiao emerged from Black Wind Stronghold, dragging a man covered in wounds.
This man was around thirty years old. From his neck down, his entire back was covered in tattoos. Yet, when he spoke, there was a hint of timidity.
Clearly, he hadn't been a bandit for long.
Su Yunmo knew this was likely the reason Ye Jingyu had come here.
Ye Jingyu: "His name is Sun Yi. Ten years ago, he served as a second-rank official in the imperial court and was quite favored by His Majesty. Five years ago, he committed a crime and was convicted. This King has been searching for him."
"I don't know, I don't know anything!" Sun Yi screamed as he was pinned to the ground, his eyes filled with fear and panic.
He had escaped for five years, being hunted all this time. Everyone around him had been killed. He had barely managed to escape with his life, and he couldn't be captured and taken back now!
He would die! Those people would definitely come!
Ying Xiao's eyes were bloodshot as he kicked Sun Yi to the ground.
"You don't know? Wasn't it you who reported Duke Ying for colluding with the enemy back then? Over a hundred lives from the Duke Ying's mansion, all died because of you!"
The mention of 'Duke Ying' sent a tremor through Su Yunmo's body.
She had heard about Duke Ying's affair; it had caused quite a stir back then.
Ying Zhao was the only surviving imperial descendant of the previous dynasty. When the late Emperor was still alive, En Kuan had raised him in the palace.
He had grown up with the current Emperor, and they had a close relationship. Upon ascending the throne, the Emperor had conferred upon him the title of Duke Ying. He had also fought on the borders for years, achieving numerous military merits.
Until four years ago, when he was suddenly reported for colluding with the enemy. Correspondence with the enemy was found in Duke Ying's mansion. The Emperor, in his rage, had him imprisoned.
Unexpectedly, before the case could even be tried, he committed suicide in prison, fearing punishment.
The once illustrious Duke Ying's mansion became a place that people spoke of with dread overnight.
From the officially appointed heir to the humble maids and servants, everyone in the mansion was executed.
Sun Yi knelt on the ground, kowtowing desperately, "Please, let me go. I was just following orders when I reported Duke Ying for colluding with the enemy. I can't say anything, or I will die a terrible death!"
Ying Xiao grabbed his neck, his eyes full of murderous intent, "If you don't speak, I'll make you suffer terribly right now!"
Su Yunmo narrowed her eyes. Although she hadn't known Ying Xiao for long, he wasn't someone who easily lost his temper.
Suddenly, a hidden arrow shot out, heading straight for Sun Yi.
Su Yunmo's eyes sharpened. Before she could react, Ye Jingyu raised his hand and caught it in mid-air.
With a 'crack,' the hidden arrow broke into two pieces.
Su Yunmo's brow furrowed fiercely. This hidden arrow was identical to the one that had killed Black Bee that night!
"My Lord, he has committed suicide!" Qian Xue exclaimed.
Sun Yi lay on the ground, spitting black blood.
Qian Xue stepped forward to check his pulse: "It's potent poison!"
"Get back." Su Yunmo bent down and waved her hand, taking out silver needles from her glazed lock.
Her abilities had recovered somewhat. Although she couldn't use them extensively yet, she could still use them to heal injuries through the silver needles.
Her hands moved like dancing flowers, inserting the needles with extreme speed.
Her abilities flowed continuously into the silver needles.
Su Yunmo gradually felt a buildup of pressure in her chest.
Qian Xue, who had been pressing on Sun Yi's wrist, exclaimed in surprise, "My Lord, the person has been saved!"
Su Yunmo's brow furrowed. She quickly withdrew her abilities, pulled out all the silver needles, and then took out a pill from her pocket and placed it in his mouth.
"Guard him carefully. He will wake up within a day, but do not interrogate him."
To make someone who was barely clinging to life prefer death over revealing the truth, what kind of power was involved behind this matter!
She was becoming increasingly curious about the truth of this affair.
Seeing that she could save someone who had seemingly died from poison, Qian Xue was filled with admiration. She quickly ordered someone to take Sun Yi away.
Su Yunmo felt a probing gaze on her. She looked up and met Ying Xiao's complicated eyes.
But Ying Xiao quickly averted his gaze, though the doubt in his eyes deepened.
For some reason, he felt that the way this young lady had inserted the needles just now was somewhat familiar.
"Alright, it's getting late, we should head back." Ye Jingyu picked up the child and started down the mountain.
The imperial guards also retreated.
Shortly after they left, a figure in blue and green leaped up the mountain.
Lin Lang searched everywhere but found no one on the mountain. She frowned, worried.
She had clearly sensed her young master's power fluctuations, so why was there no one here?
Her gaze fell on the two halves of a snake on the ground, and she sighed.
If it were a live snake, she could have learned everything that had happened here. But now, it was useless.
"Young Master, where exactly are you?"
On the way back to the capital, Su Yunmo asked about Sun Yi.
Ye Jingyu didn't answer directly, only telling her, "Now you are a member of the Su family, not a Lin. That is a good thing."
Su Yunmo wanted to ask more, but he closed his mouth and said no more.
Perhaps he didn't need to admit it himself; that hidden arrow had already said enough.
Upon returning to the mansion, Su Yunmo lay on her bed, lost in thought.
"Ziyuan, do you know about Duke Ying who was accused of treason four years ago?"
When she suddenly asked this, Ziyuan was startled: "Why is my mistress asking about this out of the blue?"
Ziyuan sighed, "Duke Ying was renowned back then. The Emperor relied on him, and the officials supported him. He held great power and prestige. Who wouldn't know?"
It was a pity that he had taken a wrong step and met such an end.
Su Yunmo furrowed her brows, "Colluding with the enemy and treason? Would someone so beloved and respected, and so highly regarded by the Emperor, truly commit treason?"
Ziyuan was astonished: "Does my mistress suspect he was framed?"
Back then, although the Emperor had his doubts and disbelief, after thorough investigation, the evidence was conclusive. Duke Ying had indeed been in contact with the enemy country, intending to achieve something.
Su Yunmo shook her head, rubbing her temples with a headache.
She wasn't sure herself. Theoretically, Sun Yi was just a former criminal. His words might not be entirely credible.
But she trusted Ye Jingyu. Since Ye Jingyu was involved in investigating this matter, it meant that Duke Ying's case was definitely problematic.
But how was this case related to Consort Liang's adultery?
"Consort Liang was confined to the cold palace for adultery. Do you know who the person she committed adultery with was?"
Ziyuan shook her head: "This is a secret matter within the palace. At the time, the Emperor also intended to issue a decree to prevent this matter from being spread."
"Go and investigate." Su Yunmo felt that this matter was not as simple as it seemed.
Ziyuan bowed and went out.
Not long after she left, Lvluo entered from outside.
A letter had arrived from the palace stating that the autumn hunt would take place in three days, and all imperial relatives and high-ranking officials were invited to participate, with families allowed to accompany them.
The General's mansion was also on the list for the autumn hunt, and Su Yunmo was expected to attend.
She agreed to this, temporarily setting aside her current tasks.
The royal autumn hunt was held at the Hunting Palace.
They needed to arrive the night before the spring hunt. They could travel with the imperial carriage or by their own carriage.
The General's mansion had many children.
On the day of the autumn hunt, Su Qingtian used the mansion's carriage and took his four children. They played and laughed all the way, only arriving at the Hunting Palace when it was dark.