The head steward was slightly stunned, then immediately reacted and couldn't help but smile wryly, "Sir Ye suspects that I'm falsely reporting information, to their detriment? That's a terrible misunderstanding. I have no grievances with those two, and they are guests of His Seventh Highness. How would I dare be disrespectful?"

"...So, they really haven't returned?"

"Yes! I guarantee it with my life. If those two are in the manor, I'm willing to offer my head!"

The head steward had a firm expression. Having said this much, even if Fang Yue still had a trace of doubt in his heart, he wouldn't say anything more.

Then things were troublesome.

At this hour, those two hadn't returned. Could it be...

"Xiao Ye, don't panic. This is the capital. The security of the capital is much better than in our Guyue Village. Not many people should dare to cause trouble in the capital. Besides, Jingyan and the others are new to the capital and haven't offended anyone. Nothing should happen."

That's what he said, but the problem was... he had quite a few enemies, and they might have been affected.

Fang Yue felt uneasy. He paced back and forth a few steps, then suddenly looked up.

"I'm going out to find them."

"Sir Ye, you mustn't! Tomorrow you are to enter the palace to have an audience with the Emperor. If you go out at this time and miss the hour or something unexpected happens, all of us in the manor, high and low, will be questioned and sentenced to death!"

Fang Yue wanted to say, "What does that have to do with me?" but the words reached his lips and he held back.

After all, the head steward was innocent, and the hundreds of servants in the Seventh Prince's manor were also innocent.

"Don't worry, I'll be back on time."

"The capital has been quite turbulent lately. It's not as simple as Sir Ye saying you'll be back on time... How about this, Sir Ye? I'll take people out to help you find them. You stay in the manor and wait for news, okay?"

"You?"

Fang Yue looked at the head steward, feeling somewhat uneasy.

At this moment, Lin Ling suddenly spoke.

"Let me go! Let me take people to find them!"

The two of them turned to look at Lin Ling. Fang Yue hesitated for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "That's still not appropriate. If something happens to both Jingyan and Qingchen, then I'll only have you by my side. Nothing can happen to you!"

To Fang Yue, Lin Ling wasn't just Lin Ling, but also the hope for Lord Han's resurrection! He absolutely couldn't allow anything to happen to Lin Ling!

"Then what do you want, Xiao Ye? You don't trust the head steward, and you can't go out yourself, and you won't let me go out. Then who else can go out to find them! If they're in danger, then every second counts! The later we find them, the greater the chance of their demise!"

Fang Yue clenched his fist.

"I'll still go! You stay..."

"Let me take people to find them."

Before Fang Yue could finish speaking, a voice suddenly interrupted him from afar.

Fang Yue was stunned and looked in the direction of the voice. It was actually...

"Tian Ruichi?!"

Fang Yue and Lin Ling both revealed expressions of joy at the same time.

"Lord Tian!"

The head steward respectfully saluted.

"I've heard the servants talking about what happened, Brother Ye. This is my territory. Letting something happen to guests after they've come to the capital is my responsibility. Don't worry, I'll bet my head that I'll safely bring those two back!"

"...Alright! I trust you!"

Fang Yue still had some trust in Tian Ruichi.

After all, everyone had gone through life and death together on the Cold River Giant Ship, and that friendship was still there.

When Fang Yue asked Tian Ruichi why he was so late in returning, Tian Ruichi revealed a wry smile.

"With matters of the court, even a simple report has many procedures to go through. Even though I'm a confidant of His Seventh Highness, many things still have to go through the process. I'm already considered fast. If it were an ordinary official, it might take seven or eight days to get things reported."

Tian Ruichi wasn't lying. After so many years of development, many drawbacks had begun to emerge in Qing Country.

Bloated, cumbersome, corrupt...

This was the Qing Country of today, only relying on absolute rule, deep-rooted traditions of thousands of years, and accumulated wealth to steadily occupy the throne and not reveal any signs of decline.

With Tian Ruichi's help, Fang Yue was naturally relieved, and there was no need for Lin Ling to go out and take risks.

As a confidant of the Seventh Prince, Tian Ruichi could mobilize more personnel with greater strength, so naturally it was safer.

Carrying a person-soul lamp resembling a paper lantern, Tian Ruichi left the Seventh Prince's manor with a group of guards carrying sabers.

When things happened, many times, waiting was the most agonizing.

When Lin Ling was distraught, he liked to practice martial arts. His spear techniques were improving day by day, and his strength was also steadily increasing.

Fang Yue felt that the day he would pass on the inheritance to Lin Ling wouldn't be too far away.

As for himself, he casually sat down next to Lin Ling and began to cultivate.

Perhaps because his cultivation progress had been leaping forward like a song of triumph these past few days.

Fang Yue felt that his foundation was somewhat unstable and needed to calm down and accumulate more experience.

In addition, the loss of news from Jingyan and Qingchen also made Fang Yue feel a little distraught.

He circulated the Ice凝心 Bingxin mental cultivation method, allowing himself to gradually calm down and wholeheartedly immerse himself in cultivation.

Cultivation knows no time. When the first rays of morning light shone down, Fang Yue opened his eyes.

Under the morning sun, Lin Ling was still waving his spear, drenched in sweat.

And looking past Lin Ling, the head steward and others were kneeling not far away, seemingly for some time now.

"The hour has arrived. Please, Sir Ye, bathe and change your clothes to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor!"

Scanning his surroundings, Fang Yue's expression turned cold.

He didn't see Tian Ruichi in the crowd, nor did he see... Qingchen and Jingyan.

"After the audience with the Emperor, I need an explanation! No matter who's behind this, I'll make them pay the price!"

The dancing spear stopped its movements, Lin Ling's gaze was cold, and his muscles rose and fell with his breathing.

"The Seven Great Medical Pavilions, I'll choose three."

"Wait for me to come back, we'll go together!"

"Okay."

Bathing, changing clothes, leaving the manor, getting into the sedan.

Fang Yue closed his eyes to rest, waiting to enter the palace for an audience with the Emperor.

Having only entered the capital for two days, Qingchen, Jingyan, and even Tian Ruichi had successively disappeared.

Behind this, someone must be manipulating things, plotting something!

The power within Fang Yue's body was itching to move.

It's been... too long since I've killed someone, I almost forgot how thirsty my Bizarre Realm is!

The muscles on his back silently squirmed twice, slightly arching into a small bulge.

The whites of his eyes gradually turned black, starting to spread...

"Sir Ye, the Hall of Civil and Military Affairs has arrived. Please get out of the sedan and wait for the summons."

The black faded, and his back returned to calm.

Fang Yue calmed down.

It's not time yet. When I meet the person behind the scenes, I'll let them know how terrifying the consequences of provoking me will be!

Lifting the curtain, Fang Yue got out of the sedan.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, someone came running up and shouted.

"Summon, Ye Baiyi, to enter the Hall of Civil and Military Affairs for an audience with the Emperor!"

"Yes!"

Fang Yue saluted, and then stepped forward.

Passing through the gate, at the end of the wide, enormous square was the Hall of Civil and Military Affairs.