Madam Huo II could barely listen. She supported Huo Ziyin and said coldly, "Yu Xi, our families are old friends. My husband helped you a lot when you opened your academy in the capital. Isn't it going too far for you to slander Ziyin like this?"
Lan Yu Xi smiled, a smile like a blooming poppy.
"Madam Huo II, you are right. If it weren't for our families being old friends, and if Old Master Huo hadn't helped me, do you think your daughter would still be standing here unharmed?"
Madam Huo II's face paled, and her voice grew colder. "You've gone too far with that! Yes, Ziyin likes Nan Xiao, but she hasn't done anything out of line to him. Is it illegal to admire someone? Or are you the judge, deciding everyone's fate?"
Lan Yu Xi glanced at her coldly, then her gaze fell on Old Master Huo.
Old Master Huo clutched his chest, saying nothing, but the anger in his eyes enraged Lan Yu Xi.
"Old Master Huo, if you think the same way, then I have nothing more to say. Today, I'm giving you face and not arguing with Huo Ziyin. But if she dares to have any more wicked thoughts, don't blame me for being impolite!"
As soon as Lan Yu Xi finished speaking, Old Master Huo collapsed in extreme pain.
Lan Yu Xi froze, then flashed to his side. "Old Master Huo..."
"Don't touch my father!" Mr. Huo II, who had been silent, reached out to stop her.
Lan Yu Xi said sternly, "If you want Old Master Huo to die like this, then keep blocking me!"
Mr. Huo II hesitated for a moment, then wearily lowered his hand.
A glint of ferocity flashed in Huo Ziyin's eyes. She broke free from her mother's embrace and reached out to stop Lan Yu Xi.
"You harmed my grandfather, we don't need your help..."
"Slap!" Lan Yu Xi slapped her away.
"Lan Yu Xi!" This time, Huo Ziyin didn't cover her face but lunged at Lan Yu Xi like a madwoman.
Lan Yu Xi flicked several golden needles, and Huo Ziyin froze in place, still in her lunging posture.
Madam Huo II's face turned ashen, and she questioned, "Lan Yu Xi, what are you doing?"
Lan Yu Xi gave her a cold look. "If you don't want to end up frozen like her, then behave! I'm starting to doubt if you are truly Old Master Huo's family. He's in this state, and you're not helping him, even blocking me from treating him. What are your intentions?"
Mr. Huo II lowered his head in shame at the accusation.
Lan Yu Xi crouched down, took Old Master Huo's pulse, and then inserted a few golden needles. Old Master Huo slowly opened his eyes.
"Yu Xi, I'm sorry. It's my poor upbringing that..." Old Master Huo closed his eyes in shame.
Lan Yu Xi finally understood that Old Master Huo was angry with Huo Ziyin, not with her.
Lan Yu Xi pursed her lips and beckoned for Eagle and Nan Yi.
"You two, help Old Master Huo up and take him to our place. I have something to say to him."
Seeing them help his father, Mr. Huo II looked at Lan Yu Xi anxiously. "Yu Xi..."
Lan Yu Xi glanced at him, then pulled out the golden needles from Huo Ziyin. She then said to Mr. Huo II, "Call Huo Ding and have him come over. You can all go back now."
Huo Ziyin shouted, "Dad, Lan Yu Xi is not a good person. You can't let her take Grandpa away!"
"Shut up!" Mr. Huo II roared at his daughter before taking out his phone and dialing.
Lan Yu Xi ignored them and returned to the Half-Mountain Villa with Old Master Huo.
Lan Hao Lin and Elder Duan were surprised to see Lan Yu Xi supporting Old Master Huo as they entered.
"What happened?" Lan Hao Lin asked, standing up.
"Nothing. I have something to discuss with Old Master Huo. Please continue your game of chess with Master," Lan Yu Xi said, escorting Old Master Huo directly to the study.
Upon entering the study, Lan Yu Xi produced a pill and handed it to Old Master Huo. "What I'm about to say might be difficult for you to accept. Please take this pill first."
Old Master Huo swallowed the pill without hesitation. "Tell me. I can handle it."
Lan Yu Xi pursed her lips. "Old Master Huo, Huo Ziyin is being controlled. She returned to the country with orders."
Old Master Huo startled. "Being controlled?"
Lan Yu Xi nodded. "She's a spy sent by Country Y."
Old Master Huo's face turned pale. "How is that possible..."
Lan Yu Xi reached out and smoothed his chest. "Please don't get agitated. This matter is absolutely true. If she hadn't suddenly taken a liking to my ninth junior brother, perhaps her identity could have remained hidden for a few more days."
Old Master Huo opened his mouth, and after a while, managed to speak. "That was before the new year. Why are you only telling me now? If she had done anything to harm the country, the sin would be great."
Lan Yu Xi said solemnly, "She didn't come back to gather intelligence this time. She's here to cause destruction."
Old Master Huo was astonished. "Destruction? What destruction?"
"To damage the relationship between the four major families and plunge China into an economic crisis. I wanted to use her to catch everyone on her network in one swoop, so I haven't cast the net yet."
Lan Yu Xi picked up a computer and opened a folder, placing it in front of Old Master Huo.
"Only Ming Zi Cheng and I know about this. I haven't even told Nan Xiao. Yesterday, that mischievous child Chao Chao was bored and started investigating Huo Ziyin. If he had dug any deeper, he might have alerted them."
Old Master Huo's hands trembled as he put on his reading glasses. After he had read all the evidence, he muttered, "How could this be? That girl is a bit arrogant, but she's not fundamentally bad."
"Her nature wasn't bad when she was young, but you have no idea what she did after going abroad. She became a spy because one of her bed partners was an agent from Country Y's intelligence agency."
Lan Yu Xi's eyes darkened. "Nan Xiao also has responsibility for her becoming this way. That's why I primarily didn't tell him. I wanted him to have a peaceful New Year."
Old Master Huo sighed. "That's not entirely true. Nan Xiao never made any promises or hints to her. She was the one who had unrequited feelings for him. Her current state is her own doing."
Lan Yu Xi looked at him with relief. "Old Master Huo, thank you for your understanding."
Old Master Huo sighed. "So, what you said earlier wasn't just out of anger, but the truth? That girl really has other men outside?"
Lan Yu Xi nodded, then opened another folder. "This is what Chao Chao found. She has twelve long-term partners, and those fleeting encounters... number over a hundred. I didn't say all those things out of anger today; I wanted to warn her, make her vigilant, and then have her contact her superiors. Only then can we close the net quickly."
After Lan Yu Xi finished speaking, Old Master Huo felt utterly disgusted. How could his Huo family have such a disgrace?
"What do you need me to do?"
"As expected of Old Master Huo, you know what I need without me having to say it."
Old Master Huo glared at her speechlessly. "Stop flattering me! Hurry up and tell me. This old heart of mine is about to give out."