Ye Lingyuan left Luoyu Pavilion and was about to return to the Underworld King's manor when his expression suddenly changed, and he turned to race towards Qingyuan Mountain.
This was tough on Qingyu, the deputy commander of the dark guards who had rushed to pick him up.
As early as dusk, Qingyu had received news from Qingfeng – the Prince had been ambushed at Wuli Slope.
His face changed drastically, and he immediately dispatched his troops, rushing to Wuli Slope. However, he only found the heavily injured Qingfeng and traces of battle, with no sign of Ye Lingyuan at all.
Qingfeng was unconscious, and Emperor Ye Moyuan was keeping a close watch on the manor. Qingyu could only send out dark guards to secretly search for Ye Lingyuan's whereabouts.
The Prince's disappearance was no small matter. For a full two hours, the worry and torment in his heart could only be imagined.
Finally, when his subordinate brought the news that Ye Lingyuan had been found, just coming out of Zifu, he rushed over in a hurry, fearing any further mishaps.
When he saw Ye Lingyuan outside the Zifu gate, the stone in his heart finally settled. But before he could step forward to greet him, he saw Ye Lingyuan turn and head towards Qingyuan Mountain.
He hurriedly left a message for Qinglei and Qingdian, who were guarding the manor, and then circulated his spiritual energy to chase after him.
In the hot spring of the mountaintop villa on Qingyuan Mountain, Ye Lingyuan let out low growls from his throat.
Seated cross-legged in the hot spring, his eyes glowed with an eerie red light, as if he were a beast about to lose his mind. A dangerous aura emanated from his entire body.
Although he appeared to be in extreme pain, his face remained expressionless.
It turned out that it was the full moon night, the day when Moon Glaze acted up.
When he was in Luoyu Pavilion, because Zi Linling was present, Ye Lingyuan hadn't felt anything unusual. But the moment he left Luoyu Pavilion, Moon Glaze lost the suppression of its natural enemy and began to stir rapidly within his body.
Qingyu, and later Qinglei and Qingdian, watched the trembling figure with their eyes filled with heartache and anxiety. The knuckles of their clenched fists were white, yet they desperately suppressed a certain kind of resentment.
Everyone thought Ye Lingyuan was the supreme Underworld King, but only they had witnessed their master endure inhumane torture time and time again!
This situation lasted for a whole night, until dawn, when Ye Lingyuan, utterly exhausted, returned to the bedroom of the villa.
Fortunately, the entire Qingyuan Mountain was under his control, built by him like an iron fortress.
Qingdian, hidden in the shadows, watched the direction of the bedroom, her eyes quickly brewing with unspoken emotions.
Of the four, she was the only woman. A woman in the prime of her life, spending all day with an outstanding man like Ye Lingyuan, it was impossible not to have any feelings.
"Who do you think attacked the Prince today?"
Qing Lei nudged Qingyu with his elbow and asked.
"If nothing unexpected happened, it should be someone from that person's faction."
As Qingyu spoke, his gaze seemed to pierce through space, looking towards the most noble place in Darknight City.
"Alas, I heard that when you found the Prince, he was wearing women's clothes?"
The gossip in Qing Lei's eyes was growing. He was the most gossipy of the four, without exception.
Qingyu shot him a glare and did not answer.
"You know, the Prince never allowed women to get close to him, so how could he be wearing women's clothes?"
Qingyu's gaze swept over Qingdian subtly, and he sternly reprimanded, "Qing Lei, you've gotten too bold, haven't you? Are the Master's affairs something you can discuss?"
Although he was reprimanding, he subtly gestured with his mouth towards Qingdian, in a way that only Qing Lei could see.
The four of them, Feng, Yu, Lei, and Dian, had worked together for many years and shared an extraordinary tacit understanding.
Seeing Qingyu's reaction, Qing Lei immediately understood and wisely shut his mouth.
Qingdian naturally heard the conversation between the two, and a hint of sourness inexplicably rose in her heart. At the same time, she felt a surge of jealousy towards the woman she had never met.
"Come to the study!"
Ye Lingyuan's voice, imbued with spiritual energy, rang out.
The three exchanged glances and quickly appeared before Ye Lingyuan.
Ye Lingyuan sat at the desk, his fingers tapping the tabletop rhythmically, exuding a commanding aura.
His hearing was exceptionally sharp, and he had heard Qingyu and Qing Lei's entire conversation.
It seemed that he had given them too little to do, leaving them too idle. He needed to find something for them to occupy themselves with.
"How is Qingfeng?"
Although he did not specify who should answer, his gaze fell on Qingyu.
"Imperial Physician Xue has examined him and said his injuries are severe. He is not confident and has asked to invite someone from Medicine King Valley. Before I arrived, the steward had already sent a visiting card. His wet nurse is taking care of him."
"Good! Until Qingfeng wakes up, you will temporarily handle all matters!"
"Yes!"
Ye Lingyuan's gaze turned to Qingdian, his expression growing cold. "How long have you been with this Prince?"
Qingdian was taken aback, not understanding why he would suddenly ask this, but she answered truthfully, "Three years."
"Three years? Hmm, which means you have been in charge of Ye Chi for three years?"
Ye Chi was the foremost intelligence organization in Tianqi Kingdom, founded by Ye Lingyuan himself.
"Yes!"
"This incident..."
"Your Highness, I beg your pardon! I have failed in my duty!"
Qingdian knelt on the ground in fear.
The delayed intelligence had led to Ye Lingyuan falling into a trap. Thinking about it now still made her heart pound.
Seeing this, Qingyu quickly knelt down and said, "Your Highness, this cannot be blamed on Qingdian. I beg Your Highness to forgive her!"
Qing Lei also knelt down, saying, "I beg Your Highness to forgive Qingdian!"
Ye Lingyuan frowned. Given the status of that person, it was easy for them to deliberately conceal a few individuals and prevent them from being discovered.
"Since they are pleading for you, I will not pursue this mistake further. Go to the punishment room and receive thirty lashes yourself!"
Thirty lashes! A look of terror flashed across Qingyu and Qing Lei's faces.
These thirty lashes were not from ordinary whips, but from spirit snake whips, which had barbs. Let alone Qingdian, even the two of them, strong men, would be flayed.
Qingdian couldn't help but shiver, but she also knew that given the mistake she had made this time, this was already the lightest punishment.
She respectfully kowtowed and said, "Thank you, Your Highness! I will go and receive my punishment now!"
Saying this, she was about to get up and withdraw.
Ye Lingyuan let out a cold shout, "Come back!"
Qingdian paused, surprised, and stopped in her tracks.
Ye Lingyuan took an envelope from the table and handed it to her. "Within one hour, I want to see all the intelligence regarding this person. Remember! All of it." Su Dan Novel Network
"Yes! I will go and do it now!"
Watching Qingdian retreat, Ye Lingyuan said to Qingyu, "You go down too!"
"Yes! I bid farewell!"
Qingyu responded respectfully, bowed, and withdrew.
He quickly caught up with Qingdian and blocked her path. Only then did he discover that there was a trace of tears on Qingdian's face.
Qingyu sighed, "Alas, it's best not to have certain thoughts from the beginning. The Prince is not someone anyone can covet!"