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In the courtyard lay several coffins, with only a thin old man sitting.

“The plague was first discovered here,” said Xiao Nanye.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Peihuan slowly walked into the courtyard.

As she approached the old man, Jiang Peihuan abruptly stopped, warning, “Don’t come over!”

Hearing her voice, everyone halted.

Jiang Peihuan quickly covered her face with her badge.

She looked at Xiao Nanye and the others, whispering, “Cover your faces. The clothes he’s wearing are the source of the infection.”

A grim expression flashed across Xiao Nanye’s face upon hearing this.

The old man, however, looked surprised after hearing Jiang Peihuan’s words. Although he quickly tried to mask it, he still asked feigning ignorance, “What do you mean by that?”

Jiang Peihuan didn’t respond to his question but pressed on, “Where did you get the clothes you’re wearing?”

The old man’s eyes darted. Though he tried to maintain a calm facade, Jiang Peihuan, who was watching him closely, caught the flicker of unease.

However, the old man defiantly replied, “These clothes are naturally mine, 1…”

“Nonsense!”

Interrupting him sharply, Jiang Peihuan coldly challenged, “Your family, though not starving, is still just an ordinary one. Yet the clothes you’re wearing are clearly made of fine cotton. Even in the capital, ordinary people can’t afford such fabric.”

“You claim these are your clothes. So, who made them for you? If you bought them, where did you buy them?”

With every word that Jiang Peihuan said, the old man’s expression became more flustered.

Suddenly, in a desperate move, the old man lunged at Jiang Peihuan. Xiao Nanye, always by her side, swiftly raised his leg and kicked him, sending him sprawling to the ground.

A token fell from the old man’s pocket. As he instinctively tried to retrieve it, Han Feng grabbed it first.

“Master, look at this,” Han Feng whispered, presenting the token to Xiao Nanye.

Upon examining the token, Xiao Nanye’s aura immediately turned ice-cold.

Jiang Peihuan, standing close to him, sensed the change in his demeanor. “What’s wrong?” she softly inquired.

Lowering his voice, Xiao Nanye murmured, “This token belongs to the Cining Palace.”

Hearing this, Jiang Peihuan’s face paled. “So, this plague was aimed at me.”

“How could she? As a… how can she play with the lives of the city’s citizens like this?” Anger flared in Jiang Peihuan’s eyes, but considering the person’s status, she restrained herself.

However, Xiao Nanye had no such reservations. Gazing at Jiang Peihuan, he coldly stated, “In her heart, as long as she achieves her goals, the lives of others mean nothing.”

When he said the last sentence, Xiao Nanye’s entire body was filled with a gloomy aura.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Peihuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy.

Having grown up in the imperial palace, Xiao Nanye had faced many dangers from a young age. Now, at least, he had the ability to protect himself. But Jiang Peihuan shuddered to think of what he might have faced as a child, defenseless.

She could hardly fathom the hardships he’d endured to survive until now.

Softly holding his hand, she whispered, “Don’t worry, Anzhou will be safe.”

Hearing her words, Xiao Nanye simply nodded.

Seeing Jiang Peihuan’s face still covered by the handkerchief, he quietly suggested, “We shouldn’t linger here. Let’s go.”

“Alright.”

“Master, how should we deal with this man?”

“Kill him,” came the cold reply from Xiao Nanye as Han Feng glanced at the old man lying on the ground.

After Jiang Peihuan left, a muffled sound echoed behind her. She didn’t utter a word. While the Great Empress Dowager was cruel, this old man was no saint either.

“Master, are we just going to let this matter go?”

Walking back, Han Feng couldn’t resist asking Xiao Nanye.

Holding Jiang Peihuan’s hand, Xiao Nanye coldly responded, “If she thinks she can threaten me, she will regret it. Send a message to the capital. Let our people handle it, starting by cutting off both of his hands.”

“Yes.”

“After that, send the ‘gift’ to the Cining Palace.”

“Yes.”

Han Feng, the chief of Xiao Nanye’s secret guards, carried out his master’s orders without emotion.

However, seeing this side of Xiao Nanye surprised Jiang Peihuan.

Having spent some time with him, she’d almost forgotten this man by her side was the ruthlessly decisive King Cheng.

In the capital, within the palace’s Cining Palace, the Great Empress Dowager put down her prayer beads. After rising with the assistance of a maid, she inquired, “Has there been news from Anzhou?”

Hearing her words, the old nanny glanced at another palace maid. Once she had left, she reported, “The plague is rampant in Anzhou, but…”

“But what?”

“The Queen Cheng has gone to Anzhou.”

“Hmph, she’s really on the same side as King Cheng.”

However, before the Great Empress Dowager could finish her thoughts, an old eunuch walked in holding a box.

“Your Royal Majesty, someone sent this box.”

“What’s inside?”

For some reason, seeing the box gave the Great Empress Dowager a sense of foreboding. The old nanny immediately thought of the previous incident involving snowball.

“Open it!”

Despite her fear, the Great Empress Dowager commanded coldly.

Hearing the Great Empress Dowager’s voice, the old eunuch opened the box in his hand. However, when he saw what was inside, his hand trembled and he threw the box away.

“What…what is this…”

The old nanny, staring at a pair of severed hands on the ground, was at a loss for words.

But soon, the old nanny’s expression changed.” Your Royal Majesty, it’s Young Master…” It seems to be Young Master’s hand.”

“What did you say?”

Hearing the maid’s words, the empress dowager rose shakily from her chair and staggered forward. As she beheld the bloody hands on the ground, her vision darkened and she fainted.

“Your Royal Majesty?”

Seeing her collapse, panic and horror filled the old nanny’s eyes..