When Qiao Mu went over and pushed open the door to Xing Zizhou’s chamber, Xing Zizhou was asleep on the long bench in the main room.

He startled awake at the sound, sat up, and asked: “What is it?”

“Is Jiu’er there?” Even as Qiao Mu looked toward the inner chamber, she was already nearly all the way inside.

“Only Xiao Yingtao is in there.” Xing Zizhou sensed something was wrong, pulled on his long boots, and stood.

“What in the world is happening — what’s the frantic rush in the middle of the night?”

“Jiu’er has gone missing.” Qiao Mu left those words behind, turned, and headed out. “I’ll go find Ye Luosha — you have people notify the Ninth Prince.”

“Qiao Mu.” Xing Zizhou frowned.

But Qiao Mu had not lingered for so much as a heartbeat — she had already vanished from the room.

Xing Zizhou dared not be careless, withdrew his gaze, and immediately went to the inner chamber.

The thing Qiao Mu had feared most had come to pass in the end.

If something had truly happened to Jiu’er, the first person Qiao Mu could think of was certainly Ye Luosha.

Jiu’er had said she would wait in the side chamber for tomorrow’s bridal sedan chair — and she and the Ninth Prince were not permitted to see each other today. She could not possibly go to the Ninth Prince at a time like this.

So Qiao Mu was certain that something bad had happened to her.

Qiao Mu was almost at the main hall when she heard an unusual set of footsteps approaching from behind.

She turned — and saw more than a dozen heavily built men drawing closer, with Ye Luosha at their head.

Ye Luosha was spitting black blood, her complexion ashen; she was being supported on both sides as she came in.

Taking in the sight, Qiao Mu rapidly moved to intercept.

“Ye Luosha.” The dragon-tongue silver spear in her hand flashed, and with a crisp ring it extended to its full length, coming to rest at Ye Luosha’s throat. “Where have you taken Jiu’er?”

The men, seeing this, immediately moved to close in and encircle Qiao Mu.

“Just as I thought — it’s Feng Jiu’er.” Ye Luosha gave a cold snort.

Qiao Mu’s gaze darkened; the silver spear pressed closer.

With a series of sharp metallic rings, the seven or eight men encircling Qiao Mu all drew their long swords.

Qiao Mu paid them no heed whatsoever, keeping her cold eyes fixed on Ye Luosha.

“Speak! Where have you taken Jiu’er? If you don’t speak now, don’t blame us for showing no mercy.”

“General Qiao, the Palace Mistress was ambushed and seriously wounded — it was our brothers who carried her back. Please lower your weapon.” One of the men said in a firm, low voice.

“What General Qiao?” Ye Luosha glared at Qiao Mu; a mouthful of foul blood nearly came spewing out.

She pressed a hand over her chest and forced back the searing pain. “She and Feng Jiu’er are in league with each other.”

“It was Feng Jiu’er who launched a sneak attack on me just now. It was also Feng Jiu’er who attempted to kill the Second Prince two days ago. The Crown Prince has been deceived by Feng Jiu’er; he has had his eyes clouded by her and…”

Ye Luosha coughed up another mouthful of black blood, and her condition appeared very grave.

“Palace Mistress.” The man supporting Ye Luosha called out softly, then looked up and fixed a fierce glare on Qiao Mu.

“The Palace Mistress has not only sustained internal injuries but has also been poisoned. Now is not the time to apportion blame — please step aside; we need to bring the Palace Mistress inside to treat her wounds.”

“It was not Jiu’er — it could not possibly be Jiu’er. Ye Luosha, you are talking utter slander!” Qiao Mu’s voice was low and hard.

“If you do not tell me where Jiu’er is being hidden, I will not step aside.”

Ye Luosha’s brow creased further, and she coughed up another mouthful of black blood.

“General Qiao.” The man supporting Ye Luosha turned his gaze on Qiao Mu, equally furious.

“Right and wrong will be decided by the Crown Prince. By delaying the Palace Mistress’s treatment right now, how is what you’re doing any different from killing her?”

“Brothers, the Palace Mistress is in severe pain and cannot hold on much longer. We must get her inside immediately for the antidote.”

“General Qiao, please step aside! If you do not, we truly will show no mercy.” The men encircling Qiao Mu, seeing the situation deteriorate, also gave a firm warning.

“Kill her — she is one of Feng Jiu’er’s people; they are spies; they will harm the Crown Prince and the Second Prince. Kill her!” Ye Luosha snarled.

“This is completely outrageous!” Qiao Mu’s brow snapped together; gripping her silver spear, she advanced straight toward Ye Luosha.

In an instant, outside the main hall, seven or eight men clashed with Qiao Mu in a full melee.

“Seize her — seize her!” Ye Luosha commanded with a cold snort.

The men from all around also rushed over and joined the fighting.

“Qiao Mu, watch out!” Xiao Yingtao came running over at a frantic pace.

Close behind her was Xing Zizhou, and behind Xing Zizhou came Di Wuya, his face utterly cold.

“What exactly is happening here?” Di Wuya’s low, heavy voice rolled out like thunder.

Knowing the Crown Prince had arrived, all the men halted their fighting at once and retreated several steps together.

“Wu Ya.” Ye Luosha called out, then coughed up another mouthful of black blood.

Zhan Liyue, who had arrived at the same time as Di Wuya, saw the state she was in and stepped to her side, taking hold of her palm.

“Why are you so gravely wounded?” Zhan Liyue asked in a low, grave voice.

“It was Feng Jiu’er — I just…saw Feng Jiu’er. She lured me into going out…and then launched a sneak attack on me…I…”

Ye Luosha had not finished her words before she coughed up black blood again.

Zhan Liyue sealed several of her acupoints, then swept a glance at the people around her.

“Get her inside and treat her at once — what are you all standing there staring for? Wait any longer and even saving her will be a wasted effort.”

“Yes.” The men inclined their heads and, supporting Ye Luosha, moved forward, casting one resentful look at Qiao Mu as they went.

“If it weren’t for General Qiao deliberately obstructing us, we would have had the Palace Mistress inside for treatment long ago.”

“Wu Ya, it was Feng Jiu’er — at first I thought it was the woman who had disguised herself as Feng Jiu’er to wound Mu’er, but now it seems Feng Jiu’er herself…it must have been her.”

“Wu Ya, you must give Mu’er and me justice — Wu Ya, it must have been her…”

Before the last words had fully left her mouth, Ye Luosha lost consciousness.

“Palace Mistress, Palace Mistress.”

The men hurriedly lifted her in their arms and rushed inside with all haste.

Hearing the commotion from within, Emperor Ji and Elder Shi came out from inside.

Seeing Ye Luosha grievously wounded and being carried in, Emperor Ji stepped anxiously forward several paces and gave a wave of his hand.

“Go and fetch Mo Bai — Mo Bai is in Mu’er’s side chamber. Go.”

“Yes.” Elder Shi inclined his head, turned, and headed back inside.

The men carried Ye Luosha inside. Emperor Ji raised his gaze, looked at the people out front for a moment, shook his head, and turned to follow.

“Ninth Prince, it wasn’t Jiu’er — Ye Luosha is speaking slander!”

Qiao Mu looked at Di Wuya — whether from the fighting or from fury, her face was flushed red.

“Whether it was or not, have her come so we can ask her clearly.” Zhan Liyue gave a cold snort, flicked her sleeves, and turned to walk into the main hall.

“Ninth Prince, Jiu’er has gone missing — I was just on my way to find you to tell you: Jiu’er has gone missing.” Xiao Yingtao’s words came out in an anxious rush, her very voice trembling slightly.

“With Qiao Mu surrounded like that, I…”

“What?” Di Wuya turned his head to look at Xiao Yingtao.

Xiao Yingtao was caught in his cold, fierce gaze and nearly lost her footing — thank goodness Xing Zizhou was there to steady her, or she would have stumbled.

“Jiu’er truly has gone missing. I couldn’t sleep just now, went to look, and couldn’t find her — that’s why I came here.” Qiao Mu responded in a firm, low voice.

At that very moment, Zhao Yusheng came striding rapidly over.

“Jiu’er’s tracks have been found in the back courtyard — Xue Gu and Tuoba Keyan have gone after her. Ninth Prince…”

Zhao Yusheng had not yet finished speaking when there was no longer any trace of Di Wuya to be seen.

Zhan Liyue stood at the front of the main hall, looked back for a moment, gave a slight furrow of her brow, and turned and walked inside.