Something was indeed wrong, even Sun Muqing could sense it.

But no one knew why.

Yan Chi gave Qin Wan a reassuring look and immediately rode forward with Bai Feng. Though the city gate was tightly closed and the gate towers were pitch black, such a grand capital city couldn’t truly be without guards at its gates. Something else must have happened today to change the situation.

Yan Chi rode to the side gate and cracked his horsewhip against it. The loud bang sounded particularly eerie in the night. Soon, angry shouts came from behind the gate.

“Who?! Who’s out there?!”

Bai Feng called out, “His Highness Prince Rui has returned to the city. Why are the gates closed?!”

The anger in the voices behind the gate instantly subsided at this announcement.

There was a rustling sound behind the gate, and after a moment, the side gate opened a crack. A nervous-looking unfamiliar face peered through the gap.

After checking the situation outside, the person quickly withdrew and, with a “click,” the gate closed again!

Yan Chi’s brows immediately furrowed.

“Please wait a moment, Your Highness!”

An anxious voice came from behind the gate, followed by receding footsteps. Yan Chi’s expression darkened.

Bai Feng looked at Yan Chi, “Master, is it…”

Yan Chi shook his head, signaling Bai Feng to stay quiet, and Bai Feng immediately fell silent.

Soon, footsteps returned, this time with multiple people. The gate creaked open, and a man in a captain’s uniform appeared before Yan Chi. The captain looked Yan Chi up and down briefly, then hurriedly bowed with his companions, “Greetings to His Highness Prince Rui. The entire city is under curfew and martial law tonight, so the gates were closed early…”

The man spoke with authority, then glanced at the distant carriage, “May I ask, Your Highness, why you’re returning from outside the city?”

Yan Chi looked down at the captain from his horse until the man couldn’t meet his gaze.

“Princess Yongci is in the carriage. I took her out of the city today.”

The captain seemed to want to say something but held back, feeling Yan Chi’s explanation was incomplete, but how could he dare question why Prince Rui and Princess Yongci had left the city…

Prince Rui and Princess Yongci’s engagement was common knowledge, and the Great Zhou Dynasty wasn’t particularly strict about men and women mixing. Whether they went out for leisure or other reasons was perfectly normal, especially since they were outside the city when tonight’s incident occurred, which proved their innocence.

The captain immediately stepped aside, “Please enter, Your Highness and Princess—”

Yan Chi looked back, and Qin Wan’s carriage promptly moved forward. Yan Chi remained still and asked the captain, “What has happened in the city?”

Sweat appeared on the captain’s forehead as he lowered his head and replied, “I don’t know the details, sir. I only know something happened in the palace.”

Yan Chi’s heart jolted, immediately thinking of the Emperor and Empress. He nodded and led the way through the gate, followed by Qin Wan’s carriage and the others. Once inside, Yan Chi noticed the capital was unusually quiet tonight…

The snowflakes were falling more heavily than in the afternoon. Between the night and the snow curtain, Yan Chi couldn’t see anything beyond thirty paces. The eerie silence made everyone uneasy. Yan Chi looked at Sun Muqing and instructed, “Bai Feng, escort Doctor Sun home, then return to the prince’s mansion.”

Naturally, Yan Chi would personally escort Qin Wan home. Bai Feng nodded at the instruction, but Qin Wan lifted the carriage curtain to look at Sun Muqing, “Remember what I told you this afternoon.”

Qin Wan’s afternoon instruction had been for Sun Muqing not to mention the dagger. Hearing her reminder now, Sun Muqing immediately nodded.

Since that afternoon, Qin Wan and Yan Chi’s expressions had been strange, and now back in the capital with such an unusual situation, Sun Muqing couldn’t deceive himself anymore. That dagger was significant and might bring him disaster!

This was Sun Muqing’s first thought, and he nodded solemnly, truly taking Qin Wan’s words to heart this time.

Qin Wan smiled slightly, “Don’t worry, just get some rest when you get home.”

Sun Muqing nodded again, wanting to say something but not knowing how to begin. He couldn’t comfort Qin Wan because he had no idea what she was facing. Looking at Yan Chi on horseback, Sun Muqing finally felt relieved – with Yan Chi present, Qin Wan should be safe.

After Bai Feng left to escort Sun Muqing, Yan Chi led the guards alongside the carriage toward the marquis’s mansion. Though it was completely dark, it wasn’t particularly late, yet the imperial road to Xingle District was nearly deserted. They not only saw a few civilians but also encountered two patrol units. These patrols initially intended to check them but withdrew after Yan Chi identified himself. This only further convinced Qin Wan.

Something had happened, something serious enough to warrant such strict security measures.

Qin Wan and Yan Chi exchanged glances in the darkness, both pairs of eyes filled with confusion.

Qin Wan needed to return home to investigate the situation, and Yan Chi planned to visit the palace. Though they didn’t speak, each understood the other’s thoughts. The carriage accelerated toward the marquis’s mansion, arriving after about half an hour. Knowing Yan Chi wouldn’t rest tonight, Qin Wan cautioned, “Be careful above all else. If possible, I’ll visit your mansion tomorrow.”

Yan Chi nodded, “The marquis’s household should know something about the situation. Get some rest when you return.”

Qin Wan nodded, and Yan Chi waited until she entered the mansion gates before riding away.

Upon entering, Qin Wan saw an elderly maid already waiting. Seeing Qin Wan return, the maid immediately brightened, welcoming her briefly before hurrying toward the main courtyard. Qin Wan also headed there but noticed the entire mansion had an air of gloom as if something terrible had happened. Qin Wan’s heart sank further, and just as she reached the main courtyard entrance, Madam Hu rushed out with reddened eyes!

“Wan’er?! Wan’er, you’re finally back…”

Even if she had been missing for half a day, Madam Hu wouldn’t be this scared and sad. Seeing the tears in Madam Hu’s eyes, Qin Wan asked sharply, “Where’s Uncle?”

A tear rolled down Madam Hu’s cheek, “Your uncle, and your Third and Fourth Brothers, they’ve all been taken away!”

Qin Wan’s eyes trembled, “Taken away by whom?! How could this happen?!”

Madam Hu began to sob, “Prince Cheng’s men took them, saying His Majesty wanted to see them, but… but something’s wrong! Even if His Majesty wanted to see someone, it should only have been your uncle, not your Third and Fourth Brothers too! The third Brother is with the Imperial Guard, and the Fourth Brother is with the patrol force! Why take them all? The men who came were terrifying as if our household had committed some crime. Wan’er, where have you been? Do you know what’s happened?!”

Qin Wan’s heart pounded like a drum. She supported Madam Hu into the room while explaining, “Today I went outside the city with Prince Rui. The Empress Dowager isn’t well, and we went to seek a famous doctor who treats wind ailments, but unfortunately, our trip was in vain.”

Madam Hu had only asked casually, and learning that Qin Wan had been outside the city, she realized Qin Wan probably didn’t know what had happened either, making her even more worried.

Qin Wan continued, “When we returned to the city, we saw it was under martial law. Why did they take Uncle and the others? When did this happen? Did the men say anything else?”

Madam Hu shook her head, “They only said His Majesty wanted to see them. It happened half an hour ago.”

Half an hour ago, it was already dark. What could have happened to warrant taking away all the male heads of the marquis’s household?

Qin Wan suddenly stopped in her tracks – could something have happened in the Eastern Palace?!

Qin Chaoyu had married into the Eastern Palace as the Crown Princess – only if something had happened to Qin Chaoyu would it involve the marquis’s household!

Thinking of her afternoon discovery, a cold sweat broke out on Qin Wan’s back. The Emperor had long decided to depose the Crown Prince – had he acted tonight? And preemptively controlled the marquis’s household members? But if so, why put the entire capital under martial law?

When they returned, the patrol forces had been extremely vigilant, questioning almost everyone they saw. They seemed more like they were searching for someone.

Qin Wan’s heart pounded. Not only had returning to the mansion failed to provide more information, but the household had also become involved. “Aunt, don’t panic yet. The mansion isn’t surrounded, so things aren’t too bad. Let’s wait – there must be a reason, and perhaps His Majesty does just have some instructions.”

These comforting words weren’t very effective, but having someone levelheaded in the household now made Madam Hu less afraid. Compared to her, Qin Wan appeared much calmer and more composed. Madam Hu wiped her eyes, somewhat embarrassed, “But… it doesn’t make sense… Ah, we can only wait now, but… I’m just worried something has happened to Yu’er in the palace, and there’s nothing I can do about that.”

This was also Qin Wan’s concern, but her status didn’t allow her to freely enter and exit the palace. The palace gates were now under curfew, and unless one was a royal prince like Yan Chi, who could enter the palace without imperial permission?!

“Aunt, don’t worry yet. If there’s no other way, I’m going to the palace tomorrow to attend to the Empress Dowager’s health, and I can make inquiries then.”

Madam Hu wished it were tomorrow already, but at this point, waiting was the only option. “Alright, alright, I understand. Perhaps… perhaps the Marquis and the others will be released soon?”

This would be the best outcome – if they were just summoned for some instructions, they should return soon.

Qin Wan felt uneasy but could only keep Madam Hu company while they waited. However, even by midnight, there was no sign of Marquis Qin and the others returning. Yet oddly, the mansion gates remained freely accessible, with no restrictions on other household members. Qin Wan couldn’t guess what this meant. As time wore on, she finally convinced Madam Hu to rest in the warm room of the main courtyard. After ensuring Madam Hu was settled, Qin Wan returned to Pine Breeze Court.

After the day’s journey and discovering that earth-shattering secret, Qin Wan was utterly exhausted. However, she didn’t immediately go to sleep. She dismissed everyone and entered her inner chamber, taking out the wooden hairpin Princess Gong had given her from her jewelry box, and carefully examining the engraving.

Though she wasn’t skilled at painting, she had excellent calligraphy. The writing on the hairpin was very similar to that on the dagger as if written by the same hand. Thinking of the many inexplicable mysteries discovered earlier, Qin Wan couldn’t help but reach that bewildering conclusion.

Gripping the hairpin tightly, she prepared for bed while pondering what might have happened in the palace.

Qin Wan had an instinct to become calmer the more anxious she felt. She forced herself to sleep and woke early the next morning, hurriedly washing and going to the main courtyard. There she found Madam Hu looking terrible, leaning in the warm room. When Yu Mama saw Qin Wan arrive, she quickly said, “The madam hasn’t slept all night. Princess, please look after her.”

When had the loyal and brave Marquis’s household ever experienced such turmoil?!

Not only had Qin Shu been taken into the palace, but Qin Yan and Qin Yi had also been taken away. How could Madam Hu not be anxious?

Qin Wan was comforting Madam Hu and wondering if she could enter the palace today when someone came from the gate with a message!

Yu Mama spoke briefly with the messenger outside before hurrying in, “Princess, the Empress Dowager isn’t well. Someone from Shoukang Palace has come to request your presence!”

Qin Wan immediately stood up, both concerned about the Empress Dowager’s condition and glad for the opportunity to enter the palace. Madam Hu grabbed Qin Wan’s hand, and Qin Wan quickly said, “Don’t worry, Aunt. I understand. Just wait calmly for my news.”

Madam Hu nodded and finally let go of Qin Wan.

When Qin Wan reached the front courtyard, she saw it was the same elderly maid as before who had come to fetch her. Qin Wan couldn’t hold back anymore and asked directly, “May I ask what happened in the palace last night?”

The elderly maid’s expression changed slightly as she lowered her head, but Qin Wan didn’t stop there like last time, “If you don’t tell me now, I’ll find out when we reach Shoukang Palace anyway. Better to tell me now so I know how to speak with the Empress Dowager. Otherwise…”

Put this way, the elderly maid thought it made sense.

Even if she didn’t say now, Chen Mama would tell her at Shoukang Palace. In that case, she might as well earn Qin Wan’s gratitude.

“Something did happen in the palace last night, but not in Shoukang Palace…”

Qin Wan got into the carriage, and the elderly maid finally spoke hesitantly.

“It… happened in Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace…”

Qin Wan’s heart skipped a beat. Though she had expected this, the actual occurrence still made her feel the situation was thorny.

“What happened to Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince?”

Qin Wan asked cautiously. The elderly maid moved closer to Qin Wan and lowered her voice, “Last night… last night Kunning Palace and the Eastern Palace suddenly caught fire. The entire palace was fighting the fires, but when they were extinguished, Her Majesty the Empress and His Highness the Crown Prince had vanished…”

The elderly maid’s words struck Qin Wan like a thunderbolt. This seemed even more serious than if the Emperor had actively deposed the Crown Prince.

Before the Emperor had made his decision, what did it mean for the Empress and Crown Prince to act this way?!

After taking this step, was there any way back for them?!

At this point, the elderly maid added, “The Crown Princess has also disappeared.”