Murong Yang couldn’t take it anymore. "You idiot! The news of what happened at the Han Family’s estate today has already spread throughout the entire Capital City! So what if he’s her biological brother? Do you take that Ye Heng for some kind of good person!?"

This rebuke finally sobered Murong Ye up a little.

It was true. Han Yao’s public accusation that Ye Heng had murdered Ye Zheng had caused a huge uproar. By now, even the common merchants and laborers were probably gossiping about it with relish.

"Don’t you forget, Han Yao only exposed this to save his father!"

"They found evidence in the Han Family’s courtyard on the spot. All that’s left is to verify it, and then they can convict Ye Heng!" Murong Yang, his anger still simmering, pointed a finger at Murong Ye. "If those charges are proven, the entire Ye Family will come to a bad end!"

Murong Ye’s head cleared a little more. Thinking it over, he also felt something wasn’t right. "B-But no one knows what they found, right? What if... what if it’s just some irrelevant junk?"

Murong Yang took a deep breath.

’He had always thought that while this son of his was a bit arrogant and overbearing, he was fundamentally intelligent. With a bit more guidance, he would surely become a great man in the future.’

’But now he realized he had been wrong.’

’It was just one woman, and she had made him completely lose all reason and judgment!’

"No buts!" Murong Yang didn’t want to waste any more time on him. "From now on, you are not to take a single step out of this room without my order! The Ye Family’s matter will be settled soon. You will just wait and see!"

With that, ignoring Murong Ye’s objections, Murong Yang directly called his men in and had him forcefully taken away.

"Father! Father!"

Though Murong Ye was skilled in martial arts, he was outnumbered and quickly restrained and dragged out.

The room fell silent once more, but Murong Yang’s expression remained cold and hard.

From the shadows, an attendant bowed slightly and advised, "My lord, the young master is just temporarily unable to see the situation clearly. In the future, he will surely understand your painstaking efforts."

Murong Yang slowly let out a breath.

"He’s been in the Capital City these past few years and thinks he has some ability, so his nerve has grown! He looks down on everyone and never considers the bigger picture when things happen!"

"The young master is still young, my lord. You mustn’t be too hasty."

"Young? That Shen Yanchuan is about the same age as him, and he’s already—" Murong Yang’s voice cut off abruptly.

After a long silence, he didn’t dwell on the topic any longer. "Forget it. For now, we’ll just wait and see how things develop."

However, the attendant did not withdraw. He hesitated for a moment before saying, "My lord, besides exposing Ye Heng today, Han Yao also mentioned someone else."

Murong Yang frowned. "Who?"

"Huo Yucheng."

Murong Yang whipped his head around!

His gaze was cold and heavy. "What exactly did he say?"

"Rest assured, my lord. He only mentioned the name and didn’t have time to say anything else. At the time, most people’s attention was drawn to the Ye Family, so very few should have noticed. It’s just... since he has said it, we must be on our guard."

Anyone else might not have paid any mind to this, but Murong Yang was different.

He had been personally promoted by Huo Yucheng. Later, Huo Yucheng’s death was also intimately connected to him.

Murong Yang’s hands, clasped behind his back, slowly tightened.

"Go investigate! Find out exactly where the Han father and son are being held!"

...

Trapped in his cell, Ye Heng had no idea that so much had happened outside in such a short time.

He was curled up in a corner, still hoping he would be released.

The sound of footsteps echoed. He looked up nervously and saw two prison guards unlock his cell door and walk straight toward him.

At first, Ye Heng felt a flicker of joy, but then he realized something was wrong.

He got up nervously. "What are you doing?"

"Routine interrogation," one of them said in a low voice.

Since being locked up, Ye Heng had been taken for questioning several times. But his lips were sealed; he refused to say anything. They couldn’t get anything out of him, so eventually, they stopped coming. He never expected them to suddenly show up again—

As he was thinking, the two men reached his side, standing on his left and right.

In that instant, Ye Heng suddenly felt something was terribly wrong. But before he could speak, the two men grabbed him and shoved him forward.

Caught off guard, Ye Heng stumbled and fell right to the ground.

CLANG!

His head slammed against the iron door, and blood instantly began to flow.

"Hiss—" The rage Ye Heng had been suppressing for so long finally erupted. "Go easy, you bastards! Just you wait until I get out of here, I’ll make you pay!"

The sound of his cursing spread, attracting the attention of some nearby inmates. A few faint snickers could be heard.

"What’s he yelling about again?"

"Who knows? Probably daydreaming."

"Once you’re in this place, very few ever get out. I really don’t know where he gets the nerve to still act so tough!"

"Pah! What a piece of work. In the end, who knows who’ll end up worse off!"

Of course, Ye Heng heard the mocking and cursing. This had been a daily occurrence ever since he arrived.

One of the prison guards stepped forward, grabbed him unceremoniously by the collar, and hauled him to his feet.

"Cut the crap!"

Ye Heng was choked until he couldn’t breathe. He wanted to struggle, but he was no match for them.

With barely enough food to eat or clothes to keep warm here, he had already lost a noticeable amount of weight in just a few days. He was nearly exhausted; how could he possibly deal with these men?

In the end, he could only let himself be taken outside, filled with indignation.

However, after walking some distance, Ye Heng gradually realized this was not the path he had taken before.

The passageway was narrow, and the iron cells on both sides were completely empty. There wasn’t the slightest sound; it was as quiet as a graveyard.

Ye Heng knew this was bad. He broke out in a cold sweat in an instant.

’This is bad!’

He instinctively turned to go back but was blocked by the prison guards.

"Lord Ye, the interrogation hasn’t even started. Where might you be going?"

The low, slightly hoarse voice was, to Ye Heng’s ears, undoubtedly the most terrifying death knell.

Ye Heng grew even more certain of his suspicions. He was both furious and frantic.

"You! What in the world are you trying to do?! Who sent you!"

However, the two prison guards didn’t answer his question. Instead, they bowed respectfully to someone behind him.

At the same time, a familiar voice came from behind him.

"Lord Ye."

Ye Heng froze!

He slowly turned his stiff neck and saw only a vaguely familiar silhouette in the darkness.

Almost instinctively, he dropped to his knees.

"Your Highness! I beg you, please save this humble servant!"

But the person over there did not answer for a long time.

Ye Heng’s heart was filled with uncertainty. He truly didn’t know why this person had come, much less whether he was here to save him or to kill him!

He pressed his forehead to the ground and argued desperately in his own defense, "Your Highness, please see the truth! What should and shouldn’t be said—this humble servant hasn’t said a single word!"

This time, the other person finally responded.

His tone was indifferent and languid, betraying no hint of his mood.

"Oh?"