Yan Hong and Yan Miaoyin led the way, heading toward the rear courtyard, with Bai Ye following closely behind. Along the way, both maintained friendly attitudes, reminiscing about fond childhood memories, subtly probing for information about the Qingling Sect.

Despite their attempts to warm up to her, Bai Ye remained indifferent and unmoved.

Inside the council hall of the Wang Residence, Prince Yan Yuheng and Princess Lin Shuxian sat at the head. On either side sat two black-robed grandmasters with their eyes closed, and below them were more than a dozen fourth-grade peak experts belonging to the Hall of Enshrinement, all under the command of the two grandmasters.

The room was filled with lively discussions—some advocated capturing Bai Ye, while others suggested bringing her back into the fold of the Wang Residence. Though their ideas differed, their goal was the same: to extract the heavenly-tier divine ability she had inherited.

“Are you confident in dealing with Master Li?”

The question from the black-robed grandmaster on the left instantly silenced the room.

As Bai Ye and the other two entered, all eyes fell on her. Some were curious, others malicious; some were impressed, and some were assessing her. Bai Ye, however, remained composed in the face of their scrutiny.

The man sitting at the head of the room, dressed in golden robes and with a handsome face, looked at Bai Ye with a complicated expression, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

“Miaoyi, you've suffered all these years…”

The Prince's tone and expression caused Bai Ye's eyelid to twitch as a wave of disgust surged within her heart. This was the man who, three years ago, had personally ordered her and her mother to be expelled from the residence, severing all ties. And now he had the audacity to put on such a display?

“Yan Yuheng, your performance disgusts me!”

“How dare you address the Prince by name!”

“Princess Miaoyi, mind your words!”

Yan Yuheng ignored the reprimands from others, waving his hand for them to quiet down, his face showing guilt.

“It's my fault for failing both of you. From now on, I'll do everything I can to make amends. Miaoyi, please give your father a chance to make it up to you.”

“Miaoyi is dead. I've changed my name to Bai Ye. I hope you won't get it wrong, Prince. I'm here today for one reason: I want to know how my mother died.”

Looking at the sorrowful man before her, Bai Ye felt both pain and fury. Recalling the years of hardship she and her mother endured after being expelled and the scene of her mother's final moments, hatred overwhelmed her.

At Bai Ye's question, Yan Yuheng's expression darkened, and he shook his head in silence.

Beside him, Lin Shuxian spoke in a gentle voice, “Miaoyi, your mother broke a taboo. The Prince had no choice but to act the way he did.”

“Enough! It's all my fault. Bai Ye, will you give your father a chance to make things right…”

Yan Yuheng's body tensed, his grip on the armrest tightening, his face filled with pain and regret.

“Yan Yuheng, I'll ask you one last time—how did my mother die?”

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A trace of impatience flashed across Bai Ye's face as her aura surged, causing the two black-robed grandmasters' expressions to shift slightly. The fourth-grade enshrined experts around them quickly backed away several meters, looking at Bai Ye with a mixture of fear and apprehension.

“Miaoyi, don't be reckless!”

Lin Shuxian's voice turned cold, and a glimmer of malice flashed in her narrow eyes.

“Lin Shuxian, are you planning to kill me?”

Bai Ye let out a soft laugh, a sound as delicate and enchanting as a flower blooming in a remote valley. But hidden within that soft voice was an intense killing intent, tightening the atmosphere in the room.

The two black-robed grandmasters subtly moved to guard Yan Yuheng and Lin Shuxian, watching Bai Ye warily.

“Miaoyi, what nonsense are you spouting?”

A flicker of panic crossed Lin Shuxian's eyes, but she quickly concealed it, feigning calm as she spoke.

“Your mother was like a sister to me. When she passed away, it broke my heart. I've always treated you with the same love as I do Feiyu and Miaoyin.”

“Don't speak in anger, sister.”

“That's right, second sister. You don't know how many times our mother has mentioned you over the years. She was constantly worried about you and even sent people to search for you.”

Yan Feiyu and Yan Miaoyin chimed in, trying to mediate.

“As a sword cultivator, I'm highly sensitive to changes in emotions. Just now, you masked it well, but I sensed your intent to kill. Lin Shuxian, it seems you were involved in my mother's death!”

Bai Ye's tone was firm.

Yan Yuheng, sitting at the head of the room, immediately tensed, looking at his wife with questioning eyes.

“Miaoyi, you're imagining things!”

Feeling Bai Ye's intense killing intent, Lin Shuxian's smile faded. Inside, she cursed the sharpness of Bai Ye's senses.

Seeing this, Bai Ye shook her head, remaining silent. A gray sword lotus, no larger than a palm, suddenly appeared before her, its twelve petals translucent and exuding a sharp aura. In an instant, the entire hall rang with the sound of swords.

“Miaoyi, stop! I'll investigate this thoroughly. If Shuxian is indeed involved, I'll give you justice!”

Seeing that Bai Ye was about to attack, Yan Yuheng's expression changed, and he hurriedly tried to stop her.

“Miaoyi, no matter what, I'm still the Prince's legitimate wife and the third elder's daughter from the Hongyu Holy Land, protected by both forces. If you harm me, you'll face the wrath of not just two grandmasters but seven. By then, even your sect won't be able to protect you.”

Lin Shuxian's voice was cold, her once kindly demeanor now entirely gone. Though her words seemed like a plea for peace, they were actually filled with provocation, as if she was intentionally goading Bai Ye into attacking.

She wasn't acting irrationally but had sensed Bai Ye's firm killing intent. Since her involvement had already been exposed, it was better to force Bai Ye's hand and muddy the waters. With four grandmasters on her side, there was a chance to capture Bai Ye. And given their proximity to the royal palace, reinforcements would soon arrive. If Bai Ye was allowed to escape, it would be too dangerous, with their enemy hidden in the shadows.

“Shut your mouth!”

Yan Yuheng's face turned cold, sensing something was wrong as he sternly reprimanded Lin Shuxian.

“Second sister, we're family. There must be some misunderstanding. Let's wait for Father to investigate before making any rash decisions!”

Yan Feiyu tried to calm Bai Ye down, but it was clear he was going to be disappointed.

“Family? Three years ago, we severed all ties. My family is with the Qingling Sect now, not here!”

As soon as she finished speaking, the gray sword lotus before her bloomed, and twelve streaks of sword energy shot towards Lin Shuxian with a sharp, metallic sound.

The intense pressure caused everyone below the grandmaster level to retreat hastily, unwilling to stay any longer.

Seeing Bai Ye attack, Lin Shuxian's lips curved into an almost imperceptible smile as she thought to herself:

“This wretched girl may possess heavenly-tier divine abilities, but her strength is weak. She lost to the Divine Strength Sect's true disciple a few days ago, clearly having not yet reached the level of a grandmaster. These four ordinary grandmasters should be able to capture her. And even if they can't, they can stall her until the royal palace's experts arrive. Then everything will be settled, and the Qingling Sect won't dare interfere in the royal family's affairs.”

With this thought, Lin Shuxian coldly shouted, “How dare you attack the Princess! Grandmasters, capture her at once!”

The two black-robed grandmasters exchanged a glance, and two massive palms, one golden and the other crimson, reached out to seize the incoming sword energy.

Lin Shuxian didn't remain idle either. With a flick of her wrist, a jade Ruyi appeared silently. As spiritual power surged into it, it emitted a dazzling brilliance, and countless illusory light butterflies swarmed forth, rushing toward Bai Ye.

“You…!”

Yan Yuheng's face stiffened, clearly furious, as he shot a sharp glare at Princess Lin.