Go and capture those thirty-six fierce villains.

The old woman wore a golden phoenix crown, a cold river python armor, an eight-panel dragon skirt, small satin boots, and two swords at her waist.

She had quite a few fine lines on her face, making her look around sixty years old, but her features were still striking, and it was easy to see that she was a beautiful woman with a dignified and radiant appearance when she was young.

Qin Ning stared at the little black cat that had jumped onto the other's saddle without any hesitation, gripped the reins tightly, and wondered to himself.

The old woman, who had initially looked fierce and menacing, softened when she saw the raccoon, especially when her gaze fell on the wounds on its claws.

The menacing aura instantly transformed into kindness.

She looked up at Qin Ning, who had reined in his horse and stopped nearby: "Are you the owner of this little fox?"

Judging from your tone, you two seem to know each other quite well...

"It is I. May I ask who you are?" Qin Ning, still on horseback, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, already having a vague idea of ​​his identity.

"I am Helian Rongying."

Big princess!

Qin Ning had been in the manor for more than ten days without seeing this legendary woman, but after making some inquiries, he did learn her name.

Dismounting, Qin Ning said politely, "Qin Ning, a seventh-rank acupuncturist and retainer of the Prince Su's residence, greets the Princess."

"I know you, the young doctor who treated Yan'er. So this little fox is your pet... Didn't you go to the prayer ceremony with Yan'er? What are you doing here?" As the First Princess spoke, she gestured to the adjutant beside her, who immediately presented her with a black jade porcelain bottle.

"The prayer for blessings at Zhenji Ridge turned into an accident. I was caught in the blast and separated from the Crown Prince. After encountering further misfortune, I thought of returning to Bei'an to inform the general guarding the city."

The First Princess removed the nail guards from her hands, and gently poured the medicine from the jade bottle onto the little black cat's injured paw with one hand.

"You're quite thoughtful. Come, let's go to the town's sacrificial ceremony together. You can tell me what happened along the way."

Riding alongside the First Princess, Qin Ning selectively recounted the events that had occurred at Zhenji Ridge.

He told the truth in the first half, but concealed Xu Meishan's existence in the second half, only saying that he had run into a Da Ling spy and a group of mysterious people making a deal. When he quietly left to report, he encountered a group of unfamiliar assassins.

So he seized a horse and returned to Beian City to deliver the message.

Anyway, the Prince Su's mansion has so many enemies... As long as those dead men don't speak, no one will know whether they're after the young master or after him.

After riding their horses for a short while, the group arrived at the foot of Zhenji Ridge.

Amidst the bustling crowd, Qin Ning spotted Li Qingyan, still in his mourning robes, busy tending to the wounded. Perhaps it was because of the saying, "Confucius said: Mountains and rocks are eternally solid," that the number of dead among the people present was sporadic, with most only suffering injuries.

In addition, there was a deputy doctor with a limp and a thick white cloth wrapped around his head, who stood out like a white mushroom in the crowd.

It seems the other party was lucky; after being thrown out of the sedan chair, they didn't die, but only suffered some hardship.

The heavy cavalry made quite a commotion, naturally attracting everyone's attention.

At first, Li Qingyan didn't pay much attention, thinking it was just some general from Beian City leading troops to provide reinforcements. But after being reminded by the official in charge of etiquette, she realized it was the Princess Consort. She then quickly handed the medicine jar to the official beside her and ran over to greet her.

"Mother, why have you come in person?" Li Qingyan bowed first, then went to the side of the warhorse and raised his hand to help the First Princess down from the horse.

"Let me see who is so bold as to cause trouble during the Crown Prince's prayers."

The First Princess's voice was laced with anger. She ignored Li Qingyan's outstretched hand, leaped off her horse, and ordered the officer behind her:

"Block all the roads leading down from Zhenji Ridge. Any extra men should dismount and go help Yan'er rescue the people."

"yes!"

The officer's voice was loud and clear, and the heavy cavalry behind him split into several teams and began to get busy.

After doing all this, the First Princess walked to the Crown Prince's side. Seeing his somewhat disheveled appearance, she reached out to tidy his hair and wipe the soot off his face, a hint of heartache flashing in her eyes.

"We have already issued a notice for assistance in the investigation to all 42 prefectures within Suzhou using the Ink Beast. Your father is in poor health, so I will take charge of this matter for you today."

A bitter smile appeared on Li Qingyan's lips. Just as he was about to say something, a wave of drowsiness washed over him, and he swayed twice before collapsing forward.

The eldest princess reached out to help, and a quick-witted official stepped forward to take her hand, but was glared at and turned away.

"Qin Xingzhen" (秦行针).

Qin Ning, who had already dismounted, stepped forward, glanced at Li Qingyan lying in the princess's arms, and said in a low voice, "The prince has already received acupuncture today."

With his strength continuously increasing and the abundant supply of Replenishing Yuan Pills, he had previously considered whether he could repeat the acupuncture treatment on Li Qingyan to prolong the time she was awake.

However, both physicians said that this was impossible, and after Qin Ning personally tried it, he also found that it was simply not feasible.

The pathogenic energy in the patient's body is very strange. After the first acupuncture treatment, the pathogenic energy in the brain will continue to accumulate and cannot be completely cleared.

Because of this phenomenon, he discussed it with two doctors and finally came to a conclusion.

The strange illness in Li Qingyan's body—it seems to be alive.

"Where are the two physicians?" The pain in the eyes of the First Princess deepened, and she turned her gaze to "White Spirit Mushroom" and the slightly disheveled Physician Zhang.

"We haven't administered the acupuncture yet, but..." The deputy physician hesitated, as his current condition was indeed not convenient. Physician Zhang said, "I'll do it, but even if I administer the acupuncture alone, I'm afraid I can only keep the prince awake for a quarter of an hour."

The First Princess slammed her hand on the hilt of her sword at her waist: "Never mind, we'll talk about it when we get back to the palace. You all take good care of Yan'er."

As she spoke, Qin Ning saw her with two swords at her waist, abandoning the officers who were following her, and walking alone towards the dilapidated sacrificial altar.

Is there something there? Something more important than the Crown Prince?

It was clear that the First Princess Dowager felt extremely sorry for Li Qingyan, but right now she had to go to the altar to check on her sick son first... Suddenly, the image of the Bagua plate that had emitted a burst of black light flashed in Qin Ning's mind.

Zhenji Ridge... Zhenji Ridge... Could something really be suppressed beneath these rocks?

The mountain winds were fierce and dense, and the thick clouds that had been dispersed from the sky closed up again, blocking out the warm sunlight that had been shining on people.

A chilling feeling, unique to the mountains, surged up with the wind in an instant.

Qin Ning squinted at the First Princess's back, her fingers unconsciously scratching the raccoon's chin.

In the blink of an eye, another person appeared beside the First Princess.

Dressed in coarse linen, with a slender figure like a pine tree, he drew people in with his presence... It was none other than the Mohist leader he had met that day.

The distance was too great; he could only see the two talking, but couldn't hear what they were saying.

......

The incident at Zhenji Ridge will be handled by designated personnel.

Qin Ning and the Crown Prince, under the protection of heavy troops and the Mohist master, returned to Beian City.

After entering the Prince Su's mansion, he did not go to the Hall of Heroes.

After hesitating for a moment, he took a deep breath and headed straight for the study where Prince Su usually rested.

He needs to find a way out for himself!

Or rather, a way out!

......