"The people in the Ye family's intelligence network don't seem very bright?" Ye Lanshan frowned, then realized something was off. Those who made it into the intelligence network had all passed rigorous screening—there was no way they lacked intelligence.
It seemed that under Ye Suzhe's management, the Ye estate had long been riddled with problems. It was time to clean house properly.
But relying on the Ye family's power every day wasn't sustainable. Even though she was now the head of the Ye family, after healing Ye Yu's meridians, she still needed to find a place rich in spiritual energy to cultivate properly and build her own forces while searching for her master.
Ye Lanshan ultimately decided to dump this mess on Ye Luotian to handle, while she would disguise herself and secretly develop her own influence.
"Grandfather, I need to discuss something with you." Ye Lanshan knocked on the door from outside.
Hearing her voice, Ye Luotian hurried over and opened the door. "Don't just stand there—come in and tell me what's troubling you?"
Ye Luotian had been bored out of his mind lately. Ever since Ye Lanshan started training the army, he'd had nothing to do.
Now his granddaughter was looking at him with wide, expectant eyes—of course, he had to put on a good show.
So he puffed out his chest and said, "Whatever trouble you're in, tell your grandfather. I'll help you solve it."
Ye Lanshan gave him a strange look, wondering why he was acting so oddly, unaware of the scenario he'd imagined in his head.
"It's not really trouble. I just want you to help clean out the rotten elements and spies in the Ye estate."
Hearing this, Ye Luotian immediately turned serious. "I've been sick lately, so I forgot about purging those pests. But Lanshan, don't you think you should handle this yourself? You're the new head of the family now—it's the perfect time to establish your authority."
"No, I have other things to do. The Ye family will still be under your management in the future." Ye Lanshan didn't want to take on the role of family head.
Ye Luotian was puzzled. He really couldn't figure out what could be more important to Ye Lanshan than taking over the Ye family.
"Lanshan, if something's on your mind, don't keep it bottled up. Tell me, and I'll help you solve it."
Seeing the worry mixed with confusion in his eyes, Ye Lanshan finally told him about Ye Yu.
"This infuriates me!" Ye Luotian had never imagined Ye Lanshan had endured such hardship in Luoyang City. If he'd known, he would never have stayed in that formation—even if it meant exposing secrets, he wouldn't have let her suffer so much.
"That Sikong Kuang is always so elusive. Should I send someone to help you find him?"
Ye Lanshan casually pulled up a stool and sat down, not wanting Ye Luotian involved. "No need. I already have a lead on his whereabouts. He should show up soon."
"Oh, by the way, what's going on between you and Ye Yutian?" Ye Luotian suddenly remembered this as he sat down.
"What could be going on between us?" Ye Lanshan clearly hadn't recalled their past engagement.
Ye Luotian didn't know they'd already called it off, so he asked, "I mean, you didn't see him when you came back before going to the academy, and he hasn't come looking for you this whole time you've been back?"
"Me? We broke off the engagement long ago." Ye Lanshan was indifferent about it.
Ye Luotian fell silent for a moment, thinking that Ye Yutian was indeed unreliable. Good thing he'd already prepared a backup plan for Ye Lanshan.
"Knock, knock, knock. Head of the family, someone's here to see you." A guard knocked cautiously on the door.
"Didn't I tell you? No visitors, no matter who." Ye Lanshan didn't get up to open the door.
"But it's Luo Rui, the head of the Luohua Pavilion in Ye Country. He says it's urgent—something about the Night Prince."
"Got it. You may go." Ye Lanshan had a good impression of Luo Rui, though she found it strange that he'd come to her about Ye Yutian. Still, she got up and headed to the Ye estate's main gate.
"Finally, you're out! Quick, help me talk some sense into Ye Yutian." As soon as Luo Rui saw Ye Lanshan, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to the right.
She let him drag her to a desolate, abandoned temple.
Inside, she saw Lan Youli tied to a pillar, with Ye Yutian holding a sword to his throat, as if about to pierce it any second.
"What's going on here?" Ye Lanshan was stunned. She never expected these two, who had nothing to do with each other, to appear before her like this.
Luo Rui explained quietly, "Lan Youli stole a medicinal herb that the Night Prince desperately needs, so it came to this."
Their exchange caught the attention of the two inside the temple.
Seeing Ye Lanshan, Lan Youli assumed Ye Yutian had sent Luo Rui to capture her. He immediately said, "I'll give you the herb, but you have to let Ye Lanshan go."
Hearing this, Ye Lanshan's mouth twitched. She didn't know what to say.
Ye Yutian watched as this man, who'd been willing to die for that herb, panicked the moment Ye Lanshan showed up and started bargaining without even asking questions. A pang of bitterness hit him.
"Being so rough isn't good. Lan Youli is such an innocent, kind kid—how could he possibly steal your herb? Untie him first, and let's sit down and talk this out." Ye Lanshan deliberately ignored his earlier words and walked over to free him.
Seeing Ye Lanshan not only speak to Ye Yutian like that but actually come to untie him, Lan Youli shouted, "Ye Lanshan, don't worry about me! Run! Ye Yutian is a demon who kills without blinking!"
At his words, Ye Yutian's sword inched forward.
Ye Lanshan's heart leaped as she saw the blade move. She dashed over, pulling out a dagger to push Ye Yutian's sword aside.
Watching her frantic reaction, Ye Yutian's heart soured, and he refused to let her untie Lan Youli.
Ye Lanshan sighed helplessly. "Fine, how about I make him give you the herb first, then untie him?"
After weighing the pros and cons, Ye Yutian agreed.
Reluctantly, Lan Youli produced a medicinal herb.
After Ye Lanshan untied him, she asked, "Why did you steal Ye Yutian's herb?"
Lan Youli said pitifully, "I didn't steal it. I just dug it up while he was fighting a spirit beast."
Ye Lanshan paused for a moment. "What do you need it for? Your family shouldn't be short on herbs, right?"
Lan Youli murmured, "It's one of the ingredients to heal Ye Yu's meridians. Since it's rare and my family doesn't have it, I went out to find it."