Yuan Hui received the news of his mother and sister’s mishap in the afternoon. At that time, he was sharing tea with Shen Xiaohai. Although his typically benevolent expression remained calm, a subtle and nearly imperceptible trace of irritation surfaced.

  From the moment the fate star of the sixth miss of the Song family began to shine, everything had deviated from its original course. Prince Duan, who was destined to rise as the imperial star, had fallen, while the fate star of Zhou Weizhao, who was supposed to vanish, had begun to glow.

  Yuan Hui had wanted to eliminate this girl, who carried dual fates and held immense influence over the grand scheme. However, he was shocked to discover how unexpectedly difficult the task had proven to be.

  Song Chuyi had managed to escape unharmed despite being surrounded by so many assassins. Even though she had the help of the Heir Apparent and Ye Jingchuan, her survival was still remarkable. Yuan Hui had already sent Shen Xiaohai and the assassins left behind by Prince Duan to shadow her for some time, convinced that he had complete knowledge of her surroundings. Yet, the unexpected had still occurred.

  His resolve to kill Song Chuyi deepened. When something defies the norm, it must conceal something sinister. A person with such an unclear fate, affecting the fates of others, had no pce in this world and could only bring harm to the people.

  Shen Xiaohai cautiously observed Yuan Hui’s expression. After coughing a few times to clear his throat, he sighed. “This Sixth Miss of the Song family is truly extraordinary. If she were that easy to deal with, my daughter-in-w wouldn’t be that girl from the Tong family…”

  The faint irritation in Yuan Hui’s brow quickly vanished. His lips pressed downward, his eyes closed, and his back remained straight and rigid.

  The Song family dared not publicly expose the attack on Song Chuyi, nor did they dare to report it to the authorities—unless they truly intended for her reputation as a "lone star" to spread even further.

  If this attempt failed, there would be another. Yuan Hui was determined to send this girl, whose life was so inexplicably resilient, back to where she belonged. A ghost from hell should remain in the depths of suffering, awaiting reincarnation. To defy fate and change her destiny by returning? Even the gods would not tolerate such a breach of the natural order.

  He gnced at Shen Xiaohai. "If the heir truly wishes to align himself with His Highness, he should demonstrate some sincerity. Failing at every turn simply won't do."

  No matter how loyal a chess piece might be, it becomes worthless if it serves no purpose and can be discarded at any moment. Shen Xiaohai, already halfway through his tea, nearly choked, his face turning slightly red as he nodded repeatedly.

  Initially, he had thought that Marquis Wuning's family would be a decent connection. Having been established in the northwest for years, even after stepping down, they should still have some influence. However, he hadn't anticipated that the family was nothing more than an embroidered pillow—pretty on the outside, useless within.

  This predicament was exacerbated by Shen Qingrang’s inability to get along with Tong Shao. What was supposed to be a union through marriage had turned into a bitter feud.

  Given the circumstances, Shen Xiaohai had no choice but to focus on repairing the retionship with his son, hoping that aligning with Marquis Wuning would gain them favor with the Prince. Simultaneously, he worked to strengthen his ties with Yuan Hui and the Prince of Commandery.

  Yuan Hui, seeing Shen Xiaohai nod in understanding, shifted his focus elsewhere and softly instructed, "Now that this has happened, the Song family will likely either rush to arrange a marriage for the Sixth Miss or send her to the Cui family in Jinzhong to secure her future. Keep an eye on when she pns to set off."

  Whether on the road or elsewhere, preparations could be made. Even if the Song family had Song Jue escort her personally, the journey would be fraught with challenges.

  Shen Xiaohai grasped the meaning instantly, nodding fervently. He hesitated for a moment, then cautiously said, "Miss Song seems to have... recognized my useless son..."

  While the Song family might not report to the authorities, dealing with his family would be as easy as squashing an ant.

  Yuan Hui remained silent, like a cy statue of Buddha, his serene expression unchanging. "This is your own problem. How could this monk be of any help?"

  Shen Xiaohai, feeling slighted, sighed and paced the room a few times before taking his leave.

  As he exited, a young novice monk hurried in, his expression grave as he bowed to Yuan Hui and addressed him as "Master."

  "Master, Aunt Huang and Miss Huang are missing... They were supposed to deliver vegetables this morning, but they never arrived. I immediately sent someone down the mountain to check, but neither of them is at home..."

  Both his mother and sister were known for their punctuality. If they promised to deliver vegetables at a certain time, they never deyed. Yuan Hui's brow twitched, an uncharacteristic unease stirring within him. He rose immediately and ordered, "Bring Yuanjue to me!"

  Yuanjue arrived te, wiping sweat from his forehead. After greeting Yuan Hui, he reported gravely, "The people we pced near Aunt Huang and Miss Huang know nothing. It’s as if they vanished into thin air..."

  There was no such thing as a true haven of peace in this world. Yuan Hui had carefully arranged a safe haven for his mother and sister at the foot of the Huangjue Temple. He had handpicked every household nearby to ensure their safety. Yet, even those trusted individuals failed to notice their disappearance.

  Something had gone terribly wrong.

  The first person Yuan Hui suspected was Song Chuyi. His gaze briefly flickered with cold malice. As much as he hated to admit it, the Sixth Miss of the Song family was indeed formidable. Most people, faced with her current predicament, would have panicked, especially given that she had recognized Shen Qingrang.

  But Song Chuyi had avoided that fool entirely and targeted Yuan Hui instead.

  If that were the case, she was even more dangerous than he had imagined. She must be eliminated.

  "Search!" Yuan Hui’s voice was cold and expressionless as he turned to Yuanjue. "Investigate thoroughly. Even in just one night, it is impossible for anyone to vanish without a trace. Once they are found, kill them on sight!"

  That chilling word, "kill," coming from a monk, did not seem out of pce. Yuan Hui had earned his reputation as a ruthless figure during his time in Fujian.

  This Sixth Miss of the Song family truly had the audacity to abduct people right from the foot of Huangjue Temple... Yuanjue, with hands pressed together in a solemn bow, acknowledged the order and swiftly left the room.