The Fourth Prince's words did remind Hong Fang that there were simply too many unknowns about Ye Lingyue.

Previously, the origin of the Black Medicine Powder from General Nangong's Mansion had yet to be clarified, and now here came Ten Thousand Pounds of Moon Iron. How could a girl, without any power or money, possess such heaven-defying abilities?

However, the amount of Moon Iron was indeed huge, and as a strategic resource of Daxia, it was recorded by the officials.

It wasn't difficult for Hong Fang to investigate.

After some twists and turns, Hong Fang learned news that surprised him even more.

The top-quality Moon Iron turned out to be provided by the Ye Family.

The Ye Family! The Ye Family from Li City, whose former identity was precisely the Ye Family from Qiufeng Town.

When he heard this name, a memory that Hong Fang had forgotten for a long time came back to him.

How could it be the Ye Family.

Hong Fang's thoughts gradually became chaotic.

The age of Ye Lingyue, her hostile attitude toward him, her appearance, piecing everything together, the doubts in Hong Fang's heart grew heavier.

Could it be her?

That abandoned foolish girl?

Impossible. The records from Killing Hall clearly showed that the fool had died before she even left the Xia Capital as a newborn.

Her grave is still outside of Xia Capital to this day.

Or was it merely a coincidental fate?

"Great General, why do you look so troubled, has something happened?" Xia Houhong had known Hong Fang for so long, he had never seen him look this bad. Is this the unflappable Grand Protector he knew?

"Fourth Prince, not to hide it from you, I suddenly suspect that Ye Lingyue might be my long-lost daughter," said Hong Fang, his expression changing.

"Oh, the Great General has a daughter? But isn't Ye Lingyue the second young lady from the Lan Residence?" Xia Houhong was also surprised, as he had never heard that Hong Yulang had a third daughter.

"A family's shame must not be spread abroad. The child was born a fool, and her mother was just a lowly concubine who violated the rules of my mansion and was driven out by me. There has been no news of her all these years," Hong Fang naturally wouldn't admit that he had abandoned his wife and daughter, so he put it more gently.

"A fool? Great General, you're not joking, are you sure you're talking about Ye Lingyue?" Xia Houhong was speechless.

If anyone dared call Ye Lingyue a fool, Xia Houhong truly wouldn't know who in the world wasn't a fool.

That woman's wit and schemes were among the most vicious Xia Houhong had ever seen.

"I only have my suspicions, and I have looked into it before; the two should not be the same person," Hong Fang was most perplexed by this point.

According to reason, the report from Killing Hall would absolutely not be mistaken.

"Great General, have you considered it carefully? If Ye Lingyue really is your daughter, are you prepared to sacrifice family for justice? As the Master of Moon City she made private purchases of Moon Iron and has been secretly training Alchemists without reporting to the court. Just these points alone are enough to prove her malicious intent. This Prince was just about to report to the court," the Fourth Prince had been looking for a handle on Ye Lingyue, but unfortunately, most of what Ye Lingyue did was clean and decisive. Even with the Fourth Prince's careful plotting, he found no opportunity. But now, a rare chance had come.

"Fourth Prince, Hong Mou has always enforced justice impartially. Let alone that Ye Lingyue's identity is not yet confirmed, even if she truly is my own daughter, her reckless actions and disregard for court Precepts constitute a grave error. I only regret that military affairs are so busy that I cannot personally see justice done," Hong Fang spoke with a righteous bearing.

With a "whoosh" sound.

While Hong Fang and Xia Houhong were deep in conversation, they suddenly heard a noise.

The Tiger Wolf General Nie Fengxing entered with his Deputy General Ye Huang. The Military Map in Ye Huang's hand had fallen to the ground, and when Nie Fengxing saw it, his eyebrows furrowed.

Just now, the conversation that Xia Houhong and Hong Fang had, Tiger Wolf General Nie Fengxing probably also caught some of it.

Today, military matters are pressing, and General Nie Fengxing came in without notice along with Vice General Ye, only to overhear the household issues of Hong Fang.

"General Nie, Vice General Ye?" Hong Fang didn't notice Vice General Ye's agitation and came forward to greet them.

"Fourth Prince, Great General, we've discovered a new pack of Spiritual Beasts near Qi City. They're numerous and have already attacked several nearby villages; we need to dispatch troops for reinforcement immediately." Nie Fengxing looked at Vice General Ye with some concern.

He was also aware that Vice General Ye valued Ye Lingyue greatly; the conspiracy between Hong Fang and the Fourth Prince to frame Ye Lingyue would surely make her deeply worried.

In fact, throughout the following military strategy meeting, Ye Huangyu didn't absorb a single word of the plans discussed by Hong Fang, Nie Fengxing, and the others.

Her mind was solely occupied by the words she had heard from Hong Fang and the Fourth Prince.

Hong Fang, you heartless wretch, waves of hatred surged within her, one after another.

Ye Huangyu, on several occasions, had the impulse to draw her bow and release an arrow at that beast with a human face, Hong Fang, and kill him with one shot.

Fourteen years ago, that bastard harmed Ling Yue and it wasn't enough; now, he wanted to harm her again.

That time, she failed to protect Ye Lingyue; this time, she must not repeat the same mistake.

Her rage was so evident that even Nie Fengxing nearby sensed it.

Just when Ye Huangyu was about to lose control and draw her bow, Nie Fengxing suddenly grabbed her hand.

"Great General, Fourth Prince, I'm not feeling well and need to excuse myself from the meeting. Vice General Ye, you come with me," said Nie Fengxing. Ignoring the furious look in Ye Huangyu's eyes, he pulled her out of the military camp.

The Fourth Prince and the other generals were all surprised, while only Hong Fang sneered coldly.

Nie Fengxing, oh Nie Fengxing, do you really care so little for your own prospects and life, all for the sake of a man?

After leaving the military camp, Nie Fengxing dragged Ye Huangyu aside, unable to suppress his anger, and scolded:

"Have you lost your mind? That was the military camp; you wanted to assassinate an Imperial Mandate!"

Nie Fengxing knew Vice General Ye too well. His usual posture when shooting an arrow, and the fluctuations of his Primordial Power, all indicated that, in that moment earlier, Ye Huangyu had the intention to kill.

He wanted to kill Hong Fang.

"He deserves to die!" Ye Huangyu was on the verge of breaking down. For over a decade, she had been harboring the hatred of the past, waiting for over ten years.

That man destroyed everything she had.

Now, he also wanted to destroy everything her daughter had.

Even if it meant a fight to the death, she was determined to kill Hong Fang.

"You!"

Nie Fengxing was frustrated at her failure to meet expectations, raising his hand in anger. When his palm reached the side of Ye Huangyu's face, it trembled weakly, and in the end, Nie Fengxing couldn't bring himself to give her the slap.

Ye Huangyu stubbornly turned her head away.

"Vice General Ye, damn it, is that all the backbone you have? Have you thought about the consequences? Even if you killed Hong Fang, what about your family, and what about Ye Lingyue? Not to mention, you simply can't kill him." Nie Fengxing was well aware of Hong Fang's strength; Hong Fang was, at the very least, an expert of the Reincarnation Second Realm or above.

Even risking their own lives, he and Vice General Ye couldn't kill their adversary.

The Ye Family, Ling Yue.

Thinking of her relatives and beloved daughter, Ye Huangyu could no longer hold back and started to cry.

Her wails were heart-wrenching, pouring out all the grievances she had endured for over a decade.