Chapter 1032: Where Is the Side Hall?

Chapter 1032: Chapter 1032: Where Is the Side Hall?

If it drags on any longer, not only might he expose himself, but he might also miss the best moment to rescue her.

However, the search process was proving to be exceptionally difficult. Ye Qingchen paused in front of house after house, observing and carefully listening to every trace of sound carried by the wind, yet he couldn’t find any sign of Qin Yue.

His mood grew heavier, and his brow furrowed tightly.

Each time he left a house without finding traces of Qin Yue, his anxiety deepened.

He even began to suspect whether Qin Yue had been moved to another more secretive place or if Jiang Qi had already acted against her. This thought flashed through his mind, further weighing down his mood.

Despite this, Ye Qingchen dared not give up.

He continued searching while recalling his knowledge of the palace city’s layout, trying to identify the most likely place where Qin Yue might be held.

He knew there must be a hidden corner in this palace city, where Jiang Qi was concealing Qin Yue.

As long as he found this place, he could think of a way to rescue Qin Yue.

As time went by, Ye Qingchen’s heart began to race faster, like a heavy stone pressing against his chest.

Determination and urgency flickered in his gaze, and his pace quickened slightly.

But he remained calm, striving to maintain a shred of rational clarity amidst his anxiety.

After all, the more anxious the moment, the more he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes.

As he continued forward, he suddenly heard faint sounds coming from a courtyard not far away.

Ye Qingchen’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly controlled his breathing, stealthily approaching the courtyard, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed gate.

Ye Qingchen hid in the shadows, pressed against the wall, trying to breathe quietly, listening carefully to the sounds coming from inside the yard.

He could hear two servants inside the courtyard talking quietly. One servant lowered his voice, sounding puzzled, and said, "You know, that woman in the side hall—what is the Saint Heir planning to do with her? She’s been here for quite a while, but the Saint Heir hasn’t acted yet. What’s going on with her?"

The other servant also lowered his voice, carrying the same curiosity, and replied, "Yeah, I find it strange too. You know that those women who don’t earn the Saint Heir’s favor are quickly dealt with, right? Yet this woman is still alive; it’s truly unbelievable."

The first servant nodded, displaying a puzzled expression on his face. "The Saint Heir is ruthless; anything he can’t obtain, he’ll mercilessly eliminate. But this woman has been locked up for so long and is still alive—I really don’t know what the Saint Heir is planning."

"Speaking of which," the second servant seemed to recall something and continued with surprise and admiration, "the woman is quite beautiful. Could it be because of this that the Saint Heir hasn’t acted yet?"

The first servant chuckled lightly, with a hint of ambiguity in his eyes, "Pretty indeed, but the Saint Heir has seen many beauties. Could she truly captivate him? I think perhaps the Saint Heir has other plans, or is waiting for some opportunity."

"Who can say?" The second servant shook his head, speaking with a tone of speculation, "Maybe the Saint Heir has other plans for her. After all, it’s rare to see the Saint Heir put so much thought into a woman."

"Who knows?" The first servant shrugged, with a mix of helplessness and curiosity in his voice, "We should stay out of these matters, lest trouble comes our way. The Saint Heir’s intentions aren’t something we servants can guess."

"That’s true." The second servant nodded in agreement, "We’re just servants; we should just take care of our own tasks."

The two shared a smile and began talking about other trivial matters, but Ye Qingchen was no longer paying attention to their conversation. His mind kept echoing the mention of "the woman in the side hall" and the phrase "the Saint Heir hasn’t acted yet."

Ye Qingchen’s heart sank; he was almost certain the woman the servant mentioned was Qin Yue.

She had been confined in the side hall, and Jiang Qi seemed to have special intentions for her—this made Ye Qingchen increasingly anxious and uneasy.

He silently rejoiced in his cautiousness along the way, ensuring he hadn’t missed this crucial clue.

However, this also meant that Qin Yue was still alive, and if he could quickly locate the side hall, there might still be a chance to rescue her. But time was of the essence; he had to act quickly.

With the confirmation of the side hall information, Ye Qingchen’s resolve intensified, a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.

He hesitated no longer, withdrawing quietly into the shadows of the courtyard, rapidly thinking about how to subdue the two servants.

He knew that delaying would only complicate the situation, and he needed to act swiftly.

He silently moved to the corner of the courtyard, quietly approaching the two servants. Before they could detect any danger, Ye Qingchen suddenly leaped out like a panther, moving with incredible speed.

One servant had yet to react when Ye Qingchen’s hand darted out like lightning, gripping his neck and twisting forcefully, causing the servant’s body to collapse limply to the ground, unconscious.

The other servant, seeing his companion suddenly fall, changed his expression dramatically and was about to cry out when Ye Qingchen swiftly kicked his knee. A muffled thud sounded as the man fell to his knees in pain, unable to struggle.

Ye Qingchen then struck his neck sharply with his elbow, knocking him out directly.

Before either could utter a cry for help, Ye Qingchen had swiftly subdued them.

His actions were quick and decisive, leaving the opponents with no chance to react.

Ye Qingchen coldly regarded the two fallen men, a ruthless chill reflected in his gaze.

He bent down and grabbed one servant’s collar, brusquely lifting him from the ground, but the servant remained unconscious.

Ye Qingchen unceremoniously slapped his face several times, then pinched his cheeks forcefully, forcing him to awaken.

The servant slowly opened his eyes, seeing the cold, grim Ye Qingchen in front of him, immediately terrified, starting to tremble uncontrollably. He tried to struggle but found himself unable to move, only able to look at Ye Qingchen with a terrified gaze.

"Where is the side hall you mentioned?"

Ye Qingchen’s voice was chillingly emotionless, like a whisper from Hell. His grip tightened, making the servant’s breathing increasingly difficult, and his face grew paler.

The servant shook his head desperately, uttering broken sounds, "I... I don’t know... I really don’t know..." But his face’s terror and panic betrayed him.