Chapter 184: The Emperor’s Chain of Schemes

Ye Siyi thought that everyone was busy finding a place to rest and that no one was paying attention to her.

However, as soon as she started to dart into the forest, Ye Chutang noticed her.

Ye Chutang wasn’t staring at Ye Siyi; she had only glanced at her position earlier when Qi He’an rushed into the forest, just in case something unexpected happened.

She said to Qi Yanzhou, “Ye Siyi is probably up to no good. Go check on Third Brother.”

No sooner had she finished speaking than Ye Siyi let out a shriek and came running out of the forest.

“Ah, get away, get away!”

She waved her arms and ran around in a panic as if trying to avoid something.

At first, everyone didn’t take it seriously and just watched her run around like a joke.

Then, suddenly, a buzzing sound filled the air.

Someone shouted, “Hornets! There are so many hornets!”

Ye Chutang quickly grabbed a waterproof tarpaulin from the cart and covered it over the Qi family members.

“Squat down, the poison from hornets is very strong. While it’s not deadly, being stung can cause intense pain.”

Moreover, if someone gets stung multiple times or if it hits sensitive areas like the nerves, it can be fatal.

The Qi family members immediately crouched down, tucking in the edges of the tarpaulin to prevent the hornets from getting in.

Madam Xu, who had been concerned about her son needing to go to the toilet, was now on the verge of tears.

“He’er is still outside, what should we do?”

As soon as she spoke, she realized her mistake.

Her son, of course, she would save him!

“I need to go find He’er. I’ll move slowly to ensure the hornets don’t get in.”

The yellow tarpaulin was slightly translucent, and one could clearly see hornets landing on it.

The stingers of the hornets flicked up and down, ready to strike with their lethal sting.

Ye Chutang grabbed Madam Xu’s arm.

“Aunt, let Ah Zhou handle it. He’s skilled.”

She made this decision not to send Qi Yanzhou into danger but because the arrival of the hornets seemed suspicious, and caution was necessary.

While the tarpaulin could protect them from the hornets, it wouldn’t protect them from other dangers.

Qi Yanzhou understood what Ye Chutang meant and nodded.

“I won’t call out to you, don’t come out.”

Ye Chutang quickly reminded him, “There’s another tarpaulin on the cart. Hornets are afraid of smoke. You can light the hay for the donkey with some water.”

“I understand. You be careful too.”

After saying this, Qi Yanzhou quickly crawled out from under the tarpaulin.

He quickly tucked in the edges to ensure no hornet could get through.

Their conversation alerted Old Master Qi.

He anxiously asked, “Tang’er, do you think the hornets were placed on purpose?”

Ye Chutang wasn’t sure and shook her head.

“Father, I’m not certain, but there’s a possibility.”

She then placed her hand on the grass, sensing the positions of everyone around them.

The sounds of footsteps were chaotic, everyone was desperately running.

Now and then, they heard splashing sounds, likely from people who had been stung and jumped into the lake to escape.

Crying and shouting filled the air, masking the sounds of danger approaching.

Madam Xu was so nervous that she was drenched in sweat, desperately holding back her tears.

She sincerely prayed, “The Second Young Master and He’er must not be harmed!”

As soon as her words left her mouth, Ye Chutang caught the scent of smoke from the hay that wasn’t fully burning.

She was about to move the three people away from the thick smoke when Qi Yanzhou shouted, “Ah Tang, lie down!”

When the voice sounded, Ye Chutang’s body reacted faster than her mind. She quickly threw the three people to the ground.

“Whoosh!”

A soft sound of something flying through the air passed overhead.

It wasn’t an arrow, but a short, small sword.

Ye Chutang knew that staying under the tarpaulin would only result in passively enduring the attack.

“Father, mother, stay hidden, I’ll go help Ah Zhou.”

Madam Xu was worried about Ye Chutang and instinctively tried to grab her.

But as soon as she touched the corner of her clothes, Ye Chutang had vanished.

Vanished!

Madam Xu thought she might be seeing things, rubbing her eyes hard.

The more she rubbed, the blurrier her vision became.

Old Madam Qi noticed that Madam Xu’s eyes were bloodshot from rubbing them. She quickly grabbed her arm and asked, “Xu, what’s wrong with your eyes?”

“Old Madam, I thought I saw…”

Madam Xu spoke halfway, not daring to continue.

Because no one would believe her.

Also, after being knocked to the ground by Ye Chutang, her head had hit the earth, making her dizzy.

Perhaps she had seen it wrong.

Perhaps it was because the Madam’s martial arts were so high that she moved too fast and seemed to disappear.