Ning Yunhuan lowered her gaze while taking a sip of tea. "Principal, if you want to know whether my maternal grandfather is currently in Huaxia, you shouldn't be asking me." After a brief pause, she continued, "The Principal should also recall that I was nearly ambushed by some foreign entity at the school last time. I have no idea where these people came from, but ever since then, my husband hasn't allowed me to go out..."

Even without going out, a phone call should have been made. Su Ying was somewhat dissatisfied with her response, but just as he was about to press further, Lan Si, standing nearby, took over a tray holding a small plate of exquisitely roasted, fragrant golden biscuits. He smiled at Su Ying, interrupting the words about to leave his lips:

"Mr. Su, would you care for a few pastries?"

Su Ying managed a slight shake of his head. "No need, Huanhuan..."

"Madam, would the Madam like some more pastries?" Lan Si didn't wait for Su Ying to finish and turned to smile at Ning Yunhuan. Ning Yunhuan glanced at Su Ying’s strained expression, stifled a laugh, and tilted her head up to smile at Lan Si. "Thank you, Uncle Lan."

Lan Si had originally served under Lan's father, and although he later transitioned to serving as the butler for Lan Lingyan, Ning Yunhuan still held him in high regard. At this, Lan Si offered Ning Yunhuan a perfectly polite smile. "Madam, it is my duty." While the two exchanged pleasantries, Su Ying’s face stiffened for a moment, his gaze flickering. "Huanhuan, Elder Lin shouldn't be in the country now, right? After all, the weather in Huaxia is starting to heat up. I heard Mr. Lan previously invited Elder Lin to travel abroad..."

His direct questioning caused Lan Si’s brow to furrow. Before Ning Yunhuan could reply, he spoke up directly: "Mr. Su, we do not know the whereabouts of Elder Lin or the Master. The Madam is a junior; how could she possibly be privy to the affairs of her elders?" This was Lan Si showing his immediate favor toward Ning Yunhuan. Ning Yunhuan smiled at Lan Si, and Lan Si frankly stared at Su Ying. "If Mr. Su has something to say, you should address it to the Master. The Madam is not involved in these matters. I suspect you are unaware of a certain family maxim of the Lan family: anything unrelated to the Lan family's enterprises, even the spouse, is strictly kept out of it." Regardless of whether these endeavors brought fortune or disaster, when the Lan family flourished, the women could certainly enjoy lives of silk and fine food, but true power was never meant to include them. Naturally, danger was also kept separate from them. It was akin to the maxim that misfortune does not touch the wife and children; even if a member of the underworld committed every evil, this creed was adhered to by the majority. By these rules, it was perfectly natural that Ning Yunhuan knew nothing of the Lan family’s affairs or Lin Maoshan's business.

Su Ying’s face turned ashen as he glared at Lan Si, who met the stare with a gentle smile, completely unfazed. After holding the gaze for a while, Su Ying understood that he would glean nothing from his visit today. Though he was likely boiling with anger inwardly, he managed to suppress the torrent of emotions, offering only a calm smile. "Since it is inconvenient to speak of it, I shall not linger. I bid you farewell now. Student Ning, please take good care of your health. The school eagerly awaits your return."

Now that everything had been laid bare, Su Ying’s demeanor was no longer the affectionate one he had previously shown. Ning Yunhuan understood his position, nodding with a smile, neither losing her bearings because of his past closeness nor feeling uneasy due to his present distance.

Although Su Ying failed to extract any information from Ning Yunhuan, it did not mean he would abandon his pursuit. His fate was inextricably linked to that of the Su family—they succeeded together or failed together. Lin Maoshan had clearly shown signs of dissatisfaction with Su's father. Su Ying was well aware of his father's intentions: nothing more than finding a suitable successor to hand over his current position during the upcoming transition, planning to reclaim the seat once Su Ying had sufficient tenure and experience within the school. He intended to emulate the Lin family’s example, ensuring the Su family’s glory would last not just for a moment, but for an entire era.

Because the position was so alluring, even Su Ying, a scholar, could not truly remain indifferent to fame and fortune at this juncture. His reputation was now widespread; having served as the principal of Imperial Capital University for so many years, his conduct was observed by all, greatly enhancing his prestige. With some calculated maneuvering, the Su family was highly confident that the position of the Head of State would eventually fall to Su Ying.

Yet, at this very moment, Lin Maoshan, from some unknown source, seemed to have caught wind of the Su family’s plans, and now he was conspicuously absent. While Su Ying’s competence as principal over the last few years was undeniable, his widespread influence largely stemmed from people aged twenty to thirty. During Lin Maoshan’s tenure, the entire Huaxia knew of him. It wasn't just the younger generation who knew this now-retired Head of State; many elderly citizens spoke of him with palpable reverence. Furthermore, the Lin family had cultivated talent and influence across generations—the Su family dared not underestimate this accumulated capital.

More importantly, even though Lin Maoshan had stepped down as Head of State, he still held the rank of Marshal within the military. The position of Head of State rotated every five years, and Su's father had been in power for over four years, nearly five, yet he had failed to secure even a sliver of authority in the military, which remained firmly grasped by the Lin family. This naturally instilled a growing panic in Su's father. His current intent to betray the Lin family was the result of long and careful deliberation.

The Su family’s network was working overtime to build momentum. Since Su's father had been in office for years, many individuals had become closely aligned with him. The Lin family had kept too low a profile for too long; only a handful of top-tier figures understood Lin Maoshan’s true standing. Many officials of the newer generation were likely more familiar with Su's father. Consequently, a significant number of people sided with Su's father.

As the entirety of Huaxia settled into a strange state of tension, with high-level figures on edge, Su's father began his maneuver. He started highlighting the faults of many within the Lin faction, using various pretexts to bring down a cadre of people in rapid succession. The Lin faction, naturally unwilling to perish passively, initiated a counterattack. The citizens of Huaxia, accustomed to watching entertainment news, only learned of state affairs through the daily broadcasts. Now, they were witnessing the Head of State frequently appearing and taking swift, decisive action against numerous individuals. While this momentarily stunned the public, it inevitably led many to conclude that Su's father had lived up to his reputation during his years in office.

People only saw what was immediately apparent. Witnessing the Head of State’s resolute actions, praise for the Su family erupted. Among the major players, everyone began to suspect that Lin Maoshan might have misjudged the situation, raising a viper to strike at his own heel. As the world awaited the Lin family's downfall, Lan Lingyan waited—the opportunity he had long sought had finally matured.

The explosive news broke: the mass production of Yingguo poison within the laboratories of Imperial Capital University. When a special unit from Huaxia stormed the facility, they discovered nearly two thousand kilograms of Yingguo poison, filling an entire laboratory to the brim. The news sent shockwaves across the globe!

Ning Yunhuan sat in the living room, watching the news footage where the people inside the lab—their faces a mixture of astonishment and terror—were being handcuffed by masked, heavily armed special police. One familiar figure was pushed along among the arrested group. Song Minran had completely shed his usual gentle and refined demeanor; he appeared frantic, his glasses askew. He was shouting something, his face flushed crimson, but the scene was too chaotic. Reporters, like keen hounds catching a scent, had already gathered outside, their cameras clicking incessantly—‘kacha, kacha’—amidst deafening cries and wails. Even the female reporter holding the microphone could barely be heard.

"...Police acted on prior intelligence in a covert operation, finally dismantling the drug den in one fell swoop," the female reporter managed to shout before the camera pivoted to show soldiers in camouflage uniforms, brandishing rifles and standing guard, leaping from the backs of military trucks. Rows upon rows of green trucks had nearly blocked the road to the horizon, a dense wall of soldiers completely surrounding the technology research building of Imperial Capital University.

"...This is Huaxia Daily reporting..." As the female reporter finished her final sentence, a non-commissioned officer unceremoniously pushed her aside. The screen instantly cut to the studio, where the previous clamor vanished in a heartbeat, leaving the world in sudden quiet.

Ning Yunhuan was staring blankly when the butler, Lan Si, brought her shoes and coat. "Madam, the Master has called; he will arrive at the foot of the mountain in about fifteen minutes."

At this critical juncture, Lan Lingyan had created such a massive disturbance. Hearing about those two thousand kilograms of Yingguo poison made the goosebumps rise all over Ning Yunhuan’s body. That amount of material would require a full truck just to transport it. She couldn't fathom how Lan Lingyan had managed to sneak so much into Huaxia without anyone noticing, evading Su's father's surveillance and concealing it within the university labs without Su Ying’s knowledge. The man she had feared before now inspired an even deeper terror in her.

It was a perfectly executed double blow: he eliminated Song Minran, achieving revenge, and the magnitude of the incident ensured Song Minran could never recover, regardless of his connections—as a member of the lab team, his fate was sealed. Moreover, Lan Lingyan used this event to deliver a crushing blow to the Su family. Su's father had allocated funds for a research project in the laboratory at Su Ying’s university. While this had seemed beneficial before, this scandal meant Su's father could not escape implication. He would face suspicion of collusion with his son to acquire illicit wealth, as well as abusing his power—as the Head of State, he had broken the very laws he was sworn to uphold by engaging in such a harmful enterprise.

Regardless of the specific charge, either outcome was enough to end Su's father’s political career and potentially cost him dearly for the rest of his life. Even if he could clear himself of manufacturing the poison, the resulting scandal from such poor governance alone could warrant life imprisonment.

And Su Ying would fare no better. The greater the fame and prestige the father and son once held, the more severe their downfall would be from this revelation. Since the incident occurred on Su Ying's turf, he would face consequences even more severe than his father. At minimum, he could not evade the charge of gross dereliction of duty. Given the immense quantity of Yingguo poison involved, imprisonment might be the best Su Ying could hope for; there was always the terrifying possibility of a death sentence.