The imperial concubine was somewhat surprised to hear that someone was visiting her.
Who else in the palace was a newcomer she didn't know about?
"Let her in," Noble Consort Yun said.
Upon seeing the visitor, Noble Consort Yun was stunned. This newcomer seemed unfamiliar, as if she had never seen her before. "How dare you not kneel before Noble Consort Yun!" a palace maid beside her scolded coldly.
Noble Consort Yun waved her hand, "It's alright. The newcomer might not understand the rules. Raise your head for me."
Xue Zi Ning raised her head. Noble Consort Yun trembled all over. That gaze made her feel uncomfortable because it was too familiar, so familiar that she felt as if she had dreamed of it.
This was the feeling she got from that high-ranking woman in the past, making her tremble, as if she could imagine the great fear that woman had once instilled in her.
Xue Zi Ning had not expected Noble Consort Yun to look at her, her lips trembling, her entire state deteriorating.
The palace maid beside her quickly patted Noble Consort Yun's chest. It took a while for Noble Consort Yun to recover.
Looking at Xue Zi Ning, her gaze was full of hostility. "Who exactly are you?"
"Your Ladyship, please calm your anger. This person is now the master residing in Anning Palace. His Majesty specifically gave the order," Rong Cui said quickly, realizing something was amiss.
Upon hearing this, Noble Consort Yun suddenly burst into laughter. "Is His Majesty old? He actually believes people can be reborn? Doesn't he know that the dead are just dead?"
Xue Zi Ning listened, completely confused. The palace maid seemed to whisper something in Noble Consort Yun's ear. Noble Consort Yun calmed down considerably but looked at Xue Zi Ning with displeasure. "His Majesty is truly old. It was one thing to find similar women before, but now that he's so old, he still wants to find similar women? How ridiculous..."
Saying this, Noble Consort Yun suddenly stopped speaking, her expression turning much more sorrowful.
Seeing this, the palace maid said, "Your Ladyship is not feeling well. Please show the guest out!"
Xue Zi Ning walked out of Ping'an Palace, surprised by Noble Consort Yun's attitude. Did her appearance resemble someone?
"Rong Cui, did Noble Consort Yun mistake me for someone she knew?" Xue Zi Ning asked. Da Feng Novel Network
Rong Cui thought for a moment, "It should be because of the former Empress."
The former Empress? This was the first time Xue Zi Ning had heard of this person.
Seeing her surprise, Rong Cui gave a bitter smile. "The former Empress was the mother of Princess Anning."
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. So she was Anning's mother. "Has she been gone for many years?"
Rong Cui nodded, her gaze slightly lowered as if thinking about something or perhaps reminiscing. Xue Zi Ning asked, "What kind of person was she?"
Rong Cui smiled. This was the first time Xue Zi Ning had seen Rong Cui smile, a genuine smile.
"The former Empress was a very kind person. Even if a palace servant made a mistake, the former Empress would only reprimand them lightly, and very few were truly punished. At that time, all the palace servants liked the former Empress. However, after the former Empress gave birth to His Highness, her body became increasingly weak, and she eventually passed away."
Rong Cui seemed very sad.
"Were you someone by the former Empress's side?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Rong Cui paused, then nodded. "Yes, I was a young palace maid by the former Empress's side. Later, I was assigned by the former Empress to Princess Anning, and since then, I have followed Princess Anning."
"Was Noble Consort Yun very afraid of the former Empress?"
Upon hearing this, Rong Cui gave a cold laugh. "If the former Empress were still alive, she likely wouldn't have any standing here."
Beauty is fleeting, Xue Zi Ning thought to herself.
"Young Master Yun." Rong Cui saw Yun Duan Hai shielding Xue Zi Ning behind him.
Yun Duan Hai smiled lazily, "So it's Rong Cui. What? Bringing your new master out to get acquainted with the paths again?"
"Young Master Yun, please watch your words," Rong Cui said coldly.
Yun Duan Hai stepped forward and pushed Rong Cui, furious. "What right do you have to interrupt when I'm speaking? Oh, where did His Imperial Uncle find this young lady? She's so beautiful?"
As he spoke, his hand reached out to touch Xue Zi Ning's face. Unfortunately, before he could get close, his fingers were caught by Xue Zi Ning, who said coldly, "Young Master Yun, please be more respectful."
Young Master Yun withdrew his hand and said coldly, "If it weren't for too many people around His Imperial Uncle, I would have taken you, this little lady, as my wife, Young Master Yun's wife."
"Young Master Yun, you shouldn't speak carelessly. I just visited Ping'an Palace and saw Noble Consort Yun. If you keep pestering me like this, I won't go to Noble Consort Yun to reason with her, but directly to Prince An."
Young Master Yun gritted his teeth. "You win. Don't worry, the person I fancy will never escape my grasp."
After saying this, Yun Duan Hai left angrily.
Rong Cui frowned and asked, "Your Majesty, you didn't mention Young Master Yun to Noble Consort Yun. What if Young Master Yun questions her, wouldn't that..."
Xue Zi Ning smiled, "What's there to be afraid of? If he dares to question her, isn't he afraid Noble Consort Yun will get angry?"
Seeing that Rong Cui still didn't understand, she continued, "Prince Changping is currently in the capital, and the First Prince has been sent to the frontier to eliminate bandits by Prince An. Noble Consort Yun can only rely on the Duke of Yun's mansion for help. She is trying her best not to offend the Duke of Yun's mansion now, and the Duke of Yun's mansion is the same. Without Noble Consort Yun, they are nothing. Does Yun Duan Hai dare to question Noble Consort Yun? He wouldn't dare, even with ten times the courage."
Rong Cui breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said, "Your Majesty understands much more."
"I'm tired and want to go back and rest," Xue Zi Ning said.
Cui Rong looked at the somewhat tired Xue Zi Ning and nodded. "I will help you back."
Upon returning to her room, Xue Zi Ning made an excuse for Cui Rong to rest. Seeing that she was alone, she then spread out her palm. Earlier, when she was talking with Yun Duan Hai, she had given the ashes she had hidden last night to Yun Duan Hai, and Yun Duan Hai had also given her a note.
She unfolded the note. It only contained a few words: tomorrow is Noble Consort Yun's birthday.
She frowned. Did Yun Duan Hai intend to make a fuss on Noble Consort Yun's birthday?
Perhaps it was because of this progress. She felt much better.
In the imperial study, Prince An looked at the guard whom Han Xi Chen had killed yesterday, now standing before him alive and well. It was impossible not to be shocked.
"Greetings, Your Majesty!"
Prince An excitedly got off his chair, walked to the guard, and examined him. "Don't you feel anything is wrong?"
The guard was stunned and looked at Prince An. "Your Majesty, you..."
"Don't you feel any pain in your chest?" Prince An felt it was too shocking. How could someone truly come back to life? Yet, such a thing had happened before his very eyes, forcing him to believe.
"No... no..." The guard quickly shook his head.
Han Xi Chen looked at Prince An's astonished expression and slowly said, "Can Prince An believe it now?"
Prince An looked up at Han Xi Chen. "Since Prince An has seen it, I have fulfilled my promise. And you? What about Prince An's promise to me?"
Prince An was stunned, his gaze on Han Xi Chen deepening. "What do you want?"
Han Xi Chen chuckled softly, his tone somewhat cold. "What do you think of this technique of bringing the dead back to life?"
Prince An wanted to blurt out "good," but he suppressed himself and didn't. "It's just so-so!"
"Prince An is not satisfied? Since you are not satisfied, there is no need to continue talking. Farewell!" Saying this, Han Xi Chen turned to leave.
Prince An was stunned and quickly said, "Don't go..."