"Prince An, it is not too late for you to know now," Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
"Prince An, do not fall for her scheme to sow discord. What benefit would I gain from deceiving you?" Han Xi Chen said coldly.
Prince An frowned. Xue Zi Ning continued, "Of course there are benefits, because he wants to monopolize Ming Zhan Zhu."
Prince An trembled all over and looked at Han Xi Chen.
Han Xi Chen acted as if he had heard something incredibly funny and burst into laughter. "Prince An, do you believe such a ridiculous thing?"
"I believe it," Prince An replied, uttering the word.
Han Xi Chen's smile slowly faded. He looked at Prince An and said, "Prince An, do not be swayed by her words. I am like a mother to her."
"Because you lack maternal love, you want to hold onto the little warmth you have, whether it is Ming Zhan Zhu or An Ning, it is the same," Xue Zi Ning said, word by word.
"Shut up," Han Xi Chen said, his eyes filled with coldness as he looked at Xue Zi Ning.
"See? Because I am right, he is enraged," Xue Zi Ning said.
Prince An looked at Han Xi Chen coldly. "So, from the beginning, you intended to revive Ah Zhan and monopolize her?"
Upon hearing this, Han Xi Chen looked at Prince An and sneered, "Besides me, no one else in this world can revive her."
"She can," Prince An said, pointing at Xue Zi Ning.
Han Xi Chen laughed. "Ask her if she can. How can she revive someone when she has no power?"
Prince An fell silent. After a long pause, he asked, "How can Ah Zhan be revived?"
Han Xi Chen suddenly pointed at Xue Zi Ning and said, "Ah Zhan's soul is in her body."
Han Xi Chen's words made Xue Zi Ning tremble. Ming Zhan Zhu's soul was in her body? How was that possible?
Prince An also did not believe it. "Han Xi Chen, is what you are saying true?"
"Specifically, it is on An Ning, but An Ning is within her, so it is all within her."
Prince An's gaze deepened. "Han Xi Chen, you are not misleading me?"
"No," Han Xi Chen replied.
Prince An looked towards Xue Zi Ning and suddenly exclaimed, "Where did they go?"
Han Xi Chen also noticed that the two people who were just standing there had disappeared.
"Summon guards to pursue them!" Han Xi Chen shouted angrily.
Outside the palace, two figures appeared out of thin air. Xue Zi Ning swayed, and Yun Wei Shu quickly supported her.
Only then did Yun Wei Shu realize how weak Xue Zi Ning's body had become.
"Your Majesty, you cannot exert yourself any further," Yun Wei Shu said worriedly.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Let's leave quickly."
"Can you manage?" Yun Wei Shu asked with concern.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "I can manage."
But only she knew that she had already expended all her strength.
Her steps were unsteady now, and she had no strength left.
However, she was not someone who gave up easily. She had released all her power, hoping that Yan Zhao could find her.
"Hurry," Xue Zi Ning whispered.
Yun Wei Shu did not dare to delay any longer and helped her forward.
"Don't go on the main road, head to the east city." The east city had many commoners, and the houses were complex. Perhaps here, Han Xi Chen would have a harder time finding them.
Soon, sounds were heard from behind. Xue Zi Ning knew that walking like this was too slow, but she had no strength to carry Yun Wei Shu any further.
Suddenly, a voice came from outside. "Xue Zi Ning, if you don't come out, I will set this place on fire. Although this is An Cheng, these are also your people."
"Han Xi Chen is so cruel, he wants to burn us to death," Yun Wei Shu said through gritted teeth, furious.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the sky-high flames spreading across the entire east city. She pushed Yun Wei Shu away and said, "You wait here for Xue Jing Yun. When he arrives, tell him that I and the child are waiting for him..."
"Your Majesty..."
But Yun Wei Shu could not even grab her sleeve.
She watched helplessly as Xue Zi Ning walked out.
"I am here, no need to search anymore," Xue Zi Ning said coldly to Han Xi Chen.
Han Xi Chen walked forward, sneering. "I said, if you run a hundred times, I will have a hundred opportunities to capture you. Xue Zi Ning, you cannot escape. Do you know why?"
Xue Zi Ning looked at him coldly. He continued, "Because you are too soft-hearted, too soft-hearted to watch them suffer. Xue Zi Ning, am I right?"
"I am here, tell them to extinguish the fire. My grievances with you have nothing to do with them," Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
Han Xi Chen waved his hand. "Extinguish the fire."
The great fire was quickly put out. Han Xi Chen said, "How about that? I am a man of my word. Let's go!"
Xue Zi Ning walked towards the carriage and got in.
Han Xi Chen sat down.
"You want to revive Ming Zhan Zhu. Do you think she would be willing?"
Han Xi Chen smiled upon hearing this. "Don't you want to live forever?"
"A dead person being revived? Seeing the people and things around them are no longer the same as before might be a form of cruelty for her."
"That is merely an excuse you make for yourself. I, this king, am determined to have her," Han Xi Chen said.
Xue Zi Ning stopped speaking. The carriage entered the palace directly and finally stopped. Han Xi Chen said, "Get off."
After alighting from the carriage, Xue Zi Ning saw a large wooden tub inside the hall, filled with green liquid.
Her body trembled. She would never forget how, in Miao Jiang, Fan Min had forcibly pushed her into a wooden tub and separated her soul.
Han Xi Chen, seeing her slow pace, sneered. "What? Familiar?"
She looked at Han Xi Chen. "How do you know this?"
She had not taught him this soul-stripping technique. How did he know?
"You do not need to know. Xue Zi Ning, you think you are clever, but there is always someone better."
"Who exactly are you?" Xue Zi Ning asked Han Xi Chen word by word.
"You do not need to know," Han Xi Chen replied. He looked at her and said, "Did I invite you in? Or are you going in yourself?"
Xue Zi Ning touched her belly and looked up at Han Xi Chen. "I will go in myself."
She protected her belly with all her strength and walked towards the wooden tub step by step.
My child, do not be afraid, Mother will protect you.
Yan Zhao, I have failed you too much in this life. I will make amends in the next.
"Your Highness, what is wrong?" Xue Song asked Xue Jing Yun.
Xue Jing Yun clenched his fists tightly, his voice trembling slightly. "I sensed Ah Ning's presence."
"Where?" Xue Yan asked anxiously.
"Over there," Xue Jing Yun pointed, trembling.
A moment later, Xue Song led a young girl over. Upon seeing him, the girl knelt down with a thud. "Your Highness the Crown Prince, please save Her Majesty..."
"Where is Ah Ning?" Xue Jing Yun asked.
"Her Majesty has been taken away by Han Xi Chen."
Xue Jing Yun's entire face turned icy cold. "Enter the palace."
"Your Highness, this humble one can lead the way for you."
"Alright, you are..."
"This humble one is Yun Wei Shu." Yun Wei Shu did not even glance at Xue Jing Yun.
The past affection, the past flutter of the heart, had long since turned into ephemeral smoke. Now, all she wanted was for the Empress to be safe.