Upon hearing news of Xue Jingyun, Xue Zi Ning's gaze flickered. Was he still searching for her? The thought stirred her heart.
"Is this the maid for me?" An Ping inquired.
Shen Yun Xiu stepped forward and said, "My wife is not very adept at serving others. Perhaps Su Qin could accompany us to assist."
An Ping understood Han Xi Chen's intentions. Shen Yun Xiu was an uncertain factor. If someone could threaten Shen Yun Xiu, why not?
"Very well." An Ping had no intention of being served by Shen Yun Xiu's wife.
Shen Yun Xiu looked at Xue Zi Ning, who was in disguise, and nodded. Xue Zi Ning nodded back.
An Ping returned to her room and pointed at Su Qin, saying, "Come here."
Su Qin had never served anyone other than Xue Zi Ning before, and she walked over nervously.
An Ping removed the veil covering half her face. Xue Zi Ning finally saw a long scar on her left cheek. The scar looked fresh, clearly not an old injury, but something recent.
Seeing the shocking scar, Su Qin trembled all over. An Ping looked at Su Qin's reaction, her expression somewhat contorted, "Do you find it unsightly?"
Su Qin quickly shook her head, explaining, "No... no, your servant... your servant was just..."
Before Su Qin could finish, An Ping grabbed Su Qin's hair and said menacingly, "Since it's not, why are you spouting so much nonsense? Hurry and change my dressing!"
Su Qin dared not delay. She picked up the medicine and smeared it onto An Ping's face. An Ping cried out in pain and kicked Su Qin aside. The medicine in Su Qin's hand spilled onto the floor.
An Ping was enraged, her distorted expression terrifying. Su Qin quickly knelt and begged for mercy, "Your servant knows her mistake. Prince Chang Ping, spare my life..."
"Spare your life? I never keep useless people by my side. If you are useless, then you might as well die." As she spoke, An Ping grabbed the sword beside her and pointed it at Su Qin, shouting angrily.
"Your Highness, please calm your anger!" Xue Zi Ning quickly stepped forward, blocking Su Qin.
An Ping roared, "Move aside. This has nothing to do with you, or I will deal with you both."
"Your Highness, please calm down. Su Qin has never served anyone before, and some mistakes are unavoidable. I implore Your Highness to be merciful and grant Su Qin a chance to live."
An Ping's face turned terrifyingly contorted with anger, but she still retained some reason. This lady was Shen Yun Xiu's person. If she were to act against her, her future grand plans might face variables.
She let out a cold snort and said coldly, "I don't wish to see her again. But her, I can spare her life. So, who will serve me?"
"If Your Highness does not mind, this commoner is willing," Xue Zi Ning said.
An Ping heard this and snorted coldly, "It can only be you then, Madam Shen."
Xue Zi Ning squatted down, picked up the powder from the ground, and then walked before An Ping, saying, "Your Highness, please bear with it, it might sting a little."
"I know," An Ping replied.
Although it stung a bit, An Ping felt she could endure it. After bandaging it, An Ping looked at Madam Shen before her and said, "I find Madam Shen somewhat familiar. I wonder where I have seen her before?"
Xue Zi Ning was slightly stunned but replied calmly, "If this commoner has met Your Highness, it would be my honor."
An Ping heard this and sneered, "You may go now, I am tired."
Xue Zi Ning curtsied and withdrew.
Stepping out of the room, Su Qin looked at her tearfully from outside. Xue Zi Ning walked up and said, "You don't need to come anymore."
Su Qin shook her head, "Madam, your servant cannot rest assured leaving you alone."
"Don't worry, I will be fine. As for you, don't come tomorrow. You saw it yourself, Prince Chang Ping is a capricious person. I have some experience, and besides, she wouldn't dare do anything to me, with Young Master Shen around."
Su Qin knew Madam was right and did not insist further. After many more reminders, she finally retreated.
Xue Zi Ning returned to Shen Yun Xiu's room. Seeing her, Shen Yun Xiu hurried forward and said in a low voice, "Did she make things difficult for you?"
Xue Zi Ning shook her head, "She doesn't know who I am and thinks I am your wife. She did show some consideration."
Shen Yun Xiu heard this and said, "Then you must still be very careful!"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "I will be mindful."
The next day
Xue Zi Ning saw the gold hidden in the treasury of the Mòchéng Prefect's mansion. It occupied half of the treasury. So much gold was enough to recruit troops and horses. In front of the gold, Han Xi Chen couldn't help but reach out to touch it. The Prefect of Mòchéng said, "Your Highness, where should we transport this now?"
Han Xi Chen heard this and looked at Shen Yun Xiu, "Young Master Shen Er, do you have any good suggestions?"
Shen Yun Xiu said, "With so much gold, it naturally needs to be placed somewhere secure."
Han Xi Chen thought for a moment and looked at An Ping, "Prince Chang Ping, what do you think of placing it in Han Dian?"
An Ping heard this and asked, "That place where only those with royal blood can enter?"
Han Xi Chen nodded, "Yes."
"The most dangerous place is the safest. I think it's feasible," An Ping said.
"Then it's settled," Han Xi Chen said.
"Your Highness, what about the escort?" the Prefect of Mòchéng asked in a low voice.
Han Xi Chen looked at Shen Yun Xiu, "Young Master Shen Er, how are your preparations?"
"Ready at any time," Shen Yun Xiu replied.
Xue Zi Ning withdrew and wrote a few words, intending to send them by carrier pigeon. She hoped Han Xi Xia would see her secret message.
"Madam Shen, what are you doing?" The sudden voice made Xue Zi Ning's heart sink. She quickly clutched the paper in her hand. She slowly turned around, saw An Ping behind her, and curtsied, "Your Highness."
An Ping walked closer and said, "I find Madam Shen increasingly resembles someone."
"To be able to be an acquaintance of Your Highness, how fortunate am I?"
An Ping did not speak. She did resemble someone. "You are very much like..."
"Prince Chang Ping..." Shen Yun Xiu's voice rang out from the room.
An Ping walked into the room. Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief. Looking at the paper in her hand, whose writing was no longer clear, she gave up on the carrier pigeon and simply sent the pigeon back.
"Your Highness, Prince Chang Ping has gone to Mòchéng." Xue Song reported the intelligence he had gathered to his own Highness, Xue Jingyun.
"Go to Mòchéng," Xue Jingyun suddenly said.
Xue Song was startled, "Your Highness, you..."
"Intuition," Xue Jingyun said indifferently. His heart told him that A Ning might be in Mòchéng. He would not let go of any place where she might appear. Xue Song shook his head and retreated.
Outside the door, Xue Yan stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "What did His Highness say?"
"His Highness is going to Mòchéng," Xue Song sighed.
Xue Yan was surprised, "That is a place of exile. His Majesty might not go there."
"Your servant can do nothing," Xue Song said helplessly. Since the Empress had gone missing, His Highness had been like a lost soul, searching everywhere, but unfortunately, there was no news of the Empress.
"Xue Song, perhaps Mòchéng will indeed have news of His Majesty," Xue Yan comforted him.
"Let's hope so!" Xue Song sighed.