"Xue Zi Ning, you are indeed clever, but what of it? You have fallen into my hands now." Shen Yun Xiu's face showed a hint of relief.
His long planning had not been in vain.
"What exactly do you want?" Xue Zi Ning asked again.
Shen Yun Xiu stepped forward and said, "Now is not the time to talk. I will tell you later..."
"Shen Yun Xiu, you still want to take the Empress out of the palace?" An Ping felt Shen Yun Xiu had gone mad, actually wanting to take the Empress out of the palace?
"Why not?" Shen Yun Xiu did not think his idea was bold. Since he could get in, he could get out.
"Tie up the Empress and let's go," Shen Yun Xiu said.
"If you want to tie someone, tie them. I won't," An Ping said.
"Princess An Ping, do not blame me for not reminding you; without me, you cannot leave," Shen Yun Xiu said faintly.
An Ping bit her lower lip. She knew Shen Yun Xiu was right. She had no choice but to step forward, take the rope Shen Yun Xiu handed over, and tie Xue Zi Ning up.
"Where are you taking me?" Xue Zi Ning asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You will know when Your Majesty gets there, but I won't let you know now." After speaking, Shen Yun Xiu took out a handkerchief and stuffed it into Xue Zi Ning's mouth.
This was to prevent her from speaking.
Then Shen Yun Xiu carried her on his shoulder and walked out. Because it was the eve of her wedding with Yan Zhao, there were not many people in the imperial bedchamber, and at this moment, there was no one on the road.
Shen Yun Xiu had not expected to be able to bring Xue Zi Ning out so smoothly.
The carriage stopped in front of a courtyard, and Shen Yun Xiu carried Xue Zi Ning inside again.
"Young Master Shen has already succeeded so quickly?"
Xue Zi Ning looked up and saw the person speaking. Her gaze turned cold, because this person was none other than Han Xi Chen.
Shen Yun Xiu looked at the person emerging from the room and said, "Prince Xi Chen, the person has been brought."
Han Xi Chen looked at her and smiled, "Your Majesty, we meet again."
Xue Zi Ning looked at him without speaking, because she couldn't speak.
Han Xi Chen stepped forward, removed the object stuffed in her mouth, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, I hope you have been well!"
Xue Zi Ning looked up at Han Xi Chen and asked, "Why did Han Xi Chen go to such great lengths to kidnap Your Majesty to this place?"
Han Xi Chen heard this, chuckled softly, and his gaze turned icy, "Does Your Majesty not guess?"
"The secret techniques of Miao Jiang..." Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
Han Xi Chen nodded, "Yes and no..."
Xue Zi Ning's gaze deepened, and she said, "What else do you want?"
"What did that old man give you before he died?" Han Xi Chen suddenly turned and asked.
Xue Zi Ning was startled and said, "I really don't know what you are talking about."
"Do you not know, or do you not want to say?" Han Xi Chen walked closer to her step by step and asked coldly.
"I don't know."
"The secret methods of Poison King Valley, has Your Majesty forgotten them so completely?" Han Xi Chen came before her and reached out to grip her chin.
Xue Zi Ning was startled. Such a secret matter, Han Xi Chen knew it?
"Believe it or not, I destroyed them."
"So you are the only one who knows?" At this moment, Han Xi Chen became unusually crazed.
"I will not tell you." Once the secret techniques of Miao Jiang or Poison King Valley were revealed, the world would surely fall into chaos.
That was why she had ordered them destroyed. These two things should never have existed in the world.
"Xue Zi Ning, you are in my hands now. Do you think you have the right to refuse me?" Han Xi Chen tightened his grip.
Xue Zi Ning looked up at Han Xi Chen and said, "Is it not good to return to Han City and be your prince?"
Han Xi Chen laughed heartily, his laughter somewhat manic, "Xue Zi Ning, it's not good. Why did you choose that bastard and not me? I want to become the ruler of this world..."
"Han Xi Chen, you can't even compare to Han Xi Xia, how can you become the ruler of this world?"
"I can't, but you can? You only possess this world because of the Crown Prince of Xue Country. Are you worthy?"
"Is that so?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
"Look at you now, in my hands. Do you have any options? Xue Zi Ning, you rose to power by relying on men. You are no better than me..."
"So in your eyes, I am such a person?"
"Not just me, everyone thinks so. Everyone says you pulled down the all-powerful Regent, but without Hua Yun Jin's help, what are you?
Now, Xue Jing Yun has offered the world as a dowry and handed over the realm. Xue Zi Ning, you are unworthy."
"I am unworthy, but are you worthy? Han Xi Xia has distinguished himself with military achievements and harbors great ambitions. His becoming the King of Han is the wish of the people."
"What wish of the people? He is nothing but a mere brute."
"The brute you speak of has arrived." A cold shout sounded, followed by the front door being kicked open.
Han Xi Chen looked at the person walking slowly into the doorway. A tall figure with a somber expression – who else could it be but Han Xi Xia?
Han Xi Xia saw Xue Zi Ning and knelt on one knee, saying, "Your subject arrived late to rescue Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"You are indeed guilty. I told you to watch him carefully, yet you let him out and then kidnapped me," Xue Zi Ning said calmly.
Han Xi Xia lowered his head, "Your subject's fault!"
"Shen Yun Xiu, you injured me and then kidnapped the Empress. Have you gone mad?" Shen Yun Xuan said angrily.
Shen Yun Xiu trembled all over and looked at Shen Yun Xuan, "How... how is this possible?"
Xue Zi Ning was untied by Xue Yan and stood up. She walked to Han Xi Chen and said, "You say I am unworthy. Am I truly unworthy?"
Han Xi Chen trembled all over and looked up to see eyes that were clear yet exceedingly cold on her beautiful face.
"You did it on purpose?" Han Xi Chen asked.
"Yes. If not, how could I have waited for you, Han Xi Chen..."
Han Xi Chen took a step back, disbelieving, "You... when did you know?"
Xue Yan, standing nearby, sneered, "Your Majesty's mind is sharp, how could you possibly fathom it?"
"Then this wedding..."
"I knew you would not make a move easily. Only the eve of my wedding with Yan Zhao would be the best opportunity for you to act. I merely went with the flow and gave you a push."
Han Xi Chen heard this, took a few steps back, and laughed, "So this was all your plan."
"Yes. If I don't enter the game, how would you dare to enter it?" Xue Zi Ning said calmly.
Fortunately, the wedding went smoothly, and the culprits were caught. This was worth it.
"Then you didn't drink the tea?" An Ping, having realized, suddenly asked.
Xue Zi Ning took out a handkerchief from her wide sleeves and said, "I spat it all out here."
An Ping slumped to the ground, shaking her head, "No... impossible, it's impossible."
Xue Zi Ning suddenly saw a flash of red outside the door. Her heart sank. She said to Xue Yan, "Take everyone to Tingwei Prison and guard them well."
Xue Yan said, "Your Majesty, please rest assured. Leave it to this servant."
Xue Zi Ning walked out the door and saw the flash of red not far away. She ran while shouting, "Yan Zhao, wait for me..."