"Han Xi Chen, this is the last of the gold in Mo City," An Ping said, looking at the gold loaded in the carriage. For some reason, her heart had been unsettled lately.
Han Xi Chen replied, "Once everything here is concluded, we can start anew."
An Ping nodded, "Yes..." She could already imagine Xue Zi Ning kneeling before her, and Xue Jing Yun, she was determined to have him.
"Let's have a drink to celebrate," Han Xi Chen said, raising his wine cup.
An Ping raised her cup, "To us each obtaining what we desire."
After drinking, Han Xi Chen slowly said, "One mountain cannot tolerate two tigers. King Chang Ping, do you understand this principle?"
An Ping trembled, "Han Xi Chen, you..."
At this moment, An Ping found her vision blurring. She bit her lower lip, trying to stay alert, "Han Xi Chen, you are ungrateful! How could you do something like this? You..."
Han Xi Chen sighed upon hearing her words and stepped forward, caressing An Ping's cheek.
An Ping turned her face away, enraged, "Don't touch me! You make me sick..."
Han Xi Chen withdrew his hand and said, "King Chang Ping, one should be more intelligent."
"My biggest mistake was believing you," An Ping roared.
"Go to sleep. When you wake up, whether you are still King Chang Ping or not, will be unknown," Han Xi Chen said.
An Ping bit her lip but ultimately could not resist the drowsiness brought on by the drug and collapsed to the ground.
"Someone, help King Chang Ping to bed," Han Xi Chen commanded.
He then walked out of the room.
A large crowd had gathered outside. Han Xi Chen said, "Depart."
The carriages laden with gold left Mo City in a grand procession. Outside Mo City, Han Xi Chen suddenly halted the carriages, and only after a while did they resume their journey.
"Stop, everyone stop..." A hundred li outside Mo City, someone intercepted the carriages.
A man in black robes from the escort party stepped forward, smiling obsequiously, "May I ask what business you have, sir?"
"What are you carrying in here?"
"Sir, we are from the Shen family, doing business in Han City."
"Is that so? You are from the Shen family?"
The man in black robes quickly replied, "I am not from the Shen family."
"Not from the Shen family, yet you tell me you are a Shen family member doing business? Guards, detain him."
"Sir, do you know that the third young master of the Shen family is currently a favored figure before the Empress?"
"And so what? Is the third young master here? Have him speak with me, otherwise, we have nothing to discuss."
The man in black robes smiled somewhat forcedly, "Sir, the third young master is resting..."
"Is that so? Then I must greet the third young master myself." With that, he pushed aside the man in black robes and approached the carriage. The man in black robes tried to stop him again, but he backhanded him.
The man in black robes quickly retreated, opened the carriage curtain, and indeed, as His Highness had said, it was merely a decoy. The carriage was filled with stones.
Xue Feng turned to look at the man in black robes and said coldly, "Take him down."
The man in black robes chuckled softly, "I've heard you are one of the guards of Xue Jing Yun, the once exceptionally talented Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom. I've always wished to have a word with the Crown Prince's guard."
Xue Feng said coldly, "Very well, I shall spar with you."
The man in black robes cupped his fists, "I am Han Feng, and I request your guidance."
Soon, the two engaged in combat, and the remaining men also began to fight.
As Xue Feng fought, he realized that there was always someone better, and Han Xi Chen's men were not to be underestimated.
However, in the end, he managed a narrow victory.
Han Feng cupped his fists, "I admit defeat, but I cannot be harmed here, I apologize!"
With that, he leaped into the air and departed.
The remaining men prepared to pursue, but Xue Feng said coldly, "Return. He is merely a guard of Han Xi Chen, an insignificant person."
Xue Feng returned to Han City and reported to Xue Jing Yun, "Your Highness, it was Han Xi Chen's guards. It seems Han Xi Chen was well-prepared."
Xue Jing Yun nodded, "It would surprise me if he wasn't."
Soon, Xue Li also returned, just like Xue Feng, they were led by Han Xi Chen's guards. Han Xi Chen himself was not among them.
"Where is Shen Yun Xuan?" Xue Jing Yun asked.
Xue Li replied, "He's not here either."
Han Xi Xia and Hua Yun Jin exchanged glances. Han Xi Xia said, "Your Highness Xue, could it be that Han Xi Chen has gone to the Shen family?"
Xue Jing Yun's gaze turned slightly cold. Hua Yun Jin said, "Your Highness, what Prince Han is thinking is not unreasonable. I fear it is too late if we hesitate any longer; Han Xi Chen has likely already reached the Shen family."
Upon hearing this, Xue Jing Yun looked at Hua Yun Jin with a clear, cold gaze and said faintly, "Her Majesty has already arrived at the Shen family."
Hua Yun Jin and Han Xi Xia trembled. The Empress went to the Shen family? Hadn't she returned to the capital?
On another small path, Shen Yun Xuan looked at the somewhat disheveled Han Xi Chen and couldn't help but sneer, "Your Highness, even if you go to the Shen family, do you really think it's foolproof?"
Han Xi Chen looked up, his eyes now filled with a chilling coldness, and he chuckled, "I underestimated you, Prince. But Lord Shen, don't forget, if you wish for Old Madam Shen and the rest of the Shen family to remain safe, I advise you to behave yourself, otherwise..."
Shen Yun Xuan's expression turned frosty, "I have been cooperating with Your Highness. It was you who unilaterally broke the agreement. It can be said that I trusted Your Highness too much."
Han Xi Chen chuckled lightly, "Lord Shen truly possesses a silver tongue."
"Your Highness, you flatter me."
Han Xi Chen snorted and remained silent.
Shen Yun Xuan, however, could not calm his heart. He wondered if his grandmother's health could withstand it. He had indeed thought too simply. With a perfect plan, he had forgotten that as long as the Shen family was in Zhaoping, they would be targets.
Thinking of this, he sighed deeply, hoping that his grandmother could hold on a little longer, and the Shen family could endure a bit more.
Two days later, the carriages entered Zhaoping.
"Lord Shen, this is your Shen family's territory."
Shen Yun Xuan glanced at Han Xi Chen and sneered, "So what? Are we not still under your control?"
"Lord Shen, your words are amiss. If I succeed, you will be a meritorious minister, and it will be a great honor for both you and the Shen family."
"I would rather not have such honor," Shen Yun Xuan said coldly.
"That is not for you to decide, Lord Shen. Whether I succeed or not, in the eyes of the world, you are complicit with me. Do you believe the Empress will trust you?"
Shen Yun Xuan remained silent. Han Xi Chen continued, "A mere child of a nobody claiming kingship and emperorship is simply an utter disgrace. It's only because Xue Jing Yun allows her to run amok, and hands over the realm to Xue Zi Ning, that it's become a laughingstock."
Shen Yun Xuan's gaze tightened, but he did not utter a word.
The carriage stopped. A voice called out from outside, "Your Highness, we have arrived at the Shen manor."
Han Xi Chen glanced at the silent Shen Yun Xuan and patted his shoulder, "Cooperate with me well, and I will not treat you unfairly."
Shen Yun Xuan lifted the carriage curtain and saw Old Madam Shen standing outside the manor. His gaze softened considerably at that moment.
He got out of the carriage and rushed towards her, then knelt with a thud, "Your disloyal grandson pays his respects to Grandmother with a kowtow."