“Your Majesty, this is…”
Shen Yun Xiu looked at the maid beside the Empress, finding her somewhat unfamiliar no matter how he looked.
Xue Zi Ning twitched the corner of her mouth and looked at Shen Yun Xiu, “Isn’t this Su Qin?”
Su Qin? Shen Yun Xiu frowned, looking at Xue Zi Ning, his expression seeming to ask if she took him for a fool.
“Second Young Master Shen, I am Su Qin.” Su Qin stepped forward, blocking Shen Yun Xiu’s gaze towards Xue Zi Ning.
Shen Yun Xiu was slightly startled. He looked up and saw the “Su Qin’s” dazzling eyes, which were as bright as stars.
“You…”
“I am Su Qin.” Her voice carried a hint of chilling coldness.
The surrounding air seemed to become much thinner in that instant.
Shen Yun Xiu blinked, taking a few steps back as he felt a chill rising from the soles of his feet and entering his body, chilling him to the bone. Great Wind Novel Network.
“Su Qin…” Xue Zi Ning spoke.
The oppressive force on him was not as strong as before, and Shen Yun Xiu breathed a sigh of relief.
Since the Empress said she was Su Qin, then she was Su Qin!
“If Second Young Master Shen has nothing else, you may leave,” Su Qin said coldly.
Shen Yun Xiu dared not linger for another moment. After bowing, he left.
“Yan Zhao…” Xue Zi Ning gritted her teeth as she looked at “Su Qin”.
“Su Qin” removed the human skin mask, revealing a refined and handsome face. It was Xue Jing Yun!
“Didn’t we agree for Xue Yan to impersonate Su Qin?”
“I don’t trust you,” Xue Jing Yun said lightly.
If he hadn’t impersonated Su Qin just now, he wouldn’t have known that Shen Yun Xiu also harbored such intentions.
“You don’t trust me?” Xue Zi Ning gnashed her teeth and asked.
Xue Jing Yun stepped forward, took her hand, and whispered, “What do you think?”
His eyes, which were already as brilliant as the Milky Way, were now as gentle as water. Even if she wanted to be angry, she couldn’t muster any anger. “I think you don’t trust Shen Yun Xiu.”
Xue Jing Yun, whose thoughts were read, was not annoyed at all. He simply pulled her into his arms, his voice carrying a hint of hoarseness, “You know and you still ask.”
“Yan Zhao, you’ll be discovered by Han Xi Chen if you do this. He…”
“I’ll be careful next time,” Xue Jing Yun quickly said.
He would not allow even the slightest thought of refusal from her.
Xue Zi Ning sighed, “Alright, but you can’t do that again.”
“I promise,” Xue Jing Yun vowed earnestly.
The merchants who had come to buy gold had arrived. As a business partner, Shen Yun Xiu was also invited, and Xue Zi Ning, as Shen Yun Xiu’s wife, accompanied him.
As Xue Zi Ning stepped into the room, her eyes immediately fell upon two strangely dressed merchants.
Unaccountably, she felt as though these two merchants were looking at her, ever so subtly.
The two merchants bought half the gold here, a fact that Han Xi Chen and An Ping could not have imagined.
After paying a portion of the deposit and pressing his handprint, Han Xi Chen finally pocketed the evidence with peace of mind.
Next was the banquet.
Xue Zi Ning did not want to go, but one of the merchants insisted that she resembled his late wife. Left with no choice, she had to accompany him.
“Madam Shen, please allow me to toast you.”
“You are too kind, sir,” Xue Zi Ning said faintly.
“Madam Shen, you may simply call me Yun Jin.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning was taken aback. She looked at the merchant named Yun Jin, who smiled faintly, “After these years, we part ways. Madam Shen bears a striking resemblance to my fiancée.”
“Is your fiancée no longer here?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
Yun Jin lowered his gaze at her words, “Madam, you may not know, but I once made a mistake and hurt her. She will never return.”
“Since you have already parted ways, do not dwell on it.”
Yun Jin raised his eyes and nodded, “Yes, that is why meeting Madam Shen makes me feel that the affairs of the world are as they are, unpredictable.”
“It seems that Young Master Yun and Madam Shen hit it off immediately,” Han Xi Chen said, walking over.
Yun Jin smiled faintly, “Your Highness misunderstands. I merely feel that Madam Shen bears some resemblance to my fiancée, and thus I have inadvertently delayed Madam Shen for a moment. Madam Shen, please do not take offense.”
“It’s nothing, Young Master Yun. You are too polite,” Xue Zi Ning replied.
“If possible, tomorrow, I would like to…”
“Young Master Yun, I am very sorry, but my wife is feeling unwell and cannot go out tomorrow.”
Saying this, Shen Yun Xiu grabbed Xue Zi Ning’s hand and led her out.
Yun Jin’s gaze paused, lost in thought.
Han Xi Chen walked over and patted Yun Jin’s shoulder, “Young Master Yun, if you like her, I can help you.”
Yun Jin shook his head, “I do not like what is obtained through coercion. Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. I will take my leave!”
With that, Yun Jin and the other merchant departed.
Han Xi Chen watched their retreating figures, his gaze filled with contemplation. An Ping walked over and asked, “What is it? Do you think there’s something wrong with them?”
Han Xi Chen shook his head, “As far as it seems, there is nothing unusual. However, I still feel a sense of unease in my heart.”
An Ping patted Han Xi Chen’s shoulder, “You just overthink things too much. Many things are unnecessary. Once the gold is exchanged for silver, everything you and I have envisioned can be realized. You should be happy.”
Han Xi Chen nodded, “I hope so!”
“Hua Yun Jin, do you know that you almost gave yourself away?” Han Xi Xia closed the room door, looking at Hua Yun Jin with a grim expression.
Hua Yun Jin was unconcerned, saying, “No, I know what I’m doing.”
Han Xi Xia sighed, “I know your feelings for the Empress have not diminished.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t mess things up.” He was just a little angry that Xue Jing Yun would let the Empress encounter such a situation.
The thought of Shen Yun Xiu holding the Empress’s hand made him very angry. He only considered Xue Jing Yun as the one truly worthy of the Empress.
Others were not.
“Then why are you angry?” Han Xi Xia asked.
He also had feelings for the Empress, but that was before she was married. Now that the Empress was married, he would not harbor any other thoughts.
“It’s nothing,” Hua Yun Jin did not wish to say.
Han Xi Xia said, “Hua Yun Jin, the Empress is already married. Your feelings should be buried in your heart, otherwise, you will never be able to move on from it.”
“I know.”
He wanted to forget, but sometimes it was truly impossible.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” Han Xi Xia asked vigilantly.
A voice came from outside the door, “My madam has invited Young Master Yun for tea.”
“Alright, I’ll be there shortly.” Hua Yun Jin glanced at Han Xi Xia.
Han Xi Xia nodded.
Hua Yun Jin opened the door and saw the maid outside. This maid had also been by Xue Zi Ning’s side earlier.
“May I know your name, girl?” Hua Yun Jin asked casually.
The maid replied coldly, “It’s fine if Young Master Yun doesn’t remember.”
Hua Yun Jin was taken aback. He looked at the maid and chuckled, “You have quite a temper, don’t you?”
“Do I? I’m also quite strong when I hit people.”
Hua Yun Jin smiled, “You are indeed quite outspoken, girl.”
“Are you?” Hua Yun Jin saw the maid lift her head, and a pair of eyes as dark as ink appeared before him.