“You…”
“Young Master Yun, we have arrived.”
Hua Yun Jin had not yet recovered from his shock.
He looked at the Empress in the room and knelt on one knee, “This subject greets Your Majesty. I ask for Your Majesty’s forgiveness for leaving Hua City without a summons!”
“Rise! You are pardoned this time,” Xue Zi Ning said indifferently.
Hua Yun Jin rose and said, “Your Majesty, it is very unsafe for you to be here alone. Please prioritize your safety and leave with me tomorrow.”
Xue Zi Ning heard this and said calmly, “I know King Hua is worried about my safety, but this is the best opportunity to capture Han Xi Chen and An Ping in one fell swoop.”
“Your Majesty…”
“King Hua, my mind is made up, there is no point in saying more,” Xue Zi Ning said with a natural expression, decisively.
Hua Yun Jin knew that once the Empress made a decision, no one could change it.
“Your Majesty, does Xue Jing Yun know you are here?” Hua Yun Jin suddenly asked.
Xue Zi Ning paused slightly and said, “What does his presence or absence have to do with what I am doing?”
“Your Majesty…”
“Madam, it’s time for tea!” A voice came from outside the door.
Hua Yun Jin looked up and saw someone pushing the door open. The maid who had brought him here walked in.
Xue Zi Ning smiled and said, “No, I’ve already had my fill of tea.”
The maid placed the tea on the table and said in a calm tone, “Young Master Yun, drink it to cool your temper.”
Hua Yun Jin frowned and looked at the maid, finding her increasingly strange. At this moment, the maid poured a cup of tea and handed it over, “Young Master Yun, have some tea!”
Suspiciously, Hua Yun Jin reached out to take it. To his surprise, the teacup fell to the ground before it even touched his hand.
The tea splashed everywhere.
Hua Yun Jin looked up at the maid and said in a not-so-pleasant tone, “Girl, was that intentional?”
The maid sneered, “It was intentional. What can you do about it?”
Hua Yun Jin was amused and angry. He turned to Xue Zi Ning and asked, “Your Majesty, are all your maids this domineering?”
Xue Zi Ning’s lips twitched. Just as she was about to speak, the maid spoke again, “I am domineering, His Majesty permits it.”
The implication was that he could do nothing to her, which made Hua Yun Jin grit his teeth. He felt this maid was targeting him.
“Miss, I have never offended you,” Hua Yun Jin said with a very unpleasant expression.
“You haven’t offended me, but you are blind.”
Hua Yun Jin’s face suddenly turned grim. He looked coldly at the maid and said, “One can eat anything, but one cannot speak carelessly.”
“Don’t like it? Want to fight?”
“Yan Zhao, that’s enough,” Xue Zi Ning could no longer bear it and rebuked.
Yan Zhao? Hua Yun Jin was stunned. He looked around but couldn’t see Xue Jing Yun. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned his gaze to the maid who had shown dissatisfaction towards him from the beginning.
Suddenly, he burst into laughter, “Don’t… don’t tell me, Xue Jing Yun, you’re cross-dressing.”
The maid tore off her human skin mask, her face clear and cold, looking at the laughing Hua Yun Jin.
Who else could it be but Xue Jing Yun?
Hua Yun Jin couldn’t stop laughing. He never expected Xue Jing Yun to disguise himself as a woman and stay by Xue Zi Ning’s side.
But he felt an indescribable sadness. If it were him, he wouldn’t be able to go to such lengths.
Therefore, he had lost from the very beginning, a complete loss.
“Had enough laughing?” Xue Jing Yun’s expression was somewhat displeased, but since he dared to reveal himself, he didn’t care about being laughed at.
Hua Yun Jin immediately restrained his smile and said seriously, “Xue Jing Yun, you should be careful. Although I couldn’t recognize you, I was suspicious of you from the start. If you cannot guarantee your own safety, do not cause trouble for His Majesty.”
“I know, thank you for your concern, King Hua.” Xue Jing Yun heeded Hua Yun Jin’s advice.
“Your Majesty, now that you have protection, I am much relieved. I will leave with King Han tomorrow. Do you have any further instructions, Your Majesty?” Hua Yun Jin asked.
Xue Zi Ning heard this and said in a low voice, “After you return, proceed as planned. If Han Xi Chen needs troops, prepare them for him.”
Hua Yun Jin nodded, “Rest assured, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now!”
After Hua Yun Jin left, Xue Zi Ning looked at Xue Jing Yun and said helplessly, “Tell me, cross-dressing is one thing, but…”
Xue Jing Yun stepped forward, lowered his head, and sighed, “A Ning, you are so heartless. I was merely driving away those who harbored ill intentions towards you, and you resent me?”
Xue Zi Ning sighed, “Yan Zhao, if only your mind were a little more open.”
Hearing this, Xue Jing Yun stepped forward and hugged her, “A Ning, everything else can be more open, but I cannot let go of you.”
Xue Zi Ning could only remain speechless. In any case, she couldn’t win an argument with Xue Jing Yun.
The next day
Hua Yun Jin and Han Xi Xia bid farewell to Han Xi Chen, promising to deliver the money in three days.
Hua Yun Jin approached Xue Zi Ning and said slowly, “Madam Shen, after this parting, I don’t know when we will meet again. But as high mountains and flowing water, there will surely be a day when we meet.”
“Young Master Yun, take care!” Xue Zi Ning said.
Hua Yun Jin heard this and said in a low voice, “Hua Li is hidden among the prisoners. If you need anything, you can look for him.”
“Thank you,” Xue Zi Ning said softly.
Hua Yun Jin chuckled softly, “If possible, I wish it were me by your side. But I know that in this life, I will never catch up to him. He truly cares for you.”
Xue Zi Ning smiled, “Yes, so no matter what, I will not hurt his feelings.”
Hua Yun Jin nodded with a smile, just like the boy he was before.
“Farewell for now!” Xue Zi Ning said.
“Farewell for now!” Hua Yun Jin left without looking back.
Han Xi Xia nodded slightly to Xue Zi Ning and turned to follow Hua Yun Jin, “What did you say to the Empress?”
Hua Yun Jin remained silent, just walking forward. Han Xi Xia could only follow.
“Madam Shen and Young Master Yun seem to get along well. Are they old acquaintances?” Han Xi Chen suddenly walked over, his distance from Xue Zi Ning now only two steps.
Shen Yun Xiu walked over, blocked between Han Xi Chen and Xue Zi Ning, and leaned in, “Your Highness, how could my wife know Young Master Yun? I hope Your Highness will not misunderstand.”
Han Xi Chen nodded, “Indeed, this king was overthinking.”
He looked at Madam Shen, who lowered her eyes and brows, and suddenly remembered what Prince Changping had said: this Madam Shen seemed somewhat unusual.
He couldn’t pinpoint what was wrong, but he felt a sense of familiarity.
“Where is Madam Shen from?” Han Xi Chen suddenly asked.
Shen Yun Xiu said, “Has Your Highness forgotten? My wife drifted here.”
Han Xi Chen nodded, “Shen Yun Xuan will arrive in three days. Is Second Young Master Shen ready?”
“Your Highness, rest assured, everything is proceeding according to plan and will not delay Your Highness’s great undertaking.”
“Good, as long as Second Young Master Shen is prepared.” Han Xi Chen retracted his gaze and turned away.