Han Xi Chen brought his men to Shen Yun Xuan's courtyard and ordered it to be surrounded. He walked to the front of the room and said, "Lord Shen, it is my fault for disturbing you so late, but I have a very important matter that requires Lord Shen's assistance."
No one replied.
Han Xi Chen's gaze turned cold. "If Lord Shen does not come out, I will have to order my men to fetch you."
Still, there was no response.
Han Xi Chen waved his hand, and someone stepped forward, kicking the door open. He walked in.
On the bed, Shen Yun Xuan lifted the bed curtain, saw Han Xi Chen, and said coldly, "Your Highness, what is this?"
"I asked Lord Shen to come out, and Lord Shen refused. I had no choice but to order my men to bring you out."
Shen Yun Xuan got out of bed and walked up to Han Xi Chen, saying coldly, "Your Highness, what business do you have with this humble official?"
"An assassin entered my room tonight and disappeared after fleeing to Lord Shen's place."
"Your Highness implies the assassin is here with this humble official?" Shen Yun Xuan's expression turned cold.
"This King would not dare to speak without evidence, but we need to search to know, don't we?" Han Xi Chen said coldly.
"Your Highness, this is my room," Shen Yun Xuan stated word by word.
"Lord Shen's obstruction suggests that the assassin is indeed with you?"
Han Xi Chen looked at Shen Yun Xuan, the air suddenly freezing, with a hint of coldness.
"What happened, my lord?" At this moment, a charming voice came from behind the bed curtain.
"Nothing," Shen Yun Xuan's originally gloomy face softened considerably.
A hand, white as jade, emerged from the bed curtain, followed by a slender figure appearing behind it.
Everyone was taken aback.
"It is Your Highness. Did Your Highness not just meet this commoner during the day?"
Han Xi Chen was slightly startled. A faint fragrance entered his nostrils, and he felt a figure approach him.
He instinctively took a step back, but the lingering fragrance refused to dissipate.
"Your Highness, are you reluctant to part with this commoner?" The young girl's light laughter was surprisingly pleasant to Han Xi Chen's ears.
"Why are you here?" Han Xi Chen asked coldly, stepping back.
The girl covered her mouth and giggled, "Your Highness's question is absurd. This is my future husband's room; how could I not be here?"
Shen Yun Xuan stepped forward and said, "The identity of the future Madam Shen of Ning An has already been agreed upon by my grandmother and father. Your Highness would not interfere with this, would you?"
"This King is not that idle," Han Xi Chen replied coldly.
"Husband, wouldn't you offer Your Highness some tea? You've been standing and talking for so long, you must be thirsty."
Shen Yun Xuan nodded, poured a cup of tea, and said, "Your Highness, please have some tea."
"This King is not thirsty," Han Xi Chen said, flicking his sleeves as he left.
An Ru looked at the young girl, who winked at her. An Ru concealed the storm raging in her heart and followed Han Xi Chen away.
Han Xi Chen walked out of Shen Yun Xuan's courtyard. An autumn breeze blew, clearing his head. How had he ended up here?
But he remembered the lingering fragrance of the young girl.
"Your Highness, what is wrong?" An Ru asked.
Han Xi Chen shook his head. "Nothing."
He must be crazy.
He had the urge to claim Ning An for himself.
He was indeed crazy, perhaps still affected by Ning An's medicinal powder from before.
"Your Highness, what is wrong with you?" An Ru, behind him, sensed something was amiss.
"This King is fine. Have someone escort her back and take good care of her."
An Ru offered no resistance and left. She didn't need to resist now, for the Empress was here, and she only needed to follow arrangements.
Han Xi Chen stumbled back to his room, poured a cup of tea, and drank it down. The cold tea entering his stomach seemed to sober him up.
"Come out," he said coldly.
Someone slowly emerged from the shadows. He asked coldly, "Have the troops and horses been purchased?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, they have been purchased."
Han Xi Chen sat in a chair and said, "You may deal with the entire Shen family as you see fit. Leave Ning An for me."
"Your Highness, have you become soft-hearted?"
Han Xi Chen sneered, "Why would this King need to be soft-hearted? She is useful to me. Are you not the one who mentioned she might be Chang Ning's Empress, Xue Zi Ning?"
"Your Highness, if you kill Empress Chang Ning, the next monarch could very well be you."
Han Xi Chen shook his head. "The empire this King desires has nothing to do with whether Xue Zi Ning lives or dies."
The person suddenly stepped closer and looked at him. "Your Highness, you have fallen for her."
Han Xi Chen's expression turned enraged. "Insolence! Who gave you the right to question this King?"
"Your Highness is angry. You are flustered and angry, and still won't admit you've fallen for Ning An?"
"Shen Yun Lan..." Han Xi Chen said coldly, word by word.
"Your Highness, you even uttered my full name. Is that not proof that I have spoken the truth?" Shen Yun Lan said with a cold sneer.
Han Xi Chen stood up and walked step by step towards Shen Yun Lan, saying coldly, "Shen Yun Lan, you offered yourself to me. But you must understand that your life is in my hands. If you want to obtain what you desire, then keep that mouth of yours in check."
Shen Yun Lan was slightly taken aback, then bowed. "This subordinate understands."
"Get out..." Han Xi Chen said angrily.
Shen Yun Lan left.
Han Xi Chen walked to the window. The autumn wind blew, bringing a sense of chill, yet his heart was still turbulent. Had he truly fallen for Ning An?
How could that be? It must be Shen Yun Lan deliberately saying that to disrupt his thoughts.
But her tone of voice filled his mind, and he could even smell her fragrance.
He punched the wall, and an imprint immediately appeared.
Seeing Han Xi Chen leave, Shen Yun Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. He turned around and saw the Empress in a thin veil. He quickly lowered his gaze, but his heart pounded uncontrollably.
Xue Zi Ning grabbed a cloak and draped it over herself. "Be careful in the future. Han Xi Chen has already become suspicious of us."
Shen Yun Xuan nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty. Rest assured."
Outside Zhaoping, Xue Jing Yun, clad in a moon-white robe, stood on a mountain peak. The autumn wind ruffled the hem of his robe, creating a rustling sound. His clear and handsome face was illuminated by a brilliant glow as he gazed at Zhaoping below. His heart was filled with excitement; only when he approached Ah Ning did his usually still heart begin to beat.
Ah Ning, I've come.
"Your Highness, Han Xi Chen's men are in the residence of Prefect Shen," Xue Song reported the information he had gathered to Xue Jing Yun.
"This Prince knows. Do not act rashly. Han Xi Chen likely does not yet know Ah Ning's true identity. Everything is safe for now. Once he finds out, the consequences would be unimaginable."
Xue Song nodded. "Your Highness, rest assured. Your subordinate will act with extreme caution."
Xue Jing Yun nodded slightly. "You may go."
Xue Song left.
He gazed into the distance, hoping to catch sight of Ah Ning nearby, but still, he saw nothing.
Ah Ning, wait for me...
"Yan Zhao..." Xue Zi Ning woke up with a start. Looking around the somewhat familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar environment, she remembered that this was the Shen residence.
She curled up, her thoughts drifting back to Yan Zhao. In her dream, she saw Yan Zhao holding her, tears falling onto her face, one by one.
She saw his weary, pale face and his dull eyes, his expression filled with tragic pain, which made her heart ache.