Xue Zining looked at the child in the nurse's arms behind her, walked forward, took the child from the nurse's embrace, and stood before Shen Yunlan, saying coldly, "A son requires nurturing. You abandoned your son, which is abandonment. Do you know this child was born for you at the cost of her life? How will you let Wei Lihe rest in peace underground?"
Shen Yunlan trembled all over, looking at the child in her arms, and finally could not help but weep bitterly. A man covered his face and cried.
Second Madam Shen finally could not help but hold him and cry.
Old Madam Shen, Shen Yunxuan, including Shen Yunxuan's second uncle, Shen Congjun, also came out from inside.
Seeing Shen Yunlan and Second Madam Shen weeping in each other's arms, they all could not help but turn their faces away.
Old Madam Shen walked forward, choking, "We are all sad about Lihe's departure, but Yunlan, you must also consider your mother. If you leave, she will not be able to live."
Second Madam Shen cried even more sadly.
Shen Yunxuan, seeing Xue Zining still holding his elder brother's child, quickly asked the nurse to take it back.
Xue Zining felt the warmth in her arms disappear and suddenly felt a sense of longing. So this was the continuation of two people's bloodlines.
At this moment, she suddenly wanted to know what her child with Yan Zhao would look like? Would it resemble her, or Yan Zhao?
"Mother, your son is unfilial. Your son will never mention it again," Shen Yunlan said, crying.
Second Madam Shen nodded, "Yunlan, mother understands you. Don't leave mother, don't leave."
"Ning'an, thank you." Old Madam Shen, supported by Shen Yunxuan, came before her.
"Old Madam, you are too kind. I am still a member of the Shen family now, and it is only right for me to do something for the Shen family."
Old Madam Shen sighed inwardly. If only Ning'an and Yunxuan could be together. The Shen family was lacking a junior who could stand up like this.
"Miss Ning'an, I apologize for my rudeness before. Please don't mind," Second Madam Shen said guiltily.
"Second Madam Shen, please don't say that. I was also rude to you back then. Please don't take it to heart."
Second Madam Shen shook her head, "No, what you said is quite right."
"Alright, everyone disperse!" Old Madam Shen suddenly said.
"Mother, you go back first. Your son has something to say to his third brother." Shen Yunlan said.
Although Second Madam Shen was reluctant, she nodded and left, supported by her maids.
At this moment, only Shen Yunxuan, Shen Yunlan, and Xue Zining remained.
"Third brother, may I invite Miss Ning'an inside to speak?" Shen Yunlan asked.
Shen Yunxuan and Xue Zining exchanged a glance. Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Alright, eldest brother, please."
"Third brother, Miss Ning'an, please." Shen Yunlan said.
Upon entering the room, Xue Zining saw that there was no one else in the room. Shen Yunxuan closed the door, then shook his head at her, indicating there was no one outside either.
Shen Yunxuan then asked, "Does elder brother have something?"
Shen Yunlan's gaze fell on Xue Zining, his eyes filled with inquiry. Xue Zining did not evade, allowing him to scrutinize her.
"Eldest brother..." Shen Yunxuan stepped forward to block Shen Yunlan's view and reminded Shen Yunlan.
Shen Yunlan smiled, "I just feel as if I've seen Miss Ning'an somewhere before."
Shen Yunxuan was slightly taken aback, but Xue Zining spoke, "Young Master Shen, please ask whatever doubts you have."
Shen Yunlan nodded, "You are not Ning'an."
"Eldest brother, what nonsense are you talking about? She is Ning'an."
Shen Yunlan looked at Shen Yunxuan and said, "Third brother, don't be anxious. What I mean is that her identity is not that of a woman from a brothel in An Country."
"Young Master Shen decides who I am?" Xue Zining asked calmly.
Shen Yunlan said, "Han Xichen is also investigating you. I was just having people keep an eye on his men. His men found out that Princess Anning of An Country had been missing for a period of time. During that time, a Miss Ning'an suddenly appeared, and was later bought by a young master from Huangze with a fortune."
At this point, he looked at Shen Yunxuan and continued, "That young master who spent a fortune was you, third brother, right?"
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "It was me."
"Is the girl Princess Anning or Miss Ning'an?" Shen Yunlan asked word for word.
Xue Zining looked at Shen Yunlan and asked, "Is this all that Han Xichen found out?"
Shen Yunlan nodded, "Yes."
Xue Zining breathed a slight sigh of relief. It seemed Han Xichen had not yet suspected she was Xue Zining.
"Young Master Shen, do identities matter sometimes?" Xue Zining retorted.
Shen Yunlan was taken aback.
Xue Zining said, "The past is the past. I am just Ning'an now."
"I understand. I will not disturb third brother and Miss Ning'an. I take my leave." Shen Yunlan said and left.
Watching Shen Yunlan leave, Shen Yunxuan stepped forward and whispered, "Your Majesty, don't you need to tell him your true identity?"
Xue Zining shook her head, "It's not time yet."
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Your subject understands."
The next day
Han Xichen sent someone to invite her again, but this time, it was only her.
Xue Zining stayed until the sky gradually darkened before slowly leaving her room.
"Your Majesty, you..."
"Don't worry, I'm fine. If it really comes down to it..." She made a throat-slitting gesture.
This time, she did not bring any powder. She was sure Han Xichen already knew she carried powder, so it was better not to bring it.
Upon arriving at Han Xichen's room, maids indeed searched her. Seeing that she had nothing, they allowed her to enter.
Inside the room, Han Xichen was sitting there, watching her arrive, "Miss Ning'an."
Xue Zining walked forward, bowed, "May I ask why Your Highness summoned this humble girl?"
"I just have some words I want to ask the girl."
"Your Highness, please ask."
Before she finished speaking, Han Xichen had already walked towards her.
The unique fragrance was gone, replaced only by the subtle scent of a young girl. Indeed, it no longer stirred his heart as before.
But when the young girl looked up, her eyes were exceptionally clear as water, and extremely bright.
Under the dim candlelight, her beautiful and refined face was illuminated.
"Your Highness, please ask whatever you wish."
Han Xichen's expression changed slightly. He turned and walked back to where he had just stood, "Who exactly are you?"
His voice suddenly rose, and Xue Zining lightly chuckled, "Your Highness, you have asked this question several times already."
"You are Princess Anning," Han Xichen said word for word, turning to look at her.
"So Your Highness likes Princess Anning. If that's the case, shall I fulfill your wish?"
The young girl smiled charmingly, innocent and lively.
Before Han Xichen could react, the young girl approached, her gaze chilling, her clear eyes filled with coldness, and her voice as cold as frost, "Han Xichen, what exactly do you want?"
Han Xichen was startled. The young girl, who had been charming and lovely just moments ago, now exuded an icy aura, appearing noble and commanding, like the Princess Anning who could shake the world.
"You..."
The young girl sneered, "What? Didn't you just say this princess is Princess Anning? Now that I'm standing before you, you've gone silent?"
Han Xichen took a step back, only to see the young girl, who had been so cold, dignified, and majestic, now walking towards him with a smile, "Your Highness, did I act well just now?"
Han Xichen was furious, "You..."
The young girl's face was full of smiles, her eyes filled with charm, "What's wrong? Isn't this the kind of person you want, switching roles back and forth? Don't you like it anymore? I can still..."
"Get out, get out..." Han Xichen was enraged.
"Yes, this humble girl takes her leave!" The young girl retreated.
Han Xichen clutched his chest, his voice filled with angry warmth, "Didn't you say she was Princess Anning?"