Han Xi Chen’s expression changed. He took a step back and said coldly, "Step back."
Seeing that the maiden did not retreat, but rather took a step forward, he said, "Your Highness, you want me, a commoner, to approach, so I must approach? And if you want me to retreat, I must retreat? But..."
He looked up and saw a smile curve the maiden's lips. For a moment, it was like a fleeting ephemeral flower, so beautiful it disturbed his mind. He hurriedly looked away.
The maiden’s faint fragrance drifted into his nose. He steadied his mind and looked up again. The maiden had already stepped back, her smile carrying a hint of fleeting coldness.
In the blink of an eye, it was gone, as if it were merely his illusion.
"Your Highness, this commoner does not wish to retreat. It is merely that your command makes it difficult," the maiden said with some difficulty.
"Ning An?" He savored the two words in his mouth. Suddenly, he looked up, a hint of a smile playing on his lips, "If my memory serves me right, the former Princess An Ning was named An Ning."
He looked at the maiden, trying to detect a hint of panic in her expression, but alas, there was none. Not even a trace.
"Princess An Ning? This commoner has heard of her. Oh, I remember now. Shen Yun Xuan, you said the same thing to me at the beginning, didn't you?" The maiden turned to look at Shen Yun Xuan.
Shen Yun Xuan was slightly stunned, then nodded, "Yes."
"Your Highness, is there anything else you wish to ask? You suspect I am Princess An Ning?"
When he heard his subordinate report that Princess An Ning had once disappeared, and the time of her disappearance was almost the same as the appearance of the courtesan Ning An, he had suspected that Ning An might be Princess An Ning. But now, he felt that how could these two people be the same person?
Princess An Ning was noble and aloof, while this Ning An was simply...
"How can you possibly be Princess An Ning?" Han Xi Chen couldn't help but blurt out.
The maiden giggled and leaned closer, "Does Your Highness like Princess An Ning?"
Han Xi Chen’s body trembled, and his expression darkened, "Miss Ning An."
The maiden took a step back, as if she had discovered something incredibly important, "Did I hit the mark?"
"Nonsense. How could I possibly like Princess An Ning?"
"If you don't like her, then why would you associate me with Princess An Ning?" The maiden looked at Han Xi Chen with a perplexed expression.
"Retire," Han Xi Chen said coldly.
This time, he thought the maiden would shamelessly approach again, but he found he had overthought it. The maiden, with Shen Yun Xuan, left.
Han Xi Chen took two steps back until he leaned against the chair, then sat down, letting out a long sigh.
After a long pause, he said, "What did you perceive?"
A person appeared before him and whispered, "Your Highness, it is likely she brought a powder that can disturb the mind."
Han Xi Chen looked up and asked the person before him coldly, "Are you sure?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, I am sure."
Han Xi Chen snorted. No wonder his mind was disturbed every time he saw her.
It seemed he felt his heart race every time.
So she had brought a drug that unsettled him.
Ning An, you are not simple at all.
After leaving Han Xi Chen's room, Xue Zi Ning's previously smiling face suddenly turned somber. Shen Yun Xuan, who was behind her, took a step forward and seeing her gloomy expression, couldn't help but ask, "Your Majesty, what is wrong?"
"Besides Han Xi Chen, there was someone else in the room," Xue Zi Ning said. She had sensed the presence of another person in the room.
Shen Yun Xuan was startled; he hadn't detected it at all.
"Your Majesty, could it be that Han Xi Chen suspects you?"
Xue Zi Ning shook her head, "I don't know, but I fear he may have already realized about the powder I brought."
Shen Yun Xuan's expression changed. He knew that the Empress carried a powder that could cause unease.
"Your Majesty, you may be in danger. If..."
"No need to worry, I have my own methods," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Third Brother, Sister-in-law, something is wrong. Second Uncle wants to sever ties with Eldest Brother. Grandmother sent me to call you over," Shen Yue Yue said, rushing over with a look of urgency.
Xue Zi Ning and Shen Yun Xuan exchanged a glance. Shen Yun Xuan said, "I'll head there first. Yue Yue, you explain what happened to Ning An."
Shen Yue Yue nodded, and Shen Yun Xuan quickly left.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and took Shen Yue Yue's hand, only to find her hands were very cold. She clasped them, offering her warmth with both hands.
Shen Yue Yue was slightly taken aback, looking surprised. "Sister-in-law, it's alright, I'm not cold."
"The sky is late, and the frost is heavy. You must take good care of yourself," Xue Zi Ning said with concern.
Shen Yue Yue lowered her head and said softly, "Yes, Sister-in-law."
Since Aunt Feng left, no one had cared for her like this.
"What exactly happened? Tell me."
Shen Yue Yue nodded. "Eldest Brother wants to become a monk."
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. She had considered many things Shen Yun Lan might do, but she had never expected him to become a monk. "Because of Wei Li He?"
Shen Yue Yue nodded. "Eldest Brother says his heart is dead."
"Absurd..." Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but say.
Shen Yue Yue sighed. "Eldest Brother was originally the most promising young man of the Shen family, but after experiencing such a setback, he couldn't bear it."
When Xue Zi Ning and Shen Yue Yue arrived at the second branch's courtyard, they heard an exasperated voice, "Shen Yun Lan, if you want to become a monk, then never step foot in the Shen family again, and don't acknowledge me and your mother."
Then, there was a thud, followed by the sound of kowtowing, "Your son is unfilial. I hope Father and Mother will take care."
"Yun Lan, you... you can't abandon your mother, you can't! You still have a child!"
"Mother, please take care of Ai He for me. The child will be named Ai He."
After speaking, Shen Yun Lan pushed aside the curtain and walked out.
Shen Second Madam chased after him, crying, "Yun Lan, Yun Lan, don't go..."
Shen Yun Lan walked towards the main gate without looking back.
Shen Yue Yue clutched Xue Zi Ning's arm, her grip instinctively tightening.
Xue Zi Ning looked at Shen Yue Yue and asked, "You don't want Eldest Master Shen to leave?"
Shen Yue Yue's eyes reddened. "If Eldest Brother leaves, how heartbroken will Second Uncle and Second Aunt be?"
"The Shen family still has you and Yun Xuan."
Shen Yue Yue shook her head. "A family should be together. Without Eldest Brother, this family is incomplete." Xue Zi Ning was startled, and after a moment, she stepped forward and blocked Shen Yun Lan's path.
Shen Yun Lan looked up and saw the person blocking him, his eyes widening slightly. Then he said, "Miss Ning An, thank you for what you did before."
"Miss Ning An, don't let him go, don't let him go," Shen Second Madam chased after them, tripped, and fell to the ground, but she still crawled to Shen Yun Lan's feet.
Shen Yue Yue quickly stepped forward to help Shen Second Madam up. "Second Aunt, are you alright?"
Shen Second Madam grabbed Shen Yun Lan's sleeve and cried, "Yun Lan, don't go, don't go..."
"Mother, your son is sorry for the upbringing you gave me. Please let go, son..."
"Young Master Shen, have you decided?" Xue Zi Ning asked calmly.
Shen Yun Lan looked at her. After a long moment, he said, "I have decided."
Xue Zi Ning took a step forward, now less than a fist's distance from Shen Yun Lan. Shen Yun Lan subconsciously took a step back. "Have you really decided?"
"Yes," Shen Yun Lan replied.
"By becoming a monk, you fulfill your feelings for Wei Li He. But how will you repay the nurturing grace of your parents for the past twenty-odd years? Just with words?"
Shen Yun Lan’s body trembled.
Xue Zi Ning continued, "The grace of parents is greater than the heavens. Without repaying your parents' grace, choosing to leave is unfilial. You, who have studied diligently for years, choose to abandon serving the country for a minor matter, which is disloyalty. Disloyalty and unfilial conduct—Shen Yun Lan, where did your sage texts lead you?"