"My Moon..." Shen Yun Xiu turned to look at Nangong Yue, only to find that Nangong Yue had removed her human skin mask, revealing a beautiful face beneath.
"It's you..." Shen Yun Xiu couldn't believe it.
Shen Yun Xuan stepped forward and took the girl's hand. "Are you alright?"
An Ning shook her head. "No, but Nangong Yue got away."
She rushed to the Nangong family's residence and discovered it was empty, evidently having left overnight.
She was still a step too late.
"Hahaha..." Shen Yun Xiu laughed heartily, his smile filled with unwillingness and defiance.
"Second Young Master, please beg the Old Madam and the Master. They will let you go," Aunt Feng was terrified.
"Beg? When has Shen Yun Xiu ever needed to beg others?" Shen Yun Xiu looked at the lowly Aunt Feng on the ground, his heart still pierced.
"You unfilial son, have you still not repented?" Shen Cong Wen was truly angered.
"Repent? Why should I repent? What have I done wrong? It is you who are wrong. You say a concubine's son cannot dine with the legitimate family, a concubine's son cannot go out to socialize, a concubine's son cannot do this, cannot do that. I am a concubine's son, but I am also a person. The Shen family does not treat concubine's sons as people at all. The biggest mistake I made in this life was being born into the Shen family."
Shen Yun Xiu roared.
Aunt Feng, terrified, scrambled to Shen Yun Xiu's side. "Second Young Master, don't say any more, don't say any more..."
"Mother, please get up..." Shen Yun Xiu bent down to help her up.
Aunt Feng shook her head. "Quickly beg them, Second Young Master, quickly beg them."
Shen Yun Xiu shook his head. "It's too late. It was too late the moment I embarked on this path."
"No, how can it be too late?" Aunt Feng cried, shaking her head.
Shen Yun Xiu glanced at Aunt Feng, suddenly pulled out the hairpin from her hair, stood up, and said, "I did all this. She has nothing to do with it."
Suddenly, he plunged the hairpin in his hand fiercely into his neck. Blood gushed out. He lowered his head and said, "Mother..."
"No, no, Second Young Master..." Aunt Feng screamed and shook her head, trying to catch the falling Shen Yun Xiu, but how could she? She was pulled down with him and fell to the ground. She got up, and Shen Yun Xiu looked at her and smiled.
"Second Young Master, Old Madam, Master, call a doctor, call a doctor..."
"Mother... Mother, it's too late..."
After saying this, Shen Yun Xiu stared intently at Shen Cong Wen.
Shen Cong Wen closed his eyes and sighed, "Don't worry, Aunt Feng will not be implicated."
Shen Yun Xiu gazed at the sky. He was tired, truly tired. This way was good enough.
He slowly closed his eyes, wishing for the identity of a legitimate son in the next life.
"Second Young Master..." Aunt Feng cried out madly, weeping.
An Ning turned her face away and whispered, "Fate is unpredictable."
Shen Yun Xuan sighed. "He took a wrong step."
Old Madam Shen found it difficult to accept, shaking her head repeatedly. "Not worth it, not worth it!"
"Third Young Master, the matter is over. Should you not fulfill your promise?" An Ning asked Shen Yun Xuan.
Hearing this, Shen Yun Xuan took out a purse from his怀. "There are a thousand taels in here. You know, the Shen family is not what it used to be."
An Ning knew that although the problem was discovered early, the impact had already occurred. Twenty thousand taels of silver had been used to appease those who had been poisoned.
After thoroughly investigating all the ingredients at the Hui Ju Lou, it was discovered that many were not up to standard. Shen Yun Xuan decided to establish a place specifically for such things, keeping safety in his own hands.
He returned the rest to the eldest and second branches, but the two uncles were unwilling to accept it, stating it was equivalent to their investment, and they only needed to be paid their due annually.
Thus, the Shen family could be said to have been hollowed out.
An Ning accepted it and nodded. "It's enough."
It was only then that Shen Cong Wen realized that his son had found a helper to expose the poisoner within the family.
"Miss Ning An..." The Old Madam stepped forward, taking her hand, showing reluctance.
An Ning smiled. "Old Madam, there will be opportunities to meet again."
Old Madam Shen said, "Miss Ning An, if you ever need the Shen family in the future, do not hesitate to ask. As long as the Shen family can do it, we will go all out without hesitation."
Shen Cong Wen also stepped forward. "Miss Ning An, this official also promises that Zhaoping will be your last sanctuary."
An Ning was stunned. This was a significant promise. "Thank you, Lord Shen. Perhaps I will seek your help if the opportunity arises."
Shen Yun Xuan took out a jade pendant. "My grandmother gave this to me when I was born. I have always kept it with me. I am now giving it to you. Anyone who comes to me with this jade pendant will not be disappointed."
"Alright, I accept it." An Ning did not stand on ceremony. This would be useful to her, and she would not refuse.
"Farewell, until we meet again across the horizons!" An Ning clasped her hands and got into the carriage.
The carriage gradually disappeared from everyone's sight.
Old Madam Shen looked at her grandson, who was gazing intently, and said, "If you like her, why don't you pursue her?"
Shen Yun Xuan turned back, smiling, a hint of bitterness in his expression. "She deserves someone better."
"She is not an ordinary person. Your decision is correct," Old Madam Shen said suddenly.
Shen Yun Xuan nodded and helped Old Madam Shen. "Grandmother, Father, let's go back!"
He turned and threw a piece of paper on the ground. The wind blew, revealing the writing: Princess An Ning, the third princess of Anguo, had disappeared from Yuchun Tower. Emperor An was furious and searched the entire realm.
An Ning was now outside Zhaoping, heading towards Anguo.
She wanted to return to Anguo. Her father must be extremely worried. She wanted to report her well-being.
Suddenly, the carriage lost control and galloped wildly. She lifted the curtain and saw no driver outside. "Help..."
Before she could utter the word "alive," the carriage crashed into a tree. She was thrown out and landed heavily, her face hitting the ground first.
Her face throbbed with agonizing pain, causing her to faint.
"Why has the carriage stopped?" a woman's voice came from inside the carriage.
Xue Country
Feng Luan Palace
Xue Hou rubbed her forehead, looking at her two sons before her with a headache. One not marrying, she could grudgingly understand, but why were both refusing to marry?
Did they want the royal family to have no heirs?
"Imperial Brother has not married, so I am not in a hurry," Xue Jing Yun kicked his bundle towards the First Prince, Xue Yuan Zhao.
Xue Yuan Zhao remained expressionless. "As the future Crown Prince, the Crown Prince must have imperial sons to stabilize the court."
"Enough, you must marry. I will find suitable women for you now."
Xue Hou gritted her teeth in anger.
"We will not marry," the two replied in unison.
Xue Hou sneered. "Resistance is futile. You may withdraw."
As they left Feng Luan Palace, Xue Yuan Zhao spoke, "Has Princess An Ning been found?"
Xue Jing Yun gazed into the distance, his expression unreadable. "Imperial Brother should mind his own business and need not concern himself with others."
Watching Xue Jing Yun's retreating back, Xue Yuan Zhao's gaze deepened. Princess An Ning, where have you gone?