"Your Majesty, this..." Li Chenxuan looked at the tunnel before him, incredulous that there would be a passage leading outside within the Emperor's sleeping quarters.
"Hurry, before we are discovered later," Xue Zining urged Li Chenxuan from behind her.
With that, she entered the dark tunnel.
Li Chenxuan quickly followed, and the door behind them slowly closed. After a sound was heard, the area was bathed in light.
Li Chenxuan gazed at the young woman's back, his gaze flickering. This was the first time he had walked with her.
An indescribable feeling filled his heart; he was happy.
Joy permeated his entire being, and the seemingly long tunnel became very short.
"We're out," a silver beam of light shone in from outside.
Li Chenxuan quickened his pace, exiting the tunnel. He looked around and realized they were already in the outskirts, far from the imperial palace.
"Your Majesty, where do we go next?" Li Chenxuan asked, looking at the young woman who was facing the direction of the palace.
The young woman clenched her fists tightly and said, "We go to Binzhou."
Li Chenxuan was taken aback. "Your Majesty, there are no troops stationed in Binzhou."
"There is the Hua family," the young woman said lightly.
Li Chenxuan frowned, a hint of worry in his voice. "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister is dead, and the Hua family might..."
Xue Zining stiffened. She had forgotten that in her previous life, Hua Yunjin had already died.
Her heart ached suddenly. Why had she come so late? If she had come earlier, perhaps she could have saved Hua Yunjin?
"Your Majesty, what's wrong?" Feeling the change in the young woman's complexion, Li Chenxuan asked with concern.
Xue Zining waved her hand. "It's nothing."
At this moment, she realized that even if she escaped the palace, where could she go?
The world was vast, yet there was no place for her.
"Your Majesty..."
"To the National Preceptor's mansion," Xue Zining suddenly said.
Li Chenxuan nodded. "The National Preceptor must have a way."
"I will go myself," Xue Zining said.
Li Chenxuan's gaze halted. "Your Majesty, you cannot. The outside is likely already under the control of Prince Mingxian. If you go alone, I cannot rest easy."
"Li Chenxuan, I have a more important task for you."
Li Chenxuan was stunned. In the moment of his daze, something was placed in his hand. Upon seeing it, his entire body trembled. "Your Majesty, this..."
"Li Chenxuan, can I trust you?"
Li Chenxuan looked up and saw the young woman's eyes, which sparkled like bright pearls in the dark night. He took a deep breath and knelt on one knee. "I will not fail your trust. As long as I live, the tiger tally will remain. If I..."
"Enough. No matter when, I want you to prioritize your own safety."
Li Chenxuan's gaze flickered. "Your Majesty, I will not fail this mission."
"The Xue Family Army is stationed outside the palace. They recognize this tiger tally. Once you gain control of the Xue Family Army, surround the National Preceptor's mansion and await my command."
Li Chenxuan said, "As you command!"
"Go!" Xue Zining said.
Li Chenxuan departed.
Xue Zining tidied her hair. What role did Yan Zhao play in this life?
About half an hour later, she arrived at the National Preceptor's mansion. Along the way, there were cries of agony and corpses littered everywhere. She couldn't tell if they were Xue Zixuan's men or hers. The only sanctuary was this National Preceptor's mansion. Outside, fires raged, but here, it was as quiet as another world.
Standing at the entrance, she let out a long sigh. Just as she was about to knock, the door suddenly opened.
She looked up and saw a face she hadn't seen in a long time.
The last time she saw him was probably half a year ago, when he drank the poisoned wine before her.
She watched him slowly collapse before her.
She thought that if Yan Zhao stood before her in this life, she would be filled with hatred, after all, he had betrayed her.
But now, as he stood before her, she found herself unable to muster the immense hatred she once felt.
What was happening to her?
"Your Majesty, come in!" a slender, fair hand grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.
She hadn't expected Yan Zhao to suddenly pull her, and she stumbled into his embrace with his forceful pull.
Her entire body stiffened.
Through the smooth fabric of his clothes, she could feel his heartbeat, rhythmic and steady.
"Your Majesty..." a faint voice drifted from above her head.
She pushed Yan Zhao away. Yan Zhao seemed taken aback by her sudden push and stumbled back several steps.
To alleviate the awkwardness, she cleared her throat a few times and looked up to find Yan Zhao watching her, his incredibly handsome face as cold and aloof as ever.
And his eyes, as bright as stars, emitted a dazzling radiance.
She closed her eyes and slowly opened them again, saying coldly, "Does the National Preceptor not kneel to greet me?"
Upon hearing this, Yan Zhao's gaze flickered slightly. After a moment, he slowly lowered his head and bowed, "Your Majesty, you once said that your subject need not kneel."
"That was the past; this is the present. Now, I command you to kneel." Lower your proud head, and have your dignity utterly destroyed.
She had expected Yan Zhao to refuse. In her previous life, because of Yan Zhao's unyielding pride, she had issued a decree allowing the National Preceptor to be exempt from kneeling.
But what of it? She had treated him so well, even offering him her heart, only to receive betrayal and an unjust death.
Yan Zhao lifted his robes with one hand and knelt on the ground.
With a thud, he firmly knelt on the ground.
Xue Zining trembled, disbelieving that he had actually knelt.
Yan Zhao placed his hands on his forehead and bowed low, his head touching the ground.
"Enough..." Xue Zining turned away and said coldly.
Yan Zhao lifted his head and looked at the young woman's back, a flash of brilliant light crossing his eyes.
"Xue Zixuan has reached the capital and surrounded the palace. Do you know?"
"I know," Yan Zhao replied.
"Why did you not come to the rescue?" Xue Zining turned, her clear eyes looking coldly at the kneeling Yan Zhao.
Yan Zhao looked up, his eyes as brilliant as stars, and looked at her, slowly saying, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You have already stripped me of my power."
Xue Zining trembled. She suddenly remembered that in her previous life, she had replaced all of Yan Zhao's close associates with her own people, wanting to know his every move.
A thought crossed her mind, and she looked at Yan Zhao, asking, "Then do you intend to sit here and await your doom?"
Yan Zhao shook his head. "I plan to seek out the commander of the Imperial Guards, Lord Qin."
Qin Zhaohui?
"If you had the tiger tally, what would you prepare to do?" Xue Zining asked again.
Yan Zhao looked at her, his eyes narrowed. Although he didn't understand why she asked, he still answered truthfully, "Still the Imperial Guards."
"Why not the Xue Family Army stationed outside the palace?" Xue Zining asked.
Yan Zhao replied, "Your Majesty, the Xue Family Army is now under the command of Prince Mingxian."
"How is that possible?" Xue Zining looked at Yan Zhao in disbelief.
Yan Zhao looked at her, without any evasion, and said lightly, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten there is still one more person..."