The youth looked up, his gaze indeed dim, devoid of any luster. "Zhao Yunnan pays his respects to the lady!"
"Feng Ning," Xue Zining replied.
After Zhao Yunnan bowed and saluted, he moved to stand behind Madam Zhao.
Xue Zining gave Xue Yan a look, and Xue Yan discreetly took note.
"Mother..."
Wu Dakang hurried over. Upon seeing the young woman standing beside his mother, his legs nearly gave out. He quickly stepped forward and whispered, "Mother, this is Hua'er's guest. Why did you bring her here?"
Madam Wu heard him and became displeased. "You specifically came to tell me this? Has Li Fanghua complained to you again? Dakang, it's not me saying this, but you're too stifled as the commander of Dongling Pass. Which man is afraid of his wife?"
Wu Dakang wished he could clap his mother's mouth shut. "Mother, there are people here."
Madam Wu scanned her surroundings and seeing only her old acquaintances, said, "It's fine, they are all my old sisters, no need to be afraid."
Sweat trickled down Wu Dakang's forehead. "Mother, Hua'er still has something to discuss with Miss Feng."
"Dakang, tell your wife that nothing is more important than what I'm doing here."
"Mother, what are you going to do now?" Wu Dakang truly regretted bringing his mother over. He had intended for her to help Hua'er, who was inconveniently confined after giving birth to a son, but he never imagined she would cause more trouble.
"I see that this young lady is not yet married, so I'm thinking of choosing a suitable husband for her among my old sisters," Madam Wu declared proudly.
Wu Dakang was so terrified he nearly fell to his knees. Did his mother think he had lived too long?
"Mother, don't be ridiculous. You can't decide Miss Feng's marriage," Wu Dakang whispered.
"Nonsense, how can I, a dignified Madam of the fourth rank, not decide for a mere young girl?" Madam Wu was displeased. To be shown such disrespect by her son in front of so many old sisters made her unhappy.
"Mother, I don't care how you acted foolishly before, but not this time," Wu Dakang said, angered.
Madam Wu looked at her old sisters, who seemed to be watching her like a joke, and was also furious. "Dakang, I am your mother."
"Precisely because you are my mother, I don't want you to make a mistake..."
"General Wu, it's alright," Xue Zining shook her head at Wu Dakang.
Wu Dakang was startled. "You..."
Xue Zining looked at Madam Wu and said faintly, "My marriage is not something Madam Wu can decide, because I am already married."
Madam Wu frowned and said coldly, "You can divorce. Tell me, who did you marry?"
"Prime Minister Hua, the current Prime Minister," Xue Zining said, word by word.
Everyone was shocked. Madam Wu shook her head, "No... that's impossible?"
"I heard that not long ago, the Hua manor did indeed marry a young lady from the capital to ward off ill fortune for Prime Minister Hua."
Madam Wu looked at Wu Dakang, who nodded to indicate it was true.
Madam Wu took several steps back. She had never imagined that her attempt to play matchmaker would lead her to the current Prime Minister.
"Madam, please forgive me!" Wu Dakang bowed to the young woman.
"It's alright. After all, no one knows my identity," Xue Zining said.
Hearing Xue Zining say this, Madam Wu's body trembled involuntarily.
"General Wu, your wife gave birth to a son only a few days ago. It's not suitable for her to be out of her room. Leave the matter of making sweet soup to the servants!"
Wu Dakang looked at Madam Wu. Madam Wu shrank her neck; her previous arrogant demeanor had vanished.
Xue Zining turned and left. Wu Dakang said quietly to Madam Wu, "Mother, you've truly ruined me."
With that, he quickly chased after her.
Reaching a corner, Wu Dakang knelt on the ground and said, "My mother has offended you, I beg..."
"My identity now is only Feng Ning. How can there be an offense?" Xue Zining interrupted Wu Dakang.
Wu Dakang was taken aback.
Xue Zining continued, "There is no me from the capital here now, only me as Feng Ning."
Wu Dakang understood and said gratefully, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your forgiveness."
"General Wu, how is the investigation into the Red Lotus Cult progressing?"
Mentioning the Red Lotus Cult, Wu Dakang's expression grew serious. "This cult is very mysterious. However, I heard from someone who withdrew from the Red Lotus Cult that they are awaiting the arrival of the Young Master of the Red Lotus."
"Where is that person? I wish to meet them."
Wu Dakang sighed at this. "He's dead. Those who leave the cult can only live for three days."
"What a pity," Xue Zining said, her rare clue having been broken.
"Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will continue to pay attention," Wu Dakang assured her.
Xue Zining nodded.
Leaving General Wu's manor, Xue Yan whispered, "This servant has been observing Young Master Zhao. I've discovered he's not simple."
Xue Zining looked at Xue Yan and asked, "Why do you say that?"
Xue Yan continued, "When this Young Master Zhao left, he took a maid from the general's manor with him in his carriage."
Xue Zining frowned. Xue Yan pressed on, "The carriage stopped in a desolate wilderness, and a body was thrown out of the carriage. When we went to look, it was the maid who had been taken."
Xue Zining's gaze sharpened. "Someone from the Red Lotus Cult?"
Xue Yan nodded. "It is said that one must practice Red Lotus cultivation to join the cult, and it is bloodthirsty."
"Keep an eye on Young Master Zhao," Xue Zining instructed.
Xue Yan replied, "Rest assured."
Bloodthirsty? Xue Zining inexplicably felt a sense of unease.
Upon returning to the Hua manor, servants greeted her outside. Seeing her arrive, they hurried forward and respectfully said, "Miss Feng, the Elder wishes to see you."
"Very well, please lead the way," Xue Zining replied.
Arriving at the study, Xue Zining saw another person present besides Hua Rong.
This person appeared to be around thirty years old. Though showing signs of hardship, it couldn't entirely conceal his handsome features.
She had to admit, the Hua family possessed good looks.
Although, it was slightly inferior to the royal family of Xueguo.
"This is Hua Zhengyang, from the second branch of the Hua family."
"Second Uncle," Xue Zining said.
Hua Zhengyang nodded. "I have just returned from the west. I heard that Yun Jin is married, and I am extremely pleased. If Father heard this, he would be very happy."
The elder brother Hua Zhengyang referred to was the head of the first branch of the Hua family, and Hua Yunjin's father, Hua Zhengming; the two were twins.
Looking at Hua Zhengyang's appearance, she saw Hua Yunjin's father.
"May I ask why the Elder and Second Uncle called me here?" Xue Zining inquired.
Hua Zhengyang sighed. "Yun Jin does not wish to be treated. I am very helpless."
"Why?" Xue Zining asked, frowning.
Hearing this, Hua Zhengyang looked up. "Therefore, Second Uncle hopes you can persuade him."
"I will," Xue Zining nodded.
"I heard you retrieved a treasure from the Divine Temple of Xueguo. May I see it?"
At this moment, Hua Rong coughed lightly. Hua Zhengyang smiled and said, "It's inconvenient, no need."
"There's no inconvenience," Xue Zining said, taking off the gemstone she had brought back from the Xueguo Divine Temple from her neck.
Hua Zhengyang was astonished upon seeing the gemstone. "I never expected it to be something like this. I thought it would be something bloody."