“An Ning…” Nangong Yue ran to her side upon seeing her, hiding behind her.
“What’s wrong?” Xue Zining turned to ask Nangong Yue.
Nangong Yue clutched her sleeve tightly, trembling, as if terrified of the person before her.
“He… he is…”
“I am Shen Yunxuan…”
The man bowed slightly, his handsome face adorned with a pair of long, narrow eyes that held a hint of playfulness.
Xue Zining looked up at Shen Yunxuan, whom Nangong Yue had mentioned, and met those playful, wicked eyes. She immediately formed an opinion of him.
He was no simple person.
“Greetings, Young Master Shen,” Xue Zining said calmly, but without making any gesture of a curtsy.
This woman…
Shen Yunxuan also made a judgment about Xue Zining. She was a woman who was neither yielding nor yielding, with a heart of stone.
Shen Yunxuan frowned slightly. No one in Zhaoping dared to treat him with such coldness.
Was it because he wasn’t handsome?
How could that be?
Yingying, the most sought-after courtesan who had retired from the capital with success, had told him that even in the capital, his looks were second to none.
Unless this person didn’t like handsome men like him.
“May I know this young lady’s surname?” Shen Yunxuan asked.
Asking a young lady’s name in broad daylight further worsened Xue Zining’s impression of Shen Yunxuan.
“I have nothing to report,” Xue Zining replied coldly, her clear and beautiful face radiating an icy demeanor.
Shen Yunxuan narrowed his eyes. Was she being so impolite to him?
“A’Yue, is this your friend?” Shen Yunxuan changed his tactic and asked Nangong Yue.
Nangong Yue glanced at him and shook her head, “I… I won’t tell you…”
“Let’s go!” Xue Zining grabbed Nangong Yue and prepared to leave.
Shen Yunxuan suddenly stepped forward a few paces, blocking their path.
Xue Zining looked at him indifferently, her gaze as cold as frost. “Young Master Shen, please move aside.”
Shen Yunxuan was not angered by the impoliteness in her tone. He opened his folding fan, and his handsome face gained a wicked charm. “Since she is A’Yue’s friend, as A’Yue’s husband, it is natural for me to entertain friends. I hope you don’t mind…”
“I do mind,” Xue Zining replied bluntly and mercilessly.
Shen Yunxuan was taken aback. He hadn’t expected this woman to show him such a lack of respect.
Xue Zining pulled Nangong Yue past him.
The smile on Shen Yunxuan’s handsome face finally faltered, and his long, narrow eyes revealed a sinister depth.
Shen Fei, standing nearby, couldn’t help but pray for the young lady who had just passed. Offending the young master would not lead to a good outcome.
“Send someone to investigate this woman’s background,” Shen Yunxuan said coldly.
“Yes, Young Master.” Shen Fei left.
Back in the carriage, Nangong Yue released Xue Zining’s sleeve and said with lingering fear, “An Ning, thank you.”
“Does Uncle Shen know what kind of person Shen Yunxuan is?” Xue Zining asked.
Hearing this, Nangong Yue bit her lower lip, her face pale. After a long moment, she said, “Father knows.”
Xue Zining frowned, “Uncle Shen he…”
Nangong Yue looked up, her eyes filled with helplessness. “An Ning, you know the Prefect is his father, so naturally, he is emboldened.”
“A person like this is not fit for the position of Prefect,” Xue Zining said slowly.
Nangong Yue’s gaze faltered, and she lowered her eyes. “An Ning, I heard from others that Shen Congwen is part of the Regent’s faction.”
Xue Zining’s gaze turned colder. “So that’s how it is.”
Nangong Yue suddenly remembered something and grabbed Xue Zining’s hand. “An Ning, please don’t confront Shen Congwen because of me. Shen Congwen is even more difficult to deal with than Shen Yunxuan.”
At the mention of this, Nangong Yue couldn’t help but tremble all over.
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing,” Xue Zining said.
If Shen Congwen was indeed part of the Regent’s faction, she would not hold back.
“Your Majesty, we have arrived,” Xue Yan’s voice came from outside.
Xue Zining opened the carriage curtain. The sign read Moon Spring.
Nangong Yue alighted from the carriage and looked at the sign, asking, “An Ning, what is this…”
“We are staying here tonight,” Xue Zining said.
Nangong Yue nodded. “An Ning, whatever you arrange is fine.”
Upon entering Moon Spring, Nangong Yue realized it was a manor, vast and grand.
“An Ning, is it just you and me here?” Nangong Yue asked, looking at the sprawling manor.
Xue Zining nodded. “My father, the Emperor, had it built for me.”
Nangong Yue looked enviously at the facilities. After walking a few steps, she saw a large pool enveloped in ethereal mist.
“This is a natural hot spring,” Xue Zining said.
“How wonderful,” Nangong Yue couldn’t help but exclaim. It turned out that being an emperor meant possessing so many good things.
Handsome men, delicious food, and estates.
“Go change your clothes, let’s soak for a while,” Xue Zining said, noticing Nangong Yue’s envious expression.
Nangong Yue nodded and left with a maid from the manor.
“Your Majesty, Shen Yunxuan has come to the capital alone,” Xue Yan whispered, approaching her.
“Shen Congwen hasn’t come?” Xue Zining asked, looking up.
Xue Yan replied, “No.”
“Keep watching,” Xue Zining commanded.
Xue Yan nodded. “Yes.”
Nangong Yue, having changed her clothes, emerged and entered the spring. It was only then that Nangong Yue realized what true enjoyment was. She looked at Xue Zining, who was still in her previous attire, and couldn’t help but ask, “An Ning, aren’t you changing?”
Xue Zining took off her outer garment and said, “No need.”
A flicker of something flashed across Nangong Yue’s eyes.
“Who is it? Come out?” Xue Yan suddenly shouted sternly.
Immediately after, sounds of fighting ensued.
“An Ning, wh-what’s wrong?” Nangong Yue grabbed Xue Zining’s hand.
Xue Zining looked at Nangong Yue, her gaze clear and cold. Nangong Yue instinctively let go of her hand. She walked to the edge of the pool, where the ethereal mist obscured her vision, making it impossible to tell if anyone was opposite her. She could only tentatively call out, “Xue Yan…”
“Someone’s here…” Xue Yan’s voice sounded strained.
“An Ning, I’m scared…” Nangong Yue also came up, hiding behind Xue Zining and vigilantly looking ahead.
Xue Zining stepped out of the mist and saw Xue Yan engaged in a fight with someone.
“Ah…” Nangong Yue behind her suddenly cried out.
Xue Zining turned around and saw Nangong Yue being held captive by someone.
“Light the lamps,” she commanded coldly.
Before her words had even fallen, the surroundings lit up. The person behind Nangong Yue was none other than Shen Yunxuan, whom she had seen earlier that day.
“Release her,” Xue Zining said coldly.
Shen Yunxuan sneered, “She is my betrothed. Why should I release her?”
“Feng Yu…” Xue Zining shouted coldly.
After a moment of silence, realizing Feng Yu was no longer by her side, she was taken aback.
“An Ning, save me…” Nangong Yue called out with difficulty.
“Release A’Yue,” Xue Zining stepped forward, looking coldly at Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan saw a maiden emerge from the ethereal mist, her clear and beautiful face framed by eyes that were too pure.
It was as if all the impurities of the world could be purified in her gaze.
At this moment, she stood there like a goddess on high, noble and cold, unapproachable.