Two hours passed, and Xue Yan returned to the side courtyard. "Your Majesty, there's still no news of Miss An."
Xue Zining looked up at Xue Yan, her brow furrowed slightly. "I'm afraid Miss An has been abducted."
Xue Yan started. "Your Majesty, should we continue searching?"
Xue Zining's gaze fell upon the remaining piece of peach blossom crisp on the table, and she sighed. "What to do? I still want to eat it."
Hearing this, Xue Yan pursed her lips and smiled. "Your Majesty, how many times have I told you to be careful about getting fat and not fitting into your wedding dress on the wedding day?"
"Even if I become fat, he, Yan Zhao, will still have to marry me," Xue Zining said righteously.
Xue Yan couldn't help but laugh. Soon, the sound of a servant was heard from outside. "My Lady, Miss Biqing is requesting an audience!"
Xue Yan looked at her, and she popped the last piece of peach blossom crisp into her mouth.
Xue Yan turned to the person outside and said, "Please invite Miss Biqing in!"
Soon, Biqing's figure appeared outside. Before she even entered, she knelt on the ground with a thud. "Please, young lady, save my second miss. Biqing is willing to be your slave and maid."
After speaking, Biqing kowtowed repeatedly, the sounds echoing loudly. The ground was solid, and after a few bows, her forehead was already red and swollen.
"Miss Biqing, please get up first." Xue Yan stepped forward to help Biqing up.
Biqing shook her head, her voice choked with sobs. "Biqing knows this request is difficult, but I truly have no other way. Second miss has never left without a word. It must be Aunt Yue causing trouble. I fear..."
She feared that her second miss had already fallen victim to Aunt Yue's malevolent schemes.
"Miss Biqing, why don't you inform Lord An, the Prefect?" Xue Zining asked indifferently.
Biqing trembled all over and looked up at the person on the chair. Her clear and beautiful face was cold and noble, her clear eyes exuding a discerning coldness. The young lady was clearly only of the same age as her second miss, but there was an aura about her, as if she were a lofty celestial being looking down upon all beings.
It was so oppressive that she couldn't even lift her head.
To them, they were merely ants.
"I have informed him, but my lord believed Aunt Yue and thought nothing would happen to second miss," Biqing said.
"Biqing, are there any conflicts between Miss An and Aunt Yue?" Xue Zining asked.
Biqing nodded. "There are many conflicts, but I can't recall them all at once."
"The most significant ones," Xue Zining prompted.
Biqing thought for a moment, then suddenly trembled all over. Xue Yan stepped forward and asked, "Miss Biqing, whatever you remember, please say it. Otherwise, how can my lady save your miss?"
Biqing gritted her teeth, her voice still trembling slightly. "Second miss once sent Aunt Yue to the Jiaofangsi..."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yan's eyes widened, and she looked at Xue Zining. No wonder she couldn't find Miss An; she had been sent to the Jiaofangsi, a place they would never have thought of.
Xue Zining nodded. "Xue Yan, take Biqing to the Jiaofangsi."
"Yes." Xue Yan received the order and was about to leave.
"Wait a moment..." Xue Zining said.
Xue Yan turned back. "Does my lady have any other instructions?"
"Bring more people." Xue Zining instructed.
Xue Yan smiled. "My lady, please rest assured. Xue Yan can handle those few people."
She walked to Biqing's side and said, "Follow me, let's go save your miss."
Biqing still looked incredulous. "To the Jiaofangsi?"
"Otherwise?" Xue Yan replied.
"Aunt... Aunt Yue, she... how dare she?" Biqing cried out in anger.
"Stop crying. You'll need your strength to save your miss later."
Biqing nodded and left with Xue Yan.
"Feng Jiu..." After Xue Yan left, Xue Zining called out to Feng Jiu.
Feng Jiu landed. "Your Majesty, Feng Jiu is here."
"You go with them too. I don't feel at ease with Xue Yan going alone," Xue Zining said.
Feng Jiu nodded and was about to leave when Xue Zining sighed. "Never mind, I'll go with you."
"What... what are you doing..." An Ling looked at the woman in front of her, dressed up colorfully, and said fearfully.
She was familiar with this place; this was the Jiaofangsi, a place that made the women brought in wish they were dead.
"Miss An the Second, what do you think this place is?" the woman cackled with laughter.
"Let me go, I didn't come willingly..."
"Everyone who comes here says they didn't come willingly. Who here came willingly? But once you enter here, you can never leave. Miss An the Second, quickly give up the thought of leaving! Someone, change her clothes," the woman said coldly.
An Ling retreated and said angrily, "My brother is Lord An, the Prefect. Aren't you afraid of offending my brother?"
The woman smiled charmingly. "Prefect? To tell you the truth, don't underestimate my Jiaofangsi. Even princesses have come here in the past. Once you enter, your status means nothing here."
"How can you let me go?" An Ling backed away step by step.
"You can't be let go. What are you standing around for? Strip her clothes for me. General Wu likes them wild like this," the woman ordered the people behind her.
Two men stepped forward, about to strip An Ling's clothes. An Ling pulled a hairpin from her head and held it to her neck. "Don't move, I'll stab myself if you come any closer."
The two men dared not move. The woman sneered, "What are you staring at? She doesn't dare to stab herself."
Having been here for many years, she had seen through people's hearts. If she truly wanted to die, she would have been desperate from the moment she entered, not arguing with her. Such people usually held onto hope, believing someone would come to save them.
But no one would come. Once one entered such a place, their families would generally abandon them.
"Don't come closer, I will really stab myself," An Ling shouted.
As the two men approached her, An Ling fiercely thrust the hairpin towards her neck. Suddenly, her wrist went limp, and the golden hairpin fell to the ground.
The two men were knocked to the ground by a sudden shadow.
The woman behind them was stunned. "Who is it? Who dares to cause trouble in my Jiaofangsi?"
"Leng Fengluan, Miss An did not come willingly. Are you violating the Empress's decree by forcing her like this?"
Leng Fengluan looked up at the woman standing before her. The woman's face was as cold as frost, emanating a chilling aura. "Who are you, girl? Is my Jiaofangsi a place you can come and go as you please?"
Xue Yan sneered, "You are forcing Miss An, which violates the Empress's decree. Leng Fengluan, I will take you to face the Empress today."
Upon hearing this, Leng Fengluan chuckled lowly. "Is that so? I'm afraid you won't be able to leave once you enter this Jiaofangsi."
Xue Yan's gaze turned cold. She saw about five or six men in black land around them.
She said angrily, "Leng Fengluan, you are harboring hidden guards. What crime is that?"
Leng Fengluan sneered, "The emperor is far away, and even the King of Hell is useless here."
"Leave her."
The men in black attacked Xue Yan. Xue Yan pushed Biqing behind her. "Stand with your second miss and don't move."
Biqing dared not speak further and stood with An Ling. An Ling whispered, "Isn't this Miss Long's maid?"
Biqing nodded. "Second Miss, I couldn't find you, so I had to seek help from Miss Long."