The door was kicked open, and the man furiously knocking outside was kicked flying.
The man got up, enraged, "Who are you? You don't recognize me? I'll have you sitting in the Tingwei tomorrow, believe it or not!"
Xue Zi Ning smiled, looking at the man and said, "So it's Lord Sun, the Clerk of the State.”
Upon hearing this, Sun Wen Zhang trembled all over. He looked up and saw those clear, cold eyes. His legs went weak, and he collapsed onto the ground. He instantly felt unwell. It was the Empress.
"Why aren't you speaking anymore? Weren't you going to have me sit in the Tingwei tomorrow? Why wait? Let's do it today, shall we? Come, sit in the Tingwei!"
Sun Wen Zhang quickly kowtowed and begged for mercy, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This humble subject did not know it was Your Majesty. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness."
"Lord Ren of the Court of Ceremonial let me go to the Tingwei, and you, Lord Sun, also want me to go to the Tingwei. Since you both like the Tingwei so much, I shall summon the Tingwei..." Xue Zi Ning said, and then ordered the Imperial Guards, "Summon Lord An of the Tingwei."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning snorted and flicked her sleeves, leaving the place.
Sun Wen Zhang slumped there, his body weak.
Not long after, Feng Jiu hurried over and said, "Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning saw the bloodstain on Feng Jiu's lips and was startled. Few people could defeat Feng Jiu. She couldn't help but ask, "Were you beaten?" Bafen Novel
Feng Jiu heard this and replied, "It was General Wu."
Xue Zi Ning's gaze turned cold upon hearing this, "He's here too?"
Feng Jiu nodded. Sensing the Empress's anger, he couldn't help but say, "Your Majesty, this is the original purpose of the Jiaofang Division."
"I know. Where is General Wu?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Feng Jiu said, "Your subordinate will take you there."
Xue Zi Ning arrived at a room. As she entered, she saw Wu Da Kang taking a sip of wine. Without even looking up, he said coldly, "What? Do you want to fight again?"
Xue Zi Ning drew the soft whip from her waist and lashed it towards Wu Da Kang.
Wu Da Kang was stunned. The whip felt so familiar. He looked up and saw those clear yet cold eyes, and for a moment, he was frozen.
He didn't dodge the whip as it flew towards him. Xue Zi Ning showed no intention of stopping. The whip lashed down fiercely, striking his body. His robes were instantly torn with a long slit, and blood welled up.
Xue Zi Ning withdrew the whip and walked in.
Wu Da Kang quickly knelt on the ground, "Your subordinate salutes Your Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning walked up to him and said coldly, "I expected anyone to appear, but I never expected you to be here."
Wu Da Kang lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty, your subordinate is also a man."
Xue Zi Ning twitched the corner of her mouth, "I don't want to dwell on today's events. I came here to find someone."
After speaking, she walked towards the door.
"Your Majesty, who are you looking for? Your subordinate might be able to help Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning glanced at Wu Da Kang. She had intended to say it wasn't necessary, but thinking of his extensive experience in warfare, she felt he might have some expertise in finding people. She said, "The second daughter of the Tingwei's mansion."
Wu Da Kang was startled, "Your Majesty, shouldn't this be the duty of Lord An, the Tingwei?"
"I hit it off with the second daughter of the An family at first sight. The second daughter of the An family is missing, and I am very worried," Xue Zi Ning said.
Wu Da Kang nodded, "Your subordinate will go look for her now."
Xue Zi Ning glanced at the room Wu Da Kang was in, which did not resemble the rooms occupied by Lord Ren of the Court of Ceremonial and Lord Sun, the Clerk of the State.
"Your Majesty, you have misunderstood General Wu. General Wu only comes to the Jiaofang Division to listen to music," Xiu'er, who was behind her, suddenly spoke.
Xue Zi Ning turned and saw Xiu'er, asking, "You know?"
Xiu'er nodded, "This servant once played for General Wu a few times. General Wu did nothing. He even asked this servant if she wanted to buy her freedom and said he would help her. As far as this servant knows, General Wu has helped many sisters buy their freedom over the years."
"It seems I have wronged him," Xue Zi Ning said.
Xiu'er said, "General Wu requested this servant tonight, but Lord Sun intercepted. This servant intended to ask Leng Fengluan for instructions, but..."
She did not continue.
Xue Zi Ning knew that Leng Fengluan was being interrogated by her at that time.
"From now on, follow me!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Xiu'er's face lit up upon hearing this, "Really? Your Majesty is willing to take this servant in?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, her gaze faint, "This might be the last thing I can do for him."
Xiu'er lowered her eyes upon hearing this, "Sir..."
Xue Zi Ning did not continue the discussion. The most important thing now was to find An Ling.
"Your Majesty, Lord An of the Tingwei has arrived," Feng Jiu said, coming before her.
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Have him come over."
A moment later, a young man hurried over. Upon seeing her, he quickly knelt and bowed, "Your subordinate salutes Your Majesty."
An Yi waited for a long time but did not hear the Empress tell him to rise. He dared not get up and could only maintain that posture.
His heart was already in turmoil. He had learned quite a bit on the way. An Ling was missing, and the Empress had met An Ling before and hit it off with her.
An Yi felt sweat on his forehead. An Ling was missing, and it was the Empress, not him, her brother, who was looking for her. This made anyone feel that he, as a brother, was incompetent.
This An Ling really knew how to cause him trouble. If he had listened to Yue'er and sent them back to the countryside, none of this would have happened.
"The second daughter of the An family has been missing for a day. Do you know about it?" Xue Zi Ning asked coldly.
An Yi quickly said, "Your subordinate only learned of it now. It is my fault for not disciplining her properly, causing Your Majesty worry. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
"The second daughter of the An family has been missing for a day, and you, as her elder brother, only just found out?" Xue Zi Ning raised her voice, her tone icy.
An Yi knew something was amiss and quickly said, "Your Majesty, my younger sister is unruly. It is common for her not to return home for a day, which is why your subordinate did not pay much attention."
"Unruly? I think the second daughter of the An family is not unruly at all. On the contrary, she is mature and steady," Xue Zi Ning said.
An Yi's heart sank. What did the Empress mean by this?
Just then, someone came to report, "Your Majesty, the second daughter of the An family and Miss Xue Yan have been found."
Xue Zi Ning's expression turned joyful upon hearing this, "How are they? Where were they found?"
The Imperial Guard said, "They were found in the underground prison. The second daughter of the An family is unharmed. Miss Xue Yan was injured and has been sent back to the palace by Lord Feng Jiu."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "And the second daughter of the An family?"
As soon as she finished speaking, she saw two women supporting each other as they walked over. An Ling saw her and knelt down with a thud, "This commoner salutes Your Majesty. I did not know it was Your Majesty before. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward to help An Ling up, but An Ling dared not let the Empress help her.
She hadn't known before, but now she did. She still felt like she was dreaming.
"It's alright not to know. Moreover, I intended to keep it hidden," Xue Zi Ning said, seeing that An Ling appeared to be in good spirits.
An Ling saw her brother standing there and said, "Your Majesty, my brother was not aware of what happened to me. I beg Your Majesty not to blame my brother."
"Rise!" Xue Zi Ning looked at An Yi coldly and said.
An Yi stood up. An Ling quickly stepped forward and said, "Brother..."
"Slap..." A slap sent her face askew.