Xue Zi Ning looked at Shen Yun Xuan and reached out to soothe his breathing, "We can talk after you've recovered."
Shen Yun Xuan shook his head, "It's... it's too late, I... I saw Shen... Shen..."
He spat out a mouthful of fresh blood and his head drooped.
"Imperial Physician, where is the Imperial Physician?" Xue Zi Ning roared.
"Your Majesty, the Imperial Physician is here..." Xue Yan hurried in.
She quickly got up. The Imperial Physician walked over and was about to bow to her, but she said, "No need. Hurry and treat Young Master Shen San."
Imperial Physician Li did not dare to delay and immediately went to treat him.
"Your Majesty, there's blood on your face. Please wash it!" Xue Yan whispered from beside her.
"Later!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Soon, Imperial Physician Li returned and bowed, "Your Majesty, Young Master Shen is not in mortal danger for now, but he needs a good period of rest."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Go and prepare the medicine. Tell Official Li what you need, and get it from my treasury."
Imperial Physician Li nodded, bowed, and retreated.
"Shen Fei, take good care of your young master," Xue Zi Ning said.
Shen Fei bowed, "Your Majesty, rest assured!"
Xue Zi Ning came out and returned to her sleeping quarters. Xue Yan handed her a handkerchief, "Your Majesty, please wipe your face."
She took the handkerchief, her mind replaying what Shen Yun Xuan had said to her about Shen.
The Shen family?
Who could it be? Young Master Shen Da? That should be impossible, Young Master Shen Er was already dead.
Xue Zi Ning rubbed her forehead. Her head ached slightly.
"Your Majesty..." a voice reached her ears.
Xue Zi Ning was startled. This voice was so familiar, it was... it was Feng Wu.
"Feng Wu, is that you?" she asked excitedly.
A figure landed before her. Who else could it be but Feng Wu?
Feng Wu knelt on one knee and said guiltily, "Your subordinate arrived late. I beg Your Majesty's forgiveness!"
Xue Zi Ning stood up and hurried to help Feng Wu, saying excitedly, "Good, good, you're finally back."
Feng Wu looked up and saw that the young woman before him still had the same appearance as before. Her eyes were as clear as ever. He said, "Your Majesty, you haven't changed at all. Unlike your subordinate, who has grown old and weathered."
Xue Zi Ning shook her head, "No, you've just matured."
"Your Majesty, your subordinate is now a general of Nan Ling Pass and has come to report to Your Majesty," Feng Wu said, kneeling and kowtowing.
"Good. Stay in the capital for a few more days and wait until after my wedding before returning!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Feng Wu nodded, "Your subordinate obeys!"
"Go and chat with Xue Yan. She misses you every day?" Xue Zi Ning said with a smile.
Feng Wu retreated.
In an old residence in the capital, the door was kicked open. Nangong Yue said angrily, "Shen Yun Xiu, you come out here..."
"Nangong Yue, are you trying to alert everyone by shouting here?" Shen Yun Xiu walked out of the room, his expression icy.
Nangong Yue walked forward upon hearing this and said coldly, "Did you do something to Shen Yun Xuan yesterday?"
Shen Yun Xiu looked at Nangong Yue, his gaze darkening, radiating a chilling aura, "You're following me."
Nangong Yue sneered, "Am I following you? I'm not that bored. The capital is now under strict guard. I secretly inquired and found out that Shen Yun Xuan was attacked yesterday and is in critical condition."
Shen Yun Xiu was stunned and blurted out, "He's not dead?"
How could that be? It was a direct hit to the heart; even the most powerful divine being couldn't save him.
Nangong Yue scoffed, "It was you who did it."
"So what if it was me? Nangong Yue, you just need to take care of yourself. You don't need to manage my affairs," Shen Yun Xiu said coldly.
Nangong Yue said indignantly, "Shen Yun Xiu, do you know you've ruined my plan? The Empress has postponed the wedding, and the guards in the capital have increased. If this continues, our identities will surely be exposed."
Shen Yun Xiu was silent for a moment, "This was my oversight. It won't happen again."
"Shen Yun Xiu, are you here to help me or to harm me?" Nangong Yue felt as if she was surrounded by incompetent teammates.
"This is my fault, but it's useless to talk about right and wrong now. How about..."
Before Shen Yun Xiu could finish speaking, there was a sudden, intense knocking on the door. He and Nangong Yue exchanged a glance. He took out a human skin mask, threw one to Nangong Yue, and told her to put it on before going to open the door.
Outside stood imperial guards. The leading guard said, "We are ordered to search for criminals. Please cooperate."
Shen Yun Xiu stood aside and said, "There are only my wife and I at home. Feel free to search, sirs."
The imperial guards entered and searched. Seeing no anomalies, they left.
Nangong Yue tore off the mask and threw it to Shen Yun Xiu, saying, "This is all thanks to you."
Shen Yun Xiu put away the human skin mask and said, "It's unrealistic to poison the Empress's tea during her wedding. Not only can you not be sure if the Empress will drink it, but do you think anyone would test the things the Empress uses for poison?"
"Do you have a solution then?" Nangong Yue asked.
"At the beginning of next month, the imperial ceremony after the Empress's ascension will begin. This is our best opportunity. The Empress will personally attend the ceremony," Shen Yun Xiu said faintly.
Nangong Yue heard this and said, "I understand. I'll go prepare now."
Nangong Yue left. Shen Yun Xiu looked into the distance and let out a soft chuckle, Xue Zi Ning, we will meet again.
In the imperial court, Xue Zi Ning specifically ordered an imperial decree to be drafted to announce the postponement of the wedding to the world.
The wedding was postponed, but the heavenly sacrifice could not be. The heavenly sacrifice would proceed as normal next month.
Snow Country
Xue Song, holding the received news, rushed into the imperial study.
He looked wronged, "Your Highness, the wedding has been postponed."
Xue Jing Yun looked up and said faintly, "This Prince knows."
Xue Song was stunned, "You know?"
Xue Jing Yun did not respond and lowered his head to look at the memorial in his hands.
Xue Song felt even more wronged. No one had informed him that the wedding had been postponed, which meant he and Xue Yan would have to endure more suffering.
He didn't want to be alone in a cold bed.
"Her Majesty the Empress has arrived!" a voice announced from outside.
Xue Song quickly moved aside.
The Empress walked in. Xue Jing Yun put down the memorial and stepped forward to bow, "Mother."
The Empress looked at the man before her. This was her most proud child.
Brilliant and unmatched, yet he was infatuated with an Empress.
The wedding was acceptable, as long as he could produce an imperial heir soon. Now that the wedding was postponed, she, as his mother, was extremely displeased.
Her son was already twenty-two years old. At this age, the grandchildren of her former close friends could already run around, yet she was still looking afar, longing for her imperial grandson to appear.
She couldn't wait any longer. What if she was an Empress? She couldn't possibly expect her child to guard her alone for his entire life, to be devoted to her alone?
"Mother, is something the matter?" Seeing that the Empress did not speak, Xue Jing Yun asked faintly.
The Empress gave a look to the palace maid behind her, and the maid placed a booklet on the table.
Xue Jing Yun looked at this and asked faintly, "Mother, what is the meaning of this?"
The Empress walked forward and opened the booklet, "Here are all the unmarried young ladies of Snow Country, who are first-class in appearance and talent."
"Mother, what are you doing?" Xue Jing Yun's tone turned a bit colder.