Shen Yun Xuan gripped the ground with his hands, inching forward little by little.
He heard the footsteps behind him drawing closer. Gritting his teeth, he didn't stop even as a sword radiating chilling coldness pressed against his spine.
"Shen Yun Xuan, aren't you afraid of death?" Shen Yun Xiu's cold voice echoed from behind him.
Afraid? He knew at this moment he wasn't, for his heart held only one conviction: to deliver the message to the Empress.
"What a pity..." Shen Yun Xiu sighed softly, and the sword in his hand plunged in with force.
Shen Yun Xuan felt a searing pain in his back that blurred his vision. The last image was of that beautiful, pure face.
A Ning... Allow me to call you A Ning...
His eyelids grew heavy, no longer able to stay open. He was finally tired.
Shen Yun Xiu withdrew his long sword, his gaze indifferent, cold, and then he left.
The wind blew, stirring up the dust.
In the evening, Xue Zi Ning received news that Shen Yun Xuan had been ambushed and was in critical condition.
She had no time to reapply her makeup and rushed to Shen Yun Xuan's residence.
Upon entering, she saw Shen Yun Xuan lying motionless on the bed, his face ashen.
She took a step back. Beside her, Shen Fei knelt on the ground, full of self-reproach, his face pale.
She asked, "Where are the imperial physicians? Why haven't they treated Young Master Shen the Third?"
Shen Fei looked up, his eyes flickering, and his voice was muffled, "The imperial physicians have come. They said... they said..."
"What did they say?" Xue Zi Ning asked coldly.
"Beyond medical help." Shen Fei managed to say, with great effort.
"No, no..." Xue Zi Ning shook her head.
"The imperial physicians are outside. Your Majesty can... can ask them yourself," Shen Fei said.
Xue Zi Ning walked out. She had been in too much of a hurry when she arrived and hadn't noticed Imperial Physician Li kneeling in the courtyard.
Seeing her emerge, Imperial Physician Li said, "This minister is powerless. Young Master Shen the Third is beyond medical help."
"Is there no other way?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
"Your Majesty, I beg for forgiveness! This minister is powerless." Imperial Physician Li replied.
Xue Zi Ning took a deep breath and looked at Imperial Physician Li, asking, "Is there truly no way at all?"
Imperial Physician Li hesitated.
Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning quickly pressed, "If there is a way, tell me quickly."
"This minister... this minister fears disrespect," Imperial Physician Li said, quickly kneeling and begging for mercy.
"I hereby grant you immunity from punishment," Xue Zi Ning declared.
Imperial Physician Li hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young Master Shen the Third's heart is unlike that of others; it is located on the right side. This is also why the fatal sword did not kill him immediately. Now, Young Master Shen requires... requires Your Majesty's heart's blood to sustain his life."
"Is it that simple?" Xue Zi Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
Imperial Physician Li shook his head. "It requires a full ten days. Your Majesty's heart's blood is not something that can be easily taken."
"What else?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
A bowl of heart's blood was extracted. Xue Zi Ning felt a sudden weakness in her legs and swayed uncontrollably to the side.
A hand steadied her. She looked back to see Wen Yu Xi and managed a slight smile, "You've come."
Wen Yu Xi saw her pale complexion and the full bowl of heart's blood on the table. His gaze turned somber. "He will be angry if you don't take care of yourself like this."
"There are matters of urgency. I couldn't consider anything else. I cannot stand by and watch Shen Yun Xuan die before my eyes. Moreover, if it weren't for me asking him to come to the capital, he would still be that carefree Young Master Shen the Third in Zhaoping."
"I cannot argue with you, but you must remember your wedding is at the beginning of next month. Do you intend to get married in this state?" Wen Yu Xi asked.
Xue Zi Ning was silent for a moment and then said, "I plan to postpone the wedding."
Ten days of heart's blood would be too much for her. She didn't want to be listless on her wedding day when marrying Yan Zhao Cheng.
That would be unfair to Yan Zhao Cheng.
Wen Yu Xi looked at her for a few moments and said, "He will mind."
Postponing the wedding for another man.
Xue Zi Ning lowered her gaze. "I cannot stand by and do nothing."
Wen Yu Xi chuckled softly. "Indeed, when it comes to those around you, you are someone who will not give up if there is even the slightest possibility."
"Wen Yu Xi, investigate who injured Shen Yun Xuan. I suspect it was aimed at me. This hidden danger must be removed, otherwise, the wedding day might become a great disaster." This was also why she wanted to postpone the wedding.
Shen Yun Xuan had only just arrived in the capital. She didn't believe he had any old enemies; it was likely all directed at her.
She didn't want such an incident to occur on her wedding day. It would be better to find these people now and ensure a peaceful wedding.
Wen Yu Xi nodded. "Don't worry, I've already sent assassins from the Thousand Gold Pavilion to search."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and leaned her head on Wen Yu Xi's shoulder. "I'm tired. Help me back to rest."
Wen Yu Xi looked down at the Empress, who had no reservations, and smiled with a hint of helplessness. "You have no guard against me at all. Aren't you afraid I..."
"Not afraid..." Xue Zi Ning looked up at Wen Yu Xi, her eyes clear to the bottom, brighter and more luminous than anything he had ever seen.
"You... What am I to say?" Wen Yu Xi turned his face away.
"Wen Yu Xi, there are so few people by my side. If I can't even trust you, then being a ruler is worse than not being one. I hope to have someone to lean on when I'm tired and someone to help me when I'm in trouble..."
Wen Yu Xi heard this and asked, "You will always trust me?"
"Yes..." Xue Zi Ning replied without hesitation.
Wen Yu Xi chuckled softly. "For that statement, my life will be at your command."
"I don't want your life. I only want you all to be safe and accompany me, to watch me secure this empire, and to look upon this beautiful landscape with me." Da Feng Xiao Shuo Wang
Wen Yu Xi smiled. "Alright."
Xue Zi Ning had a dream where she stood in a very high place, but unfortunately, no one was by her side.
She called out, Yan Zhao Cheng, Wen Yu Xi, Shen Yun Xuan... no one answered her.
She knelt there, unsure of what to do.
Waking up, she found her face covered in tears.
"Your Majesty..." Xue Yan's voice suddenly came from outside the door.
"Enter," she said.
Xue Yan walked in and said, "Your Majesty, Young Master Shen the Third has woken up. He wishes to see you..."
Xue Zi Ning was surprised. "He's awake?"
Xue Yan nodded. "Yes, he just woke up."
Xue Zi Ning quickly got out of bed. "Let's go see him."
Xue Yan draped a cloak over her shoulders. She walked out of the sleeping quarters to Shen Yun Xuan's residence.
Upon entering, she saw Shen Yun Xuan leaning on Shen Fei's shoulder. Seeing her, his face, pale and bloodless, still managed a strained smile.
"Your Maj... Your Majesty..." Shen Yun Xuan said the words with difficulty.
Xue Zi Ning hurried forward and said, "Why aren't you resting more? You must rest well."
"Your Maj... Your Majesty..." Suddenly, he coughed violently, spitting out blood.
"Imperial Physician, Xue Yan, call the imperial physician..." Xue Zi Ning said urgently.
"Your Maj... Lis... Listen to me..." Shen Yun Xuan tightly gripped her sleeve.