"Your Majesty, the Crown Prince of Hua Guo, Hua Luo, requests an audience. He states it is urgent," Feng Jiu reported, stepping in.
Xue Zining nodded. "Let him in."
Hua Luo hurried in. Upon seeing her, he immediately bowed, "Your Majesty, my Prince has disappeared."
"If your Prince has disappeared, you should be searching for him. Why seek out the Empress?" Xue Song said irritably.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the current situation, with her Prince and the Empress being separated, was caused by Hua Yunjin.
"Xue Song..." Xue Zining stopped him.
Xue Song fell silent. Xue Zining continued, "Explain in detail."
Hua Luo said, "The Prince was guarding outside Bei Jiang City. This morning, someone suddenly attacked him. However, that person's skills were far superior; we were no match. By the time we recovered, the Prince had been knocked unconscious and taken away. We searched everywhere, but there's no news of the Prince."
"I truly have no other recourse. I beg Your Majesty's help in finding him."
Xue Zining looked at Xue Jingyun. He stepped forward and asked, "Did that person have any particularly noticeable features?"
Hua Luo shook his head, then suddenly thought of something. "That person seemed to mention the Empress."
Xue Jingyun turned to Xue Zining. "A Ning, I suspect Fan Min took Hua Yunjin away."
Xue Zining nodded. "We thought of the same thing."
Hua Yunjin's skills were not low. For someone to take Hua Yunjin away without a trace, it could only be Fan Min.
But what was his intention in taking Hua Yunjin?
"Xue Changan likely wants to threaten A Ning with him..." Xue Jingyun said slowly.
Xue Zining looked at Hua Luo. "You return to Hua Guo first. I will go to the capital. I will rescue your Prince."
Hua Luo shook his head and bowed. "Your Majesty, please take Hua Luo with you."
"Zixuan, arrange for Hua Luo and his party to settle in."
Xue Zixuan nodded and found people to escort Hua Luo and the others away.
"A Ning, you're going to the capital..."
Xue Jingyun didn't question it; he affirmed it.
She nodded. "Yes. Xue Changan and I will have a final confrontation."
"Good, I'll accompany you..."
Xue Zining nodded. "Okay..."
"Big sister, can I go?" Xue Zixuan asked with anticipation.
Xue Zining turned to look at Xue Zixuan and suddenly smiled. "Of course."
Xue Zixuan could hardly believe it. "Big sister..."
He hadn't really held much hope.
"Zixuan, you've grown up and understood many things. That is enough. From now on, you can go wherever you wish in Huangze; you will no longer be confined."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zixuan was choked with emotion. He knelt on the ground and performed a deep bow. "This subject thanks Your Majesty for your grace."
"Zixuan, make arrangements for matters in the city. We will depart for the capital the day after tomorrow," Xue Zining said.
Xue Zixuan received the order and withdrew.
Xue Zining looked at Xue Jingyun. "Accompany me for a walk."
Xue Jingyun nodded. "Wherever A Ning wants to go, I will be there..."
Xue Zining walked out of the royal residence and flew to the city walls, gazing into the distance at the continuous mountain ranges.
Xue Jingyun saw the slender figure on the city wall and flew up, landing beside her.
She felt her hand being held. She extended her hand, their fingers intertwining. "Yan Zhao, I feel a little sad..."
"A Ning, when she stands opposite you, that day will inevitably come..."
"I know. I won't be soft-hearted. She has committed too many wrongs; I can't indulge her any longer."
"A Ning, rest assured, I'm with you..."
"Yan Zhao, in the future, let's have a son and a daughter. When they grow up, whoever likes the throne, we'll pass it to them, and then we'll live in seclusion among the green mountains and clear waters, how about that?"
"A Ning, whatever you like is fine with me!"
"Yan Zhao, how fortunate I am to have your company in this life, in this world?"
"A Ning, I feel the same."
Soon, it was time for the army to depart. Bei Jiang City was handed over to Zhang Luojin, the son of General Zhang Liangfang. Zhang Luojin was young, intelligent, calm, and experienced; he would become a loyal and upright general like his father.
Xue Zining traveled lightly with only one carriage, inside which sat Princess Huimin.
Princess Huimin insisted on going because Chen Xuan was in the capital, and she was worried.
Xue Yunlan remained in Bei Jiang City. Ever since Xue Yu jumped off the city wall, she seemed to have fallen silent. Xue Zining had Xue Yan stay to accompany her.
Although Xue Yan wished to follow her, she also had selfish reasons. Going might not result in a safe return. Xue Yan had children; she couldn't selfishly take Xue Yan to such a dangerous place.
Even when Xue Yan knelt and pleaded, she did not agree.
"Your Majesty, this servant knows you are doing this for my good, but this servant truly wishes to be with you..."
"Xue Yan, you know that once I've made up my mind, no one can change it. Since you know this, there's no need to beg anymore; it's useless."
Xue Zining walked out of the room. Xue Song was standing outside. She smiled. "Are you afraid I'll make things difficult for Xue Yan?"
Xue Song shook his head. "Your Majesty, Xue Song knows you are doing this for me and Xue Yan's children. Xue Song is very grateful, but Xue Yan truly wants to follow you."
"There will be danger," Xue Zining said.
Xue Song gave a bitter smile. "She knows that."
"Xue Song, I won't agree. I want to be selfish this once."
"Thank you, Your Majesty!" Xue Song bowed and said word by word.
Xue Zining did not reply and left.
Bei Jiang City was about a half-month's journey from the capital. Xue Zining and Xue Jingyun decided to enter the capital in three batches.
Leading the way was Xue Zining and Xue Zixuan, with ten thousand troops entering the capital.
The smaller number was easier to control and less likely to be detected by Xue Changan.
The second batch was led by Xue Jingyun, comprising the remaining fifty thousand troops of General Cheng and fifty thousand troops from Xi Ling Pass.
The last batch was fifty thousand troops from Xue Ling Pass led by Xue Feng, and ten thousand assassins from Wen Yuxi's Qianjin Tower.
Fearing detection by Xue Changan, Xue Zining did not take the main roads, instead traveling along hidden paths.
Although the journey was more difficult, the speed was significantly increased.
The half-month journey was completed in about ten days as they reached the outskirts of the capital.
Xue Zining sent Feng Jiu ahead to gather information, then halted in a dense forest outside the capital.
"Big sister, eat something." Xue Zixuan came over with dry rations.
Xue Zining took the rations and said in a low voice, "Zixuan, at midnight, Feng Jiu and I will enter the palace to gather intelligence."
"Big sister, absolutely not, it's too dangerous," Xue Zixuan cautioned.
"Don't worry, I'll be back before dawn. If I don't return, don't act rashly. Wait for Xue Jingyun."
"Big sister..."
"Zixuan, you'll have to stand on your own two feet now."
Xue Zixuan bit his lower lip, and after a long while, said, "Yes, big sister, Zixuan understands."
At midnight, Xue Zining and Feng Jiu, dressed in night-wear, entered the capital.
"Your Majesty, shall we go to the palace?" Feng Jiu asked.
"First, to the Censorate Mansion," Xue Zining said.