Leaving the Flower Country, Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. "He received a message from Huang Ze."
Wen Yuxi appeared in the carriage at some unknown time.
Xue Zining nodded. "I know."
She saw the slip of paper clutched in his palm.
Wen Yuxi scoffed, "Then you are quite daring. What if he had made a move on you?"
Xue Zining tilted her head, looking at him and smiling. "You wouldn't stand by and do nothing, would you?"
Wen Yuxi froze. "You knew I was here?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Yes."
"You are truly trusting," Wen Yuxi said, an inexplicable sense of helplessness in his tone.
Xue Zining looked at him, her expression unusually serious. "There are not many people I can trust. If I cannot trust those I rely on, how painful would that be?"
Wen Yuxi smiled upon hearing this. "Indeed!"
The carriage stopped, and Liu'er's voice came from outside. "Miss."
Wen Yuxi suddenly said softly, "Be careful of Han Xiwen."
Xue Zining looked up at Wen Yuxi, who nodded.
She alighted from the carriage. Liu'er stood by the carriage and her face lit up when she saw her. "Miss."
"Where is your young master?" Xue Zining asked.
Liu'er replied, "Young Master went to buy provisions. He should be back by now."
Xue Zining nodded. "Then we'll wait for him."
An hour passed before Han Xiwen returned. Liu'er hurried to meet him. "Young Master, did you buy the provisions?"
Han Xiwen was startled and a little embarrassed. "I forgot the provisions at the shop. I'll go get them."
"No need. We must hurry," Xue Zining said faintly, peeking out from the carriage.
Hearing this, Han Xiwen said with some guilt, "Why don't you go ahead, and I'll retrieve them?"
"No need, let's go!" Xue Zining said.
Han Xiwen got into the carriage. Xue Zining handed him a water flask. "Have some water."
Han Xiwen took it and took a large gulp.
Xue Zining closed her eyes and said, "I'll sleep for a while."
"Alright," Han Xiwen replied.
There was no scent of pastries on him, but rather a faint aroma of pine. This indicated he hadn't gone to buy pastries but had lingered under a pine tree for a long time, which was why the subtle pine scent was present.
She recalled Wen Yuxi's reminder before she left.
Her heart sank.
When Xue Zining woke up, the sky was already gradually darkening. She hadn't intended to fall asleep, but she had dozed off without realizing it.
She got out of the carriage. Liu'er had started a bonfire not far from it.
Seeing her descend, Liu'er said, "Miss, come and warm yourself by the fire. The frost is heavy tonight."
Xue Zining walked over and sat by the bonfire. Not seeing Han Xiwen, she couldn't help but ask, "Where is your young master?"
Liu'er replied, "Young Master went to find food."
"When did you start following your young master?" Xue Zining asked.
Liu'er smiled at the question. "I'm not afraid to be laughed at by you, Miss. I was originally a woman of the night, but Young Master redeemed me and kept me in his estate."
Xue Zining was surprised and couldn't help but ask, "Why?"
Liu'er shook her head. "We don't need to know why Young Master does things. Perhaps he doesn't want His Majesty to interfere with his marriage."
"What kind of person is your young master?"
Liu'er was taken aback and said, "Young Master is very good!"
"Young Master is back," Liu'er said, standing up and walking forward to greet Han Xiwen.
Han Xiwen was carrying a large wild boar on his back.
Liu'er said excitedly, "This is enough for us to reach Miao Jiang."
The hand holding the wild boar trembled slightly.
Xue Zining took out a dagger and handed it to Han Xiwen. "Use this."
Han Xiwen glanced at her, took it, and cut the boar into several large pieces.
Liu'er took a leg of the boar to roast. Only she and Han Xiwen remained.
Han Xiwen wiped the dagger clean and handed it back. Xue Zining took it.
Han Xiwen was about to hang the boar meat behind the carriage when she walked over. "Don't hang it here. It will attract wild beasts."
"Then we'll have to put it inside the carriage..." Before she could finish, Xue Zining also sensed something unusual. She drew the soft whip at her waist and called out,
"Don't go..." Han Xiwen suddenly shouted from behind.
Xue Zining leaped forward. The moment she landed, she felt a killing intent rush towards her. A black figure rapidly approached.
She quickly dodged, and at that moment, another surge of killing intent came her way.
Xue Zining was greatly alarmed. She sprang up, pulled out a fire starter from her懷, and threw it down. She saw no less than ten men in black.
She whipped at the nearest one. The man dodged. As she landed, the men in black swarmed forward, surrounding her.
"Ning girl..." With Han Xiwen's voice, he joined the fight.
"Miss, Liu'er will help too." Liu'er held a fire poker and maneuvered around the men in black.
With the assistance of Han Xiwen and Liu'er, Xue Zining was not at a disadvantage.
"Who are you? Why do you want to kill me?" Xue Zining asked while defending herself.
No one answered. Xue Zining frowned slightly and said coldly, "Is it Xue Changan?"
Still, no one answered.
"Ning girl, be careful..."
Xue Zining leaped into the air, only to discover that the men in black had somehow encircled her and were preparing to deliver a fatal blow. If Han Xiwen hadn't called out, she would have been successfully ambushed.
As she was about to strike the black-clad assailant a heavy blow, her heart suddenly ached, and she fell heavily to the ground.
A coppery sweetness filled her throat, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood.
"Ning girl..." Han Xiwen exclaimed in shock.
"Miss, be careful!" Liu'er shouted.
Xue Zining looked up and saw a man in black approaching her, raising his sword to strike her.
She felt the sword's energy cut her cheek. The sword drew closer and closer.
"A'ning..."
A voice seemed to reach her ears. Her body trembled. She opened her eyes and saw the sword had already cut her hair. She reached out, and a surge of internal energy emanated from her palm.
A powerful palm strike sent the man in black flying far away.
At this moment, Han Xiwen arrived and helped her up, asking, "Can you still stand?"
"Yes," Xue Zining replied, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.
At this moment, she was enveloped by a warm inner force.
It seemed to be rapidly healing her injuries.
She couldn't help but ask in her heart, Yan Zhao, is that you?
Huang Ze Xue Gong
Ziyun ran in upon hearing the commotion. She saw the man on the couch spitting out a mouthful of blood. The moon-white brocade robe, usually unstained, was now dyed with blood flowers.
The bloodstain at the corner of his mouth made his refined and handsome face appear utterly captivating and breathtaking.
"Your... Your Highness..." Ziyun couldn't help but call out.
The man remained unresponsive. She stepped forward, reaching out to touch that impossibly beautiful face.
Before her hand could touch him, the man opened his eyes, which shone like a myriad of rosy clouds.