"Waste, unable to even do such a small thing?" The normally serene and elegant young lady transformed into a frenzied individual, sternly reprimanding the person kneeling at her feet.
"Miss, this humble servant accepts punishment for failing to accomplish what you instructed."
A voice suddenly came from outside the door. The young lady abruptly said, "Begone."
Xue Feng saw the face peeking out of the window. The young lady smiled at him, "You've come?"
Xue Feng nodded and said, "I thought you hadn't tried the peach blossom cake from Fu Ji, so I brought some for you to taste."
The young lady was slightly stunned, tilted her head, and said naively, "Okay!"
Taking the peach blossom cake and taking a bite, the strange taste made her frown involuntarily.
"You bought so many peach blossom cakes?" the young lady asked.
Xue Feng said, "My young master likes them."
The young lady was taken aback. She looked at the peach blossom cake in her hand and took another bite. "Not bad, it's very delicious."
Swallowing with difficulty, the young lady suddenly saw Xue Feng turning to leave and quickly said, "Why are you leaving already?"
"To go back and bring peach blossom cakes to my young master."
Xue Feng left. The young lady breathed a sigh of relief, put down the peach blossom cake, and thought that she had no luck enjoying this peach blossom cake. "Fu Yin, go find out if Yan Jin Chao likes peach blossom cakes?"
Fu Yin took the order and left.
In the evening, she received the news. Yan Jin Chao did indeed like peach blossom cakes and had someone buy them for him at regular intervals.
Looking at the peach blossom cakes in front of her, she still managed to eat several pieces. She could force herself to eat them even if she didn't like them; she would eventually accept them.
Xue Feng returned to the Yan Residence and encountered Xue Song in the courtyard. Xue Song saw him and said coldly, "Where have you been?"
Xue Feng was startled. "Where could I have been? I went to buy peach blossom cakes for my young master." He held up the peach blossom cakes from Fu Ji.
"You went to the Yu Residence," Xue Song said word for word.
Xue Feng's gaze immediately turned cold. "Xue Song, are you following me?"
"I didn't intend to follow you; I just went to the Yu Residence while investigating something," Xue Song said.
"I don't need to tell you where I'm going."
Xue Song was slightly stunned. Looking at Xue Feng's icy face, he slowly said, "Xue Feng, you've changed."
Xue Feng's gaze paused. Xue Song continued, "You never used to speak like this before."
"I've always been this way," Xue Feng said.
Xue Song shook his head. "No..."
Xue Feng frowned. "I need to go deliver this to my young master."
With that, he walked past Xue Song.
Xue Song caught a faint floral scent. He turned his head and looked at Xue Feng's back. This was likely a woman's lingering fragrance.
There was only Yu Xiao Yu in the Yu Residence. Xue Feng, have you fallen for her?
Xue Song arrived at his young master's courtyard and could no longer see Xue Feng's figure.
"Xue Song..." a low voice came from the room.
Xue Song was slightly startled. He entered the room, cupped his hands towards the head of the table, and said, "Young master, you were looking for me."
"Xue Feng seems a little off. You are close with him, have you noticed anything unusual?"
Xue Song's gaze paused, and he subconsciously looked up, seeing those clear, cold eyes.
"I haven't noticed anything unusual," he said, lowering his gaze.
Those clear, cold eyes lingered on him for a moment before a low voice said, "You may go!"
Xue Song withdrew, closed the door, and turned around. A gust of wind blew, and he felt a chill on his back. Only then did he realize that his back was covered in cold sweat. He was actually breaking out in a cold sweat without realizing it.
This was the first time he had lied to his young master.
Just this once, it should be alright, right? Xue Feng hadn't done anything to harm his young master.
He looked up at the distance and sighed.
"Lord Xue Feng, it seems your companion has already told Young Master Yan about your affairs." A person stood beside Xue Feng.
Xue Feng looked at Xue Song coldly. "You don't need to worry about it."
The person chuckled softly. "I'm not interfering, I just feel it's not worth it for Lord Xue Feng. After all, you are also a guard for Young Master Yan, doesn't Lord Xue Feng wish to advance further?"
Xue Feng turned to look at the man and said coldly, "What do you want?"
The man suddenly leaned closer and whispered, "To replace him?"
Before the words had fully fallen, Xue Feng suddenly struck the man fiercely. The man had not expected Xue Feng to act so suddenly and could not dodge in time. He took the palm strike and spat out a mouthful of blood. "You..."
Xue Feng stood with his hands behind his back, looking cold. "I have never thought of betraying my young master, neither in the past nor in the future. I don't want to hear such words again. If it weren't for your master, you would already be dead."
The man quickly said, "Lord Xue Feng, please forgive me. I know I was wrong, and I won't say it again."
Xue Feng turned to leave. The man suddenly asked, "Lord Xue Feng, do you have no intention of advancing further with my young lady either?"
Xue Feng's body stiffened, but he did not stop, choosing to leave.
The man wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, a sneer on his lips.
After the man left.
A figure in a moon-white brocade robe slowly emerged, looking thoughtfully in the direction the man had gone, deep in thought.
Capital City
After the morning court, Xue Zi Ning was stopped by Sir Shi Lang, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Xue Yan reprimanded, "How dare you, His Majesty is someone you..."
"Xue Yan..." Xue Zi Ning stopped Xue Yan and asked Shi Lang, "Sir Shi, is there something you need?"
Shi Lang looked somewhat apologetic. "This humble minister does have something, but it is not official business, but private."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly stunned. "What is it?"
Shi Lang bowed and cupped his hands. "It is my wife's sister who wishes to implore His Majesty for an imperial decree of marriage."
"Bold! An imperial decree of marriage is not something that can be..."
Xue Zi Ning glanced at Xue Yan, who knowingly withdrew.
"This humble minister also knows it is impossible, but my wife..."
Xue Zi Ning looked at Shi Lang and noticed several scratch marks on Shi Lang's neck. It was likely from his wife.
"Let your wife come into the palace to see me. I will take a look," Xue Zi Ning said, then turned and left.
Shi Lang was slightly stunned. Xue Yan then stepped forward and said in a low voice, "Go. His Majesty has already agreed."
Shi Lang returned and told his wife. Madam Xiao Min was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly told her sister, Madam Min.
Madam Min had not expected the Empress to agree so readily. However, upon hearing that she had to go to the palace to see the Empress, Xiao Min became timid.
Conversely, Madam Min was somewhat eager. If she met the Empress, her status would be elevated upon returning, as she would be someone who had met the Empress.
Thinking of this, she said, "Sister, if we obtain an imperial decree of marriage from the Empress, it will be great news for the Min clan, and even more so for you. Moreover, don't you want your nephew to have a good life?"
Xiao Min said, "Sister, I know all of this, but I am still a bit scared."
Although she was the wife of a fourth-rank official and had the qualification to enter the palace during banquets, she was frail and had never entered the palace before, so she was now timid.