"Who are you?" Xue Zining asked coldly.
The man did not answer her question, but whispered, "Don't let them leave alive."
Although she didn't understand why the man said this, Xue Zining showed no mercy as he instructed.
At this moment, only she and the man remained.
"Your Majesty, it is your humble servant!"
Xue Zining was slightly startled, then slowly lowered her hood. In the dim candlelight, she finally saw clearly and exclaimed in disbelief, "Shen Yun Xiu?"
Shen Yun Xiu knelt on one knee, "Your humble servant pays respects to Your Majesty."
"Quickly, please rise!" Xue Zining helped him up and asked, "Why are you here?"
Shen Yun Xiu replied, "After that incident, I traveled around. I later arrived in Bei Jiang and heard that the King of Bei Jiang was recruiting capable individuals. I ventured to try, and now I am a guest of the King of Bei Jiang."
"Does the King of Bei Jiang know your identity?" Xue Zining inquired.
Shen Yun Xiu shook his head. "I have changed my name to Yun Xiu. Bei Jiang should not know my true identity."
Xue Zining nodded and asked, "Do you know if Wen Yu Xi is here?"
Shen Yun Xiu was taken aback, then nodded. "I know. I was also trying to find a way to rescue Lord Wen, but the King of Bei Jiang is keeping a very close eye on him. You saw these people around me. I dare not act rashly, otherwise, I might alert the enemy."
Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door. Shen Yun Xiu said, "Please, Your Majesty, bear with me and disguise yourself as my attendant."
Xue Zining nodded, took off her cloak, and stood behind Shen Yun Xiu before anyone arrived.
"Your Highness..." Shen Yun Xiu walked over with a pained expression, clutching his arm. Xue Zining twitched her lips; Shen Yun Xiu had just hit his own arm twice.
It was still bleeding.
Seeing this, the King of Bei Jiang's gaze turned cold. "Young Master Yun, what is this..."
"Your Highness, your humble servant is incompetent. The assassins escaped." Shen Yun Xiu appeared extremely ashamed.
The King of Bei Jiang helped Shen Yun Xiu up, saying, "This is not something you could control."
"Thank you, Your Highness!" Shen Yun Xiu stood up.
The King of Bei Jiang glanced at the person behind Shen Yun Xiu and asked, "Are you two the only ones left?"
Shen Yun Xiu nodded. "If this person had not protected me with their life, I might not be able to see Your Highness right now."
"Investigate quickly who entered the palace today. No one is allowed to leave," the King of Bei Jiang said coldly.
After giving his orders, the King of Bei Jiang looked at Shen Yun Xiu and said, "Young Master Yun, go back and rest your injuries. This matter today, I will certainly not let Young Master Yun suffer in vain."
Shen Yun Xiu was deeply moved, tears welling up in his eyes. "Your humble servant thanks Your Highness."
The King of Bei Jiang looked at the person behind Shen Yun Xiu coldly and said, "You help Young Master Yun out and take good care of him."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Upon leaving the prison, Shen Yun Xiu looked around. Seeing that no one was watching, he whispered, "Your Majesty, hurry and leave!"
Xue Zining did not refuse. "Take care of yourself!"
Shen Yun Xiu nodded. "If Your Majesty wishes to see me, there is a residence ten li east of the city. In front of the residence, there are two peach trees. That is where I reside in Bei Jiang City."
"Good, I know. We shall meet again!" Xue Zining leaped into the air and left.
Shen Yun Xiu watched the Empress's retreating back, unable to quite believe that he had actually seen His Majesty.
When Xue Zining returned to her room, Jiang Yu Li was still lying on the bed. She slipped into the covers and lay down as well.
After everything was over, voices were heard from outside the door. "Miss, are you in there?"
There was no response. Xiao Huan said to the guards behind her, "Miss might be resting."
The guard said, "Your subordinate is here on the King's orders to search. Please forgive me, Miss Jiang."
Still no response. The guard said, "Your subordinate is being impolite!"
With that, before Xiao Huan could refuse, he pushed the door open. The bed curtains were drawn, and a figure could be vaguely seen.
Xiao Huan stepped in front of the guard and blocked him. "My young lady is still an unmarried maiden. Please wait a moment. I will go call my young lady to get up."
The guard did not dare to force his way in. After all, she was the King of Bei Jiang's cousin, and who would dare to be presumptuous? Moreover, the King of Bei Jiang usually doted on this cousin.
Thinking this, the guard nodded. "Please, young lady, wake your mistress."
Xiao Huan lifted the bed curtains and went inside. Upon seeing the situation on the bed, she couldn't help but gasp in surprise.
The guard, thinking there was an assassin, rushed in. He saw two women lying on the bed. One was Miss Jiang, the King's cousin, and the other...
"Why are you here? Get out..." Seeing her young lady's arm exposed, Xiao Huan exclaimed.
The guard, seeing Jiang Yu Li's arm, quickly turned his head. Amidst Xiao Huan's repeated shouts, Jiang Yu Li slowly opened her eyes. Seeing the figures outside the bed curtains, she sat up in fright.
Xiao Huan quickly stepped forward, took off her cloak, and draped it over Jiang Yu Li. "Miss, don't be afraid. They didn't see anything."
Jiang Yu Li still clutched the covers, her heart pounding with fear and indignation. "Tell them to get out, get out..."
Hearing this, Xiao Huan turned to the guards outside the bed curtains and said, "Please, everyone, get out. My young lady still needs to get dressed."
The guard said, "Miss Jiang, it's not that your subordinate is unwilling to leave, but an assassin entered the King's prison today. The King..."
"Get out..." Jiang Yu Li said indignantly.
Before the guard could say more, Jiang Yu Li interrupted him. "Do you want me to go find the King right now?"
The guards dared not delay and quickly left.
Jiang Yu Li bit her lower lip tightly. Just as she was about to lift the covers, she realized someone else was beside her and cried out in alarm.
Xue Zining rubbed her sleepy eyes and asked, "Miss Jiang, what is wrong?"
"Why are you in my bed?" Jiang Yu Li asked, covering herself indignantly.
Xue Zining scratched her head awkwardly. "I don't know how I fell asleep. What about you, Miss Jiang?"
Jiang Yu Li bit her lower lip. How would she know how she fell asleep?
Xue Zining quickly got up, put on her outer garment, and got out of bed. She bowed and said, "I apologize, Miss Jiang. I have offended you!"
Jiang Yu Li gritted her teeth. "You get out, get out..."
After bowing, Xue Zining retreated. The guards outside the door had the area completely surrounded.
The King of Bei Jiang emerged from the crowd and looked at her with an extremely cold expression. He said coldly, "Miss Feng, it has been a while!"
"Your Highness, it's all a misunderstanding!" Xue Zining said.
The King of Bei Jiang sneered. "A misunderstanding? Miss Feng, do you know that just now, someone broke into my water prison?"
"Your Highness, do you perhaps suspect me?" Xue Zining asked, feigning surprise.
"And who else could it be?" The King of Bei Jiang took a step forward, closing in on her.
"Your Highness, you are mistaken! I have been with Miss Jiang the entire time. If you don't believe me, you can ask Miss Jiang," Xue Zining said.
"I will naturally go and ask," the King of Bei Jiang said coldly and walked towards the room.
Xue Zining frowned. Fortunately, she had already prepared a countermeasure.