"How did the painting banquet go?" the King of Northern Borders asked a household servant.
The servant bowed and replied, "Everything went smoothly, however..."
The King of Northern Borders turned and asked, "However, what?"
"There was a slight accident on the way," the servant said.
The King of Northern Borders frowned and coldly asked, "Did someone cause trouble?" Why hadn't anyone told him?
The servant quickly replied, "It wasn't someone causing trouble, but rather a young lady who ruined Young Master Yan's painting."
"That doesn't count," the King of Northern Borders said.
The servant hesitated, wanting to speak but stopping. Seeing this, the King of Northern Borders said coldly, "Just say what you have to say. Why are you stammering?"
"Your Highness, that painting was of the young lady," the servant said, glancing at the King of Northern Borders.
The King of Northern Borders froze, but it was fleeting. The servant felt a chilling aura emanating from the King of Northern Borders.
"I understand. You may leave!" the King of Northern Borders said coldly.
The servant did not dare to delay and quickly retreated.
The King of Northern Borders frowned, then suddenly said, "Go investigate the woman who ruined the painting."
"Yes." With a voice that echoed, a dark shadow disappeared.
"Miss, the person you mentioned didn't come either!" Kui Xiang asked.
Xue Zi Ning gazed into the distance and slowly said, "Why the rush?"
Kui Xiang was exasperated. "How can I not be anxious? You don't know the methods of the King of Northern Borders!"
Speaking of this, Kui Xiang fell silent.
Xue Zi Ning also fell silent. She had gone to see Wen Nuan, and there was not a single healthy spot on her body. Her eyes were hollow. The once enchanting and captivating Wen Nuan was gone, replaced by someone in a state of terror.
Thinking of this, her hands involuntarily curled. What exactly had happened to Wen Nuan in the Northern Borders? Where was Wen Yu Xi? Why did Yan Zhao not recognize her? All of this was like a mystery.
She wanted to find the truth, she wanted to know everything.
Suddenly, a faint sound came from outside the door. Xue Zi Ning waved her hand and extinguished the candle in the room. Kui Xiang was about to ask what was wrong when a hand covered her mouth, followed by a voice, "Don't make a sound."
Kui Xiang quickly closed her mouth. She was very familiar with this voice; it was her mistress's.
What followed even more astonishingly was that she was pulled into the bed and covered with a quilt. Suddenly, she heard the door creak open.
The footsteps were very light, but Kui Xiang could still hear them. She trembled under the quilt.
The person felt for the bundle and then left. It wasn't until the room was illuminated again that Kui Xiang opened her eyes and looked at the woman in front of her, trembling as she asked, "Where did they go?"
"Gone," Xue Zi Ning said.
"He... he wasn't robbing for money? Or for sex?" Kui Xiang's voice trembled.
"He came to investigate me," Xue Zi Ning said calmly.
Kui Xiang looked at the calm and composed woman in front of her, slightly stunned. Even though she had previously sent messages to Wen Nuan, she couldn't bear to see such a scene. This woman, however, seemed accustomed to it. In fact, she had suspected this person from the very first day.
What was her background?
"The King of Northern Borders will likely invite me tomorrow, so you don't need to accompany me," Xue Zi Ning said.
Kui Xiang was taken aback. "This servant will still follow Miss!"
"If you follow me, it will be difficult for me to get away."
Kui Xiang bit her lower lip. "Alright."
Early the next morning, Xue Zi Ning received an invitation, signed by Jiang Yu Li.
Kui Xiang couldn't quite believe it. "Miss, you predicted it perfectly! How did you know Miss Jiang would invite you?"
Xue Zi Ning did not tell Kui Xiang that there was a token from Wen Yu Xi inside her bundle.
If Wen Yu Xi was in the hands of the King of Northern Borders, then the King of Northern Borders would definitely find a way to make her go.
Upon arriving at the King of Northern Borders' mansion, Xue Zi Ning was led by a servant to a study.
Xue Zi Ning looked at everything before her. It was extremely familiar. This was where she had discussed military strategies when defending against foreign enemies in the Northern Borders years ago. At that time, everyone was united, and they were invincible.
Now, the scenery remained the same, but the people had changed.
"The King has arrived!" a voice called from behind. Xue Zi Ning turned to look at the person who had arrived.
The once spirited and handsome young man was now a suave adult.
"Greetings, Your Highness!" she said, cupping her fist in a salute.
The King of Northern Borders was stunned. He had never met someone who didn't salute him. She was neither servile nor overbearing, and her composure made him look at her more than once.
The woman before him could only be described as plain-looking, but her eyes were exceptionally clear and bright.
An indescribable feeling inexplicably lingered, as if he had met this woman before, yet he was certain this was the first time he had ever seen her.
"You are..."
"Feng Ning," Xue Zi Ning said calmly.
The King of Northern Borders showed no unusual reaction. He nodded. The surname Feng was rare.
"Indeed," Xue Zi Ning said.
The King of Northern Borders gestured for her to sit. "Miss Feng, please sit."
Xue Zi Ning sat opposite the King of Northern Borders, and a doubt arose in her heart. Was this man truly Xue Zi Xuan?
But why did he show no reaction when he heard that name? Was it true, as she suspected, that this Xue Zi Xuan was not the Xue Zi Xuan she knew?
If he was not Xue Zi Xuan, then where was the real Xue Zi Xuan?
"Where do you come from, young lady?" the King of Northern Borders asked.
Xue Zi Ning looked up at him and said, word by word, "The capital."
She clearly felt the King of Northern Borders' body subtly shift. The next moment, his voice became somewhat cold. "Do you know Wen Yu Xi?"
Xue Zi Ning was slightly startled. She looked up as the King of Northern Borders' gaze gradually turned cold. "Your Highness, what do you mean by that?"
The King of Northern Borders let out a cold laugh. "Miss Feng, I advise you to speak truthfully, or do not blame me for being impolite."
"Your Highness, this humble one does not understand what you are referring to," Xue Zi Ning said.
The King of Northern Borders snapped his fingers. Footsteps were heard from outside the door. Xue Zi Ning saw two guards escorting a woman inside. That woman was none other than Kui Xiang.
Xue Zi Ning abruptly stood up from her chair and said coldly, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of arresting my maid?"
"Maid? Miss Feng, do you really think she is just a simple maid?"
Xue Zi Ning narrowed her eyes and said, "Your Highness, this humble one does not understand what you are saying."
"She is from Feng Yue Tower," the King of Northern Borders said, pointing at Kui Xiang, word by word.
Xue Zi Ning was stunned and said disbelievingly, "How is that possible?"
"Miss Feng, you may not know, but the people of Feng Yue Tower are actually pawns of the formidable Qian Jin Tower in the martial world. I have wanted to capture these people for a long time. Now, this Kui Xiang is a top-tier figure in Feng Yue Tower. All thanks to Miss Feng. If it weren't for Miss Feng, I wouldn't have been able to so easily capture this fugitive from Feng Yue Tower."
"It's impossible. Kui Xiang is just this humble one's maid. She could never be from Feng Yue Tower. Your Highness must be mistaken?"