Two were in a terrible state; if Wen Yu Xi knew, it would have been a tragic affair.
"What a shame about Kui Xiang of Feng Yue Tower, such a beautiful woman, taken by the Prince..."
The jailer couldn't finish.
Wen Yu Xi clenched his fists tightly. He would not let his people die in vain.
A carriage stopped outside the capital. A slender, pale hand reached out, followed by a figure in dark robes emerging from the carriage. The man beside him said, "Your Highness, we have reached the capital."
"Let's go!" The man re-entered the carriage.
"Your Highness, why did the Empress summon you to the capital?" Hua Li asked.
"I don't know." Hua Yun Jin genuinely didn't know, but he knew his heart was leaping with joy; he would get to see her.
He had heard she was pregnant, and he was actually somewhat jealous, jealous that Xue Jing Yun could have her.
Even have a child who was the continuation of her bloodline.
He was filled with envy.
The carriage suddenly stopped. He knew they couldn't have reached the palace this quickly and couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"
Hua Li left with a single sentence, stating he was going to the front to check.
Hua Yun took over the driver's duties and said, "Your Highness, don't wait. Hua Li won't come back if there's something exciting to see."
Hua Yun Jin sighed, "Since we can't pass, let's all go and take a look!"
Hua Yun said joyfully, "Really?"
Hua Yun Jin nodded helplessly, "Yes."
Led by Hua Yun, Hua Yun Jin entered a place called Cha Fu Lou, where their seats were arranged on the second floor by the window.
Because they paid generously, and Hua Yun Jin appeared to be of noble birth, the waiter dared not be negligent and quickly gave Hua Yun Jin the best seat in the tea house.
This spot happened to overlook everything happening downstairs.
Suddenly, the crowd below cheered. Hua Yun Jin saw a storyteller emerge. With a clap of his wooden clapper, the crowd immediately quieted down.
The storyteller's voice was also extremely unique. "We continue from last time, where a minister doted on his daughter and gifted her to his concubine. However, the daughter was unwilling and didn't want the minister to dote on the concubine. So, she conspired with another concubine to deal with her.
But unexpectedly, the concubine was more skilled and managed to get the minister to take her as a favored concubine.
The daughter was completely displeased. Then, the concubine became pregnant, making the minister even happier. But at this moment, the concubine suffered a miscarriage."
"Who did it?" someone asked.
The storyteller said, "Next time, we'll analyze."
With that, the storyteller left amidst the crowd's regret.
Hua Yun Jin stepped out of the tea house. Hua Yun pulled Hua Li away from there. In the carriage, Hua Li asked, "Your Highness, do you know which minister the storyteller was referring to?"
Hua Yun Jin said lightly, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be Li Si Nian, the Minister of Personnel."
Hua Li was surprised, "Minister of Personnel?"
Hua Yun Jin nodded, "His daughter was once a renowned talented woman in the capital, but unfortunately, she fell for Xue Jing Yun, who only had the Empress in his heart."
Hua Li heard this and chuckled, "So, she's like Your Highness."
Hua Yun, standing beside them, hit Hua Li and said, "How can you speak like that? How can Your Highness be like her?"
Hua Li felt he had said the wrong thing and quickly corrected himself, "Your Highness, Hua Li absolutely did not mean that."
"It's fine, I'm used to it," Hua Yun Jin said.
Finally arriving at the palace, he was invited to the Imperial Study. Upon entering, he saw Xue Jing Yun, who in his opinion, was inferior in every aspect.
He actually didn't want to see Xue Jing Yun, but since the Empress was heavily pregnant and unable to meet him, he had to see him despite his dislike.
"Your Majesty Yun," he bowed.
Now, this person he disliked was higher in status than him, making him even more unwilling to see him.
"King Hua, please sit!" Xue Jing Yun said calmly.
Hua Yun Jin sat down and looked at him, "May I know if Your Majesty Yun urgently summoned me to the capital for an important matter?"
Xue Jing Yun nodded, "It is an important matter."
"Could you elaborate?" Hua Yun Jin asked.
"The King of Beijiang has rebelled, and Wen Yu Xi's whereabouts are unknown," Xue Jing Yun said calmly.
Hua Yun Jin was taken aback, "The King of Beijiang has caused trouble? That's unlikely!"
"There will be no mistake in the report from Wen Yu Xi's subordinate who risked his life to return, not to mention we previously received news of the King of Beijiang recruiting troops."
Hua Yun Jin pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "What do you need me to do? Dispatch troops to suppress the King of Beijiang?"
Xue Jing Yun shook his head, "I need you to guard the capital."
Hua Yun Jin's body trembled, and he asked in shock, "You want me to guard the capital? What about you? Aren't you protecting the Empress?"
"I need to go to Beijiang personally," Xue Jing Yun said.
"You stay here, I'll go to Beijiang. The Empress cannot do without you at this time." Although he was reluctant, this was the truth.
"Thank you, but Beijiang is where I must go," Xue Jing Yun said calmly.
Hua Yun Jin heard this and chuckled softly, with a hint of a smile, "Leaving me here, aren't you afraid I'll snatch the Empress away?"
"Xue Jing Yun, why are you looking for me?" A rough voice came from outside.
Hua Yun Jin frowned, "King Han?"
Following the voice, Han Xi Xia, dressed in flamboyant attire, walked in. He was also surprised to see Hua Yun Jin, "Why are you here too?"
Hua Yun Jin looked at Xue Jing Yun and asked, "What is the meaning of this? You don't trust me?"
"Of course, we don't trust you, does that need to be said?" King Han said without reservation.
Hua Yun Jin's expression turned displeased. Xue Jing Yun, however, was not angry. He glanced at him calmly and said, "I am not a saint, so naturally, I must guard against you stealing Ah Ning away."
Hua Yun Jin laughed in exasperation, "The Empress has your child. Do you think I'm so idle as to raise a child for you?"
King Han chuckled, "It's fine, I don't mind."
Hua Yun Jin, holding his teacup, directly flung it. Han Xi Xia caught it and said, "Thank you, pour me some tea."
"Dream on." Hua Yun Jin waved his hand, his teacup shattered, and the tea spilled all over the floor.
"What a pity, what a pity," Han Xi Xia said regretfully.
"The capital and Ah Ning are entrusted to you. I will depart for Beijiang tomorrow," Xue Jing Yun said.
Han Xi Xia looked at him and said, "I won't tell you to be careful, because if you die, Ah Ning and this world will be mine."
"You wish," Hua Yun Jin gritted his teeth.
Xue Jing Yun smiled faintly. With this smile, his refined and handsome face became even more captivating than a woman's, "If you have the ability, feel free to try. However, Ah Ning is my Ah Ning, and no one can take her away."
Han Xi Xia smiled, and Hua Yun Jin also smiled. Sometimes, some things and some thoughts don't need to be stated so clearly.
"I'm tired, I'm going to rest." Han Xi Xia turned and walked out.
Hua Yun Jin got up and walked to the doorway, then stopped, "Xue Jing Yun, if you die, the Empress will be very sad. You should return safely."
"Hua Yun Jin, if that day truly comes, I entrust Ah Ning to you."
Hua Yun Jin chuckled softly and turned back to ask, "Are you at ease?"
"Not at ease," Xue Jing Yun replied with a faint smile.