Ming Xiu breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good." As long as Brother Cheng was alright, she felt relieved.
The carriage stopped. A voice called out from the other side of the curtain, "Your Highness, please alight."
Ming Yu stood up to get out first, but a hand grasped her. She turned to look at the person behind her, Hua Yun Jin. Hua Yun Jin looked at her and said slowly, "Together."
She was startled and after a moment, nodded. "Alright."
Hua Yun Jin extended his hand. She placed hers on it, but it wasn't warm as usual, but rather cool.
She looked at Hua Yun Jin, who appeared as usual, but his hand betrayed him.
He was also afraid.
However, she understood. For Hua Yun Jin, his nightmare always originated from Shen Yun Xuan. Now, after circling back, he was once again facing Shen Yun Xuan. Although he tried his best to appear as he normally would, only she knew that his heart must be in turmoil at this moment, his future uncertain. No one knew what would happen.
Anything was possible, after all, the capital he stood in was Shen Yun Xuan's territory.
Suddenly, a trace of warmth came from her palm. He subconsciously lowered his head and saw her cupping his hand with both of hers. "I will stay with you."
Hua Yun Jin's gaze paused slightly. He looked at her and said, "Rest assured, I will not let anything happen to you."
At what point had this woman deeply entered his heart, occupying a place within him? At what point did her every smile and frown constantly appear in his mind?
Ming Yu nodded. She knew what Hua Yun Jin was concerned about, what he was afraid of, and she couldn't help him in any way. She could only stand behind him, offering him the warmth she had left.
Shen Yun Xuan didn't say much to Hua Yun Jin. Instead, he sent someone to escort Hua Yun Jin to his room to rest.
The courtyard wasn't large, but at least it wasn't a confinement to a room. At least one could walk around freely in the courtyard.
However, the courtyard was guarded by layers of heavily armed soldiers, clearly making escape impossible.
Perhaps Hua Yun Jin's arrival put Shen Yun Xuan in a good mood, as Cheng Chang Xing, who had been imprisoned for many days, was also released.
When Ming Xiu saw Cheng Chang Xing covered in blood, she finally broke down after holding back for many days.
Hua Yun Jin sent someone to see Shen Yun Xuan, hoping that Shen Yun Xuan would invite a physician. Shen Yun Xuan did not obstruct this further, and a physician was sent over that evening.
Fortunately, Cheng Chang Xing only suffered superficial injuries. The physician prescribed some medicine and left.
Ming Yu asked Ming Xiu to rest, but Ming Xiu insisted on taking care of Cheng Chang Xing. She didn't try to persuade her further; persuasion would be meaningless at this time.
Leaving Cheng Chang Xing's room, she didn't go directly to her own room but went to Hua Yun Jin's room. Just as she was about to push the door open, she heard voices from inside and instinctively withdrew her hand.
"Your Highness, this humble one will serve you change clothes!"
As the voice came from inside, Ming Yu felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her, drenching her completely.
"You wish to serve this prince?" Hua Yun Jin's voice also came out.
"Yes, I wonder if Your Highness would grant this humble one this opportunity?"
"You are so thoughtful and attentive, how could this prince bear to let you..."
"Miss Ming, why aren't you going in?"
The sudden voice made Ming Yu tremble. "I... I have something else to do."
With that, she left without looking back.
The door was opened, and Hua Yun Jin walked out. He asked the servant outside the door, "Did Miss Ming come by just now?"
The servant nodded. "Yes, Your Highness."
Hua Yun Jin's gaze deepened. At this moment, a woman passed an arm under his. "Your Highness, just now..."
"You may go!" Hua Yun Jin said coldly.
The woman was startled. "Your Highness, you..."
"Go." Hua Yun Jin's voice was as cold as frost.
"Your Highness, do you not like the person prepared by this subject?"
Hua Yun Jin looked up at the owner of the voice, who was Shen Yun Xuan.
Seeing Shen Yun Xuan, the woman bowed and said, "Your Highness."
Shen Yun Xuan didn't even look at the woman and said coldly, "Since His Highness does not favor you, you have no reason to live."
The woman trembled all over and quickly knelt down, begging for mercy. "Your Highness, spare me, Your Highness, spare me!"
Shen Yun Xuan said coldly, "You are not begging this prince."
The woman realized and grabbed the hem of Hua Yun Jin's robe, begging, "Your Highness, please favor this humble one!"
Hua Yun Jin's gaze was as cold as frost. The woman's body trembled. Shen Yun Xuan said, "It seems you do not please His Highness. Guards, drag her away and execute her!"
The woman collapsed onto the ground, watching the guards approach and drag her away.
"Your Highness, she does not deserve to die," Hua Yun Jin suddenly said.
Shen Yun Xuan replied, "If she cannot serve His Highness and make him happy, then she has no reason to live."
Hearing this, Hua Yun Jin's gaze became sharp as he looked at Shen Yun Xuan. Shen Yun Xuan did not flinch, allowing him to stare. After a long while, he said, "Let her go. It's not that I am dissatisfied with her."
Shen Yun Xuan intervened, stopping them. The woman was dragged back. Shen Yun Xuan said, "Thank His Highness quickly!"
The woman knelt on the ground with a thud. "Thank you, Your Highness!"
"I have already kept her here. Do you have anything else? If not, withdraw." Hua Yun Jin said coldly.
Shen Yun Xuan, having achieved his goal, bowed and left.
Hua Yun Jin walked directly into the room. The woman stood up and was about to follow, but Hua Yun Jin turned and stopped her. "His Highness has kept you here, but he does not require your service."
The woman was startled. "Your Highness, you..."
"Find your own room. His Highness is tired." With that, Hua Yun Jin closed the door.
The woman looked at the closed door, a fleeting light crossing her eyes.
Ming Yu returned to her room. Afterward, she felt she had overreacted. As the lord of a city, it was normal for Hua Yun Jin to favor others. Which ruler in history didn't have multiple wives and concubines?
Why should Hua Yun Jin remain chaste for her? What was she to Hua Yun Jin? What did he think of her? She was meddling too much.
However, even though she understood all the logic, her heart felt very uncomfortable.
"Miss Ming, are you there?" a voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Ming Yu opened the door. Standing outside was the very woman Hua Yun Jin had been about to favor. Her gaze turned cold. "Is something wrong?"
The woman said, "His Highness told me to find any room freely, but I am not very familiar with this place. Miss Ming, please..."
"Follow me!" Ming Yu said.
The woman nodded. "Thank you, Miss Ming."
"There are no extra rooms here. There is only one room near the kitchen. If you don't mind..."
"I don't mind," the woman said.
"Here it is," Ming Yu said, pointing to the room.
The woman nodded. "Thank you, Miss Ming."
"You're welcome. If you need anything in the future, just tell me." Ming Yu said.
The woman nodded. "It's alright, I'll leave now." As she spoke, Ming Yu turned to leave.
"Miss Ming, wait a moment." The woman called out to her.
"Is something wrong?" Ming Yu asked.
The woman looked at her and said, "His Highness did not favor me."
Ming Yu was stunned, then lowered her gaze. "He is the pride of heaven, the king of Hua City. Whom he wishes to favor has nothing to do with me."