Xue Zi Ning never imagined that her return would be marked by the separation of life and death from Shen Yun Xuan.
"Your Majesty, it is my fault. I am willing to accept punishment." Wen Yu Xi also did not expect that after his departure, Shen Yun Xuan would die. If he had known this would be the outcome, he would have preferred not to leave.
But the facts were set in stone; he was truly deserving of ten thousand deaths.
"If there is fault, the greatest fault lies with me. If I had not gone to the Imperial Mausoleum, then you would not have gone looking for me, and Shen Yun Xuan would not have..."
Wen Yu Xi lowered his gaze, concealing the regret in his eyes.
"Have all those involved in the Shen Yun Xuan incident been apprehended?" Xue Zi Ning asked coldly.
She wanted revenge for Shen Yun Xuan, she wanted to flay alive everyone who had harmed him.
"There is still one person; they will be caught soon," Wen Yu Xi replied.
"Good, good..." After waiting for these days, a few more days wouldn't matter.
At this moment, Xue Zi Ning was filled with hostility, radiating murderous intent.
"A Ning, your killing intent is too heavy."
Xue Zi Ning froze, looking up to see Xue Jing Yun standing before her. In front of others, she could be murderous and strong, but at this moment, she only wished to be a gentle woman, a weak person who needed to rely on others.
"Yan Zhao, I regret it so much." She embraced him.
She truly regretted it. Shen Yun Xuan's death had been a tremendous blow to her. She had never imagined that someone close to her would leave her so soon.
"A Ning, this is not your fault." He could only hold her, offering her some warmth.
"But if I hadn't been selfish and willful, he wouldn't have died."
"A Ning, everything in this world has a cycle of cause and effect. Even if it weren't for your actions, something else would have happened."
Xue Zi Ning looked up, gazing at the person before her, and tightly held his waist. "Yan Zhao, let's never be apart, okay?"
"Okay, to share the same grave in life and death."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "Yan Zhao..."
"A Ning, I've discovered that Hua Yun Jin might be Shen Yun Xuan's full sibling."
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. "What? Yan Zhao, what are you saying? How could Shen Yun Xuan be related to Hua Yun Jin..."
"I have already sent people to bring the Shen family here. Calculating the days, they should arrive tomorrow. A Ning, I acted without your permission..."
"Yan Zhao, you don't need to report to me. If I can't even trust you in this world, I truly don't know who else I can trust."
The next day
The Shen family was brought to the Imperial Study. Seeing that even Old Madam Shen was present, Xue Zi Ning quickly instructed Xue Yan to offer them seats.
She personally walked down and helped Old Madam Shen up. "Old Madam Shen, it is my fault that I have caused you to travel such a long distance at your age."
"Your Majesty, you humble me too much." Old Madam Shen quickly tried to rise.
Xue Zi Ning still firmly helped Old Madam Shen up. "Old Madam Shen, it is my fault that I failed to protect Yun Xuan. He..."
"Your Majesty, everyone has their fate. Since Lord Shen enjoyed the honors bestowed upon him by Your Majesty, he naturally had the awareness of sacrifice. Your Majesty need not blame yourself."
Old Madam Shen spoke with force, but the more she did so, the more uncomfortable Xue Zi Ning felt.
Madam Shen, standing beside her, looked somewhat dazed, no longer as arrogant as before.
Perhaps Shen Yun Xuan's death had been a significant blow to her.
Xue Zi Ning ordered Xue Yan to make proper arrangements for the Shen family.
After a long journey, Old Madam Shen's health had likely reached its limit. It wouldn't hurt to speak more later.
In the evening, just as Xue Zi Ning was about to invite Old Madam Shen to speak with her, she saw Xue Yan hurrying over. "Your Majesty, Miss Shen Wu requests an audience!"
Xue Zi Ning paused for a moment before remembering who Miss Shen Wu was – Shen Yue Yue, Shen Yun Xiu's sister.
At that time, Shen Yun Xiu's attempt to frame Shen Yun Xuan had failed, and he had been discovered by her. Later, Shen Yun Xiu's concubine had died to atone for their actions, and Shen Yun Xiu had gone astray. However, in the end, Shen Yun Xiu's conscience had stirred.
She had sent him to Zhaoping as a prefect with an imperial decree. Shen Yun Xiu had not accompanied her on this trip to the capital; only Shen Yue Yue had come.
"Let her in!" Xue Zi Ning said.
Soon, Shen Yue Yue, dressed as a married woman, walked in. Xue Zi Ning felt as if a lifetime had passed. Back when she was at the Shen family's residence, Shen Yue Yue was still a girl not yet of age. Now, she was a married woman with a child.
Time had added some worldly wisdom to her. Shen Yue Yue knelt and bowed, "This humble subject greets Your Majesty."
"Please rise quickly. Xue Yan, grant her a seat!"
Soon, Xue Yan brought a chair. Shen Yue Yue simply bowed in thanks and sat down.
"Many years have passed, and Fifth Miss is now married."
Shen Yue Yue smiled. "Yes. When I first met Your Majesty, you were just a young girl. Now you are the ruler of a nation, full of majesty."
"How is your brother?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Shen Yue Yue nodded. "Thank you for Your Majesty's concern. My brother is well. He married the year before last, and my sister-in-law is pregnant. She is expected to give birth next month."
"That is truly congratulations. I must prepare some gifts for your brother."
Shen Yue Yue's eyes brightened at this. "That would be wonderful, thank you so much, Your Majesty."
Receiving the Emperor's blessing would be a good thing.
"Regarding Shen Yun Xuan..."
Upon hearing the Empress speak of Shen Yun Xuan, Shen Yue Yue's gaze lowered. "Your Majesty, my second brother... he is truly dead?" In her memory, Shen Yun Xuan was invincible. How could he have suddenly died? Her second brother was also skilled. How could he have been killed by a defenseless woman? She could not believe it.
"He is truly dead. I saw the body myself," Xue Zi Ning said, turning her face away. She truly did not wish to recall this matter.
When she returned to the capital and heard Shi Lang's choked reply, she had nearly fainted. She could never have imagined that the spirited youth, the man who had gradually matured, would stand before her with a smile and say, "Your Majesty, you have returned..."
"Your Majesty, please accept my condolences..." Shen Yue Yue said.
Xue Zi Ning heard this and looked at Shen Yue Yue, saying faintly, "These are words that I, Your Majesty, should be saying to your Shen family, yet you, from the Shen family, are comforting me..."
She gave a low laugh, filled with endless sorrow.
"Your Majesty, are those rumors true?" Shen Yue Yue couldn't help but ask.
"I don't know." Madam Shen looked unwell now, and Xue Zi Ning dared not ask such questions.
Old Madam Shen would clearly not know either.
"If Your Majesty trusts this humble subject, allow me to ask my mother," Shen Yue Yue said.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "That would be best."
After Shen Yue Yue left, Feng Wu came to report. "Your Majesty, the woman with the Phoenix destiny has arrived in the capital."
Xue Zi Ning looked up at Feng Wu and after a long moment said, "Take me there."
Ming Yu and Chang Yu entered the capital and checked into an inn. Chang Yu said they would go to the Ministry of Justice's prison that evening to try their luck. If their luck was good, they might be able to see Hua Yun Jin.