"Yun Yan, where did you go?" The sudden voice made Yun Yan tremble all over. She turned and saw Sun Zi Han. She bowed and said, "Your Highness Consort."
Sun Zi Han nodded. "Where did you go?"
"I just went to check the inn, inside and out," Yun Yan said.
Sun Zi Han had no doubt about what Yun Yan said. After all, Yun Yan was no ordinary person back then; she was a shadow guard. "Did you find anything?" Sun Zi Han asked.
Yun Yan shook her head. "Everything is normal."
Sun Zi Han nodded. He glanced at Yun Yan and then said, "Tomorrow, you will follow Her Highness. Do not let her out of your sight."
"Your Highness Consort, please rest assured. If I am here, Her Highness is here," Yun Yan said, word for word.
Sun Zi Han nodded slightly. "Take care of yourself too. Tomorrow, I may not be able to attend to you. Her Highness is entrusted to you."
Yun Yan was slightly stunned, her eyes bright. "Your Highness Consort, please rest assured, Yun Yan will absolutely not let Her Highness have any problems." Da Feng Novel Network
"Yun Yan, here, the only one I trust is you," Sun Zi Han said, looking at her, word for word.
Her eyes were clear and shining. Yun Yan's gaze paused. She bowed. "Your Highness Consort, please rest assured."
The banquet for Magistrate Sun began. Guests offering birthday wishes arrived in an endless stream. The most eye-catching were the young Master Sun, who had become the consort in the capital, and Princess Xue Chang Yi, formerly of the imperial family.
Sun Qing Min, along with the people of his household, waited at the entrance. A carriage stopped before the Sun residence. Leading the way was a maidservant. Her appearance was delicate and refined, and she was dressed in fine silk. For a maidservant to wear such fine clothes, there was no one else but a maidservant of the princess.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and a slender hand reached out. Then, a man in a jade green brocade robe stepped out. He had a fair and handsome face and an extraordinary bearing, indicating he was no ordinary person.
Sun Qing Min quickly stepped forward and bowed. "This humble subject greets Your Highness Consort."
Sun Zi Han did not pay attention to Sun Qing Min. Instead, he reached into the carriage. A jade-white hand rested on his slender fingers, and then a woman emerged.
She was dressed in a pink gown, her beauty radiant and dazzling. Her every move exuded nobility.
"Greetings, Xue Chang Yi!"
Sun Qing Min, along with everyone else, bowed to Xue Chang Yi.
"Rise! I do not wish for grand ceremony. All of you, rise!" Xue Chang Yi said.
Some of the bolder guests glanced at Xue Chang Yi, feeling she was like a celestial maiden descended to earth, so beautiful it stirred the heart.
"Your Highness Consort, Your Highness, please!" Sun Qing Min welcomed Sun Zi Han and Xue Chang Yi into the residence.
After Sun Zi Han and Xue Chang Yi entered the Sun residence, Xue Zi Ning and Xue Lian walked out. The guards at the entrance stopped them. Xue Lian presented the invitation, and the guards let them pass. Xue Zi Ning and Xue Lian exchanged glances. Xue Lian nodded and whispered, "Your Highness, please rest assured, Xue Bi has already infiltrated."
Xue Zi Ning gazed at the guests already seated not far away. She chose the most secluded corner and sat down. Her makeup today had been done by Xue Lian through disguise. Although her appearance was the same as before, only slightly altered, making people feel familiar yet also unfamiliar with her.
"His Highness Consort and Her Highness have arrived," an attendant hurried over and whispered into Madam Zhao's ear.
Although far away, Zhao Qian Qian could still hear clearly. She looked towards the entrance, and for some reason, she immediately spotted the man in the deep purple brocade robe. The touch of green jade on his waist was particularly striking. However, what attracted people's attention the most was his exquisite face, as beautiful as jade, his features as if drawn by a brush. He stood there like a figure from a painting, his narrow eyes exuding a bewitching radiance that no one could ignore.
Suddenly, as his bewitching gaze fell upon a certain spot, his lips curved slightly upward. It was this faint smile that astonished everyone present.
She withdrew her gaze, tugging at her luxurious attire. At this moment, she had no good feelings for this cousin, who was more beautiful than a woman. Why should he steal her thunder? She had intended to make a grand appearance at this time, but she never expected to have all her brilliance overshadowed by this cousin.
"Jiaojiao, don't look around so casually," Madam Zhao reminded her.
Though the words were meant for her own good, she heard them as Madam Zhao thinking she had never seen the world.
Upon hearing this, she secretly clenched her fists.
"Madam, you and Jiaojiao sit there." Zhao Shen arranged Madam Zhao and Zhao Qian Qian, then stepped forward to offer birthday wishes to Sun Qing Min.
Sun Qing Min's original wife had passed away ten years ago. The current Madam Sun was taken in by Sun Qing Min last year. Although from a humble family, she managed everything quite well. Sun Qing Min left her to Madam Sun, and Sun Qing Min, along with Zhao Shen, left the banquet first.
Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning instructed Xue Lian a few words and secretly followed them.
They saw Sun Qing Min and Zhao Shen stop, one after the other, in a secluded area guarded by soldiers. After speaking a few words with the guards, the two of them went inside.
Although Xue Zi Ning also wanted to go in, she knew that further ahead there would likely be hidden guards, so she could not be reckless.
She turned to leave but suddenly detected footsteps ahead. She quickly lowered her head and hid herself in the bushes. After the footsteps departed, she raised her head again and saw Xue Chang Yi being helped into the courtyard.
She inwardly cried out, "Not good!"
She quickly retraced her steps. Before she could reach the banquet, a person landed in front of her. She recognized this person as Li Chao, the bodyguard beside Xue Chang An.
"Miss, Her Highness requests your presence!" Li Chao said, bowing.
"What if I don't go?" she asked Li Chao, word for word. She knew her own skills; Li Chao was no match for her.
Li Chao heard this and showed no panic. "Miss, as you can see, Princess Xue Chang Yi is in His Highness's hands. If Miss..."
"Your Highness has threatened the wrong person. What Xue Chang Yi has to do with me is irrelevant. Farewell!" Saying this, she turned and left. Li Chao called out to someone. "Go and tell His Highness."
Xue Zi Ning returned to the banquet. She saw that Xue Chang Yi was still sitting beside Sun Zi Han. She was somewhat confused. Then, which of the two, the one who was with Sun Zi Han earlier and the one here now, was the real Princess Xue Chang Yi?
"Master, what is wrong?" Xue Lian asked, noticing that Xue Zi Ning seemed off.
"Xue Lian, have you noticed anything amiss?" she asked.
Xue Lian shook her head. "Everything is normal."
Xue Zi Ning fell into deep thought. Which Xue Chang Yi was the fake one?
At this moment, Xue Chang Yi poured wine into Sun Zi Han's cup. Xue Zi Ning's gaze tightened. Could the wine be poisoned?
What did poison have to do with her? She closed her eyes, refusing to look at Sun Zi Han.