Suddenly, the surrounding trees rustled, and Xue Zi Ning became alert, shouting coldly, "Someone's here, be careful!"
Before the words even fell, many black-clothed figures flew out from all directions.
"Sun Hao, protect the two lords," Xue Zi Ning said.
Sun Hao, however, charged headlong into the crowd, engaging them in battle.
Xue Zi Ning did not act impulsively. She had a feeling that these attackers were not sent by His Highness the Prince of Jing.
Suddenly, Sun Hao was stabbed in the chest. Seeing this, Xue Zi Ning leaped forward, kicking the attacker away with a fierce expression. She hadn't intended to save Sun Hao, but if he died now, she would undoubtedly be in trouble. After all, His Highness the Prince of Jing had not yet dismissed his suspicions of her, so she had to remain cautious.
"You... you all..." Sun Hao stared wide-eyed at the black-clothed figures, his face filled with shock and disbelief.
Hua Yun Dan and Li Chen Xi exchanged glances. Li Chen Xi flew forward and joined Xue Zi Ning in the fight. Soon, all the black-clothed figures were annihilated.
However, when Li Chen Xi tried to interrogate them, the attackers quickly swallowed poison. Only one managed to avoid it, but Xue Zi Ning kicked the medicine out of his hand.
She stepped on the black-clothed man's back and said coldly, "Speak, who sent you?"
Upon hearing this, the black-clothed man sneered, "Caught, and nothing to say."
"Nothing to say?" Her foot pressed down with more force.
The black-clothed man looked up at her and then said, "Guard Ning, you should be more careful, or you might end up like me."
With that, the black-clothed man suddenly bit his tongue and committed suicide. Before Xue Zi Ning could stop him, he was dead.
"Guard Ning, how do you explain this?" Li Chen Xi asked her coldly.
"Explain? Explain what?" Xue Zi Ning raised an eyebrow at Li Chen Xi.
"Does Guard Ning not think an explanation is needed?"
"Official Li, what do you need me to explain?"
"What are your intentions, Your Highness the Prince of Jing?"
Xue Zi Ning replied, "I do not understand the meaning of Official Li's words."
"You don't understand? Fine, then I will ask you: is His Majesty's disappearance related to you?" Li Chen Xi asked in exasperation.
"Official Li, you can eat anything, but you cannot say anything carelessly. Do you have any proof?"
"You..."
"Li Chen Xi, that's enough," Hua Yun Dan suddenly interjected.
"Yun Dan..."
"Li Chen Xi, calm down," Hua Yun Dan said.
Li Chen Xi snorted and left.
Seeing Hua Yun Dan glance at her, Xue Zi Ning also turned to leave.
"Prime Minister Hua," she called out from behind.
Hua Yun Dan stopped and turned to look at her. "Does Guard Ning have something to say?"
"These assassins were not sent by His Highness the Prince of Jing."
"Are you sure?" Hua Yun Dan asked.
She nodded. "Certainly."
"Then, I believe you."
Xue Zi Ning was momentarily stunned. Hua Yun Dan then said, "Is it wrong for me to believe you?"
She quickly shook her head. "No, it's just that I'm surprised Prime Minister Hua believes me."
Hua Yun Dan replied, "I simply think that if His Highness the Prince of Jing had sent people to kill me and Official Li, why would he have made it so easy for me to find out?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. It seemed Hua Yun Dan was thinking the same as her. Clearly, someone was deliberately framing His Highness the Prince of Jing. However, calling it framing might be giving His Highness the Prince of Jing too much credit, as the people who attacked Emperor Yun were indeed his men.
But who were the people who attacked them this time?
Upon returning to the camp, His Highness the Prince of Jing had already returned to the imperial palace. It was said that some disturbances had occurred outside the palace, and His Highness the Prince of Jing had rushed to suppress them.
Meanwhile, she, Hua Yun Dan, and others continued to search for Emperor Yun's whereabouts in the hunting grounds.
After all, alive or dead, they had to find him.
Sun Hao had woken up, and Xue Zi Ning went to his tent.
When Sun Hao saw her, although he still seemed contemptuous, his attitude had improved considerably. After all, she was now his savior.
"What do you want?" Sun Hao asked coldly.
"Just to check on you, since you're injured," Xue Zi Ning replied.
"I didn't know Guard Ning was so kind," Sun Hao said sarcastically.
"Indeed, I shouldn't have intervened back then. Do you think that person would have really killed you?"
Sun Hao's face turned pale. "Are you here to mock me?"
Xue Zi Ning smiled. "As expected, you're smart." She then pulled up a chair and sat down.
"I don't know anything," Sun Hao said.
"You don't have to say anything, but Sun Hao, let me give you a piece of advice: if they could kill you once, they can kill you a second time," Xue Zi Ning said slowly.
"No... impossible..." Sun Hao's face turned ashen, as if recalling something.
"Of course, this is just my speculation. But Sun Hao, think carefully. Why would those people want to kill you? Normally, a serious injury would suffice. You know, if I hadn't intervened, you would have died by his sword."
Sun Hao stiffened and lowered his head. "What are you talking about? I don't understand."
"You can take your time to think, Sun Hao. I'll give you one last piece of advice: since he wanted to kill you, it means you have no more value to him. Is it worth risking your life for him?"
Sun Hao was taken aback, his eyes filled with despair. But after a moment, he still shook his head. "Guard Ning, I truly don't know what you're talking about."
"Alright, Sun Hao, rest well. If you change your mind, come find me."
Saying this, she turned and walked towards the door.
"Guard Ning," Sun Hao suddenly called out to her.
She turned back and asked, "Is there anything else?"
"Thank you for saving me today," Sun Hao said.
"No need to thank me. At that time, I would have saved anyone, regardless of who it was. Besides, we were in the Imperial Guard training camp together." With that, she left.
Sun Hao's gaze wavered, his expression changing slightly. He suddenly whispered, "Sun Lin, I want to see the Master."
A person appeared before Sun Hao and said, "The Master does not wish to see you. You messed things up, and now you want to see the Master?"
"I..."
"Recover from your injuries. The Master will find you if you are needed."
"Yes," Sun Hao replied.
Xue Zi Ning walked out of the tent and saw Hua Yun Dan and Li Chen Xi not far away. She walked over and bowed slightly, "Prime Minister Hua, Official Li."
"Did you find anything out?" Hua Yun Dan asked.
Xue Zi Ning shook her head. "I didn't get anything out of him."
Li Chen Xi snorted upon hearing this. "Yun Dan, he's in league with that person. Do you think people in league would reveal anything?"
Xue Zi Ning cast a cold glance at Li Chen Xi. How could she not know Li Chen Xi was so foolish?