"You ugly thing, you go out," Lin Luanluan said angrily.
However, she felt a bit relieved. This vixen wasn't particularly attractive, so her cousin was likely just seeking novelty.
"Am I ugly? Brother Li, do you think I'm ugly?" To further infuriate Lin Luanluan, she wrapped her arms around his neck and asked him.
His gaze was bright, as dazzling as the light outside. For some reason, her heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively wanted to pull aside his cloak to see his face.
Before her hand could touch the cloak, it was grasped by a pair of slightly warm hands. "You are not ugly."
Though only three words, they seemed to possess a magical power, causing her entire body to tremble uncontrollably.
"Cousin, you two..." Lin Luanluan was somewhat disbelieving, then covered her face and ran away.
Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. If Lin Luanluan were still there, she truly wouldn't be able to keep up the pretense.
"Sir, it was my negligence. I beg you to punish me," the page servant pleaded.
"You may go. No one is to enter from now on."
"Yes, sir!" The page servant retreated.
Xue Zining quickly stepped back, putting distance between them.
He looked at her face, now full of wariness, and felt a hint of displeasure. She had been so warm to him just moments ago, and now she was like a stranger.
Women truly changed their minds so easily.
"Where is Yun Huang?" She was too lazy to bicker with him and stated her purpose directly.
"You only came for Yun Huang?"
"Otherwise?" she retorted.
His gaze paused for a moment. Xue Zining didn't know if it was her imagination, but she felt as if Mr. Li was getting angry.
"He is well. If Guard Ning has nothing else, you may leave now." With that, he turned around, his slender figure shimmering in the light, as if coated in a layer of gold.
"I want to see him."
"Guard Ning, do you know what you are saying?"
"Of course, I do. I want to see him and confirm his safety before I leave."
"Guard Ning, you are being rather presumptuous."
"Am I? But I feel that for Mr. Li, it is merely a matter of lifting a finger. Moreover, the reward has already been paid in advance."
"Paid in advance? Guard Ning, you don't actually believe your word is golden, do you?"
"Whether it is golden or not, I do not know. However, if Mr. Li is in trouble, I will not hesitate to help." She said each word deliberately.
He did not reply. After a long while, he said, "Follow me."
He touched the inkstone on the table, and a door appeared behind him. He opened it and walked in.
She quickly followed. Inside, candles were being lit one after another. There were large chests all around. As for what was inside, she was not interested. All she wanted now was to confirm Hua Yun Jin's safety; she didn't care about anything else.
At the end, she saw a bed. No one was on it, but the messy cups suggested that someone had been lying there recently.
Suddenly, a gust of palm wind struck. She retreated several steps, seeing a shadow moving towards Mr. Li.
Recognizing the familiar figure, she cried out, "Don't hurt him."
Mr. Li's palm met the attack, and he retreated several steps. He now watched coldly as someone ran towards Yun Huang.
"Your Majesty Yun Huang, are you alright?"
Yun Huang looked at the newcomer and cautiously stepped back. "Guard Ning? What are you doing here?"
Xue Zining had never known rejection to feel so unpleasant. She desperately wanted to tell Hua Yun Jin that she was Princess Chang Ning, but with Mr. Li present, she couldn't take the risk.
Thinking of this, she suddenly knelt down and said, "Your Majesty, I am Ning An, Princess Chang Ning's secret guard. Do you not remember me?"
Yun Huang was startled. "You... you are Chang Ning's secret guard?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Indeed."
Yun Huang stepped forward and said, "No wonder you looked familiar."
"Your Majesty, how is your injury?"
Yun Huang glanced at Mr. Li not far away and cupped his hands. "Mr. Li, I have no words to repay your life-saving grace."
Mr. Li said coldly, "There is no need for repayment. I was merely forced to act."
Hearing this, Xue Zining looked at Mr. Li and gave him a cold glance.
Mr. Li remained unmoved, his gaze fixed on the ground, not even looking at her.
Yun Huang gave an awkward laugh, finding Mr. Li's remark unexpected.
"Your Majesty, how is your injury?" Xue Zining asked with concern.
"I am much better now. Thank you, Guard Ning, for risking your life to save me." As Yun Huang spoke, he bowed to express his gratitude.
Xue Zining quickly stopped him. "Your Majesty, saying so overwhelms me. I was merely entrusted with this task."
"Guard Ning, have we met before?" Yun Huang suddenly asked. He felt that this Guard Ning looked familiar, as if they had known each other for a long time.
"Your Majesty, you are mistaken. I have never met you before," Xue Zining said.
Yun Huang nodded. "Then perhaps I am mistaken."
Xue Zining lowered her gaze slightly. At this moment, she longed to acknowledge her imperial brother, but it was not yet the right time.
"Guard Ning, time is nearly up. His Majesty Yun Huang still needs to rest," Mr. Li suddenly spoke.
Xue Zining nodded. She looked up at Yun Huang and said, "Your Majesty, please rest well. Once your injuries have healed, I will escort you out."
"How are the Prime Minister and Lord Li?" Yun Huang asked.
"The Prime Minister and Lord Li are well, but they are very anxious about Your Majesty's disappearance. However, I cannot tell them that Your Majesty is here yet. Please forgive me, Your Majesty."
Yun Huang nodded. "I understand. Please take care of the Prime Minister."
"Your Majesty is too kind. I will certainly protect the Prime Minister well. Please do not worry, Your Majesty!"
After leaving the secret chamber, Xue Zining breathed a sigh of relief. Seeing that Hua Yun Jin was safe, the stone in her heart finally landed.
"I have seen the person. Now, let's talk about our own matters!"
Xue Zining was startled. She turned back and looked at Mr. Li, asking, "Our matters? Mr. Li, what do you mean?"
"You are a woman disguised as a man. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor." Mr. Li said slowly.
Hearing this, Xue Zining looked up at him and said, "Whom have I deceived?"
"His Royal Highness Prince Jing," Mr. Li stated.
Xue Zining sneered. "He is, at best, just a prince. I cannot possibly deceive him."
Moreover, she was also a princess of her father, the Emperor. Deceiving the emperor was also deceiving her father. What was Xue Chang Jing in comparison?
"Guard Ning, based on these words alone, I can report you to His Royal Highness Prince Jing."
Xue Zining frowned. How come she never knew this Mr. Li was so detestable?
"Then go ahead. However, before you report me, I ask that Mr. Li first clearly see the facts."
"What facts?"