Xuesong's laughter left Gu Shaoan completely bewildered. "What are you laughing at?"
Xuesong shook his head. "Nothing."
So all the jealousy he'd felt before was for nothing?
Xuesong laughed heartily. He had always thought Gu Shaoan was fond of Xueyan, but it turned out that wasn't the case. This put his mind at ease.
Gu Shaoan was somewhat confused by Xuesong's actions.
"What's wrong with you?"
Xuesong shook his head, refusing to say anything.
Xue Zining stepped forward and said, "General Gu, I apologize. I deceived you. My name is not Xueyan; she is Xueyan."
Gu Shaoan's gaze tightened slightly. When his eyes fell upon the real Xueyan, he felt the chilling gaze from Xuesong.
Gu Shaoan looked at Xuesong with a slight smile. "No wonder you were always finding fault with me, intentionally or not. The root of it is here."
Xuesong cupped his hands. "My apologies. I was unaware of the full story and caused General Gu unnecessary trouble."
Gu Shaoan waved his hand. "It's nothing."
"What has happened here?" a voice drifted over.
Xuesong turned to look at the newcomer. Upon seeing his own master, he stepped forward. "Young Master."
Yan Jinzhao nodded. "What happened?"
Xuesong smiled. "It turns out I had identified the wrong person. General Gu is not fond of Xueyan; he is fond of..."
"Xuesong..." Gu Shaoan interrupted Xuesong's words. How could one casually speak of affections? Was this Xuesong doing it on purpose?
Interrupted by Gu Shaoan like this, Xuesong also realized he might have put General Gu in an awkward position.
Although Xuesong had only spoken half the sentence, the intelligent Yan Jinzhao had already deduced the meaning of the latter half.
He turned to look at Xue Zining, who was standing by. She seemed indifferent, with a hint of a smile in her expression.
He felt an inexplicable emptiness in his heart.
Xue Zining indeed did not glance at Yan Jinzhao. When she learned that Yan Jinzhao had come to save Lin Shishu, it was false to say she was not hurt or upset.
Thinking that Yan Jinzhao had completely forgotten her, and that he was unaware of her pain and distress, she felt a sense of release.
She told herself that since he had forgotten the past and was unwilling to recall it, then so be it.
She turned and walked away, her heart aching.
However, she couldn't be so selfish. She was the Empress, and she couldn't carry too much personal sentimentality. Was she to stay here and compete with Lin Shishu for a man?
She couldn't do it. If she couldn't, she had to learn to let go.
Yan Jinzhao was somewhat surprised. In his memory, the Empress would have returned to pester him at this point, but today she turned and left.
This made him feel a little uncomfortable.
"Young Master Yan, why are you here? I've been looking for you for a long time." Lin Shishu walked forward, holding a plate.
The maid behind her said, "Miss, please be careful. The pastries just came out of the oven and are still quite hot."
But Lin Shishu didn't care. She held out the plate and said, "Young Master Yan, these are the pastries I made specially for you, peach blossom cakes."
Yan Jinzhao glanced at Lin Shishu. His gaze was so cold that she couldn't help but take a step back. If not for the maid behind her supporting her in time, she might have fallen to the ground.
"Yan... Young Master Yan..."
"I dislike peach blossom cakes the most," Yan Jinzhao said coldly and turned to leave.
Lin Shishu trembled all over. The strength left her body, and she almost collapsed.
Xue Yan, who was beside her, stepped forward and picked up a peach blossom cake from the plate. She said calmly, "Young Master Yan truly dislikes peach blossom cakes." This was because her mistress liked peach blossom cakes.
Xuesong chimed in from the side, "Yes, my young master dislikes peach blossom cakes."
Lin Shishu was stunned and unwilling to accept it. "But I saw peach blossom cakes prepared in Young Master Yan's carriage and in his room, so I thought he liked them."
"Having them doesn't mean liking them. Miss Lin doesn't understand this logic?" Xue Yan said coldly.
Lin Shishu's body stiffened. Looking at the peach blossom cakes, tears welled up in her eyes. She handed the plate to the maid behind her. "Here you go."
Watching Lin Shishu's retreating back, Xuesong asked, "Does the Empress like my young master?"
Xue Yan looked at Xuesong coldly. "Isn't it your young master who likes our Empress?"
Xuesong scratched his head. "Is there a difference?"
Xue Yan remained silent for a long time before asking, "Where have you been all this time?"
Xuesong was taken aback. "I don't know. The first person I saw when I woke up was Young Master. I only remember things about Young Master."
Xue Yan looked at him. She knew Xuesong wasn't lying. "Xuesong, do you know that we are already married?"
Xuesong couldn't believe it and took several steps back. He didn't believe it. He had just felt a spark of affection, and now they were already married?
This was too big a leap; it made him feel unaccustomed.
"Whether you believe it or not, it's true. And we have two children."
Xuesong was so shocked by Xue Yan's words that he almost sat down. "Xue Yan, this... you can't be joking."
"Do I look like someone who jokes?"
Xuesong shed his nonchalant demeanor and walked forward, wrapping his arms around Xue Yan. "Xue Yan, you've worked hard. I will make it up to you."
"How will you make it up to me?" Xue Yan asked.
Xuesong scooped her up by the waist. "Starting from the bed."
Xue Yan was stunned. It took her a moment to react, and she was mortified. "Xuesong, you..."
Xue Zining returned to her room and tidied up. She contacted Hua Yunjin; he should be arriving soon, and then she would go find Xingyue.
In the evening, Hua Yunjin arrived. In the room, Hua Yunjin knelt on one knee. "This minister failed in his duty to guard, leading to the disappearance of the young princess."
Xue Zining stepped forward and helped Hua Yunjin up. "This is not your fault. Xingyue's temperament is difficult to change; this is all her own doing."
Hua Yunjin stood up. "Your Majesty, I have a general direction for the young princess's whereabouts."
"The capital," Xue Zining said.
Hua Yunjin nodded. "Yes."
"We depart tomorrow," Xue Zining said.
Before they could depart, people from the Prefect's mansion arrived, saying an imperial decree had come.
It was an imperial decree for a marriage arrangement.
Xue Zining was somewhat surprised. She was in Jiangnan; how could she not know who could issue an imperial decree on her behalf, let alone a marriage decree?
Wen Yuxi wouldn't be so bored.
Therefore, she decided not to leave yet and to go see if the imperial decree was genuine.
As they set off, Gu Shaoan led a large group of people, insisting on escorting them, saying the journey was not safe.
Prefect Lin agreed, as he himself was afraid of insecurity on the road.
This time, Xue Zining did not ride in a carriage but on horseback, with Gu Shaoan accompanying her.
Riding on horseback behind them, Xue Yan couldn't help but say, "Your young master is truly patient."
Xuesong replied, "At this moment, he might have a gloomy expression."
In the carriage, Lin Shishu looked at the cold-faced Yan Jinzhao, who exuded an aura of unapproachability, and felt an indescribable discomfort.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped, and Yan Jinzhao slowly opened his eyes.