The eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial looked at Xue Zi Ning. He was the most disregarded eunuch in the Directorate, rarely seeing the Empress, let alone the favored individuals around her.
"My lord?" Seeing the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial remain silent, Yu Yang felt a pang of unease and asked again.
"You claim to be a fourth-rank imperial guard by the Emperor's side. How is it that I have never seen you?"
Whether he was a fourth-rank imperial guard or not was up to the eunuch, as there was likely no one present who would recognize a fourth-rank imperial guard.
"If you do not wish to remove this official uniform, then do as I say."
Yu Yang was taken aback. He looked at the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial and soon understood the implications. If the eunuch from the Directorate of Ceremonial didn't say he was a fourth-rank imperial guard by the Emperor's side, who would know?
"How dare you impersonate an imperial guard by the Emperor's side? Guards, seize him!"
As Yu Yang's voice rang out, the soldiers surrounded Xue Zi Ning and the others once more.
Xue Zi Ning frowned. She knew they had reached an agreement. "Go..."
She commanded in a low voice.
"Don't move," Yu Yang had already taken Lin Feng hostage.
"Don't worry about us, Miss Shu, hurry and go!" Lin Shi Shu shouted loudly. She knew the Empress could leave, and every person who escaped was a chance to save herself and her father.
Under these circumstances, Xue Zi Ning did not hesitate and left with Xue Yan and the others.
Lin Shi Shu watched the Empress's retreating back, then turned around. She knew the Empress would come to save her and was not too worried.
"Take them away," Yu Yang waved his hand coldly.
He didn't care about the few people who had escaped, believing they wouldn't cause any trouble. After all, Jiangnan was already under his control.
Unknowingly, Xue Zi Ning arrived at the Yan residence. They had parted ways with Yan Jin Chao upon entering the city, so he was unaware of what had happened later. However, he must have known by now.
"Since you are here, why do you hesitate to enter?" a voice came from not far away as she stood there indecisively.
Xue Zi Ning turned and saw the man in the moon-white brocade robe, his familiar, refined, and handsome face, and his eyes that sparkled like stars, as if from another lifetime. "Yan Zhao..."
She couldn't help but softly utter his name.
Yan Jin Chao was slightly taken aback. He stepped forward and said indifferently, "I am Yan Jin Chao. Are you mistaken?"
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. She came back to her senses, and the last trace of tenderness in her eyes vanished. "Young Master Yan, I presume you know what happened at the Prefect's manor."
"Our young master was about to go find you, and you have arrived," Xue Song said.
"Xue Song..." Yan Jin Chao said coldly.
Xue Song knew he had spoken out of turn and quickly shut his mouth, but he couldn't help but wink at Xue Yan.
Xue Yan couldn't help but cover her mouth.
Yan Jin Chao said indifferently, "Come in!"
"Miss Shu, I will go back and gather troops. I believe they might be useful in the future," Gu Shao An said.
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "That is precisely what I intend."
"I bid you farewell!" Gu Shao An glanced at her, his last look filled with reluctance.
"Is Your Majesty reluctant?" Yan Jin Chao's heart felt a pang of discomfort as he looked at the Empress, who had not turned around since Gu Shao An's departure.
Xue Zi Ning turned her head and looked at him, saying indifferently, "Does that have anything to do with Young Master Yan?"
Yan Jin Chao: "..." It seemed unrelated, but why did he feel so uncomfortable?
"Young master, Your Majesty, what do we do next?" Xue Song nervously broke the silence.
If Xue Yan hadn't urged him to do so, he wouldn't have spoken at a time like this, even if it meant his death. He still wanted to live.
As expected, his young master's gaze could freeze people to death.
Xue Song gave an awkward smile.
"Yu Yang will take further action. We should wait and see," Xue Zi Ning said.
Yan Jin Chao walked into the manor without a word. Xue Yan saw this and said in a low voice, "What about Your Majesty and me?"
Xue Song stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, your subordinate will show you to your room."
Xue Zi Ning nodded.
In the evening, news arrived that the son of the Prefect and the daughter of the former Prefect would be holding their wedding ceremony the next day.
Xue Zi Ning was shocked when she heard the news. She knew that Lin Shi Shu was definitely not agreeing willingly and was likely being forced.
Lin Shi Shu, seeing her mother threatened, had no choice but to agree.
Madam Yu shook her head. "Shu'er, you are being foolish!"
Lin Shi Shu hugged Madam Yu and said, "Mother, there is nothing I cannot give up, but I can never give up on you and Father."
"Guards, quickly take the young madam to be prepared. I do not wish to see a tear-streaked bride tomorrow," Madam Yu Yang said with a cold smile.
Lin Shi Shu was dragged away.
Madam Yu looked at Madam Min and said angrily, "Madam Min, is this how you treat me? I have always been compliant with your requests, I..."
Madam Min heard this and smiled coldly. "You still have the audacity to say that? You usurped your husband's sister's position for so long, and now this is retribution."
Madam Yu trembled all over. Madam Min said coldly, "You have enjoyed so many benefits, and now it is time for you to repay them. Repaying with your daughter is nothing wrong. If it weren't for Feng Xi insisting on Lin Shi Shu, I wouldn't even want your daughter, who has bandit blood."
Madam Min left with a cold smile. Madam Yu stumbled back several steps, swaying unsteadily. A small hand held hers, and she looked down, crouching to hug the little one. "Did I scare you?"
"Madam, there will surely be a way," Xue Xing Chen said.
Madam Yu hugged him, tears in her eyes, and nodded. "Good."
Xue Xing Chen said, "I will go and beg Young Master Yan."
With that, Xue Xing Chen pushed Madam Yu away and left.
Because he was just a child, the people in the manor did not pay him much attention, allowing him to truly leave the residence.
What was originally a short distance took him three hours instead of the time it would take an incense stick to burn.
Yan Jin Chao heard that someone wanted to see him and refused outright.
The gatekeeper came to the entrance and looked at the little fellow with some pity, but still said, "Little one, please go back. The young master does not see guests..."
Xue Xing Chen stubbornly said, "I won't leave unless he calls for me."
Saying this, the little fellow lay down by the entrance. The gatekeeper looked at the sky and sat down. "It is indeed unsafe so late. Sit here for a while, perhaps you'll meet the young master."
The gatekeeper couldn't bear to see the little one sitting there and went back into the manor to get a blanket. While he was gone, Xue Xing Chen slipped into the manor.
He didn't know the way and could only walk. There was light in the distance, and he walked towards it. He saw a courtyard and peeked in. He saw a woman sitting there, the moonlight falling on her, casting a silver glow on her white dress, making her exceptionally beautiful.
For some reason, he felt this figure was familiar, so familiar, and tears fell uncontrollably.
Xue Zi Ning, who was drinking tea, felt a presence. She turned her head, and their eyes met.