"This is an order!" The deep voice, like a mountain pressing down, left Yu Yun no choice but to obey. She bit her lower lip, turned, and carried Fengyun away.
Fengyun opened his mouth, wanting to tell Yu Yun to put him down, but he had no strength left. Dimly, he saw the person whose moon-brocade white robe was stained with blood.
He gritted his teeth, his jaw aching, but not a sound escaped him.
Yu Yun flew to a secluded corner and then set Fengyun down. Just as she was about to hide Fengyun and then go back to help Song Xiuyuan, someone blocked her path.
"Move aside," Yu Yun said coldly.
"Where is he?" Xue Xingyue asked. Seeing Fengyun rescued, she breathed a sigh of relief. But when she saw that Song Xiuyuan was nowhere to be found, she quickly stepped forward to question Yu Yun.
Yu Yun, however, did not give her a pleasant look. With eyes that could freeze her, she said coldly, "Miss Xue, if you care for your master, you should stay away from him from now on."
"Yu Yun, I know you have an opinion of me, and I don't intend to explain anything. However, this is the imperial palace, and with Fengyun in this state, it's best for you to stay by his side. I will go and help your master," Xue Xingyue said.
"You?" Yu Yun looked at her with a cold sneer, her gaze full of disdain.
She smiled, "You may not believe me, but I might not be able to defeat Fengyun, yet I am confident when it comes to you."
Yu Yun let out a cold laugh and raised her head, suddenly meeting a pair of eyes as cold as frost.
But these eyes were different from ordinary ones; they were as clear as water, pure like a cloudless sky, without a trace of impurity. Yet, it was precisely this purity that made her feel a sense of awe. At this moment, Xue Xingyue's icy aura slowly emanated.
She looked down at Yu Yun, as if she were a noble goddess on a snow-capped mountain, or perhaps a being looking down upon all living beings. That immense and powerful aura forced Yu Yun to bow her head in submission.
Yu Yun was surprised. How could an ordinary woman possess an aura like her master's?
Yu Yun was not foolish. Although she didn't understand everything, she knew this woman was no ordinary person. Yet, even so, she would not back down.
"Yu... Yu Yun, let Miss Xue go..." Fengyun, who had already fainted, suddenly opened his eyes and said to Yu Yun.
Yu Yun was stunned and turned to look at Fengyun, "Fengyun, you..."
Fengyun did not look at Yu Yun, but rather at Xue Xingyue. "Miss Xue, you must bring master back safely. Master..." He stopped midway through his words.
Xue Xingyue did not overthink it. She nodded, "Rest well, and I will definitely bring your master back safely." With that, she flew away.
"Fengyun, do you know what you are doing? Can she save master? How can you let her go with such peace of mind?" Yu Yun was furious, her gaze sharp.
Fengyun looked at Yu Yun and slowly said, "Yu Yun, I know you like master, but at this moment, master probably wishes for Miss Xue to be by his side."
"You..." Yu Yun clenched her fists tightly, staring fiercely at Fengyun.
Fengyun looked away, his tone somewhat indifferent. "Yu Yun, don't blame me for not warning you. It's best to put away your thoughts. I can see it, and master can see it too. Don't do anything to harm Miss Xue, otherwise, I cannot guarantee that master will spare you out of consideration for your years of service. You... take care of yourself!"
After saying that, he forced himself to stand up by leaning on a tree and continued, "I am your leader. If you don't listen to my words, you are free to leave. I don't need disobedient shadow guards, and neither does master."
"Fengyun, you are treating me like this for another woman?" Yu Yun was shocked. She never expected that a mere woman could shake her position in the hearts of her master and Fengyun.
If that Miss Xue were to stay by her master's side, sooner or later, she would lose even her place by her master's side. Therefore, that woman must...
"Yu Yun, I only hope you don't stray down the wrong path." Fengyun then turned and flew up into a nearby tree, finding a hidden spot to conceal himself.
Yu Yun said nothing more, her expression blank, but the sinister glint hidden deep within her eyes revealed her anger.
Taihe Hall
The Empress Dowager looked at the man who was already surrounded. His moon-brocade white robe was stained with patches of blood, and even though he wore a mask, it could not conceal his inherent charm.
That innate temperament gave her a momentary illusion, a sense of déjà vu.
Back then, he was in white, with a face of unparalleled beauty, exuding an extraordinary aura that made countless people envious.
And that person was her Xiao Wu, such a stunningly talented individual, gone from her.
Thinking of this, her heart ached faintly. Looking at the masked man now, she suddenly felt a pang of pity. "As long as you surrender, I will pardon you for the crime of abducting the Ninth Princess!"
Just then, the Empress Dowager saw his body move slightly. For a moment, it was as if Xiao Wu had reappeared, and she couldn't help but blurt out, "Xiao Wu, is that you?"
Song Xiuyuan grabbed the Ninth Princess with one hand and suddenly flew towards the Empress Dowager. His movement was swift, so fast that the guards who had surrounded him only realized he was heading towards the Empress Dowager after he had already done so.
"Protect the Empress Dowager!" someone shouted.
The Empress Dowager saw him place the Ninth Princess at her feet. The guards who followed closely were already pursuing him. She stood up and looked at him, "As long as you put down your sword, I can spare your life."
She saw him seem to smile, his eyes as bright as stars, just like when she looked at him in those days.