"Your Majesty, the person has been intercepted..." Feng Yu's figure appeared in the prison cell and said to someone.
Xue Zining, who had disguised herself, nodded, then looked at the corpse on the ice bed and said, "Yun Jin, see if this is the Flower family patriarch."
Hua Yunjin, also disguised, came to the ice bed, pulled back the white cloth covering it, and a familiar face appeared before her.
"It's the Flower family patriarch," Hua Yunjin said.
"It seems this setup was specifically for you," Xue Zining frowned.
"Your Majesty, do you have a solution?" At this moment, Hua Yunjin also understood that the Regent was trying every means to eliminate him this time.
"Your Majesty, this... this person has been disguised." Xue Yan, disguised as Zhu Keyu, suddenly spoke.
Xue Zining and Hua Yunjin both leaned forward and saw Xue Yan tear off a human skin mask from the corpse's face.
Beneath the human skin mask was an unfamiliar face.
"Your Majesty, there's someone outside," Feng Yu's voice suddenly echoed.
Xue Zining and Hua Yunjin exchanged glances, seeing a trap in each other's eyes.
"Your Highness, the Lord Zhu inside might be a fake," Left Commandant Cao Zhuang said to the Regent who had rushed over from outside.
The Regent, Xue Wenjie, narrowed his eyes. Just as he entered the manor, he had received a mysterious letter stating that the Empress had disguised herself and entered the prison.
Half-believing, he came to the Commandant's manor and indeed, there were people inside the prison. He didn't need to think who it could be.
"Surround this place," Xue Wenjie said coldly.
What a great opportunity? With the ensuing chaos, he could kill the disguised Empress, saving him so much time.
Even if the Empress's identity was exposed, he could still eliminate Hua Yunjin. Either way, it was a win.
Left Commandant Cao Zhuang, having received the Regent's order, quickly instructed his men to surround the area.
Inside the cell, Xue Zining calmly asked, "Feng Yu, are there any other exits here?"
"Your Majesty, there are no other exits," Feng Yu replied.
Xue Zining's gaze deepened.
Seeing this, Hua Yunjin said, "Your Majesty, I will go out in a moment. Feng Yu, take this opportunity to escort Your Majesty away from here."
"Hua Yunjin, what do you mean by that?" Xue Zining raised her eyes, her gaze icy.
Hua Yunjin said, "Your Majesty, the Regent must not know you are here, otherwise, he might make a move."
Xue Zining knew Hua Yunjin was not being alarmist. Such a good opportunity, how could Xue Wenjie give it up?
Her gaze darkened. Letting Hua Yunjin go out just like that?
She could imagine how Xue Wenjie would treat Hua Yunjin.
"Your Majesty, there's no time to hesitate." Hua Yunjin listened to the approaching footsteps outside, feeling anxious.
Xue Zining glanced at Xue Yan and asked, "Are you afraid?"
Xue Yan shook her head, "Your Majesty, this servant is not afraid."
Xue Zining withdrew her gaze and looked at Hua Yunjin, saying, "The Regent must not see you here. You must leave this place."
"Your Majesty, you..."
Before Hua Yunjin could finish speaking, Xue Zining gave him a look. Feng Yu behind her struck him with a palm, and Hua Yunjin's vision went black as he fell unconscious.
"Feng Yu, escort the Prime Minister back to the palace," she said coldly.
Feng Yu was startled. "Your Majesty, let Feng Jiu escort the Prime Minister back. I will stay to protect you."
"No need. Having you would make us more likely to be exposed. This is an order."
Xue Zining looked at Feng Yu and said coldly.
Feng Yu nodded, "This servant takes his leave!"
With that, Feng Yu took Hua Yunjin and moved towards the entrance, waiting for the best opportunity to leave.
Xue Zining scanned the surroundings of the prison cell. There was nowhere for her to hide.
The footsteps approached, and she saw a figure walking towards them, a tall figure casting a chilling shadow in the dim candlelight.
At this moment, Xue Wenjie looked at the slender figure in front of him in the prison cell, a cold smile curling his lips. "Lord Zhu, what are you doing in the prison cell?"
Xue Zining's heart tightened.
Zhu Keyu stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, this humble official has doubts about this corpse, hence came to examine it."
"Is that so? Examining a corpse with a woman?" Xue Wenjie stepped forward and reached out to grab the hat Xue Zining was wearing.
The hat fell to the ground, revealing an unfamiliar young girl's face.
Xue Zining involuntarily took a step back.
The Regent narrowed his eyes.
Just then, Zhu Keyu stepped forward, pulled open the cloak behind him, and covered her from head to toe.
He also put his arm around her waist.
Xue Zining's body stiffened, and her heart was startled. This was not Xue Yan's hand, but she did not push it away.
At this moment, her actions could ruin the current situation.
"Your Highness, this subordinate feels a bit frightened by coming to the prison cell, so I specially brought my wife to give me courage."
Xue Wenjie frowned, "Then, what have you discovered?"
Zhu Keyu pointed at the corpse on the ice bed and said, "This is not the Flower family patriarch. He has been switched."
Hearing this, Xue Wenjie's gaze grew colder. Left Commandant Cao Zhuang said, "Only Lord Zhu is here. Lord Zhu, did you switch him?"
Zhu Keyu sneered at Cao Zhuang, "Left Commandant, one can eat whatever one wants, but one cannot speak carelessly. Do you have any evidence?"
Cao Zhuang was stunned. He had no evidence, which was why he spoke like this. If he had evidence, he would have arrested him long ago.
Just then, someone rushed in from outside and whispered a few words into Xue Wenjie's ear. Xue Wenjie glanced at Zhu Keyu thoughtfully and said, "Lord Zhu caught the person and discovered that the person was switched. The task of finding the person will be given to Lord Zhu."
Zhu Keyu said, "This humble official accepts the order. If I cannot complete it, this humble official is willing to resign and return to my hometown."
Xue Wenjie nodded and walked out of the prison cell.
Cao Zhuang behind him followed, unwillingly saying, "Your Highness, it is possible that Lord Zhu is a fake."
Hearing this, Xue Wenjie's gaze turned cold. "The person I sent back just now told me that Lord Zhu was not in the manor and came to the Commandant's manor after leaving the palace."
Cao Zhuang was stunned.
Xue Wenjie said coldly, "In the future, do not tell me anything without certainty."
With that, Xue Wenjie flicked his sleeves and left.
"Left Commandant, you've worked hard today!" Zhu Keyu said mockingly and coldly.
Cao Zhuang replied with a smile, "Sir is the one who worked hard, and still needs to find someone."
"This is not something for Commandant Cao to worry about." With that, Zhu Keyu left the place with his wife.
After exiting the Commandant's manor and getting into the carriage, Xue Zining pushed away the fake Zhu Keyu and said coldly, "Who are you?"
"Your Majesty, this servant is Xue Yan!" She removed the human skin mask, revealing Xue Yan's face.
Xue Zining was stunned. The person from before was definitely not Xue Yan.
"Was that Xue Yan all along?" Xue Zining still asked uncertainly.
Xue Yan nodded, "Your Majesty, if it wasn't Xue Yan, who else could it be?"
Xue Zining frowned. If it wasn't Xue Yan, who else could it be?
Could she have hallucinated?
Impossible. The clear touch at her waist, she wouldn't make a mistake. It wasn't Xue Yan's hand.