“Did I say you could leave?” A cool, clear voice drifted over.
Yan Zhao saw the girl’s clear eyes fixed on him, piercing with frost.
Not a trace of emotion, not a wisp of warmth.
As cold as the heavy frost of late autumn.
He lowered his gaze and said faintly, “Your Majesty, what do you intend to do?”
He heard the girl chuckle, her tone laced with mockery, “Young Master Yan doesn’t know what to do. Should you all help him?”
Several young men responded with cheerful laughter and stood up, approaching Yan Zhao.
Before one of the youths could even touch Yan Zhao’s sleeve, Yan Zhao slowly raised his eyes. His dark eyes were filled with a chilling indifference. The youth faltered.
Though his gaze was as placid as water, the youth inexplicably felt a shiver run down his spine.
The youth found he couldn’t move. At that moment, the girl’s lips parted, and she said softly, “Enough. Even if trained, useless people will never be of any help.”
“Your Majesty, you’re showing favoritism!” the youth turned back to the girl, his voice tinged with jealousy.
The girl chuckled softly, “Favoritism? Then come here, and I’ll show you what favoritism is?”
The youth glanced at Yan Zhao with a cheeky grin and turned back to the girl’s side.
Seeing Yan Zhao still standing there, the girl sneered, “Do you intend to stay longer? Do you wish to serve me?”
She expected Yan Zhao to flee in panic, but instead, when he looked up to meet her gaze, the corner of his lips curved upwards, forming an arc.
This single arc outshone all the splendor in the hall.
“Your Majesty’s command, how could I disobey?” Yan Zhao said, walking towards the girl.
With distinguished bearing and a confident stride, his every move exuded elegance.
All the youths in the room were eclipsed by him.
He clearly saw a flicker of panic in the girl’s clear eyes.
The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. It was all an act, he’d almost believed it.
The girl waved her hand, and the youths beside her parted, clearing his path unimpeded.
When this refined and handsome face was before her, when these eyes, bright as a galaxy, held only her reflection, Xue Zining felt a flutter of panic.
He extended his hand, porcelain white with clearly defined knuckles, long and slender. The panic in the girl’s eyes became even more evident.
He smiled at the corner of his lips, “Your Majesty, here I am. How do you wish to train me?”
Xue Zining knew her light laughter was forced through sheer bravado. She uttered a single word, “Undress.”
She saw Yan Zhao hesitate not at all. His well-defined fingers unfastened his jade belt, embroidered with dark patterns and gold thread. The belt fell to the floor, and his jade-white robe loosened.
“Still more?” Yan Zhao looked up, his eyes like a brilliant, dazzling galaxy.
Xue Zining gritted her teeth and blurted out, “Undress.”
Yan Zhao merely smiled, his smile like the first ray of dawn, radiant and blinding.
His outer robe was shed, leaving only the snow-white inner garment. His hair was slightly dishevelled, making him look as if someone had done something to him.
“Undress?” His dark eyes were exceptionally bright at this moment, a thousand stars converging, leaving others in awe.
His slender fingers hovered at the collar of his inner garment. Xue Zining could even vaguely see the hint of skin beneath the fabric.
“Enough,” the girl suddenly said.
Yan Zhao looked at the girl. A trace of awkwardness crossed her clear eyes.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Yan Zhao stopped his actions. He did not wish to expose his body to everyone’s gaze.
“Withdraw,” the girl said coldly.
“Yes.” Without hesitation, Yan Zhao gathered his clothes. He didn’t even put them on, turning and walking away.
The girl’s gaze grew cold. She turned to the youth standing by the side and asked, “What do you think?”
The youth who had faced Yan Zhao stepped forward, his earlier cheerfulness gone.
Now, his expression was solemn, and a hint of regret appeared on his refined face, “Your Majesty, this Young Master Yan’s skills are unfathomable. It’s a pity I couldn’t spar with him.”
Xue Zining knew Yan Zhao was skilled, but Hua Yunxuan’s words surprised her somewhat.
Hua Yun Jin had mentioned that Hua Yunxuan was the most outstanding young man of his generation in the Hua family.
Even Feng Yu had said that while Hua Yunxuan’s skills were not equal to his own, they were still superior to others.
Hua Yunxuan’s current statement filled her with a sense of unease.
“If you were to fight him, what would be your chances of winning?” the girl asked.
Hua Yunxuan lowered his gaze, saying with a touch of guilt, “Perhaps not as good as his.”
He clearly felt the sensation when he was about to touch Yan Zhao.
There was an imposing aura that prevented him from getting close.
“I understand. You may all leave!” Xue Zining waved her hand.
Hua Yunxuan glanced at the girl’s dejected eyes and couldn’t help but say, “Your Majesty, I can continue to practice.”
He saw the girl look up, her eyes filled with tenderness, “Good, I will wait.”
Hua Yunxuan cupped his hands and led the remaining youths away.
Xue Zining sighed softly. In her past life, she remembered Xue Wenjie and Yan Zhao having a spar, which ended in a draw. Yan Zhao had told her then that Xue Wenjie had not used his full strength, thus Xue Wenjie’s skills were superior to Yan Zhao’s.
Thinking of this, she felt a pang of anxiety. Would the palace banquet be successful?
Yan Yi looked at his young master, who was only wearing his inner garment, his surprise so great he could have fit a fist in his mouth. “Young Master, you are…”
Had the Empress Forcefully…?
Before his words could finish, his young master threw the clothes into his arms, followed by his young master’s icy voice, “Take these and discard them.”
Yan Yi froze. Had he been forced, and now he didn’t want the clothes anymore?
Yan Zhao took a few steps and looked at Yan Yi, who was still standing there dumbfounded, and said coldly, “Still not leaving?”
Yan Yi snapped back to reality and trotted along, a lewd smile on his face, “Young Master, you are…”
Yan Yi wisely didn’t continue, but instead, he gestured with his eyes.
Yan Zhao’s gaze was clear and utterly indifferent. “What?”
Yan Yi grinned cheekily, “Young Master, have you… been deflowered?”
The next second, Yan Yi felt his collar being grabbed. He was astonished, “Young Master, you are…”
A clear voice, imbued with endless coldness, reached his ears, “My hand itches, and you need to scratch it.”
What followed was a burst of wails.
Yan Er, who had been following silently behind, picked up the clothes that had fallen to the ground, feeling fortunate that he wasn’t as glib as Yan Yi.
His face was saved.
A moment later, Yan Yi, clutching his face, which was as swollen as a pig’s head, cried, “Young Master, next time, can you please not hit my face? Can you hit my butt instead?”
“No,” Yan Zhao said coldly.
Yan Yi, sniveling, glanced at Yan Er and stomped his foot, “This is unbearable.”
Yan Er twitched his lips and stepped forward, “Young Master, the Regent King wishes to see you.”
Yan Zhao, who had been exuding coldness, now had a countenance as frigid as winter.
“Where?” The two words he uttered were also laced with frost.
Yan Er shivered inexplicably and quickly said, “In your sleeping quarters.”
Yan Zhao stepped into his chambers, his icy expression receding, replaced by his usual, faint demeanor.