Suddenly, a figure approached her, encircling her waist.
She looked up and saw a pair of eyes as bright as stars, and the tension in her heart inexplicably eased.
"Yan Zhao," she couldn't help but call out.
Landing on the ground, Yan Zhao placed her down, then stepped forward, leaving her with his back.
"Attempting to assassinate the current Emperor, do you know it's a capital offense?" Yan Zhao said faintly.
The black-clad figures exchanged glances, not uttering a word, and directly charged towards Yan Zhao and Xue Zining.
This was Xue Zining's first time witnessing Yan Zhao kill.
He drew out the folding fan from his waist, and the moment it opened, a chilling aura emanated from it.
White figures intertwined with black shadows.
But, it had to be said, handsome people were also beautiful when they fought.
Xue Zining couldn't help but admire.
The assassins of Qian Jin Lou, the "One Thousand Gold Scatter," and the stunningly talented Young Master Yan.
Truly a feast for the eyes.
Suddenly, she knitted her brows, a dagger slipped from her sleeve, and she fiercely stabbed it towards a black-clad figure preparing to ambush her from behind.
"You..." The black-clad figure managed to utter a word of surprise before falling silent, his body toppling backward.
Shaking off the blood on the dagger, she retracted it and sighed softly, "Disturbing my mood is your mistake."
The black-clad figures died with their eyes wide open.
Yan Zhao stood there, a faint aura of killing intent surrounding him, his foot resting on the face of the leader of the black-clad figures.
The leader was so enraged he was speechless, wondering where such a skilled lunatic had come from.
"Who was the buyer?" Yan Zhao asked faintly.
The leader gritted his teeth and said, "Qian Jin Lou, One Thousand Gold Scatter. We only ask who to kill, not who the buyer is."
"You can die now." Yan Zhao's gaze turned cold, and he opened his folding fan.
The leader's eyes widened, never to close again.
Yan Zhao retracted his fan, looking up, a trace of blood on the corner of his eye.
His already refined and handsome face gained a touch of bewitching charm from this speck of blood.
Xue Zining turned her face away. "Thank you."
Yan Zhao walked over, the faint aura of killing intent from him carried on the wind.
"Your Majesty, I will escort you back."
Xue Zining nodded.
Upon returning to their temporary resting place, Xue Yan almost burst into tears upon seeing her.
"I failed to protect Your Majesty! Please punish this servant!" Xue Yan was filled with regret.
"Am I not still alive?" Xue Zining gently stroked Xue Yan's head.
"Imperial Sister, you scared Zixuan to death," Xue Zixuan ran over, burying himself in her arms and sobbing.
Xue Zining's gaze turned slightly cold as she patted his back. "Don't worry, Imperial Sister won't die."
Xue Zixuan felt an inexplicable chill. He raised his head to meet her clear yet limpid eyes.
Boundless and unfathomably clear.
The coldness in his heart made him shiver involuntarily.
Xue Zining stood up as the Regent approached with his men.
"Your Majesty, I heard you were being pursued by assassins and I was very worried."
Xue Zining narrowed her eyes. He was here to see if she was dead, wasn't he?
She curled her lips into a smile. "Regent, please rest assured, I am very resilient and will not die."
Saying this, she left.
Xue Wenjie watched the girl's retreating figure, scoffing inwardly. She was indeed lucky.
After resting for a few hours, they set off again. Xue Zining could no longer ride in the carriage as it was damaged. Now, there was only the carriage belonging to Consort Zhao.
Although Consort Zhao was very unhappy, her displeasure was of no consequence at this moment.
She was the Emperor, after all.
With so many people watching, she was not someone who didn't understand the bigger picture.
All the way, Xue Zixuan's chirping voice could be heard.
Xue Zining looked out, her mind pondering: the Qian Jin Lou had tried to kill her multiple times, but who was the buyer?
Was it Xue Wenjie?
"Imperial Sister, Zixuan wants to eat peach blossom pastries," Xue Zixuan said, pointing to Li Ji pastry shop, biting his finger.
"Xue Yan, go buy some," Xue Zining instructed.
Xue Yan alighted from the carriage to buy peach blossom pastries.
"Imperial Sister, this is so good," Xue Zixuan said happily.
Xue Zining lowered her head, looking at Xue Zixuan's innocent eyes, pure as a child's. She couldn't help but curve her lips and reach out to stroke his head.
Beside them, Consort Zhao's face was as ugly as it could be.
Zixuan had never smiled at her like this before, and she was his own mother.
Why was she being surpassed by her own mother?
Consort Zhao was unhappy.
Her gaze towards Xue Zining also carried a hint of resentment.
Xue Yan returned with the peach blossom pastries. Xue Zining opened the box and pushed the pastries towards Xue Zixuan. "Eat up!"
Xue Zixuan clapped his hands, picked up a peach blossom pastry, and ate it, closing his eyes in enjoyment.
Xue Zining couldn't help but curve her lips again. Suddenly, Xue Zixuan opened his eyes and said, "Imperial Sister, were these peach blossom pastries dyed red with blood?"
Xue Zining was startled. At that moment, a voice called out from outside, "Your Majesty, Feng Yu requests an audience!"
Feng Yu? Xue Zining stood up. Xue Yan quickly called out, "Stop the carriage."
The carriage stopped, and Xue Zining alighted, seeing Feng Yu kneeling there. She stepped forward and asked, "What has happened?"
Feng Yu's face was filled with regret. "Your subordinate is incompetent. Young Master Lin... is fading fast."
Xue Zining's expression changed. "What... what are you saying?"
A person rushed out from the crowd, gasping, "What happened to Yan Zhi?"
Feng Yu lowered his gaze. "Your Majesty, please go and see. Young Master Lin is not doing well."
Xue Zining nodded. "You, take me there."
Feng Yu rose, lifted her onto his back, and their figures vanished in a flash.
Grand Tutor Lin was stomping his feet anxiously. He turned, grabbed a horse, mounted it, and galloped towards the imperial palace.
Xue Zining never imagined that going to the imperial palace for the heavenly sacrifice would be her last meeting with Lin Yanzhi.
She had clearly left enough of her heart's blood when she left. She walked in quickly, seeing a pale-faced youth lying on the bed.
"Young Master, please open your eyes and look, Your Majesty has returned," Cui He said, choking back tears.
The youth slowly opened his eyes, looked at her, and managed a weak smile on his pale face. "Your... Your Majesty, you're back. Forgive this commoner, I cannot salute you."
"What in the world is going on? Did he not drink the heart's blood I left on time?" Xue Zining asked coldly.
Hearing this, Cui He cried, "It was Qing Yi. He administered the poison."
Xue Zining's gaze turned icy, as cold as frost.
"My son, my son..." Grand Tutor Lin rushed in.
"Grand Tutor Lin, Your Majesty is here," Feng Yu said coldly.
Xue Zining waved her hand and turned to leave.
The moment her foot crossed the threshold, she heard Grand Tutor Lin cry out, "My son..."
Followed by sounds of weeping.
Xue Zining's footing faltered, and Feng Yu quickly steadied her.
"Bring Qing Yi to me," she turned, her eyes filled with an icy chill.
Qing Yi knelt on the ground, filled with regret. How could he have known the wine he took was poisoned?
Someone was trying to frame him!
"Qing Yi." Qing Yi trembled all over. He instinctively looked up and saw those clear eyes filled with a chilling cold.