Hua Yun Jin paused slightly, "Your Majesty, how can you be sure he won't speak of it?"
The young woman replied slowly, "Yan Zhao is proud and aloof. After I humiliated him so thoroughly today, how could he possibly speak of it? He can only..."
Hua Yun Jin couldn't help but press, "Can only what?"
"Suffer in silence, like a mute eating bitter herbs."
The smile on the young woman's clear and beautiful face was as brilliant and dazzling as the morning light.
Hua Yun Jin withdrew his gaze, his heart pounding a little faster.
Regent's Manor
Regent Xue Wen Jie's face was terrifyingly grim, his eyes radiating a sharp gleam like an eagle's.
His tone was equally chilling, "I sent Young Master Yan to seduce the Empress, but I didn't say he should seduce my daughter as well."
Yan Zhao's expression flickered slightly at being spoken to this way for the first time, and he said coldly, "What does the Regent mean by this?"
Xue Wen Jie sneered, "Today, Lan'er came to me saying she would marry no one but Young Master Yan..."
Yan Zhao's gaze paused, then he bowed and said, "Your Highness, please investigate. I have never had any entanglement with Miss Xue."
Xue Wen Jie snorted, "I naturally know that. Otherwise, Young Master Yan would not be standing here now."
Yan Zhao's gaze tightened slightly, "Thank you, Your Highness."
"However..." Xue Wen Jie glanced at Yan Zhao and asked, "Young Master Yan, did you manage to arrange a meeting with the Empress this time?"
Yan Zhao's gaze faltered, and he lowered his eyes, saying, "Before I had a chance to meet the Empress, I was discovered by Miss Xue. I am ashamed."
Upon hearing this, Xue Wen Jie's previous gloom vanished. He laughed heartily, "Young Master Yan is too modest. If not for Lan'er, you would likely have succeeded in meeting her. It is Lan'er who disrupted your plan, in fact."
"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness!" Yan Zhao said.
"Young Master Yan must be tired today. You may withdraw!" Xue Wen Jie gestured for him to leave.
"I bid you farewell!"
Yan Zhao walked out of the study.
"Young Master seems very unhappy," Yan Er, who was following behind Yan Zhao, whispered.
Yan Yi replied, "Of course, he's unhappy. Someone made a fool of him for the first time. How could he be happy?"
Yan Zhao listened to the hushed whispers of the two behind him, wishing he could sprout wings and leave them behind.
However, Xue Zi Ning had truly impressed him today. This Empress did not seem as incompetent as the rumors suggested.
The smile that reminded him of everything coming back to life suddenly flashed in his mind. He clenched his fist slightly. His first failure was with the Empress.
"I heard the Empress is as beautiful as a flower. Do you think, Young Master, that..."
Hearing the increasingly outrageous speculation from the two behind him, Yan Zhao let out a cold snort. As expected, Yan Yi and Yan Er stopped talking and obediently shut their mouths. Da Feng Novel Network.
Blood, vast amounts of blood filled his nostrils, the scarlet color filling his vision.
"Ah..."
"Your Majesty, what is wrong?" Hearing the sound, Aunt Yuan rushed over, not even having time to put on her clothes.
Xue Zi Ning was already drenched in sweat, her face frighteningly pale, her eyes hollow and vacant. Aunt Yuan's voice trembled with fear, "Your Majesty, what... what is wrong? Someone, call the imperial physician..."
"Aunt, I'm fine..." Xue Zi Ning suddenly grabbed Aunt Yuan's hand and shook her head.
Aunt Yuan asked nervously, "Your Majesty, are you really alright?"
Xue Zi Ning gave a weak smile, "I'm truly fine, just had a nightmare."
Aunt Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good."
Xue Zi Ning lowered her eyes. She had dreamed again of her death in her previous life, the pain, the utter despair. Even now, she could still feel it as if it were happening.