"Your Highness, it's not that I know something, but that the Empress knows something."
Xue Wenjie's gaze deepened considerably. He looked at Yan Zhao, who was bowing before him, and said meaningfully, "Since you understand the severity, then Gu Yungge's body will be handed over to you."
"Yes," Yan Zhao replied.
Xue Wenjie snorted coldly and added, "Young Master Yan, don't forget you still have to reflect in confinement."
With that, he flicked his sleeves and left.
"Young Master Yan, have a good reflection in confinement." Jin Ming walked past him, his tone laced with sarcasm and mockery.
Yan Zhao looked up. The vast hunting ground was now empty.
"Aren't you afraid the Regent will hold a grudge against you for doing this?"
A clear, cold voice drifted from nearby.
Yan Zhao was slightly startled. He looked towards the sound and saw a maiden in plain white robes standing not far away.
The maiden's face was bare, unadorned, and her eyes were still slightly red, clearly from crying.
"Your Majesty," Yan Zhao bowed.
"You helped me, but I will not be grateful to you," the maiden said slowly, her lips parting slightly.
Yan Zhao chuckled softly, "I know."
"So, what you're doing is in vain. I won't change my feelings towards you because of this."
"I know."
The maiden blinked slightly. "Since you know, why do it?"
Why? Yan Zhao heard this and then shook his head, "I don't know."
"However, thank you anyway."
Although in her past life she had detested Yan Zhao intensely, hate was hate. Today, he had genuinely helped her. Otherwise, her archery skills alone would not have been enough to ensure Gu Yungge died without suffering.
Yan Zhao's eyebrows twitched. The maiden's voice sounded again, "But, I still say the same thing, I won't change anything for you."
The maiden saw the person before her smile. His originally refined and handsome face became exceptionally captivating with this smile.
She knew he was a man who appreciated beauty, but she hadn't realized his smile could be so devastatingly charming.
"Go reflect in confinement!" the maiden said faintly, her lips parting slightly. She then left.
Yan Zhao watched the maiden's receding back, a flicker of something unusual in his eyes.
"Young Master, this body..." Yan Yi looked at the blood-soaked corpse with some difficulty.
"Find someone to clean it up properly and give it a proper burial," Yan Zhao said slowly.
"Yes, Young Master." As Yan Yi was about to carry the body away, Yan Zhao's voice called out from behind, "Wait."
Yan Yi stopped and took a step back. Yan Zhao walked forward, crouched down, and looked at the mess of hair on the corpse. His gaze deepened. After a long while, he stood up, "Go ahead!"
In the shadows, the maiden's once gentle eyebrows suddenly turned icy cold. "Feng Yu."
"Your Majesty," Feng Yu appeared before her and said.
"Where is the Prime Minister?"
"He is in your temporary palace." Feng Yu replied.
The maiden tilted her head, looking at the red clouds in the sky. She knew the storm was about to break.
Upon returning to the temporary palace, Hua Yunjin was already kneeling there. Though not weeping, her expression was one of profound sorrow.
Seeing her, her voice trembled slightly as she said, "Your Majesty."
The maiden nodded and walked step by step to Hua Yunjin. She extended her fair, slender fingers and said, "Rise."
Hua Yunjin trembled all over. "Your Majesty, I am unable to protect the Grand Tutor's safety. I... deserve to die."
Hearing this, the maiden's lips parted slightly, her voice chilling, "It was I who told you to find the Grand Tutor, and it was I who shot the Grand Tutor to death with my own hands. If anyone deserves to die, shouldn't it be me, Xue Zining?"
At this moment, tears could no longer be held back and poured down.
Hua Yunjin's body stiffened. "Your Majesty, it's not like that..."
The maiden frowned, interrupting Hua Yunjin coldly, "Enough. Rise. The person is dead. What use is there in pursuing right and wrong? Hua Yunjin, at this moment, we should be united against a common enemy. We should consider why such a meticulously planned scheme was known to Xue Wenjie!"
Hua Yunjin quieted down. He slowly stood up, and when he looked up again, his eyes were clear and focused. "Your Majesty, I lost my composure just now."
"I will not let the Grand Tutor's revenge and hatred go unanswered," the maiden said, her clear eyes colder than ever before.
"Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor was very happy when he left," Hua Yunjin said slowly.
The maiden extended her fair hand and opened her palm. In it lay a token.
Hua Yunjin was greatly shocked. It was the token of the Gu Family Army.