A burst of腥甜 surged up, and Hua Yun Jin's gaze shifted slightly. He looked up at the girl's smiling, curved eyebrows, suppressed the rising 腥甜, stood up, and said, "Your Majesty, I recall there are matters requiring my preparation. I shall take my leave first!"
"Go!"
Hua Yun Jin walked out of Zhaoyuan Palace. In a secluded corner, he finally could no longer suppress the 腥甜 from his throat and spat it out.
Fresh red blood stained the green grass below.
"Prime Minister..." Feng Jiu appeared before Hua Yun Jin, looking somewhat surprised at him with bloodstains still on the corner of his mouth.
Hua Yun Jin wiped his mouth with his sleeve and smiled, "A congenital illness. This minor matter is not enough to trouble the Empress."
This was a minor matter? Feng Jiu hesitated.
Hua Yun Jin lowered his gaze and said, "The Empress only instructed you to protect my safety. My health is not within your purview of protection."
Upon hearing this, Feng Jiu conceded that Hua Yun Jin was right and did not question further, then vanished.
Hua Yun Jin raised his head, gazing at the sky already ablaze with fiery clouds, and silently thought, grant him a little more time, just a little more.
Xue Zining looked up and realized it was already dark. She called out towards the outside.
"Your Majesty, this servant is here." Xue Yan walked in.
"What time is it now?" Xue Zining put away her book and asked, looking up.
Xue Yan replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is already You Shi."
"It's already so late."
Xue Zining stood up and suddenly said, "I shall go for a walk outside."
Stepping out of Zhaoyuan Palace, she felt a sense of lightness. Matters were proceeding according to her plan, and soon she would be able to eliminate the Regent.
Then, she noticed a small figure not far away. She narrowed her eyes. That figure was unforgettable, Xue Zixuan.
Since the hunt, Xue Zixuan had not appeared before her.
She walked closer. At this moment, Xue Zixuan was squatting on the ground, watching a small insect. As if sensing someone approaching, he said, "Quickly, give me some food..."
Seeing no one hand it over, he said angrily, "You don't even listen to me. I'll have my mother punish you."
"Zixuan."
Xue Zixuan stiffened and looked up to meet a pair of eyes that were both supremely clear and supremely cold.
He took a few steps back, but being young, his balance was unsteady, and he fell backward.
Normally, he would cry, but at this moment, he could not.
"Imperial... Imperial Sister..."
"Zixuan, you haven't visited your Imperial Sister for several days," Xue Zining said calmly.
"Imperial... Imperial Sister, Zixuan fears you will blame him," the young boy bit his lower lip.
"Why would I blame you? Zixuan has done nothing wrong."
Upon hearing this, the young boy's eyes lit up. "Does Imperial Sister truly think so?"
Xue Zining nodded, "Of course. Even if you made a mistake, you are still my Imperial Brother. Would I truly kill you?"
The young boy's body suddenly trembled, "Imperial... Imperial Sister..."
Xue Zining smiled, reached out, and patted his head, saying slowly, "As long as you don't do anything to betray your Imperial Sister, your head will remain securely on your neck. Otherwise..."
"Imperial Sister, Zixuan is very well-behaved," the young boy looked up, his eyes clear, without any concealment.
"Zixuan is truly good," Xue Zining continued to pat his head, then stood up and left.
The young boy's body remained stiff. After a long while, he recovered and looked up, gazing at the retreating figure, his eyes filled with a mist of unfathomable mystery.