"Yan Jin Chao, what is the meaning of this?" the King of Beijiang asked coldly, looking at the person who had blocked their path.
"Your Highness, where is Miss A Ning?" Yan Jin Chao asked, his eyes filled with coldness.
Upon hearing this, the King of Beijiang sneered, "Yan Jin Chao, I haven't asked you for anyone, and yet you have the audacity to demand someone from me?"
"Miss A Ning is missing. Some people saw her appear at the King of Beijiang's mansion."
The King of Beijiang sarcastically replied, "Indeed, not only did she appear at my mansion, but she also took two people away."
"Your Highness, what do you mean by that? A Ning is merely a defenseless person. How could she possibly take people away from the King of Beijiang's mansion, which is full of masters? Your Highness need not try to fob me off with such words."
"Fob you off? Do I need to? However, I must now seriously consider whether you, Yan Jin Chao, were aware of this beforehand."
Yan Jin Chao frowned upon hearing this, "Your Highness, I truly don't understand what you mean. What am I supposed to know?"
The King of Beijiang's expression was extremely gloomy, and his tone was equally icy, "A Ning is none other than the former Empress Xue Zi Ning."
Yan Jin Chao was stunned. After a moment, his expression turned cold, and he said with a hint of amusement, "If Your Highness does not wish to disclose A Ning's whereabouts, you need not slander her like this."
With that, he turned to leave.
Suddenly, many guards from the King of Beijiang's mansion appeared before him. Yan Jin Chao's gaze darkened as he looked up at the King of Beijiang and said coldly, "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
"Yan Jin Chao, the Empress emerged from your residence. I cannot help but suspect your relationship with the Empress, therefore, you cannot leave."
"And what if I insist on leaving?" Yan Jin Chao said slowly. Da Feng Novel Network
"Then I shall have no choice but to keep Young Master Yan here." With that, the King of Beijiang gave a nod, and the guards moved towards Yan Jin Chao.
Yan Jin Chao simply said coldly, "Overestimating yourselves."
Before his words had even finished, he leaped into the air, flicked his sleeve, and knocked down countless guards.
The King of Beijiang's face turned grim. He knew Yan Jin Chao had hidden his strength, but he hadn't expected him to be so formidable.
If Xue Zi Ning had won through cunning Miao Jiang secret arts, then Yan Jin Chao had won through sheer power.
"Stop," the King of Beijiang shouted. After his earlier battle with Xue Zi Ning, his men had already suffered heavy losses. If this continued, he would have very few guards left.
He did not want to deploy the army stationed in Beijiang; that was his sharpest weapon for conquering the world.
"Young Master Yan, I truly do not have the Miss A Ning you speak of here. If you do not believe me, you are welcome to search the mansion." the King of Beijiang said slowly.
"No need." Yan Jin Chao said faintly.
He did not sense A Ning's presence, so there was no need to search the mansion.
Besides, the King of Beijiang had shown him courtesy, and he could not afford to be impolite in return.
Yan Jin Chao left.
The King of Beijiang's expression grew increasingly somber. The situation had developed beyond his expectations.
"Go and invite Yin Shou..."
The King of Beijiang said slowly. It seemed he would have to seek help from that person.
Xue Zi Ning waited at the inn until nightfall, but Feng Wu did not return. She decided not to wait any longer.
Waiting was the most corrosive thing to one's consciousness. She needed to take action.
As soon as she opened her room door, she saw the steward of the Yan Residence standing outside. She was surprised, "Why are you here?"
"My young master requests your presence."
Although Xue Zi Ning did not know why Yan Zhao had summoned her, she followed the steward to the Yan Residence.
Upon entering the Yan Residence, the steward stopped at a courtyard. "Miss A Ning, my young master is waiting for you inside."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and walked in. The room was dimly lit, and she could not see anyone until she got closer and saw a man sitting on a chair.
A moon-white robe was casually draped, yet it had no wrinkles. The drooping sleeves fell to the ground. If they weren't white, she might have stepped on them.
After walking a few steps, Xue Zi Ning realized that this man seemed completely still.
She stepped forward, and a visage that was as beautiful as a heavenly immortal presented itself to her. He was refined, handsome, and peerlessly elegant.
Suddenly, his thick eyelashes fluttered, and his eyes, as dark as glazed glass, opened, revealing a breathtaking beauty.
"Young master..." She instinctively retreated, not wanting him to know she had been secretly looking at him.
Yan Jin Chao stood up. How long had it been since he had slept so soundly? It seemed like a very, very long time.
This time, not only had he fallen asleep, but he hadn't even known when someone had entered, even though it was someone he cared about.
"Is there something?" Yan Jin Chao asked faintly, completely forgetting that he was the one who had asked the steward to fetch her.
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "Didn't you ask the steward to bring me here? Have you forgotten?"
Yan Jin Chao was stunned. After a moment, he remembered that he had indeed asked the steward to find A Ning and bring her to the residence.
"I asked you to come." To cover his embarrassment, he coughed lightly.
Xue Zi Ning had no intention of dwelling on such matters. "May I know why you summoned me, Young Master?"
"Someone wishes to see you," Yan Jin Chao said.
Xue Zi Ning was surprised. "Someone wants to see me? Who?"
Full of doubt, she was led away from the study by the steward towards the back courtyard. Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but ask the steward, "Who exactly does my young master want me to see?"
The steward was not one for many words. He simply said, "My young master's actions undoubtedly have their purpose. Miss A Ning will know once she meets the person."
Along the way, Xue Zi Ning was incredibly anxious, but the steward was tight-lipped and wouldn't reveal anything.
Finally, they arrived at a secluded courtyard in the back. The steward pointed to the courtyard and said, "Miss A Ning, the person you are to meet is ahead. I shall return to report to my young master."
Before Xue Zi Ning could speak, the steward had already left.
Thinking that this was, after all, the Yan Residence, Xue Zi Ning had no choice but to brace herself and walk in. As she reached the door and was about to knock, she suddenly heard a familiar voice from inside.
"Did you ask him when he can let us out?"
"Your injuries haven't healed. Going out now would only cause trouble for His Majesty."
"After so long, there's still no news from His Majesty. I'm a bit worried."
Hearing this, Xue Zi Ning pushed open the door. Suddenly, a blast of cold air came towards her. "Feng Jiu, stop. It's me..."
Feng Jiu quickly withdrew his palm strike. Seeing the person at the door, his heart filled with joy. "Your Majesty, you're finally back."
"Your Majesty..." Wen Yu Xi sat up from the bed and tried to get down, but Xue Zi Ning pressed him back. "There are no sovereigns or subjects here."
Wen Yu Xi was startled, but seeing Xue Zi Ning's firm attitude, he could only obey.
"Why are you all here?" She had never expected Wen Yu Xi and the others to be in the Yan Residence.
Feng Jiu said, "Actually, it was Young Master Shen's suggestion."
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. "How is Shen Yun Xiu?"
Feng Jiu replied, "He should not have been discovered yet and is safe for now."
Xue Zi Ning nodded, her gaze falling on Xue Zi Xuan, who was lowering his head beside them.