"Your Majesty, Prince Han and Prince Hua are missing."
Xue Zining trembled and looked up at Xue Yan. Xue Yan nodded, "We were communicating normally with Prince Han and Prince Hua before, but they haven't replied since yesterday."
"Xue Yan, if there's still no reply by tomorrow, you and Xue Song will set off for Hancheng," Xue Jingyun said from the side.
Xue Yan nodded and withdrew.
Xue Jingyun stepped forward and came to her, whispering, "Don't worry."
Xue Zining nodded and leaned her head on his shoulder, "With you here, I'm not worried."
His arm was around her waist, and her head was very close to his chest. She seemed to hear his strong and powerful heartbeat.
She pulled away from his chest, raised her head, and said word by word, "Yan Zhao, now that everything is settled, let's have a child!"
On the maiden's exceptionally beautiful face, her eyes were clear and bright, making it impossible to refuse.
However, he still turned his face away and pressed her head to his chest, "A Ning, there's no rush. It's not too late to have children later."
"Madam Shen, the second young master Shen wishes to see you," Xue Yan's voice came from outside the door.
Xue Zining pushed him away and said, "Continue to pretend to be Su Qin."
Shen Yunxiu walked in and saw the lingering blush on the Empress's face.
"Is something the matter?" Xue Zining asked.
He lowered his gaze, bowed, and said, "Shen Yunxuan has arrived. I invite Your Majesty to go with me."
Xue Zining nodded, "Alright, I understand. Please wait outside for a moment, Second Young Master Shen."
Shen Yunxiu nodded and walked out.
The door closed, and Xue Zining glared fiercely at Xue Jingyun, whispering, "Stay away from me in the future..."
Saying that, she went out.
Xue Jingyun looked at the slender figure and couldn't help but curl his lips.
Xue Zining followed Shen Yunxiu outside the city. The Prefect of Mocheng was already waiting there and hurried over upon seeing them.
"Second Young Master Shen, Madam Shen, you're here," the Prefect of Mocheng said obsequiously.
Shen Yunxiu nodded, "Has Shen Yunxuan not arrived yet?"
The Prefect of Mocheng shook his head, "Not yet, but soon."
Xue Zining looked around. Han Xichen and Anping were nowhere to be seen, but it was hard to say if there were people watching among the crowd.
After waiting for about an hour, figures gradually appeared in the distance. The Prefect of Mocheng smiled and said, "Second Young Master Shen, it seems Lord Shen has arrived."
"Yes, he has," Shen Yunxiu said slowly.
"Second Young Master Shen, don't forget the Prince's expectations of you," the Prefect of Mocheng reminded him.
Shen Yunxiu looked up at the Prefect of Mocheng. The Prefect of Mocheng smiled brightly.
"I know," Shen Yunxiu said slowly.
In the procession, one person and one horse were at the forefront. After kicking up a gust of dust, the person and horse stopped within three feet of Shen Yunxiu.
The Prefect of Mocheng quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your subordinate greets Lord Shen."
The man on the horse had a handsome face, and his narrow eyes slowly narrowed. His tone was neither distant nor cold, "You are..."
The Prefect of Mocheng... But soon, he quickly reported his name, "Lord Shen, your subordinate is the Prefect of Mocheng."
"So, it's the Prefect of Mocheng," Shen Yunxuan said faintly.
The Prefect of Mocheng smiled somewhat awkwardly, "Lord Shen, you must be tired from your journey. Your subordinate has prepared a banquet. Please grace us with your presence."
Shen Yunxuan did not even look at the Prefect of Mocheng, flicked his horsewhip, and rode past Shen Yunxiu.
Dust filled the air.
Xue Zining...
Shen Yunxiu gave a wry smile and looked at her, as if to say, isn't this normal?
The Prefect of Mocheng quickly chased after him.
Xue Zining walked a few steps and looked at Shen Yunxiu, "Aren't you leaving?"
Shen Yunxiu strode forward and said in a low voice, "It's understandable that Shen Yunxuan ignores me, but didn't he recognize Your Majesty?"
Xue Zining pointed to her face and asked, "Can you recognize me?"
Shen Yunxiu suddenly realized that the Empress was in disguise, so it was no wonder he couldn't recognize her.
At the banquet, Shen Yunxuan remained indifferent to the Prefect of Mocheng's enthusiasm.
Suddenly, the Prefect of Mocheng picked up two wine cups and handed them both to Shen Yunxiu, whispering, "Second Young Master Shen, why don't you toast Lord Shen?"
Shen Yunxiu looked at the Prefect of Mocheng. The Prefect of Mocheng whispered, "Don't forget what you promised the Prince."
Shen Yunxiu was stunned, picked up the wine cups, and walked towards Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan narrowed his eyes as Shen Yunxiu approached and said coldly, "Long time no see!"
Shen Yunxiu nodded, "Long time no see, Lord Shen!"
Shen Yunxuan chuckled, his smile carrying a hint of coldness, "I didn't expect us to become so distant after only a short time apart. But it doesn't matter. Perhaps this meeting is the last time we will see each other."
Shen Yunxiu looked up at Shen Yunxuan and suddenly bowed, "Lord Shen, thank you for taking care of me on behalf of the Shen family. I offer you this toast."
"No need for wine. You have already been removed from the Shen family. Shen Yunxiu, you are no longer surnamed Shen."
Shen Yunxiu trembled and looked at Shen Yunxuan in disbelief, "You..."
Shen Yunxuan's lips curved into a slight smile, "What? Are you surprised? Did you think that after you brought shame upon the Shen family, the family would still keep you?"
"Shen Yunxuan, you can't do this! Even if I made a mistake, you can't expel me from the Shen family," Shen Yunxiu roared.
"Then what do you want me to do? Shen Yunxiu, don't forget, you attempted to assassinate the Empress. Such a crime is enough to implicate the entire nine generations of your family. It is only because the Empress is merciful and remembers the Shen family's past contributions. But these contributions are not meant for you to atone for your sins. You are not worthy!"
"Shen Yunxuan..." Shen Yunxiu was enraged, his face contorted with anger.
Shen Yunxuan sneered, slowly stood up, walked step by step in front of Shen Yunxiu, and said coldly, "What? Angry? What right do you have to be angry? You are the least qualified person..."
"Shen Yunxuan, don't push your luck." Shen Yunxiu's hand holding the wine cup was trembling.
The Prefect of Mocheng quickly stepped forward to mediate, "Second Young Master Shen, what are you doing? Apologize to Lord Shen quickly!"
"No need. I don't need his apology. I feel disgusted even drinking his wine," Shen Yunxuan said with a cold laugh.
Suddenly, two cups of wine slipped from Shen Yunxiu's hands. He laughed and said, "My apologies, my hands slipped. Lord Shen won't be able to drink this wine."
Shen Yunxuan's face darkened considerably. He looked at the Prefect of Mocheng and said coldly, "Is this how you welcome me? I'd rather not attend this banquet."
With that, Shen Yunxuan flicked his sleeve and left in anger.
Shen Yunxiu, furious, pushed all the wine and food on the table to the ground.
The Prefect of Mocheng looked at the mess on the ground, somewhat bewildered. How did it come to this?
"My lord, as you can see, it wasn't that I didn't toast Lord Shen, but he was too overbearing," Shen Yunxiu said indignantly.