Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves broke the silence.
Startled, the two dropped their steamed buns, forgetting to pick them up, and stared with wide eyes at the galloping horses approaching from a distance, two in succession.
Through the light mist, a figure could be vaguely seen. The person in front wore a pale violet long robe, embroidered with golden peony branches along the hem.
As they galloped, the wind lifted the hem of his robe, creating an indescribably flamboyant and unrestrained aura. His dark hair, like clouds, danced in the wind like flying blossoms, exuding a bewitching charm.
His exquisite features seemed sculpted, and in the blink of an eye, he sped past them.
Yun Xiao breathed a sigh of relief, then lowered her head to retrieve the buns. At the same time, a hint of confusion flickered across her face. This person looked so familiar; who was he?
Suddenly, a delighted voice rang out, "Ye Wu Yun."
Who, Ye Wu Yun? Yan Jing’s most distinguished young master, Ye Wu Yun. It was him just now? No wonder he looked familiar. Yun Xiao chuckled twice, blew the dust off the buns, and was about to take a bite.
Unexpectedly, the two horses that had sped past suddenly screeched to a halt, their reins tightened, and they turned their heads back, galloping directly towards them before stopping right in front of them.
Hiss! The horses’ hooves kicked up dust that billowed high, choking Yun Xiao and Wan Wan’s faces with grit.
As the dust settled and the figures became clear, Yun Xiao blinked her large, soulful eyes while chewing on the bun. Her appearance was so comical that it only solidified her previous image as a fool.
However, her heart skipped a beat, for the person on the horse was frowning and staring coldly at them, his delicate brows furrowed like a crescent moon, his lips tightly pursed, and wisps of cold air emanating from him.
Behind him followed a gentlemanly figure, seemingly his subordinate, who spoke with a hint of strangeness.
“Young Master, what is it?”
The person on the horse was indeed Yan Jing’s most distinguished young master, Ye Wu Yun. As he had passed by the street earlier, he had inadvertently seen a familiar face, which turned out to be Yun Xiao, the foolish empress from the palace. Why was she here?
Although Yun Xiao was considered foolish, he had seen her before, thus recognizing her.
Ye Wu Yun ignored his subordinate, flicked the hem of his robe, and leaped off his horse. He walked steadily to Yun Xiao and Wan Wan and spoke with a detached tone.
“What is going on here? Shouldn’t the Empress be in the palace?”
Yun Xiao was stunned. She hadn't expected her first escape attempt to fail so quickly. This Ye Wu Yun had such sharp eyes; he had recognized her with just a brief glance. Excellent, this feud was going to be significant.
At that moment, she truly wished she could throw the bun directly at his face to express her anger.
However, she didn’t want to escalate the situation. She had learned that this fellow was not only Yan Jing’s most distinguished young master but also the Empress Dowager’s nephew and Ye Su Xue’s brother.
If she were to curse him loudly and throw the bun at him now, her foolish facade would undoubtedly be exposed, and she would face severe consequences.
Therefore, she could do nothing but continue eating her bun, chewing it with fierce determination, imagining it was Ye Wu Yun’s head. She wanted to bite him to death for his meddling.
Ye Wu Yun’s cold gaze was not fixed on Yun Xiao but rather on Wan Wan beside her. Wan Wan shivered, then came back to her senses. She had always thought of Young Master Wu Yun as gentle and refined, but it turned out he was also extremely cold, which was quite disappointing.
However, for now, she needed to figure out how to overcome this predicament.
Wan Wan knelt with a thud, her small face etched with helplessness.
“Reporting to Young Master Ye, Her Majesty misses the Prince. She climbed onto the procurement officer’s carriage in the middle of the night and slipped out of the palace. This servant had no choice but to accompany her. I beg Young Master Ye to spare this servant this once; I shall never dare to do so again.”
Ye Wu Yun, by nature, was detached and seemed unwilling to make things difficult for them. However, having stumbled upon this matter, he could not pretend not to see it. After all, Yun Xiao was no ordinary person; she was the Empress.
If she disappeared from the palace, Yan Jing would inevitably be thrown into turmoil, which would surely affect the common people. Therefore, Ye Wu Yun would absolutely not stand by and do nothing.
“Yi Dao, escort Her Majesty and this palace maid back to the palace.”
“What?”
Yun Xiao and Wan Wan’s eyes widened. This cold-blooded and heartless fellow, who had always concealed himself behind a facade of gentle and refined manners, deceiving everyone in Yan Jing, was simply a cold-blooded creature in human skin.
At this moment, they couldn't return to the palace. Wan Wan, thinking of this, became even more pitifully tearful as she pleaded.
“Young Master Ye, Her Majesty misses Prince Yun. She has been bullied in the palace, even by palace maids and eunuchs. Not to mention the concubines. Young Master Ye, please fulfill Her Majesty’s wish.”
Ye Wu Yun raised his eyes, his gaze filled with the glint of swords and the chill of blades, staring coldly at Wan Wan. His eyes held doubt and profound coldness.
Although he generally remained aloof from worldly affairs, he had heard some of the recent rumors from the palace.
Furthermore, his own sister had returned and complained to him. Therefore, he knew that this Empress was not simple. Despite her apparent foolishness, many people, from the Emperor himself down to the concubines, had been beaten by her or suffered losses at her hands.
It was said that she often suffered from bouts of madness and would resort to violence when her temper flared.
Ye Wu Yun slowly turned his gaze toward Yun Xiao.
By now, she had finished eating a bun with great relish, smacking her lips and wiping her mouth with her sleeve. Then, she reached out to pull Wan Wan, smiling sweetly.
“Sister, let’s go back. Let’s go back. I miss Father.”
Ye Wu Yun slightly tilted his head. The morning breeze lifted his dark hair, revealing his perfect features. His eyes were as if painted, but his fair skin had a hint of ethereal paleness.
This person seemed to suffer from some chronic illness. Yun Xiao, after a careful observation, had come to a conclusion. But what did it have to do with her? This man was too detestable; she had made an enemy of him for sure.
“Young Master Ye?”
Wan Wan called out again, but Ye Wu Yun no longer looked at them. He turned back and walked away, his deep voice echoing, “Yi Dao, escort them to Jinhua Palace immediately.”
As the words fell, he flipped onto his horse. The purple brocade robe swirled, creating a mesmerizing barrier. His slender figure mounted the horse in an instant, settling into the saddle, pulling the reins, and preparing to depart.
His subordinate, with nimble movements, dismounted and approached Yun Xiao and Wan Wan, speaking expressionlessly.
“Please.”
“You?” Wan Wan looked up, a chill penetrating her heart. She had stayed up all night, exhausted, only to be caught red-handed.
Was this a case of losing more than she gained? How infuriating!
She glared fiercely at the imposing figure on the horse. Once they returned to the palace, who knew what awaited them?
Yun Xiao glared even more intensely at Ye Wu Yun, then contemplated whether to drug the man named Yi Dao.
However, as the man extended his hand, a powerful gust of wind emerged, his fingers like hooks, filled with potent internal energy. It was evident he was highly skilled. She suspected her chances of success were slim if she made a move.
Were they destined to return to the palace and await their fate?
Ye Wu Yun spurred his horse and galloped forward. After only a few steps, he abruptly pulled on the reins, his brow furrowed in thought.
If the foolish empress was caught by the Emperor after leaving the palace, he would surely trouble the Yun Prince’s manor.
He didn’t care about the conflict between these two factions, but if it escalated, it would undoubtedly affect the entire Yan Jing.
At that time, the populace would be filled with anxiety. With the Yun Prince’s manor in decline, how many officials in the court would spill blood in the Golden Palace? The casualties would likely be heavy.
Upon considering this, Ye Wu Yun’s cold voice carried back.
“Yi Dao, do not alarm anyone. Escort them directly to Jinhua Palace.”
“Yes, Young Master.”