Ming Yu trembled all over, but she maintained an air of normalcy. "The person of destiny? Master Shen, you don't actually believe it, do you?"
Shen Yun Xuan glanced at her and asked with a smile, "Why shouldn't I believe it?"
"Is it worth betting everything on a woman?" Ming Yu retorted.
Shen Yun Xuan unexpectedly let out a few hearty laughs. "What you say is not without reason, but I believe in fate, and I also want this person. What if it's possible?"
"I never expected Master Shen to be a man who believes in fate."
"Why, you don't believe?" Shen Yun Xuan inquired.
Ming Yu shook her head. "My destiny is my own, not dictated by heaven. I have always believed in myself. Heaven favors too many people, and I don't think it's guaranteed to favor me. That's why I only trust myself."
Shen Yun Xuan sneered at her words and remained silent. "Hearing you say that now, I find it somewhat incongruous."
"Yes, now I am your servant."
"It's best that you know this. You may withdraw!" Shen Yun Xuan waved his hand.
Ming Yu withdrew, leaving the study. She finally breathed a sigh of relief. She truly never imagined that her portrait would be in Shen Yun Xuan's possession. Fortunately, she was wearing a human skin mask; otherwise, she couldn't imagine how tragic the consequences would be.
However, who exactly gave her portrait to Shen Yun Xuan? And who spread the rumors about the person of destiny?
These questions occupied her mind.
But thinking about them now was useless. She still needed to find the person who had attempted to assassinate Shen Yun Xuan yesterday as soon as possible.
Upon returning to her room, as soon as she closed the door, she noticed that the thread she had tied to the door was gone. Ever since she was captured by Shen Yun Xuan, she had become vigilant.
Not only had the door been tampered with, but a dagger was also hidden under her pillow for emergencies.
Now that the thread on the door was gone, it was clear that someone had entered her room. However, she wasn't afraid of assassins. After the assassination attempt on Shen Yun Xuan last night, Shen Yun Xuan had ordered stricter security throughout the palace. At this time, it would be incredibly difficult for even a bug to enter the palace, let alone a living person.
The fact that someone could enter her room so freely clearly indicated someone from within the manor. However, someone who could enter her room without being discovered likely had a reason to seek her out.
The only person she could think of who might have a reason to seek her out recently was Shen Yun Xuan. Thinking of the jade pendant she was wearing, she sat down, took a sip of tea, and then slowly said, "Master Shen Lan, you can come out. I know it's you."
After a faint sound, she saw a person appear before her. It was indeed Shen Lan.
"I never thought Master Shen Lan would resort to stealth?"
"Miss Ming Yu, whose jade pendant is that on your waist?"
Ming Yu unfastened the jade pendant from her waist and said, "This was given to me by someone. He said that as long as he saw this jade pendant, he would help me."
"What do you want me to do?" Shen Lan asked.
Ming Yu replied, "I truly didn't expect you to be his person. But I believe Master Shen also wouldn't expect that the guard by his side is the person he's looking for?"
Her words did not provoke any reaction from Shen Lan. He looked at her and said coldly, "If you don't tell me, then I'll leave."
"Who was the person who attempted to assassinate Master Shen last night?" Ming Yu suddenly asked.
Shen Lan's brow furrowed slightly, and he looked at her. "Does this have anything to do with what you want me to do?"
Ming Yu nodded. "It does, and it's highly relevant."
Shen Lan replied, "Someone from the Flower King's faction."
"What is his name?" Ming Yu inquired.
Shen Lan looked at her for a moment before saying, "Cheng Chang Xing."
Ming Yu nodded. "I want to see him."
"Why?"
"This is an agreement between me and your master. You don't need to know. Just do as I say."
Although Shen Lan was somewhat displeased, he could only comply. "Alright, I'll go make arrangements and inform you later."
"Good, thank you. After this is done, I will speak highly of you to Master Shen," Ming Yu said.
"No need for kind words. Just don't speak ill of me," Shen Lan replied.
"How could I," Ming Yu smiled.
After Shen Lan left, Ming Yu breathed a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid that Shen Lan would press for details, and she had no suitable answer to placate him. After all, she was deceiving Shen Yun Xuan, and if Shen Lan were to question Shen Yun Xuan, he would likely discover her deception very quickly.
However, she knew that Shen Lan would not see Shen Yun Xuan at this time.
Shen Lan was swift. By evening, he had informed her through a young maid that they would meet in the imperial garden at midnight.
Ming Yu prepared wound medicine and an antidote. She was worried that Shen Yun Xuan would torture Cheng Chang Xing, so she needed to prepare all of this, also for Xiu'er's sake.
As midnight struck, she arrived at the imperial garden. Within moments, Shen Lan also arrived.
"Follow me," Shen Lan said softly and walked forward.
Ming Yu quickly followed. No wonder she couldn't find out where the person was being held; it turned out he was imprisoned in the dungeon.
The entrance to the dungeon was located within the rockery in Shen Yun Xuan's study courtyard.
Upon entering the rockery, she immediately smelled a strong scent of blood.
She could imagine that Cheng Chang Xing must have been tortured by Shen Yun Xuan.
Shen Lan opened the cell door and said, "You only have the time it takes for one stick of incense to burn. After one stick of incense, guards will change shifts, and we must leave here by then."
Ming Yu nodded. "Don't worry, I won't waste time."
She wouldn't risk her own life.
"Go quickly," Shen Lan said.
Ming Yu nodded, entered the cell, and indeed saw a person in blood-stained clothes in the corner.
"Cheng Chang Xing?" she whispered.
The person stirred slightly. She quickly stepped forward. "Cheng Chang Xing, it's me, Ming Yu."
Indeed, the person moved more, lifting his head. Although bloodstains obscured his face, Ming Yu recognized him as Cheng Chang Xing at a glance.
However, Cheng Chang Xing's injuries were beyond her expectations. "Did they torture you?"
Cheng Chang Xing grinned, "Just superficial wounds." He gasped as he accidentally aggravated his injuries.
Ming Yu handed the bundle she carried to Cheng Chang Xing. "To make a long story short, there is wound medicine and an antidote here. Remember to apply the medicine yourself. There's also some dry food. I was in too much of a hurry and could only prepare this much."
Cheng Chang Xing was stunned. He hadn't expected her to be so thoughtful. "What you've prepared is already a lot."
"I will find a way to get you out, and you must protect yourself. Ming Xiu is waiting for you to come out."
Cheng Chang Xing paused, his gaze lowered. "I've made her worry again."
"Cheng Chang Xing, as long as you return safely, it will be better than anything else."