"Did His Highness Prince Jing do this?" Mr. Li suddenly asked.
Xue Zining took a few steps back. "Do you know something about His Highness Prince Jing?"
"What does Guard Ning mean by that?"
Her lowered gaze lifted again. This time, from a distance, his only exposed lip was also obscured. "Does he have to drink blood at certain moments?"
Xue Zining saw his gaze through the black cloak, clear yet faintly asking, "What makes you say that?"
"I didn't know before, but I specifically asked Jiang Cha. He was indeed bitten on the neck by His Highness Prince Jing, and that day I... I..."
"If you don't want to recall it, then don't. Guard Ning, some things are better left uninvestigated."
She faltered. "No, I have something I must do."
"Then, can Guard Ning tell me what it is that makes you so persistent in doing this one thing?"
"Mr. Li, there are some things you cannot achieve, but that doesn't mean others cannot." She looked at him.
He was startled. Looking at her eyes, they were exceptionally clear, so clear it made him question how anyone could possess such clarity.
In this world, human hearts are unfathomable. Why would there be someone who could trust another so unreservedly?
A strange pain struck his heart. He knew the last secret he had suppressed was about to be revealed.
Mr. Li did not answer for a long time. Seeing that he seemed unwell, Xue Zining asked, "Mr. Li, what's wrong?"
"Guard Ning, don't you feel it's not worth it?" He looked up at her and asked, word by word.
She faltered, then smiled gently. "In this world, what is worth it and what isn't? Only one's own heart knows. It's not for others to judge."
"So, do you think it's worth it?"
"I don't know. I only know that what he has done for me far exceeds what I have done. I also want to ask him if it's worth it, but he can no longer answer. So I can't answer either. But if I don't do it, I will be very sad."
"I see."
Xue Zining looked at him and asked, "Mr. Li, why do you ask? Have you ever wronged someone?"
He paused slightly. "No, how could I have wronged anyone?"
"Debts are easy to repay, but debts of the heart are hard to repay. Mr. Li, it's best to settle them as soon as possible!"
"Why are you looking at me like that?" Xue Zining found Mr. Li's gaze peculiar and instinctively took a few steps back.
Mr. Li withdrew his gaze. "Guard Ning, His Highness Prince Jing has begun to suspect your identity. Be careful."
With that, he turned and left.
Xue Zining was stunned. Prince Jing suspected her identity? But she didn't feel like she had revealed any flaws.
"Yun Dan, ten full days have passed. How long are we going to stay here?" Li Chenxi felt that if they stayed any longer, he would go mad.
"What's the rush?" Hua Yun Dan, however, was not as impatient as Li Chenxi. He picked up his teacup and took a sip.
"Not in a rush? His Majesty's life is uncertain. Can we not be in a rush?" Li Chenxi suspected that Hua Yun Dan did not wish for His Majesty to live. Otherwise, why would he be so calm? But then again, His Majesty had no adult heirs. The only one was the imperial heir in the belly. But a widowed mother and child, wouldn't that mean Hua Yun Dan, who already held absolute power, would have the final say?
Thinking of this, Li Chenxi looked at Hua Yun Dan and said coldly, "Yun Dan, do you have rebellious intentions?"
"Insolent!" Hua Yun Dan suddenly smashed the teacup in his hand onto the ground.
Li Chenxi, who had never seen Hua Yun Dan so enraged, was truly shocked. "Hua Yun Dan, you..."
"Li Chenxi, you are slandering me." Hua Yun Dan looked at him and said coldly.
Li Chenxi's anger flared up. He stepped forward, grabbed Hua Yun Dan's collar, and shouted, "Hua Yun Dan, don't think I dare not touch you."
Hua Yun Dan sneered upon hearing this. "Then try to move me..."
Before he could finish speaking, figures in black appeared behind Li Chenxi. Cold, sharp blades were already at his throat.
"Hua Yun Dan, you..."
"Prime Minister, as I said, Lord Li has always distrusted you. Now you see for yourself, he truly intends to kill you." A voice called out, and a man in a dark purple robe emerged. It was none other than His Highness Prince Jing.
"Your Highness speaks the truth. Thank you, Your Highness, for the timely rescue. Otherwise, I fear I would not be standing before Your Highness now," Hua Yun Dan said.
Li Chenxi, who had been confused, now understood everything. "Hua Yun Dan, you... you actually... Hua Yun Dan, how is your conscience? You actually betrayed His Majesty and betrayed the Hua Kingdom?"
"Lord Li, that's a bit too serious. He who knows the times is a wise man. If Lord Li is willing to submit to me, then I don't mind if Lord Li..."
"Nonsense! I, Li Chenxi, will die as a person of the Feng Kingdom. I will never be someone who betrays my lord for glory." Li Chenxi declared angrily.
"Betray my lord? Did I betray His Majesty? It's His Majesty's misfortune, but what does that have to do with me?" Hua Yun Dan said coldly.
"You... Hua Yun Dan, I truly misjudged you. His Highness Prince Jing can kill or butcher me as he pleases. As for making me submit to you, dream on." Li Chenxi turned his face away, furious.
"Since Lord Li is unwilling to submit to me, I will not force you. Take him away." His Highness Prince Jing waved his hand, and guards escorted Li Chenxi away.
"Your Highness, how should Li Chenxi be dealt with?" Hua Yun Dan asked.
His Highness Prince Jing glanced at Hua Yun Dan and asked, "Prime Minister, how would you like me to handle him?"
Upon hearing this, Hua Yun Dan gritted his teeth and said, "It would be best if he died without a burial place."
"Prime Minister, he was your colleague, isn't that a bit cruel?"
Hua Yun Dan gave a cold laugh and looked at His Highness Prince Jing. "If a person does not act for himself, heaven and earth will destroy him. I believe Your Highness understands this better than anyone. If Li Chenxi is let go, how can I serve Your Highness effectively?"
"Prime Minister speaks wisely. However, this person cannot be dealt with for the moment. For the sake of Prime Minister's reputation, please bear with it for now." His Highness Prince Jing said.
"I am not someone who doesn't understand. Your Highness knows better than I how to proceed. I trouble Your Highness, but..."
"Prime Minister, please speak your mind. I will do whatever I can." His Highness Prince Jing said.
"To help Your Highness ascend the throne, will the position of His Highness Prince Jing be given to me or Mr. Li?" Hua Yun Dan looked up at His Highness Prince Jing and asked.
His Highness Prince Jing chuckled softly. "Prime Minister, no matter who between you and Mr. Li takes over the position of His Highness Prince Jing, I will not treat Prime Minister unfairly."
"Then Your Highness had best keep your promise."
"Naturally. Does Prime Minister have any further questions?"
"I have none." Hua Yun Dan said.
"Very well, then Prime Minister, please sign this."
Hua Yun Dan took it. It contained the terms of border trade.