Feng Yi saw the light she had followed her entire life.
Xue Zi Ning saw the once sensational Feng Yi of Zhaoping for the first time.
Just seeing her slightly protruding belly, she still found it hard to believe.
Feng Yi also saw the Crown Prince, who was once stunningly talented, accompanied by a handsome young boy. Without a second thought, she knew this young boy must be Empress Chang Ning.
Because only the Empress could elicit such tender glances from the Crown Prince.
"Your servant pays her respects to Your Highness, Your Majesty," Feng Yi bowed and saluted.
To have someone heavily pregnant bow to her, Xue Zi Ning felt she could not bear it. She quickly stepped forward and helped Feng Yi up, "Quickly rise, mind your health."
Feng Yi started, then smiled. She reached for her abdomen and tugged hard, and a pillow fell out.
Xue Zi Ning was stunned. This belly was fake?
"The situation required it, my belly is fake," Feng Yi said.
Xue Jing Yun took her hand and said, "This is Xue Yi, she has been collecting information for me outside."
Xue Zi Ning knew Yan Zhao had Snow Guards, but the ones she had met, apart from Xue Song, Xue Feng, and Xue Li, were no others. She hadn't expected there to be Xue Yi.
"Her mission was to deceive Shen Yun Lan?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Jing Yun nodded, "All news from the Shen family can be known."
Xue Zi Ning nodded. If it weren't for Feng Yi, she wouldn't have known that Shen Yun Lan was such a beast in human clothing.
She had even considered offering Shen Yun Lan an official post after things were settled. Now, it seemed she almost gifted a position to a wolf with a dog's heart.
"Miss Feng, Mama wishes to see you," a voice suddenly came from outside the door.
Feng Yi nodded, "Alright, I understand. I will go see Mama shortly."
Xue Jing Yun saw this and said, "Continue to keep Shen Yun Lan in check. I will inform you of any instructions."
Feng Yi bowed, "Yes, your servant understands."
Feeling a gentle breeze brush past the room, she knew the light in her heart had departed.
Straightening her clothes, she walked out of the room and into Mama's room, "Mama, did you call for Feng Yi?"
"Enter."
Feng Yi pushed open the door and saw that Mama was not in the room; instead, a man was seated there.
Her heart sank. This man was Han Xi Chen.
Han Xi Chen looked up at Feng Yi and smiled, "It's truly difficult to get an audience with Miss Feng Yi."
Feng Yi curtsied, "Sir, this humble woman has been engaged by the eldest son of the Shen family. This humble woman..."
Suddenly, a bloody head rolled to her feet. "Your Mama just said the same thing, but I was very displeased, so she died."
Feng Yi glanced at the head. Indeed, it was Mama's head. She looked up at Han Xi Chen and asked, "Sir, what business do you have with this humble woman?"
"Who was in your room just now?" Han Xi Chen asked directly.
Feng Yi looked at Han Xi Chen and said unhurriedly, "It was the eldest son Shen."
"No, I know Shen Yun Lan left, but someone entered afterwards," Han Xi Chen stood up from his seat and walked up to Feng Yi.
Feng Yi's gaze fixed, her expression calm and unhurried, "Sir, your words are rather strange. Only the eldest son Shen can enter my room, no one else. If you speak like this, it will cause misunderstandings for the eldest son Shen."
"Miss Feng Yi, do not refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit. I am not a man who pities the fair sex."
"Sir, this humble woman does not wish to be forced to drink a forfeit. This humble woman speaks only the truth."
"Take her away. I will interrogate her thoroughly back at my place," Han Xi Chen said, flicking his sleeve as he left.
Feng Yi quickly threw a gold leaf onto the ground, then left without any struggle.
Leaving Feng Hua Xue Yue, Xue Zi Ning fell silent. For the first time, she was somewhat annoyed with herself for misjudging people.
Xue Jing Yun held her hand and comforted her, "A Ning, no one is perfect, let alone you?"
"But as the Empress Chang Ning, misjudging people is a great taboo."
"A Ning, you still have me. At worst, you have Wen Yu Xi... We will all be by your side to help you."
Xue Zi Ning buried her head in his embrace, "Yan Zhao, it's so good to have you."
Suddenly, Xue Jing Yun spoke to someone outside the carriage, "Something wrong?"
A low voice came from outside the carriage, "Your Highness, Xue Yi has been taken away by Han Xi Chen."
"I know. Send people to keep an eye on them," Xue Jing Yun said.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Xue Zi Ning broke free from his embrace and said, "Yan Zhao, why haven't you sent people to rescue Feng Yi?"
Xue Jing Yun shook his head, "It's not time yet. As long as Xue Yi doesn't speak, there is no immediate danger."
Xue Zi Ning fell silent. What Xue Jing Yun said was the truth, but still...
"Don't worry, they have all received professional training."
She knew he was not wrong, but she still felt a pang of pity. However, she also knew it was not yet the right time.
Upon returning to the Shen residence, hearing the news that Concubine Liu had miscarried and bled to death, Xue Zi Ning's mood became extremely low.
For the first time, she began to doubt if she had done the right thing.
"Second Uncle, what are you doing?" Shen Yun Xuan's voice came from outside the door.
Xue Zi Ning and Xue Jing Yun exchanged a glance, "Yan Zhao, you find a hiding place first."
Xue Jing Yun glanced at her, turned, and disappeared from the room.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward, her hand about to open the door, when she heard Shen Cong Jun's voice, "I want her to pay for Liu'er's life. If not for her, Liu'er wouldn't have left. She killed Liu'er."
"Second Uncle, calm down." Shen Yun Xuan stopped Shen Cong Jun, preventing him from taking even a half-step closer.
"Calm? How can I calm down? My family is scattered now. What can calm me?" Shen Cong Jun roared.
"Second Uncle, you speak wrongly."
Shen Cong Jun turned to look at the person who spoke. Seeing it was Shen Yue Yue, he said sternly, "When adults are speaking, what are you interfering for? Go back."
"Second Uncle, Second Aunt is still well in Min Hua Pavilion, and my elder brother is also well in the Shen residence. How can Second Uncle say his family is scattered? If Grandmother hears this, Second Uncle, you wait for the family law to deal with you!"
Shen Cong Jun heard this and also became angry, "You..."
"Yue Yue is not wrong. Second Uncle, where do you place Second Aunt? Where do you place elder brother?"
"Hmph..." Shen Cong Jun left in a huff.
Shen Yue Yue breathed a sigh of relief. Shen Yun Xuan stepped forward and whispered, "Persuade Ning Yi. She is feeling very bad because of Concubine Liu's departure."
Shen Yue Yue nodded, "Third Brother, don't worry. Leave this matter to me."
"Sister-in-law, are you in?" Shen Yue Yue asked while knocking on the door.
"Come in, the door is not locked," Xue Zi Ning said.
Shen Yue Yue pushed open the door and saw the woman seated there. She walked forward and said, "Sister-in-law, you've heard about Concubine Liu?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Yes."
"Sister-in-law, this matter has nothing to do with you. Don't take it to heart." Shen Yue Yue said.
"If I hadn't insisted on having Concubine Liu brought out, Concubine Liu might not have left because of it."
"Sister-in-law, please don't think like that. It can only be said that Concubine Liu's fate was sealed. Moreover, the entire matter was caused by Second Uncle. Sister-in-law, a woman's jealousy is never as kind as it appears on the surface."
"I know, it's just some感慨 (gǎnkǎi - a feeling of regret or sentimentality)," Xue Zi Ning said.
Shen Yue Yue heard this and sighed, "There's no way about it. As long as there are women in the inner quarters, there will be disputes. If women could also participate in the imperial examinations one day, I would dedicate all my thoughts to serving the country and the people."
"Yue Yue, you will be the first woman to enter officialdom."
Shen Yue Yue's eyes lit up, "I hope that day will not make me wait too long."