"Little sister, do you have something on your mind?" An Yi noticed that An Ling seemed troubled.
An Ling wiped the tears from her face and smiled, "Brother, I'm fine. Stay here and reflect. You haven't committed an unforgivable sin, at most you'll be dismissed from office by His Majesty."
"An Ling, is there something you want to tell your brother?" An Yi said.
"Brother, take good care of yourself. After leaving the court prison, mother is entrusted to your care."
An Yi was startled and quickly said, "An Ling, come back! Is there something you're hiding from your brother?"
An Ling quickly fled the court prison and found a secluded spot to cry.
"Miss, why are you crying so sadly?"
An Ling started, looked up and saw a young man. Although his appearance was ordinary, he gave her an indescribable feeling, as if there was a majestic aura about him.
"I'm fine. Life is unpredictable, but there are things I cannot solve," An Ling bit her lower lip.
The young man knelt down in front of her and said, "In this world, not everything can be perfect. If you must make a choice, choose one that you won't regret."
An Ling was stunned and looked at the young man, forgetting to cry. "You're not me, how can you know I don't want to make a choice? But I have very important people I cannot abandon..."
"Miss, there is only one choice. Once made, do not regret it, or it is better not to choose at all."
"How can I not choose?" An Ling asked.
"Let nature take its course," the young man said.
An Ling blinked and lowered her eyes, "Let nature take its course?"
The young man nodded, "Yes."
"You're not me, you don't know my difficulties," An Ling shook her head.
"Miss, let it develop naturally. Only when the last moment comes will you know what your choice is."
"Perhaps!" An Ling mused.
"I am Feng Wu. May I know the young lady's name?"
"An Ling," An Ling gave her name.
Feng Wu said, "I have other matters to attend to. I will take my leave now."
An Ling nodded, "Your words have enlightened me, thank you."
Feng Wu smiled, "I'm glad it's of some use to Miss An."
Feng Wu bowed and left.
An Ling stood up. Young Master Feng was right. Since she couldn't make a choice, she would let nature take its course. Perhaps only at the end could she make her decision.
After An Ling left, in a carriage not far away, Nangong Yue asked the man sitting inside, "Do you think An Ling can poison the Empress?"
The man looked up at An Ling and said, "Isn't it still unknown? If she succeeds, it will make our actions more convenient. If she fails, it will have no bearing on you."
Nangong Yue leaned into the man's embrace, "You're right. I just hope An Ling will obediently follow instructions."
"Even if she doesn't, I have made thorough preparations. This wedding ceremony will not succeed," the man said, his eyes dark and emitting a cold glow.
"I think you're lusting after the Empress. I'm telling you, don't act rashly. If you ruin the plan, both of us will lose our lives," Nangong Yue said coldly.
The man chuckled softly, "It's not just today that Yue'er desires the Crown Prince of Xue Country."
Nangong Yue sneered, "But I won't ruin the plan for him."
"Can I? As long as we take over this Barren Marsh, why would we lack women and men?" the man said with a low laugh.
Nangong Yue got up from the man's embrace and looked at him, "I am not Xue Chang'an. She forgot what she wanted for Xue Jingyun. I am very clear about what I want. I want Xue Zining to kneel at my feet, I want her life, and then the world..."
"I know, I have always been helping you realize your plan," the man said.
"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking. Behave yourself in the end, otherwise, I can cooperate with you, or find someone else," Nangong Yue warned.
"Yue'er, don't be angry, I'll listen to you..."
Nangong Yue looked at the man coldly, "You can go. I don't want to see you right now."
The man's expression turned cold, and he turned to leave the carriage.
Nangong Yue coldly said to the driver outside, "Return to the manor."
"Shen Fei, doesn't that person look like my second brother?" Shen Yunxuan pointed at the man getting out of the carriage.
Shen Fei looked for a few moments, "He does indeed. Should the third young master have someone follow him?"
Shen Yunxuan nodded, "Be careful."
Shen Fei left.
Shen Yunxuan was still immersed in surprise. Hadn't his second brother died? How was he alive again?
If Shen Yunxiu was not dead, then if he was here, did that mean Nangong Yue was also here?
Thinking of this, Shen Yunxuan's heart felt icy cold. No, he had to go back and tell the Empress to be more vigilant.
Turning around, he got into his carriage and said to the driver, "Return to the palace."
The more he thought about it, the more terrifying it felt. Nangong Yue was here, and she must be plotting something with Shen Yunxiu. It was highly likely that their plan was set for the Empress's wedding day with the Crown Prince of Xue Country, because security would surely be lax on that day.
Nangong Yue's target would definitely be the Empress.
"Hurry up," Shen Yunxuan urged.
Suddenly, the carriage stopped.
Shen Yunxuan lifted the curtain and saw the driver sitting stiffly. He reached out to push the driver, and the driver fell down. He saw a dagger in the driver's chest.
Startled, he sat in the driver's seat and tried to drive the carriage away.
A cold force came from his face, and he rolled off, tumbling several times before stopping. He got up and saw a pair of boots in his line of sight.
"Third brother, long time no see!" The voice was filled with ice.
Shen Yunxuan looked up. Who else could it be but Shen Yunxiu?
"Shen Yunxiu, you really are not dead," Shen Yunxuan gritted out.
Shen Yunxiu let out a low laugh, filled with endless frost, "Wouldn't it suit your wishes if I were dead? So how could I die?"
"Shen Yunxiu, Nangong Yue is also in the capital, isn't she?" Shen Yunxuan asked.
"Third brother is indeed smart. But what if you know? I will not allow you to send word to the Empress."
Shen Yunxiu slowly picked up the sword in his hand and said regretfully, "You could have lived a good life as the third young master of the Shen family in Zhaoping, but you chose the path of perdition instead of the heavens. So I cannot show mercy."
"Shen Yunxiu, are you and Nangong Yue planning to strike during the Empress's wedding?" Shen Yunxuan pressed.
"Third brother, being too smart is not good, just like you. Being smart means you have to die," saying that, Shen Yunxiu's sword lunged towards Shen Yunxuan.
Shen Yunxuan dodged, his eyes fixed on the carriage. Before Shen Yunxiu's second attack, he sprinted towards the carriage.
Shen Yunxiu sneered, "A futile effort." The dagger in his hand flew out.
The dagger accurately pierced Shen Yunxuan's calf. The immense pain caused him to fall to the ground, only a step away from the carriage.