Xue Zining was taken aback, not understanding why Hua Zhengyang said that. She couldn't help but ask, "Why do you say it's bloody?"
Hua Zhengyang heard her words, his lips curved slightly, revealing a smile that was not quite a smile. "Miss Feng, you might not know, but legend has it that the Divine Hall's ultimate treasure is something from the Snow Kingdom's Crown Prince."
Xue Zining's gaze paused. She looked up at him and asked, "What thing?"
Hua Zhengyang's smile became even more devilish. He slowly said, "Miss Feng, are you unaware that on the day the Snow Kingdom's Crown Prince was born, auspicious clouds descended, forging his seven-apertured heart?"
Xue Zining trembled all over, stepping back several paces. Her voice was a little shaky, "You... you mean this is his..."
Soon, she calmed herself. Looking up at Hua Zhengyang, she said word by word, "A heart cannot be made of stone."
Hua Zhengyang's smile grew wider, filled with countless mockery. "Miss Feng, I said it's just a rumor."
Xue Zining's eyes flickered upon hearing this.
Hua Rong, standing beside them, darkened his face and said coldly, "Hua Zhengyang, speak with caution!"
Hua Zhengyang shrugged. "I really haven't said anything, just rumors. Miss Feng, don't be afraid."
"Second Uncle, you jest. I've seen great storms, so I probably wouldn't be afraid anymore."
The maiden's gaze was clear and cold, exuding a chilling aura.
Hua Zhengyang laughed heartily. "Good, the wife Yun Jin has married, I am very satisfied."
"Second Uncle, if there's nothing else, I'll go see Yun Jin."
After Xue Zining finished speaking, she left without looking back. For some reason, she disliked this Second Uncle of Yun Jin's.
She didn't know why, but the feeling arose from the bottom of her heart.
When Hua Rong saw her leave, his expression turned completely cold. He looked at Hua Zhengyang and said coldly, "What exactly do you mean? Do you want to make her suspicious?"
Hua Zhengyang replied with a smile that was not a smile, "Don't be so nervous. She's just a girl who hasn't reached her full growth. What is there to fear?"
"Don't forget, it was this girl, not yet of age, who made the all-powerful Regent, who dominated the court, stumble and lose his life."
Hua Zhengyang sneered, "I am not the Regent. I am just the Second Master of the Hua family. The Elder is being overly cautious."
Hua Rong's gaze deepened. "I am only reminding you, don't expose any flaws in front of the Empress."
"I know," Hua Zhengyang said impatiently.
Hua Rong sighed inwardly, hoping the Hua family could get through this time.
Xue Zining exited the Hua family's study. Xue Yan, who was waiting outside, walked over. "Miss, your complexion doesn't look good."
"Xue Yan, go and investigate the identity of the Second Master of the Hua family."
Xue Yan was stunned and asked, "Do you think this Second Master of the Hua family has a problem?"
Xue Zining nodded. "Yes, I feel something is not right, but I can't quite pinpoint it."
"Alright, I'll go now." Xue Yan left.
Xue Zining pushed open Hua Yunjin's room and found Hua Yunjin sitting there, motionless.
"Yun Jin." She walked over and discovered he was merely asleep, letting out a sigh of relief.
She picked up the quilt on the bed and covered him.
The sleeping Hua Yunjin was very quiet. If not for the warmth of his breath, she would have thought he was already...
His complexion had improved considerably from a few days ago; at least there was a hint of color.
Suddenly, his eyelashes fluttered, and the next moment, his eyes opened.
His dark pupils were like ink, devoid of any brilliance, holding only an endless, unfathomable abyss.
Xue Zining trembled. She remembered that Hua Jin's eyes used to shine with dazzling brilliance.
"Your Majesty, you are here." Hua Yunjin looked at her and said faintly.
She could feel the distance in his voice.
"Yun Jin, you're awake."
Hua Yunjin glanced at her and nodded. "Yes."
"Then rest well!" Xue Zining stood up and said with concern.
"Your Majesty, from now on, if you need anything, you can just send someone to inform me."
Xue Zining's gaze paused. She looked up at Hua Yunjin. His handsome face was like ice and snow, exuding a hint of chilling air.
"I... I understand."
Xue Zining walked out of the room. She heard Hua Yunjin call for someone behind her and tell them to report to him if anyone came in the future. Her feet felt slightly weak. If she hadn't quickly grabbed a tree in the courtyard, she might have fallen.
"Miss Feng, what's wrong?" Hua Yunxuan, who was walking towards her, stepped forward to support her and asked with concern.
"It's nothing, I just twisted my ankle."
"I'll help you back," Hua Yunxuan said.
Xue Zining shook her head. "No need, I want to be alone."
Hua Yunxuan was stunned. Just as she was about to leave, he suddenly said in a low voice, "Stay away from Second Uncle."
Xue Zining's gaze paused. She turned, and Hua Yunxuan had already left.
Dongling Pass
Li Fanghua watched the black-clothed figure holding her child and roared, "Give me back my child..."
She tried to get up from the bed, but her body was limp. "What... what did you do? General, help! General!"
She yelled towards the outside, but the outside was silent, as quiet as a deep night.
The black-clothed figure chuckled. "Li Fanghua, stop shouting. They've already been drugged by me."
"What medicine?" Li Fanghua's eyes widened as she asked.
The black-clothed figure giggled, pulled off the veil, and smiled sinisterly. "What do you think?"
Li Fanghua trembled all over. "It's you..." She gritted her teeth and squeezed out three words, "Xue Yunlan."
Xue Yunlan sighed softly. "Originally, you and that brute wouldn't have had to go through this. But your brute insisted on investigating the Red Lotus Cult for Xue Zining, so I couldn't just stand by."
Li Fanghua's gaze paused. "You... you are..."
Xue Yunlan leaned down and laughed exaggeratedly. "Yes, I am a member of the Red Lotus Cult."
"Wah..." The infant in Xue Yunlan's arms started crying.
Li Fanghua's heart broke. Her voice trembled. "Princess Yunlan, I beg you, spare my child. He is so young, please spare him."
"Alright, but unfortunately, I have conditions," Xue Yunlan said word by word.
Li Fanghua was stunned. The baby's incessant crying softened her heart completely. "What conditions?"
"Luring the tiger out of its den," Xue Yunlan said word by word.
After a long time, Li Fanghua's voice came through. "I... I agree."
The next day
Xue Zining looked at the invitation in her hand. It was from General Wu's mansion, inviting her to name a child.
She had already named the child. Why name it again?
She called for Hua Yunxuan.
"Your Majesty, is something wrong?" He was a little surprised that the Empress had sought him out proactively.
"Hua Yunxuan, I can trust you, right?"
Hua Yunxuan trembled. He looked up and saw the clear and bright gaze in the young girl's eyes, awakening a hidden corner within him.
"Your Majesty, I will definitely fulfill your request," Hua Yunxuan said word by word.
"Good. You must go immediately to the Prince of Fen Zhou's mansion in the Snow Kingdom and find Qiao Weihai. Tell him to order the generals at Xiling Pass to come and reinforce Dongling Pass."
Hua Yunxuan understood some of the meaning and instinctively asked, "Your Majesty, has something happened?"