The horse galloped like the wind, and An Xin charged ahead recklessly, but suddenly reined in her horse when she passed the Right Prime Minister's residence.
Where is Yan Zhen?
The people from the Prime Minister's residence froze instantly. Even those who didn't recognize An Xin could guess who it was by now, and they all stammered, "Miss An, has the Prime Minister entered the palace?"
"Say it out: Minghe, Chenzhuo, or Mingyue!"
"...Why did you call me?" A cold voice came from behind her. An Xin turned around abruptly and saw Shen Zhuo standing behind her with a sword on his back, looking travel-worn as if he had just rushed back from somewhere.
"Disband the Right Prime Minister's residence and get them out of the city as soon as possible... You too!" An Xin threw down these words, slapped her horse's rump, and rode away.
Shen Zhuo, his face stiff with annoyance, said, "I just entered the city..."
××× ×××
Yan Zhen pushed open the window, glanced at the sky, and frowned slightly, asking, "Is the procession for leaving the city ready?"
Xiao Gongzi said, "It's all ready, but the women in the palace are so busy tidying up that it's been delayed."
"Ignore them, get the Empress Dowager and the Emperor out of the palace immediately."
Xiao Gongzi's expression suddenly changed, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions. He turned around and hurriedly ran out. Yan Zhen turned around and took two steps towards the outside of the hall before pausing and saying, "Minghe, inform everyone to prepare to leave the city."
Minghe responded and then said, "My lord, Shen Zhuo has probably just entered the city."
Yan Zhen said calmly, "What's wrong with coming in and then leaving?"
Minghe was exasperated. He twitched his lips and said, "No, I'll go give the order right away..."
Yan Zhen suddenly opened his folding fan and stepped out of the hall. In the distance, the palace servants were busy. The masters in the palace were pampered and had to bring everything with them even when they went out, which kept the servants very busy.
"My lord, my lord, something terrible has happened! Miss An is causing trouble outside the palace and is fighting with the guards!" Xiao Gongzi ran over, covered in sweat. He had originally intended to inform the Emperor and Empress Dowager to be sent out of the palace, but unexpectedly heard this news and ran back as fast as he could.
Yan Zhen paused, fanning himself with his folding fan.
Xiao Gongzi hurriedly said, "I happened to run into Young Master Ming when I returned. Miss An will be alright, but she keeps saying she wants to see the Master."
Yan Zhen suddenly raised an eyebrow and said, "You've missed me so much after only a short time apart?"
Xiao Gongzi: "..."
Yan Zhen smiled and said, "Go, bring her here. Oh, and those guards, let them die."
Xiao Gongzi gasped. What were those guards doing? In this entire city, who didn't know the relationship between Miss An and the master? Were they courting death by blocking him like this?
He just saw those people draw their knives. If it weren't for Miss An's skill, she might already be injured. If the adults found out, these people would die a horrible death!
"My lord, my lord!" A maid in red rushed over and knelt down with a thud. "My lord, the Imperial Concubine has suddenly fallen ill. All the imperial physicians from the Imperial Hospital are not here. The palace is in chaos. Only you, my lord, can save the Imperial Concubine!"
Yan Zhen said calmly, "Go and call Lord Ye from the Ministry of Justice. He is skilled in medicine."
The maid in red said, "My lord, the Empress Dowager said that she must invite you here no matter what, or she will have to bring me her head. Please spare my life, please spare my life!"
Yan Zhen lowered her long eyelashes slightly and said calmly, "Then you can go and meet them with your head on your back."
An Xin heard this from afar, and her lips twitched. This was really Yan Zhen's way of speaking. He didn't care whether you lived or died or not.
But now is not the time to consider visiting any imperial concubines. Although the sky is clear now, a torrential downpour will arrive in less than four hours! The rocks piled up on the top of Duanfeng Mountain are already overburdened. Once this heavy rain comes down, it could be a major disaster.
This was also An Xin's fault for being careless. She had calculated everything, but she overlooked the weather. As summer approached, there was more and more rain, and summer was the season with the most torrential rain. Now, no matter what, we had to evacuate as many people as possible in the fastest way possible!
"Miss An, the master says he wants you to come over." Xiao Gongzi looked An Xin up and down, and breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that she was not injured.
An Xin raised her eyelashes and saw Yan Zhen smiling and looking at her through the fan. Her expression was naturally beautiful, but An Xin was not in the mood to appreciate it at the moment.
"It's going to rain. If the rocks collapse, the consequences will be unimaginable. We must make the worst-case scenario plan no matter what. Open all four city gates, east, west, south, and north, and scatter the troops to disperse the people. The evacuation must be completed within four hours." An Xin didn't say a word of nonsense. Only Yan Zhen could do this. At critical moments, his ability to control everything could be used to the fullest.
Yan Zhen stared at An Xin for three seconds before asking, "And you?"
An Xin raised her eyelashes, her eyes dark and deep, yet she clearly uttered each word: "Go to Duanfeng Mountain."
Yan Zhen's gaze deepened: "Alone?"
An Xin raised the corner of her lips: "You can also give me a few more death row inmates."
Yan Zhen closed his folding fan, and his eyes took on a dark and cool hue, shimmering yet calm. "It's too dangerous. You can't go. I'll send someone to escort you out of the city now."
An Xin couldn't help but laugh and said, "That's impossible!"
Yan Zhen's expression darkened: "Xin'er, you need to be obedient when necessary."
Seeing his gloomy face and extremely unhappy expression, An Xin felt a surge of warmth in her heart, even though he seemed ready to unleash a storm—he was worried about her.
An Xin suddenly relaxed, looked into his eyes, and smiled softly.
Yan Zhen's body suddenly trembled.
“When necessary, adults should also cooperate. I love life and I will not seek death.” An Xin unfolded the hairpin, and the dust-repelling bead shone with a gentle light, instantly making the surroundings clear as ever.
"The Dust-Repelling Pearl can ward off all poisonous gases; this is a secret that even you probably don't know."
Yan Zhen's eyelashes trembled, but she looked straight into her eyes: "I never do anything I'm unsure of."
An Xin turned and left. As the saying goes, "If you don't see eye to eye, there's no point in talking." Instead of wasting time on words, she decided to figure out a way to deal with the rocks on Duanfeng Mountain!
Yan Zhen grabbed An Xin's wrist and casually pulled her aside, instructing, "Summon Qinglong and Baihu to see me. Also, invite the Left Prime Minister here and tell him that I am waiting for him here."
Xiao Gongzi hurriedly said, "My lord, the Left Prime Minister is currently in Nuanxin Pavilion. I will send someone to invite him right away." With that, he ran off in a hurry.