An Xin's expression remained unchanged as she subtly took a step back and said, "Your Majesty is talking about me? I am quite dull-witted. I can only use my intelligence when solving cases. At other times, I can't even play chess well."
Huang Yixuan smiled slowly: "You're stupid? In this world, I rarely find anyone as smart as you. Intelligence is a double-edged sword. It can hurt others, but it can also hurt yourself. However, if this double-edged sword is in the right hands, it is a sharp blade that is invincible. Do you understand what I mean?"
An Xin smiled and raised her eyelashes, her dark eyes shining brightly. The smile seemed to be shrouded in mist in her eyes, revealing no sign of anything amiss. She said innocently, "Ah? Your Majesty's meaning, this humble woman does not understand."
Chapter Ninety-Eight Unexpected Changes
An Xin lowered her eyes slightly. What did Huang Yixuan mean by that? He said he would do something she could understand. What exactly was that?
Now is not the time to think about these things. She has roughly deciphered Feng Yi's code. If her deduction is correct, then the person who kidnapped him must be related to Qi. However, the scope of "related to Qi" is too general.
"An Xin!" A hurried shout came from behind. An Xin was startled and looked up. Her expression suddenly changed. She saw Su Ya covered in blood, staggering towards her.
An Xin rushed forward and grabbed her, "What's wrong? What happened?"
Shen Suya's face turned deathly pale, and she coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, clutching An Xin tightly, "Your father and the others..."
An Xin felt a chill in her heart. "I'll go back right now. Su Ya, hurry and find a doctor."
"No, no. An Xin, you can't go back now!" Shen Suya grabbed An Xin and said urgently, "It's too dangerous now."
An Xin didn't care about the danger anymore. She helped Chen Suya to rest on one side and then ran home.
For the first time, she experienced the feeling of her mind going completely blank. At this moment, she couldn't even think, and could only instinctively run towards the annex.
In a panic, she burst through the gate to find the courtyard covered in blood. Suddenly, she saw Yan Zhen. He was startled to see her and then vanished in a flash.
An Xin was stunned for a moment, then hurriedly ran into the yard.
The further he went, the more desolate he felt, until he saw a figure covered in blood on the ground, at which point he suddenly froze on the spot...
xxx xxx
Feng Yi suddenly opened his eyes, and all he could see was endless darkness. Apart from the meals that were delivered to him on time every day, everything around him seemed to be still.
He had heavy iron chains fastened to his wrists. He moved his body, and the chains clanged, proving that this was not a dream.
Feng Yi sat silently in place until he heard faint footsteps in the somber darkness, at which point he suddenly looked up.
The dim candlelight slowly approached, gradually illuminating a woman's face. Feng Yi, who had not seen the light for a long time, rushed towards it upon seeing it.
"Feng Yi, it's time to take your medicine..." The woman's voice was soft and coaxing.
Feng Yi's forward-leaning body suddenly froze, and he abruptly took a step back. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He could hear and see, but he couldn't speak.
Why does he need to take medicine? He's not sick.
The door creaked open, and the heavy smell of blood seemed to be suddenly stirred up. Feng Yi frowned; he didn't like the smell of blood, as it always seemed to be associated with death.
He then saw several figures enter from the darkness, who then pinned him to the ground and forced him to swallow pungent medicine.
Feng Yi struggled continuously, but finally calmed down. He squinted slightly, and in the hazy light, he seemed to see a figure, cold and aloof, but getting further and further away from him.
xxx xxx
Right Prime Minister's Residence.
Zhou Xiruo walked lightly into the pavilion, paused, and then took a few more steps forward, finally getting close to the man who was resting with his eyes closed. These past few days, he seemed very tired, so tired that he didn't even have time to say a word to her.
Before her hand could even touch his cheek, his eyes opened, a deep look flashing across his dreamlike, youthful eyes. Zhou Xiruo instinctively withdrew her hand.
Yan Zhen smiled lazily and said, "Xi Ruo, why aren't you with your mother?"
Zhou Xiruo opened her mouth, increasingly hating those words. Why should she spend all her time with her mother? What she wanted was his care. Could she spend her whole life with her mother if she always stayed by her side?
"Mother... has fallen asleep," Zhou Xiruo whispered.
"Hmm..." Yan Zhen rested his forehead on his hand, looking incredibly drowsy. Zhou Xiruo thought that he really had changed. Three years ago, he would never have treated her like this. Back then, even though he was surrounded by all sorts of women, he was different only towards her. But when this difference appeared in another person, she had a strange feeling that his difference towards her was all in her imagination, and the real difference was towards An Xin!
How could this be... how could this be...
She had been with him since childhood, and he had personally promised to marry her as his wife. He called her Xiruo, and whenever he spoke to her, he was always smiling and without any temper. He was such a high and mighty man, but in front of her, he would never show any high and mighty attitude!
"Yan Zhen." Zhou Xiruo twisted her handkerchief and bit her lower lip. He used to say something to her, but now his silence made her feel very uncomfortable.
"Um."
"...You look very tired."
"Um."
"How about I give you a shoulder massage?" Her voice was full of hope.
Yan Zhen raised her eyelashes and looked down at her face. After a long while, she said gently, "Xi Ruo, Mother doesn't sleep well. She's probably awake now. Go and check on her."
Zhou Xiruo's body trembled suddenly, and her eyes immediately reddened. His coldness towards her was because of An Xin! It must be!
"Yan Zhen, what do you take me for?" she mustered her courage to ask. She always had a strange fear of him, but what did he take her for? She wasn't Ye Qingcheng's maid! And she didn't want to be Ye Qingcheng's maid!
Yan Zhen slowly stood up, raised his hand and pinched her cheek gently, saying, "I always thought Xiruo was sensible."
Zhou Xiruo raised her tear-streaked eyelashes and stared at him.
"I have never liked disobedient women, understand?"
Zhou Xiruo took a step back, trembling, and said aggrievedly, "What about An Xin?! Don't you like An Xin either? She's always going against you, don't you like her too?"
Yan Zhen said calmly, "Xi Ruo, in what capacity are you speaking to me?"