Zhen Lin's face had turned ashen.
He stiffened and turned to look at Princess Ningde.
His voice rasped, "Ningde, have you forgotten she is my savior? Without her, I would surely be buried in the earth."
To set a trap for his savior, after a night of shock, he now felt he could not, and should not, do such a thing!
Whatever Yun Shu had been in the past was irrelevant to him; now she was his savior, and he could not stand by and watch her walk into danger.
Hearing this, Princess Ningde's eyes flickered.
She remained silent for a long time.
The brother and sister were both quiet.
But time would not stop. As time flowed, they became increasingly aware that some things could no longer be changed.
"Is the Pingyang Royal Residence surrounded?" Zhen Lin asked hoarsely.
"Impenetrable," Princess Ningde replied, her voice equally low. Her lowered gaze hid her thoughts from anyone.
Even a peak master of reclusion could not escape under such an airtight net.
The two of them knew that there was no room for reversal now.
Instantly, the world fell silent again.
Time quietly ticked by. After about an hour, the servants had brought the midday meal, yet there was still no report from the servants.
After finishing their meal, despite having been awake all night, neither of them felt sleepy in the bright afternoon sun.
They were waiting for news.
Yun Yueyin, who had already walked almost the entire Pingyang Royal Residence, had completely lost her patience.
Gritting her teeth, she dared to go find Princess Ningde.
She saw that Young Master Zhen was also there.
After her eyes darted around a few times, she said, "I'm feeling a little unwell. I heard that Miss Ning would be visiting today. I know there have been many misunderstandings before, but this time I will explain things clearly to her, and I hope she can let go of past grievances."
After speaking these grand words, she knew that the brother and sister before her understood that these words were merely polite formalities.
Princess Ningde glanced at Yun Yueyin. "Sit down."
After all, she was someone Yun Shu was familiar with, and Yun Yueyin might be useful later.
Zhen Lin, however, was extremely displeased with this sister-in-law, always feeling she had ill intentions. She clearly had calculations in her eyes now, but since Ningde had agreed, he had little inclination to interfere.
His gaze shifted back towards the door.
On the surface, it seemed peaceful and quiet.
But beneath this apparent tranquility, hidden storms were brewing.
Zhen Lin's heart was filled with a voice urging, *Don't come, don't come, don't keep your promise and come. This place is full of traps. Find any way to leave the capital, to leave the Western Xia kingdom.*
Princess Ningde looked up and saw her brother's pale face. She lightly pursed her red lips and also looked outside.
If it were Ning Ruan, she would naturally hope for Ning Ruan's safety.
But if it were Yun Shu, she hoped this troublesome person could be dealt with.
Another hour passed.
Every moment was an ordeal for the three in the room.
Yun Yueyin, unable to bear the anxiety of waiting, couldn't help but ask, "Did she perhaps sense something?"
Two pairs of eyes simultaneously looked at her.
A trace of fear rose in Yun Yueyin's heart. She cursed herself for not being able to restrain her words. Why didn't she just wait patiently? She immediately put on a fawning smile, "We grew up together. Although she was always quite foolish as a child, she changed later, becoming very cunning and sly. You must not be deceived by her false face."
Princess Ningde shot Yun Yueyin a cold glance. "What is her appearance like beneath that false face?"
The previous reports claimed Yun Shu's beauty was world-shattering, but she didn't know if it was true. Li De had met Yun Shu, but she hadn't asked about her appearance.
Zhen Lin's gaze fixed on Yun Yueyin.
Seeing them all look at her, Yun Yueyin felt a desire to speak. Waiting was too boring. When she spoke of Yun Shu's face, she was filled with jealousy. "She does have some looks, otherwise how could she have so seductively charmed His Highness the Jin Prince?"
"However, she only relies on these looks to get by, which is truly intolerable."
Princess Ningde stared at Yun Yueyin's beautiful face and pursed her lips. "How does she compare to you?"
Yun Yueyin, hearing that it was a comparison to herself, immediately felt a bit flustered. "She is slightly superior to me."
Her words were somewhat insincere.
Although Yun Shu's beauty was breathtaking, a woman who had given birth and was so cunning – how could she compare to her?
Moreover, Yun Shu used to be a fool, constantly bullied by her. The thought of someone she had bullied now rising up, forcing her to flee the country, filled her with intense hatred!
"Slightly superior to you?" Princess Ningde's gaze deepened slightly.
Zhen Lin looked at Yun Yueyin, and the image of Yun Shu's true appearance appeared in his mind...
Yun Yueyin nodded unwillingly. "I don't know if she's using a false face too, but she certainly looks exceptionally beautiful normally."
She truly didn't want to describe Yun Shu's beauty any further; saying another word felt like an insult to her.
It was like stabbing herself in the heart.
It felt too uncomfortable.
Fortunately, today, she was the one stabbing Yun Shu in the heart.
Today, Yun Shu was going to lose everything!
Another period of silence followed.
Waiting and waiting.
Pot after pot of tea was brought.
They drank several pots.
Yun Yueyin, seeing the brother and sister clearly preoccupied, couldn't help but murmur, "She's not... afraid to come, is she?"
"If she doesn't come, can we still find her?"
After she finished speaking, she stared at the two of them.
However, her words fell on deaf ears, receiving no response.
She bit her lip.
They were truly good at keeping their composure!
Were they not afraid that if the person didn't come, they wouldn't be able to find her even if they sent people to search?
Yun Shu was so cunning; she might have sensed something dangerous and gone into hiding!
At that point, it would truly be like a stone sinking into the sea, finding her would be as difficult as searching for a needle in a haystack!
Thinking of this, Yun Yueyin couldn't sit still.
Just as she was about to leave the residence to check, a servant ran in in a panic.
He rushed to Princess Ningde and Zhen Lin.
"Young Master, Your Highness, Miss Ning requests an audience!"
The servant's announcement startled the three in the room; they all stood up abruptly at almost the same moment.
Yun Yueyin looked at Princess Ningde, whose expression was inscrutable. "Your Highness, she's here! She's here!"
She had overestimated Yun Shu!
She thought Yun Shu would sense something, but now it seemed she had been imagining things. Yun Shu had sensed nothing and had come to her death!
She then saw Zhen Lin's astonished look. Not wanting Zhen Lin to ruin things, she quickly said to Zhen Lin, "Young Master, Yun Shu has always been cunning. Her treating your illness must have some ulterior motive. You must not be soft-hearted just because she saved you!"
Zhen Lin looked at the talkative Yun Yueyin, his eyes like frost. "Be quiet."