This scene.
Others might not see it clearly.
But An Yuan did.
He witnessed the whole thing.
He was trembling.
Now.
He didn't even dare to look Zhao Shuning in the eye.
What was this woman's background and identity? She had no spiritual or magical power, yet the two generals treated her with such courtesy. How could that be?
Knowing that Zhao Shuning didn't want to attract too much attention, Chu Wen said, "Please follow me, miss."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
She got back into the carriage.
An Yuan let out a sigh of relief.
It was a good thing she didn't cause trouble for him.
In the end.
The carriage curtain suddenly opened again, and Zhao Shuning stuck her head out.
Chu Nuan quickly said, "Does the miss have any other instructions?"
Zhao Shuning looked at An Yuan.
She said, "Where's Xie An?"
"The Viper hasn't reached Linjiang City yet. Based on the distance and time, he should arrive tonight."
Zhao Shuning nodded.
She said, "Deal with this man. Shui Yunsheng's governance is getting more and more out of order."
"What do you mean, miss?"
"Hand him over to the Viper?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
An Yuan panicked and sat down on the ground.
This woman.
She even dared to call the gang leader by his name.
Chu Wen and Chu Nuan already knew that An Yuan must have offended the Empress, and his crimes must be serious.
"Okay."
No one knew what had happened.
They just saw a group of people surround Grand Protector An.
And not long after.
Outside the city, it returned to its previous state.
Chu Wen and Chu Nuan took Zhao Shuning into the city.
Chu Nuan climbed into the carriage.
"Greetings to the Empress."
Zhao Shuning looked unhappy.
"I'm no longer an empress. Now, I'm just an ordinary person. I can't even cultivate a bit of spiritual or magical power."
"The great battle back then had a profound impact."
The dozens of them who had participated in connecting the planes back then.
All lost their abilities.
"Who is this?"
"My child."
Zhao Shuning pulled Feng Xiaobai in front of her.
She said, "This is Aunt Chu."
"I don't dare. I can't bear the title from the young highness."
Chu Nuan quickly knelt on one knee.
However.
This little boy did look a bit like the Emperor.
"Empress, have you seen the Emperor?"
Zhao Shuning shook her head.
"Then this child?" Could it be that he wasn't the Emperor's?
"I just woke up four years ago. This child is only three years old now."
So he really wasn't the Emperor's!
No wonder.
Chu Nuan remembered the last time she saw the Emperor. He was still as cold as ice, making it hard for anyone to get close to him.
"He's Bu Ran's child. It's a long story. By the way, please keep this a secret for me first. I'm afraid I won't be able to protect Xiaobai before I see Bu Ran."
Just like before.
She couldn't protect Xiao Qiu'er.
"I understand, my lady."
"Earlier, I borrowed your and Chu Wen's influence to deal with the An family member who bullied others. Thank you for the trouble."
Chu Nuan was embarrassed.
Their lives were given by the Empress. How could they bear the word "trouble" from her?
"Once we're in Linjiang City, everything will be easier."
Twilight.
Just fell.
The Zhao Mansion.
Was already decorated with lanterns and streamers.
The Zhao family was full of people. The guests had already arrived in the main hall.
Although the servants of the Zhao family were serving tea and the performers on the stage had started their show.
But strangely.
It was the younger generation of the Zhao family who were busy with all this.
The elders of the Zhao family were nowhere to be seen.
The opera troupe had changed once, but they still didn't show up.
And at this moment.
In the back courtyard of the Zhao Mansion.
It was solemn and quiet.
Although there weren't many lights here and it didn't look like a particularly luxurious place, it was full of the elders of the Zhao family.
"Is it really, really Shuning?"
Old Master Zhao's trembling voice sounded.
Chu Wen and Chu Nuan nodded.
Zhao Shuning stepped forward.
Although Old Master Zhao wasn't familiar with that face, when the woman softly called him grandpa.
He knew.
This was his granddaughter.
Tears.
Blurred his already cloudy eyes.
Old Master Zhao reached out his hand.
"It's her, it's her, it's my Zhao family's granddaughter."
Zhao Zheng was being supported by Lin Min'er in the darkness. His expression couldn't be seen clearly.
But only Lin Min'er knew.
Brother Zheng was extremely excited at this moment.
The hand that Lin Min'er held was trembling. For decades, Zhao Zheng had rarely lost control like this.
After Zhao Shuning talked to Old Master Zhao for a few words.
She looked at Lin Min'er and Zhao Zheng in another place.
"Father, Mother."
Lin Min'er nodded.
On the surface, she seemed calm.
But as soon as she heard Zhao Shuning call her mother, she couldn't hold back her emotions any longer, and the tears streamed down.
Zhao Shuning stepped forward.
She gently hugged Lin Min'er.
Then she looked back.
She looked at Zhao Zheng.
"Father, are you—okay?"
The long - tense face of Zhao Zheng, full of vicissitudes, finally showed a smile.
Xie Yu stepped forward.
"Boss, I knew it was you. You're finally back. I said you were blessed and wouldn't die like that."
Zhao Xiangxiang glared at Xie Yu.
Xie Yu said again, "Look at me. It's grandpa's birthday. I'm speaking such inauspicious words. Bah, bah, bah—"
Zhao Chao and Zhao Xue silently watched Zhao Shuning.
They showed a relieved smile.
The best child of their Zhao family.
The heavens had finally returned her.
"Uncle."
"Yes, Shuning, it's good that you're back."
These two big men.
Actually blushed their eyes because of this one address.
In the main hall.
The guests who had been waiting for a long time for the host didn't dare to make a sound. After all, it was already not easy for them to be able to enter the main hall and have a seat.
Moreover.
The masters of the Nine Regions, who had higher status than them.
Were all sitting upright, waiting.
Not long after.
Some young servants ran in.
These servants were dressed differently, but their skills were very good. It seemed that they should be the secret guards trained by those masters of the Nine Regions who had lost their cultivation abilities, their shadows.
They whispered something in the ears of Gu Zhiruo, Xia Jingning, Dongfang Yuxi and other masters.
The masters of the Nine Regions, who had been looking calm and sipping tea from their cups, changed their expressions suddenly.
They stood up from their seats all at once.
The tea.
Spilled all over them.
Those who stood up at the same time.
Almost all of them were those who had once followed Zhao Shuning. Now they were the famous lords of countries, gang leaders or kings on the Nine Regions Continent.
They looked at each other.
They all saw the shock in each other's eyes.
Then.
They all ran towards the back courtyard without hesitation.
During this process.
They looked panicked and acted clumsily, but they didn't care.
The guests in the hall stood up one after another.
They wanted to take a look at what had happened.
But they were stopped in place by their secret guards.
"The masters are handling affairs. Please do your duty and don't snoop around."