Back at the residence, Ning Chen sent everyone off to rest.

Feng Qizheng carried Ning Chen to his room and went off too. Yudie stayed to look after him.

Ning Chen smiled. "Yudie, I'm really fine. You've been up all night too. Go get some rest."

Yudie shook her head gently. "I'm not tired!"

"How can you not be tired after staying up all night?" Ning Chen patted the empty space beside him. "Why don't you come up here and make do?"

Yudie still wouldn't. Ning Chen was hurt. If she rolled over in her sleep and bumped his wound, that would be bad.

Suddenly Yudie changed the subject. "Ning, dear, didn't the man in the portrait look familiar to you?"

Ning Chen gave a start and looked at her. "You felt that too?"

Yudie nodded. "Actually, back at the Inspectorate, when I finished the portrait, I thought he looked familiar. But I couldn't think right away where I'd seen him."

Ning Chen said, "Same as me. He seems familiar somehow, but I just can't remember where I've seen him."

Seeing him frown, Yudie said tenderly, "Don't trouble yourself over it, Ning, dear. You're hurt; you shouldn't wear yourself out... Get some good rest. I'm sure I'll remember, and when I do, I'll tell you."

Ning Chen said "Mm."

He really was tired, and before long he dozed off.

When Ning Chen woke up, it was already mid-afternoon.

He could faintly hear voices in the outer room. They sounded like the Xuan Emperor and the An Emperor.

Ning Chen looked at Xiao Yanxi, who was sitting with him. "Father Emperor and Her Majesty are here?"

Xiao Yanxi nodded. "When Her Majesty heard about the assassination attempt, she was furious at morning court. She gave the Inspectorate and the Three Courts ironclad orders: find the assassin even if they have to tear the ground apart.

Right after court, she hurried over to the residence with the Emperor Emeritus.

But you'd been up all night and were sleeping so soundly..."

Then he asked, "Have Old Chen and Old Gao found Ye Xingjue?"