"Your Highness, you haven't slept for many days. You should rest," Xue Song said as he entered and looked at Xue Jingyun, who was poring over a lamp, unable to help but urge him.
Xue Jingyun didn't look up. "I know. You may leave!"
Xue Song sighed inwardly, knowing that no matter how much he persuaded, it would be futile. His Highness was once again staying up sleeplessly, just like in the days when there was no news of the Empress.
As he walked out of the room, Xue Feng stepped forward. Before he could speak, Xue Song shook his head. "His Highness still refuses to rest. If this continues, his body will eventually give out."
"But we can't do anything," Xue Song said helplessly.
Unless the Empress appeared by His Highness's side, all efforts would be in vain.
"Your Highness, the Queen wishes to see you," the head palace maidservant to the Queen said, bowing outside the door.
Xue Feng and Xue Song were startled. This was the first time the Queen had actively invited His Highness since his return.
"I know," Xue Jingyun's voice came from the room.
Phoenix Palace
Xue Yuanzhao looked at his mother, who was still in high spirits. Honestly, he didn't want to pour cold water on her, but if he didn't speak now, she might continue to hold onto her illusions.
"Mother, he won't be happy. I beg you not to hurt him anymore."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yuanzhao said angrily to Xue Yuanzhao, "Yuanzhao, you are my son, and Jingyun is too. As your mother, would I harm you? The Empress's whereabouts are unknown, and she is likely in grave danger. Must Jingyun remain alone until old age?"
"Mother, the Empress is blessed with good fortune and will be fine," Xue Yuanzhao said.
"Even if she is fine, if she was abducted by a man, do you think she can return as pure? In that case, why should my son remain chaste for her?" the Queen said displement.
"Mother..." Xue Yuanzhao was stunned. How could Mother question the Empress?
"I'm not wrong. A woman being an emperor is in itself a mistake. And she still dares to think of monopolizing my son for a lifetime? This is her retribution."
"Mother, you must never say such things again..."
Before Xue Yuanzhao could finish speaking, he saw a figure at the door. His heart leaped as he saw that handsome and refined face, cold as frost, as if he were in an ice and snow world.
"Jingyun, you're here. It's perfect. Mother has chosen a few candidates for you with clean backgrounds and good family standing..."
"Mother..."
Xue Yuanzhao looked up at Xue Jingyun and saw a face as cold as ice, with eyes that looked at her with extreme coldness.
"Jingyun, you..."
"I am telling you again, in this life and this world, I am content with A Ning."
"Jingyun, you cannot be like this. You are the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom, the future Emperor of Xue Kingdom."
Xue Jingyun said indifferently, "Queen Xue, have you forgotten? There is no Xue Kingdom now, only Xue City. There is no Crown Prince, only Prince. There is no Emperor, only the King of Xue. In this life, there is only Chang Ning as the Emperor."
"That was given away by you. If you hadn't handed over the empire you conquered to her, Xue Kingdom would be the strongest nation now."
"So what? I conquered it myself. What's wrong with giving it to the person I love?"
"You... Fine, I won't argue with you about these things. Now that the Empress's whereabouts are unknown, you cannot be as willful as before. You must leave me an heir. I won't interfere with anything else," the Queen said.
"Besides A Ning, I will not touch anyone else. You don't need to worry about me anymore," Xue Jingyun refused directly.
"Xue Jingyun, she was abducted by Han Xi Shen. She might not be pure when she returns. Do you still want such a woman?" the Queen said, unwilling to give up.
For a moment, the air became thin, making it even difficult to breathe. Xue Yuanzhao sighed. Mother truly wanted to push Xue Jingyun further and further away.
After a long pause, Xue Jingyun spoke, "So what? As long as it's A Ning, that's enough. Besides, she is the Emperor. This is her right."
"Jingyun..."
"Mother, I have decided to hand over Prince to my elder brother. From now on, you can act as if you don't have me as a son." With that, Xue Jingyun bowed to the Queen and turned to leave.
The Queen trembled all over. "Jingyun..."
The next day
"Your Highness, everything is ready. We can set off," Xue Song said in a low voice from outside the carriage.
"Let's go!" Xue Jingyun's voice came from inside the carriage.
"Jingyun..."
Xue Song turned and saw the Queen. He said in a low voice, "His Highness is the Queen. You..."
"Go..." The voice from the carriage was low and cold.
Xue Song whipped the horse hard, and it started moving.
"Mother, you're going too fast," Xue Yuanzhao, who was behind the Queen, quickly helped her.
The Queen still couldn't believe that Xue Jingyun, her good son, would abandon his country and his family for a woman.
"Mother, don't chase anymore. He won't turn back," Xue Yuanzhao shook his head.
The Queen sat down on the ground. Regret? It was more hatred, hating how Xue Zi Ning had bewitched her exceptionally talented son. Even though she was not present, she still firmly held his son's heart.
"Mother..." Xue Yuanzhao stepped forward to help the Queen up.
The Queen grabbed Xue Yuanzhao's hand. "Yuanzhao, you won't leave me, will you?"
Xue Yuanzhao nodded. "Mother, rest assured, I will not leave you."
The Queen held his hand tightly and said, "From today onwards, you are the King of Xue City."
Xue Yuanzhao trembled all over, lowered his gaze, and his thoughts returned to last night, to what Xue Jingyun had told him.
He said, if I were still here, Mother and Father would not see your efforts. Do you want to live forever in my shadow?
He also said, your life is your own. It is not a path that I have already walked.
"Brother, take care. The road ahead belongs to you."
He had to admit that Xue Jingyun, his exceptionally talented brother, had spoken to his heart.
Having such an outstanding younger brother was a source of pride, but also a source of torment.
Perhaps his departure was a fulfillment for him.
"Your Highness, the Queen is not chasing after us," Xue Song said.
Xue Yan shook his head at him. Xue Song said in a low voice, "I just don't think it's worth it for His Highness."
In his youth, he had worked hard for the Queen and the King, led troops in battle, repelled enemy forces, and stabilized the court. Finally, Xue Kingdom was stable, and he went to the barren wilderness, only to be enchanted by the Empress. And then for so many years, he had been serving the Empress. When would my His Highness live for himself?
"Xue Song, are you willing to do anything for me?" Xue Yan asked.
Xue Song nodded. "Does this need to be asked? I am willing to sacrifice my life for you."
"His Highness's feelings for His Majesty are just like this. What is there to be worth it or not? It's simply willing."
"I only hope His Majesty will treat His Highness better," Xue Song said softly.
Xue Yan said, "Don't worry, His Majesty's feelings for His Highness are more resilient than you can imagine. She will not allow anyone to break them, even her purity."
In the carriage, Xue Jingyun smiled gently. It was his A Ning who always moved him so much, and doing anything for her was worth it.
Xue Zi Ning did not expect that she would be so groggy with child.
However, she did not let down her guard at all.
Han Xi Shen's temperament was unstable. To this day, she still did not know what he wanted the Miao ethnic group's secret techniques for. To revive someone?