“I never imagined I would have to share a husband with Anping, nor that she would be my equal. An Huang, do you covet my throne as well?”
The young woman before him regarded him with cold, mocking eyes. All warmth she once held for him was gone; he was now a stranger.
At this moment, he knew his A’Ning was truly gone, vanished. The person before him was Xue Zi Ning, the Empress of Huang Ze.
She had been able to bring down the all-powerful regent before her coming-of-age and resist an army with her own strength.
He lowered his gaze, swept aside his robes, and knelt on one knee. “Your Majesty, I beg forgiveness. I never harbored such intentions.”
Xue Zi Ning looked at the kneeling An Huang. She closed her eyes, and after a long while, slowly reopened them. Her gaze was utterly cold. “An Huang, you have disappointed me. I thought…”
She did not finish her sentence, as it was no longer worth it.
“Your Majesty, forgive me!” An Huang said slowly, lowering his head.
“Guards…” Xue Zi Ning called out towards the door.
Someone soon entered. “Your Majesty.”
“Take Princess Anping to the Tingwei Prison to await judgment,” Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The guards stepped forward to apprehend Princess Anping.
Princess Anping was stunned. They were going to take her to prison. “No… no, Father, save Anping, save Anping!”
But at this moment, An Huang remained motionless, kneeling there, saying nothing.
He watched as Princess Anping was dragged away before his very eyes.
Xue Zi Ning withdrew her gaze and looked at An Huang coldly. “After my wedding, An Huang, please depart. You are dismissed…”
“Yes.” An Huang retreated.
Xue Zi Ning leaned back. She did not need to question if Yan Zhao was behind her.
“Yan Zhao, did I go too far?”
“A’Ning, you did what was right.”
She turned to face his refined and handsome face. “I don’t want to share you with anyone, Yan Zhao. You are mine, and you always will be.”
His eyes were as brilliant as the stars. He looked at her with doting affection, yet his resolve was firm. “I will always belong to you, A’Ning.”
She smiled and buried her head in his embrace, leaning against him quietly.
After a long while, he felt his chest grow damp. He knew she was crying.
He reached out and gently stroked her hair, murmuring, “From now on, I will dote on you, A’Ning. Don’t cry…”
She cried even louder. “Why? Why?”
“A’Ning, don’t cry…”
When Xue Zi Ning awoke, the sky was bright. Xue Yan looked at her with concern.
She knew Xue Yan knew about last night’s events.
“I am alright,” she said slowly.
Xue Yan nodded and knelt before her. “Your Majesty, your servant will never betray you. You have the Crown Prince, and you have me…”
Xue Zi Ning was slightly startled, then smiled. “Yes, you are people I can trust. Alright, get up quickly.”
Xue Yan stood up and said, “Your Majesty, the Crown Prince has gone to the morning court.”
Xue Zi Ning nodded. “Xue Yan, go and summon the envoys from all the countries to the court. I have something to announce.”
Xue Yan nodded.
In the imperial court, Xue Jing Yun heard Xue Song say that the Empress had something to announce. He immediately descended from the dragon throne. At that moment, a voice called out, “His Majesty has arrived!”
He looked up towards the entrance. A figure, bathed in light, walked slowly towards them.
On the imperial yellow dragon robe, eight dragons were lifelike. The courtiers all knelt. “Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!”
Even the rulers of other countries bowed their heads.
Only one person stood there, his bearing magnificent, like a pine or a cypress, smiling at her.
She walked forward step by step, imposing and solemn.
The tassels beneath the dragon crown swayed gently with her stride. Beneath the tassels was her clear and frosty countenance, her eyes clear and bright.
She was noble and majestic.
She reached him, and he extended his hand, softly saying, “A’Ning…”
She smiled.
He escorted her to the side of the dragon throne. She did not sit immediately but looked down upon the assembled courtiers and the princes and princesses from various countries.
“Rise!” she said faintly.
Then she took her seat firmly on the dragon throne.
“Yan Zhao, announce the imperial decree!” She handed the newly written imperial decree to Xue Jing Yun.
He took it, briefly scanned it, and then spoke with a clear voice, “By the mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: The realm is unified, and I shall be revered as Emperor. Henceforth, it is proclaimed to the world that I shall abolish kingdoms and establish principalities.
The new state name shall be Chang Ning, signifying lasting peace and tranquility…”
The rest was a lengthy passage.
But everyone understood: from this day on, there would no longer be Hua Guo, An Guo, or Xue Guo; only Hua Cheng, An Cheng, Xue Cheng, and Han Cheng. The places they resided in would be their fiefs.
There would only be one country, Chang Ning, the unified realm.
There would only be one Empress, who held dominion over this land.
After reading the decree, Xue Jing Yun placed it on the table.
Xue Zi Ning looked at the courtiers and said faintly, “After my wedding, I will send troops to escort each of you feudal lords back to your fiefs. From now on, the accompanying troops will be stationed in your respective fiefs and are not permitted to enter the capital without summons.”
“Long live His Majesty, long live, long live!” A thunderous roar erupted from below.
Thus, the era of Huang Ze finally passed.
After the court session, Xue Zi Ning hosted a banquet for the feudal lords. Only the King of An declined, citing illness. The rest attended.
However, none of them spoke, and they all drank heartily.
With cup after cup of wine consumed, Xue Zi Ning’s face grew flushed.
Xue Jing Yun snatched the wine cup from her hand and whispered, “A’Ning, stop drinking. You’ll get drunk.”
“What? Not yet married, and the Crown Prince is already dictating to the Empress?” the first to speak was the King of Han, Han Xi Xia.
Xue Jing Yun glanced at Han Xi Xia. Han Xi Xia met his gaze defiantly and snorted, “What are you looking at? Unconvinced?”
Xue Jing Yun calmly withdrew his gaze. “No need to be unconvinced.”
Han Xi Xia was displeased and, emboldened by the wine, said, “Xue Jing Yun, you have nothing to be proud of. The Empress is an emperor; she cannot belong only to you. I still have a chance.”
“Exactly, you have nothing to be proud of,” Hua Yun Jin chimed in, equally unwilling to back down.
Xue Jing Yun’s gaze turned cold. “It seems you are all quite displeased with me?”
“Yes,” the Kings of Han and Hua said in unison.
“Why don’t you compete then!” Wen Yu Xi, who enjoyed stirring up trouble, said with a grin.
“Good,” Han Xi Xia declared, slamming his palm on the table.
Hua Yun Jin said, “I have no objections either.”
They both looked at Xue Jing Yun. Xue Jing Yun carefully handed the person in his arms to Xue Yan to care for and slowly stood up. He said faintly, “Should we fight outside?”
“If you want to fight, then fight. Are you afraid of me?” Han Xi Xia was the first to leave the palace.
Hua Yun Jin stood up and also walked out.
As Xue Jing Yun left, he glanced at Wen Yu Xi, his gaze cold and frosty. Wen Yu Xi immediately felt that something was amiss.
Soon, sounds could be heard from outside.
Wen Yu Xi said, “I’m going to see who wins.”
“I’m going too. Xue Yan, quickly bring a chair.” Xue Zi Ning, who had seemed drunk moments ago, was now incredibly spirited, showing no signs of intoxication at all.