The figure moved further away from her. She leaped into the air and landed before him.
"Yan Zhao, why are you leaving?" She stepped forward to take his hand.
He remained still, standing there, the gentle breeze stirring the hem of his robes.
"Yan Zhao..."
He simply watched her, his gaze dark and devoid of its former brilliance. Xue Zining's heart sank. She walked slowly forward, her hand reaching for his, stopping midway. "Yan Zhao, are you angry?"
"A Ning, do you know why I'm angry?" His voice was cool and clear.
"I know. I acted on my own without telling you, using our wedding to capture someone." Xue Zining bit her lower lip.
Heaven knew she could only be this unresilient in front of Yan Zhao.
Like a wronged wife.
"You know I'm not angry about you using the wedding to capture someone." He spoke slowly.
Xue Zining blinked in surprise. She looked up. "Then why are you angry? You scared me."
As she spoke, she moved to within a fist's distance of him, wrapping her arms around his waist and pressing her face against his chest.
He sighed softly, unable to truly steel his heart against her. "A Ning, why don't you tell me anything you do? Earlier today, in front of the Qiankun Hall, you said we were husband and wife. If we're husband and wife, shouldn't we share joys and sorrows?
But why don't I know about these things you're doing?"
Xue Zining felt a pang of guilt and lowered her eyes. "Yan Zhao, I was wrong. Please forgive me, okay?"
He reached out and embraced her, murmuring, "A Ning, you're not wrong. But I am greedy. I want a lot. I want to know everything about you, and I want you not to hide anything from me. Are you afraid of me like this?"
Xue Zining was slightly taken aback. She tightened her embrace and shook her head. "No, I'm not afraid. It's only right, because we are husband and wife. Yan Zhao, I will change from now on, so please don't be angry anymore, okay?"
"Alright. There's something important we need to do next."
She looked up and asked, "What is it?"
She saw his star-like eyes filled with an enchanting glow. "It's something only a husband and wife can do."
Xue Zining's face flushed. "Yan Zhao, you..."
The next day, Xue Zining, unusually, slept in late, causing her to be late for the morning court again.
Ever since she had been with Yan Zhao, she found herself waking up late more often than not.
At this moment, she watched him on the dragon throne, attentively listening to the reports of the court officials, his demeanor impeccable.
Suddenly, he looked up. The moment his eyes met hers, they brightened considerably.
She walked forward and stood before him, murmuring, "Why didn't you wake me?"
"I wanted you to sleep a little longer," he said, looking at her dotingly.
"Yan Zhao, I can't let you do everything. I need to do some things myself."
He chuckled at her words, his expression softening considerably. "There is one thing that no one else can do for me. Only A Ning can do it."
"What is it?" Xue Zining asked.
She saw his gaze melt like water, the kind that could drown a person.
"To bear our imperial heir." His voice was filled with tender affection.
Her face flushed slightly, and she bit her lower lip, murmuring, "Yan Zhao..."
Wen Yuxi, who was enduring torment below, coughed lightly and said, "Has Your Majesty not finished the court session yet?"
"Court is adjourned," she replied.
Wen Yuxi felt someone's unfriendly gaze on him. He puffed out his chest and met the gaze squarely. It was outrageous for them to flaunt their affection in front of him; weren't they making him envious?
After the court adjourned, Xue Zining saw Xue Jingyun pull Wen Yuxi away. She knew without a doubt that Wen Yuxi was in for trouble.
She smiled and shook her head. Upon returning to her palace, Xue Yan saw her approaching and whispered, "Your Majesty, Prince An requests an audience!"
Xue Yan saw the smile vanish from her Majesty's face.
Xue Zining fell silent for a moment before walking in. The first thing she saw was the figure kneeling there.
Looking at the once-imposing figure, she recalled the past when he had doted on her.
Her heart felt a pang of sorrow.
She stepped forward, reaching out her hand to help Prince An up.
Prince An, however, avoided her touch and instead kowtowed. "This minister failed to discipline Anping properly, leading her to commit such acts. I know my crimes are unforgivable, but I implore Your Majesty, for the sake of the little affection that once existed, to spare Anping's life."
Xue Zining withdrew her hand and walked to the couch, sitting down. She looked at Prince An kneeling before her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.
Seeing her silence, Prince An continued, "If Your Majesty feels Anping's death sentence cannot be commuted, this minister is willing to relinquish his royal title."
After a long silence, Prince An heard a faint voice from above. "Is it worth it?"
Prince An stiffened slightly and lowered his gaze. "Whether it is worth it or not, Anping is my child. As a parent, even if my child does wrong, I wish to bear the burden for her. I implore Your Majesty to grant my request!"
"And if I do not grant it?"
Prince An trembled all over and said, "Then this minister can only kneel until you agree."
Xue Zining said nothing. She rose and went into the inner chambers.
When Xue Jingyun returned, he saw Prince An kneeling in the outer hall and knew what had happened.
He did not enter the inner chambers. Though he knew his A Ning was inside, he sat on the couch and said coldly, "Is Prince An going to kneel indefinitely?"
Upon hearing this, Prince An looked up at the man seated on the throne, his eyes flickering. "This minister only implores Your Majesty to spare Princess Anping's death sentence."
"Then has Prince An considered that Your Majesty was almost killed by Princess Anping's hands?"
Prince An said, "How is that possible? Wasn't all of this a setup by Your Majesty?"
"Yes, it was a setup. A setup that put her life at risk."
Prince An remained silent.
Xue Jingyun continued coldly, "Prince An must believe that the setup Your Majesty orchestrated could also put herself in danger? Yes, she had many people protecting her, but the one who harmed her was precisely someone she once held dearest. And the one kneeling here, begging for mercy, was her former father..."
Prince An shuddered, his mind replaying images of his little An Ning.
"Prince An, it's understandable that you intercede for Princess Anping, but please do not make things difficult for Your Majesty. Kneeling to beg for mercy? Is it to make Your Majesty feel guilty? Or is it coercion and manipulation?"
"This... this minister did not..." Prince An shook his head.
"Since you did not, then leave. And I, by my presence here, declare this: For holding Your Majesty hostage, Princess Anping's crime is a capital offense. No one can intercede for her. Get out..."
Xue Jingyun was enraged.
Suddenly, the air in the place turned icy. Prince An, unable to withstand this oppressive force, rose and withdrew.
He knew the Empress Dowager wouldn't do anything to him, but Xue Jingyun might.
Xue Jingyun rubbed his temples and went into the inner chambers. He saw her, her face already streaked with tears.
His heart softened considerably. He embraced his A Ning. "A Ning, cry if you feel wronged. I will always be by your side."
Xue Zining shook her head, merely murmuring dejectedly, "Yan Zhao, I have completely lost my family ties. From now on, I only have you."
"A Ning, from now on, I am your support, your strength, for all eternity."
"Mmm, Yan Zhao, you promised, and you're not allowed to go back on your word. We'll always be together, forever and ever."