After the Snow King accepted the five beauties, he bestowed rewards and titles upon them. In an instant, seeing the Snow King's consort, she had visibly grown much thinner.
After all, she was the birth mother of Yan Zhao, and Xue Zi Ning felt a peculiar mix of emotions. Had she gone too far?
As she emerged from the Snow King's consort's chambers, Xue Yan noticed her unease.
"Your Majesty, are you feeling unwell?"
Xue Zi Ning nodded. "Xue Yan, do you think I was too harsh?"
Come to think of it, the Snow King's consort hadn't done anything significant, merely preparing a few beauties for Yan Zhao, and she had in turn gifted them to the Snow King.
"Your Majesty, this servant does not believe you were too harsh. If you were in the Snow King's consort's position, even if someone presented beauties to His Highness, His Highness would not touch them for your sake."
Xue Zi Ning paused, looking at Xue Yan.
Xue Yan continued, "This servant believes the Snow King merely wished to teach the Snow King's consort a lesson. If it weren't you, it would be someone else. In truth, it's just that the Snow King and his consort do not share the deep affection you and His Highness share. After all, a lifetime with a single beloved is not something everyone can achieve."
Xue Zi Ning smiled upon hearing this. "You seem to know quite a lot."
Xue Yan said, "Your Majesty, this servant envies you and His Highness. A lifetime with a single beloved is difficult to achieve not only for you and His Highness, the rulers of this land, but even for ordinary people."
Xue Zi Ning felt a sudden pang in her heart, a deep ache.
She turned, gazing at the bright sunlight. She knew that meeting Yan Zhao in this lifetime was a blessing earned through three lifetimes of good fortune.
She narrowed her eyes, and then suddenly heard Xue Yan say, "His Highness, you are here."
She turned and saw him, bathed in sunlight, his immaculate jade-white brocade robe catching a layer of golden light, radiating a dazzling brilliance.
And he walked towards her, enveloped in this golden glow.
His clear and handsome face was incomparably perfect at this moment. In his eyes, like brilliant stars, there was only her, filled to the brim, unable to hold anyone else.
She smiled, "Yan Zhao..."
"A Ning..."
She rushed forward, throwing herself into his embrace. His scent filled the space around her.
His clean, crisp aroma made her intoxicated in that moment.
"Yan Zhao, let's grow old together..."
She heard his doting voice, "Alright... But A Ning, could we do some things, some matters, back at our residence?"
Xue Zi Ning started and looked up at his eyes, as brilliant as stars, with a hint of confusion.
It was Xue Yan beside them who, unable to watch, softly said, "Prince Yuan Zhao is still here..."
Xue Zi Ning stood on tiptoe from his shoulder and glanced behind him, seeing a figure standing there.
She pushed Yan Zhao away and took several steps back.
Xue Jing Yun: "..."
"Royal Brother," she said to Xue Yuan Zhao.
Xue Yuan Zhao's gaze flickered slightly, then he bowed. "Your Majesty."
Xue Zi Ning's gaze paused. "Brother King, there is no need for formality. You may call me A Ning."
Xue Yuan Zhao's eyes flashed, and he called out, "A Ning..."
"Brother Yuan Zhao, wait for me..."
A voice came from not far away, and then a streak of red appeared, stopping before Xue Yuan Zhao and saying angrily, "Brother Yuan Zhao, how could you ignore me?"
"Xue Ling, do not be rude," Xue Yuan Zhao said coldly.
"How am I being rude? Explain yourself..." Xue Ling persisted.
"County Princess Xue Ling, there are others here," Xue Yuan Zhao's voice turned colder.
Only then did Xue Ling notice that besides her Brother Yuan Zhao, there were others present.
She turned and saw the man, as handsome as an immortal.
At first, she observed him carefully, admiring him. Then, she suddenly remembered something.
She quickly hid behind Xue Yuan Zhao, trembling. "Brother Yuan Zhao, why has that devil returned?"
Devil? Xue Zi Ning looked at Yan Zhao. He didn't look like the devil Xue Ling described at all.
Xue Yuan Zhao moved aside and said to Xue Ling, "Xue Ling, you must not be rude in the presence of His Majesty."
Xue Ling turned and asked, "Your Majesty? Where?"
When her gaze fell upon Xue Zi Ning, her eyes widened for a moment. Then, she stepped forward and scrutinized her. "You are Xue Zi Ning?"
"How insolent, to address Your Majesty by name so casually," Xue Yan said coldly from the side.
Xue Ling tilted her head and looked at Xue Yan, displeased. "Your Majesty hasn't spoken, and you are merely her dog by her side. What right do you have to speak to this county princess?"
"Even a dog needs to consider its master, County Princess Xue Ling..." Xue Song, hidden in the shadows, was displeased. He couldn't tolerate anyone speaking ill of Xue Yan.
County Princess Xue Ling sneered. "Oh, the second dog has arrived too? Why are there so many dogs in the Snow Palace recently?"
"County Princess Xue Ling keeps dogs for company all day. It's quite pitiful. Perhaps you should leave first?" Xue Song said with a cold smile. If it came to verbal sparring, he dared to say he was second to none.
"You..." Xue Ling was so angry she couldn't speak.
"What about me? I am, after all, the dog of the sovereign who rules this land. And you? You are probably worse than a dog."
"Xue Song, you court death..." Xue Ling was thoroughly enraged. A whip had appeared in her hand from who knew when, and she lashed out at Xue Song.
"County Princess Xue Ling, speak your mind, but why resort to violence?" Xue Yan stepped forward to grab the whip.
Xue Ling sneered, a hint of sinister intent flashing in her eyes. She suddenly pulled the whip back and swung it towards Xue Yan.
Xue Yan hadn't expected Xue Ling to come at her directly, nor did anyone else.
Xue Zi Ning noticed thorns on the whip. If it struck Xue Yan, wouldn't that be terrible?
Just as Xue Yan braced herself for the whip, thinking she was about to be hit, the whip did not fall.
She cautiously opened her eyes and saw a slender figure standing in front of her.
She was stunned, her heart instantly cracking. "Yo-Your Majesty..."
Xue Zi Ning thought she would catch the whip, but she hadn't expected that as it was about to strike, Yan Zhao had already caught it.
She saw blood flowing from between his fingers.
"Yan Zhao..." she trembled all over.
Xue Jing Yun raised his hand, and the whip flew from Xue Ling's grasp.
In mid-air, the whip inexplicably ignited, and by the time it landed on the ground, it had turned into a pile of ashes.
Xue Ling trembled and collapsed onto the ground.
"Yan Zhao, your hand is injured," Xue Zi Ning said with concern.
"A Ning, I'm fine..." Xue Jing Yun comforted her.
Xue Zi Ning's brows furrowed. She walked step by step towards Xue Ling and said coldly, "Assaulting my person and injuring Yan Zhao, I will absolutely not show leniency. Guards, escort her to prison."
Xue Ling trembled, looked up at her, and defiantly said, "Why should you arrest me?"
"The evidence is conclusive," Xue Zi Ning said coldly.
Xue Ling became angry. "Xue Zi Ning, if you want to be emperor, go back to your Desolate Marsh and be one. This Snow Country is not yours to rule."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning chuckled softly and leaned down. "This entire land is mine. You say I don't have the qualifications?"
"I... I will go find Imperial Uncle..." Xue Ling panicked.