"Brother Yuan Zhao, why are you so indifferent to me?" Xue Ling looked at Xue Yuan Zhao sadly.
"Men and women do not touch each other directly," Xue Yuan Zhao said coldly.
Xue Ling shook her head, "No... that's not it. You weren't this cold to me before. Since when? It seems that ever since the Empress arrived, you've become cold towards me."
Xue Yuan Zhao's expression instantly turned unpleasant. "Xue Ling, don't speak nonsense."
"I'm not speaking nonsense..." Xue Ling bit her lower lip and asked word by word, "Do you dare say you don't have any special feelings for the Empress in your heart?"
Xue Yuan Zhao did not answer.
Xue Ling's heart turned ice cold.
So the rumors she had heard were not rumors but true.
It was rumored that when Xue Yuan Zhao was still General Yuan of Xue Ling Pass, he had met the Empress.
At that time, he had already fallen for the Empress, and for her sake, he had abandoned his childhood sweetheart who had admired him. The Empress had also been ambiguous with him.
However, later, the Empress chose Xue Jing Yun, the Crown Prince of Xue, and Xue Yuan Zhao, who was found by the Xue Kingdom's royal family, over Xue Yuan Zhao.
After all, the Crown Prince of Xue was the rightful heir to Xue, and barring any unexpected events, he would be the Emperor of Xue.
"Why don't you dare to answer me? Is it because you still have her in your heart right now?"
"Xue Ling, you've overstepped," Xue Yuan Zhao said coldly.
"Answer me..." Xue Ling asked word by word.
She just wanted to know who Xue Yuan Zhao truly held in his heart.
Even though she knew the answer was obvious, she still wanted to hear him say it in person. Perhaps only then could she give up.
Xue Yuan Zhao looked up at the persistent Xue Ling. At this moment, he seemed to see Chu Ling'er, who had relentlessly pursued him in Xue Ling Pass.
"Answer me, won't you?" Xue Ling pleaded.
She knew she had never been this humble before. Her father, Duke An Guo, was the younger brother of the current Queen of Xue. She, Princess Xue Ling, was of noble status and was a suitable match even for the Crown Prince of Xue.
However, the Crown Prince of Xue favored the Empress of Huang Ze. Moreover, she knew the Crown Prince of Xue did not like her. When she was young, she had even been frightened by the Crown Prince of Xue, and had even witnessed him killing people in his desperation to rescue Xue Jing Yun, who was being held hostage.
Because of this, she became afraid of Xue Jing Yun and nicknamed him the devil.
Later, she fell in love with Xue Yuan Zhao, the eldest prince of Xue, who had been lost in the common folk since childhood.
But she never expected that Xue Yuan Zhao also liked the Empress of Huang Ze.
Now, the Empress of Huang Ze had become the ruler of this world and had completed her marriage, yet Xue Yuan Zhao had not given up.
She was unwilling, truly unwilling.
"As long as you answer, can you leave?" Xue Yuan Zhao looked up at Xue Ling and asked coldly.
Xue Ling nodded, "Yes..."
Upon hearing this, Xue Yuan Zhao gave a bitter smile. "There's nothing that can't be said. It's no longer a secret."
Xue Ling was stunned and looked at him.
In a daze, he seemed to be back in the past, to the scene of his first meeting with Xue Zi Ning.
There was a moment when he regretted it. If he had fought for it, would there have been hope?
But he also understood that he could not compete with Jing Yun.
Whether it was in terms of methods, low status, or even appearance, he was far inferior to Xue Jing Yun.
"Yes, I did admire the Empress before, but that was in the past..."
He thought saying this would be difficult, but now he realized it wasn't difficult at all. It was just unwillingness.
Xue Ling took a step back. It was as he expected.
"You don't accept me, is it also because of her?" she asked.
Xue Yuan Zhao shook his head. "No, it's just that I don't want to right now."
"If she disappeared, would you accept me?"
Xue Ling suddenly raised her head, a trace of obsession flashing in her eyes.
Xue Yuan Zhao took it as a joke and said, "Perhaps!"
Xue Ling lowered her head, clenched her fists tightly, and turned to leave.
Xue Yuan Zhao smiled and shook his head.
After Xue Ling had asked him and he had answered truthfully, Xue Yuan Zhao found that Xue Ling had stopped pestering him.
But for some reason, he felt a vague unease in his heart. As time passed, his unease grew stronger.
The Qixi Festival finally arrived.
In the evening, Xue Zi Ning gave Xue Yan a holiday, allowing her to act independently with Xue Song. She didn't need to return at night and only needed to take care of herself.
Xue Song, having gotten his wish, was immensely grateful to Xue Zi Ning. Since the Empress's wedding, he hadn't had much time alone with Xue Yan.
After returning to Xue, Xue Yan spent most of her time by the Empress's side, in addition to taking care of the children. He couldn't stand seeing his wife every day but not being able to be together.
Therefore, taking advantage of the Qixi Festival, he requested the Empress to grant Xue Yan a day off so that he and Xue Yan could have some intimate time.
Xue Zi Ning did not bring any attendants, only Feng Yuan, who followed secretly, stayed by her side. The rest was Xue Jing Yun driving the carriage with Xue Song.
Along the way, lanterns were hung everywhere, and the streets were crowded with people.
The unification of the land meant that the common people no longer had to suffer from war, which was a great joy for them.
Therefore, many people came out for the Qixi Festival today. Besides unmarried men and women looking for a spouse during this opportunity, it was more importantly to pray for national peace and long-term stability.
"Stop!" A voice came from the carriage. A seemingly not-too-luxurious carriage stopped, and a slender figure emerged from it as the curtain was lifted.
Men, women, and children nearby were all captivated by this figure.
The pristine moon-white brocade robe looked extraordinarily noble. As the person fully emerged, some could not help but gasp. How could anyone be so beautiful?
It was as if they were divinely captivating, with an unparalleled elegance and a noble presence in every gesture.
The man did not rush to leave. Instead, he reached his slender, fair hand into the carriage, and soon a hand as white as jade rested upon it.
The girl who emerged in a flowing dress the color of water and sky was unparalleled in her beauty.
Her eyes were clear and bright.
What a perfect couple, divinely matched.
"Yan Zhao." Xue Zi Ning jumped down from the carriage and was immediately embraced by Xue Jing Yun.
"A Ning..." Xue Jing Yun couldn't help but smile at Xue Zi Ning's mischievousness, his eyes filled with boundless affection.
"This is my first time strolling on such a street," Xue Zi Ning said.
"It's very lively," Xue Jing Yun replied.
"Yan Zhao, have you strolled on such streets before?" Xue Zi Ning asked curiously.
Xue Jing Yun nodded. "When I was young and mischievous, I often snuck out of the palace."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning was somewhat surprised. "Yan Zhao, you actually did such things?"
Xue Jing Yun smiled faintly. "Why couldn't I have done them?"
"I just didn't expect it," Xue Zi Ning said. She had thought that the now steady Xue Jing Yun would have been a mischievous youth in his younger days.
"Your Majesty may not know, but because he secretly left the palace, His Highness was often beaten by the King of Xue," Xue Feng couldn't help but say.
Xue Jing Yun glanced at Xue Feng indifferently, and Xue Feng quickly shut his mouth.