Xue Jingyun remained silent, holding a teacup in one hand, his ten fingers slender and porcelain white. He sipped the tea, and after finishing, placed the cup on the table.
He then slowly raised his head. His handsome and refined face was devoid of emotion, his gaze holding a hint of coldness, yet it was utterly placid, as if he were looking at someone entirely unrelated.
He slowly and faintly said, "Unworthy."
Just two words plunged the person into hell.
Unworthy, indeed.
How could the Crown Prince of Xue Kingdom, the foremost of the Five Nations, marry a princess from a small country?
Emperor An had not anticipated such a swift refusal from the Crown Prince of Xue. Just as he was about to speak, An Ping spoke from behind him, "Father Emperor..."
An Emperor paused at the suppressed voice from behind. If she continued, it would only be An Ping who lost face. Emperor An found himself in a difficult position.
An Ping slowly walked out and curtsied, "Crown Prince, you have been put in a difficult position."
Xue Jingyun didn't even glance at An Ping. He said calmly, "There was no hesitation, so how can there be a difficult position? Princess An Ping worries too much."
An Ping was stunned. She never expected the Crown Prince of Xue to say such a thing, leaving her absolutely no room for maneuver.
She raised her eyes to look at his refined and handsome face, unable to believe that such words could come from his mouth.
She withdrew her gaze, curtsied, and said, "I have worried too much."
After speaking, she approached Emperor An and said, "Father Emperor, the banquet is about to begin."
Emperor An came back to his senses and laughed heartily, masking his embarrassment.
Songs and dances filled the air, creating a lively and joyous atmosphere, instantly dispelling the awkwardness of moments before.
The banquet concluded, and Emperor An began discussions with the Crown Princes and princes of various nations regarding trade.
An Ru pulled An Ning out of the hall and only stopped when they reached An Shu Palace. She suddenly realized she was still holding An Ning's hand. She quickly let go, looking at An Ning with a semblance of caution.
"Sister, am I to just stand here?" An Ning asked An Ru with a smile.
An Ru bit her lower lip. "Don't you hate me?"
An Ning was taken aback. "Why do you say that?"
An Ru turned her face away. "Before, I brought you to An Shu Palace and gave you this. You cried your eyes out and said you hated me."
An Ning watched An Ru turn around. In her palm lay a green worm, still wriggling.
She took a step back. "Sister, what is this?"
Seeing that An Ning did not turn and flee, An Ru excitedly stepped forward. "This is my Great General."
"Great General?" An Ning frowned at the still-wriggling large green worm.
An Ru nodded. "Yes, it has been with me since I was small."
An Ning was surprised. An Ru carefully held it out to her. "An Ning, touch it. It's very well-behaved."
"Sister, I'll just look at it..."
"An Ning..."
"An Ru, you've brought out your worms to scare people again! Throw it away quickly!" an enraged voice boomed from behind.
An Ru, startled, quickly hid her green general. Consort Shu also approached, grabbing An Ru's ear. "How many times have I told you, you are a girl, a princess! Why do you play with worms every day?"
"Mother Consort, spare me, Mother Consort..."
Consort Shu was about to scold further when she noticed An Ning was also present. She paused and released her grip. "An Ning is here too?"
An Ru quickly hid behind An Ning. "Mother Consort, please calm down, don't frighten An Ning."
Consort Shu snorted. "If I see it again next time, I'll crush it."
An Ru flinched, shaking her head. "I dare not, I dare not."
Consort Shu looked at An Ning, her expression turning cool and her tone crisp. "May I ask why Princess An Ning has come to my An Shu Palace?"
"Mother Consort, I brought An Ning here," An Ru quickly explained.
Consort Shu was slightly taken aback and looked at An Ru. "Then take good care of An Ning."
An Ru nodded, patting her chest. "Mother Consort, rest assured."
Consort Shu said slowly, "If An Ru does anything unrealistic, please do not take offense."
"She won't," An Ning replied.
"Let's go, we'll go over there," An Ru said, pulling An Ning away.
Consort Shu watched An Ning's retreating back and murmured, "I wonder what An Ning is planning this time?"
A palace maid stepped forward to support Consort Shu. "Your Highness, please do not worry. This servant sees that Princess An Ning, having awakened, is no longer like before."
"One can only hope!" Consort Shu replied.
They arrived at a secluded corner, and An Ru let out a sigh of relief. "An Ning, don't take it to heart. Mother Consort doesn't mean anything else. She... she is just afraid."
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" An Ning found that everyone from Consort Shu to An Ru seemed to be somewhat afraid of her. She didn't understand why.
An Ru looked at her, her gaze evasive. "N-nothing?"
Suddenly, footsteps echoed from outside. An Ru and An Ning exchanged a look and hid under a tree.
Two figures walked by, both women.
An Ru poked her head out, and upon seeing one of them, exclaimed in surprise, "It's Eldest Sister..."
An Ning quickly covered her mouth, signaling her to remain silent.
An Ru nodded, indicating she would not speak rashly. An Ning then released her hand.
"May I ask why you sought me out?" An Ping asked the richly adorned woman before her.
The woman turned, and An Ning's gaze tightened. An Ru had become much more cautious and, without a loud outburst, whispered, "Is that the Empress of Huang Ze?"
"Do you like Xue Jingyun, the Crown Prince of Xue?"
An Ping replied without any hesitation, "Yes, I like the Crown Prince of Xue."
The woman let out a cold laugh and suddenly turned, delivering a fierce slap to An Ping's face.
An Ping was dazed by the blow. It wasn't until the pain struck her face that she realized she had been struck.
Having lived a life of pampered luxury, receiving obeisance from others, she was the esteemed eldest princess of An Kingdom. Now, she had been slapped.
"You... you hit me?" An Ping covered her face, her body trembling in disbelief.
Xue Changan looked at An Ping and sneered, "You are unworthy to like him."
"I am unworthy, but are you worthy?" An Ping shouted, her eyes red.
Why was she unworthy?
Xue Changan's gaze deepened, as cold as frost. He walked forward slowly, his killing intent leaking out. An Ping sensed danger and stepped back several paces. "You... what do you want to do?"
"A mere princess from a small country dares to compare herself with Us? Presumptuous," Xue Changan said coldly. Da Feng Novel Network
An Ping bit her lower lip. "Liking someone is fair. What right do you have to stop me from liking him?"
Xue Changan chuckled softly at her words, then raised his head, his gaze icy. "Right? Based on the fact that I am the Empress of Huang Ze, and you? What are you?"
"Your status is more noble than mine. You must have also come into contact with the Crown Prince of Xue early on, so why hasn't he liked you yet? Don't you know the reason?" An Ping said with a cold smile.
Xue Changan's eyes flashed with a chill, and killing intent erupted. "You are seeking death."