Poison King Valley
Qing Yi looked at the sleeping maiden in the ice coffin, sighing involuntarily.
"Senior Brother, why the sigh?"
Qing Yi said, "The one-year term is almost up, isn't it?"
Qing Yu looked at the maiden in the ice coffin. If they didn't know she was just a corpse, they might truly believe she was asleep.
"Yes, once the one-year term is up, even Master will be powerless."
Qing Yi's gaze was filled with sorrow. Memories of the maiden's every move from the past resurfaced, and he couldn't help but sigh, "Is there really no way?"
Suddenly, a gust of wind swept past the door, and a figure flashed like lightning to the front of the ice coffin.
A pair of fingers, as white and smooth as jade, touched the ice coffin. Qing Yi was startled, and as he looked up at the newcomer, he couldn't help but say, "Your Highness the Crown Prince."
This person was none other than Xue Jingyun, the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom. He ignored Qing Yi, his gaze fixed on the maiden in the ice coffin, filled with deep sorrow. For a moment, an endless sense of vicissitude and desolation emanated from him.
As Qing Yu was about to speak, Qing Yi shook his head and whispered, "Go ahead, give them some time!"
Qing Yu nodded and followed Qing Yi away.
The maiden in the ice coffin appeared to be fast asleep, but no matter how they called her, she would not wake.
"A Ning..." he called out softly. Da Feng Novel Network
But she could no longer hear him.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, the person has been found. Why haven't you brought them here?"
Xue Jingyun was startled. He looked up and saw a Daoist priest of clear wind standing there at some unknown time.
"Poison Master," Xue Jingyun said respectfully, cupping his hands.
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, there isn't much time left. If the person isn't brought here soon, the Empress might never wake up," said the Poison Master, Fan Qing, without politeness.
Xue Jingyun turned to look at the maiden in the ice coffin, his voice tinged with sorrow, "Can her soul truly save A Ning?"
"Your Highness, this requires you to personally feel it, to feel whether that person's soul contains the Empress's soul."
Xue Jingyun's eyes flickered slightly. After a long moment, he said, "Yes, I can confirm it."
"Then what are you waiting for? Your Highness the Crown Prince, Xue Chang'an is also searching for the Empress's remains everywhere. She probably knows you intend to revive the Empress. If she finds out the body is in Poison King Valley, Poison King Valley will be in a difficult position."
"I know. But if the soul returns to its rightful place, what about her?"
Fan Qing looked at him, his tone devoid of any warmth, "She will die."
He froze, "She will die?"
Fan Qing nodded, "Without a soul, the body is just an empty shell. Without the treatment from Poison King Valley, she will be like a dead person, no, faster than a dead person."
He frowned slightly, "Cannot..."
"Cannot..." Before he could finish, Fan Qing coldly interrupted, "Your Highness the Crown Prince, soul transference is inherently against the will of heaven. If two people share half a soul each, then neither of them will be complete individuals. I will not do such a thing."
"I understand," he said, turning to leave.
Fan Qing looked at the figure walking out the door and suddenly said, "Sooner or later, she will experience soul separation due to possessing a soul that does not belong to her. If the soul transference is not done before soul separation, both of them will disappear..."
He paused, then continued, "Your Highness, make a decision soon."
"I... understand..."
When Qing Yi returned, he saw the Poison Master gazing thoughtfully at the maiden in the ice coffin. He walked up and asked, "Has His Highness the Crown Prince left?"
Fan Qing nodded and said, "Has there been any other news from the capital recently?"
Qing Yi shook his head, "Xue Chang'an has been very quiet, with no unusual activity."
Fan Qing said, "Keep a close watch on the movements in the capital. I have a feeling something is not right."
Qing Yi was startled, "Master, you sense something amiss?"
Fan Qing neither nodded nor shook his head.
Anning looked at the invitation in Rong Cui's hand with some confusion. The Duke's mansion, the former family of the Noble Consort, had never invited her before, especially since she was a princess without a maternal family.
Despite her father Emperor's favor, to the Duke's mansion, she was not as noble as An Ru.
"Your Highness, perhaps you shouldn't go. This servant has heard that the Duke's mansion's heir is a stingy person."
An Ning shook her head, "Why shouldn't I go? I want to see what their intention is in inviting me?"
"Your Highness..." Rong Cui couldn't help but say.
"It's fine, I will be careful," An Ning took the invitation.
The invitation was from Yun Weishu, the legitimate daughter of the Duke's mansion.
Yun Weishu was a famous beauty in the An Kingdom, known for her talent and looks.
It was said that Miss Yun held a high status in the hearts of An Kingdom scholars.
Some even considered being able to marry Miss Yun as a goal.
An Ning arrived at the Duke's mansion by carriage. This time, Miss Yun had not sent an invitation to An Ru. An Ru was so angry she almost jumped, but was pulled back by Consort Shu.
The carriage stopped, and a servant from the Duke's mansion approached. "Is this Princess Anning?"
"It is my Princess Your Highness," Rong Cui helped An Ning alight from the carriage.
The servant said respectfully, "Please, Princess Your Highness, proceed into the mansion."
Rong Cui, seeing no one from the host family to welcome them, felt indignant. "How can no one come out to welcome my Princess Your Highness upon her arrival?"
"Rong Cui..." An Ning stopped Rong Cui's words.
The servant glanced at An Ning. Although their tone and actions were respectful, their expression lacked genuine respect, clearly putting on a show for outsiders.
Rong Cui was so angry she wanted to jump, but An Ning soothed her. "Why are you angry? I am not angry."
"Princess Your Highness, their neglecting you like this clearly shows they do not take you seriously."
"It's fine, let's go!" An Ning said.
Rong Cui bit her lower lip. Seeing that her princess did not mind, she could only follow.
In the center of the courtyard, flowers were planted everywhere, with several young ladies amidst them.
Among the young ladies, one was particularly outstanding.
She was dressed in white, which was so plain compared to the other young ladies in their elaborate and ornate attire.
But even the most splendid attire could not match the delicate and charming flowers. The maiden's simple colors made her stand out even more.
The maiden lowered her eyes, holding a brush in her hand, as if writing something on paper.
Beside her, a maiden dressed in vibrant red looked at her with admiration and couldn't help but praise, "Good poem, good poem."
The maiden smiled, her beauty surpassing that of the flowers.
As if sensing someone looking at her, she raised her head. The other young ladies also looked up.
The maiden stepped forward and curtsied towards An Ning, saying, "Your subject Yun Weishu greets Princess Anning."
The other young ladies also bowed.
"Rise," An Ning said.
"Princess Your Highness, I am very happy that you could come," Yun Weishu looked at her, her eyes filled with a smile.
However, this smile did not reach her eyes; it was somewhat chilling.
"I must also thank Miss Yun for inviting me. Otherwise, how could I appreciate these delicate and charming flowers and people?"
As soon as An Ning finished speaking, the other young ladies laughed.
Yun Weishu said, "Your Highness praises me too much. All of this is not as valuable as a single finger of His Highness the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom. Your Highness being betrothed to His Highness the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom is what makes us all envious."