After hearing about what had happened during this period, Xue Zining could only sigh at the impermanence of life.
“Princess Huimin will be alright.”
Li Chenxuan looked up at the young girl. Honestly, many people had told him the same thing, but he didn’t believe them. If she were fine, why hadn’t she returned?
Xue Zining knew Li Chenxuan didn’t believe her. She said, “In the Northern Frontier, Xue Yu appeared. If he had Princess Huimin in his hands, do you think he wouldn’t use her as a bargaining chip?”
Li Chenxuan was stunned. Xue Zining continued, “Therefore, in my opinion, Princess Huimin is safe. As for why she hasn’t returned to the capital, she must have her own reasons. You just need to wait. One day, she will return.”
The young girl’s gaze did not waver at all, not a single falsehood in her words.
“Sister will be safe,” Li Chenxuan said slowly.
Xue Zining knew Li Chenxuan believed her this time. She looked at him, her voice turning cold, “Lord Li, this is the first and last time I hope such a thing happens. Otherwise, how will you live up to my trust in you?”
Li Chenxuan knelt to beg for forgiveness, “This subject knows his fault. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!”
“I am pardoning you this time due to it being your first offense. Next time, I will not be so lenient. Rise!”
Li Chenxuan was taken aback. He looked up at the young girl. She parted her rosy lips slightly, “What? Do you feel it is improper if I don’t punish you?”
Li Chenxuan quickly got up, “This subject does not feel it is improper.”
He stood beside the young girl, watching her gaze fixed on the distance.
After a long moment, she said, “In the past, I had countless people by my side. Now, only a handful remain. Chenxuan, will you always be loyal to me, without any ulterior motives?”
The young girl turned her head. A hint of faint sadness touched her clear and beautiful face.
A subtle pain flickered in her clear eyes.
He knelt on one knee and said word by word, “This subject will never betray Your Majesty, until the end of time.”
“Promises are useless. I only hope you will always remain as you were in the beginning.”
“My heart has always been as it was in the beginning,” Li Chenxuan said slowly.
“Let’s go. Accompany me into the palace,” Xue Zining turned and walked towards the door.
Li Chenxuan stood up and watched the young girl’s retreating figure, content just to stand by her side.
A fragrance wafted from Zhaoyuan Palace. Xue Zining and Li Chenxuan exchanged a glance and entered the sleeping quarters. Upon entering, they saw Xue Yan at the door. Seeing her arrival, Xue Yan said with a smile, “Happy 14th birthday, Your Majesty!”
Xue Zining’s body trembled, “Today…”
“Is your birthday,” Xue Yan replied.
Xue Zining walked forward. On the table sat a bowl of noodles. Xue Yan stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, today is your birthday. Please eat the noodles.”
She nodded and sat in a chair. It was then that she noticed the noodles contained vegetables and an egg.
“May Your Majesty have this day every year, and this year every year!”
Xue Yan spoke slowly.
She picked up her chopsticks, and her memory suddenly drifted back to a year ago, when she had also celebrated her birthday here with Hua Yun Jin.
In just a short year, time had flown by, and circumstances had changed.
“Xue Yan…” Before she could finish, the candlelight was suddenly extinguished.
Her gaze turned cold, and the chopsticks in her hand became her weapon. Sensing someone beside her, she fiercely thrust the chopsticks backward.
The person dodged her attack, a large hand enveloping hers. The chopsticks fell from her grasp, and a familiar aura wafted towards her.
“A Ning, it’s me…”
“You…”
She was pulled into an embrace, and the words she wanted to speak were silenced.
Her lips met a cool touch, and her nostrils were filled with the faint scent of grass, even a hint of earth.
She pushed the person away and said, “You…”
The candlelight suddenly brightened, and she saw the person before her. It was Yan Zhao!
“How are you here?” she asked in surprise.
Yan Zhao sighed, “I miss you day and night. A Ning, you break my heart.”
Her face instantly flushed, “Yan Zhao, you are simply a rogue.”
A captivating smile graced his refined and handsome face, “I am only like this for you.”
Xue Zining’s heart trembled slightly. She thought to herself, Yan Zhao really knew how to speak sweet words so effortlessly.
“Quick, try the noodles. Tell me how they are,” Yan Zhao said, taking her hand and pulling her to sit down.
Xue Zining looked at Yan Zhao, then at the noodles, and asked, “Don’t tell me you made these noodles?”
“I made them,” Yan Zhao admitted without hesitation.
Xue Zining was taken aback, “You…”
Yan Zhao took her hand and said slowly, “I came in such a hurry, I didn’t know what to prepare. Then I thought, what do I have that you also have? Only these noodles, which you don’t have.”
She picked up her chopsticks, twirled some noodles, took a bite, and then stopped eating.
Seeing that the young girl had stopped eating, Yan Zhao looked puzzled, “A Ning, why aren’t you eating anymore?”
Saying this, he took the chopsticks from her hand, twirled some noodles, and put them in his mouth. He immediately felt like he could throw up yesterday’s meal. He put down the chopsticks and said, “Don’t eat them anymore. I didn’t expect them to be this salty.”
Xue Zining shook her head, picked up her chopsticks again, twirled some noodles, and said, “You made these. I will finish them.”
Yan Zhao was slightly taken aback, then suddenly he smiled. In an instant, it was as if all nature had come alive, “Okay, I’ll eat them with you.”
“Alright!”
The two of them, taking turns, finished the bowl of noodles.
Outside the hall, Xue Yan sat on a tree branch in the courtyard, from where she could see everything happening inside.
Beside her, Xue Song watched, dumbfounded. He had seen their young lady put in at least two large handfuls of salt.
“My goodness, how could the Empress eat something so salty?” Xue Song shook his head in disbelief.
Xue Yan said slowly, “Even if it were a poison that burns through the intestines, she would eat it. This is the power of love.”
Xue Song shook his head, “That’s a severe illness. If you eat poison that burns through your intestines, who would even remember who you are?”
Xue Yan frowned and looked at Xue Song, “Do you not understand?”
“I don’t want to understand.” If he had to eat poison that burns through his intestines, he would rather not.
“Then you’ll be single for life!” Xue Yan jumped off the branch and left angrily.
Xue Song scratched his head, not understanding how he had offended Xue Yan.
“Feng Wu, do you know why?” Xue Song asked Feng Wu behind him.
Feng Wu replied, “Because you are stupid.”
“Feng Wu, can you speak nicely?” Xue Song said angrily.
Feng Wu left, leaving Xue Song sighing, “Does that mean only eating poison that burns through the intestines is the right thing to do?”
After eating the noodles, Xue Zining looked at Yan Zhao, who was unwilling to leave, and asked, “Have your affairs been handled?”
Yan Zhao admitted without reservation, “There are still some, but there’s no rush.”
“Let’s go back!” Xue Zining said. She knew that Xue Country was in a very tense period, and Yan Zhao’s words were only to prevent her from worrying.
“A Ning, after this parting, perhaps we will meet again when you come of age.”
“I know.”
“Will you wait for me to bring the betrothal gifts?”
His refined and handsome face held eyes as bright as starlight, like a galaxy shining.
She nodded, “Yes, I will wait for your dowry of the entire world.”