Han Huang was stunned. He looked up at Han Xi Xia, his voice laced with coldness, "Eighth Brother, this is a family banquet today."
"Father, have you forgotten? You said that whoever marries the Royal Consort first can enter the Han Palace, and it will choose who the next Han Emperor will be."
"Presumptuous..." Han Huang was so enraged that he threw the teacup in his hand to the ground, shattering it into pieces.
"Xi Xia." The Han Empress beside him also tried to persuade Han Xi Xia, her gaze falling on Xue Zi Ning.
Xue Zi Ning knew her purpose here was for the Han Palace's ultimate treasure, so she was sorry, but she couldn't help the Han Empress.
"Has Father gone back on his word?" Han Xi Xia said, word by word.
"You... you scoundrel..." Han Huang's face turned ashen with anger.
Han Xi Xia remained unmoved, looking at Han Huang without any sign of backing down.
"Father, please don't be angry. Eighth Brother is just spouting nonsense. Eighth Brother, why don't you sit down? Do you want to anger Father? Father is still strong and healthy." The Seventh Prince appeased Han Huang.
Han Huang let out a cold snort, pushed the Seventh Prince away, and left with a flick of his sleeve.
The Han Empress looked at Han Xi Xia with disappointment and followed in Han Huang's footsteps. As she passed Xue Zi Ning, the Han Empress left her with a sentence, "Ning'er, you have greatly disappointed me."
The Seventh Prince also followed the Han Empress.
At this moment, only Han Xi Xia, who was standing, and Xue Zi Ning, who was seated, remained in the vast hall.
"Eighth Prince, why?" Xue Zi Ning looked up and asked Han Xi Xia.
Han Xi Xia smiled, "Why so many reasons? Who doesn't desire this supreme position?"
"You are different." Xue Zi Ning shook her head. The more she interacted with Han Xi Xia, the more she realized that he wasn't solely set on the throne. He was suited to be a soaring eagle in the sky, flying further and further.
Han Xi Xia sat down, looking at her with a smile. On his rugged face, there was no longer any ruggedness. "There aren't that many twists and turns. Entering the Han Palace and obtaining the ultimate treasure is what I want to do."
Xue Zi Ning's gaze paused. Looking at Han Xi Xia, he let out a rough laugh, extended his large hand, and patted her head, saying, "Don't think too much about it."
His palm was warm, and a current flowed from his palm into her body.
Back at the Eighth Prince's manor, Xue Zi Ning looked at Han Xi Xia's retreating back, her gaze deepening.
In the room, Xue Feng had already been waiting. "Anything unusual?"
Xue Feng shook his head, "The Seventh Prince is not unusual, but I always feel something is off about this Seventh Prince."
"Off? How so?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
Xue Feng scratched his head and said, "He sits in his study for an entire afternoon, doing nothing."
"Were you always guarding the study?"
Xue Feng nodded, "Yes, never leaving my post."
"Miss Feng, the Empress Dowager summons you." A maid's voice came from outside.
"Alright, I'll be right there." Xue Zi Ning glanced at Xue Feng and said, "Continue watching, but be sure not to expose yourself."
Xue Feng nodded, "I will."
In the Han Feng Palace, the Han Empress sat there, her expression unreadable.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and bowed, "Empress Dowager."
"Kneel." The Han Empress suddenly commanded coldly.
Xue Zi Ning was slightly taken aback. She looked up and saw the Han Empress's icy gaze. "I don't know what offense I have committed. Please enlighten me, Empress Dowager."
The Han Empress stood up, her words chilling, "As the Imperial Consort to my son, you have a responsibility to advise. But today, in the grand hall, you ignored my gaze and failed to offer counsel. Is that not an offense?"
"Empress Dowager, as the saying goes, a wife follows her husband. When the husband speaks, the wife must not interfere, so what I did was not wrong."
"You..."
"Moreover, His Highness is an adult, not a child. Does he not know what he is doing and what the consequences will be?"
"Feng Ning, he is provoking the Emperor's suspicion," the Han Empress blurted out in anger.
"Empress Dowager, based on your understanding of His Majesty, to whom will the throne be passed?"
The Han Empress shivered all over and said coldly, "Attempting to discuss the imperial succession..."
"Only you and I are here, and only you and I are discussing it."
The Han Empress's gaze turned cold. She said to the outside, "Guard well, no one is allowed to disturb us."
"Your Ladyship, rest assured." A voice responded from outside.
The Han Empress sat down and asked, "What exactly do you want to say?"
Xue Zi Ning sat down without any hesitation, saying plainly, "Empress Dowager, the Seventh Prince now also has a Royal Consort. He might also enter the Han Palace."
The Han Empress heard this and said, "That is certain. The throne will be chosen between the Seventh Prince and my son."
"His Highness is valiant and skilled in battle, but he is not one for schemes. The Seventh Prince is different; he is a master of schemes," Xue Zi Ning said.
The Han Empress heard this and replied, "I admit that. He takes after his birth mother, Cui'er." If she hadn't had some means, how could she have climbed onto the dragon bed, and even after so many years of death, she was still remembered by Han Huang.
"Empress Dowager, I will take the liberty to ask, how did the Seventh Prince's mother die?" Xue Zi Ning inquired.
The Han Empress was taken aback. She thought for a moment and said, "That year, I remember it very clearly. Because I was carrying Xi Xia, one night Cui'er accidentally fell into the water. As it was late at night, the palace patrols were not as vigilant, and the best chance for rescue was missed."
"Afterward, did His Majesty dote on the Seventh Prince?" Xue Zi Ning asked.
The Han Empress nodded, "These are all old matters."
Xue Zi Ning continued to ask, "When did the Seventh Prince go missing?"
The Han Empress replied, "About five years ago."
Xue Zi Ning's heart skipped a beat. That was precisely the year her own father passed away.
"Why are you asking about these old matters? I thought he was weak and had no power, so I didn't pay much attention. I didn't expect that now he is my son's greatest rival," the Han Empress sighed.
"Can the Han Palace's ultimate treasure truly choose its master?" Xue Zi Ning steered the conversation towards the Han Palace.
The Han Empress shook her head, "I don't know. After all, I have never entered the Han Palace."
"Has His Majesty entered?"
The Han Empress continued to shake her head, "His Majesty has not entered."
"If that is the case, why is it said that the Han Palace's ultimate treasure chooses its master?"
"I don't know either. I only remember that His Majesty entered once that year. Afterward, he seemed somewhat disturbed. When asked, he wouldn't say anything, only that the future ruler of the Han Kingdom must enter the Han Palace, and the ultimate treasure would choose."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zi Ning became interested in the Han Palace's ultimate treasure. Could it be like the ultimate treasure of the Snow Country's Divine Palace, capable of sending her back to the past?
Exiting the Han Feng Palace, Xue Zi Ning walked while deep in thought when suddenly a figure blocked her path.
She looked up and saw a handsome face – it was the Seventh Prince. She bowed, "Greetings, Seventh Prince."
"Were you at your mother's place?" the Seventh Prince suddenly asked.
Xue Zi Ning nodded, "Yes. May I ask if the Seventh Prince requires something?"
"Nothing," the Seventh Prince replied.
"Since there is nothing, please excuse yourself, Seventh Prince." She turned to leave.
"The Han Palace, you must not enter." The Seventh Prince spoke from behind her.
She turned around, but the Seventh Prince had already left.
She narrowed her eyes. Han Xi Chen, who exactly are you?