Xue Zining did not know how long had passed before the mysterious force that had been drawing her disappeared.
When she could feel her body move autonomously again, she discovered that everything she saw was pitch black, so dark she couldn't see her hand in front of her face.
"Seventh Prince..." she called out as a reflex.
Her only reply was an echo from all directions.
"Seventh Prince..."
Her hand touched the silver whip at her waist, and suddenly her eyes lit up.
The sudden brilliance made her close her eyes involuntarily. When her eyes adjusted, she opened them again.
She found herself in an unfamiliar environment.
However, she was certain it was the palace. Although it was different from the palace in the desolate marsh she knew, it was largely similar.
"Your Highness, why are you still standing here? The auspicious hour has arrived. You should be getting ready."
Two palace maids, appearing from nowhere, each took an arm and dragged her towards the palace behind them.
"Who are you?" Xue Zining intended to say this, but what came out was, "I would rather die than marry."
The two palace maids seemed not to have heard her, saying instead, "Princess, the consort will arrive soon. If he doesn't see your splendid attire, he will be angry."
Xue Zining wanted to speak but could utter no sound, forced to let the two palace maids have their way.
Her reflection in the bronze mirror showed the same face, with the only addition being a red dot between her brows.
This added a touch of splendor to her beauty.
After being dressed in a large red wedding gown, she was arranged to sit on the bed.
She couldn't move or speak, so she simply stopped struggling.
Suddenly, footsteps sounded from outside. When the curtain was lifted, a tall, slender figure appeared in her sight, and snowflakes drifted in.
She raised her head, her gaze falling upon a blurred face. Though indistinct, it gave her a sense of familiarity.
"Your Highness, I have come to escort you." As the voice spoke, her entire body trembled. This voice... this voice...
"Rebellious minister and traitor," she uttered these four words.
"Your Highness, whether you wish it or not, starting today, you belong to me."
The tall, slender figure slowly approached her.
He brought with him the chill of the wind and snow.
"I would rather die than marry you..." she said this uncontrollably.
He paused slightly and reached out to touch her cheek.
At some point, a dagger appeared in her hand, and she fiercely slashed through his palm, drawing blood.
His hand froze in mid-air, blood flowing onto her face.
"Princess, do you hate me this much?"
At this moment, she saw clearly, saw the starlight in his brilliant eyes gradually disappear.
"Yes, I wish I could kill you this very instant..."
He smiled, a hint of sadness on his handsome face.
"Your Highness, it will soon be as you wish. If I do not return from this mission, shall I grant you your freedom?"
The starlight in his eyes dimmed, gradually vanishing.
Her body trembled, and she watched him stand up and slowly leave.
She wanted to reach out and grasp the hem of his robe, but she was immobile, unable to do so. Opening her mouth, no words could emerge.
Only tears streamed down.
Only when there was no sound from outside did she realize she could move.
She rushed out. Outside the door, heavy guards were stationed. A general stepped forward to block her, saying, "Your Highness, please return to your chambers."
"I want to go out."
"Without the consort's permission, no one may leave," the general said coldly.
Xue Zining returned to her chambers and entered the inner hall. She looked at the painting that had been hanging there earlier and found it strange. There were no people, no landscapes, only four characters: "Twist the Universe."
As she touched these four characters, a great force suddenly pulled her into the painting.
It seemed a long time passed before she finally emerged from there and fell to the ground.
She opened her eyes to see a vast, empty room. In the center stood a colossal pillar, topped with a crystal cover that emitted a multicolored light.
The Treasure of the Cold Hall?
Thinking this, she stood up and walked towards the pillar. Suddenly, a voice came from behind her.
She turned around. Who else could it be but the Seventh Prince?
"It seems you came out earlier than me," the Seventh Prince said slowly.
"What do you mean by that?"
The Seventh Prince looked at her and said, "Don't you know that this object in the Cold Hall can return you to your past life?"
"Past life?" Xue Zining was startled. Hadn't her past life already returned in Xueguo?
"Yes, to your past life, to see everything that happened to you," the Seventh Prince said.
"Who was your past life?" Xue Zining asked.
The Seventh Prince smiled faintly, "No comment!"
Xue Zining frowned. If she had returned to her past life just now, which past life was it?
"There is only one jewel," she said to the Seventh Prince, word by word.
The Seventh Prince smiled, "May the best person win."
Upon hearing this, Xue Zining suddenly attacked, "If that's the case, I won't be polite."
At this very moment, a powerful force pulled her back.
She saw this force also enveloping the Seventh Prince.
Afterward, it was unclear how much time had passed. This time, she stood on the city wall, looking down at a man in white armor riding a horse.
Behind him were thousands of soldiers.
He took off his helmet, his dark hair billowing in the wind, "Princess, I have come to escort you."
"Yan Zhao, look clearly. Your Princess is in my hands. I forbid the army from attacking the city, and I will spare your Princess's life."
"Hua Yunjin, release Princess Changning."
Princess Changning! Xue Zining's entire body trembled. She knew of Princess Changning, who, captured by the enemy, jumped off the city wall to commit suicide to avoid making things difficult for the rescuing soldiers.
So, in this life, she was Princess Changning.
Yan Zhao was her consort. And Hua Yuanjin?
"Hua Yunjin..." she suddenly spoke.
The person behind her stiffened. She turned her head. The youth from her memory had grown into a handsome man.
"Why?" she asked again.
Hua Yuanjin's gaze flickered, and he looked to the side, "Princess Changning, we both carry the burden of national hatred and family vengeance."
"So, this time, you have chosen your country again?"
"Yes," Hua Yunjin replied.
"Heh heh..." she chuckled. "Since you have chosen your country, do you think I will make things difficult for my people? In past lives and this one, Hua Yunjin, you have only satisfied your own selfish desires."
She turned her head to look at Yan Zhao below the city wall. The memories of Princess Changning surfaced.
Princess Changning had fallen in love with Hua Yunjin, the Crown Prince of Hua Kingdom, but was married off to Yan Zhao by her father.
When Hua Kingdom attacked, Yan Zhao repelled them and forced them to this city wall.
Princess Changning, held hostage by the man she deeply loved, was there to protect herself.
Yan Zhao, in order to save her, was shot to death, becoming a sieve.
Princess Changning, utterly disappointed, jumped to her death.
"I'm sorry..." Hua Yunjin's voice appeared behind her.
"It's alright. I have let go of the past and this life. From now on, we are irreconcilable enemies."
Hua Yunjin's body trembled, "Changning..."
"Don't call me that. Hua Yunjin, you are truly unworthy..."