Emerging from the Li manor, Nangong Yue entered the carriage. She knelt there, lowering her gaze, and said, "Master, everything has been arranged."
"Nangong Yue, you have done well."
"Thank you, Master, for your praise. As long as after this matter is done, Master bestows Xue Zining upon me, that will be enough."
Nangong Yue felt a hand stroking her head. "It will be so."
"Have the carriage return!"
The carriage departed. Not far away, a figure emerged from the shadows, watching the carriage with a somewhat cold expression.
Zhao Yuan Palace
Xue Zining's face was grim. She looked at Feng Wu before her and asked, "Are you certain that person is Nangong Yue?"
Feng Wu nodded. "This subordinate personally heard her admit to Madam Li that she is Nangong Yue."
Upon hearing the name Nangong Yue again, Xue Zining felt both unfamiliar and familiar. Years ago, she had sent someone to escort Nangong Yue back to Zhaoping, but Nangong Yue had escaped midway and disappeared without a trace. She had dispatched people to search, but there was no news. Now, this name had reappeared.
"Your Majesty, shouldn't this Madam Li..." Xue Yan made a gesture.
Xue Zining shook her head. "No need. Feng Wu, keep a close watch on Madam Li and report any news to me promptly."
"Rest assured, Your Majesty. Feng Wu takes her leave!" Feng Wu departed.
Xue Yan, standing beside her, said, "This Madam Li actually places all the blame for the miscarriage on Your Majesty. Your Majesty is truly wronged."
Xue Zining gazed into the distance. She had not expected Li Chenxuan to like her. She had always maintained a distance because she knew she could not give him what he desired. Her heart was very small, so small that it had only ever held one person. *Yan Zhao, what are you doing?*
Soon, the day of Yuan Ri arrived. The palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers. Red lanterns adorned every corner of the palace, exuding an atmosphere of joy and festivity.
"Your Majesty..."
"Your Majesty..."
The palace attendants stopped their tasks and bowed to Xue Zining. Xue Zining gave Xue Yan a look. Xue Yan brought out the prepared silver taels and said, "These are gifts from Your Majesty."
"Thank Your Majesty."
Xue Yan emptied her purse and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, all that money is gone."
"There will be more money," Xue Zining said as she walked out of Zhao Yuan Palace.
Xue Yan said, "Your Majesty, after the palace banquet tonight, I need to leave you for a while. If you need anything, please summon Xue Ling."
Xue Zining paused slightly at this. "You're going out?"
Xue Yan nodded. "This servant wants to burn some paper money for Yin Shou. He liked to drink; I don't want him to be without money for wine in the afterlife."
Xue Zining was taken aback. "Very well, I permit it."
The evening palace banquet was, as usual, filled with song and dance. Xue Zining gazed blankly at the area outside the great hall, wondering what Yan Zhao was doing today. The longer the time passed, the deeper her longing for him grew. She wanted to know what he was doing, and she desperately wanted to see him.
"Your Majesty, this subject's wife offers you a toast."
Xue Zining snapped back to attention. She saw the person below and was slightly startled because it was none other than Jiang Xinqin, Li Chenxuan's wife.
"Approach朕." Xue Zining commanded.
Jiang Xinqin walked forward and knelt on the ground. "I have caused Your Majesty much trouble in the past. This subject begs for your forgiveness and hopes Your Majesty will pardon me."
"Madam Li is too kind.朕 will not take it to heart," Xue Zining said indifferently.
Jiang Xinqin did not retreat upon hearing this and continued, "Your Majesty, are you unwilling to forgive this subject?"
Xue Zining shook her head. She simply did not wish to have any further dealings with Jiang Xinqin. "Madam Li thinks too much."
Jiang Xinqin bowed her head and kowtowed. "Many thanks, Your Majesty."
Li Chenxuan, seeing this from below, quickly stepped forward to help Jiang Xinqin leave. Jiang Xinqin, unsteady on her feet, spilled the wine in her hand, splashing it onto Xue Zining's clothes.
Li Chenxuan, seeing this, rushed forward with Jiang Xinqin and immediately knelt. "This subject is guilty!"
"It matters not. You may withdraw!" Xue Zining said coldly, looking at Jiang Xinqin. This time, Jiang Xinqin obediently departed.
Xue Yan instinctively sniffed the wine, finding no abnormality. She then said, "The wine is not poisoned."
Xue Zining said faintly, "She is not so foolish as to openly try to poison朕 here."
"Then was Madam Li truly here to seek forgiveness?" Xue Yan asked doubtfully.
Xue Zining remained silent. She felt a power approaching her, yet she did not know who it was.
After the palace banquet concluded, Xue Zining returned to Zhao Yuan Palace alone. The palace was empty.
"Xue Yan..." She called out twice, then belatedly remembered that Xue Yan had gone to burn paper money for Yin Shou. "Xue Ling..." No one answered.
Suddenly, she felt a strange presence behind her. Instinctively, her hand moved to her waist. But in the next second, her hand was caught by two hands, which then wrapped around her waist, lifting her into the air. A familiar scent wafted on the wind, and her heart skipped a beat.
"Yan Zhao?" she whispered, a mixture of certainty and question in her voice.
Warm breath touched her neck, and she heard a familiar voice, "A'ning, I missed you so much..."
Xue Zining turned around. Indeed, the person before her was the one she longed for day and night. "Yan Zhao, is it really you..."
"A'ning, it's me..." His handsome and refined face, his eyes as bright as stars, were filled with her image. Lips met, and souls intertwined. She smelled his unique scent, tinged with the earthy aroma of travel.
As their bodies slowly descended, the surroundings suddenly lit up. She abruptly pushed Yan Zhao away, only to realize that Zhao Yuan Palace was now adorned with large night-blooming pearls, turning the area into daylight. In the bright light, a crystal bowl sat, containing white lotuses.
"Do you like it?"
She paused and looked up at him. "How can there be flowers in this weather?"
Yan Zhao heard her and stepped forward, embracing her waist. He whispered, "I planted them for you. Do you like them?"
"I do," she nodded.
Yan Zhao lowered his head. "Where is my New Year's gift?"
Xue Zining pointed to her lips and smiled. "Just now, you received your gift."
Yan Zhao almost laughed with exasperation. "A'ning, you're being unfair."
"Why did you come here?" Although Xue Kingdom and Huangze were neighboring countries, the distance between their imperial palaces was not a mere hundred li.
Yan Zhao's refined and handsome face softened with tenderness, his bright eyes filled with affection. "I set out last month and finally arrived today. A'ning, I had a difficult journey."
Xue Zining turned and hugged his waist tightly, her voice filled with concern. "I know, you've been through a lot!"
"Then can I receive another gift?"
She was stunned. Before she could react, her lips were captured by his. Only when she could barely breathe did he release her. "A'ning, I'm hungry."
"I'll go cook for you," Xue Zining said, turning to leave.
Yan Zhao stopped her, holding her tightly in his embrace. "A'ning, don't you know that you are my food? With you, I am already full."
Xue Zining's face instantly flushed. Struggling, she gritted her teeth and said, "Yan Zhao, when did you become so frivolous?"
Yan Zhao smiled, his smile more captivating than a hundred blooming flowers. She felt her heart beat faster, and his deep voice echoed in her ears, "A'ning, it is only with you that I am like this."