The bell on Mount Hu Shan Temple in the capital rang.
It echoed through every corner of the capital, announcing that the past year was over and the new year had begun.
"A Ning, you've grown another year older," Yan Zhao's voice softly sounded by her ear.
Her fingers intertwined with Yan Zhao's, she said softly, "May every day be as this day, and every year as this year."
Yan Zhao suddenly pushed her away, soaring into the sky. To her surprise, fireworks bloomed everywhere, like a hundred flowers competing in beauty.
"A Ning, I love you..." she saw Yan Zhao blurt out these five words in the air.
Her hands clasped her lips, and she shouted, "Yan Zhao, I love you too, whether in this life or the next..."
In mid-air, Yan Zhao's robe hem fluttered, his dark hair dancing.
His refined and handsome face held eyes as brilliant as a river of stars, containing only her figure, full and unable to hold anyone else.
She flew up, he extended his hand, she placed hers in it. His palm was as warm as spring, and his smile was like a gentle breeze.
Everything about him was deeply imprinted in her mind at this moment.
A stardust-like glow flickered in his eyes. "A Ning, wait for my empire as my betrothal gift, my promise to take only one sip from the vast ocean of love. Will you marry me?"
She smiled, her smile like a flower. "Yan Zhao, you are the Crown Prince of the Snow Kingdom, and I am the Empress of the Desolate Marsh. If I marry you, will I be the Empress or the Crown Princess?"
He chuckled lowly, his smile filled with pampering and indulgence. He pulled her into his embrace and said in a deep voice, "As long as you are willing to marry me, I will enter your harem."
"Alright, Yan Zhao, it's settled. You will enter my harem." She wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him tightly.
"A Ning, forever and ever, just the two of us, alright?"
"Then wouldn't I be at a disadvantage? My harem..."
Before she could finish speaking, a slight pain appeared on her shoulder; he had actually bitten her lightly.
"A Ning, you can't treat me like this..."
"You can also have a harem..."
"A Ning, you know, besides you, no one else can ever catch my eye."
She bit him back in return, grinding her teeth. "Yan Zhao, if you betray me, I will have many harems and appear before you every day."
"A Ning, I won't, never. My heart can only hold you..."
Outside the Zhaoyuan Palace, Xue Yan sighed twice. "His Highness the Crown Prince truly loves Her Majesty. The night pearls, the lotus, the fireworks, one after another, even I can't help but praise them."
Xue Song beside her tutted twice. "His Highness is just too sentimental. Is all this trouble necessary?"
Xue Yan grabbed Xue Song's ear fiercely, grinding her teeth. "You're still talking about His Highness the Crown Prince. He knows how to please Her Majesty, but you?"
Xue Song winced in pain. "There is, there is..."
"There is what?" Xue Yan loosened her grip.
Xue Song batted Xue Yan's hand away and said, "A shrew."
"Xue Song, you're dead..." Xue Yan rolled up her sleeves and charged at Xue Song, vowing not to stop until Xue Song was beaten to the ground, losing all his teeth.
Sitting not far away, Xue Feng shook his head. "It's still more comfortable to be alone. No need to prepare gifts, no need to rack my brains to please women."
When Xue Zi Ning woke up, the sky was already bright. She got up and was about to call Xue Yan, then remembered that it was the New Year and she had seven days of leave. She lay back down on the bed, the warmth beside her long gone.
She knew Yan Zhao had left.
In her dazed state, she felt him kiss her forehead and say something, "A Ning, I'm leaving..."
She sighed softly, got up, and called out, "Xue Yan."
Soon, Xue Yan pushed the door open and walked to the bedside. "Your Majesty, you are awake."
Xue Zi Ning nodded and looked up to see Xue Yan with dark circles under her eyes. She frowned. "Xue Yan, you didn't sleep last night?"
Xue Yan, hearing this, ground her teeth. "Last night, this servant beat Xue Song all night."
Xue Zi Ning couldn't help but laugh. "After finally meeting, why wouldn't you talk properly?"
Xue Yan heard this, bit her lower lip, her eyes slightly red. Xue Zi Ning took her hand and said softly, "Xue Song's mouth can be a bit of a pest sometimes, but he's a good person."
Xue Yan sniffled. "This servant knows."
"It seems, Xue Yan, that I can't keep you," Xue Zi Ning said with a smile.
Xue Yan stiffened. "Your Majesty, this servant doesn't want to get married. This is quite good."
Xue Zi Ning patted her hand. "How can you not get married? Xue Yan, I hope you will be happy."
Xue Yan trembled all over, tears falling. "Your Majesty..."
"Xue Yan, I don't have many trusted people around me, so I hope the people I trust can all be happy. Life is very short. Your destination is not for me; you have your own life..."
"Your Majesty..."
"Alright, it's the New Year, be happy, no crying."
Xue Yan wiped away her tears and smiled. "This servant won't cry. Even if this servant gets married later, she will still serve by Your Majesty's side."
"As long as Xue Song doesn't fight you for me..."
Xue Yan pouted her lips. "What he says doesn't count."
"Your Majesty, Lord Li requests an audience!" Xue Ling's voice came from outside the door.
Xue Zi Ning's gaze slightly sharpened, her smile fading. She asked Lord Li to wait in the outer hall.
After dressing and grooming, an hour had passed. Xue Zi Ning walked out of the inner chamber and saw the person kneeling there.
The once spirited young man had grown into a man. Just from his back, one could see his fatigue and vicissitudes.
"Lord Li..."
Li Chen Xuan trembled all over. Previously, the Empress always called him by his name. The difference in address signified a world of change. Had the Empress finally begun to treat him as an ordinary sovereign and subject?
"Your Majesty, my wife offended Your Majesty. This minister is here to beg for forgiveness today."
"She should indeed be punished. Have her not enter the palace again in the future," Xue Zi Ning said.
"Yes, this minister obeys!" Li Chen Xuan kowtowed in thanks.
Xue Zi Ning stepped forward and extended her hand. Li Chen Xuan trembled all over. He closed his eyes, resolutely ignoring that hand. "Your Majesty, this minister takes his leave!"
He stood up and walked towards the outside.
"Chen Xuan..."
Li Chen Xuan trembled but did not turn around. "Does Your Majesty have something?"
"If you feel this marriage..."
"Your Majesty, this marriage was personally requested by this minister in the past. Regardless of the outcome, this minister will bear it all."
Saying this, Li Chen Xuan left.
Xue Zi Ning sighed. She wanted to say that if he felt it was unsuitable, she could issue a decree to grant him and Jiang Xin Qin a divorce.
She always felt that Jiang Xin Qin was not suitable for Li Chen Xuan; Li Chen Xuan deserved someone better.
If only she had investigated properly back then.
Li Residence
"Madam, you're awake?" Jiang Xin Qin saw Li Chen Xuan's figure as soon as she opened her eyes and was slightly startled.
"My Lord..."
"Madam, your illness requires rest. From now on, you will recuperate in Xinyuan and not leave the residence," Li Chen Xuan stood up and said as he walked towards the outside.