Yuan Zhao felt as if he were dreaming. Before, he had been in a dream, and now he had woken up.
Yet, he didn't know where to go.
"Yuan Zhao Gege..."
Yuan Zhao recognized the voice as Ling'er's, but he didn't want to turn around, didn't want her to see him as he was now.
Chu Ling'er walked closer and looked at the Yuan Zhao, who had grown significantly taller than before. She stopped, "Yuan Zhao Gege, Elder General Yuan told me about your affairs."
Yuan Zhao's body trembled. "Since you know, then you know I'm no longer your Yuan Zhao Gege. Go back! Just pretend your Yuan Zhao Gege has already left."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ling'er laughed in anger, "Yuan Zhao Gege, what do you mean? Just because you know your noble identity, you want to pretend that everything that happened at Xue Ling Pass never occurred? You want to forget Ling'er, Elder General Yuan, my father, and so many others?"
"No, I..."
Yuan Zhao turned around and saw Chu Ling'er. He suddenly covered his face, "Don't look at me..."
Chu Ling'er walked forward, gently pulled Yuan Zhao's hand away, and said, "Yuan Zhao Gege, you can't erase every day you spent at Xue Ling Pass, you can't forget everyone here. Since that's the case, why do you want to forget? We all remember Yuan Zhao."
"Young General Yuan..."
"Young General Yuan..."
Yuan Zhao's body trembled. He looked up and saw the generals of Xue Ling Pass behind Chu Ling'er.
"You... you all..."
"Yuan Zhao, when we go back, can I brag to my wife that I once slept with the First Prince?"
"Er Huzi, don't even mention it. Your snoring was so loud, anyone next to you was doomed."
Er Huzi laughed heartily, his gruffness uninhibited.
Yuan Zhao also smiled, "Of course, I will never forget you all."
Er Huzi put an arm around his shoulder, "It's a deal. Don't pretend not to recognize your Er Huzi if we meet again in the future?"
"Brother Er Hu, I won't."
Chu Ling'er walked forward and said, "You all can go back now!"
"Our Sister Chu has something to say to her sweetheart, don't disturb them." Er Huzi and the others teased as they left.
Chu Ling'er became anxious, "Yuan Zhao Gege, don't listen to their nonsense."
Now, with her status, she was no longer worthy.
"Ling'er, thank you..." Yuan Zhao said gratefully.
Chu Ling'er shook her head, "Yuan Zhao Gege, you don't need to thank me. It's the bond of so many years of companionship that cannot be erased. No matter who you become, this won't change."
Yuan Zhao nodded, "I need to go back and discuss it with my grandfather... Elder General Yuan."
Chu Ling'er nodded, "Go ahead!"
Yuan Zhao left. Looking at his retreating back, Chu Ling'er knew that from now on, her Yuan Zhao Gege was truly gone.
She wiped her face, "Come out, I... I'm fine."
Xue Zining walked out. Chu Ling'er curtsied to perform a greeting, but Xue Zining refused, "I am Feng Ning now."
Chu Ling'er bit her lower lip, holding back the tears. Xue Zining stepped forward, hugged her, and said, "Cry if you want to cry!"
At this moment, Chu Ling'er could no longer control herself. She cried in her arms.
Xue Zining knew Chu Ling'er's feelings for Yuan Zhao, and at this moment, Ling'er was the most heartbroken.
After crying, Chu Ling'er emerged from her embrace, touched the remaining tears on her face, and said, "Thank you, I'm alright now."
"I'm sorry, if it weren't for us, Yuan Zhao would still be..."
"Please don't say that. Yuan Zhao Gege has a better identity, and I'm happy for him."
Chu Ling'er smiled through her tears.
The next day
Xue Zining and Yan Zhao parted ways. Following the agreement with Prince Xi Xia, Han Kingdom and Xue Kingdom would coexist peacefully from now on.
Xue Ling Pass no longer needed such a large garrison. Yan Zhao divided the soldiers at Xue Ling Pass into two groups. One group was led by Yuan Zhao, and the other by Elder General Yuan.
She, along with Yuan Zhao and some of the generals from Xue Ling Pass, went to reinforce the Northern Frontier.
Yan Zhao and Elder General Yuan went to the imperial palace.
In the carriage, Xue Zining looked at the uninvited guest and laughed in exasperation, "Yan Zhao, weren't you supposed to be on your way to the imperial palace? Why are you here?"
"I'm worried about you." Yan Zhao stated the truth.
"What is there to be worried about?" Xue Zining said with a hint of helplessness.
Since Yan Zhao woke up this time, she found him to be quite clingy.
Yan Zhao was about to speak when Xue Song, who had invited himself, said, "What else? His Highness is naturally worried about Your Majesty being with the First Prince."
"Xue Song..." Yan Zhao's voice turned cold.
Xue Song smiled cheekily, "Your Highness, you don't need to hide it. Everyone knows you're worried about the Empress."
Xue Zining smiled and pushed Yan Zhao away, "Stop playing around. Hurry up and finish your business. I'll wait for you in the Northern Frontier."
Yan Zhao's star-bright eyes lit up considerably, "Alright, wait for me..."
"I'll wait for you..." Xue Zining replied.
Yan Zhao suddenly grabbed her hand, gave a gentle pull, and quickly imprinted a kiss on her lips.
Xue Zining's face instantly turned red, and she angrily exclaimed, "Xue Jingyun."
Yan Zhao dared not linger and flew out, disappearing from sight.
Xue Song, standing nearby, covered his eyes and said, "Truly an eyesore."
Feng Wu's head poked in from outside, "You'll get used to it. It'll probably be even more blinding in the future."
"You all talk too much..." Xue Zining's face turned cold.
Xue Song and Feng Wu quickly shut their mouths, no longer speaking.
Xue Zining felt a lot quieter around her ears. She lifted the carriage curtain and looked outside. Zixuan, hold on, I'm coming for you.
Northern Frontier
Rumble, rumble sounds echoed through the sky. A person, covered in dust, scrambled up the city wall. At a glance, he saw the young man on the wall, "Your Highness..."
The young man turned his head, his face stern. "Did they ram the city gate?"
The official nodded, "Yes, Your Highness. You should leave now. If you delay any longer, you won't be able to."
The young man looked at the people behind him and resolutely shook his head, "You are all here, how can I abandon you for the sake of my own survival? I am determined to live and die with the Northern Frontier."
The official trembled and knelt on the ground, "This minister is willing to live and die with Your Highness, with the Northern Frontier."
"We are willing to live and die with Your Highness, with the Northern Frontier..."
The voices resounded throughout the place.
The young man turned his head, a hint of sparkling tears in his eyes.
Imperial Sister, at this moment, he finally understood that this was what the hearts of the people truly desired.
"Defend our homeland," the young man shouted, raising his arm.
The common people picked up hoes and sticks, guarding the city gate.
The young man drew his long sword. An official beside him said, "Your Highness, if anyone is to charge, it should be me..."
"At a time like this, there are no such formalities..."
The young man leaped down, followed by the guards.
The official, watching the young man disappear into the crowd, knelt on the city wall, clasping his hands together, "Heaven, save the Northern Frontier!"
The young man stood beneath a horse, sword in hand, and angrily declared, "Xue Yu, you betrayed His Majesty, you betrayed Huang Ze. You will come to no good end."