Xue Zining looked into the distance. "I know."
Consort Zhao smiled, her smile a little faint, a little desolate. "But I don't know. I thought I could confuse the imperial lineage, but in the end, it was all for nothing."
She looked at Consort Zhao's profile, and after a long while, she slowly said, "If I were to erase you from the harem, what would you do?"
Consort Zhao trembled all over, surprise and joy appearing in her eyes. "Really? Can I?"
"Of course, if you wish?" Xue Zining asked indifferently.
"I do, this concubine wishes," Consort Zhao knelt at her feet.
"Separated from the harem, you will be a free person. You can do whatever you want, and no one will use your identity to make trouble anymore." Xue Zining dropped these words and left.
Consort Zhao kowtowed. She knew she had never willingly bowed her head like this before. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
From now on, no one would say that she, the late emperor's Consort Zhao, had an affair with the Regent.
Raising her head, she knew that this time, she was finally free, a free identity.
For how many years had she never felt this relaxed?
"Mother Concubine, what are you smiling about?" Xue Zixuan stepped forward to help her.
"Zixuan, Mother Concubine is free. I finally have a free identity." No longer bound by the imperial family.
"Congratulations, Mother Concubine!" Xue Zixuan said.
Xue Zining returned to the prince's mansion and saw a person standing at the entrance. He was wearing a moon-white brocade robe, his figure tall and slender, all of which told her who this person was.
"Yan Zhao," she called out softly.
He extended a porcelain-white hand, with well-defined bones and long fingers.
She reached out her hand, and his hand was as warm as spring.
The starlight in his eyes was dazzling, even more so than the stars in the night sky.
"You're back..."
"Mm." She responded softly.
Bathed in the moonlight, she knew that for this life, she was willing to spend it with him.
Suddenly, a force in her hand pulled her forward, and she bumped into a wall of flesh.
"Yan Zhao, this is outside..." she couldn't help but say.
"A Ning, when you come of age, will you marry me?"
The corner of her lips curved slightly. She raised her head and said, "On that day, it will be my coronation ceremony."
His eyes shone even brighter, like the sea of stars. "Perfect, you marry me then."
"You wish."
"A Ning, you already promised me yesterday."
She pushed him away and said, "We'll discuss it then."
After speaking, she turned and entered the mansion.
Yan Zhao's gaze deepened. He looked up at the bright moon, only a few words in his heart. How would he endure the remaining year?
The next day
Outside the city of Beijiang, Xue Zining abandoned the carriage and rode on horseback. Looking at the person below, she said, "Prince Xian, I entrust Beijiang to you."
Xue Zixuan nodded, stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and solemnly raised his head, saying word by word, "This subject swears with his body and blood, as long as I live, Beijiang will remain."
"But I still hope you will be safe."
Xue Zixuan trembled. "Your Majesty..."
"Call me Imperial Sister..."
Xue Zixuan said word by word, "Imperial Sister..."
Xue Zining tightened her reins and turned around. After a long pause, her voice came out muffled, "Zixuan, we'll meet again!"
She urged her horse on, galloping across the vast land.
Xue Zixuan watched the receding figure without blinking, silently repeating, "Imperial Sister, take care!"
Galloping across the vast land, Xue Zining's heart finally calmed down.
She stopped and looked back at the city of Beijiang, which was no longer visible, and lingered for a long time.
"A Ning, if you are reluctant, you can summon him to the capital every year," Yan Zhao said from beside her.
"I know, I just feel that as people grow up, they gain so many more responsibilities."
"Naturally," Yan Zhao replied.
She turned to look at him. "The matter of Beijiang has been resolved. Should you not return to Xue Country?"
Since entering Beijiang, she had not seen Yuan Zhao. She assumed he had been sent back to Xue Country by Yan Zhao.
If Xue Country was not peaceful, it was best to return soon.
"Yes." This time, Yan Zhao did not hesitate or waver, his crisp reply making Xue Zining a little unaccustomed to it.
Seeing her surprise, he reached out and held her soft hand. "I need to go back and prepare my betrothal gifts. Otherwise, how can I present a decent betrothal gift on your coming-of-age day?"
Xue Zining was startled, her face flushing slightly. She withdrew her hand. "Yan Zhao, when did I say I would marry you?"
"The world as my betrothal gift, and taking only one out of the three thousand rivers as my promise. A Ning, you cannot go back on your word."
Xue Zining smiled. "We'll talk when you've achieved it."
The world as a betrothal gift was not something easily done.
"I will. It's just that this year, I'm afraid we'll have to spend less time together," his starry eyes held a hint of reluctance.
"Go. Farewell must be said to those who depart," Xue Zining said.
Yan Zhao nodded, tightened his reins, and headed towards Xue Country.
Soon, his figure disappeared into the vast land.
Xue Zining couldn't help but bite her lower lip. You are truly decisive.
"Let's go." She mounted her horse and turned towards the capital.
On a nearby high mountain, Xue Feng looked at the prince before him, somewhat puzzled. Why was he here, adding to his sorrow, when he had been so decisive just now?
"Xue Song, what do you think the Prince is after?" Xue Feng turned to Xue Song and found that Xue Song looked dejected.
"What's wrong with you?"
Xue Song clicked his tongue. "His Highness cannot be reunited with the Empress, nor does he allow me to be reunited with Xue Yan. My poor fate."
Xue Feng chuckled heartily. "You want to be reunited? How can that make the Prince happy, and how can it settle the heart of someone like me who has no one to share warmth with?"
Xue Song glared at him. "Xue Feng, you are jealous."
"Whether I am jealous or not, you will have to be separated from Xue Yan this year," Xue Feng said with great satisfaction.
Xue Song was so angry he was about to explode. "Xue Feng, you are just resentful of others' good fortune."
"Xue Song, are you going to go before A Ning with empty hands to ask for Xue Yan's hand?" Yan Zhao turned and asked Xue Song calmly.
Xue Song was stunned. "I... I have my salary from these years."
Xue Feng scoffed. "Xue Yan is the Empress's foremost lady-in-waiting. Do you think her salary is less than yours?"
Xue Song fell silent. After a while, he looked up. "Your Highness, are there any quick ways to earn money? I want to earn money to marry Xue Yan."
Yan Zhao turned around and said, "Return to the palace."
In the woods less than a hundred miles from Beijiang, a person was hidden by grass as tall as a person. Blood dripped onto the nearby grass.
Suddenly, the grass was parted. The person's eyes turned fierce as they looked at the newcomer. "Who are you?"
"Feng Yu, once one of the Feng Yin, but now, do I call you Feng Yu or Xue Yu?"
"Who are you?" Xue Yu endured the pain of the wound inflicted by Feng Wu and forced himself to sit up.
"Unwilling, aren't you? Do you want to follow me?"
"Who are you?" Xue Yu's eyes widened as he looked at the person before him.
"..." The newcomer whispered softly.
Xue Yu trembled all over. "You..."